The Parrot's Return
Kim Jin-seo stared at me with wide eyes after hearing my response. I'd probably been too blunt in turning her down. Truth be told, I didn't mind sparring with her. I'd just refused because there was no way I could beat her in my current state. My stamina was shot from the bout with Mun Yo-seop, after all.
"Yeah, I get it. I probably wouldn't satisfy you anyway."
Kim Jin-seo nodded as if she'd convinced herself, though there was a subtle mocking edge to her tone. I tilted my head, not quite grasping what she meant.
"What do you mean, satisfy?"
"...Never mind."
She shot me a quick glare, shook her head, and trudged over to lean against the wall of the Holy Training Ground. Her slumped shoulders radiated defeat. Her expression wasn't great either. I stood beside her and leaned against the wall just like she was. Silence fell. The vast space of the Holy Training Ground made the quiet feel especially thick.
Kim Jin-seo stared at the floor with her head tilted slightly downward, lips pressed tight. I glanced at her profile and, out of habit, started observing her. My eyes caught on the rosary bracelet around her wrist—the one I'd given her before.
"You wear that every day?" I asked, pointing at her wrist.
She tilted her wrist to look at it, then glanced at my own before turning back to me.
"It's a habit now... But why don't you wear yours?"
"Stuff on my wrists feels uncomfortable."
"Why? Like handcuffs?"
"Kinda."
I nodded slightly. Watches or bracelets made me feel stifled, like I couldn't breathe. Accessories on the wrist were tolerable, at least. Necklaces or scarves around the neck? Those actually choked me.
"Sounds like you've worn handcuffs before."
She teased. I chuckled and shook my head.
"Nah, never."
Lie. I'd worn them briefly back when Gu Jun-hyeok turned the school upside down. But explaining that was too much hassle, so I stuck to the fib.
Kim Jin-seo nodded at my words, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Figured. Otherwise..."
She trailed off, her gaze dropping to my hand before continuing.
"...I've always thought your hands were pretty small."
"Mine?"
I spread my palm. They didn't seem that small to me. Never heard complaints before.
"Yeah. I bet mine are bigger."
"No way. That's ridiculous."
"Then let's compare."
She extended her open palm provocatively. I pressed mine against it. Her fingers were slender and long—bigger than I'd expected. Still smaller than mine, though.
"Mine's bigger."
"Yeah, you win."
As she said it, she grabbed my hand. No real spark, but it was warm—that much I could feel faintly. She pulled it toward her and laced our fingers. Her face stayed oddly calm the whole time.
"I really win?"
"Obviously. Yours is bigger."
"Feels weird."
I tried to slip away slyly, but she tightened her grip, foiling me. I gave up and let her have her way.
She tapped her heel idly against the floor and spoke up.
"Your hands are freezing. Like a corpse."
"Then let go."
She shook her head.
"It's cool. Kinda like an ice pack."
"Not that cold."
"Just saying."
She smiled as she spoke, but it was faint and weak. Resignation and emptiness lingered in her eyes. A hint of fear, too. She was off today, yet trying hard to act normal.
"What's up with you today?"
"..."
She dropped her gaze without a word. As the silence thickened again, she finally spoke.
"Just tired. Haven't been sleeping well."
"Why not?"
"Well..."
She brushed back a stray lock of hair.
"The exam didn't go as well as I hoped. Dad's situation... and you, too."
"Me?"
"Yeah, among other things. Just... everything."
She muttered her complaints. I knew her dad, Kim Chang-won, still hadn't been discharged. He was better than at first, but that was relative. She had every reason to worry—he could collapse again anytime. She looked exhausted, like even speaking was a chore.
"Didn't wanna say it."
She gave a wry chuckle.
"Why?"
"Feels like I'm always whining to you lately."
"You know it."
"...Yeah. That's why."
She glared at me. I just grinned. She sighed in resignation.
"Can't sleep, so even when I'm awake, it feels like I'm dreaming. When I do sleep, I'm half-awake anyway."
"Sounds rough."
"That's why I'm doing this. Half-asleep impulse."
She shook our joined hands lightly. I just nodded without replying. Silence returned. Who knew how many cigarettes they planned to smoke? Mun Yo-seop and So Do-jin still hadn't come back.
"Hey, uh... why'd that heretic inquisitor show up?"
Kim Jin-seo broke the quiet. I hesitated, unsure how to answer.
"Just, uh... nothing big—"
Clang!
The Holy Training Ground door burst open mid-excuse as the two men strode in. Mun Yo-seop and So Do-jin. Kim Jin-seo finally let go, pretending nothing happened.
"Do Seon-woo, you know the way to Eden Hill from here? Mind guiding me a bit more? Sorry."
Mun Yo-seop approached briskly. I nodded.
"Yeah, I do."
"Good. Let's go. Oh, right."
He turned back as he tried to lead me out, waving at So Do-jin.
"Professor So, I'll contact you later!"
"Got it. Take care..."
So Do-jin bowed. We left the Holy Training Ground. As I guided him toward Eden Hill's entrance, Mun Yo-seop spoke up.
"What were you two up to? I'd be disappointed if it was nothing."
"...Nothing."
"Really? Trysts at school or church are the most thrilling. My wife and I did it often. Right after mass in the cathedral? Electric."
His face was dead serious. Probably only he could say that with such gravity. He kicked a stray pebble sulkily, eyes on the ground.
"She hated it—said it felt sinful. But that's what made it good for me."
"Heavenly punishment-worthy stuff."
"We're divorced now. Bereaved, actually."
I shut my mouth, at a loss. He continued.
"As you said, divine retribution."
"..."
"Water under the bridge."
His eyes grew distant, chasing old ghosts. He walked on.
"Heard the practical exam's coming up soon."
"Yes."
"Need info or help? Since you're unwittingly tied to the exam overseer."
"Well, then..."
"Not free, of course. In exchange for useful info from you."
Unfortunately, I had nothing to offer. We reached Eden Hill. He thanked me and ducked under the 'No Entry' tape into the hill.
"Waiting for your call!"
The lingering demonic energy kept it dark and eerie. He waved and vanished into the gloom.
*
The past few days, I'd worked out, swung weapons at the Holy Training Ground now and then, practiced spells when I could—without drawing circles, discreetly, anytime. I planned to use them opportunistically in the practical exam. If possible.
Unlike previous years, no prior info on the exam. 'For fairness and objective evaluation,' they claimed. Yeah, right. Seemed like they just wanted to screw over the students.
[They're accounting for a possible student mole.]
I tilted my head as I pulled out the recreation spell 'Dawn Sword' for practice. Legba muttered in his low, gravelly voice.
"A mole?"
[Exams cause chaos, big or small. If there's a mole among students, Satanists could exploit it via the mole's intel to stir trouble.]
"Gu Jun-hyeok's dead."
[Not all his followers died. And there might be other Satanists.]
Fair point. His followers might attack for revenge, or another Satanist could be plotting. I nodded, and Legba went on.
[Romanica's enemies aren't just Satanists. They've factored that in too.]
"..."
[Either way, they're on high alert. Not good news for you.]
Not good at all. Meant the 'higher-ups,' including staff, still suspected students. My cover was at greater risk. Mun Yo-seop tailing me was bad enough; now the mood was tense. Pushing me toward madness. Unless I made a huge blunder, I'd be fine... but still.
"...Kinda thrilling, actually."
[Thrilling enough to fool yourself?]
"Gotta be able to."
[With all your paranoia, it'll be tough. You even doubt yourself.]
"...Headache. Time to water the plant."
I stood and headed to the bathroom. Filled a cup, poured it steadily into the corner flowerpot. No clue how much, so I stopped when it seemed enough. Then Granbwa cleared his throat pointedly.
[A bit more. Until the soil's soaked.]
"Really?"
Granbwa chuckled softly.
[Soaked, yes.]
I fetched more from the bathroom and dumped it in. Granbwa yelped in panic.
[What are you doing?! Too much!]
"Many hands make light work?"
[Not that much!]
"Pain."
[Prophets know moderation.]
His nagging continued. I barely resisted hurling the pot. After, I covered it with the rice straw from the flower shop, per Granbwa. Water forget-me-nots were dark-germinating seeds—best kept from light pre-sprout. No idea what that meant. Just following orders. I stared blankly at the unsprouted pot.
"..."
Lost in time until my phone rang. Kang Ji-a.
"Cult Leader, what have you been up to?"
"Watering flowers, spacing out. Why?"
"I have some info on Heretic Inquisitor Mun Yo-seop, as requested."
"...Hold on."
I shifted from the pot to the window, checking for eavesdroppers. Habitual caution. No midnight dorm peepers tonight. I drew the curtains, perched on the bed's edge.
"Okay, go ahead."
"Investigation's ongoing, so limited useful details. But some odd points..."
"Wait, question first."
"Yes."
I paused her. One thing to confirm about Mun Yo-seop.
"Family—did he lose his wife?"
"Ah... Yes. How did you know?"
"Heard it straight from him. Wasn't lying."
Cunning types fabricate sob stories for rapport, trust, pity. Apparently not him. He suspected me, but not overboard.
"Keep going."
"Yes. About his wife's death—12 years ago, killed by demon species... that's the record."
"Got it."
Tap.
Something lightly tapped the window. Rain, maybe.
"Became inquisitor a year later. Obsessed with Satanist cases since."
"Revenge."
"Seems so. Has a daughter, but not living together—probably strained."
"Leverage material. What does she do?"
"Pardon? Blackmail...?"
"No, I mean... joke. Anyway, info on the daughter?"
Tap, tap, tap.
Thicker drops now.
"Still investigating, but... prior convictions."
"Convictions? For what?"
"Illegal gambling, drugs. Lenient thanks to his influence."
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
Rain intensifying.
"Bad parenting. All inquisitors like that?"
"Finally, 8 years ago..."
Crack!
A loud crash cut her off—from the window. No more rain taps. Glass shards fell through the curtain gap. Window broken.
"What happened?"
"One sec. Stay on."
I crept to the curtain. Wind whistled through cracks, flapping it. No presence outside. Voodoo power at the ready, I approached slowly.
Whoosh!
I yanked it aside. Crack in the window, but small. No one outside. But...
A bird bigger than a person. Vibrant feathers. Parrot-like. Pure white eyes.
Bird beast.
"...Gu Jun-hyeok."
Like the one he'd used.
"Cult Leader?"
"Hang on, I'll call back later. Gotta go now. Sorry."
"Ah, understood. Then..."
I hung up and met the bird beast's gaze through the glass. Its eyes gleamed like stars in the dark. It preened feathers with its beak against its wing. Sawdust and stuffing spilled with the huge plumes.
Not just a bird beast—a taxidermied one.
All taxidermy moved by Gu Jun-hyeok's will, the taxidermist. Dead, they shouldn't exist, let alone move.
Yet here it was, intact and active.
The implication was clear.
"...That bastard?"
Why the hell are you still alive?