Thunder's Veil
“Ah, I phrased it weirdly. I just meant I'll move on my own.”
I offered a belated explanation, but that didn't change the fact that it was still utter madness. This practical exam included individual evaluations, group evaluations, and even departmental ones. For someone in the Paladin Department like me—not some other department—to go solo was straight-up insane.
To join the Holy Warrior Department, you needed proficiency in at least one martial art. For the Priest Department, you had to meet the minimum scores in divine studies and holy materials. But the Paladin Department had no such prerequisites. That's why individual skills were the lowest, but the numbers made up for it. Opting for solo action meant throwing away that advantage.
That's why Kang Dae-man and the rest of the team tried to talk me out of it.
“...That's the plan. I just came up with it, so it's got a few holes.”
Once they heard it, the team stopped protesting. Instead, they looked at me with a hint of awe. It wasn't anything brilliant—just a straightforward plan that stuck to the basics—but it was convincing enough.
The obvious plan was necessary to sell the team on it and make them buy into why I had to go solo. With that explained, I prepared to break off from the formation and start my solo op, just as I'd told them.
“Do Seon-woo, I've got one question.”
That's when Kang Dae-man grabbed my wrist. Even his light grip felt oppressively heavy. This guy's strong, alright.
I shook off his hand and opened my mouth. “What. Spit it out.”
“I'm not opposing your plan or anything. But...”
Kang Dae-man hesitated before continuing. “Wouldn't it make more sense to stick with the team if we're following that plan?”
“...”
“I can't explain it exactly, but that's the strong feeling I get.”
I was a little surprised. To justify my solo move, I'd deliberately omitted a key part from the explanation—and he'd nailed it spot on. Since he said he couldn't explain it precisely, it must've been pure instinct. I'd underestimated Kang Dae-man. That massive frame wasn't the only reason he bore the Diligence Holy Mark.
“Yeah, you're right. It'd be better with me there.”
I just told him the truth. His face twisted slightly at the answer.
“Then why break off from the formation?”
“Kang Dae-man. This is just between us. Don't tell the others. Ever.”
I looked at his face. Rock-solid, no flicker of doubt. Not displeasure—just total focus on my words. My “just you” line had implied special intel, doing the trick.
“There's a second plan. The solo action is for that.”
“Why can't I tell the team—”
“Because their reactions and actions—not knowing the second plan—are part of it.”
He nodded gravely at my words. “...Got it. I won't.”
“Oh, and while I'm gone, you're team leader. Like I said.”
“Of course.”
Kang Dae-man turned toward the team. Then, as if it just hit him, he spun back, waved, and bellowed in that booming voice of his.
“I trust you, Do Seon-woo!”
“Yeah, yeah. Trust me.”
I waved him off casually and fully broke from the formation. I watched his hulking figure lead the team toward the spot I'd designated until they vanished into the distance—like a mother bird and her chicks.
Kang Dae-man was huge, no doubt. I tilted my head up to the sky. It was overcast. Rain felt imminent.
Right before lining up at the search point, I'd summoned Dan Wedo and prepped him. Sudden rain from a clear sky would've been suspicious, so I'd laid the groundwork.
“Dan Wedo.”
[...Rain... now...?]
“Oh, you get it without me saying. Please.”
Whoosh—!
Rain poured down fiercely not long after summoning Dan Wedo. Standing in it, I tore the lining of my coat and pulled out Baal's Maw, then donned the Sem Brothers' Robe.
It concealed my presence, but not fully my form. That's why the rain. A downpour. The mist would cut visibility, the roar drown my footsteps, and the torrent wash away tracks.
It wouldn't hide me completely, but it'd evade the teachers' eyes.
Splash, splash.
Hood up, I trudged through the downpour. My steps were loud, but the rain louder—no issue.
Along the way, I powered down the academy-issued smartwatch. Worried about tracking or bugs. If asked later, I'd bullsh*t something. Lying was my specialty.
Soon, I spotted the supervising teachers blocking students from leaving the exam grounds.
“...Sobo.”
[Thunder or lightning? Just say!]
“Both. In... 13 seconds. All at once.”
[Got it!]
I pulled the hood tighter and crept past the teachers.
Splash, splash.
My wet steps sounded exaggerated. The robe helped, but Florence teachers weren't blind up close. Hence Sobo.
...3, 2, 1.
Crackboom!
For an instant, all sound vanished, replaced by the sky tearing open. Lightning flashes painted the world white. In that void of thunder and flash—where nothing else mattered—I slipped past the boundary guards without looking back.
“Hoo...!”
I ducked behind a decent-sized tree, catching my breath. Peeking out, the teachers gawked at the stormy sky in awe or scowled at the sudden rain. Undetected. Second hurdle cleared.
Looking up, the branches were barren—aftermath of the 'Wrath' battle's demonic energy spread. Splash, splash, splash...
I kept walking until the grounds and teachers faded from view. Tension, sleep deprivation—my lips and mouth were parched. Dan Wedo's power hadn't helped.
I sipped falling rain, but it barely quenched the thirst. Dehydration or exhaustion? Dizziness, nausea hit. Eyelids drooped, legs buckled. Hard to stay upright.
“A spell...”
[Knew it, you fool! How many times did I say no all-nighter?]
[Mild sleep deprivation makes one bold. I approve.]
[This ain't mild!]
Legba and Baron Samedi bickered. I expelled voodoo magic, drawing a Spell Circle with trembling fingers. Intoxication Spell. Near max output.
“Ha...!”
I inhaled the mist. The fog clouding my thoughts lifted instantly. A groan escaped. Immense pleasure—unfamiliar, forbidden. High-output spells left traces unless mastered, but in this rain, the mist dissolved into the dark, traceless.
“Finally feel alive.”
[Already addicted.]
“Just... overlook it today. Tomorrow too.”
Legba grumbled irritably. Post-spell, his voice boomed exaggeratedly, stabbing my brain. Crystal clear mind now—sane by technicality, maybe.
I rummaged Baal's Maw, pulling an umbrella and bone dust vial. Umbrella up against rain, I shredded the ruined coat lining, spread it on the ground, dusted bones, shaped with fingers: vèvè for Granbwa.
“Granbwa!”
[Aren't we still on bad terms?]
Hand to earth, prepping to borrow plant vision via her power, I replied. “Didn't we make up? We're tight now.”
[Sounds spell-high to me.]
“Dead serious. Even tending flowers carefully.”
[...Sigh, fine.]
Granbwa relented with a sigh—seemed in better spirits, maybe my imagination. I drew the Recreation Spell, Dawn Sword, nicked a finger, dripped blood on the vèvè. It glowed—voodoo purple tinged red.
Eyes closed, I prayed. Faint light vivid in darkness.
[No more mixing blood next time.]
Her murmur amid my prayer. Prayer done, darkness lifted—a new world unfolded. Vèvè and prayer expanded it: not just plants, but earth's gaze on surface life. Godlike overlook. Prophets' vision?
No time to marvel. I scanned for threats.
- What's with this sudden rain?
- Yeah, weather was fine till exam...
Teachers blocking student exodus, chatting under hands.
- Where the hell are the clerics? Can't see any...
- Check that way. None here.
Students hunting 'tokens' from scattered clerics.
I pushed vision outward, far beyond grounds. If Satanists attacked, Gu Jun-hyeok or puppets—demons, beasts. But security tight; no internals, so perimeter ambush post-start.
Scanning hundreds, thousands of meters—no beasts, demons, suspects. Did Gu Jun-hyeok lie? Then—
“...Found you.”
Abandoned mountain: vines, weeds. Through their eyes. Mid-slope wind holes—tiny, man-sized. Crammed with dozens of beasts and demons.
Crushed by pressure constantly—smashed, reformed by mystery force. Like blood pulsing, they inched out. Maggots from wounds. Dozens now, hundreds soon?
“Gran... ugh, Granbwa...!”
Nausea surged—from sight or overreach. Swallowed it, called desperately. Her power could seal it—or twist mountain, crush all. Must.
These weren't Gu's flunkies. Tougher hides, razor fur, enduring lethal pressure.
Outbreak? Teachers and clerics couldn't contain without casualties. Catastrophe.
“Granbwa, what're you doing!”
She hesitated.
[...Can't anymore.]
“Still mad? I'll grow another flower!”
They kept emerging. Spell-drunk, desperate, I babbled.
[You'll die. Or not, but...]
“I won't die.”
Cut her off firmly. “I don't die.”
Tears fell—warm, not rain. Blood tears? Metallic scent deep in nose. But no near-death feel. Composed, even.
“If they get out, I'm dead anyway!”
Too many—even clerics would take hits; worst case, I'd use Loa openly. Suicide in crowded grounds. No miracle disguise like with Seong Ha-yeon. Better crush now.
[...Fine.]
Her power flowed. Weeds, flowers, roots, vines—all mine. Manipulated like limbs.
“Haa, ha...!”
Deep breath, max lungs. Then unleashed on hole's plants. Rocks cracked, twisted. Crunch—!
Hole narrowed. Crush-reform accelerated. Now slit-wide, beasts/demons merged into writhing flesh mass. Swelling, collapsing—until mere crevice.
Splat—!
Explosion. Flesh sprayed, liquified, vaporized black smoke into soil. Ground blackened.
“Hoo...”
Exhaled held breath. Fatigue from rare Granbwa use, but satisfaction too. Third hurdle cleared.
Last: re-enter grounds robed, using Dan Wedo rain, Sobo storm. Easy.
Hand to earth, rose—
Beeeep—!
Touch triggered tinnitus, flash vision. Lingering power showed earth's view: one missed demon.
Worlds apart from crammed ones. Impenetrable hide, razor joints/decor. Largest yet, sleek—beautiful even. Crimson eyes skyward—ground above.
“Under... the ground...”
Buried barren exam soil, coiled, waiting.
(To be continued)