Paladin-J's Chatty Shadow
Kim Jin-seo, a member of the Paladin-J team, headed to the starting point indicated on her electronic watch. The atmosphere was icy—maybe because everyone was seeing new faces for the first time, or perhaps the practical exam had everyone too tense to talk.
"……."
Kim Jin-seo silently scanned her teammates, craning her neck around. She vaguely recognized some from Paladin Department drills or training sessions, but couldn't recall any names. Almost everyone was a stranger to her anyway, so it wasn't anything unusual…….
"It's you again!"
One familiar face stood out, though. She still didn't know the name, but this was someone whose face was impossible to forget.
"……Who the hell are you?"
"What do you mean? We're on the same team, duh. You're Paladin-J too, right?"
It was the same kid who'd sat next to her on the bus, chattering nonstop and driving her nuts. The girl beamed and waved hello, then held up her electronic watch like it was proof. The words Paladin-J were clearly displayed, confirming they were indeed together.
"See?"
The kid asked, and Kim Jin-seo nodded with a scowl.
"Yeah…… Talk about shitty luck."
"Hey, that's mean!"
"Tch."
Kim Jin-seo clicked her tongue and let the kid's words go in one ear and out the other. Sure, there were always one or two types who pushed through no matter how much you showed your dislike, but one this stubbornly oblivious to rejection? That was a first. Faced with the kid's innocent gaze, Kim Jin-seo sighed in resignation.
"……Let's plan our strategy."
With that, she gathered the team.
The Paladin Department teams had been issued two types of special gear. One resembled a compact grenade launcher, loaded with holy flashbangs and smoke grenades. Perfect for obscuring enemy vision in combat. There were two per team, with four of each grenade type.
"And what's this…… a whip?"
Kim Jin-seo picked up the other piece of equipment and swung it experimentally a few times, muttering to herself. It looked like a whip at a glance, but it was too light, and with only one strand, it didn't seem combat-ready. Unless you lassoed an ankle to trip someone.
Two per team as well.
Kim Jin-seo proposed sending two out of the ten to the Priest Department base to capture a hostage, while the remaining eight hunted clerics for tokens. She added that the eight shouldn't stick together—splitting into groups of four would be more efficient.
One teammate raised concerns about being disadvantaged in fights if they split up, but Kim Jin-seo shook her head firmly.
"Paladins work better scattered."
Even in holy wars, paladins formed independent squads, executing ops with minimal manpower. Strong egos and personalities meant letting them operate solo maximized their potential. Forcing them together often turned elite fighters into a disorganized mob.
Besides, with the extra gear, they could always use it to escape if things went south.
And so, Paladin-J split into groups of two, four, and four.
The hot potato was who would do the hostage grab at the Priest base. As everyone hemmed and hawed, Kim Jin-seo stepped up.
"If no one's volunteering, I'll go. Someone else come with."
"I'll do it!"
"……Anyone but her?"
Kim Jin-seo looked around for other takers, but everyone avoided her eyes. With another deep sigh, she set off with the kid in tow.
She handed the grenade launchers to the other two four-man teams and kept the whips for herself. They probably wouldn't help much, but better her than someone else.
"Where we headed now? Priest base, right?"
"……."
The kid kept yapping at her side, but Kim Jin-seo ignored her and marched toward the objective. She figured the fast pace would wear the girl out eventually, but the chatter never stopped.
"You've been ignoring me forever. Starting to piss me off."
After several ignored attempts, the kid teased. Kim Jin-seo shot her a hard look.
"……Open your mouth one more time."
She raised the whip, stroking the strand threateningly.
"And I'll tie you up and ditch you."
"……."
The kid finally shut up, but her mouth curved into a grin like she was having the time of her life.
> ‘Paladin-D’ Team Captures Hostage: ‘Priest-H’ Team Seong Ha-yeon
The electronic watch displayed the message. Apparently, contact between the handcuffs and watch automatically registered her as a hostage.
Capturing Seong Ha-yeon—the Priest Department's combat powerhouse—was a massive win for the Paladins.
"……."
Seong Ha-yeon, meanwhile, was mortified.
She'd always hated rain. It always poured on days when misfortune struck.
Like the time she'd been kidnapped as a child by some unknown assailant.
Or when she'd faced that taxidermy abomination whose head, upper body, and lower half moved independently.
Both times, it had rained.
She loathed the feel of soaked clothes clinging coldly to her skin. She'd ducked into this building to avoid the downpour—and run straight into Kang Dae-man.
Should've stuck with her team instead of playing lone wolf…….
"P-Please let me go."
"No."
"I can't walk. These are draining my strength……."
Seong Ha-yeon pleaded, nodding at the handcuffs. But Kang Dae-man just shook his head stone-faced.
"No can do. Not till the team leader says."
"Team leader…… Isn't that you?"
"Nah, Do Seon-woo."
Seong Ha-yeon clamped her mouth shut. She hadn't expected Kang Dae-man and Do Seon-woo on the same team. What the hell were the teachers thinking pairing those two? They claimed fair randomization—bullshit.
"Where's Do Seon-woo, then……."
She trailed off. The handcuffs sapped her energy, but more than that, Kang Dae-man's intimidating bulk was suffocating. Do Seon-woo would've been fine, but this guy's scary face and build made casual talk impossible.
"Dunno."
Kang Dae-man answered matter-of-factly. Seong Ha-yeon stared blankly.
"But…… you can contact him with these watches."
"Tried. He's offline."
"Your team leader's cool going solo like that?"
"Weren't you solo too? That's how we nabbed you."
"……."
Kang Dae-man had this knack for blunt truths after playing dumb. Seong Ha-yeon had no comeback and fell silent. Better to wait for her team to rescue—or negotiate—her out of these cuffs.
"……Rain's letting up."
Kang Dae-man peered out the cathedral's shattered stained-glass window. The downpour hadn't fully stopped, but the sheets had thinned. No more thunder or lightning.
After sheltering and cooling off, the team's condition looked much improved. Time to head out—back to the Priest base or hunt clerics for tokens. They'd decide how to leverage Seong Ha-yeon once Do Seon-woo arrived.
"Alright, let's move."
Kang Dae-man hauled her up, but she shook her head.
"……It's still raining."
"This much is fine."
"……."
Seong Ha-yeon refused even a single drop. Kang Dae-man pondered the stubborn girl. She wasn't even on Paladin-D—just a hostage with no obligation to obey. But they couldn't stay put forever, and ditching her meant delaying Do Seon-woo…….
"Got it. I'll just carry you."
That was his solution after much thought. Seong Ha-yeon blinked, then shuddered in horror.
"N-No, anything but that!"
"If you're not coming, no choice. Can't wait out the rain here."
"W-Wait. My team's coming soon. I'll call them, then—"
Bang!
The cathedral door flew open.
Seong Ha-yeon inwardly cheered, assuming rescue. Even if it was just token/hostage negotiations, freedom from these cuffs would suffice.
"……What?"
But it wasn't her team. Two female students gripped bizarre weapons. Rain-soaked hair plastered to their faces made identification tough at first. They slicked it back in unison, revealing themselves.
"No way—Han Su-ryeon!"
Kang Dae-man blurted in shock. Han Su-ryeon didn't speak, but her face said it all.
She held a Paladin team grenade launcher, hesitating to fire, just staring wide-eyed.
"……Dae-man. Fuck, you seriously forget my face?"
In the tense standoff's hush, the girl beside her spoke. A twisted, grotesque smirk—not quite a smile—played on her lips. She gripped a whip in her right hand.
Yeo Min-seo. The one who'd skipped the written exam for recovery, now here with her ankle heavily bandaged.
Neither Kang Dae-man nor Seong Ha-yeon had processed it yet. She shouldn't even be healed—should be in the hospital. Why was she in the exam arena?
"Han Su-ryeon!"
Yeo Min-seo whipped her lash and signaled. Thunk! Han Su-ryeon expertly loaded and fired.
A dull gunshot echoed as the grenade hit the cathedral's center—a smoke grenade, belching thick white fog. It filled the space densely, zero visibility.
Thunk!
Han Su-ryeon fired again, impossibly fast. The second was a holy flashbang. It pierced the smoke and nailed Kang Dae-man right between the eyes.
Krraang—!
"Urk!"
The flashbang burst with holy light akin to a blessing, blinding him temporarily. Kang Dae-man blinked steadily, fighting to regain vision without panic.
"Nice shot, Han Su-ryeon!"
But Yeo Min-seo gave no quarter. She drew and fused two blessing circles, charging through the smoke.
Kang Dae-man's sight cleared.
Too late. Fusion instability sparked a collision— the unstable circle detonated right in his face.
"Kang Dae-man, no hard feelings! Maybe some!"
Yeo Min-seo sounded even more unhinged than before her hospitalization.
Boom—!
The explosion rocked the chapel. The unlit chandelier in the center swayed from the shockwave.
(To be continued next chapter)