"The Reason Your Identity Hasn't Been Exposed Yet... Is Purely Because You've Been Lucky"
Ma Yu-hyeon opened his mouth on his own after finishing the meal I'd given him.
It was a meal in name only—really just a mishmash of leftovers I'd scraped together, dog food at best. Still, he devoured it like it was a gift from the heavens.
Probably because he'd been starving for a day and a half, on top of enduring massive physical pain and mental torment that had pushed him to his limits.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. You've just been lucky."
Ma Yu-hyeon swallowed the food still in his mouth and continued.
"People can only see as much as they know. And they live under the delusion that what they know is everything. That's why you've managed to stay alive and unscathed this whole time."
"Sounds like that applies to you too."
"Spot on. I know a bit more than most, so I see a bit more too. But in the end, I'm just as limited by my knowledge as anyone else."
"Then why the fuck are you spouting bullshit like you're hot shit?"
"Even people who know 'what I know isn't everything' are few and far between. You and I are alike in that way. We get it."
He had a point.
I knew what I knew wasn't everything. That was because Legba and Baron Samedi were by my side. They had far more experience and broader perspectives than I did, making me feel ignorant and foolish in their presence. There was no room for arrogant thoughts that my knowledge was the be-all and end-all.
"But what does that have to do with me being lucky?"
"If even one person had suspected 'there's a Voodoo Cult leader at Florence,' your cover would've been blown in no time."
"Probably."
"But luckily, no one did. No way a Voodoo Cult leader would infiltrate Florence, right? That's how they think. So even when you slipped up left and right, no one caught on."
"Huh."
"Even when you used voodoo or those miracle-like... Loa powers! No matter how much you flaunted them, they'd rationalize it as 'a miracle' or 'clever blessing use' to fit their worldview."
Ma Yu-hyeon kept going.
"Honestly, me too. I had no idea voodoo was this cheat-level. Passed out before I could even resist. If I'd known, I wouldn't have followed you."
"Got it, you fucking prick. Cut the crap and tell me about the underground prison."
"Oh, right. That was your first question."
I'd asked several times, but he'd dodged it every time, rambling about bullshit instead.
Ma Yu-hyeon took a breath and finally spoke.
"There are seven underground prisons in total. Four are for regular heavy criminals. They're better maintained than the other three, at least."
"......"
"Two hold priests who rebelled against the Papal Office or fell into corruption and caused trouble. Facilities aren't bad, but security's the tightest. Makes sense—they're ex-priests with more physical strength than common thugs. And then..."
"The last one is where you lock up anyone you deem a heretic."
"Bingo. Satanists and Voodooists all end up there."
"Do you know the location?" I asked.
Ma Yu-hyeon shook his head without a second thought.
"I'm not officially the successor yet... Only the Pope or Seong Yu-da—people at that level would know."
"Seong Yu-da?"
The name was all too familiar—and revolting. Just hearing it now made my hackles rise.
Right then, my pocket buzzed with a ringtone. It was Ha Su-yeong calling.
Probably not urgent. She had no reason to call me urgently.
Besides, answering now might let Ma Yu-hyeon hear her voice. And vice versa—that'd be a problem.
I declined the call and spoke up.
"What about Seong Yu-da?"
"Even as a former cardinal, he'd have access to that info. Only he knows the details, though."
Ma Yu-hyeon explained further.
"Archbishops get their positions by seniority—the Papal Office hands them out casually. Cardinals are different. That's when they can participate in the papal election."
"Papal election? If that's a thing, what's the point of successors like you?"
"It's about how many cardinals you pull to your side. That's basically the successor's job. Bloodline helps—gets you conservative cardinals' support without lifting a finger. That's why I'm rumored to be a top contender."
"Is that why you approached me? Tied to this papal election?"
"......Not unrelated."
Ma Yu-hyeon answered reluctantly.
I nodded and pressed on.
"So how many other successors besides you?"
"Three."
His face twisted for a split second. It was brief, but his features warped grotesquely in that moment.
He continued.
"......Fucking assholes."
"Same to you."
Ma Yu-hyeon shut his mouth like he'd been about to retort.
I stared at the thick fog filling the room, lost in thought.
Thoughts aplenty, but foggy ones I couldn't pin down.
"......Wait, weren't you acquainted with Seong Yu-da?"
"What?"
It was an absurd question. Of course I knew Seong Yu-da. I'd crossed lines between legal and illegal to dig up dirt on him back then.
Back when killing him was all I could think about.
But Seong Yu-da didn't know me. He might've heard my name through Seong Ha-yeon, Florence staff, or his network. But that was the fake name of a Florence student smeared in Charity Holy Mark bullshit.
He didn't know my name as the cult leader.
That's what I'd believed—what I'd lived by.
Ma Yu-hyeon's next words shattered that illusion mercilessly.
"There's no way Seong Yu-da doesn't know about you."
*
"As you all know, Teacher Ha Ye-jin will be away for a while. I'll be taking over as homeroom teacher for Charity Class. Oh, and Do Seon-woo is absent today due to illness..."
Yu Jeong-hak, subbing for Ha Ye-jin, handled morning announcements.
Mostly minor notices. He mentioned the practical exam, but nothing major.
Practical scores wouldn't be released separately; you'd infer them from the combined written-practical transcript. That kind of thing.
Jeong In-ah half-listened. It wasn't Ha Ye-jin's announcements, so she lacked motivation. Plus, Do Seon-woo's absence nagged at her.
On practical exam day, he'd been jittery the whole time. And no contact since.
She'd considered calling that night out of worry but held back. Her calls might burden him.
"Self-study this period. Great that exams are over and you're relaxed, but don't overdo it—"
"School life's not done. Second semester's ahead, so thorough previewing now is how you catch up to top scorers—"
"Especially you priest-track kids? Unlike paladins or holy warriors who can brute-force with bodies, you need to start now—"
Morning classes were basically self-study. More like sermons from idle teachers, though—no one actually studied.
Rumors still swirled about Ha Ye-jin, Kim Bok-dong, Kim Jin-seo, and... well, those four injured in the practicals.
Still, exams ending had kids buzzing. Jeong In-ah overheard post-school and weekend plans.
"In-ah!"
As the lively chatter filled the room, someone approached her while she pretended to read scripture.
A familiar face— a friend she'd talked to often early semester, still in occasional contact.
"Dude, exams are over—why study? Already previewing?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Nothing else to do."
"Studying 'cause you're bored? Wow, you're insane..."
Jeong In-ah smiled at her friend's grimace, bookmarking her spot and closing the book.
"Just skimming. What's up?"
"Nothing much. Weekend plans?"
"Uh... none, I guess?"
"Cool. Wanna come out?"
Her friend's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Come to think of it, early semester she'd hung mostly with Do Seon-woo. Lately, barely anyone else—exam prep kept her isolated, plus her resolve to keep studying steadily. Upcoming essay contest would busy her again, but a day off sounded fine. Nothing pressing this weekend.
"Sure. What're we doing?"
"Haven't planned. Grab food, wander, maybe bowling or whatever. No need to overplan fun."
"Sounds good. Just class kids?"
"Yeah. Me, you, Ye-ri over there... and a few guys probably. Those sitting back there."
Her friend pointed to a group chatting in clusters. Ye-ri and three guys laughing noisily.
One guy's face rang a bell—Jeong In-ah scowled.
"That's the kid who used to roll with Bae Seong-hyeon."
"Oh? Yeah, but... I thought he was shitty too at first? But he's nice after talking. Seems genuinely sorry."
"Dude... even so."
Jeong In-ah muttered, frowning. Good deeds now didn't erase past sins. Friend said he seemed truly repentant—not fundamentally bad. Still, his old ties to Bae Seong-hyeon's crew soured it.
Her friend eyed her dilemma, then grinned mischievously.
"So just exclude him? Hey, Yoo Jae-bin! In-ah hates y—!"
"Hey, hey! Crazy, stop. Not what I meant!"
Jeong In-ah hurriedly clamped her friend's mouth. She'd always been bold, but this was next-level.
Releasing her hand, the friend spoke.
"You'll come, right?"
"Fine, I'll go. Jesus, unbelievable..."
Jeong In-ah melted at her innocent question, chuckling despite herself.
Her friend beamed.
"I'll text where and when!"
"Yeah, got it. But..."
Jeong In-ah glanced at Do Seon-woo's empty seat.
Sick today, huh. Must be bad. He'd looked rough at the practical site...
"Uh, if I can't make it, I'll let you know."
"What? Setting up excuses already."
"Not an excuse... just in case."
"You're flaky, In-ah. Broken promises aren't new."
"Hey, not that bad! Hurts my feelings."
"Okay, okay. Text ya later!"
Her friend dashed out, like she had somewhere urgent.
(To be continued in the next chapter)