Jeong In-ah's Sick... No Break, Exams Incoming
"Jeong In-ah called in sick and said she can't make it... Sorry to say this, but your break's canceled. Exams are coming up again soon. Get ready properly. Stop slacking off."
Yu Jeong-hak, standing in for Ha Ye-jin, handled morning homeroom. Sighs rippled through the class at the news of exams so soon. Come to think of it, he'd been acting as homeroom teacher lately instead of Ha Ye-jin. Even when I stopped by the office for something, her face was nowhere to be seen. Jeong In-ah was absent. That made a full week straight. I'd tried calling, but she never picked up. I couldn't even guess what was wrong or how bad it was.
"Oh, and Do Seon-woo—drop by the office after this."
Yu Jeong-hak left those words and walked out. Ha Ye-jin might've called me in before, but he'd never singled me out, so I headed down with a puzzled feeling. He kept staring at his monitor, his face etched with exhaustion, even with me standing right there.
"...Teacher?"
I called out, and he turned with a start.
"Ah, right. I called you down. Man... my head's all over the place lately."
His voice cracked as he muttered, rummaging through the papers strewn across his desk. He pulled one out and handed it to me. I took it reflexively. He tapped it with his finger and continued.
"You know that kid who didn't show today... Jeong In-ah? You're close with her, right?"
"Yes, we're friends."
I answered confidently. He nodded.
"Good. That's her report card. I need to have her confirm it by today, but since she's been out sick a whole week... what can you do."
"Ah..."
"Pass it to her directly, and tell her to sign above her name in the bottom right."
"Got it."
"Thanks, kid."
Yu Jeong-hak shifted his gaze straight back to the screen. His hunched shoulders and bloodshot eyes looked utterly drained. I bowed silently and returned to class. Then I texted Jeong In-ah.
"..."
No reply. At lunchtime, I checked my phone again—still nothing. We always ate together, but without her, I had no one to grab a meal with. Honestly, eating alone was fine, or worst case, I could hit up Kang Dae-man. But he always worked out after eating, so joining him meant I'd get dragged into it too. Plus, he'd been hanging with Han Su-ryeon a lot lately. Inviting myself might shove me awkwardly between them.
If you hate eating alone, I could keep you company.
Legba offered. Nice of him, but I couldn't respond to him in the cafeteria. Just listening without replying felt kinda awkward.
"Hm."
No other options, though. I decided to eat solo and headed out. That's when I spotted a girl peeking into the classroom from the front door—the one with long gray hair who always stuck with Seong Ha-yeon. Her name was... Kim Ra-hee, I think.
"...Ah!"
She saw me and let out a little gasp, rushing over.
"Hey, you got any contact with Ha-yeon?"
Kim Ra-hee blurted out. Now that she mentioned it, I hadn't heard from Seong Ha-yeon in a while. She'd text first now and then before, but nothing lately. I figured Seong Yu-da must've said something to her the day we met... but that was just a hunch.
"Nah, haven't talked recently. Why?"
I shook my head. She sighed.
"She just stopped coming to school outta nowhere. No replies... You really don't know anything?"
"Nope."
"Ugh, damn... Why don't you know?"
"What?"
I'd never been close to Seong Ha-yeon to begin with. Sure, I'd played friendly that day with Seong Yu-da to set things up, but it was all lies to break the ice. And now she's dumping the blame on me? Hanging with Seong Ha-yeon must've rubbed off on her attitude.
"Why the hell are you—"
"Yo, Do Seon-woo! Lunch out today? Gonna beat your ass?"
Right as the curse was about to slip out, another unwelcome face showed up. Ma Yu-hyeon. Sweating buckets like he'd just worked out, he glanced between me and Kim Ra-hee, then jabbed a thumb at her.
"Who's this? Isn't she Seong Ha-yeon's friend?"
"..."
Kim Ra-hee stared at him silently, then turned and walked off. Disgust was plain on her face at his last glance. Guess his mouth pissed her off. Not my problem, though. If anything, good riddance—no extra hassle.
"...What the?"
Ma Yu-hyeon eyed her briefly but shrugged it off quick.
"Anyway, lunch out today. School lunch is total garbage today. Can't stomach it."
"Don't you have friends?"
"What, like you do? That's why you're standing here."
He wasn't wrong.
"How we getting out, though? Guards won't let us."
"Hop the fence. Ours ain't that high."
"Too much hassle."
"Fuckin' punk..."
Ma Yu-hyeon clicked his tongue. But I had zero reason to go along. Food tasted like nothing anyway—why risk sneaking out when cafeteria grub was safe?
Then his eyes lit up like he'd remembered something.
"Hey, wait—among the stuff from your dad, any papers or theses?"
"...Papers?"
"Documents, books, records—whatever."
I didn't recall getting any. I knew Dad researched voodoo and sometimes divine power, writing papers and books. But nothing survived. Holy War wiped out what hit the streets; the rest vanished.
"You... how much do you know?"
I stepped close, scanning around. Lunchtime—hall empty, but CCTV watched from the ceiling. Ogoun's power could fry it, but... no need to use powers at school.
"Fine, let's grab food outside."
"...Wait, on second thought, cafeteria might be better?"
He backed up.
"You said out. Let's go."
I pressed harder. I knew squat about Dad's research records. But Ma Yu-hyeon acted like he knew plenty. I needed to know how much.
"Actually, I think I got plans with someone else. Prior commitment—sorry!"
"Hey."
I stared him down.
"I can get the info elsewhere even if I kill you. Keeping you alive's just convenient."
"..."
"If it's easier from another source, you're dead. No point sparing useless risks."
"...Then you're in danger too, like I said before."
"So what."
I prepped Ogoun's power.
"I can die fine—successor's set. Think I can't take you with me?"
Ma Yu-hyeon shut up, eyes shaking as he met mine.
"Fuck... shouldn't have opened my mouth."
He grumbled and led the way. Scaling the fence was easy. Florence's walls were low, especially that spot. Remote too—no one around, no getting caught.
After hopping over, he took me to a dingy joint nearby. Signage and decor screamed rundown.
"This place bombed?"
"Nah, dives like this are the real gems. Good for talking too."
True—zero CCTV, owner stuck to kitchen except orders, no other customers.
I tried his recommendation. Tasteless. He wolfed it down like gourmet.
As he finished, I spoke.
"Continue from earlier."
"Ah, yeah. Hold up. Can't we talk after? Chatting while eating'll give me indigestion."
I nodded. Fine, I'd wait.
Post-meal, he chugged water, wiped his mouth, then started.
"...Anyway, I asked about research records, right?"
"Yeah. I got none."
"None? Hm..."
He gulped more water.
"Guess not, then."
"Ogoun."
Shrieeek—!
Chopsticks on the table flew at his right eye. Thud. I caught them before impact. Glowing red-hot, they quivered inches from his pupil. His face went ghost-white.
"You know where the research is."
"..."
"No more lies. Can't save you twice."
I dunked the chopsticks in water—sizzle. He wiped cold sweat, steadying his breath.
"...You know Seong Yu-da collaborated with your dad back then? Noah's Ark was one."
"Yeah."
During the Charity Holy Mark reelection test, Ark's Noah mentioned Dad directly—said he helped build it. And the ring's voodoo glimpse: Seong Yu-da and Dad were friends.
Ma Yu-hyeon nodded slowly.
"Then Seong Yu-da's got 'em."
"What makes you so sure? Could've trashed them."
"No way. Do Myeong-jun—your dad—wouldn't ditch 'em. Seong Yu-da couldn't either."
"Dangerous to keep. Worthless to non-Voodooists anyway."
'Us' meant the Voodoo Cult. Dad delved into spells and Loa powers, especially spells. Romanica folk couldn't wield voodoo magic—his stuff'd just invite suspicion, heresy hunts.
"Yet he hasn't tossed it. Means it's valuable to us too."
Ogoun stayed dormant. All truth.
*
Ma Yu-hyeon knew a fair bit about the research. I probed, but he gave nothing meaty. Still, his certainty on Seong Yu-da having it rang true.
I mulled his words. If Seong Yu-da had the records, I needed them. But how? He was wary post-last time. Seong Ha-yeon'd be easy leverage, but she ghosted school. Tried calling Seong Yu-da—no answer. Not missed calls; deliberate ignores.
I stared blankly at my phone, scheming a reread. Sneaking into his mansion was obvious but risky—shelved for now.
Mission trip's soon too.
Legba spoke as I lay on bed. I nodded.
"Yeah."
Nothing to prep?
"Letter... a few relics. And some groundwork."
Yun Chang-su's letter from Gangwon Order was essential for museum staff buy-in. Pack relics just in case, engrave spells on ring and body. Hate using body ones, but better safe.
And... also...
Legba trailed off. Phone rang—Jeong In-ah. I snatched it up.
"Hello? What're you up to."
- .....
My tone sharpened from worry. She went silent. Her breathing and faint rustles carried over the quiet. Nothing else.
"...Home? What're you doing? You okay?"
That means it's time for her to go.
Baron Samedi's voice. I scanned around—no skeleton, no silk hat edge, no purple mist. He'd been there at lunch. Now Jeong In-ah silent, him vanished.
"Hey, Jeong In-ah! Where are you ri—!"
Click.
Call dropped.
(To be continued next time)