Kim Jin-seo's Eyes Stared Clearly at Me
Kim Jin-seo's eyes were fixed clearly on me. She said she trusted me. It was the kind of words that should have made me feel on top of the world. Back in the day, they would have. After all, it meant I'd succeeded in hiding my true identity as the Voodoo Cult Leader and blending into the Romanica Church.
But now, my mind wasn't at ease.
"Just tell me this."
Kim Jin-seo tugged at my finger and continued. "Is it true there's a Satanist among your relatives? Did you know about it?"
I didn't answer her question. I couldn't gauge how far Mun Yo-seop had schemed or how he'd used her. Whatever he'd said about a Satanist in my family was probably a lie to recruit her. I only had one uncle as family, and even in my cover identity, there was no relative set up as a Satanist.
How I reacted here could change how much Mun Yo-seop suspected me.
I chose my words carefully.
"No, that was a lie from Inquisitor Mun Yo-seop."
"......A lie?"
"No Satanists in my family. But......"
I deliberately hardened my expression, as if deep in serious thought. Then I fell silent. A calculated silence.
I let out a sigh and continued. "......It's a bit complicated. Family matters are hard to talk about."
"Ah......"
Guilt pricked at me for deceiving her, but this was the best approach right now. Correct Mun Yo-seop's lie without revealing too much, making it seem like there were other circumstances. That way, I wouldn't fall for Mun Yo-seop's tricks, and I wouldn't have to explain why he might be watching me.
"I'll tell you later. Not now."
I gave Kim Jin-seo a small smile. She nodded as if she understood.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry......"
"I know. It's fine."
I said that and started walking back to the dorm. I used to lie without batting an eye, but now even managing my expressions was tough. I just wanted to get away.
But Kim Jin-seo followed.
"Heading in?"
"Yeah, gotta rest. I'm beat."
"There's probably a drinking party going on inside. You gonna be able to sleep?"
Come to think of it, yeah. Everyone except Kim Jin-seo and me was gathered in the dorm, drinking. The noise from the living room would make peaceful rest impossible. Even holing up in my room under the covers wouldn't block it completely.
And my ears were sensitive—I woke at the slightest sound.
"......Gotta tough it out. Can't snitch to Captain Han Dae-ho."
"Come to our dorm?"
Kim Jin-seo glanced up at the elevator floor numbers and said it casually.
I was caught off guard. Sure, our dorm was probably a mess by now, and the girls' dorm might be better for rest. But being alone with her there? No way I'd relax.
"......Nah."
"Why? If you're resting, our place is better."
"Still, that's......"
I hemmed and hawed, unable to spit out a reason. Being alone in the same dorm as you feels awkward—not easy to say outright. It might sound weird to her.
Kim Jin-seo looked up at my face, then smiled.
"What, embarrassed? Got some weird ideas?"
"......Nah, just suddenly wanna hang with the guys."
"You said you were tired earlier."
"Not too tired to hang."
I brushed it off with a vague excuse. Kim Jin-seo whipped her head away with a click of her tongue.
"Keep playing hard to get......"
"What?"
"Nothing."
I asked again, but she shook her head and dodged. The elevator arrived then. I pressed the button for our floor. The girls' dorm was one floor up, but for some reason, Kim Jin-seo didn't press it and just stood there.
"Why aren't you pressing yours? Stairs?"
"No."
"Then?"
"I'm going to your dorm too. To hang out."
"What? Earlier you......"
"What."
She cut me off and turned the tables. Thinking about it, there was no real reason to stop her, so I let it go. Staying alone in the dorm wouldn't be fun anyway. Maybe she wanted to try drinking too.
Ding!
The elevator stopped. We headed straight to the dorm. The hallway was quiet, but bursts of rowdy chatter echoed from somewhere. Familiar voices. Definitely from our dorm.
Kang Dae-man's voice was so loud, even the hotel's soundproofing couldn't contain it.
"......Is that noise from your dorm?"
"Seems like it."
I answered Kim Jin-seo and opened the hotel door with the card key. The faint kids' voices swelled loud. Voices booming so much, the entrance felt chaotic. At this rate, resting in my room was out, let alone chatting with Damballa.
"Yo, you're back! We were just talking about you. Sit do...... Huh? Kim Jin-seo's here too?"
Ma Yu-hyeon greeted us first. He seemed pretty drunk already—face flushed, voice higher-pitched than usual.
The others, circled around snacks and booze, were no different. Faces red, bodies slumped and swaying, eyes glazed. Four or five empty bottles rolled on the floor.
"Do Seon-woo's here! No way!"
Kang Dae-man, barely holding it together with arms crossed, jumped up at the sight of me. He spread his arms in an overly welcoming hug. I shoved him off—booze stench hit my nose.
"......How much did you drink?"
"Not much! Just feeling good!"
His voice up close nearly burst my eardrums. I patted his shoulder to sit and surveyed the scattered bottles. Good, Yeom Man-geun's booze hadn't come out yet. Some high-proof stuff worried me, but...... not my problem. I wasn't drinking.
I headed to my room where Damballa was.
"Hey, where you going?"
"To rest. No booze."
Ma Yu-hyeon grabbed me, but I shut it down. Forcing vibes with drunks was exhausting, and if I drank, I'd slip up. Best to stay out.
"Then just sit, right?"
Seong Ha-yeon stopped me as I entered. Her face was its usual pallor, but faintly flushed. The pink on her white skin looked vivid. She'd had a bit too.
Drunks often blurt things out. Why I avoided drinking.
I stared at her, then nodded.
"......Didn't finish unpacking earlier. I'll join later."
Lame excuse, but I slipped inside. The living room quieted briefly, then roared back. Ma Yu-hyeon hyping, Yeo Min-seo snapping at everything, Kang Dae-man overly serious, Han Su-ryeon's cackles mixing in. Seong Ha-yeon and Kim Jin-seo's voices occasionally, too soft to catch.
Click.
I locked the door amid the racket.
"Damballa."
I summoned her. Shhh! She slithered out from under the bed right away. Her glossy scales had dried to a dull flake. Snakes have no expressions, but her eyes looked weary, forlorn.
"Finally. Where the hell have you been, little one......"
"Work ran late."
I raised my voice over the noise, whispered when quiet to keep sound in. Damballa flicked her tongue, shook her head.
"The living room reeks of filthy booze and vulgar laughter."
"Sorry. Didn't expect this."
"It's fine. Not your fault."
She climbed my arm to my shoulder and continued. "But it's revolting and loud. Especially that big loud one—I wanna eat him. Okay?"
Big and loud? Only Kang Dae-man. I shook my head.
"No. Hang in there a bit."
"Romanica folk preach purity and temperance yet guzzle booze. Pathetic."
Her tone was still sticky-sweet, refined, but laced with fury. Really pissed. She slowly coiled around my neck, tongue flicking at my ear.
"I crave fresh air. When can I get out?"
"Tomorrow. Taking you out."
I stroked her coils and went on. "Museum trip. Need your help stealing the Reverse Staff there."
"Poteau Mitan?"
"......Yeah, that's one name."
"Legba will be thrilled. Me too, of course."
Good news for Legba and Damballa both. She started coiling tighter.
"So, what do I do tomorrow?"
"First, museum stuff. Then......"
First, hand Yun Chang-su's letter from Gangwon Diocese to a staffer. Get their help to pause security. Then, create a distraction. While I snag the Reverse Staff, keep other visitors, Han Dae-ho, and Florence students from seeing me.
"When I signal, you make a scene."
She'd handle the eyes.
*
"Hey, Ma Yu-hyeon. That watch—you wear it to look cool? Loosen it if you're here."
Yeo Min-seo jabbed at his wrist. Drunk, she was snappier than usual.
Ma Yu-hyeon held up the watch, grinning. "This? Can't. It's my seal, binding me."
"Unseal and a black flame dragon pops out?"
"Something worse might...... For real."
"Bullshit."
Yeo Min-seo snorted, downed her paper cup. Emptied it, refilled from a bottle—instantly empty. She shook it. No slosh.
"Drank it all? More booze?"
"Already? Damn...... You hogging it alone? Know how much that costs?"
Ma Yu-hyeon teased. But Yeo Min-seo scowled—no joke to her.
"Didn't drink much. What's it cost, asshole? Buy another?"
"Sure, I'd love that. This stuff costs—"
Ma Yu-hyeon named the price. Yeo Min-seo's jaw dropped.
"......Wh-what! You brought it to drink, and that's a crime!?"
"Who said crime? You're buying, right?"
"What booze costs a fucking fortune per bottle!"
"Not that pricey. Cheapest we opened."
"......"
Shocked. If this wasn't pricey, what were the others? Her head spun—couldn't tally the bill. Felt sick, like eating out of her league.
"Guess I'm tough."
Kang Dae-man chimed randomly. Arms crossed, muscles flexed.
Han Su-ryeon beside him giggled. "Ooh, Dae-man looks cool~ Best~."
"Drank this much, mind's sharp. Crystal clear."
"Oh yeah? More?"
Ma Yu-hyeon asked. Kang Dae-man nodded.
"Of course. Liver won't notice!"
"Then, time for the ultimate weapon......"
Ma Yu-hyeon stood, glanced at my door. Eavesdropped dramatically, nodded exaggeratedly, opened his carry-on. Pulled a bottle.
"Ultimate weapon deployed. You're done, Kang Dae-man."
"Huh? New release, right?"
"What, Han Su-ryeon, you know it?"
"Huh? Just...... Super famous......"
"Look at you, acting pure but boozing behind. Thug."
"......Hey! Not from you."
Han Su-ryeon raised her voice; Ma Yu-hyeon snickered. Sat, set bottle down, twisted cap. Drunk or weak, it spun uselessly.
"Damn. Won't open."
"I'll get it. Gimme."
"No, you'll smash it. Priciest one...... Ah."
Stopping Kang Dae-man, Ma Yu-hyeon's eyes hit Kim Jin-seo. Least drunk, strong yet precise—she could do it. He smiled friendly, handed it over.
"Kim Jin-seo, open this? You sober? Wait, you haven't drunk at all?"
"Huh, not a drop? C'mon~ Jin-seo, drink some! Might as well."
"......"
Kim Jin-seo ignored them, gripped the bottle. Crack! She twisted casually; retaining ring snapped.
She frowned at the instant booze whiff. Sharp alcohol plus sticky, seductive scent. So potent, smell alone dizzied her.
"......Huh?"
No—actually drunk. Vision blurred, head spun just from sniffing. Body itched oddly.
She blinked.
"Wh-what! Hey, you okay!"
Thud. Eyes open, she saw ceiling.
(To be continued in the next chapter)