[Little One, Always Watch Your Back]
While walking through the darkness, Damballa spoke to me. I turned around. Two enormous eyes glowed in the shadows. Damballa, who had shed its small and cute form to grow massive, was glaring at me from behind. Its forked tongue gently licked my cheek.
[If it hadn't been me, you might have ended up in a real pickle...]
Damballa said that and vanished somewhere. Riding on Bade's wind, I caught the scent of blood. It seemed Damballa had helped me out while I wasn't looking. I shook off Damballa's seductive voice from my mind and once again sensed people's positions through Bade's wind.
The black-clad men who had gathered at the entrance were now scattered everywhere, daggers in hand. With the lights out and guns broken, they'd changed tactics. Otherwise, it was nearly impossible to tell who was who. Everyone felt similar in Bade's wind. I could barely distinguish a few with uniquely massive builds: Kang Dae-man and Han Dae-ho. They were too big to pass as ordinary.
Kang Dae-man was crouched against a pillar on the first floor. Next to him were two with slimmer builds—probably Kim Jin-seo and Yeo Min-seo. And Han Dae-ho was...
"...The third floor?"
The third floor, the museum's top level. With the black-clad men occupying the first floor, it might have been the safest spot right now. He was precariously leaning against the railing, as if he might fall any second. I couldn't guess why he was up there or what he planned to do.
I ducked behind a nearby exhibit for a moment and pulled out the trembling tree fragment I'd tucked away. Han Dae-ho's voice was still coming from it.
Han Dae-ho continued.
Han Dae-ho leaning against the third-floor railing. And his conversation with Ma Yu-hyeon. That told me exactly what he was planning. I knew he was a bit reckless, but this was way crazier than I'd thought. He planned to turn himself into bait—and fight the black-clad men head-on with no strategy whatsoever.
"..."
But that was too dangerous. I'd seen the tattoo on the neck of the man leading the black-clad group. Either a Satan Cult executive or one of their underlings. Definitely connected to the Satan Cult. Which meant black magic was a real possibility. Even for Han Dae-ho, that could be fatal.
I could hunt down the tattooed guy and take him out first, but in the dark, distinguishing who had tattoos was tough. I could subdue all the intruders with spells and Loa powers, but not right now. Wiping out this many at once would require a fusion spell circle, and that risked exposing my identity.
So, only one option left. Find Seong Ha-yeon.
*
I have to overcome this, she thought. She'd always thought that way. The Purification Clan had long served as inquisitors or earned comparable merits. Her father, Seong Yu-da, had done it, and so must she. But to do that, she had to conquer her fear of cultists.
Yet Seong Ha-yeon trembled at the sight of any man bigger than her. Especially those in hoods or with madness in their eyes—her legs would give out from terror. Memories of her kidnapping always flooded back.
"Hah, whoo...!"
In the end, she couldn't overcome it and fled. In the pitch black, she had no sense of direction and just ran wherever her feet took her. She hid in the museum's remotest corner, curled up, eyes shut, hands over her mouth to muffle her breathing.
Her mind said she had to fight, but her body wouldn't obey. Those memories choked her, her chest burning like someone was squeezing her heart. Rational thought became impossible. I want to live. I want to hide. That was all.
"Hoo..."
She steadied her breath, trying to push out the fear filling her head. Her heart calmed a bit, but she still lacked the courage to face the intruders. Trembling, she pulled out her trembling tree fragment and listened intently. That alone took guts.
Han Dae-ho's voice kept coming from the fragment, along with Han Su-ryeon's faint reply. He continued.
Seong Ha-yeon listened up to that point, then set the fragment down. Her hands shook too much, her arms ached too badly to hold it. The fragment glowed during transmission, a risk in this darkness—it could give away her position. Still, it was good that comms with Han Dae-ho hadn't cut out. And that Ma Yu-hyeon and Han Su-ryeon had replied. She wasn't sure about Kim Jin-seo, Yeo Min-seo, Kang Dae-man, or Do Seon-woo, but at least four were safe enough to respond.
Wait it out, and the others would handle it. Han Dae-ho would save everyone. No need for her to step up. Just stay put...
"Mmph...!"
Then, someone approached from behind. Rough, calloused hands clamped over her mouth. Something cold touched her neck. The chilling, eerie edge of a blade pressed against her nape.
Crack!
No time for fear—something snapped. Thud. A body hit the floor. The blade left her skin. Clink. A dagger fell.
Presence behind her. Someone had neutralized her attacker and casually picked up the dropped dagger. Seong Ha-yeon froze, unable to scream or turn. Her mind couldn't catch up. Who had held the blade? Who picked it up? The casual pickup didn't scream ally. Infighting among the black-clad men? Or a slip? What to do? Escape while they were confused...
"It's me."
The whisper cut through her chaos. Soft, but unmistakable. In this situation, it was the most welcome sound. But not the time to show it. Do Seon-woo pressed a finger to his lips—shh—and approached slowly, footsteps silent.
"Don't scream."
"...I won't."
In the dark, they kept voices low. Rain, wind, occasional thunder masked them. Even if enemies heard, it felt fine. Do Seon-woo was here.
His mere presence oddly reassured her.
"That blade on my neck earlier... was that you?"
"I saved you, and that's your thanks? Wanna die?"
"Ah... right."
"No time for chit-chat."
Do Seon-woo spoke softly, lips near her ear—words clear despite the whisper. The dark dulled any thrill from the closeness. Not the time anyway. He took her hand, pressed the dagger into it, and spoke.
"How far does Purification Blessing reach?"
"If I use it now, just around here... With prep, I can cover the whole first floor."
One Purification Blessing had limited range, but fused with others into a fusion blessing circle, it could spread far.
"Then hide here and prep it. Got the fragment?"
"Yes."
"I'll signal through it. Spill blood to complete the circle then. No signal, don't use it."
"..."
"But if I signal, it's do-or-die. Confirm you can do it."
Seong Ha-yeon hesitated, then nodded. The question was moot now. If it was do-or-die, she'd do it even if she couldn't. She nodded with resolve.
But Do Seon-woo stayed silent.
"Hey, say it. Got it?"
"...Huh? I nodded just now."
"Yeah? Too dark to see. Okay then."
He turned to leave. She grabbed him urgently.
"W-wait. What if someone comes while I'm prepping? Like earlier—"
"Stab their throat with the dagger."
"..."
Seong Ha-yeon shut her mouth in shock. Stab the throat, and they'd die. He said it so casually.
Noticing her silence, Do Seon-woo belatedly shook his head.
"Nah, kidding... Here."
He rummaged and slipped something onto her finger. A ring. In the dark, its gem glowed faint purple. He tapped it.
"If it gets dangerous, smash the gem."
"...What's this?"
"Holy relic."
Rings existed as relics, but this purple-gemmed one? Even relic-savvy Seong Ha-yeon didn't recall it. Still, she trusted him. No reason to lie now.
"I'm going."
"..."
He left abruptly, no chance to stop him. No hesitation in his steps, fearless despite armed intruders everywhere.
He was gone, but the relief lingered. The ring's odd weight felt comforting. She held the fragment to her ear, fiddled with the ring, and cautiously channeled divine power. Slowly drawing a Purification Blessing circle to fill the first floor.
*
Riiip, riiiip—! In the dark, Kim Jin-seo tore her skirt with her teeth. Yeo Min-seo gaped, nearly yelling before whispering.
"What the hell...?"
"Stop the bleeding."
Kim Jin-seo wrapped the strip around her arm wound. Skirt now shorter. She tested by kicking lightly—easier to move. Call it tailoring via first aid.
Yeo Min-seo snorted in disbelief.
"For bleeding, just heal—"
"Healing circle's too bright. Gives us away."
Kim Jin-seo yanked the knot tighter with her teeth.
"And now's the time to care?"
"...Fair."
Yeo Min-seo conceded. No point stopping someone tearing their own skirt. Kim Jin-seo hid behind a pillar, portable spear ready, watching enemies for openings.
Yeo Min-seo didn't get it.
"Just wait here. Captain'll handle it."
No need to risk it. Hide, let enemies come—smart play. Step out, and best case you survive unscathed; worst, pointless death. No gains.
"Don't know how the others are doing."
Kim Jin-seo shook her head firmly. "Others" meant one person. Yeo Min-seo eyed her, then still-crouched Kang Dae-man.
"...This fucker's still like that."
"Like a bird escaping the net-weaver's hand..."
Kang Dae-man muttered the same line, curled up. Not his usual self.
"Bird from the net-weaver's..."
Yeo Min-seo listened, growing irritated. The loud, bold guy now whispering pathetically—it pissed her off.
Face twisting, she snapped.
"Hey, you fucking idiot. Cut it out."
"I can't remember..."
Kang Dae-man clutched his head.
"Can't remember at all..."
What couldn't he remember? Yeo Min-seo had no clue. Kim Jin-seo, their sturdiest fighter, itching for unfair fights; Kang Dae-man, unmatched in size and strength, babbling nonsense. Despair incarnate.
"Hoo..."
Time to focus. Yeo Min-seo breathed deep, pondering survival. She grabbed her fragment, ready to chew out Han Dae-ho for the delay. He was all she could trust now.
Definitely Han Dae-ho's voice. But echoing Kang Dae-man's mutter. Yeo Min-seo frowned, turning to him.
"What? Kang Dae-man, you..."
Crash!
Glass shattered overhead, raining down. Yeo Min-seo looked up. A giant man clad in light plummeted from the third floor to the first.
"Save yourselves."
Boom—!
He landed. His light blazed so fiercely it hurt to look straight. In the dark, he shone like a beacon. Yeo Min-seo realized too late: Han Dae-ho.
"These crazy bastards..."
Maybe no one here was trustworthy after all.
(Continued next chapter)