An Unexpected Visitor at the Chapel
When I went to the mart, I told my uncle I'd head out first and left the store. Then I had a brief chat with Legba. He'd suddenly dropped some cryptic words on me.
[You don't resent me, do you.]
Resent him? When had I ever resented Legba? Sure, I'd grumbled at him pointlessly now and then or argued back against his advice. But I'd never truly held a grudge against him, not once.
I pulled out my phone from my pocket and pretended to make a call as I replied.
"What's this sudden talk of resentment?"
[What happened at the museum.]
I recalled the museum incident. When I'd gripped the staff, Legba had appeared and helped me out. More precisely, he'd saved not just me but everyone there. So there was no reason for me to resent him.
"No matter how I think about it, there's nothing to resent."
[Wasn't the situation made more awkward because I showed myself unnecessarily?]
I paused at his words, lost in thought for a moment. Then I nodded. Yeah, things had gotten tricky, no denying that. Han Dae-ho and the other Romanica folks had learned that a Voodooist had appeared at the museum. Now that the cult's existence was out in the open, I had to be even more careful with my words and actions than before. Even a tiny slip could spark suspicion.
"Well... Leg—no, anyway, it's not because you showed up."
But that wasn't on Legba. I glanced around to make sure no one was nearby and continued.
"Even without you, the outcome would've been the same. Because of the weather anomaly."
[A weather anomaly might've been brushed off somehow, but me appearing in person is a different story, isn't it?]
"Well... If you hadn't helped, the bomb would've gone off and I'd be dead."
[If you'd used spells, you at least would've survived.]
"You helped, so everyone survived. Our identities stayed hidden too. Sure, things got a bit messy, but..."
I trailed off there. I remembered what my uncle had said in the car.
"We saved the staff, and we'll deal with the fallout later."
[Suddenly so optimistic. This could put you in real danger.]
"I've always been in danger. Nothing's changed now."
Enrolling at Florence Academy and even commuting there was a massive risk for me. Letting Ma Yu-hyeon live after he discovered my identity had been a huge gamble too. Taking risks was routine now—I was confident in it. Besides, not using spells to the end and summoning Legba had all been my choices. Choices made by my own will, without relying on the intoxication spell. So even if the results turned sour, I didn't want regrets.
[True, nothing's really changed. It's just a minor shift for you.]
"Exactly."
[So don't act rashly about future changes either.]
Legba said. At the time, I just took it as his usual generic advice.
"Wait, hold on! Let me explain, just hear me out."
But when I saw Ha Su-yeong in the chapel, I finally understood what he meant. Legba had already known she was there. It was his roundabout way of telling me not to freak out at her presence.
[Why would I say something like that for no reason?]
Legba remarked. It sounded annoyingly smug somehow. I let out a deep sigh and looked at Ha Su-yeong. She was hunching her shoulders like she was already terrified. Seeing her like that softened me up a bit. Maybe she really had no choice but to come here. We'd scared her off the bat too much.
Besides, Ha Su-yeong was a full-fledged Voodooist. Coming to the chapel wasn't that weird.
"Fine, explain yourself."
I decided to hear her out first. Ha Su-yeong exhaled in relief and spoke.
"...I ran away from home, but I had nowhere to go."
"Is that so? Get out."
I said without a second thought. Ha Su-yeong clenched her fists.
"No, why?!"
"You're talking nonsense. Is this a bed-and-breakfast?"
"I-it's not, but you can let me stay a bit! Don't you feel sorry for me? I came here because I have nowhere else!"
"Not really. Isn't this your choice to run away? Figure it out on your own out there. It's summer, so you won't freeze."
"..."
Ha Su-yeong shut her mouth, apparently at a loss for words. Instead, she glared at me with eyes full of resentment. I hadn't done anything wrong, but it felt unfair to get that look anyway. Still, I wasn't changing my mind. She had a perfectly fine home—there was no reason for her to crash here, and no reason for me to let her.
"Hey, Seon-woo... Don't talk like that. She's got her reasons—hear her out first before deciding."
My uncle cut in then. I furrowed my brow.
"What reasons?"
"Family issues."
My uncle explained. Apparently, Ha Pan-seok had finally brought his new fiancée home, and Ha Su-yeong found out. But instead of apologizing or acting sorry, he'd been all brazen about it, which rubbed her the wrong way. Luckily, the fiancée wasn't a bad person. What Ha Su-yeong hated was her father's attitude. So she'd stormed out in a huff and ended up here since she had nowhere else to go.
"...Nowhere to go, so she came all the way here? Something's off."
A sense of unease hit me as I listened. Ha Su-yeong lived pretty far from the chapel—it wouldn't be easy for her to come alone. More importantly, she didn't know where it was. No way she'd made it here solo. I eyed my uncle.
"Well, uh, things just kinda happened that way. When kids are wandering lost like that, it's our job as adults to look after them a bit, so—"
"I'm losing my mind... You two were in on it?"
"Not exactly in cahoots~ Come on, what'd the kid do wrong? We're not raising her here forever—just letting her crash for a bit. That's not too much to ask, right?"
My uncle went on with his excuses. Looked like he'd brought her here himself. I got his reasoning. He'd always stepped up for kids and teens. He'd run an orphanage before the Holy War for the same cause.
"Okay, I get the situation... Hey, you."
"Yeah?"
Ha Su-yeong looked up, startled, when I called her. I continued.
"What about school? You can't commute from here."
"I'll take a break."
"Get out."
"Ugh, why again! I barely go anyway!"
"Barely going and not going at all aren't the same. Sigh..."
I almost raised my voice but sighed to calm down. This wasn't the time to get heated. I needed cool, rational judgment. No matter how I sliced it, sending her home seemed right. But scaring her off wasn't ideal either. I could force her out with tricks, but I didn't want to go that far.
"...Alright, let's vote on it."
I went with the most democratic option. I scanned the chapel. Ha Su-yeong was here, plus my uncle and Kang Ji-a. Uncle would probably vote to let her stay, but Kang Ji-a would want her gone—they didn't get along.
"Hands up if you support letting Ha Su-yeong stay here."
"Hold on! It's not staying, just crashing for a—"
"Quiet. Hands up if you're in favor."
I ignored her and proceeded. Uncle raised his hand, then Ha Su-yeong tentatively lifted hers. I glared.
"Hey, put it down."
"Why! Don't I get a vote?!"
"No, you're the one we're voting on. Everyone, hands down."
Excluding her, it was 1 yes out of 3. Obvious result.
"Now, hands for oppose."
Me and Kang Ji-a raised ours. 2-1 against.
"2-1, oppose wins. Ha Su-yeong, out you go, no arguments."
"...This is too much. You think I wanted to leave home?!"
"Yeah, Seon-woo! Way too harsh. Cold-blooded guy with no heart or tears! I even bought extra meat thinking of Su-yeong."
I rubbed my forehead.
"...Then we feed her the meat and send her home. Anyway, no staying—vote says so."
[No, I vote yes too.]
Legba chimed in just as I spoke. His tone sounded serious, not joking. I was thrown. Never expected him to butt in here.
He cleared his throat—figuratively—and went on.
[That girl's a potential next cult leader, right? Watching how you live up close could be educational.]
"..."
"What? Why'd you stop talking?"
"It's Legba-nim! What'd Legba-nim say? I'm right, huh?!"
Ha Su-yeong yelled excitedly. Her bouncing was more irritating than cute. I sighed and nodded. With Legba's yes, it was 2-2.
His voice was only audible to me, so I could ignore it, but it didn't sit right. He had a point.
"...One more yes. 2-2."
"Yay! So I can stay?"
"No, tie means revote..."
[Little one, I want to vote too.]
Then Damballa slithered up, speaking. Unlike at the museum, she was tiny and adorable now. She climbed my body to my shoulder and continued.
[My vote will decide that girl's fate. Right?]
"Fate's a bit much..."
[Whatever, my vote matters, doesn't it?]
"..."
Damballa sounded unusually chipper. Ha Su-yeong and Uncle watched her climb me in fascination; Kang Ji-a backed away, a bit scared. I nodded, and Damballa slid down from my shoulder toward Ha Su-yeong.
"Damballa wants to vote too."
"Oh, so that snake is Dam— Eek!"
Ha Su-yeong, nodding along, screamed mid-sentence. Damballa was climbing her body. Much slower than on me, like she was probing.
[Hmm, not sure about cult leader material, but she has prophet qualities.]
"Ah, ugh... C-can't I take this off? No, I mean her?"
"Yeah, just stay still."
I said. Ha Su-yeong watched pale-faced as Damballa ascended. She reached past her shoulder, her long tongue gently brushing Ha Su-yeong's left cheek.
[Such a cute face. Personality's my type too... I like her.]
Damballa flicked her tongue and added.
[I vote yes too, little one.]
"Ha."
I let out a sigh. Now yes had 3, no had 2. I'd lost a vote I thought was in the bag. Never saw Legba and Damballa teaming up like this.
Ha Su-yeong blinked at me expectantly. I sighed and nodded.
"...Legba and Damballa make it 3 yes."
"How many no?"
"2."
Ha Su-yeong looked stunned at first, then broke into a childlike grin. She started bouncing around gleefully.
"Yay! So I can stay? Why even vote then? You were gonna lose anyway."
"Shut your mouth or—"
"Alright, let's grill some meat! Got that grill from last time anyway."
Uncle interrupted and headed out with the mart bags. Ha Su-yeong skipped after him. I watched them go.
Truth be told, her staying wouldn't cause major issues. But it still rubbed me wrong.
[Think of it as a chance to train the next cult leader.]
[Yes, little one. Graciously accept the results.]
Legba and Damballa said.
[She'll be useful soon enough.]
[She's got real talent.]
"...Tch."
I clicked my tongue.
(Continued in the next chapter)