Han Dae-ho Heads Straight to the Knight Order
Han Dae-ho went directly to the Knight Order the moment he returned home. It wasn't a day he was supposed to report for duty, but there was something he wanted to investigate personally. He headed straight to find O Hui-jin upon arriving at the order. His subordinate knew a great deal about other religions. That's what he wanted to ask about—Voodoo.
Fortunately, O Hui-jin was pulling an all-nighter and was still at the order late into the evening.
"O Hui-jin."
"Ah, Captain. You've come."
He greeted Han Dae-ho with a weary face. Papers were scattered messily across his desk. He'd been handling the backlog of work that had piled up while Han Dae-ho was away.
Han Dae-ho picked up one of the documents O Hui-jin was working on and glanced at it.
"...This was something I was supposed to handle, right? Want me to take care of the rest while I'm here?"
"No, uh? No, sir. Please rest, Captain."
"You look like the one who needs rest. Your face is a mess, man."
"Haha... It's a bit tough, but I'm really fine. I have to finish what I set out to do—it's just how I am. Makes my mind feel at ease."
O Hui-jin smiled as he spoke. Han Dae-ho looked at him with pity, then set the document back on the desk. O Hui-jin gathered the strewn papers and organized them again before speaking.
"So, what brings you here? I thought today was your day off."
"It was supposed to be. But I have something I want to ask."
"Me, sir?"
"Yeah."
Han Dae-ho nodded and continued. "It's about Voodoo."
He explained to O Hui-jin what had happened at the museum. He skipped the part about the black-skinned men bursting in, since O Hui-jin already knew that, and focused on things like the sudden weather anomaly and the Crossroads—details unknown to those who hadn't been there.
O Hui-jin stopped what he was doing and listened quietly. When the Crossroads came up, his eyes widened round.
"You went to the Crossroads... yourself."
"Yeah."
"..."
O Hui-jin seemed shocked, lost in thought. His gaze fixed on the floor, lips pressed tight. His fatigue-worn face now showed a mix of fear and excitement.
Han Dae-ho waited for his response, but when O Hui-jin stayed silent for a long time, he couldn't hold back.
"More than anything, I just want to know for sure if a Voodoo follower was there. Could they have used a proxy, like ordering a close aide to wield a Loa power or something?"
"A Voodoo follower was definitely there," O Hui-jin said with firm conviction.
"...Which means there could be a spy among our group."
"Yeah, I know. Information about our schedule leaked out somehow—that much is clear."
"Who had the quaking aspen fragment?"
"Everyone who traveled with me. And the other Holy Knights, Holy Warriors, and Priest Order captains and vice-captains."
This was why they couldn't easily launch an investigation despite knowing a spy had leaked info to Voodoo. Han Dae-ho had requested support via the quaking aspen fragment, and then the Voodoo follower had appeared. Everyone who held the fragment was a suspect.
"Timing-wise, an investigation would be tough."
Han Dae-ho nodded. As O Hui-jin said, the timing wasn't right. It had only been a few weeks since Mun Yo-seop captured Ji Hye-seong, the Satanist spy in the Central Knight Order, and his accomplices. With the Knight Order's reputation already in the gutter, pushing an investigation now could invite backlash. Plus, everyone with the fragment back then was a high-ranking captain or vice-captain. They'd cooperate if there was solid justification, but they might still resent the suspicion and retaliate against the Eastern Holy Knight Order later.
"Yeah. Even if we did it, not now. We'd need at least a Papal decree."
"...The bigger issue is, even if we investigate..." O Hui-jin trailed off.
"Even if we did?"
"...Didn't you participate in the Holy War yourself, Captain?"
"I did."
"And you've faced the Prophet directly."
"...Yeah."
Han Dae-ho was puzzled by the sudden shift to the Holy War, but he soon realized what O Hui-jin was getting at.
He had fought in the Holy War and encountered the Prophet. He still vividly remembered the Prophet wielding primal forces like weather, water, and fire to overwhelm Romanica clergy. But Han Dae-ho had never once entered and returned from the Crossroads. His first such experience was during this missionary trip at the museum.
"You saw an old man with a staff."
"Yeah."
"There are records of him using a staff to summon followers to the Crossroads for communion with the Loa. An ancient Voodoo ritual. The documents burned up, so we can't check now, but..."
"How do you know that?"
"I've known since before the Holy War. I've had a strong interest in various religions since then."
Han Dae-ho nodded. Voodoo documents started disappearing around the Holy War. If O Hui-jin knew from before, it wasn't strange.
"Ancient Voodoo..." Han Dae-ho muttered with a heavy sigh.
During the Holy War—the time of the Second Cult Leader and the previous Prophet—they never used the violent, barbaric, shocking spells or Loa powers described in ancient Voodoo texts. Maybe out of conviction or principle. But the current Prophet was different. He wielded those ancient spells and powers without hesitation. His discretion and mindset were worlds apart from his predecessor. And unlike before, the current Cult Leader and Prophet were the same person. Depending on the Leader's judgment, internal strife weakening Voodoo was less likely.
"The current Prophet—no, Cult Leader... He's more dangerous than back then. And he might get even more so."
"..."
Rumors that the Third Cult Leader, who had gone into hiding after the Holy War, was sharpening his blade for revenge. That was just Papal propaganda to foster negative views of Voodoo. But maybe it was true.
"And showing himself so openly like this... It could be a declaration of war."
O Hui-jin continued in a trembling voice. Han Dae-ho swallowed hard and nodded slowly.
I went up to the rooftop with my uncle, Kang Ji-a, and Ha Su-yeong. Damballa was with us too. There was a grill my uncle had set up, along with camping chairs and a table like you'd see at a campsite. He arranged meat, vegetables, disposable utensils, and such neatly on the table. Then he grabbed tongs and scissors.
"It's been a while since a BBQ party."
"Ah, let me handle the meat..."
"Nah, come on. You kids just eat. We need days like this once in a while."
My uncle lit the grill and grilled the meat with pretty skilled hands. He'd cut it into bite-sized pieces, plate it, and set it in the center of the table, and we'd grab from there. Ha Su-yeong ate the most, Kang Ji-a next. I barely ate any. I tried a few pieces, but I could only faintly smell the flavor—no real taste. Still, I pretended to eat heartily to match the mood. The meat was tasteless, but overlooking the cityscape from the rooftop and sharing a meal together felt nice.
"Quit hogging it. Aren't you a gatecrasher?"
"...Why are you eating so little, sis? Well, with your short height, it probably doesn't take much to fill up."
"What? You—"
"Fighting again. Cut it out, you two. You'll be living together from now on anyway."
My uncle stopped Kang Ji-a and Ha Su-yeong as they geared up to bicker. I quietly ate my meat—or pretended to—and listened to them. Kang Ji-a, who usually felt a bit cold, showed a fiery side when squabbling with Ha Su-yeong. It was fun to watch.
"By the way, why'd you come so suddenly? If you were coming, at least call."
I asked Ha Su-yeong. It just occurred to me. Even if she'd called, I wouldn't have let her come, but at least I wouldn't be so caught off guard.
She was devouring meat like crazy but frowned at my question.
"I called, but you didn't pick up."
"...Really?"
Come to think of it, there was a call from her when I was interrogating Ma Yu-hyeon in the worship hall.
Ha Su-yeong grabbed a piece of meat and continued. "...And it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. So I just came."
"Forgi—... This one's unforgivable."
"So shameless. Your Holiness, how about putting her to sleep with a spell and kicking her out?"
"What? I'm not going alone. You're coming too. Want me to use a spell on you?"
Kang Ji-a glared sharply at Ha Su-yeong's words. My uncle smiled at the sight.
"You two get along well. More meat?"
"Yes!"
"Yes."
Ha Su-yeong and Kang Ji-a stopped fighting to answer. From their tones, Ha Su-yeong seemed to respect my uncle quite a bit. He looked at me, who hadn't answered.
I shook my head. "I'm about done."
"Yeah? Your appetite's gotten smaller lately."
"Guess so."
I replied nonchalantly. The fact that I'd sacrificed some senses in my contract with Baron Samedi was a secret from everyone. No point in them knowing. It'd just draw pity or worry, or paint Voodoo in a bad light. Voodoo spells and Loa powers demanded payment proportional to their use. Choose one path, abandon another—that was Voodoo's core principle. No results without cost or sacrifice. And that cost was always borne by the Cult Leader alone.
"Right, Your Holiness! You went to Saudi last time, yeah?"
Then Ha Su-yeong piped up as if remembering something. I nodded, and she went on.
"It was a huge deal, right? Romanica and Islam, talk of war breaking out and all that."
"Yeah. Probably..."
Romanica was likely bracing for war with Voodoo too. But they hadn't reported on Voodoo or Satanism yet. The Romanica-Islam clash alone had the public in chaos. If Voodoo and Satanism got involved, it'd spiral uncontrollably.
"But I've got a question. Didn't you use any spells or Loa powers there?"
"I did."
"And you didn't get caught? How?"
"...I did get caught. They just haven't pinned it on me yet."
I answered carefully. Uncle showed no reaction, but Kang Ji-a and Ha Su-yeong looked shocked.
"Th-then what? You could get caught soon?"
"Maybe. Or maybe not."
"What happens if you do?"
"Haven't thought that far."
I really hadn't. I didn't even consider getting caught in the first place.
Ha Su-yeong gaped at me, speechless. Uncle plated some nicely cut meat and set it on the table.
"Well, then we hide and live among ourselves. Grill meat like this now and then."
"..."
"No place in the mountains to eat meat? We'll find one. Live there, done."
"Sounds good."
I nodded in agreement. I pictured us—uncle, Kang Ji-a, Ha Su-yeong, other followers—partying like this. Hiding would disrupt daily life, but it didn't seem all bad.
There was plenty of meat, but four people polished it off fast. It was almost gone. Ha Su-yeong had eaten the most, but Kang Ji-a had a good amount too. Uncle snacked plenty while grilling.
"Ah, almost gone. You kids still hungry?"
The girls didn't answer, but their faces said yes. I stood up. They'd keep eating, uncle grilling, so I'd go buy more meat.
"Restoration spell? Can't you multiply the meat with that?"
Ha Su-yeong said offhandedly. Creative idea. Theoretically possible. Uncle raised an eyebrow hearing it.
"Huh? But there's a reason he doesn't, right? If it worked, Voodoo could just sell meat and live easy forever."
"...From what I know, it probably won't work."
Kang Ji-a shook her head and added. I figured the same. Regular restoration spells couldn't do it.
Then I spotted the Retrograde Staff, Poteau Mitan. Damballa, who'd come up with us, had shifted from snake to staff form. Borrowing its power for restoration might work.
I picked up the staff and channeled Voodoo magic.
"Let's try. If not, I'll go buy some."
Truth was, I mostly wanted to test the staff's power. The mood swept me up too.
I infused the channeled Voodoo magic into the staff. Its tip glowed purple. Ancient Voodoo had a "revival ritual" to bring people back using spells—and that staff was this one, Poteau Mitan. Not quite revival, but something miraculous like it seemed possible.
I swung the staff through the air, tracing a spell circle. I drew a mid-level restoration spell over the remaining meat.
Shwaaaaa—!
Finally, iridescent purple light flowed from the completed circle. Far stronger than my usual spells. And eerie—magnetic, drawing the eye.
The mist from the circle crept out, enveloping the meat.
Fsssh...
And the meat vanished. Literally. It crumbled to ash, swept away by the wind into the sky. As if it had never existed, gone in an instant.
At the same time, my legs buckled. I leaned on the staff to avoid falling. My body swayed side to side.
"Wha...?"
My vision turned red. Blood dripped from my eyes, nose, mouth onto the floor.
Through blurring sight, I saw uncle, Kang Ji-a, and Ha Su-yeong rushing toward me in shock.