The Cathedral's Weekday Silence
On weekdays, the cathedral was quiet. Ha Ye-jin often slipped inside during midday on days without mass, when no one else was around, to pray. She loved watching the sunlight fracture into colors through the stained glass, and she loved praying bathed in that light. Closing her eyes in prayer eased the constant ache in her chest that plagued her every night. She never prayed alongside other parishioners. It felt too shameful, too embarrassing. She didn't think she deserved to kneel shoulder-to-shoulder with the other lay faithful.
"Ha Ye-jin?"
Startled by the voice calling her name, Ha Ye-jin snapped her eyes open. She shot up from her seat. The screech of the chair dragging across the floor echoed grandly through the silent cathedral. Ha Ye-jin stared blankly at So Do-jin, who had entered the cathedral. He looked just as surprised to see her. It was a chance encounter.
"……You scared me. What are you doing here?"
"I saw you coming here last time. I kept thinking I'd stop by sometime, and today I finally did…… but I didn't expect to find you."
"Were you stalking me? That's creepy."
Ha Ye-jin grinned playfully. So Do-jin didn't respond. As she sat back down, he took a seat beside her. Side by side, they sat in silence, gazing at the cross hanging at the front of the cathedral. Sunlight in vivid hues poured down upon it.
"Where did you say you were going after leaving Florence?" So Do-jin asked casually.
Ha Ye-jin stared at the holy image as she replied. "I'm thinking of going to work under Inquisitor Mun Yo-seop."
"Jumping right back into work after leaving? You could take a break."
"It's like a break. He calls me when he needs help, and I go assist occasionally. Feels like a part-time gig."
"……That guy seemed a bit off to me."
So Do-jin meant Mun Yo-seop. Ha Ye-jin nodded. "He is weird. Honestly, he can be kinda scary sometimes."
"Won't it be tough working under someone like that?"
"Maybe, but in a way, it's better. Unlike the Priest Order, he doesn't meddle in trivial stuff."
"Well…… if that's the case, good for you."
So Do-jin sighed. Truth be told, he couldn't view Mun Yo-seop entirely positively. Their previous meeting had involved a request bordering on intimidation, leveraging authority. Still, he had to admire the man for rooting out the Satanist spy in the Central Knight Order. He couldn't deny Mun Yo-seop's skill and determination. That was why he couldn't outright oppose Ha Ye-jin working under him.
"Your complexion looks much better. Getting some real sleep these days?"
Ha Ye-jin said. So Do-jin couldn't tell if she was genuinely curious or just changing the subject. He nodded.
"Got some work from the Crusaders after a while. Burning through all my accumulated leave to prep for it."
"Sounds fulfilling. I'm jealous."
"……Technically, aren't you unemployed? Feels like that's not your place to say."
"There's a difference between resting with a job lined up and just lounging around."
"Isn't lounging easier?"
"True enough. I've got savings, after all."
Ha Ye-jin nodded in agreement. A brief silence fell.
"So, what's this Crusader gig?"
She asked suddenly, as if it had just occurred to her. So Do-jin tapped his index finger idly on the pew before speaking.
"Some mercenary band causing trouble in Busan. The Papal Office issued an order to suppress them."
"Wow, the Papal Office issuing a suppression order for one merc band? Trinita isn't even directly under them, right?"
Trinita was the name of So Do-jin's Crusader Order. He shook his head.
"Technically, they are. They just don't interfere much. Still, it's unusual."
"Yeah. If they really mean to suppress them, they'd use the Central Knight Order—better skilled, more manpower."
"Right. Probably more of a warning."
So Do-jin realized his slip too late and clamped his mouth shut. It wasn't something he should disclose to non-operatives. As he planned to brush it off, he glanced at Ha Ye-jin's face. She was already eyeing him with intrigued suspicion at the word "warning."
"What do you mean by 'warning'?"
"……I shouldn't say, but the merc band they've targeted has been doing illegal proselytizing for a while."
"Illegal proselytizing? How's preaching illegal?"
"Wouldn't matter if it was Romanica. The problem is it was Voodoo."
After hearing the story, Ha Ye-jin couldn't hide her shock. It had been ages since she'd heard the word "Voodoo." Having never fought in the Holy War, it felt even more distant to her. She even wondered if Voodoo preaching warranted a suppression order. Weren't Satanists the real issue now? But those were thoughts she couldn't voice, so she stayed silent.
"……Yeah, that justifies a suppression order."
"Exactly. Heretics are heretics, degree aside. Plus, there was that missionary trip incident."
"Oh, right!"
Ha Ye-jin's eyes widened at "missionary trip." She'd seen the news about the kids on the trip getting attacked by a terrorist group at the museum. That day, TV and the internet were flooded with coverage. There were even provocative headlines like "Papal Office Sends Children to Slaughter." Ha Ye-jin had barely slept that night, worrying the kids might die, get hurt, or face any mishap.
"The kids are okay, right? They all made it back safe?"
"They did…… though something still bugs me."
"What now? And why do you keep beating around the bush? Makes me wanna hit you."
Ha Ye-jin clenched her fist playfully. So Do-jin edged away slightly as he spoke.
"Don't hit me. They said Voodoo was at the museum."
"The museum? Voodoo in Saudi Arabia?"
"Yeah. Heard they came and helped us."
"……Why would they help us?"
"Beats me."
Ha Ye-jin took it seriously. Some might dismiss Voodoo showing up at the museum to aid Romanica as no big deal, but to her, it implied a lot. The relation between Voodoo and Romanica aside, the word "helped" stuck out. It meant Romanica was in a position to need help—and Voodoo was in a position to provide it. She couldn't just conclude they were friendly. Alternatively, Voodoo might have been flexing their presence to Romanica.
"You really wanted to quit, right? Doesn't seem like it from how worried you sound."
So Do-jin's words snapped her from her thoughts. He smiled faintly at her pensive expression. Seeing that smile pricked her pride, so Ha Ye-jin scowled unnecessarily.
"……Wouldn't it be weirder not to worry? In this situation."
"Fair point. If you wanna come back, just say so. The chairman seemed to want you to."
"Probably. But not yet."
Ha Ye-jin gave a wry smile before continuing. "……This feels like the best I can do right now. Just worrying and praying from afar like this."
So Do-jin nodded. Ha Ye-jin wanted to tell him about the dream she'd had under black magic's influence. But she also didn't. It might relieve her briefly, but it could disappoint him. So she buried it. Maybe one day, if the chance came, but not now—not yet.
*
I opened my eyes to stars. Scattered across the night sky, they twinkled cutely. The moon was half-hidden by clouds. It took me a moment to piece together what had happened. I'd channeled Voodoo Magic into the staff to draw a spell circle, the meat turned to ash and vanished, and I collapsed. I vaguely recalled Uncle, Kang Ji-a, and Ha Su-yeong rushing to me—then nothing. I'd lost consciousness.
"……Hey! Snap out of it, what the hell……!"
My vision cleared, consciousness returned, and sounds filtered in. Uncle, Kang Ji-a, and Ha Su-yeong crowded around me, murmuring anxiously. Strength returned to my body. Gripping the staff, I stood.
"……How long was I out?"
"Ten seconds