Dining with Ha Su-yeong
I entered a nearby restaurant with Ha Su-yeong. It was a place famous among Florence Academy students for its delicious food and cheap prices. Since we'd come out anyway, I figured it was best to feed her something tasty first, so here we were.
Up until then, Ha Su-yeong's expression had been dark. Was that apology she gave me earlier sincere? I'd thought she was just saying it to avoid getting scolded.
Then the food arrived. In an instant, her gloomy face lit up. She must have been starving, because she devoured it with gusto. I half-heartedly poked at my food with my chopsticks, watching her all the while.
Sensing my gaze, Ha Su-yeong paused mid-bite and looked up.
"......Why do you keep staring? It's kinda creepy."
"Nah, just impressed by how much you're enjoying it. Weren't you the one who said you weren't hungry earlier?"
"Oh, that...... I dunno, I got hungry once I started eating. But why aren't you eating? You're the one who suggested lunch."
"You? What's with the sudden casual talk?"
"Eep...... L-Leader, no. Wait, what should I even call you? Oppa?"
"Hmph. Just stick with 'you'."
"Right? That's better, yeah?"
"Only for now. If you slip up like that back at the chapel......"
"Got it~ I'll behave once we're inside."
Ha Su-yeong brushed off my warning with shameless ease and went back to her meal. I watched her quietly. She really packed it away.
I'd ordered noodles, but I could barely taste them, and I had no appetite anyway, so my chopsticks barely touched the bowl. Times like this, I sometimes regretted sacrificing my sense of taste. It felt like I'd lost one of the few ways to enjoy life.
"So, what were you talking about with that guy earlier?"
By then, Ha Su-yeong had finished her food and was rinsing her mouth with water. I pulled out a couple of napkins and handed them to her before speaking.
"Nothing much."
"Really? You talked for so long, I thought it was something important......"
"You caused some unnecessary trouble, so I had to clean it up. It was a hassle."
"Ugh. That was unavoidable....... No, sorry......"
Ha Su-yeong wiped her mouth with the napkin, then trailed off in panic. Seeing her take my joke seriously and apologize made me chuckle.
"It's fine. It all worked out."
I smiled as I said it. And it really had. If anything, thanks to Ha Su-yeong, things might go even smoother than I'd planned.
The device Mun Yo-seop had tried to secretly attach to my phone via Kim Jin-seo was a type of holy relic, so I couldn't discern its purpose with Ogoun's power. That's why I'd sent it to DBP CEO Bae Jeong-hwan. No word from him yet, but I could guess its function.
Something that had to be stuck on a phone? Probably surveillance. Eavesdropping on calls and texts was a given, and it might even have GPS tracking.
I'd turn it against him. Through Seong Ha-yeon.
"......As long as it goes according to plan."
"Plan?"
I had two phones. The A-phone I used as a Florence student—nothing incriminating even if Mun Yo-seop bugged it. And the B-phone for Voodoo Cult business as its leader.
I'd attach Mun Yo-seop's bug to the A-phone.
I'd lied to Seong Ha-yeon, telling her Mun Yo-seop was investigating the Purification Clan. She'd said she'd help however she could.
Our back-and-forth on that would all go through the A-phone. Mun Yo-seop would overhear texts and calls about the Purification Clan—content that'd look highly suspicious to an outsider.
Because I'd steer the conversations that way.
The Purification Clan had plenty of secrets. Some hidden for the public good, others for selfish reasons. Either way, they weren't entirely above board.
Overhearing my chats with Seong Ha-yeon, Mun Yo-seop would grow suspicious. If luck was on my side, he'd start digging into the clan himself.
Then my lie to Seong Ha-yeon would become truth: "Mun Yo-seop is investigating the Purification Clan."
They wouldn't sit idle. They'd use their influence to rein him in—maybe even push for his dismissal.
Pitting the Purification Clan against Mun Yo-seop. Just like he'd tried using Kim Jin-seo to bug me.
If it went according to plan, I could neutralize him without lifting a finger.
"......What're you doing? Let's go."
"Huh? Oh."
Lost in thought, I snapped back when Ha Su-yeong called out. I stood quickly, paid the bill, and left the restaurant. She scurried after me.
We walked for a bit. No destination in mind—just wandering wherever our feet took us. Normally, I'd head straight back to the chapel, but since I'd brought Ha Su-yeong out, I figured we'd take the scenic route to shake any tails.
"......Aren't you tired?"
Ha Su-yeong spoke up as we walked. I tilted my head. We hadn't gone far.
"Not really. Only about ten minutes, right?"
"That's not what I......"
"If you're tired, head back."
"No, it's not that I'm tired from walking!"
Ha Su-yeong suddenly raised her voice. Passersby glanced our way. The stares were annoying. I stopped and looked down at her.
She'd been fine at lunch—why this now? I was starting to get irritated.
"Then what is it? Say it right from the start—"
"Not me, Leader....... You. Aren't you tired?"
"Me? Why would I be? I like walking."
I asked out of genuine curiosity. I enjoyed walks, and with my regular workouts, ten minutes was nothing. Or did I look that weak to her? Fair enough—I'd coughed up blood twice in front of her. Maybe I needed to bulk up more.
As I pondered that, Ha Su-yeong sighed deeply.
"No...... I mean acting in front of others, pretending like that. Isn't it exhausting?"
"Oh, that."
Now I got it. I thought for a moment before answering.
Since enrolling at Florence, I'd spent most days on campus or in the dorms. Every moment there, I was acting—it wasn't an exaggeration.
But had I ever found it tiring? My heart had dropped a few times when I nearly slipped up, but exhaustion? Never.
Enrolling was my choice. I couldn't afford to feel worn down by it.
"Not really."
I shook my head. Ha Su-yeong, who'd been looking up at me, dropped her gaze.
"It seems tiring. If it were me—"
"Your dad plotting rebellion was way more exhausting. Remember?"
"......Why bring that up out of nowhere? Water under the bridge, right?"
"I nearly died, and you call it water under the bridge? Are you a psychopath?"
"I said sorry back then, didn't I? Or...... did I? Uh...... no?"
"You didn't."
I barely remembered, but knowing her personality, probably not. Ha Su-yeong pursed her lips, looking sulky. Then her face suddenly brightened.
"That's why you ran away from home. Problem solved, yeah?"
"Solved how?"
"You're not with the Chungcheong Diocese at HQ anymore, so it doesn't matter...... or something?"
"What kinda nonsense is that?"
"It's complicated. Anyway, moving on!"
Ha Su-yeong grinned. I was a bit annoyed but let it slide.
Ha Pan-seok, once a rebel plotter, was now a loyalist. Ha Su-yeong could be irritating at times, but she followed me well enough. No need to dredge up the past.
Besides, her spells were special. Unlike standard voodoo, they worked on animals—maybe even magic beasts or demons. Her talent would prove useful someday. Better to keep things amicable.
"But...... do you act or lie in front of us too?"
Ha Su-yeong asked abruptly.
"Us?"
"Y'know, the f...... uh. Anyway, in front of the followers."
She glanced around cautiously, checking for listeners. I stared at her nervously craning her neck. I knew what she meant.
Did I put on an act in front of Voodooists like I did at Florence—as a Romanica student?
Honestly? Probably. I had to lie and perform everywhere. At Florence to hide my identity, with the cult to maintain the leader's dignity. Showing mental cracks would tank morale and reverence.
"No."
But I shook my head and lied calmly.
Ha Su-yeong eyed me steadily.
"For real? Not even once?"
"Maybe once or twice. But I never deliberately hid anything."
"Oh, really? So nothing you're hiding from us?"
She said "us," and I wasn't included. Reminded me of when Ma Yu-hyeon used "us" once. I hadn't belonged then either.
Maybe I never truly belonged anywhere.
I smiled and shook my head.
"Of course not. No need."
I did need to act a little with the cultists. Like now, lying to Ha Su-yeong without a flinch.
I turned toward the chapel. Ha Su-yeong, walking beside me, panicked and hurried after.
"Hey, where to all of a sudden!"
"Let's head back. We've walked plenty."
"What? Only fifteen minutes."
She grumbled, reluctant to return.
"I'm a bit tired."
I smiled. I wanted to get back and practice with the staff. There'd be trial and error, coughing blood, maybe collapsing—but that was fine.
Anything to clear my head. Otherwise, I'd never sleep tonight.
(To be continued in the next chapter)