Assault on the Gyeongsang Order
I left the café with Jeong In-ah and walked toward home. Since we lived in the same direction, I figured I'd see her all the way there now that we'd run into each other.
I glanced at her. She was walking silently toward home without a word, her face etched with worry. She seemed lost in deep thought.
"......When are you coming back to school?"
Jeong In-ah broke the long silence. Staring at her eyes, which somehow looked sad, I opened my mouth.
"Probably around the exam period, right?"
"So soon, then."
"Yeah. About two weeks......"
There were roughly two weeks until the exam period. Like it or not, I'd have to go to school then. Curing Jeong Yun-ah was important, but so was doing well on the exams.
The reason I'd enrolled at Florence Academy was to become a high-ranking cleric, gain access to the underground prison, and rescue my mother, who was locked away there. Using Ma Yu-hyeon might get me that access faster than planned, but there was no guarantee he'd move the way I wanted.
That's why I had to prepare Plans A through B and C.
"I'll go in two weeks."
That meant I had to cure Jeong Yun-ah before the exams started—in other words, within two weeks. Two weeks felt a bit tight; at least three would be better. That way, my exam prep wouldn't suffer. I also wanted to see Jeong In-ah and Jeong Yun-ah reunited as soon as possible.
"Yeah, right. You'll just skip again."
Jeong In-ah shot back curtly, her lips pouting. It was a familiar sight after so long, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I mean it this time."
"You better come. I'll be bored all by myself at school."
"What? You've got tons of friends. Hang out with them."
"I don't have friends. Not like you."
"......Did you have to add that last part?"
Jeong In-ah smirked at my words. As we chatted, we arrived at her house before I knew it. We said our goodbyes, and after watching her go inside, I turned to head back to the worship hall.
That's when Jeong In-ah burst back out and grabbed my wrist as I started to leave.
"......Wanna stay a bit?"
Her tone was a little urgent. Caught off guard, I didn't answer right away and just looked at her. She gazed up at me, still holding my wrist, then dropped her eyes to the ground.
"I-I mean, just saying. No one's home anyway......"
"I'll come by later."
I nodded and responded to her fumbling excuse. I still hadn't cured Jeong Yun-ah yet. I needed to get back to the worship hall quickly. Besides, with Jeong Yun-ah not fully recovered, staying at Jeong In-ah's place would only make me uneasy.
"......Okay. Get home safe."
Jeong In-ah nodded slowly and let go of my wrist. Then she went inside. I watched until she was through the door before heading back to the worship hall.
*
I'd skipped school for a few weeks, but I had to drop by briefly for something.
It was for the "dispatch training." A time for clerics-in-training to learn practical skills at active knight orders, warrior orders, or priestly orders.
All students had to submit applications choosing their preferred sites. I went to school to turn in mine.
Normally, you'd submit the form, pass the first document review, do an interview, and get final approval before dispatch. But I skipped all that and got assigned straight to the Seoul East Knight Order.
Thanks to Han Dae-ho.
There wasn't much to do. They'd just call me from the Seoul East Knight Order occasionally for odd jobs. The real hands-on work would come after exams, they said—it was easier for both the order and the students that way.
Otherwise, I spent all my time at the worship hall practicing reverse voodoo and working to cure Jeong Yun-ah.
"Ugh."
After using reverse voodoo on Jeong Yun-ah a few times and vomiting blood, I stepped out for a break—and ran into Ha Su-yeong. She grimaced and backed away the moment she saw me. It stung a little.
"You're not even hiding how much you hate it."
"It's not hate...... Go look in a mirror. What the hell happened to you?"
"What? How bad is it?"
"Ugh, just go wash up already!"
Ha Su-yeong yelled. I went to the bathroom and checked myself in the mirror. My face and clothes were splattered with blood. My eyes were bloodshot, lips cracked and dry. I didn't look human. No wonder she'd freaked out.
I washed up, drank some water, and threw together a simple meal. I wasn't hungry, but something was better than nothing. As I ate, Ha Su-yeong plopped down across from me.
"What the hell do you do all day, anyway? It's that zombified girl, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"Kang Ji-a told me."
Ha Su-yeong shrugged it off. I nodded and kept eating. It didn't change anything if she knew. No point hiding it from her anyway.
She watched me eat in silence. Her stare made me uncomfortable, so I set down my spoon and looked at her.
"Why keep staring? I can't eat."
"Can I see her too?"
"Huh?"
As I asked, Ha Su-yeong hesitated before speaking.
"The zombified girl. I wanna see what state she's in. Maybe I can help."
"You help best by staying out of it."
"......Fine, whatever. Do it alone then. Cough up blood every day till you drop dead."
Ha Su-yeong grumbled roughly. Her words were harsh, but I could hear the worry in her voice. Ignoring it, I ate and thought it over. Was it okay to show her Jeong Yun-ah's condition? Would she be shocked......?
"Finish eating and come see."
I decided, set down my spoon, and said it. I had no plans to die anytime soon, but if I did, Ha Su-yeong would become the cult leader. She might need to use zombification spells someday. So she had to see this. Understand what zombification voodoo was—and why it couldn't be abused.
"For real? It's okay?"
"No reason not to. But just watch from the side. Don't do anything. No shooting voodoo magic either."
"Got it. Just stand there, right?"
"Yeah."
I nodded. I had to warn her clearly on this. The Reverse Staff, Poteau Mitan, was fickle. It might absorb not just my voodoo magic, but hers if she let any slip. That could trigger the wrong spell, harming not just Jeong Yun-ah but Ha Su-yeong too.
I finished eating and stood. We headed to Jeong Yun-ah's room. Ha Su-yeong followed.
I grabbed the staff and entered. There sat Jeong Yun-ah, quietly waiting.
"That's her?"
Ha Su-yeong's reaction was calmer than expected. I'd thought she'd be shocked at first sight, but she approached casually and peered at Jeong Yun-ah's face.
Jeong Yun-ah blinked up at her. They stared at each other in silence for a while.
"......She's pretty. Kinda like a doll when she's still."
"Quiet!"
"Ow, you scared me. What?"
"I didn't mean totally quiet. That's all she can say right now."
"Oh...... Got it."
Ha Su-yeong nodded, relieved. I channeled my voodoo magic into the staff and spoke.
"You know why she's like this?"
"Kang Ji-a gave me the gist."
Ha Su-yeong nodded and continued.
"......Poor thing."
She stared at Jeong Yun-ah a while longer. Ha Su-yeong's usual bright face was dark this time. I set the staff aside and watched them.
What was Ha Su-yeong feeling now? Probably not much different from me.
Sometimes I thought this: Once Jeong Yun-ah was cured, maybe—just like my uncle said—I could let go of all the hate and live like this. No more holy wars, just peace. No hating anyone, no one hating me, content with small joys.
Seeing Jeong Yun-ah sparked these thoughts because I didn't want more people like her, Ha Su-yeong, or myself.
Someone might call it naive, but still......
Click!
"Cult Leader."
Then the door opened. Kang Ji-a entered. She'd said she'd stay at the Gyeongsang Order's worship hall a while to deliver something to executive Yuk Eun-hyeong, but she was back already. It was odd.
I frowned. Not just because she returned early.
Her arm was bandaged. Sloppily, like a hasty attempt to stop bleeding—not a doctor's work.
"Sis?"
"Eek......! Arm! Blood on the arm!"
Ha Su-yeong screamed, pointing at Kang Ji-a's arm. I set the staff down and approached. I checked her left arm. Layers of bandages wrapped it thickly, but they were soaked through with blood. Drops fell to the floor.
Kang Ji-a sweated coldly, legs trembling as she barely stood. Her eyes, looking up at me, were unfocused. She looked ready to collapse any second.
I supported her, and she unwound the bandages.
"I'm so sorry. Please treat me first...... I beg you, Cult Leader."
She said. I saw her arm beneath. A bullet wound, from the look of the hole. Blood gushed out.
I pressed my palm over it. My heart raced. Breathing was hard.
"How...... did this happen?"
I barely caught my breath to ask. Kang Ji-a steadied herself in my arms and spoke.
"......The Gyeongsang Order—and executive Yuk Eun-hyeong—are under attack."
(To be continued in the next chapter)