'…Go Get Treated First.'
"…Go get treated first."
Ha Ye-jin spotted me collapsed in the hallway and spoke up. I lifted my head and stared at her silently for a moment. Worry was plain as day in her eyes. Not that I could blame her—my face was caked in blood, and my uniform was splattered with plenty more.
But the sight of her felt so alien. I'd seen her just recently, back during the fight at Yuk Eun-hyeong's mercenary group. Yet the Ha Ye-jin from then and the one now were worlds apart. And so was I. Everything felt off-kilter, awkward.
I got to my feet and bolted from the spot like I was fleeing.
"What the… What the hell happened?"
As I headed to the infirmary, the school nurse I'd seen often at the start of the semester jumped up from her seat in shock at my bloodied face. She rushed over, checking me out, then let out a deep sigh.
I gave her a small smile.
"I got hit."
"By who…? No, never mind. Treatment first…"
She fumbled around, grabbing bandages, ointment, antiseptic swabs, wet cloths—everything under the sun. She wiped away the crusted blood from my face. All the while, she kept sighing heavily.
"The wounds aren't too deep. It's just the bleeding that makes it look bad… No dizziness or anything?"
"A little."
"Alright, this is just first aid for now. Head straight to the hospital."
"Got it."
"You."
As I finished up and turned to leave, the nurse grabbed my arm. Her voice had dropped low. Didn't sound like good news.
I turned, and she sighed again before speaking.
"But you won't go to the hospital anyway, will you?"
"…"
"You're young and tough now, so it heals quick… But who knows later. Go today, no excuses."
I had nothing to say, so I kept quiet. Whenever I got hurt at school, I'd just get basic first aid here and skip the hospital. A restoration spell would fix it anyway. And more than that, I dreaded leaving records. Last time Kang Ji-a got hurt in the fight at Yuk Eun-hyeong's group, she skipped the hospital too—said records could be a trail.
I was using a fake identity, just like her. Too many hospital visits, and it could lead someone back to me. Especially now, with Mun Yo-seop sniffing around.
Best to leave no records at all.
"Understood."
I answered that way and left. But I still had no intention of going. Not now, not ever. It was just a minor scratch—a restoration spell would handle it.
Still, I should avoid getting hurt from now on. Skipping the hospital every time might raise suspicions too.
So many things that could leave clues or spark suspicion.
Legba spoke up as I headed to the staff room. I nodded. For the Voodoo Cult, existing was the crime. For its followers, just breathing was a sin. No point dwelling on it anymore.
In the staff room, I spotted Ma Yu-hyeon and Kim Jin-seo standing at attention in front of Ha Ye-jin, hands behind their backs, getting an earful. Most of it seemed aimed at Ma Yu-hyeon.
As I approached, Ha Ye-jin sighed and said something to them. They bowed and left.
"…Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the hospital?"
Ha Ye-jin stared at my state, incredulous. Fair enough—bandages plastered my face, another wrapped around my head.
I looked at her silently for a beat, then spoke.
"Figured I should explain before I go."
"Tough spirit… But there's nothing to explain. I already heard it all from Ma Yu-hyeon and Kim Jin-seo."
She continued. Their statements matched up, giving a clear picture of events. No contradictions.
I asked what they'd said. Kim Jin-seo admitted seeing me getting hit, trying to intervene, and accidentally breaking Ma Yu-hyeon's finger. Ma Yu-hyeon owned up to hitting me entirely. But not a word on why.
"Punishment will be up to the committee…"
"Any way to skip the committee?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Don't wanna blow it up that big."
She tilted her head, baffled. I explained, and she still looked puzzled.
"…We could if you want, but why? You're not mad?"
"Just… please."
If a school violence committee convened and they checked CCTV or something, I'd be screwed. Everyone would see Ma Yu-hyeon doing nothing while I bashed my own head into the window like a lunatic. Normal school life? Over.
I hadn't started this hoping for his punishment anyway. Just needed to vent a little.
"So why were you getting hit? Not important, just curious."
I hesitated. How to spin it? Then it hit me—no need. I smiled.
"We fought."
"Fought? You just took it. You're not the type to go picking fights."
"I pick plenty."
I said it laughing, half-joking. But not entirely.
Ha Ye-jin let out a hollow chuckle, studied me, then nodded slowly.
"Yeah… Glad you look okay. You'll go to the hospital, right? I'll write an early dismissal slip. Just in case."
She rummaged in her drawer, pulled out a small slip, wrote my name and hers, signed it, and handed it over.
I bowed in thanks and turned to leave, but paused—something to ask.
"What brings you here today?"
Everyone at Florence knew she'd quit teaching to work under Mun Yo-seop. Why come back?
She hesitated, then smiled up at me.
"Had some business. Thought I'd say hi to colleagues and my old class while I'm at it. Left so suddenly last time, no proper goodbyes."
"No plans to come back full-time, then."
"Eh… probably not."
She nodded, continuing.
"What, happy you won't see me around school anymore?"
"Nah, I'll miss you."
"Thanks. Even if it sounds empty."
She smiled. Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed more relaxed now than when she was teaching. No desperation or urgency like before. I recalled her terrified face from the mercenary fight—protecting Yuk Eun-hyeong's group. Night and day.
That Ha Ye-jin and this one? Total strangers.
"Heard you were at the mercenary suppression."
Unnecessary. Should've wrapped up with thanks and a goodbye. Regretted it instantly.
She pressed her lips tight, forced a smile.
"Yeah. Not a fond memory."
"Sorry, shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's fine. Natural to wonder. You might end up in a spot like that someday, Do Seon-woo."
She nodded, gaze distant, empty. Lost in thought.
I thought back too. Her fear, So Do-jin's face.
"Sometimes it's hard to tell good from evil. Lately, I don't even know if those lines exist."
"…"
"…Sorry, my bad this time."
She smiled. I shook my head, no reply. Heavy silence fell, suffocating. Shouldn't have brought it up. Why did I?
I took a deep breath, bowed to her.
"Thank you, Teacher."
"Drop by sometime, say hi. Buy you a meal."
Wanted to ask about So Do-jin, but held back. Smiled instead. She smiled back, waved.
I bowed repeatedly as I left the staff room, straight out of the building. Green leaves had turned red. Wind shook them; a few fell.
"…Finally out, huh."
Someone spoke. I turned. Kim Jin-seo leaned against the wall, watching me.
"How's the body holding up, Teacher So Do-jin?"
Mun Yo-seop asked. So Do-jin lay immobile in bed. Even slight movement twisted his guts in agony; shifting in sleep was torture.
He managed a nod.
"…Fine. Except when it hurts bad enough to kill me."
"Sorry. Didn't wanna come myself, but HQ's pressuring for an investigation."
"No worries. Can't be helped."
So Do-jin forced a grin. Mun Yo-seop wasn't welcome, but unavoidable. Only So Do-jin had kept his sanity facing the cult leader blade-to-blade. Others were mad or quit, refusing statements.
"Appreciate it. So… you said you've met the Voodoo Cult leader?"
"Yes. Probably disguised as an active cleric."
So Do-jin nodded.
"Spear… especially javelin. Or thrown weapons. Paladin or Holy Knight, I'd guess."
The leader blocked all attacks with his staff. Spear users train to parry with the shaft. So Do-jin figured a spear specialist paladin or Holy Knight.
And the staff toss summoning snakes? Not beginner stuff. Focus on known spear/thrower Holy Knights or paladins.
"Makes sense. Good staff work too… Solid reasoning."
Mun Yo-seop nodded, muttering. Seemed agreeable, but his mind wandered elsewhere.
At the holy training ground spar. Do Seon-woo didn't just swing the mace—he threw it, catching Mun off-guard.
Mun didn't peg Do Seon-woo as the leader. But some connection? Likely. Confirmation bias maybe—once suspicious, everything pointed there.
"…A bit forward, but have you ever sparred Do Seon-woo?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, Do Seon-woo—"
Bang!
The door flew open before he finished. Mun's subordinate, sweating bullets, panting hard. Emergency.
Mun approached.
"Huff… pant… Inquisitor, sir. Sorry, out of… breath…"
"Breathe. Speak slow."
"…Auditors stormed the office. Some pretext, but it's clearly to obstruct…"
Mun's face hardened. Jaw clenched, twitching.
"Auditors…? From the Papal Office? No way."
"No, not them. It's…"
The subordinate caught his breath.
"The International Theological Society…!"
International Theological Society. The Purification Clan's scholarly arm.
(To be continued in the next chapter)