"Protect the Child Until the Cult Leader Arrives. Flee When He Does. Tear Off the Muffler If Pursued..."
"Protect the child until the cult leader arrives. When the cult leader appears, leave the child and flee immediately. If pursued, tear off the muffler..."
One of Yuk Eun-hyeong's mercenaries, assigned against her will to help Do Seon-woo solely because she was the fastest runner, muttered to herself. She had received two simple instructions from him: protect the child until he arrived, and when he did, abandon the child and run. And if any holy knights gave chase, rip off the muffler and discard it on the ground.
The orders were straightforward and clear. Yet she kept repeating Do Seon-woo's words over and over. She had decided that even something this simple could not be forgotten.
Do Seon-woo had promised that if they pulled this off successfully, he'd not only secure a place for the mercenaries to stay but also a training ground, via Yuk Eun-hyeong. It wasn't an exaggeration to say the future of the mercenary band rested on her shoulders. That's why she repeated his instructions endlessly, burning them into her mind.
"Protect the child. When he appears, leave the child and run. If pursued, tear off the muffl—"
Boom!
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the building. Dust sifted from the ceiling as it shuddered. Glass shattered from the windows, raining down in shards.
At first, she thought this was part of the cult leader's plan. But then flames erupted from the blast's aftermath, heat creeping upward. Only then did she realize this was an accident.
She recalled Do Seon-woo's orders once more.
"..."
Protect the child.
The child Do Seon-woo had entrusted to her slept soundly at her side. Jeong Yun-ah, was it? The mercenary recalled the girl's name and assessed the fire's progress. It wasn't critical yet. She could escape alone without moving right away. But the child was the problem.
The girl was out cold, like she'd fainted, and wouldn't wake. Staying put much longer could put her in danger. Yet Do Seon-woo had also ordered her to wait with the child in the designated spot until he arrived—no moving before then.
Protect the child first, or wait for the cult leader first? Both were his orders, leaving her conflicted.
"...Protect."
She finally decided. Protection came first. Her reasoning? The order of his instructions. He'd said to protect the child first, then wait for him. The first command took priority, she judged.
She hoisted the soundly sleeping Jeong Yun-ah onto her back. The girl was small and light, no hindrance even while running.
"Protect, protect..."
With Jeong Yun-ah on her back, the mercenary wandered the building's halls, still muttering Do Seon-woo's orders.
*
"Excuse me... no, Holy Knight Order here. We're searching for long-term missing persons. Have you seen anyone in these photos...?"
"Nah, haven't seen 'em."
"Come on, just take a quick look..."
"I said I haven't seen them!"
O Hui-jin sighed deeply as another citizen brushed off the missing persons photos without a glance, irritation boiling over. Showing pictures or describing appearances yielded nothing. Most were lucky to cooperate at all; the rest flat-out refused in annoyance.
But O Hui-jin didn't vent frustration at their lack of civic duty. It was just how things were. Missing persons cases had a golden hour—ideally within 24 hours, no later than 48. The Holy Knight Order used missing alerts and such to catch it, but fail that, and finding them was near impossible.
"That damn Do Seon-woo picks the worst one—long-term missing persons search..."
Long-term cases were over a month gone. At that point, it was less "missing" and more "ran off to start a new life somewhere." These searches were performative, mostly for the families. Holy knights hated them—no results, no credit.
Even pep talks about the huge payoff if they found someone fell flat; no one volunteered. Yet Do Seon-woo chose this out of all tasks.
The reason was obvious. Too kind-hearted, prioritizing public good over building a record. Ambitious types got cunning, but not him.
"...Well, that's probably why the captain likes him—"
Wheeee-ooo!
A fire truck blared past O Hui-jin as she muttered to herself from boredom. An ambulance followed, same siren wail. Traffic parted for them.
O Hui-jin glanced idly—then froze with unease.
"..."
They were heading toward Do Seon-woo's assigned search zone. Thick black smoke billowed in the distance. A fire.
She snatched her radio.
"Apprentice Holy Knight Do Seon-woo. Respond. There's a fire nearby—stay out. We don't need turf wars with the Northern Holy Knights!"
As she spoke into the radio, O Hui-jin recalled the Basar Mall fire. Han Dae-ho and Do Seon-woo had saved everyone inside. Back then, he was just a student, not even an apprentice. Yet he'd charged into the flames without hesitation.
He might've done the same here. O Hui-jin knew Do Seon-woo acted before thinking. Better stop him before instinct kicked in.
"Apprentice Holy Knight Do Seon-woo! Repeat: do not enter. Respond. Hey, respond, you bastard!"
No reply, no matter how she keyed the mic.
"Answer me, you psycho! I told you not to drag us into Northern shit!"
O Hui-jin kept radioing as she sprinted toward the smoke. Her voice rose, breath ragged, pace frantic. Anxiety and urgency spurred her feet.
*
My heart pounded wildly. Breath came short, vision narrowed. My body burned, every muscle throbbed. Bosu's power? Or just panic? I didn't know.
All I could think was get inside, rescue Jeong Yun-ah fast.
Regret hit too. Shouldn't have waited—grabbed her at dawn instead. No Gu Jun-hyeok interference, no hitches, plan perfect.
Dwelling on the past was foolish. Late regrets only slowed you down.
Inside, stairs loomed. No time for leisurely climbing. Every second counted. I'd told the mercenary to wait on the top floor—fifth story, corner room—with Jeong Yun-ah.
"Bade!"
I called Bade. Fierce winds rushed through shattered windows and doors. I rode them in my steps, adding Bosu's superhuman strength to my lightened stride.
Whoosh!
Wind lifted me; I soared up flights in seconds, clipping railings but shrugging it off. No pain.
The fifth floor choked with smoke. Bade's gusts cleared it, widening my view. I burst into the room where they should be waiting—mercenary and Jeong Yun-ah.
"..."
Empty. No Jeong Yun-ah, no mercenary. Not even a sign of life. Just thick black smoke.
Heart racing. Breath ragged. Vision tunneling. Muscles aching. Heat everywhere.
Not Bosu. I'd lost composure.
Where were they? Had the mercenary moved Jeong Yun-ah to escape the fire? If so, where? No safe spots left in a burning building. Outside already?
I couldn't think straight. I dashed with Bosu, cleared smoke with Bade, scoured the floor. Nothing.
"Dam, Damballa... s-staff!"
I tried summoning Damballa to help search—but realized too late I'd left the staff. No need, I'd thought.
Thud-thud-thud...
Down to fourth floor. No Damballa? Search solo. Find them, whatever it took.
With the staff, I could've doused the flames with other Loa powers. No panic then.
Regret again. But no time.
I summoned Bade to clear fourth-floor smoke—but spotted figures approaching through the haze. I held back.
They saw me too, striding forward.
"Who are you? Arsonist?!"
The lead man of the five holy knights bellowed through the smoke. Voice deep, booming, menacing.
I scanned them. Strangers. Not Eastern Holy Knights.
'Don't get tangled with the Northern Holy Knights, even if they don't say it.'
O Hui-jin's words flashed. These were Northerners.
They eyed me warily. They didn't know I was an apprentice.
To avoid hassle, reveal myself first. I tamped down my agitation, bowed my head.
"Apprentice Holy Knight Do Seon-woo of the Eastern Holy Knight Order. I'll assist with rescues."
"What? Eastern? Why here? And what's an apprentice doing up here?"
"...During long-term missing persons search, possible terror attack—acting on my own..."
"Bullshit 'on your own.' Get out!"
The leader roared with curses. I swallowed anger. Stay calm, persuade.
I schooled my face, spoke evenly. "There might be people trapped. Let me help with—"
"No one's in an abandoned dump. Just suppress the fire now."
"Still, just in case, I'll check..."
"Hey."
He cut me off, glaring murderously with bulging eyes.
"Hah, this punk... Do Seon-woo, right? No respect for superiors?"
"..."
"Didn't hear me? Northern Holy Knight Captain's orders. Hey, drag this punk out."
So the rude one was their captain. His men advanced to grab me, planning force.
Snap!
I shook them off. Two grabbing my arms toppled from Bosu's strength.
I stepped toward the captain. "...I'll just check the roof for hostages."
"Oh yeah...? Look at you."
"Just the roof. That so hard?"
"One more step. Disobeying orders, obstructing duty, assaulting a holy knight. I'll bury you."
"..."
But I kept advancing, ignoring him. He backpedaled, bravado fading, fear flickering in his eyes.
As I closed in, I pondered: overpower him? Or obey long-term?
Long-term, obey—abandon search, endure.
Crack!
But I didn't want to. I slammed my fist into the captain's face.
His men froze in shock. He clutched his crushed nose, collapsing, tears streaming as he gaped up.
"Y-you... what the hell...!"
"...Not in the mood to take orders from trash like you."
Thud!
I kicked his gut as he sat. Heart thumping. Breath short. Bosu? Or thrill? Didn't matter.
I left the stunned Northern knights and gasping captain, heading for the roof stairs.
(To be continued next time)