Rooftop Birthday
I ignored Gu Jun-hyeok's words spilling from the crow's beak and walked toward the Worship Hall. For some reason, today I felt like going to the Worship Hall instead of the dorm. If I wasn't careful, I might get busted for not returning to the dorm and rack up penalty points for sneaking out, but one night wouldn't hurt. Points could always be deducted later anyway. As I headed that way, though, Gu Jun-hyeok's taxidermied crow dogged me relentlessly. I considered using Bosu's power to kill it, but I didn't even have the energy for that.
"Jeong In-ah's happy now, so you're happy too?"
"Shut up."
"She won't be. We're different from her. We're outsiders......"
The crow said. I ignored it and kept walking. But no matter how hard I tried, its voice wormed into my ears. Ramblings about how we'd always end up alone, being strangers, that sort of thing. Normally I'd let it slide, but today it grated. Probably because I'd just come from seeing Jeong In-ah's happy family. Fresh off that pang of envy for a harmony I'd never have, Gu Jun-hyeok's voice hit extra hard.
"Can't wait for our reunion. Gonna leave behind my masterpiece."
"Ah, please...... Didn't ask, you psycho."
I muttered to drown out Gu Jun-hyeok's random bullshit. But he kept yapping endlessly. I plugged my ears and trudged on. The crow stayed on my tail.
Vrrr—! Vrrr—!
Then my phone buzzed. Not the one for Florence students, but the Voodoo Cult leader's line. Uncle.
- Hey, Seon-woo. You at the dorm?
"......Outside."
- Perfect. Come to the Worship Hall now.
"What, I was heading there anyway....... Why?"
Noise crackled over the line. Kang Ji-a's voice, Ha Su-yeong's, something dropping, wind gusts. Uncle mumbled something, but it was too garbled. When the racket died down, his voice cleared.
- Birthday, kid. Hear me? Birthday! It's your birthday today!
"Ah......"
- Hurry up! Not the basement—the rooftop.
Click.
Silence fell. Even the crow shut up. I pocketed the phone, glanced at it, and spoke.
"Hm....... Guess you're the lonely one."
"......"
"Rot alone in that underground prison forever. Chat with your stuffed pals."
Flutter! The crow bristled like I'd pissed it off, beat its wings furiously, and launched skyward. It soared until it was a speck, then vanished—like getting swallowed by the night sky's blackness.
I reached the Worship Hall. Normally Kang Ji-a would greet me, but today it was dead quiet. No one around. I changed into comfy clothes and climbed to the rooftop—the one where we'd all barbecued before.
"Yo, quick arrival? Sit!"
Uncle welcomed me right away. A table sat in the center, ringed by four chairs. Three held Uncle, Kang Ji-a, and Ha Su-yeong; a cake crowned the table.
As I sat, Kang Ji-a stuck candles in the cake.
"......You even got a cake. When'd we ever do this?"
"Never have, so why not? Right?"
Uncle said. I just smiled.
Come to think of it, I hadn't marked my birthday in years. Hadn't even realized today was it. The cake, the candles—they all felt alien.
Kang Ji-a finished the candles and lit them with matches. Wind snuffed them out every time. After burning through three, she frowned, puzzled.
"Sorry, the wind keeps......"
"Bade."
Whoosh—!
I summoned Bade. A fierce gust swept through, then nothing. Bade's wind had walled off the area, blocking any breeze.
[Pisses me off wasting my power on bullshit like this, but fine—for once. Birthdays are for joy!]
Bade griped. I chuckled. Meanwhile, Kang Ji-a got all the candles lit.
Ha Su-yeong beamed at the eight flames dancing in the stray drafts even Bade couldn't fully block.
"Song time? Go all out!"
"Nah, Seon-woo's too mature for that. Won't play along."
Uncle eyed me, then shot up.
"......While saying? Happy birthday~ Happy birthday~."
"Ah, what the—starting out of nowhere?!"
"Agreed. We sing together."
"Redo then? One, two, three......!"
Uncle cued. Kang Ji-a, Ha Su-yeong, and Uncle clapped and sang in unison.
I ducked at first, embarrassed, but soon clapped along. They were trying so hard; it'd awkward them out if I sulked.
"Happy birthday~ Blow!"
"Can't snuff 'em all at once? No cult leader cred. Right?"
Song over, Uncle and Ha Su-yeong prodded. I huffed, extinguishing them.
They clapped and whooped softly.
Uncle yanked the candles, set them aside, sliced the cake, and passed plates to Kang Ji-a and Ha Su-yeong.
Handing me mine, he smirked.
"How's it feel? Birthday after ages. Decent, yeah?"
I nodded.
"Kinda childish....... But good."
"That's the charm."
Uncle said. Made sense.
*
"Why're demon sightings spiking like this? Wasn't this bad before......"
"Apocalypse incoming?"
Han Dae-ho muttered, eyeing the 'No Entry' tapes and paladins ringing the Han River. O Hui-jin quipped beside him. Do Seon-woo trailed silently, scanning the scene.
They were en route to purge a sudden demon outbreak.
Han River vicinity fell under Central Priest Order turf, but this demon overwhelmed them—cue Eastern Paladin Order backup.
Pat. Han Dae-ho clapped tense Do Seon-woo's back.
"Relax. You just spectate anyway."
"......"
Han Dae-ho ducked the tape; O Hui-jin and Do Seon-woo followed.
The site buzzed. Central priests blasted divine power, sketching blessing circles. Some knelt, prepping miracle recreations via prayer.
The demon squatted motionless on the central island. Way bigger than standard.
Han Dae-ho approached the pray-ers.
"Good work. Eastern Captain Han Dae-ho. Situation?"
"Ah, captain. Ha....... Well......"
One priest rose, dusting knees, sighed, and explained.
Summary: Demon on island curled up, inert for hours. Miracle recreations? Zero damage. Demons swarming provinces—Central Knights and Warriors all dispatched there. Central Priests had no one left but Eastern.
"So....... Bottom line: kill that thing?"
"Yes."
"......"
Han Dae-ho eyed the demon. Red eyes glared creepily, but zilch else. Eerier than the usual berserkers—something off about it.
"To fight, island approach needed....... No good way."
"Ah, boat's there."
Priest nodded at a post-tied rowboat. Tiny—even Han Dae-ho'd swamp it.
Sigh. Mid-row ambush? Screwed.
"......Boat's too dicey. Risky. Should've called Warriors—snipers and all."
"Did. Not here yet......"
Screech—! A van screeched up, halted. Holy Warriors spilled out.
Northern Holy Warrior Order—skyrocketed after Central and Papal units gutted by mercenary purge.
Warriors geared: swords, spears, flails; pistols, massive sniper rifles. Leagues beyond Eastern's barebones melee kit.
"Damn....... We're redundant."
Han Dae-ho whistled. O Hui-jin scowled.
"Why call us?"
"Deprivation flex?"
Han Dae-ho chuckled bitterly. Classic Eastern: show up hyped, get sidelined by flashier holy folk.
"Eh...... Grab dispatch pay and bail."
O Hui-jin tsked at the priests. Do Seon-woo? Blank. No O Hui-jin gripe, no Han Dae-ho resignation. Just laser-focused on one warrior.
"Know her?"
Do Seon-woo nodded.
A sword-and-pistol warrior approached, flashing a grin.
"Long time."
"......"
Kim Jin-seo waved hello. Do Seon-woo gawked like she'd risen from the grave.
(To be continued)