O Hui-jin's Resignation
O Hui-jin stood in front of Han Dae-ho's office. He clenched his fist at the door, agonizing for a long time over whether to knock. He bit his lip, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. After letting out a heavy sigh and wrestling with his thoughts, he finally lifted his head as if he'd made up his mind. Knock knock.
"O Hui-jin? What brings you here?"
As soon as he knocked, Han Dae-ho opened the door and greeted him with a smile. Han Dae-ho's face was blooming with joy. But seeing that smile only filled O Hui-jin with complicated emotions.
O Hui-jin managed a strained smile, bowed politely to Han Dae-ho, and stepped inside the office. He sat down in the guest chair at the center of the room.
"Wasn't today your day off? I told you to rest up at home after all the hard work you've done..."
Han Dae-ho said as he sat across from him. O Hui-jin nodded with a small smile.
"Yes, but I had something to say to you. Anyway, you look much better these days."
"The Eastern Paladin Order's reputation has really turned around lately. As captain, how could I not be pleased?"
O Hui-jin nodded at Han Dae-ho's words. Once, the Eastern Paladin Order had been plagued by conflicts with dBP Corporation and a severe manpower shortage. Then Do Seon-woo had been dispatched there, found long-term missing persons, made major contributions to demon species hunts, and built up such merits that some companies had even expressed willingness to sponsor them. It was still far behind the Central Knight Order or Western Paladin Order, but things had improved a lot compared to the past.
"It's all thanks to Do Seon-woo. That kid's the reason we're even treated this decently now. I hear other knight orders are clamoring to snag him."
"...Yeah, makes sense. He's talented."
"Good thing we spotted him early and brought him in. Would've been gutting if he'd gone elsewhere."
Han Dae-ho said proudly. He took great pride in having brought Do Seon-woo to the Eastern Paladin Order. It was regrettable that he'd eventually be sent to the Central Knight Order, but if a student who'd trained with them there joined the Central Knight Order, it would count as an achievement for the Eastern Paladin Order too. Thinking of it that way eased the regret.
O Hui-jin gave a wry smile as he watched Han Dae-ho boast about Do Seon-woo. Han Dae-ho tilted his head at the expression and spoke up.
"Something on your mind? Oh right, you said you had something to tell me. What is it? Nothing serious, I hope?"
"No, it's not serious... I just want to take some time off."
"Ah... Yeah, you've been coming in even on days off and working yourself ragged. How long?"
"About a week. Haven't been back home in a while, so I figured I'd go now."
"A week enough? You could take a full fortnight and really recharge."
"A week's plenty."
Han Dae-ho looked at O Hui-jin. The eyes that had always burned with firm resolve now seemed a bit softened. He definitely needed the rest. Han Dae-ho nodded with a smile.
"Take it easy then. I'll mark it as paid leave. You've earned it after all this time."
"Thank you. And... um..."
O Hui-jin hesitated, lips twitching as if unsure what to say. He squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip. Han Dae-ho watched him quietly. Finally, O Hui-jin opened his eyes and continued.
"...Don't give Do Seon-woo too much work."
"Hm? Oh... Got it. He's just an apprentice paladin anyway; not much to assign him."
"Good to hear. I'll be going now."
O Hui-jin bowed to Han Dae-ho and left the office. On his way out of the Paladin Order, he pulled the resignation letter from his pocket, folded it in half, and tucked it deep into his bag.
The wind blew. Even though winter hadn't arrived yet, it was quite chilly, so O Hui-jin pulled his clothes tighter.
*
Tap, tap, tap. Seong Yu-da drummed his fingers on the desk after hearing my words. The reception room was filled with silence, broken only by the steady rhythm of his tapping.
I placed my clasped hands on the desk and looked at him. He wasn't looking at me but off into empty space, his unfocused eyes lost in deep thought.
"Not much of a surprise, huh."
I said that and watched him quietly, wondering what reaction he'd have. Seong Yu-da pondered for a long moment before meeting my gaze with a smirk.
"I'd already guessed you were with the Voodoo Cult. But..."
Seong Yu-da spoke, his eyes sharpening as they fixed on me. I listened silently. I'd long suspected he knew my identity. After showing him the ring that had been my father's keepsake, it'd be weirder if he didn't.
He continued in the heavy silence.
"...I can't believe you're the cult leader. Maybe you're just a stand-in for the real one?"
"Why think that?"
"Common sense. No way the leader would risk something this dangerous personally. Infiltrating Florence in disguise and approaching high clergy? Safer to use a body double. If they're exposed, just cut off the tail."
He had a point. If the goal was mere infiltration, or if there was no need for the leader to do it himself, a stand-in made sense. Far safer and more efficient.
Yet I'd taken the risk and infiltrated Florence myself. Because my goal was to meet my mother in the underground prison. To achieve that, I couldn't rely on a double. I needed to become a cleric myself, gain access to the underground prison, and meet her in person.
Why ask this now? Did Seong Yu-da not know my mother was still alive, imprisoned there?
Impossible. He was the one who'd killed my father and thrown my mother into that prison. No way he didn't know.
Was he probing how much I knew? But no need to overthink.
"Ogoun."
Click. The reception room lights went out. Right after, I called Bade. Wind blew. The wide-open window slammed shut, curtains drawn. With a clattering sound, the cutlery on the table floated into the air. Steam billowed from the red-hot utensils. Screech, screeech... With an eerie noise, the teaspoon prepared for sugar twisted into a sharp awl. All the other utensils sharpened into deadly weapons. Transformed in an instant from ordinary tableware to lethal tools, they hovered, trembling as if ready to impale Seong Yu-da at any moment.
"Believe me now?"
Seong Yu-da didn't answer. He just stared at me through the darkness. Not speechless from shock—he was simply holding his tongue. He seemed to have some inkling of Ogoun's power.
Silence stretched on. In the pitch-black room, the only light came from the glowing red utensils, the only sound their trembling.
"...You really are the cult leader."
"Yes."
"Here to kill me?"
I couldn't answer that. Because I hadn't come to kill Seong Yu-da. At least, not now.
As I stared silently, Seong Yu-da shot up from his seat.
"Then kill me."
Seong Yu-da said. Ogoun's power didn't attack him. Meaning it wasn't bravado or bluff—it came from the heart. He truly wished for death. Specifically, death at my hands.
But I shook my head.
"Not here to kill you today."
"Why? Having second thoughts now that you have the chance?"
"..."
I didn't reply. It wasn't wrong. I'd once made killing Seong Yu-da my goal, thinking it the only way to avenge my parents. The hatred still burned strong. Yet I wouldn't kill him. Couldn't.
Because the revenge I'd envisioned wasn't this. Not granting him the death he craved, but making him terrified of it first. That was my revenge.
In the silence, Seong Yu-da took a step toward me.
"Do you know why I've let you live?"
I listened without answering. Seong Yu-da stared straight at me and continued.
"Pity. Your life, devoted to revenge for years—maybe a lifetime—is just too pathetic. Pure sympathy is why I've spared you."
"..."
"That's why I haven't killed or reported you. Understand?"
Stab! Then Ogoun's power struck. One of the red-hot utensils, lying in wait for lies, pierced Seong Yu-da's shoulder. Claiming it was pure sympathy? A lie. Probably said to provoke me.
I spoke as I watched Seong Yu-da grimace in pain but not groan or scream.
"The reason I haven't killed you is because you were friends with my father."
"..."
"You have his research materials—things I never got. I'm keeping you alive to take them back and exploit your power as former archbishop and head of the Purification Clan."
That was why I wasn't killing him now—there was still much to gain. My father's research, his influence. The special bloodline of the Purification Clan. With Mun Yo-seop suspecting me, I'd need his help for a lot.
"If I truly wanted revenge, I wouldn't have come to you."
The problem was, Seong Yu-da had no clear reason to help me. He had been aiding me inexplicably so far. But without knowing why, I couldn't manipulate him as I wished.
"If I wanted revenge, I'd have killed Seong Ha-yeon instead."
This was a probe. Maybe he was helping because of her. Fearing I'd kill her for revenge, so he groveled to protect her.
It wasn't a lie—if truly out for blood, I'd target Seong Ha-yeon over him now. I wanted him to suffer the same pain: family lost, lifelong regret, sleepless nights.
"...Kill me."
Seong Yu-da suddenly slumped and said. In the darkness, head bowed, I couldn't see his face. He continued.
"Ha-yeon is innocent. Just... kill me. I'm the only sinner. So..."
"You've been helping me because of Seong Ha-yeon."
I cut him off. Confirmation that he'd neither reported nor attacked me, but aided me instead—all for her.
"...Not just that."
Seong Yu-da shook his head. He fell silent for a long time. A teardrop hit the floor, glinting in the faint light. Head down, I hadn't noticed—he was crying.
"...If I don't even help you, there's nothing left for me."
Cryptic words. But Ogoun's power didn't trigger, so at least not a lie.
"Kill me. Please, just kill me."
"..."
"I've committed an unforgivable sin against you and your father—my friend. The only atonement is death..."
Seong Yu-da trailed off like a confession. I didn't know exactly what happened between him and my father. But clearly something had. Still, I had no intention of killing him yet. The more he begged for death, the less I wanted to grant it.
"If you want atonement, don't die. Not until I say so."
"..."
"I'll use you thoroughly. And when your usefulness ends, then I'll kill you. If you don't cooperate, I'll kill Seong Ha-yeon..."
I paused mid-sentence. Ogoun's power had attacked me. The threat about Seong Ha-yeon wasn't sincere—just to scare him into cooperating. Swallowing the pain, I continued.
"Hand over my father's research materials... and the location of Noah's Ark."
"...Understood. But in return."
Seong Yu-da lifted his head, eyes resolute as he looked up at me.
"While I cooperate with you, stay away from my daughter... Ha-yeon."
"Fine."
I'd approached her only to reach him anyway. With his cooperation secured, no need to involve her further.
I nodded and extended my hand. He took it and stood.
[What a tragic fate.]
Legba, silent for so long, suddenly spoke.
(To be continued)