Seong Yu-da Glimpses His Memories Through the Spell
Seong Yu-da peered into his memories through his spell. It was right after Noah's Ark had been completed. Around the time contact with Seong Yu-da was cut off and vicious rumors about the Voodoo Cult began to circulate.
Do Myeong-jun had done nothing at all. He had simply held a few worship services and devoted the rest of his time to his duties as cult leader and to voodoo research. He hadn't done anything that could be linked to the grotesque rumors of cannibalism or human sacrifice. Even when some extreme factions within the Voodoo Cult held protests against discrimination toward Voodooists, Do Myeong-jun had urged them to stop their radical and violent actions.
That was when the Voodoo Cult began to fracture. Do Myeong-jun lamented the division into radical hardliners clamoring for revenge and moderates who followed him, showing great distress. In fact, the ones who had kidnapped Seong Ha-yeon weren't even Voodooists. They had already been excommunicated from the cult for their repeated extreme acts. They had no connection whatsoever to the Voodoo Cult that Do Myeong-jun and Lee Se-hwa belonged to.
Do Myeong-jun had tried to inform Seong Yu-da of this, but he couldn't reach him. Just as Seong Yu-da couldn't reach Do Myeong-jun.
"……."
Do Myeong-jun knew it was a plot by the Papal Court. A scheme to sever communication between them, use the enraged Seong Yu-da as a tool in the Holy War, and ultimately eliminate Do Myeong-jun through Seong Yu-da's own hand.
Do Myeong-jun attempted to contact Seong Yu-da several times, but failed every time. It was because of the Papal Court's machinations—and because the furious Seong Yu-da refused to listen. Believing the near-loss of his daughter was the Voodoo Cult's doing, Seong Yu-da had mercilessly slaughtered Voodooists during the Holy War. By the time a Voodoo executive fled mid-war and the schism intensified, it was too late for any dialogue.
Do Myeong-jun gave up resistance around then and focused on voodoo research.
"……I hope I can convey this memory to my friend."
He researched a spell that would work even on Seong Yu-da of the Purification Clan. He wanted the spell to transmit his memories to him. He believed that was the only way to clear the misunderstanding.
Those driven by revenge can never find happiness even after achieving it. They only feel profound emptiness. Do Myeong-jun didn't want his friend Seong Yu-da to live such a hollow, meaningless life.
Seong Yu-da had killed countless Voodooists and was the mastermind who brought down the cult through the Holy War. Yet Do Myeong-jun still considered him a friend.
"And to my son as well."
With those enigmatic words, Do Myeong-jun's memory ended.
Seong Yu-da came to his senses. The image of Do Myeong-jun, who had watched him until the moment of death, was gone. Only a pile of ashes remained beside the form.
A faint breeze blew. The ashes scattered on the wind.
"Cardinal, are you all right?"
At that moment, a cleric who had been watching from behind rushed over to Seong Yu-da. He shook his head to indicate he was fine. Bowing his head, he silently stared at his sleeve. It was charred black from the flames.
*
Seong Yu-da relinquished his position as cardinal. He also stepped down as inquisitor. In effect, he was no longer a Romanica cleric.
The clerics offered various speculations about why the hero who led the Holy War to victory had suddenly abandoned all his titles. Perhaps he felt his contributions were enough and decided to rest for his remaining years. Or maybe, having devoted his life to work, he now wanted to focus on family. Or guilt over killing in the war had made him question his calling as a cleric.
The guesses varied, but no one knew for sure. Seong Yu-da had quit without a word of explanation.
"You've worked hard, Cardinal Seong Yu-da. Or rather, not a cardinal anymore…… Should I call you hero instead?"
"……."
The pope who summoned Seong Yu-da to the Papal Court chuckled. But Seong Yu-da didn't smile at the joke. His face was rigid as he simply bowed his head.
Behind the pope, the seven guard captains stood with hands clasped behind their backs, solemnly gazing down at Seong Yu-da.
"At last…… the era of me, of Romanica, has arrived. What do you plan to do now?"
the pope asked. Seong Yu-da was silent for a long time before speaking.
"I want to rest."
"Yes, if I had my way, I'd keep leading Romanica with you…… But it can't be helped. I know how hard you've worked all this time."
"……."
"You should meet family and friends you couldn't see because of work."
Seong Yu-da just listened quietly. He had no response.
He had become the central figure of the Holy War and the power behind the Purification Clan. Many in the clan revered him, but he had no family to confide in. The same for friends. He knew countless cleric colleagues, but no true friends.
No, there had been one. But Seong Yu-da had killed that friend with his own hands.
"This is my gift to you. Open it when you get home."
The pope handed Seong Yu-da a box containing something. He took it, left the Papal Court, and returned home.
The grand but empty mansion had no one to rely on—just an excess of hired help for chores.
Seong Yu-da headed to his study, dusty from disuse. Research materials Do Myeong-jun had given him upon Noah's Ark's completion lay scattered, unsorted. He placed the pope's box on top.
Opening it revealed a pistol. In the corner was a bullet inscribed with the Latin word for "revenge."
"……."
Seeing the single bullet, Seong Yu-da realized what the pope expected of him. He loaded it into the pistol and set it on the dusty desk.
He went to his bedroom to sleep. Sleep wouldn't come, so he dumped a handful of pills into his mouth. Still no sleep.
After Do Myeong-jun's death and the de facto end of the war, a few more events occurred. The Voodooist massacre called "Night Without Stars." And the execution of the Voodoo prophet Lee Se-hwa.
Lee Se-hwa's execution was private. Hearing of it, Seong Yu-da came to the study. He put the pistol from the desk in his mouth and pulled the hammer back.
Click. The sound echoed in his skull. He placed his finger on the trigger. Tears streamed from his wide eyes.
"What are you doing?"
Someone entered the study. A child peeked through the door—Seong Ha-yeon.
Seong Yu-da yanked the pistol from his mouth. Slick with saliva and tears, it slipped from his hand and hit the floor.
Bang!
The gunshot rang out, echoing in the study. Smoke rose from the fallen gun. A small gouge marked the floor—trace of the misfire.
Seong Ha-yeon collapsed in shock from the blast, and Seong Yu-da looked at her.
'And to my son as well.'
Do Myeong-jun's murmured words from the memory swirled in Seong Yu-da's mind. If Do Myeong-jun's son had survived the Holy War and "Night Without Stars," he'd be around Seong Ha-yeon's age.
That child was probably lost in grief over lost parents or vowing revenge through tears. Even if he succeeded in revenge later, nothing would remain in his life.
Just like Seong Yu-da's.
"……I'm sorry, Ha-yeon. Truly……."
Seong Yu-da said, looking at the collapsed Seong Ha-yeon. He hoped, at least, this child wouldn't live the same empty, wretched life.
*
I opened my eyes. I was in Noah's Ark. With Noah's finger snap, Seong Yu-da's memories that had flooded in lingered vividly before me. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them to dispel the traces. I looked around.
First, I saw Noah, who had shown me Seong Yu-da's memories. Then Seong Yu-da himself, the owner of those memories. He was crying. Like a man gone mad, staring blankly into space, endlessly shedding tears.
"……."
I finally understood why he hadn't reported me to the Papal Court. Why he'd tried to help me. He was full of regret.
Regret for starting the Holy War at the pope's bidding and massacring countless Voodooists. He saw me and Seong Ha-yeon as his only means of atonement.
Honestly, much of it was hard to grasp. If he regretted it so much, why start the Holy War? Why never suspect the rumors about the Voodoo Cult and my father were fabricated by the Papal Court?
But Seong Yu-da was a devout Romanican who saw even doubt as sin. That made his foolish obedience to the pope somewhat understandable.
That said, apart from personal feelings, my thirst for revenge against him hadn't vanished. After all, he had led the Holy War and slaughtered Voodooists. No matter his past or reasons, that fact remained unchanged.
Then Noah strode toward me.
"Come back anytime. Life in the ark gets boring and lonely."
Snap.
He said that and snapped his fingers. Darkness fell with the sound.
When I came to, I was in the forest, not Noah's Ark. Seong Yu-da, who had been lost in tears, snapped out of it and looked around. Our eyes met.
"……."
He bowed his head, avoiding my gaze.
"……I have committed an unforgivable sin."
Seong Yu-da continued with a complicated expression.
"I hope this chain of revenge ends. But I can't tell you not to seek it."
"……."
"Because all the tragedy began with my foolishness."
Seong Yu-da had fallen for the pope's scheme, started the Holy War, and killed my father. It stemmed from his mistaken belief and foolish thirst for revenge that the Voodoo Cult was to blame for nearly losing Seong Ha-yeon.
I had once sought revenge on him. I'd even casually spoken of a Second Holy War.
My hatred and desire for revenge lingered. But I no longer wanted to avenge through another Holy War or killing Seong Yu-da. I knew the weight of sacrifices that would entail, and that actions born of pure revenge left nothing behind.
Above all, my father, seen beyond Seong Yu-da's memories, hadn't wanted that.
"My mother's still alive."
I recalled why I'd entered Florence. To find and rescue my mother from the underground prison, using Seong Yu-da. That was my way to revenge on Romanica, and his way to atone to me and my father.
(To be continued in the next chapter)