The Next Day at School
Just like any other day, school passed in perfect ordinariness. The only difference was that Bae Seong-hyeon and O Byeong-min were absent.
After classes ended, I stopped by the underground chapel before heading back to my place. Thankfully, Uncle Lee Jin-seong was right where he always was, reading a book. I cut straight to the chase.
"Uncle. How about selling off those dBP stocks now?"
"Tch."
Uncle didn't even look up from his book, as if he hadn't heard a word. His response—if you could call it that—was half-hearted at best, more grunt than reply.
"They're gonna tank soon. Not a hunch, a certainty. For real."
"Tsk. dBP's future is brighter than the sun."
"No, it's not. It's about to get dark. Please believe me."
Uncle shook his head with a heavy sigh.
"Hey, kid. The stock's skyrocketing so hard it's about to punch through the charts. We're nowhere near the peak! Selling now would make you a total sucker."
"Don't come crying to me later."
"Sure thing, Cult Leader. No regrets here. Hell, you don't even know stocks—why butt in?"
"Fair point... sigh."
I let out a frustrated breath. Explaining everything about Bae Seong-hyeon from start to finish would take forever.
[Don't say a word.]
Legba chimed in casually just as I was lost in thought. Before I could respond, he continued.
[Let him lose the money. Teach him a lesson.]
"Huh?"
[Ignore the cult leader now, and it'll burn him later. Not a bad idea to drill that in.]
"Even so—"
[You are the cult leader. He's just a priest. Ignoring you is overstepping his bounds.]
It made sense, but Uncle Lee Jin-seong was family. I couldn't just let him lose everything.
"Uncle. Last chance. Sell."
"Why keep pushing? Got a reason? Or just another 'gut feeling'?"
"dBP stock is doomed to crash. I've made sure of it."
"Like you can manipulate the market. Ridiculous."
No matter how I tried, he wouldn't listen. I was starting to get pissed.
"Fine. Do whatever. I warned you."
"Aw, okay. Don't whine for handouts later."
"Yeah, yeah."
Handle it yourself. Not my money anyway. Don't regret it later.
I gave up and turned away. To cool off, I decided to catch some news. Perfect timing—I had a reason to check anyway.
I headed to the back of the chapel, into my room. The small TV in the corner was playing the news.
No leads yet on the recent string of kidnappings.
Seoul East Knight Commander resigns amid corruption scandal; new commander appointed.
And so on—no good news in sight.
[The world's a mess.] Legba, watching with me, let out a rare lament.
I stayed in the chapel all evening, flipping channels. Nothing I wanted to hear.
Impatience was creeping in.
[No rush. They might still be investigating.]
"True."
I nodded. Legba was right—probably still under investigation. No need to panic. Stay calm and wait. It'd work out. I'd rigged it that way.
Bzzz—!
"Whoa!"
I must've dozed off during the news. The sudden vibration jolted me awake.
A text. From Jeong In-ah. Probably her usual meaningless check-in.
I opened it without thinking.
"Huh?"
[Doesn't look like good news. Can't tell from the title alone.]
"Please, no. Adonai..."
[What? This punk.]
I prayed as I followed the link Jeong In-ah sent.
Grangche. The same site from before, with the fake exposé on me.
The investigation into the incident has been handed to the Seoul East Knight Command. Newly appointed Commander Han Dae-ho, who took over after his predecessor's corruption scandal, is already tearing his hair out.
"No evidence? Nothing at all?"
"Yes. Just this scrap of cloth found over Bae Seong-hyeon's head. That's it."
The subordinate paladin handed over the evidence bag. A bizarre symbol etched on a cloth fragment—not Romanica, that much was clear.
"Showed it to the victims? Reactions?"
"Others had none, but..."
The subordinate hesitated.
"Spit it out."
"Bae Seong-hyeon flipped out when he saw it."
"Flipped out?"
Han Dae-ho shot up from his seat.
"Not severe, but it'll hinder further questioning—"
Crash!
Clang!
"Ah, Commander. Sorry, phone."
"What kinda ringtone is that... Never mind. Take it outside."
The subordinate left to answer.
"Freakout. Freakout. Something's there."
Alone, Han Dae-ho muttered. The weird cloth. Bae Seong-hyeon's reaction. Connected, obviously. But how? Endless guesses, no leads.
"Commander."
The subordinate returned, snapping him out of it.
"Yeah. Report."
"Just got word—this cloth might be from a cult ritual."
"Cult? Identified the religion?"
"Yes."
Hope flickered on Han Dae-ho's weary face. Trace the cloth, crack the case.
The subordinate grinned as he flipped through files.
"Voodoo—"
"Voodoo!"
"—Satanism, Sumerian, Druidism, Semitic. Or one of three others."
Han Dae-ho's face twisted.
"You idiot. That's zilch!"
"Huh? We narrowed it to eight?"
"Enough. My fault for trusting you. Druidism? This ain't a game."
Han Dae-ho sighed deeply.
"It's real. Formal name: Celtic Polytheism."
"Spend less time memorizing crap and do your job."
"Commander, I get mouth sores if I skip studying religions daily."
He was dead serious. A religion otaku. Romanica state faith to Satanism, Voodoo, Druidism—everything crammed in his head.
"Fine. Proceed methodically. Cult item at scene—treat victims as suspects, search for cult ties first."
"Got it. Digital forensics underway."
"Report anything off immediately."
The subordinate left. Han Dae-ho rubbed his dry face, groaning.
This is insane.
Kidnappings were headache enough. Now eight high schoolers passed out in an alley—the "Alleyway Mass Fainting." And Bae Seong-hyeon among them. Son of dBP CEO Bae Jeong-hwan. Brass breathing down his neck. Big brass. Fail, and resignation loomed.
Appointed and sacked in days—nightmare.
I'll find them.
Desperate. His mother's tearful joy at the news haunted him. Eyes welled up.
"Haa..."
Sighing over the case file, the door burst open.
"Commander!"
The religion otaku again.
"Forensics done already?"
"No, not that."
"Then why?"
"Look."
Shoved a phone: high school girl smoking. More similar pics.
Han Dae-ho tilted his head. "Issue? Voyeur shot? Whose phone?"
"Bae Seong-hyeon's. Not just creepshots. Remember the demon species last time?"
"Demon species?" Eyes widened. Familiar pics. Same as Go Jun-min's—the demon transformer.
Clear implication.
"Rest of the phone clean?"
"Yes."
"Rough check 'em and release. Bae Seong-hyeon to suspect. Probe Satanist ties or connections."
"Roger."
The subordinate bolted.
Finally.
Han Dae-ho smirked. Bae: Satanist or linked. Ritual gone wrong, all eight knocked out—including him. Explains the cloth freakout: fear of exposure or dodging testimony.
Leads at last.
"Commander!"
Thirty minutes later, subordinate back.
"Results?"
"Bae's dodging questions. Did phone only. Thin, but enough evidence."
"Spill."
"First—"
Report: Pics match Go Jun-min's phone. Calls/texts too. Bae involved in Go incident—slam dunk.
More horrors: nude boy arms-bound exposing privates; torture vid breaking/re-healing bones repeatedly.
"School violence?"
"Seems so."
"Leak that too."
"Uh, Commander. But..."
Hesitation.
"What? Spit it."
"Bae Seong-hyeon—dBP chairman's only son, right?"
"Yes. So?"
"Bae Jeong-hwan's coming. Here. In ten."
"What? Fuck—"
Knock knock.
Han Dae-ho froze mid-curse. Cold sweat beaded, trickling from brow to jaw.
Silence thickened.
"Commander here? Bae Jeong-hwan."
Creeeak.
Door opened before reply. Bae entered.
"Pleased. Said ten minutes, but I'm impatient."
Soft, warm—yet chilling smile.
Bae extended hand leisurely. Han Dae-ho shook hastily.
"Greetings. Seoul East Knight Commander Han Dae-ho."
"Yes, hello. Quite the build. Haha."
"Ah, yes. Ha..."
Both smiling, air thick with menace.
"Heard you just started. Tough?"
"No, fine."
Awkward grin.
Bae cleared throat. "No beating around. My son's listed victim. Details unknown, but please handle well."
"Ah... Yes, of course."
Tepid reply.
Bae smiled faintly. "Heard your order lacks holy relics. True?"
"Not much. A bit."
"Soon sorted. If this goes smoothly."
Chilling grin.
Bribe.
Obvious.
Bae checked watch. "Time flies. Won't disturb. Farewell."
"Haha, yes. Safe travels."
"Expect good news."
Han Dae-ho bowed repeatedly as Bae left.
Once gone, he collapsed.
"Haaaa..."
Deep sigh. Face aged a decade.
Subordinate approached blankly.
"Commander. You okay?"
"Does it look it?"
"Er, no."
Han Dae-ho chuckled bitterly.
"So, investigation plan?"
"......"
Long silence.
Then, a glassy smile—mad, resigned.
"How long since appointment?"
"Unofficial: two weeks. Official: two days. Press today."
"Not long."
Head drooped. Mother's joyful face again. Bittersweet.
"Too soon to quit, right?"
"......Yes. No one'd blame you."
Han Dae-ho sprang up.
"Right. This is normal. Proper."
Nodding slowly, muttering.
"Dunno what's normal anymore. Fucking dogshit..."
"......"
His sigh echoed. Nothing else.
(To be continued)