Leaning Tower of the Dead
"Jeong In-ah messaged again today that she's out sick. With exams coming up soon, take good care of your health, absolutely don't get sick, kidnappings! Kidnapping incidents. I always say this, but be careful. Another person went missing due to a kidnapping—"
Ha Ye-jin's morning homeroom dragged on longer than usual today. As the words "today too" implied, Jeong In-ah hadn't shown up to school for the past two days. I'd sent her texts and even called yesterday, but she hadn't responded to any of them. Since she was replying to Ha Ye-jin, it didn't seem like she was unable to check her messages. That meant she was deliberately avoiding us.
I had no idea why.
"—As you all know, due to an unfortunate incident, the Charity Holy Mark is vacant, so there will be a re-election exam soon! We'll select based on exam performance and usual conduct. The exact schedule isn't set yet, but keep it in mind. Have a great day~"
With that, Ha Ye-jin left the classroom. Gu Jun-hyeok, who'd been sleeping through the entire homeroom, stretched and woke up just as she exited. He shuffled over to me with listless steps.
"What'd the teacher say? Missed it 'cause I was asleep."
Gu Jun-hyeok always slept through homeroom.
"Kidnappings and Charity Holy Mark re-election."
"Re-election? Already happened, or gonna happen?"
"Gonna happen. They said it'll consider exam content and usual conduct."
"Ah, got it. Huh?"
Gu Jun-hyeok nodded nonchalantly, yawning, then suddenly let out a puzzled sigh.
"They check usual conduct too? Why?"
"Probably because of Bae Seong-hyeon. He got expelled for personality issues."
"Whoa, that motherfucking Bae Seong-hyeon..."
He grabbed his hair and wailed in agony.
Gu Jun-hyeok slept through every class, never did homework, and sassed teachers back with jokes when scolded. He was infamous among the faculty for his poor reputation. If they scored based on conduct, he'd probably get rock bottom—or worse.
"Maybe I should just give up. Doesn't seem possible for me."
"Yeah, I think you're screwed too."
"You asshole. At least pretend to encourage me."
There wasn't even empty consolation for Gu Jun-hyeok's conduct. Unless he aced the exam beyond belief, he had no shot at the Charity Holy Mark. Of course, if he crushed it, conduct wouldn't matter—but Florence always prioritized ability over personality anyway. Mentioning conduct felt like an excuse to inject teacher bias into the selection. Just a hunch, though.
[How strange.]
Legba muttered to himself as we discussed the re-election exam. What was strange? If he meant Florence's structure—valuing skill over faith—I agreed. It bordered on deformed; Florence practically tabooed piety.
[Not that. Why another missing person?]
"Ah."
"What? Suddenly."
Gu Jun-hyeok eyed me curiously, but I ignored him. I'd caught Legba's meaning.
The fake Voodoo cult kidnapped to recruit followers. They were behind the recent incidents—Han Su-yeop himself confessed. So no more missing people should happen. The culprits had collapsed, their leader reduced to a zombie errand boy.
Yet another disappearance. Why?
Clap!
"Whoa, you scared me. What?"
My chain of thoughts snapped. Gu Jun-hyeok had clapped right in my face.
He stared down at me like I was an idiot.
"You were spacing out like a moron. Time to go?"
"Why? Practice today?"
"Nah? It's class. Outdoor class at Eden Hill. Like a hike."
Gu Jun-hyeok half-dragged me out of the classroom. I trailed after him like a tail.
My mind was still a mess. Why wasn't Jeong In-ah coming to school? Why another missing person? Why class on the hill all of a sudden? What kind of class even was it?
Thoughts and questions swirled endlessly. My mind fogged, drifting away. It showed no sign of returning.
I must've followed Gu Jun-hyeok in a daze for a while.
[Don't think. Just go with the flow. Today and always, be careful of fire!]
The sudden voice snapped me back. I looked around. The scenery was unfamiliar. We'd reached Eden Hill. Beside me, purple mist swirled like a greeting, then rode the wind skyward.
*
"Fuck this. So sleepy. Gonna die from drowsiness."
So Do-jin grumbled, clutching an Americano in one hand. Kim Bok-dong and Ha Ye-jin stood beside him. All three subject teachers gathered.
They chatted idly as they walked somewhere.
"That's 'cause you're not sleeping enough. Sleep deprivation leads to muscle loss. Cut the caffeine too. Too much is poison."
Kim Bok-dong scolded him, holding a protein shake.
"Leave him be. If he wants to die quick."
Ha Ye-jin smiled brightly. Her gentle vibe clashed with her rough mouth. She sipped her cocoa occasionally, strolling lightly.
So Do-jin shot Kim Bok-dong a pissed look.
"Why make us do this shit? Waste of manpower."
"The elders can't handle chores like this!"
"So why dump it on us? Does it even need three people?"
"Must be some greater purpose."
"Greater purpose can freeze and die."
So Do-jin chugged his Americano, crumpled the empty cup, and tossed it on the ground. It clattered dryly.
Ha Ye-jin's eyes widened in shock.
"Pick it up! That's illegal dumping."
"Too annoying..."
"Annoying my ass! Pick it up now!"
So Do-jin grudgingly retrieved it and binned it nearby. Ha Ye-jin finally smiled, satisfied.
"Good. As teachers, we gotta set an example!"
"Quit nagging. My head hurts."
So Do-jin pressed his temples. Sleep-deprivation headache. Only two hours last night. Already dying of drowsiness, and Ha Ye-jin kept grating his nerves. She hadn't changed since high school.
"Having all three of us together feels so Florence-like."
Kim Bok-dong suddenly waxed nostalgic mid-stride. So Do-jin grimaced in disgust.
"Reflect alone, dude."
"Hey, memories are more fun shared."
"Built like a bear and weirdly sentimental. Right?"
Ha Ye-jin shook her head emphatically.
"Exactly."
So Do-jin nodded in agreement. All Florence grads and same-year classmates. Inseparable back then, drifted post-graduation, then reunited as teachers. Near-miraculous coincidence.
"Kim Bok-dong."
So Do-jin called to the dazed, reminiscing man. Kim Bok-dong's eyes refocused.
"Yeah. What."
"You still doing that? The special condition thing... that ridiculous one."
"If you mean the fitness test, yeah. Special conditions intact."
"Anyone actually cleared it?"
"Kang Dae-man did. Others won't even try. Oh, Do Seon-woo almost did."
Kim Bok-dong stroked his stubbly beard. So Do-jin raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Do Seon-woo tried?"
"Yup. Lime rhyme on purpose?"
Kim Bok-dong laughed heartily. So Do-jin scowled. Still no good at his jokes.
Ha Ye-jin sipped her cocoa.
"Do Seon-woo's kinda unique, huh."
"How so?"
"He sucks at blessing circles, but shines in weird spots sometimes?"
"I get it. He's got quirks."
Kim Bok-dong nodded. So Do-jin tilted his head.
"Dunno. Not seeing it."
So Do-jin gazed blankly at the sky. Do Seon-woo. Quirky, sure. But this year had standout talents; his wasn't exceptional. Like Han Su-ryeon or Kim Jin-seo. Or Gu Jun-hyeok? Way better.
"You defended him hard in the last meeting, though?"
Ha Ye-jin teased with a smirk. So Do-jin's brow furrowed irritably.
"Wasn't defending. Just correcting the other teachers' bullshit."
"'Other teachers'? We're teachers too."
"Us and them are different. Embarrassing to share the title."
So Do-jin grumbled sharply. Fatigue made him prickly. They trudged on with trivial talk. Far off, Barn 1 loomed.
Ha Ye-jin sniffed, wrinkling her nose.
"Weird smell."
"Smell?"
Kim Bok-dong sniffed too. Nothing. Ha Ye-jin's smile faded as she kept sniffing. Terror deepened in her eyes.
"...Corpse?"
Ha Ye-jin had a sharp nose, especially for scents. If she smelled corpse, one was nearby.
So Do-jin and Kim Bok-dong's faces hardened. They hurried to Barn 1. No words exchanged.
The sight hit like a shockwave.
"Urk. Sorry, just a sec...!"
Ha Ye-jin turned away, vomiting. She heaved up her cocoa before lifting her head, nausea lingering.
"Jesus."
Even fearless Kim Bok-dong paled.
"Fucking hell... That's why they sent us. Some 'greater purpose' alright."
So Do-jin sneered bitterly. Last night, Barn 1's CCTVs all failed. Then 'something' started happening. Elders tasked them: check CCTVs, investigate the phenomenon.
And now, it unfolded live before them.
"Kinda like the taxidermy incident two years ago."
"Scale's different. Back then, one or two at most. Now..."
So Do-jin trailed off. The phenomenon: mass demonization. All livestock turned demon beasts, snarling and rampaging with fangs bared. At least they hadn't broken the fences.
But the shock: that 'tower'.
Barn 1's center—a tower of human corpses. Naked bodies gripped hands, forming a human pyramid like acrobats. Tilted slightly south, yet sturdy.
Black magic circle around it, feeding on blood and flesh, spewing dark demonic energy. Still active.
"No way... Pisa's Leaning Tower? Ridiculous."
So Do-jin muttered lowly at the tilted tower. He drew his waist sword, head bowed—preparing to leap. He'd topple it, halt the black magic.
"Don't."
Kim Bok-dong blocked as he lunged. His fingers trembled faintly.
"Black magic's still active. Rash approach could turn you into a humanoid demon."
"So leave it?"
"No. Call the experts."
Kim Bok-dong glanced at Ha Ye-jin. She prayed demurely. Divine power welled from her, forming a cloud that floated over the tower. Adonai's Blessing.
Plop, plop.
Baseball-sized hail dropped from the cloud, pummeling the tower.
Kaboom!
Dozens, hundreds hammered relentlessly. The leaning tower crumbled under the barrage. Hail obscured it completely.
Hail stopped. Dust fogged the barn like mist. Demon roars echoed. Silence otherwise.
Fog cleared.
"Eek. No."
The tower stood. Ha Ye-jin drooped, dejected. So Do-jin gripped his sword, bowing again.
"Demon or not, smash the circle first. If I turn, lucky if I don't. If I do, kill me."
"No."
Kim Bok-dong blocked again.
"Why? Fuck friendship and sentiment—"
"Impossible plan. You're active Holy Knight; I'm retired has-been. Can't beat or subdue you. Even with Ha Ye-jin, no guarantee."
So Do-jin stared blankly.
"Drop the pride. Think rationally. Her miracle failed. Retreat and report."
"..."
So Do-jin sheathed his sword. Kim Bok-dong was right. No time for ego. In crisis, stay calm and logical.
He steadied his breath, scanning methodically for clues.
His eyes locked. Pupils quivered.
"Bok-dong. What's that."
"What—ah."
Their gazes converged. Barn corner: birdcage. For ornamental birds like parrots or finches. Thin wire mesh instead of fence.
That mesh shredded by demonized birds. Wings flapping, they burst through cracks. Eagle-sized or larger, they soared toward Eden Hill.
Whoosh— Wing gusts rustled branches.
Ha Ye-jin stared blankly at scattering leaves, then horror-struck:
"Th-there's class at Eden Hill today. Morning. Our class too. Joint class."
Her words stuttered, incoherent.
"What? No practice—what class on the hill?"
"School said for mental health, landscape viewing or something weird..."
Her lips quivered.
So Do-jin's face twisted. Students at Eden Hill for bogus landscape class. Demon birds heading there. Exposed to black magic long, they were huge—falcon-minimum, eagle-max. Beyond students' level.
"Fuck, goddamn... Haa..."
So Do-jin cursed, eyes closing. Blessing light enveloped him. He rocketed toward Eden Hill—cannonball speed.
Kim Bok-dong followed, matching pace.
"Hey? Wait! Can't go in now. Hey! Wait—!"
They vanished instantly. Inhuman speed. Ha Ye-jin's cry didn't reach.
She stared at their afterimages blankly.
"Goddamn idiots!"
She vented, then sprinted opposite—away from them.
Storm clouds gathered over Eden Hill.
(To be continued next time)