Chapter 48: "Have a Seat"
"Sit down there." Ha Ye-jin nodded toward an empty chair.
Do Seon-woo bowed his head politely and took his seat without a word. Compared to Yeo Min-seo, his demeanor was far more courteous and refined. A smile crept onto Ha Ye-jin's face. Maybe it was the contrast with Yeo Min-seo, but even his simple actions seemed endearing.
The first question, as expected, was about the cause of death for the magic beasts. Do Seon-woo tilted his head thoughtfully for a long moment, just like Gu Jun-hyeok had.
"I'm not really sure. Things were so chaotic back then."
"I see... Was there no precursor before the lightning strike? Like seeing any divine power?"
It was a rather direct question. Do Seon-woo tilted his head further, squeezing his eyes shut as if dredging up the memory. Finally, his eyes snapped open.
"Ah! I think there was some divine power around Kim Jin-seo for a moment. Or maybe not? It was kind of iffy."
"Even if it wasn't exactly divine power, something like light shimmering or anything like that?"
"Yeah, I think so."
Do Seon-woo furrowed his brow as he spoke. His memory seemed uncertain. In a life-or-death scramble, it was unreasonable to expect perfect recall of every detail. Pulling out even vague fragments was impressive enough.
Ha Ye-jin nodded slightly and moved on. "Okay, then what do you think this i—"
"Hold on. One more thing."
Ha Ye-jin paused, her hand halting as she reached for the device on the desk. Kim Bok-dong had cut her off. He stared at Do Seon-woo with a deeply furrowed brow, his face rigid and even more intimidating than usual.
"Two magic beasts were found at the scene with penetrating wounds to the heart. Yeo Min-seo said you did it?"
"Pardon? Well..."
Do Seon-woo touched his temple, as if searching his memory. "Yes, that was me."
"Looked like gunshot wounds. Right?"
"Gunshot? How could I have used a gun?"
Do Seon-woo's eyes widened in genuine surprise, as if hearing it for the first time. No lie, no acting. Kim Bok-dong tilted his own head. If not gunfire, then what had killed the beasts?
"Wait, hold on. This..."
Upon second thought, calling them gunshot wounds was a stretch. First-years hadn't even started firearms training yet—that began at the end of the second semester, and only for paladin aspirants. Even veteran paladins couldn't reliably hit a flying target's heart. A untrained freshman pulling it off? Against magic beasts? Absurd.
They'd jumped to "gunshot wounds" from the start, filtering all info through that lens. Kim Bok-dong recalled the term confirmation bias.
"So how did you do it?"
He rephrased. Do Seon-woo hesitated briefly, then spoke up.
"I threw a rock. Yeah."
He trailed off, as if embarrassed to say more. Kim Bok-dong let out a disbelieving snort. Something even guns struggled with, done by chucking stones?
So Do-jin reacted the same, staring at Do Seon-woo with weary, dazed eyes.
"...Does that even make sense? Even King David couldn't pull that off."
"Hey, watch your mouth! How many times do I have to—!"
Ha Ye-jin smacked So Do-jin's mouth playfully. Not outright blasphemy, but close enough to be dangerous. So Do-jin bowed to the other teachers and elders in apology. He didn't look sorry.
Kim Bok-dong fell silent for a long beat, then collected himself. "Moving on."
His face was one of bewilderment. Ha Ye-jin promptly pulled out the device and set it on the desk.
"What do you think this is?"
"No idea... A camera?"
"Uh, yeah."
Did he rehearse with Gu Jun-hyeok? Ha Ye-jin faltered slightly. "Alright, you're free to go. Head straight home."
"Oh, I left a book in the classroom—can I grab that?"
"Of course."
Ha Ye-jin smiled brightly. Do Seon-woo had these endearing habits that felt ingrained, not performative. His diligence was refreshing. He bowed repeatedly to the teachers on his way out.
So polite.
"Stone slinging... Haha."
Kim Bok-dong muttered, laughing like a madman. He wasn't alone—the whole room erupted in disbelieving chuckles at Do Seon-woo's claim. Everyone except Gabriel, who sat lost in thought.
Kim Jin-seo arrived at 4:20 p.m. Ha Ye-jin wasted no time.
"You recreated a miracle to summon that lightning, right?"
The prior testimonies had already clarified much. Especially Do Seon-woo's—Kim Jin-seo recreating a miracle for the strike was all but confirmed. If she admitted it, all credit for slaying the beasts would go to her.
Kim Jin-seo worked her lips unhappily for a long moment before speaking.
"...Who said that?"
Her face was blank, but chillier than usual. Ha Ye-jin fidgeted with her hair, flustered.
"Do Seon-woo... and others. We compiled opinions from multiple students."
"I see."
Kim Jin-seo dropped her half-lidded gaze to the floor. She seemed a bit annoyed.
[Is she playing dumb on purpose?]
Legba spoke up right after I left the conference room. I nodded silently and kept walking. Sometimes, acting clueless was easier. Teachers preferred humble, eager learners over pushy know-it-alls.
[They glossed over the lightning as that Kim Jin-seo girl's doing too.]
"Yeah."
[That was you. Technically Sobo, but still.]
"..."
[Don't you want to become a high cleric?]
Legba scolded me relentlessly. I'd summoned the lightning to wipe out the beasts—why yield the credit? Sure, claiming I recreated a miracle would bring instant fame. "The freshman miracle-maker." Endless praise.
Like Kim Jin-seo got.
Of course I wanted that.
"Yeo Min-seo was watching me."
But I couldn't. On the brink of death, she'd fixed those venomous eyes right on me. She knew the lightning wasn't a "miracle recreation." Admitting it might earn short-term glory, but Yeo Min-seo's reaction? Unpredictable. She could use it to blackmail me or dig into my background.
Anyone else, maybe not. But her? Absolutely.
So the lightning stayed my secret. Sorry, Kim Jin-seo, but passing the credit was best for now.
[Best? Better to deny it outright or call it natural lightning.]
"Too unnatural for that. Easier to pin it on Kim Jin-seo before they dig deeper."
[Overthinking. Do you need to worry that much?]
"No harm in it."
[We'll see if you're right.]
Legba vanished with a cryptic remark. I headed to my destination in silence.
Tape reading "No Entry" blocked the path into Eden Hill. I glanced around—no students left, teachers in meetings, no witnesses. No CCTV here either.
Holding my breath, I ducked under and strode in.
Sunset wasn't near, but the hill was dim. Magic beast energy hung like fog, slowly devouring the place on the wind.
"Granbwa."
I bowed my head and summoned her, pressing my fingertips to the ground to channel her power.
Darkness swallowed my vision—total black, no light seeping in. Like a curtain drawn.
Then it lifted, revealing a new sight. Truly new. Beyond human eyes: the plants' world.
I shared senses with Eden Hill's countless flora.
[Don't overdo it. It's taxing.]
Granbwa warned. This was mastery—wielding, not just using—big strain, naturally. But I'd prepared for the risk.
Shifting sight from grass to flowers to trees, I surveyed the hill. Roughly half was corrupted by the energy. Worse than expected.
I delved underground. There, something glowed.
A mysterious "box" buried deep in Eden Hill. Big enough for five people easily.
Focusing, I examined it. Around the box, glowing oil-like substance smeared thickly...
"Guh—ah. Ow."
Consciousness snapped. Agony twisted my guts.
[I said don't overdo it!]
"Wasn't that long..."
I mumbled, deflated. Not overuse backlash. The power cut "forcibly" for unknown reasons. Probably that glowing oil. Too sudden—hard to pinpoint.
Throbbing pain lingered in my gut.
[What'd you see?]
Legba asked. I breathed through it, suppressing. Sat slumped for minutes, just breathing. When it eased, I spoke.
"Something weird buried under the hill."
[Vague much?]
"A box. No clue what. Nearly killed me."
[Satanists' goal?]
"Dunno. Maybe."
Until now, we'd scrambled to clean up after Satanists. From here on, predict and prepare. No casualties yet, no guarantee ahead.
Most incidents near Eden Hill. Their goal here, or related. I'd lied to Ha Ye-jin to investigate.
Know the goal, predict moves easily.
"Not as easy as hoped."
[Nothing is.]
I'd learned of the buried box. But contents? Unknown. Oil's nature? Unknown. Even if it's their target? Unknown.
Basically nothing solid. Goal unclear, intel fuzzy.
[First step. If it were easy, it'd be known already.]
"True."
[Time to go. Even traces of magic energy aren't healthy.]
I stood, brushed off dirt, and headed out.
The sun dipped behind peaks, sky darkening fast from earlier brightness. Retraced my steps out.
Vomiting blood earlier weighed me down—heavy steps, like sinking in mud. Limbs cold, drained, body shivering.
Just get home, rest. Sleep if possible.
"...Huh?"
Then, a voice.
(To be continued)