"Hey, You Bastard! Why's Your Phone Off? Wanna Die?"
"Hey, you bastard! Why the hell's your phone turned off? You trying to die?"
"Dunno if it's busted or the battery died. Anyway, that's what happened."
As I headed to the worship hall, Uncle Lee Jin-seong came rushing over in a flash. Kang Ji-a trailed close behind him, panting. Both had sleepy eyes, but they were dressed neatly, like they'd been getting ready to head out.
"What? Where you off to?"
"Where d'you think? We were just about to head out to check if you were okay."
"Huh?"
I was a little thrown off. It wasn't the reaction I'd expected.
"I'm fine, but the house burned down. You okay?"
The place I'd been crashing was one Uncle had hooked me up with—and obviously, that cost money. I'd figured he'd worry about the house first, before me. Hard to believe, but that's just how Uncle was.
"What're you talking about? Why bring up the house outta nowhere? As long as you're okay, that's all that matters."
"...Who is this guy, and what'd he do with my uncle?"
For a split second, it felt so off—like I was hallucinating. Uncle thought everything but money was some meaningless illusion. For him to worry about me? It was touching, sure, but suspicion hit first.
Kang Ji-a, fidgeting behind him, finally spoke up.
"Cult Leader, are you all right?"
"Yeah. Fine? Well, not fine fine. Just... decently okay."
"That's a relief, but the hospital..."
"I'm good. No need."
I said that as I tossed the relics and holy artifacts onto the desk, shrugged off my jacket, and hung it haphazardly on the chair. Even that short chat had drained me—body and mind were wrecked. I needed to crash earlier than usual tonight.
Uncle eyed the relics and artifacts with narrowed eyes.
"What's this? Stuff from Uncle-in-law? That thing he said to open when you hit adulthood?"
"Yeah. Grabbed it earlier."
"What d'you mean, 'grabbed'? How the hell'd you get this?"
"Just popped in quick and out."
Uncle furrowed his brows.
"You went into a burning house and came out with this? Earlier? Nah, that doesn't add up."
"Why not? That's exactly what happened."
"Exactly?"
Uncle's face twisted in disbelief, lips twitching before he barreled on.
"Goddamn lunatic! Value your life a little, for fuck's sake. You take after your dad or what?"
Uncle laid into me, yelling this and that. His words weren't clear. My ears felt clogged, muffled—nothing got through, just bounced off. Those tumbling words floated uselessly in the air.
I shook my head to shake them off and headed to my room. I flopped onto the damp bed and closed my eyes.
All the crap from today flashed by fast, but nothing stuck sharp in my memory. It all felt hazy, like stuff from a dream.
Sleep came quick, but a sudden thought jolted me upright.
"Kang Ji-a."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
I called her over and handed her Baal's Maw. She set the tiny thing on her small palm and blinked at it, puzzled.
"What...?"
"Y'know that zombie from before? The one we snagged raiding the fake cult."
"Ah, yes."
"I was gonna handle her, but there's all these issues... Think you could take over?"
A zombie's still human at the core. No food, she starves. No cleaning, she gets sick. I could feed Jeong Yun-ah, but bathing her? No way. So, handing her off to Kang Ji-a.
"Ah, understood. Of course I can manage that."
"She seemed pretty skittish last time you saw her. You sure you're good?"
But Kang Ji-a was the timid type. I worried if she could really handle it.
Her brows twitched—just a bit, a rare change in expression.
"I can do it."
"Okay. Thanks."
"And I'm not skittish. I was just startled then."
She said it stone-faced. Guess that incident had bruised her pride.
Older than me, but acting like a total kid—I couldn't help a smirk.
Not that I'm any better, but anyway.
"Haha, got it."
I nodded like I was humoring her and opened my mouth.
"For real."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."
I nodded again and ducked back into my room quick. Kang Ji-a had this stubborn streak under her deadpan—linger too long, and it'd drag on.
I changed fast and crashed onto the bed like a sack of bricks. Insomnia's a mind thing. Close your eyes to sleep, and late thoughts swarm, tormenting you awake. Nasty bugger.
But tonight, I was too beat for even that. Eyes shut, and I blacked out right there.
*
A refreshing morning for once. Uncle was already up, reading a book in his usual spot while scrolling news.
"Up early as hell."
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and said it.
Uncle glanced up at me.
"Old folks don't need much sleep."
"You're not that old."
"Hm, true. But I've always been a light sleeper."
Uncle grinned, clearly in a good mood, and finished his article. From the side, it looked like coverage on yesterday's fire.
I read along.
Long story short: Eastern Knight Order's quick response meant no fatalities. A few minor injuries, sent to the hospital. Support team was late, slowing suppression, but Captain Han Dae-ho pulled off a miracle with a water burst, snuffing the fire's source before it spread big. Captain denies it was a miracle, but circumstances point to him, so they're chalking it up to that.
"Eh, no casualties, so we're good. Sucks about the house, though."
Uncle said it flatly as he read.
I finished the article and skimmed the comments. Praise for the Eastern Knights everywhere, some slams on the support team's incompetence. Public cheered the heroic paladins saving citizens—but the fire victims losing their homes? Crickets.
Expected, and I wasn't gonna call the masses dumb over it. Still left a hollow feeling.
"Heading to school? Your uniform okay? No smoke smell?"
"Washed it, so probably fine."
"Yeah? Do you, then."
Uncle switched from fire news to the economy section, devouring it with way more focus. "Crypto's tanked. Han River's hitting 36.5 degrees," he muttered to himself. I finished prepping, ignoring him.
"Hm."
Nailed the tie today. I nodded, satisfied, straightened my clothes, fixed my hair.
As I headed out, Uncle shot up from his seat.
"Seon-woo. And I meant what I said yesterday. Take care of yourself."
"Huh? What's this now?"
I eyed him warily, backing up slow. The vibe was so off, it creeped me out. Was this the end for Uncle?
But thinking on it, he'd lost family in the Holy War too—just like me. Natural he'd want his last blood relative alive.
Maybe I'd been too harsh, seeing him as a money-grubbing scumbag. Colored glasses and all...
Feeling reflective, I spoke up.
"I'll be fine. Hard to kill. No worries."
"I know, but still—be careful. Never know."
"Got it. Weird seeing you play the worrywart. Thought you only cared about cash."
I smirked and geared up to leave. Uncle frowned, stroking his chin, face a touch serious.
"Value-wise, you're worth more than the house. You're the golden goose, y'know."
"Yeah, sure."
I ignored him and left the worship hall. Scratch that reflection.
*
Better than yesterday, but aches lingered. Didn't notice prepping in the hall, but walking made it hit.
I dragged my heavy ass to school.
Before I entered, kids' chatter echoed down the hall. I stepped in, and it went dead quiet—like ice water dumped.
All eyes on me.
"...What now."
Felt like déjà vu from last time. Headache incoming already.
I wiped cold sweat and sat. Far off, Jeong In-ah whipped her head around to stare. She shoved through her friends and plopped in the seat ahead of me. Her face was grim.
"Hey, your place burned down yesterday, right?"
Her voice shook as she went on.
"You okay? Got the disaster alert and called, but no answer—freaked me out, thought something happened..."
"I'm good. If not, I wouldn't be here."
"Hm. Fair."
Jeong In-ah nodded, convinced quick. Handy.
Soon Gu Jun-hyeok showed. He spotted me and bugged his eyes wide in shock.
"Dude! Fire yesterday—that your place?"
"Yeah."
I answered coolly. Answering the same crap twice? Exhausting.
"You good? Sure you should be at school? Look fine, though."
"If not, I wouldn't be."
"Hm. Logical."
Gu Jun-hyeok nodded. Convinced as fast as her.
He eyed Jeong In-ah in the front seat and bugged his eyes more.
"Wait, what? Jeong In-ah? Why're you here?"
"Why'm I here? Shouldn't you ask why not?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Whatever, as long as we get each other."
"We don't even get each other to begin with—what bullshit... Hm."
Jeong In-ah cut off mid-rant. Gu Jun-hyeok, braced for a shin kick, pouted in surprise.
"Huh. What's with In-ah? Broke already?"
"Broke? I'm not a machine... No. I'm trying to cut back on anger. Cooperate."
She glared at him sidelong, tone pushy. Aggressive for "cutting back," but his shins intact meant she was committed.
Gu Jun-hyeok smirked at me.
"Bet on how long? Two days tops, 20,000 won."
"Hey, I said cooperate—"
"I'll take today, 20,000 won."
Jeong In-ah stopped scolding him and eyed me hard. Face screaming injustice.
"You too? Ugh, you guys...!"
She gaped, whining. Gu Jun-hyeok cackled at her. Her overreactions were fun to poke.
We messed around a while till Ha Ye-jin entered through the front.
"Morning~ Good morning~"
Ha Ye-jin greeted brightly; the noisy room hushed.
She called roll and started homeroom.
"Early dismissal yesterday 'cause of the big wildfire, right? Should've been a school closure by regs, but exams are coming, so normal classes~!"
Some kids sighed heavy. Exams soured the mood. Same for me.
"Oh, and never go near Eden Hill. Still tons to clean up. Same for Barn 1! Absolutely not!"
No plans to tell kids about the magic corruption. Handle it quiet, out of sight. Classic Florence.
"Charity Holy Mark re-election exam's next week-ish. Applications then too. Prep if you're in~ That's all for announcements!"
Re-election next week. Details secret till the day. Whatever it is, I'm entering. Fastest path to high cleric.
"Oh, Do Seon-woo—come out a sec."
Ha Ye-jin called me. Tone wasn't scolding. No wrongdoing anyway, but still tense.
I endured the class's quizzical stares and followed her out—to the staff room.
"Read it and decide."
She rummaged drawers forever, pulled a paper, and handed it over. Dead serious.
It was some form.
(To be continued next time)