The Absent Charity Saint
The auditorium was already buzzing with activity. There were still ten minutes until the appointment ceremony was set to begin, but the students had gathered early, chattering away with their friends.
"You took the re-election exam too, right? Who do you think it'll be?"
"Who knows... It'll probably be either Gu Jun-hyeok or Do Seon-woo anyway."
"Hmm. If I had to pick just one—"
Screeeeech! A piercing noise echoed from the podium. It was feedback from the teachers testing the sound equipment. The students grimaced and covered their ears.
One of the teachers stepped up to the podium and grabbed the microphone.
"Ahem. The appointment ceremony will begin shortly, so all seated students, please remain quiet."
"Ugh... I hate that teacher."
"Right? I heard rumors he's dating a student—"
"Hey, you there! I said quiet!"
Students badmouthing the teachers. A teacher yelling at them out of nowhere. Meanwhile, some students sat quietly fiddling with their phones, while others methodically checked the audio setup. Han Su-ryeon surveyed the chaotic scene and sighed in exasperation.
"Ugh... This place is so damn noisy."
"Kids are all like that." Yeo Min-seo replied nonchalantly from beside her.
Han Su-ryeon shot Yeo Min-seo a peculiar look. It seemed Yeo Min-seo hadn't realized she was the same age as those "kids."
"By the way, where are Kang Dae-man, Seong Ha-yeon, and Kim Jin-seo?"
Yeo Min-seo glanced around as she spoke.
"Kim Jin-seo called in sick today. Not sure about Kang Dae-man and Seong Ha-yeon."
Han Su-ryeon tilted her head.
Yeo Min-seo let out a hollow chuckle.
"She's always calling in sick. That sneaky bitch pulls every trick in the book."
"Come on, she might actually be sick."
"Bullshit. She's probably pounding sandbags in the gym right now."
Yeo Min-seo clicked her tongue. Han Su-ryeon pouted and nodded, her expression saying it wasn't her business what Kim Jin-seo was up to.
As they chatted, Kang Dae-man approached from a distance. Trailing about ten meters behind him, Seong Ha-yeon trudged along.
"Hm. A bit late!"
Kang Dae-man fiddled with his arm as he spoke. It was only April, but he was already in his short-sleeved uniform. He ran hot, sure, but it was mostly to show off his muscles.
Yeo Min-seo's face twisted at the sight of him.
"Should've just stayed home."
"No can do. My goal is perfect attendance!"
Arguing with Kang Dae-man was a losing battle. Yeo Min-seo turned her gaze to Seong Ha-yeon, who was slinking backward like she was terrified.
"...What, is there a ghost here or something?"
"No, um... Could you maybe get that out of here?"
Seong Ha-yeon pointed at Kang Dae-man with a rude gesture, like she was shooing away some hideous creature. Her face was etched with clear fear and disgust. She was scared of men in general, but Kang Dae-man terrified her the most.
"You can't just make that disappear."
Yeo Min-seo shook her head in resignation. Han Su-ryeon tilted her head curiously.
"But isn't Dae-man kinda hot in a subtle way? Great body."
"What, are your eyes on your feet? All he's got going for him is that body."
"...I don't really get it either."
Yeo Min-seo shuddered, refusing to acknowledge Han Su-ryeon's words. Seong Ha-yeon turned away, dodging the question.
The group headed to the "Reserved Seats for the Seven Holy Marks" at the front of the auditorium and took their places. Kindness, Temperance, Purity, and Diligence filled their spots, leaving Humility, Charity, and Patience empty.
"Where the hell is this Humility prick...? Does he even come to school?"
Yeo Min-seo stared at the "Humility" seat in disbelief. The Humility Holy Mark holder—aka "that guy"—hadn't shown up once in the past month.
"He said he'd be here today. Might be a little late, though."
Kang Dae-man chimed in. None of the executives had his contact info—except Kang Dae-man. Han Su-ryeon's face lit up at the news.
"Oh, he's finally coming? I haven't seen his face. Is he hot?"
"Nah, just looks like an asshole."
"What does 'looks like an asshole' even mean...? Hey, Ha-yeon, you've seen him, right?"
Ignoring Yeo Min-seo's curt dismissal, Han Su-ryeon turned to Seong Ha-yeon. She averted her gaze awkwardly before nodding faintly.
"Yes... I've seen him. Our parents know each other."
"Ooh, what's he like? Hot?"
"Just... like a thug."
"... "
Han Su-ryeon drooped in disappointment. "Looks like an asshole" and "like a thug" gave no clear picture. No one was calling him handsome, so he probably wasn't much to look at.
Thud.
As the executives killed time with pointless banter, the auditorium lights suddenly went out. Yeo Min-seo checked her phone: 12:58. The ceremony was about to start.
In the enveloping darkness, Florence Academy Chairman Kim Chang-won ascended the podium with steady steps.
"Cough, ahem. Now, we will announce the results of the Charity Holy Mark re-election exam and proceed with the appointment ceremony."
The entire auditorium was pitch black, save for the spotlight on the podium. The students fell silent, waiting breathlessly for the results.
The chairman and archbishop-level cleric continued.
"The Charity Holy Mark re-election exam was conducted through the 'Gates of the Ark.' Over two stages, we evaluated the students' capabilities in a fair and impartial manner—"
The preamble was dull and predictable. The exam was held via gates, judged fairly. It showcased Florence students' excellence... and so on, all boilerplate.
"—Thus, we now announce the 35th re-elected Charity Holy Mark holder."
As yawns spread among the students, Kim Chang-won got to the point. Sleepy eyes snapped wide open. The four executives, minus the three empty seats, watched eagerly, wondering who it would be.
"This student, re-elected as the 35th Charity Holy Mark, showed a truly impressive performance in the Ark's gates. Ingenuity in breaking through using unique methods unlike others. Above all, a selfless attitude prioritizing comrades first."
Kim Chang-won went on.
"We pray this student, selected as Charity Holy Mark, fulfills their role as the 'Pope's Spear' faithfully—"
The name was moments away. Students' eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Charity Class student Do Seon-woo. Please come to the podium."
────!
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from below the podium. Some questioned Do Seon-woo's selection, but most congratulated him sincerely.
"As expected! Blessings follow the diligent. This isn't Do Seon-woo's victory—it's the victory of Diligence!"
Kang Dae-man clapped, praising Diligence's virtues.
"Back to Do Seon-woo in the end. Well, Gu Jun-hyeok was too dumb anyway."
Yeo Min-seo, who had insisted on Gu Jun-hyeok, now rationalized it away.
"Gu Jun-hyeok's hotter than Do Seon-woo... What a shame."
Han Su-ryeon teased playfully.
"Ah..."
Seong Ha-yeon murmured blankly.
Some clapped joyfully, others indifferently, a few sadly. Like it or not, Do Seon-woo was the Charity Holy Mark. They had to accept it.
Someone dashed onto the podium. Hidden in shadow, it was likely Do Seon-woo.
"—Huff, pant, haa, whoa. Chairman, um, Do Seon-woo hasn't come to school yet..."
But it was Ha Ye-jin, breathless as she explained to Kim Chang-won. Do Seon-woo hadn't shown up and wasn't answering calls.
"...Just late? Or absent?"
Kim Chang-won's face hardened. He notoriously hated tardiness. Ha Ye-jin tried calling one last time—no answer. She looked flushed yet downcast.
"Right now, he's... not responding. Hard to confirm—"
"Not responding."
Kim Chang-won twisted his lips in displeasure.
*
Kang Ji-a's investigation into the Satanist hideout targeting Voodoo Cult Leader Do Seon-woo had succeeded. But it was only half a success.
Using her own investigative techniques and deductions, she'd narrowed down likely locations for the Satanist hideout. Hacking construction firms and government records refined the list until she pinpointed it.
Why only half? Because she'd been caught by the Satanists while reviewing the intel.
"It's rare for 'material' to walk right in like this... Guess my fortunes were good today."
The Satanist said. He wore a red robe, his speech oily like he'd stuffed a bucket of butter down his throat. His face was expressionless—because it was someone else's skin pulled over his head.
The Satanist's hand caressed Kang Ji-a's cheek. Despite the chills, she could only glare; she was bound so tightly she couldn't twitch a finger, strapped to a hospital chair.
"I see this 'ritual' as a journey. A kind of discipline that renews body and soul."
"... "
"Don't look at me like that. I even gave you time to say goodbye to your family. If 'He' were here, you wouldn't have gotten that."
The Satanist sliced his finger with a scalpel as he spoke. Blood poured from the gash. He nodded in satisfaction.
Kang Ji-a squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch.
"Don't close your eyes. You have to see. Isn't that why you came?"
"Wait, don't... touch..."
"Come on. Touching's better than the knife, right?"
The Satanist forcibly pried open her eyelids with his blood-dripping finger. Tears mixed with blood streaked her face like bloody tears.
I'll probably die here. No, maybe something worse than death.
On her way in, she'd seen countless taxidermy dolls—human bodies drained of blood, guts removed, stuffed with cotton. She figured she'd end up the same. Not a peaceful death, but no regrets. She'd succeeded in alerting the cult leader to the location.
The hasty text "BasarSomang-5" meant Basar Shopping Mall, Somang Building, basement level 5. Cryptic, but the cult leader would decipher it easily.
Duty fulfilled, even in death. If it helped the cult leader, that was enough.
Kang Ji-a smiled at the thought.
"Knew you'd like it. You look good smiling. Now, tell me if it hurts~"
The Satanist slashed her arm with the scalpel. It was instantaneous.
"Nngh, ughhh...!"
Kang Ji-a writhed in agony she'd never felt before, managing only a groan short of a scream. But watching her skin tear and flesh expose was worse.
The Satanist cackled gleefully at her torment, then poised the scalpel at her other arm.
"Hold still. I'll make you really pretty."
"A, wa, it...!"
Kang Ji-a babbled incoherently. Terror stripped her of speech. She recalled her arrogance, thinking she'd face death calmly. No one could stay composed before oblivion.
"Now, again. If it hurts, just say—"
Bang!
As the scalpel descended, the door to the blood-soaked hospital room—the Satanist's hideout—burst open. Or rather, shattered.
The Satanist glanced puzzled at the wreckage. Footsteps approached steadily.
Kang Ji-a's eyes widened at the figure.
"C-Cult... Leader...?"
She murmured desperately at Do Seon-woo.
He drew a spell circle wordlessly. Mid-level restoration. The scalpel's gash met the mist and healed like magic. Astonishing precision—somehow even better than before.
Yet Kang Ji-a felt no joy. Only despair. This place was too dangerous. These weren't foes to face unprepared. Even the cult leader couldn't handle them alone.
"I-I... told you not to come today—!"
"Quiet."
She clamped her mouth shut at Do Seon-woo's command. His eyes gleamed with unprecedented ferocity—dark, murky, razor-sharp.
"Who the hell are you to order the cult leader around?"
His killing glare fixed on the Satanist. Do Seon-woo unleashed voodoo magic. His eyes flickered purple as the power surged.
(To be continued in the next chapter)