The Heresy Hunter's Gaze
I lifted my head and stared into Ma Yu-hyeon's eyes. They were pitch black, impossibly deep. A sudden wave of fear washed over me. 'Heretic Detector'… His nickname flashed in my mind, stirring terror. The pitch-black, acrid smoke of that starless night loomed before me.
"I was on the fence when I saw you at the appointment ceremony, but this…"
Ma Yu-hyeon murmured meaningfully, his gaze fixed sharply on my eyes. My lips went dry. I wanted to swallow, but I held back. I couldn't show any sign of tension. I couldn't explain why, but my instincts screamed it.
Ma Yu-hyeon watched me silently with an inscrutable expression, then slowly nodded and spoke.
"You're half-decent looking, pretty handsome. What's your name again?"
"…Do Seon-woo."
"Right. Let's hang out after school. Get to know each other."
Ma Yu-hyeon acted all chummy, casually setting up a meetup. He didn't seem to have figured out I was the Voodoo Cult leader. Or maybe he had and was playing dumb. No way to tell. I just hoped he hadn't.
I swallowed my tension and tried to respond late, but the words wouldn't come. If I opened my mouth now, I'd stammer for sure.
"…Well, if you're busy, no big deal. Why aren't you answering? You're making it awkward."
"Can I come too? If Do Seon-woo is going, that is."
Kang Dae-man answered for me. Ma Yu-hyeon scowled.
"Kang Dae-man, you're not invited. The girls said not to bring you 'cause you're scary."
"Then don't bring any girls."
"Nah, better to leave you out."
Ma Yu-hyeon turned back to me as he said it. Those sharp eyes bored into me. It was a gaze I couldn't get used to.
"So, you in? Girls would love you there."
"Girls?"
"Yeah. Not from Florence, just some chicks from around. Kinda dumb, but… your face should do it."
Chicks from around… From what I'd heard, they weren't the type worth meeting. Ma Yu-hyeon was known for hanging with a rough crowd anyway. Those 'girls' were probably the same.
I was about to refuse when Kim Jin-seo, sitting beside me, tugged lightly at my collar.
"…Don't. Don't go."
Her tone was firm, laced with urgency. Her eyes pleaded desperately.
"I won't. Got prior plans anyway."
I refused flatly.
"Too bad. Hit me up next time you're free. We'll hang then."
I nodded at Ma Yu-hyeon's words, and Kim Jin-seo tugged my collar again. She leaned in and whispered.
"Don't go next time either."
This time, her voice carried a chilling edge rather than desperation. I nodded at her words too.
As we whispered, Seong Ha-yeon tilted her head curiously, while Han Su-ryeon mouthed a silent scream. Seong Ha-yeon might not get it, but Han Su-ryeon was clearly misunderstanding us.
Yeo Min-seo sat dazed for a while before snapping back to reality, looking around. Then, with trembling eyes, she turned to Ma Yu-hyeon.
"Ma Yu-hyeon, sit."
"Sit?"
"Yeah, sit… down. So we can start the meeting."
Yeo Min-seo's tone lacked its usual aggression. Ma Yu-hyeon finally sat, looking satisfied.
Yeo Min-seo looked up at the sky and sighed. She was trying to compose herself, but it wasn't working well.
"Next item: the Satan Cult expulsion operation, finally kicking off."
She sighed repeatedly, venting her worries, then resumed the meeting. Satan Cult expulsion. An intriguing agenda. That Satanist bastard hiding in Florence had burned down my house, nearly killed Kang Ji-a, and blown up Basar Shopping Mall.
Yeo Min-seo skimmed her documents and continued.
"First, keep the students in the dark about the operation happening."
"Why?"
Kang Dae-man asked, genuinely curious.
"Teachers'… I mean, the instructors' orders. Something about avoiding discord among students."
"Discord! Sounds legit."
"Florence always has a legit excuse. Anyway, it'll happen next week. Centered on Humility Holy Mark holder Ma Yu-hyeon here, with the instructors and other execs handling it discreetly."
According to Yeo Min-seo, they'd use holy artifacts prepared by the faculty, Ma Yu-hyeon's talents, and a 'special method' from the elders to purge the Satanists. She didn't specify the special method. She didn't know it either.
"Elders, man. Think they know best keeping it to themselves. Buncha arrogant old geezers. Who knows when they'll croak."
"Min-seo, you… Sigh. Never mind."
Han Su-ryeon tried to stop her but gave up with a sigh. Yeo Min-seo's potty mouth was impossible to get used to. Just like Ma Yu-hyeon's gaze.
"The purge targets all first-years, but 'prime suspects' picked by the faculty and me get stricter screening."
"Prime suspects?"
I unwittingly repeated her words.
Yeo Min-seo glanced at me and nodded.
"Bit many for 'prime suspects,' but whatever. Want me to read 'em off?"
"Curious if I'm suspected too. Read 'em."
"Yeah, everyone's dying to know. Might as well confirm."
Yeo Min-seo rattled off the list. Yoo-chan, Lim Dan-myeong, Ha Dae-su, Yoon Woo-jin, Jeong Seong-hui… Names poured out endlessly. Definitely too many for prime suspects.
"Kim Gu-hak, Myeon Jeong-nam… Do Seon-woo, Gu Jun-hyeok."
"…What? What's the criteria—"
"Last one, Yeo Min-seo. Me."
She cut off my protest and named herself. That ended the 'prime suspect list.'
I stared at her in disbelief. Fine, me on the list? Whatever. Actually, it made sense. I'm a Florence student and Voodoo Cult leader living a double life. Bound to raise suspicions somehow.
The real question was why Yeo Min-seo herself was on a list she'd helped compile with the faculty.
"I know it doesn't add up… But based on what the teachers and I guessed, Satanist traits are these."
I wasn't the only confused one. Everyone stared at her puzzled—even Ma Yu-hyeon.
Yeo Min-seo continued, ready to explain.
"Smart. Good at math. Mild OCD, massive narcissism. From how they flaunt crimes, huge ego too. …And most importantly."
She paused, catching her breath.
"Very, very high chance of split personality. Meaning… they might not even realize they're Satanists. Factoring that in, I couldn't rule myself out."
"Knew it! I've suspected you were a Satanist for ages. My instincts were spot on."
"I'm saying there's a 'slight' chance, you thick-headed fuck."
Yeo Min-seo unloaded on Kang Dae-man, then sighed again.
"…That's it, meeting over. See you next week."
*
Even leaving the student council room, my mind was unsettled. Partly because Gu Jun-hyeok and I were suspects, but mostly Yeo Min-seo's words about Satanists possibly having split personalities.
A Satanist might not even know they are one… The idea that someone around me—or even me—could be one was deeply unsettling.
"Straight to class?"
Kim Jin-seo asked abruptly after walking with me a bit. I nodded.
"Yeah."
"Wrong way."
I planned to head straight to the classroom; she was going training. First-year classrooms and the gym were opposite directions.
"Bummer."
"What?"
"…Dunno."
Kim Jin-seo mumbled cryptically, waved lightly, and headed to the gym. Her steps were a bit quicker than usual.
Once she vanished from sight, I started toward class.
"Hey."
The path to class felt longer today. Even the stairs seemed steeper, harsher.
"Hey?"
I hurried on.
"Hey, don't ignore—"
"What!"
I'd ignored her long enough; had to respond. It was Seong Ha-yeon chasing me. She stood awkwardly with hands raised, eyes wide with fright. I'd startled her by yelling.
"…Yeah, what."
I softened my tone, feeling it'd been too abrupt. Seong Ha-yeon straightened and cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Don't you have something to say to me?"
"Something to say?"
"Yes."
Something to say to Seong Ha-yeon. What could it be?
"Uh, 'piss off'?"
No clue, so I said what I wanted.
"…Not that."
"'Stop following,' 'shut up.'"
More guesses, but no dice. Knew they wouldn't be right anyway.
Seong Ha-yeon glared up at me, pissed.
"…You got the Charity Holy Mark thanks to the International Theological Society. You know that, right?"
"So?"
"A 'thank you' wouldn't hurt."
She crossed her arms, daring me. Two groups helped me get the Charity Holy Mark: Kim Chang-won's Florence Foundation and Seong Yu-da's International Theological Society. Kim Chang-won helped for Kim Jin-seo. But why the International Theological Society? No idea.
From her tone, Seong Ha-yeon had asked Seong Yu-da. So why help me? To get me in the Society? She wasn't the type for simple favors.
No reason to thank her, whatever.
"…Hey, where you—wait! You've been avoiding me—!"
I ignored and tried for class, but she blocked me. Getting annoyed.
"What now."
"So hard to say thanks once?"
It was. Like how hard it'd been to get an apology from Seong Yu-da.
So hard I still hadn't. Hell, Seong Yu-da might not even know if I lived or died. Probably didn't care.
"…Do you hate me?"
Seong Ha-yeon asked. I neither nodded nor shook my head, just rubbed my forehead.
"I'm asking."
"Just… wish you'd stay out of sight."
Seong Ha-yeon reminded me of Seong Yu-da. Seong Yu-da brought Dad. Then headaches hit. Seong Yu-da beyond Dad's illusion, then Dad's charred remains.
I disliked Seong Ha-yeon because she triggered that chain of memories—and the migraines.
"That bad? …Why?"
Her puzzled voice trailed behind. I ignored and entered class. Dizzy.
*
"Do Seon-woo?"
After school, post-homeroom, heading home—Ha Ye-jin stopped me.
"Yes?"
"Know where the meeting room is?"
No. Shook my head.
"Oh? Follow me then. Easier."
Clueless, I followed to the meeting room.
"How's your body? Any aftereffects?"
Ha Ye-jin glanced back on the stairs.
"Yes, all healed."
"Really? Recover fast, huh?"
"Yeah, heard I'm a quick healer."
"Oh… Makes sense."
Ha Ye-jin nodded. We'd reached the top floor. She was sweating buckets, breathing ragged—about to collapse.
"Huff, huff. Yeah, here. Meeting room. Phew. Just go in."
I nodded silently and opened the door. The vast room was filled with darkness and silence. One feeble light pushed back the gloom.
Under the thin, precarious beam, So Do-jin and Kim Bok-dong sat side by side, arms crossed.
"…Interview today?"
Atmosphere too heavy; I quipped casually.
So Do-jin snorted in disbelief.
"…Kinda. But we're not the interviewers."
"Hahaha! Right. The interviewer is Do Seon-woo."
Kim Bok-dong boomed back. Ha Ye-jin panted in, sat between them. Clap! She clapped to lighten the mood.
"Uh… where to start. Seon-woo, sit here first!"
Too sudden, but I sat as told. Kim Bok-dong, Ha Ye-jin, So Do-jin faced me, watching. Their stares—especially Kim Bok-dong and So Do-jin's—were intense.
Ha Ye-jin broke the silence.
"Seon-woo, you missed ten days hospitalized, right? That's when departments were chosen. Everyone else picked, but not you…."
No time to process. Kim Bok-dong shot up. I flinched back.
"Yeah. Called you here for department choice."
He strode toward me.
"So, we'll each pitch our departments to recruit you. Ready?"
"Wait, I haven't mentally pre—"
"I'll start."
The department selection began abruptly.
(To be continued next time)