Disguised Peace 1

Gwacheon, Eden Farm underground cavern. Holy light poured in through the hole in the collapsed ceiling. At the center of that light stood she—the Saintess, Isha von Estel.

Pure holy power coalesced and compressed into a sword of light so intense it strained to hold its form. The true Holy Sword Justia, wielded only by her.

[Form: Light of Judgment]

"Gahhh... So bright! My eyes are burning!"

The Elder of Abundance screamed, clawing to regain his vision. Gone was the grandeur of moments ago, when he'd chanted of immortality and resummoned his giant soldier disease.

Instinct told him the truth: his corrupt power was less than dust before that overwhelming light.

"I-Isha von Estel! How dare you invade my sanctuary!"

The elder thrashed, squeezing out his remaining strength. He trusted in the phantom giant soldier looming behind him, fist raised to smash down.

Isha merely fixed her red eyes on the elder and the abyssal energy entwined behind him.

"Blasphemy."

Her lips moved.

"Must be purified."

—Swoosh.

Isha lightly swung her arm. It didn't even feel like a sword stroke. Just a beam of light crossing space.

—Flash!

The world blinked white.

"Huh?"

The elder's face went blank. The giant soldier's massive fist, descending with him, froze mid-air.

—Slice.

The phantom split vertically. The cut was flawless, no blood spilling thanks to the searing light.

Then, a thin golden line traced across the elder's torso.

"No... way..."

He mumbled, barely registering his body parting.

"My... immortality..."

—Splurt!

His body cleaved in two and crumpled. No regeneration. No resurrection. Holy Sword Justia didn't cut—it purified existence into oblivion.

"Hoo..."

Isha retracted the light with a short exhale. At her feet lay the elder's bisected corpse and the giant soldier's remnants dissipating as black smoke.

"...Wow."

I let out a hollow laugh, slumping to the floor. Exhaustion left me too drained to stand, but my mouth still worked.

"First time seeing it in person. Some descent."

Isha turned at my words. The judge's gaze was gone, replaced by a tsundere, fatigued look.

"What's so impressive about it?"

"Humble much? Same technique as the New York Gate."

Of course, I'd intuited it when I killed Desolatus, but no need to mention that.

"That output... must've used your title power. Energy drain's no joke, right?"

"..."

Isha's brow twitched. Descent, Holy Sword Justia's release—it burned life force like mine did. She looked composed, but inside, she was an empty shell.

"Should've eaten properly for once. All that pizza leaves you short on energy."

"You bastard...!"

Isha stormed over, indignant. Seeing me wobble, she couldn't fully snap, just sighed.

"Look at you. Playing hero alone—serves you right."

"Thanks to you, I'm still breathing. Oh, right."

I spat out my homework like it was nothing.

"Antonio sends his regards."

"...Who? Antonio?"

"Big shot in New York's back alleys. Your superfan. Real... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠passionate guy."

Isha's face twisted subtly. She hadn't expected that fanatic's name here. And me dropping it meant I'd been up to something in New York.

"No way... You sold my name?"

"Sell? Don't be like that. Just said we knew each other."

I shrugged shamelessly. Isha shot a "we'll settle this later" glare but lacked the energy now.

The crackling of burning mandrakes exposed to the flash enveloped us.

"By ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the way, Isha."

"What."

"Some weird woman's been messaging me nonstop lately."

At my out-of-left-field comment, Isha's ear tips perked as she pretended to inspect the corpse.

"...A woman?"

"Yeah. Super persistent. Blowing up my phone day and night—driving me nuts."

"Wh-who is it? That Black Rose chick?"

Isha played it cool, but her voice pitched up half an octave.

"Nah, not her."

I side-eyed her.

"Specifically, some granny keeps commenting."

"...Pardon? G-granny?"

"Yeah. Nickname's super folksy. One Flower Lily."

Isha froze like a statue. Her face blanched, then flushed tomato-red.

"Granny?!"

She shrieked.

"Lilies are noble and elegant! Symbolize purity, unchanging love! Calling that granny is just—your sensitivity's not just dry, it's withered and twisted!"

"Whoa, whoa. Calm down."

"Does this look calm to you?!"

Isha huffed, turning away. Ears red as could be—quite the sight.

"Kidding. Good reaction—healthy."

I dropped the grin, face serious. Pointed at the mandrake field strewn around.

"Purify this, please."

"..."

"I could burn it, but the toxins would spread. Leave it, someone'll abuse it for narcotic boosters again. Don't wanna see hunters high on power killing each other anymore."

Isha's eyes softened. She surveyed the area. Twisted human-root forms. Their resentment and pain stung her skin.

"...Fine."

She straightened from her inspection.

"Can't tolerate leaving this as a saintess. Or as Holy Church duty."

"Thanks. Knew I could count on the Saintess."

I hauled myself up using my knee. Adel approached hesitantly from afar.

"Isha, clean-up on you. Oh, and."

I tossed over my shoulder as I turned.

"Hungry? Order daily bread anytime. Granny gets special discount."

"...Sh-shut up."

Gruff reply, but I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠caught the faint smile tugging her lips.

I headed out with Adel.

"Wait."

Isha called.

"Yeah?"

She met my eyes squarely. Seriousness in her red gaze.

"Analyzed that pizza."

"Oh? Ordered tons for free, huh? Finally did it. So, drugs?"

"No."

She shook her head.

"Clean. No toxins. Just flour, cheese, ham... excessive sodium and fat."

"Obviously. I don't mess with food."

"Honestly surprised. Thought you'd spike it with real drugs to dupe people."

She smiled wryly.

"You won on taste. Admit it—it was good."

"I'll take the praise."

"So... don't go bankrupt. Gotta keep my subscription."

She turned, light bursting from her to blanket the mandrakes white.

I watched her dazzling back a moment, then waved.

"See ya, Saintess."

Heading back to Seoul. I sat shotgun in the truck Adel drove, eyes closed, enduring.

As expected, she didn't nab me.

I knew she'd prioritize disaster cleanup over personal grudge with Desolatus.

Post-exhaustion aches throbbed everywhere.

"Hey, Lee Han."

Adel glanced while gripping the wheel.

"What."

"That earlier."

"What."

"Demon King's Horn. Weren't we after it? The one the Elder used—shouldn't we have grabbed it?"

I answered without opening my eyes.

"Don't need it."

"What? Don't need it? That's what summons or blocks the Demon King! You didn't forget, did you?"

"No. Replica."

"...What?"

Adel's hands shook on the wheel.

"Replica? Fake? C'mon! I felt it! That ominous aura! Mana to summon giant soldier disease! Can't be fake!"

"Felt the real one."

I gazed out the window.

"Elder got duped too. Thought his was real, so he hoarded it."

"Then... the real one's?"

Her voice quavered. If that massive power was fake...

How strong was the real thing?

"Black Moon's leader."

Silent Elder.

"Long road ahead."

Adel grumbled. Fatigue crashed like waves. Wanted home soon.

Seoul outskirts. Abandoned factory hideout.

"We're back~!"

Adel kicked the door open. In her hands, busted parts from Supreme Hunter like war trophies.

"Welcome back! Boss lady! Boss man!"

Subordinates #1 Dokki and #2 Kim Sil-jang rushed out barefoot. Faces pale.

Guarding the factory without Adel—more like her figurines—had them stressed.

"Good work, you lot. My babies safe?"

"Yes! Of course! Blocked the quake with our bodies!"

Dokki proudly pointed to the display case. Dust-free Desolatus figurines sparkled under lights.

"Ooh... Good boys! My babies!"

Adel hugged the case, teary-eyed.

"Great job. Reward: special dinner! Double pepperoni cheese pizza on me!"

"Wooo!"

Factory turned festival instant. I flopped on the sofa, watching.

"Adel. Clean up. Desk's a mess."

Pointed at her workbench: junk, blueprints, half-eaten pizza boxes piled high.

"Ugh, later! Party time now!"

She chucked a scrap metal lump on the desk, bolted to the fridge.

Scrap that screamed "trash." Unfinished golem core ver. Adel's Tears 2.0.

"..."

Invisible turf war between factions. To win Adel's favor, Dokki smirked slyly amid their hierarchy tussle.

"Right, boss. Fresh-back Adel clean? Nah."

Kim Sil-jang seized the opening, sneaking to her desk. Dokki, thinking him hooked, probed to seal victory.

"Kim Sil-jang, whatcha doing?"

"Hmph. A brute like you wouldn't get it. This is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sensibilité."

Kim scoffed, tidying: pizza boxes away, crumpled blueprints smoothed and rolled.

His hand hit the charred lump—the golem core.

"Such an ugly eyesore on the desk. Just ruins Adel's aesthetic."

Kim grabbed the core without a second thought.

"I'll tidy it nicely for you, Lady Adel!"