Fall (Corruption) - Early February
Early February. The weather was starting to thaw, but it was still a piercingly cold winter.
“♬—♪—♬”
Sylvia hummed happily as she strolled through the city center. Of course she did.
I never dreamed he'd panic like that.
Yesterday had been a truly blissful day for Sylvia. She'd spent the whole day on a date with Daniel oppa and gotten an amazing reaction out of him.
She never could have imagined that stone-headed oppa of hers showing such a response.
“Hehe.”
Now the possibilities were endless. She'd already held hands, so next up was linking arms. If luck was on her side, maybe even more.
It was still a little embarrassing, but someday... maybe even that, the love of adults?
“Ah, right.”
She had to tell her friend about this milestone. It was only proper to show some gratitude after all the help she'd gotten.
Sylvia glanced around the shops nearby. With every step she took down the street, the cold wind swept through her pink hair.
Like a noble flower blooming amid the snow, she simply stood there, drawing gazes from every direction.
“...Where were you just looking?”
“No, that's not— Gahk!”
Unfortunately, one man failed at gaze control. His neck twisted with a sharp crack, like a tree snapped by a gale.
“Honey?”
“Dear, it's not—”
This time, a married man sank. Such was the sin of being born male. Instincts etched into one's fate were hard to defy.
Of course, the typhoon named Sylvia was oblivious. As this innocent storm unwittingly sparked passionate wrestling matches between couples...
This place looks perfect.
She arrived at a cake shop. The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with sweet honey, undercut by the faint scent of coffee.
She pushed open the door.
“Sylvia, you've finally arrived.”
A familiar voice greeted her.
Turning her head, she saw a woman in her mid-twenties reflected in her eyes.
Black leather jacket, light brown pants, black sunglasses. A short skirt accentuating her legs. Dark brown hair and eyes. Makeup redder than a rose.
Around her neck hung a white rosary symbolizing St. Ekaterina Academy—a stark contrast to her appearance.
She looked nothing like a priestess.
“What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here on this street.”
Irene Restain. A 6th circle astrologer mage. An eccentric specimen who collected professor credentials from academies across the continent out of boredom.
At St. Ekaterina Academy, she was famous as a love consultant. Every couple she'd advised had ended up together.
Word was, if you wanted a partner, go to her. Though rumors also swirled that she'd coldly reject doomed matches, so not everyone dared.
But Irene had another rumor attached to her.
“...This isn't a coincidence, is it?”
I'll gift you your ideal future. In return, show me the most beautiful emotion—love.
She was the pioneer of a new path unseen in the world of magic.
Though only 6th circle, she'd forged a novel mystery unlike any before. Insanely, it dealt in confirming futures. Naturally, plenty disliked her for it.
Sylvia was one of them. Obtaining a future and love through someone else's hands? What could be more meaningless?
So she was certain this encounter wasn't chance. Irene must have manipulated her inscrutable magic to arrange it here.
Sylvia found her uncomfortable and moved to leave slowly.
“First off, my apologies. That clingy moth on Daniel? My design.”
“Pardon?”
Irene Restain flashed a sly grin, dropping her bombshell. Sylvia's feet froze.
“...Hold on.”
She replayed her memories.
Reviewing the contrived events beside Daniel oppa. Her conclusion?
“Fake engagement?”
“Perfect score. Need a gold star? Or maybe a prize from the shop?”
Sylvia's face hardened at the absurd joke. Irene, as if expecting it, chuckled.
“You're here for love talk anyway. A bit heavy, but still.”
Leaning back in her chair like it was her own home, Irene declared shamelessly.
“First, thank me.”
...?
The conversational leap was wild. How was she supposed to follow without context? Sylvia refused sharply.
“Sorry, but I'm busy right now. If there's nothing else, I'll be going.”
She packed every ounce of courtesy into her farewell to Irene. As she turned to leave...
“Had fun at the resort yesterday, right? I helped with that. This hurts my feelings.”
Crack. Sylvia's steps halted. She couldn't ignore that.
“I helped another lady with her fake engagement, so fair's fair—I pulled some strings for you. Satisfied?”
...So the famous honeymoon resort wasn't coincidence?
Facing that truth, Sylvia's lips twitched.
“...You guided us there, Professor?”
“Sylvia. I'm a 6th circle astrology professor, even if I don't look it. Built on unique magic, no less. Child's play.”
Public and unique magic were worlds apart in difficulty.
Climbing others' foundations versus building from scratch solo. Obviously the latter was harder.
Rumors said her magic seized desired futures. Experiencing it left Sylvia dumbfounded.
“...I seriously don't get what's happening.”
Who'd believe this straight?
Sylvia eyed her suspiciously. Irene snorted dismissively, thrusting a dagger.
“Fine with him getting stolen?”
“...”
Her words shredded Sylvia's desires.
“Jealous types like you can't afford to slack.”
“...Sorry, but even without your help—”
“You don't think you're the only one who likes him, do you? Guy's popular.”
Irene's words hit too hard to brush off.
“You know it. He's got real appeal. Plenty have their eyes on him.”
True enough... Sylvia, who'd watched Daniel for over ten years, couldn't deny it.
But one thing nagged.
Her words implied someone else truly loved him.
“They're idiots, right? How could anyone really like oppa?”
Sylvia's honest feelings. How could anyone genuinely fall for him?
“...Wait. Don't you like him too?”
“That's why I can say it. Sometimes dating a rock sounds better.”
She'd felt like talking to a wall before, so she could declare it.
Daniel was bad news for women. He dangled hope but never delivered. Total—
Ahem.
Sylvia cleared her throat lightly.
Seeing it, Irene sighed deeply and pressed on deliberately.
“Enough appetizer. Main course.”
“Hey, I still don't buy it? When did I—”
“Can you seduce him solo? Beat the competition?”
“...”
“Then shut up and listen.”
Finally, in a sing-song voice, the truth spilled.
“He means it about wanting love, marriage.”
“...?”
Sylvia blinked in confusion.
She'd thought Daniel oppa's constant talk of meeting someone was empty chatter.
“He's trapped in Contradiction. Explaining needs Possession (Kangsin) first...”
Possession (Kangsin). Calling gods to this world.
Justice, Abundance, Wisdom, Freedom, Faith, Charity. The six gods' descent wrought miracles.
Justice's blade shredded evil.
Abundance's touch breathed life into barren soil.
Charity's breath raised the dead.
Each a mighty miracle—and the cost matched.
For example...
“Personality erosion, memory damage, moral decay, perception distortion, emotional depletion and numbness, loss of agency.”
“...What?”
“The affliction of the man you love. He's barely holding on for now.”
Possession ruined people. Slowly carving away their humanity, replacing it with divine traces.
“He probably senses it subconsciously. Just doesn't say it.”
That's why the cries for love, dating, marriage.
Everything else was long broken. He likely knew he couldn't recover.
Love and affection were mere embers now. A real headache.
How could someone scarred by painful love bloom happiness alone?
That's why it fell to Sylvia, of all people.
If you fail to corrupt the greatest exorcist, Daniel Dia Tristan, the world ends.
“Hard to grasp? Just keep doing what you were. Seduce him, plain and simple.”
“Fall (Corruption) sounds grandiose, but it's nothing special.”
It devolved into repetitive synonyms. To elaborate...
“He has only two emotions left.”
Boundless noble rage. Endless tormenting, painful love.
The rest had worn away long ago—mere shells now.
And the rage would likely vanish soon. If things continued...
“He won't stay human.”
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo. The purple seventh god that defined humanity as demons loomed to fill the void.
“So drop him first.”
墮 (ta) - to fall
落 (rak) - to drop
Before the seventh god ascended.
“Shall we discuss how to steal his heart? Miss in love.”
Daniel Dia Tristan had to be corrupted into humanity.