Chapter 9. The Demon's Hand (1)

April 13th, Tuesday afternoon. The second-year students at Jeil High School, having finished lunch and returned to the classroom, were chatting in small groups.

It was a routine sight—everyone talking with their close friends. But today, there was one thing different from usual.

The topics of conversation had sharply divided into two main issues, and the students were only discussing those.

And among them, the one with slightly more buzz was the mysterious hand discovered a few days ago in a park in Seoul. The question of what it really was.

"Is that thing really a demon's hand? Kim Ji-won, you should know, right? Your dad's a cop."

"Ugh, I told you I don't know. Why do you keep asking? Dad won't tell me anything, so how should I know?"

Demons that ruled dimensions beyond the Rifts. Until just over twenty years ago, they had been a major threat to this world, but after the 36 Heroes reduced the frequency of Rift outbreaks, they vanished from Earth.

During the Great Rift ten years ago, some might have crossed over, but the details of that incident were still classified.

Jeil High students, who hadn't even been born during the heyday of the 36 Heroes, had no access to such vital information. To them, demons were less a real threat and more like legendary creatures.

Like vampires or werewolves.

Yet now, a severed hand presumed to be from one of those demons had been found. With no clue who had discarded it.

Around then, one of the nearby students chimed in knowingly.

"Hey, I overheard my mom on the phone yesterday. It seems like the demon hand news is about to break soon."

"...You sure it's okay to tell us that? Isn't that like, not allowed?"

"I dunno. They said it'll be announced today or tomorrow anyway, so what's the big deal?"

Yoo Hae-bin, sitting in her usual spot in the left corner of the classroom as always, overheard their talk and whispered to Lee Sea.

"If those kids skip school tomorrow, I'm betting national secret agents nab 'em lol."

"They said it'll be public by tomorrow."

"Still, y'know how it is? Like an embargo or whatever. But Lee Sea, you're pretending not to listen while totally eavesdropping."

"...It's right there in my ear. What am I supposed to do?"

Lee Sea shot back curtly and pulled a chocolate bar from her uniform pocket. With her recent snacking habit granting—or cursing her with—a skill, she deftly unwrapped it and nibbled away with her front teeth.

Yoo Hae-bin remarked in a meaningful tone.

"Your cheeks look a bit puffier lately? Seeing extras in your pocket, I could help with some diet control... Whaddya think?"

"No way in hell. Not sharing even one, so buy your own."

"Yeah, whatever... Wasn't expecting any anyway. You'd have to give me one at least once first. Oh, right. GlassMental, you hear anything?"

Tsking her tongue, Yoo Hae-bin turned left and asked. Jin Yu-ri, sitting in the seat to Lee Sea's left and reading her textbook, replied coolly.

"Studying preview. Don't talk to me."

"Huh? Dodging like that means you heard something. Makes sense with your family—stuff like that would reach you. If it's a demon hand, what're they doing with it? Too bad to just destroy it. Auction it off or something?"

"Sigh... Haven't heard anything. Got time for that crap? Why not study instead? Midterms are coming— you confident?"

"Confident? Always more than you. And Magic Dynamics? Needs preview? Our Dojin oppa explains it all so nicely."

"Ah..."

Jin Yu-ri flinched at the name Yoo Hae-bin dropped, then tried to play it cool by turning the arrow on Lee Sea.

"Casually calling the professor by name... and you're just sitting there?"

"...Ah."

Lee Sea, who had tolerated nicknames like Lee Dojin-ssi or Dojin-kun from Zeta better than most, realized she'd grown complacent and glared at Yoo Hae-bin.

But Yoo Hae-bin took the glare in stride and pressed Jin Yu-ri again.

"And why'd you move all the way here? Go back to your old seat and maybe I'd thank you."

"Planning to sit here from now on?"

"Huh?"

Yoo Hae-bin frowned in confusion, but Jin Yu-ri had no intention of explaining.

'...This is the biggest blind spot.'

The far back left corner of the classroom. The spot where Lee Dojin paid the least attention during lectures. Jin Yu-ri vaguely knew why.

He couldn't help smiling whenever his eyes met Lee Sea's, so he deliberately avoided looking.

For her, sitting near Yoo Hae-bin and Lee Sea was far better than catching Lee Dojin's eye.

Soon, 1 PM arrived. The noisy classroom quieted down.

Footsteps followed, the door opened, and...

As pre-arranged, the entire class erupted in massive applause.

Clap clap clap!

"Congratulations, Professors!"

For most, it had been a week since last Tuesday's class—these were the people who made waves in academia with their history-making discovery in Magic Dynamics and brought demon-hand-level buzz to campus.

Professor Seo Sang-wook and Lee Dojin waved awkwardly with sheepish smiles.

"Ah, thanks. Ahem, looks like everyone's here, so we'll skip roll call and dive right in. Last time, we were talking about—"

Professor Seo Sang-wook deflated the touching atmosphere in seconds with his drowsy reading from the book, and the students inwardly sighed.

'Yeah, figures...'

The classroom air livened up again only when Lee Dojin stepped forward. After kindly answering students' questions, he grinned and said,

"Shall we get the lesson started now?"

"Yes—!"

And... As he scanned the room, his smile deepened, and he pointed at someone.

"Jin Yu-ri?"

"Kek!"

A startled cry beyond linguistic bounds echoed through the classroom.

She'd vowed to answer any question perfectly after endless preview and review.

But right now, Jin Yu-ri had no time to feel frustrated about that.

Unexpected call-out. Choking in shock, she could only hack out pitiful coughs.

"Eek, hek, hnghk, grhk—!"

Unable to watch, Lee Sea flicked her hand slightly. Mana flowed out, wrapping around Jin Yu-ri's chest, calming her. Blushing furiously, she said to Lee Dojin,

"...Sorry, Professor."

"Wipe your spit."

Yoo Hae-bin said pityingly. Only then did Jin Yu-ri touch her mouth.

Moisture slicked her hand, stretching like threads. Her already red face burned like fire.

Lee Dojin, who had watched the whole spectacle, carefully changed tack.

"Ah, it's fine. Not Jin Yu-ri... Let's hear from Lee Sea instead."

"Yes, Professor."

Lee Sea calmly covered the chocolate bar wrapper she'd left on her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠desk and replied evenly.

Jin Yu-ri seethed at her pathetic display, but even she couldn't guess the reason, leaving her frustrated.

Around 7:30 PM. Instead of heading straight home after work, I parked by a deserted riverbank and sat in the driver's seat.

Before my eyes floated seven mana holograms.

The central one featured a woman in a wide-brimmed hat shadowing her face, revealing only red lips, speaking amiably.

The dragon-like mask greeted briskly from the far left hologram.

The old man mask, child mask, and brute-like mask spoke in turn, and the dragon mask replied confidently.

The Rabbit Mask just nodded slightly without a word.

And the last one. The female member whose true identity even I didn't know, wearing the Fox Mask, replied calmly.

A brief silence fell, and the old man mask cleared his throat with a question.

The brute grumbled, and the central hologram woman replied gracefully.

The other six holograms—all regular members—replied affirmatively, and the central one declared,

Minimum five needed. No set date yet, but within five days for sure.

The dragon mask's enthusiastic reply. But the old man, boy, and brute were lukewarm.

Left were two. Fox Mask and Rabbit Mask replied.

The central hologram clapped delightedly.

Pssht—the holograms scattered like smoke.

Then, thunk—a touch on my shoulder. I whipped around reflexively to slender fingers prodding my cheek.

The woman in the passenger seat, face hidden by a black hat, smiled brightly.

I removed my plain white mask and asked her,

"Not a kid anymore—why do you love pranks so much?"

"Hm... 'Cause it's fun?"

Seo Yeon-hee removed her hat, grinning, and leaned closer. Our shoulders touched.

Close enough to feel her breath. She gazed at me with intrigued eyes.

"This what you wanted?"

"Yes, this is plenty."

The final sub-quest for Kill the Evil Volume 1. Kill ten A-rank Awakeners in Seoul by midnight April 18th. From first to tenth, total leeway: one hour.

Clearing normally was near impossible—required perfect alignment.

The demon hand issue was among the best conditions I could imagine.

Seo Yeon-hee pressed closer. Her fresh scent tickled my nose as she looked up warmly.

"Tomorrow we'll see the details. Lots of greedy eyes. Secret op or auction-style—which you prefer?"

She was asking my preference: covert or public like auction.

Then a new hologram notified.

"Sigh..."

"Why the sudden sigh?"

"Nothing. Make it as flashy as possible within my limits."

"You got it?"

I thanked Seo Yeon-hee as she agreed readily, inwardly cursing the hologram.

Fine, if we're doing it, go big.

Serious talk wrapped, Seo Yeon-hee suggested eagerly,

"Since it's late, drive around, grab dinner? One hour drive per person gets 100,000 won dinner budget. Pretty good for part-time, huh?"

"Drive fifteen minutes to a pork belly joint totaling 50,000 for two."

"..."

Just words—she and I cruised quiet roads for thirty minutes after.

Her face brightening, she suggested a fancy hanjeongsik place, but we ate samgyeopsal at the cheap spot where two could stuff themselves for under 50,000.

Drive achieved her goal, so no complaints from Seo Yeon-hee.

April 14th, Wednesday. Seo Yeon-hee left her residence for official business after a very long time.

Since the 36 Heroes' battles ended, she'd lived reclusively enough that few recognized her.

Not just that—her appearance made it hard anyway.

Early thirties looks. 175cm height, flawless figure. Her walk subtly exuded irresistible physical allure.

No one clocked her as the hidden hero Seo Yeon-hee amid the stares, and she entered a building, took the elevator to the top floor.

Ding—the doors opened to the chairman's office. Some already there greeted her.

"You're here."

One of the 36 Heroes, Eternal Guild Master Han Tae-gang.

"Gonna forget your face at this rate. Can't meet often, but stay in touch at least."

Another 36 Hero, Korean Awakener Association Head Yoon Ui-seong.

"Heh heh, you don't age a day. Amazing, truly."

A frail old man with white hair, no muscle left. The 36 Heroes' eldest, Shim Jeong-woong, former head of the Shim family—now Korea's top magic lineage.

Korea's surviving heroes including Seo Yeon-hee gathered, plus dazzling attendees: Jin Cheol-min, Kang Yu-jeong, Joo Seong-won, Park In-young, Lee Hyeong-sik... and more.

Not quite 36 Heroes level, but top Awakener elites and politico-economic leaders.

Seo Yeon-hee glanced at the round table's center.

Hummm...

A faint vibration. There lay a pitch-black, pulsating hand gleaming darkly.