Chapter 15. Resolve (1)
“……”
So, she was really Rabbit Mask herself.
Having realized that much, I harbored doubts across three major points.
First and foremost: What was Rabbit Mask's true identity?
She was a member whose identity Seo Yeon-hee hadn't revealed to me, alongside Fox Mask. She was extraordinarily powerful. Even judging solely by the strength she displayed during the auction house incident, she was approaching 36 Heroes level—or perhaps surpassing it. A powerhouse I couldn't guarantee victory against.
But...
She's a bit too strong.
The true extent of her power, glimpsed through the murals' past scenes, far exceeded even my expectations.
To single-handedly take down a full-moon long-lived species—not some ordinary specimen, but one outstanding even among their kind... She was definitely stronger than me right now, at the very least.
Han Tae-gang and Charlotte Tate. Super-elites whose physical stats were at least in the high eighties, possibly hitting the nineties in certain areas. She was on a level where she could contend with them.
From this, two hypotheses emerged.
Rabbit Mask was still concealing a vast amount of her power while operating as a Phantom member.
Or perhaps she was far stronger back during the Silver Demon Mountain legend era than she was now.
I had no way of knowing which was true. Nor could I confirm whether the empty wish she made to Seo Yeon-hee had anything to do with me.
Since the questions remained unresolved, I shifted my train of thought to the second point.
Second point: What the hell was the Eastward Flowing Moon?
I'd confirmed via hologram that Rabbit Mask possessed it during the Silver Demon Mountain legend, so there was no doubt about that. Still, I needed to scrutinize every single word of that inscription.
The phrase “at that time, the possessor.” On the surface, it seemed to narrow the interpretation, but it was actually the complete opposite. A clever trap, more like.
Had there been owners of the Eastward Flowing Moon before Rabbit Mask? When, where, and how was it first created? Was she still its owner now? Could I seize it and destroy it?
Nothing was specified—deliberately worded that way, no doubt. Not even a hint of what it could do.
Even so, there were grounds for speculation. Combining it with the third point, I narrowed down my inferences as much as possible from the current standpoint.
Third point: Rabbit Mask, the Eastward Flowing Moon, Kill the Evil, Jin Yu-ri, and Lee Sea. What connections linked these elements?
As the author of World Guardian.
As the protagonist of Birth of the Demon God.
As the final boss of Kill the Evil.
As the son of Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin.
As Lee Sea's older brother.
As someone who cherished Seo Yeon-hee beyond words.
All the information I possessed. Every hypothesis I could conjure in my mind. Imagination, hope, impatience—they tangled complexly as the mural scenes finally concluded. I turned and headed back the way I'd come.
Having fully grasped the mana structure composing the murals, I could recreate the footage anytime I wanted after escaping. For now, two things needed doing.
Reassure Lee Sea once I got out.
And talk to Seo Yeon-hee.
Of course, I trusted her. Without her help, it would've taken years longer to reach this point. I trusted her more than myself. There was no way she'd do anything to harm me. Even her actions I didn't understand were ultimately for me and our goals.
I didn't doubt that now, either. She felt exactly the same.
But since we didn't share complete information, I had to ask, factoring in what I'd learned today.
About that Rabbit kid's identity.
Seo Yeon-hee might not know every detail, but I'd ask her to tell me everything she did.
Mulling that over, I quickened my pace and returned to the chamber I'd left earlier.
Yoo Hae-bin, sleeves pulled long over my jacket to hide her hands entirely, was flapping the garment like a penguin. She perked up and asked,
“All done?”
“Yeah. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No, it's fine. Just tell me later what naughty business you were up to.”
“Can't promise that... but the thing I was gonna bring you on the school trip? That's wrapped up. I'll sort the rest and explain step by step, so relax today.”
Yoo Hae-bin eyed me suspiciously and chattered on.
“But can we keep going with the trip? Won't we get investigated and stuff...?”
“I'll handle that. Right before the ruins collapsed, the explosions miraculously stopped, and since we were waiting, they let us out. You get the vibe, right?”
“Just trust my acting skills. Even without the disguise, when I go out in a mood, put on a wig and sunglasses—no one bats an eye. Duh, girl clothes make me look like a girl anyway. Oh, right, I bumped into Lee Sea and Jin Yu-ri on the subway recently, and they didn't recognize me. Nearly shit myself. Wait, that's not acting-related? Anyway, I'm a girl to begin with, and polymorph nerfs me pretty bad, but dressed right like this, I give off a super healthy girl vibe—”
“Hae-bin, please... shut up...”
Like I'd noticed earlier, this kid had lived as a guy too long—blurring lines between what she could say, shouldn't bother saying, and flat-out mustn't say.
At my interruption, Yoo Hae-bin blinked and stared quietly. She seemed to mull her words, then her cheeks flushed faintly.
“I mean... just saying. Anyway, I'll totally play dumb, so trust me.”
“...Thanks.”
Wrapping up there, I circulated my mana. One of the ruin's functions under my control: the mana construct to eject us outside shimmered faintly.
“Heading to the summit. Stick close.”
“Yessir!”
Yoo Hae-bin trotted over and plastered herself to my side. The rustling fabric of my jacket brushed my bare forearms peeking from my short-sleeve tee. Looking down, she mumbled awkwardly,
“Like I said, I'll return these clothes at the dorm. Uh, but they're dusty and sweaty—better take 'em home, wash, and give back?”
“No need to wash. Just keep 'em.”
“Aw, still... feels weird. You're cool with it, but I'm, uh, y'know...”
She looked mortified. Nothing for it but to apologize quietly.
“...Sorry, that was thoughtless. Wash 'em.”
“Yay! I'll clean 'em spotless, like new! Oh, where'd you get this jacket? It's cute—I'll shop there next time.”
“Lemme think... Bought it at that boutique before. Their stuff's pretty nice.”
As I recalled the store's location, a glow enveloped us. A sensation of translocation hit—
“Huh...?”
Yoo Hae-bin glanced around with feigned natural surprise. The vista was Silver Demon Mountain's summit—the spot where we'd vanished.
And then.
“Professor!”
“Oppa...”
Jin Yu-ri's shout rang out, and before I could respond, Lee Sea—eyes red—barreled over and hugged me tight.
A bit earlier, right after Lee Sea and Jin Yu-ri exited the ruins.
“Oppa...?”
Lee Sea murmured blankly, gaze drifting farther. The summit loomed above; she stood near the entrance they'd passed pre-climb.
Crowds everywhere: Jeil High staff and students, awakeners who'd arrived on reports.
But nowhere did she spot Lee Dojin.
“...”
Lee Sea mustered all her patience to wait longer. Maybe a time lag, she told herself. They'd scattered on entry, so maybe on exit too. Different spots, time differences—
Reassuring herself, she scanned ceaselessly for him. Unaware her hands, feet, shoulders—her whole body—trembled.
He wasn't there, but she wanted to believe he'd appear soon, and she'd spot him first...
Yet even as patience frayed to its limit, no sign.
That was all that mattered.
Boom!
Kicking off the ground, Lee Sea leaped high toward the summit. Jin Yu-ri chased, voice mangled by panic and horror.
“Professor! Professor—!”
Lee Sea finally grasped it. Even Jin Yu-ri was searching desperately for him.
He... might not have escaped the ruins.
Left behind as it collapsed on the verge of exploding.
If so...
Even a one-in-ten-million chance...
What fate awaited him?
Circling Silver Demon Mountain gradually upward, Lee Sea reached the summit.
Safety lines ringed the clearing; familiar and unfamiliar faces murmured worriedly around it.
The cracked bedrock looked pristine, as if never damaged.
No Lee Dojin here either. People spotted her and Jin Yu-ri, approaching in surprise.
“Sea! Where've you been? With Jin Yu-ri... what about Hae-bin and the professor?”
Her heart crumbled anew. Barely squeezing out words, she asked her friends,
“What... happened here? Why's it... fine? Oppa... my oppa?”
Awakeners who'd rushed for investigation questioned Jin Yu-ri: Where had they popped from?
Calmer than Lee Sea but voice shaking badly, Jin Yu-ri replied,
“We were in some ruins... it was collapsing, so we bailed right before. Woke up at the entrance, but our friend and professor who were with us... you didn't see them come out, did you?”
Heavy silence fell—that was the answer.
Jin Yu-ri and Lee Sea had no choice but to accept it.
Lee Dojin hadn't escaped.
Trapped in the collapsing ruins, likely suffering the consequences—highly probable.
“Oppa, oppa...”
Lee Sea wandered toward the center in a daze, murmuring. The bedrock underfoot was solid. No trace of collapse.
No sign of him. Suddenly, old memories surfaced.
Fifth grade. Learning she wasn't her parents' biological child.
She'd waited desperately for oppa to come home, trembling with fear he might never. Prepared clumsy meals, wanting him to still see her as his little sister, dote on her.
Terrified, lights blazing. Pinched cheeks all night, splashed cold water on face and body, chugged bitter coffee she'd never craved before—just to stay awake.
For when he returned.
But he came back next morning. From then, she began resenting him bit by bit. Lately, they'd grown closer, but...
Now, he wasn't appearing.
Not his fault this time.
She'd escaped; he hadn't.
Engulfed in a life-threatening explosion.
So whose fault was it now?
Back then, the one who didn't come was at fault. Lee Dojin.
He'd hurt his little sister's aching heart, waiting so earnestly.
But not now.
Lee Sea knew exactly why he wasn't appearing.
He couldn't come, even if he wanted to.
Sure, past excuses: too tired, crashed at a friend's. But this was incomparably graver.
Not won't come. Not could but too tired.
Truly... impossibly unable.
So not Lee Dojin's fault—but her heart tore all the same. If she had to blame someone...
Whose fault was it?
Not a clear-cut issue. But if forced to pick one?
Shouldn't the arrows point to the one who brazenly escaped, abandoning precious family?
None other than herself.
Boom! Thud!
Lee Sea punched out. Bedrock shattered, shards flying from the direct hit.
Jin Yu-ri approached at the sudden act.
“What're you... doing?”
“Gonna... smash it all.”
Lee Sea replied low, voice laden with unbreakable will no one could halt.
It was all she could do.
They'd entered ruins through here. Destroy it all—maybe reach there again?
Save oppa?
Muttering the words she didn't even believe, she clenched her fist.
Whoooosh—!
Overwhelming mana she couldn't wield pre-ruins. She smashed the bedrock again.
BOOM!
The summit shook violently; onlookers gaped in shock. The mana in that strike rivaled an A-rank awakener.
“Student, stop—it's dangerous—”
Interveners faltered.
Her eyes' intensity. They sensed she wouldn't be easily stopped.
She clenched again.
Crazy? Probably.
Bothering everyone, out of her mind? Definitely.
Didn't matter.
If wrecking the whole mountain found oppa, she'd do it.
And then.
Whiiirrr!
Mana swirled from her hand, poised to obliterate the bedrock—
“Huh...?”
Lee Sea heard Yoo Hae-bin's panicked voice. Head snapped around before she could process which was faster: turning or thinking.
Anyway, if not a mishearing...
Then maybe...
“Professor!”
“Oppa...”
Jin Yu-ri's loud cry; Lee Sea murmured despite the slight obstruction.
Lee Dojin stood afar, face full of deep apology.
Stumbling up, Lee Sea took a heavy first step.
Second was quicker.
Third—
“Eek!”
Charging frantically, she crashed into him, hugging tight.
Felt like bumping someone midway, but ignored it. Just tightened arms around him, murmuring,
“Where were you... I was so worried...”
“...Sorry. I'm fine, no need to worry.”
His voice brimmed with regret. Why apologize? What'd he do wrong?
Lee Sea was just grateful. Now she could trust oppa.
White Day. Auction incident. Up to today.
Late sometimes, sure. Upsetting, yeah.
But when she needed him by her side, he always came through.
So she wanted to do better too. Act sweet like before might take time or be impossible, but express what she could now.
Yeah, I'll do that.
Face buried in his chest, Lee Sea vowed. Glancing down with head bowed, she saw Jin Yu-ri slumped.
Did I shove her?
Probably collided rushing to him.
“Ah...”
Jin Yu-ri grimaced like miffed at being pushed, but soon stared at Lee Dojin and her.
How to describe it? Looked... envious.
Why're you jealous?
Lee Sea probed inwardly. What was so enviable she edged closer so obviously?
Jealous he had an oppa? Nah.
Then it hit.
You...?
She left the rest unspoken. Didn't want to dwell.
Han Se-ra, maybe. But this cheeky kid? No.
Age gap. Professor-student. Whatever—didn't sit right.
And.
Even Se-ra unnie...
She'd tolerated Han Se-ra so far. But now? Reassess.
Been ages since we met.
Maybe overhyped in her mind meantime. Needed checking when Han Se-ra returned in June.
Anyway, not Jin Yu-ri.
“Sea, hold on. Gotta explain to them.”
“...Okay.”
Lee Sea reluctantly released arms, standing beside him. He calmly detailed the situation for her and Yoo Hae-bin.
She reaffirmed her vow. Oppa had changed, so she must too.
May 6th, around 10 PM.
“Hoo... feels good, so good.”
Post-shower, Yoo Hae-bin exhaled steamily, stepping from the tub. She wiped the fogged mirror, gazing at her reflection.
Proudly declaring,
“I've... grown real nice.”
Even in polymorph, dolled up girly she looked decent—but true form? Killer.
Recalling it warmed her; she dressed in brought clothes. Bandages over chest. White tee, undies, thin cool pajama shorts.
Hoodie too?
Decision quick: Nah. Busted anyway, spring weather—too hot layered.
And...
This feels better.
Just wanted to be treated this way.
Grinning at the impending moment, she exited the bathroom.
Lee Dojin'd arrive in ten-ish.
Tough, but sorted. Good.
Explaining to investigators, resuming trip: two hours.
Combining testimonies from Yoo Hae-bin, Jin Yu-ri, Lee Sea; Lee Dojin detailed to investigators—no suspicions.
Still hunting ruins spot?
He alone knew location; no need—and shouldn't—share. By their breakthrough, Jeil group'd be back in Seoul.
Seemed he snagged all valuables there; Gyeongju stuff done; tomorrow, chill.
Skipping lightly to room corner, she opened her suitcase. Bagged today's clothes and undies.
Gaze to corner.
What to do with this...?
His borrowed jacket. “Wash and return” excuse to pocket it—but no concrete plan.
Hated just giving back; slyly asked store—done.
Whether to enact heart's sneaky scheme... Decide post-Seoul.
Click.
Lee Dojin entered, shoeless. Eyes met Yoo Hae-bin's.
“...”
“...”
Awkward air. Subtle tension good; silence not. She chirped brightly,
“Good work! All sorted?”
“Yeah. Don't worry—just enjoy the trip. One day left.”
“Pfft, one's plenty. Got ice cream stocked—want some?”
Brushing damp hair up, she asked; he replied curtly,
“Shower first, then.”
“Uh...”
Musing: Casual reply or flustered better? Latter, probably. Too late for casual anyway.
She flushed mildly,
“N-no biggie, shower away. I'll shut eyes, earbuds in, music on.”
“...No need that far. Or sorry, ten-min walk?”
“Nah, hate leaving post-shower.”
“...Music then.”
Rummaging her suitcase, he grabbed clothes and toiletries for bathroom. Unlike yesterday's underwear-only dash—outerwear only visible. Undies bundled inside, probably.
At least a little conscious, huh?
Yoo Hae-bin smirked meaningfully, flopping on bed.
“Music”—bold-faced lie. Bathroom water as BGM, eyes half-closed.
Ten-odd minutes later.
“Hoo... Hae-bin, ice cream?”
Showered, calmer voice—he asked. She schemed next move, opening fridge.
“Sherbet, milk-based, few others. Drinks, snacks too—but no beer, underage. Shame.”
Approaching close. Silence now? Not awkward.
Mutual chat-will, fumbling topics—exactly her aim.
And.
Whirrr...
Mana glow materialized midair. Hologram solidified: unwelcome guest in this setup smiled kindly.
Phantom's boss.
“...Yes.”
“Ah, perfect timing.”
Yoo Hae-bin's low reply; Lee Dojin welcomed her.
But then.
Boss hummed suspiciously. Glanced Yoo Hae-bin, Lee Dojin. Eyed gap between. Took in room's full scene.
And.
“Ahh...!”
Yoo Hae-bin yelped in shock. Uncanny intuition. Overwhelmed briefly, she muttered inwardly, reaffirming guard.
Boss is smiling...