Chapter 44

Seeing Seo Jian, who was making a confused expression perhaps because she had just woken up, I deliberately averted my gaze and changed the subject.

“How’s your sister?”

“…Much better compared to before. She’s been conscious since yesterday.”

“That’s a relief.”

In a way, all this hardship was for Seo Jiha’s sake, so if the outcome wasn’t good, it would have been pointless.

As I was about to get out of bed, feeling a bit restless, Seo Jian stopped me and hastily rose from her seat.

“Rest a bit longer. I’ll call someone to check your condition.”

As she left the room like that, the tips of Seo Jian’s ears were slightly tinged with red.

After entrusting Han Kangyoon to the hired doctor, Seo Jian briefly reflected on the chaotic events of the past few days.

‘…….’

But, to be honest, there was no need to reflect. In the end, if it weren’t for Han Kangyoon, she certainly wouldn’t be standing here like this right now.

“Unnie?”

At her younger sister Seo Jiha’s question, who was staring intently at her, Seo Jian hurriedly snapped out of it and stroked her sister’s head.

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“…I’m as comfortable as I can be right now, so don’t worry. You must have suffered enough because of me, so take care of your own health first.”

Seeing her sister grumbling with a worried face, Seo Jian felt as if all of this was a dream rather than reality and fell into a daze.

It was truly a scene she had only ever pictured in her mind.

Now, it was unfolding as a clear reality.

And, all of that was thanks to Han Kangyoon.

“Any physical changes?”

“All within acceptable limits. You could even consider it remarkably good. It’s astonishing. For the condition to improve this much in just a day…….”

As the attending doctor said, Seo Jian could only be amazed.

Thinking about it, Han Kangyoon had been like that from the start. He had clearly been an Academy cadet before, yet at some point, he began to change as if he had fallen from the sky.

‘…I still don’t really know his identity.’

But, that was no longer important.

Han Kangyoon had brought Seo Jian everything she wanted. So now, it was her turn to return it.

“Then I’ll come back later.”

After talking with her sister, Seo Jian grabbed a simple drink and headed back to the hospital room.

Han Kangyoon had gone out for a detailed examination and hadn’t returned yet, leaving only Yoo Ain, her body wrapped in bandages.

“How are you feeling?”

“Just takes time to recover, no problems otherwise.”

“If you feel unwell anywhere, tell me anytime.”

After exchanging formal greetings, Seo Jian, recalling their earlier conversation, cautiously opened her mouth.

“What were you talking about earlier?”

“It was nothing significant. Does it bother you?”

“…Not really.”

Yoo Ain, who had been staring intently at Seo Jian, spoke in a low voice.

“Whatever the circumstances, Han Kangyoon is undoubtedly a remarkable talent.”

“I suppose so.”

“By the time he graduates from the Academy, many influential figures will surely try to pull him to their side.”

After gauging Seo Jian’s expression once, Yoo Ain continued quietly.

“In this fight, I wasn’t able to contribute much.”

“…That’s not true.”

“Honestly, in my case, I’m no longer at a stage where I can grow stronger through training or effort.”

“…….”

“It’s possible that you’ll need his help more than mine in the future.”

Yoo Ain’s judgment wasn’t wrong. In fact, Seo Jian’s thoughts weren’t that different from hers.

To such a Seo Jian, Yoo Ain, uncharacteristically, spoke with a hint of playfulness.

“So, wouldn’t it be good to firmly grab hold of him before you have any regrets?”

“…Unnecessary meddling.”

From the beginning, Seo Jian was already deeply indebted to Han Kangyoon.

Because of that, she had not the slightest thought of seeking further benefit from him or proposing some kind of transaction.

To be precise, she could no longer look at him with such eyes.

‘…….’

For Seo Jian, a relationship formed in a completely new way.

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart coming from this unknown relationship, Seo Jian could only keep fidgeting with the drink in her hand.

After regaining consciousness and undergoing a detailed examination by the medical staff, I finally left the hospital room after a day of rest.

“Hey, Oppa, are you leaving now?”

“I have to.”

The girl in patient clothes spoke with a regretful expression. It was Seo Jiha, Seo Jian’s younger sister who had been unconscious.

Having re-confirmed her condition through Appraisal, there probably wouldn’t be any problems for a while.

“…It might be better to rest a bit more.”

“Sorry. I have somewhere I need to go soon. My physical condition is good enough now.”

While things on this side were somehow resolved, now I was worried about Yoo Haon and his group.

If my memory serves me right, it was about time for Sorisoe to start acting in earnest.

“…I won’t stop you. If you need anything, contact me. I’ll help with anything.”

After the battle with Hectail, Seo Jian had continuously expressed her gratitude to me.

In a way, it seemed like she couldn’t handle the sense of debt that arose from this incident.

“…Thank you again.”

If before, the image was strongly that of a Collaborator, now it felt re-established as a slightly closer relationship than that.

Since there would be many times I’d need help in the future, it could be seen as a positive outcome overall.

After bidding farewell to Seo Jian, I left the facility and headed for my next destination.

Now, it was time to push through the main story again, preparing for the final confrontation that would inevitably come someday.

At the same time, in a rural village located near Gokseong, Jeollanam-do. A group of people had just arrived there by car.

Screech!

Thud.

Thump.

“So, is this the place for sure?”

“Yes. Gokseong-gun, Jugok Village. The site of the initial report.”

Just yesterday, Exorcists from the Guard Unit dispatched after a report from a villager, but despite a long patrol, couldn’t find anything particularly unusual.

However, another report came in today. That the village’s condition was somehow strange.

The first and second reporters were different people, but since their testimonies mostly matched, they judged there might be something and came out for another investigation.

“Maintain alert posture. For some reason, we haven’t been able to contact the reporters since this morning.”

In the worst case, there might already be casualties due to some incident.

Because of that, the Exorcists, full of tension, entered the village interior.

However, the village itself showed no strange signs on the surface. Children were playing around as usual. The residents were diligently doing their tasks as always.

“Oh my, sirs. What brings you here today?”

“Ah, Elder Choi. Another report came in today. Has there been anything strange by any chance?”

“Tsk, these people again. I told them it was just their imagination…….”

Elder Choi, looking somehow tired, apologized to the Exorcists.

“Sorry for making you go through unnecessary trouble.”

“Not at all. This is our job. Then we’ll go meet the reporter first.”

And so, the Exorcists began to move, divided into three teams.

One team would meet the reporter to hear detailed testimony, and the remaining two teams would patrol the village to identify any peculiarities.

Lee Eunji, the 3rd-Rank Exorcist with the longest career among the group, took one junior and went to talk to Park Mincheol, the village youth who was the second reporter.

But the content was quite disappointing.

“Um, I’m sorry. I think I might have been mistaken while drunk……. I don’t remember yesterday’s events well.”

“Does nothing come to mind at all?”

“No. Like the elders said, it seems it was just my imagination. I’m really sorry.”

And so, the investigation ended with little gain, and Lee Eunji left the house with only a suspicious feeling.

Not wanting to just leave like that, she was talking to a few villagers when the other two scattered teams returned and joined Lee Eunji’s group.

Heo Yoonhyeop and Han Soojeong, both 3rd-Rank Exorcists. And one new recruit who had just passed the exam and was active as an Apprentice.

Among them, Han Soojeong, for some reason unable to steady her gaze, urgently shouted to the group.

“Emergency contact from the team leader! He says it’s an emergency and to return as soon as possible…….”

“From the team leader? He didn’t say anything to me?”

“W-well, he seemed a bit out of it. Let’s just head back as fast as possible!”

Grabbing Lee Eunji’s shoulder, who was lost in bewilderment, Han Soojeong, as if something was terribly unsettling, guided the group and hurriedly headed out of the village.

As the five Exorcists gathered in front of the car they came in, Han Soojeong finally let out a big sigh of relief.

“What’s with you since earlier? What emergency?”

“T-that was a lie.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

To the bewildered group, Han Soojeong, averting her gaze, continued with a tense expression.

“Didn’t you think something was strange?”

“The villagers? Aside from everyone looking tired, there didn’t seem to be anything unusual…….”

“…You really didn’t feel it?”

“Feel what?”

Glancing once towards the village, Han Soojeong stroked her own forearm and spoke, trembling as if still creeped out.

“Th-there weren’t any.”

“Weren’t any what?”

“While we were walking around in there, not a single person blinked even once.”

“…What?”

The Exorcists were shocked.

Thinking back carefully, it was indeed as she said. Not one of the villagers had blinked.

Naturally, that’s impossible for a human.

“…Right. That’s definitely true.”

Silence settled in the forest.

Just as everyone was in shock, Lee Yoonhyeop, a man who had been silent until now, blinked and opened his mouth.

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Senior Yoonhyeop, you’re too oblivious! Anyway, it’s clearly strange. Let’s contact headquarters first…….”

“I’ll be more mindful next time.”

“Huh?”

Swish!

In that instant, Han Soojeong’s neck, who had uttered the question, flew into the air.

Immediately after, Lee Eunji’s heart, who was widening her eyes to pull out her Cursed Tool, was pierced.

Thud.

“…Senior!”

Squelch!

Chop!*

Shin Jaemin, a 3rd-Rank Exorcist who had just shed his rookie label, rushed in, but all he could see was his own body, already cut in half.

“Ah……. Aah…….”

Han Chaeyoon, who witnessed all her seniors being killed before her eyes. She just froze, not even thinking of resisting, and trembled.

As Lee Yoonhyeop approached her and stuck his finger into her mouth, Han Chaeyoon, terrified, opened her eyes wide and struggled.

And then, after a short while, Han Chaeyoon freed herself from Lee Yoonhyeop’s embrace, stood up on trembling legs, and took her place.

In her eyes, the focus had already disappeared.

“Good thing I ate one just in case.”

And so, an unknown silence began to drift through the village again.