Chapter 24 – Dugyeon Nakhwa (7)

-Whooosh. Hwareuk!

Massive flames swallow the streets.

Cold ice clutches the filthy apostates’ ankles, and sharp winds slice their throats.

Purr- purr-

The cries of red-stained cuckoos fill the square.
Blood is splattered on the sidewalk where a massacre occurred, and smoke billows from every corner.

-Paang!

A woman walks out through the raging inferno, her eyes blazing as she mutters.

“…Lee Seong-Han.”

Red, bloodshot eyes. A scorched protective suit.
Her fiercely glowing eyes are fixed solely on one man.

“Lee Seong-Han!!!!!”

Desperate screams tear at her throat.
Two armed priests fly towards her.

“Preparatory Apostle, please forgive our rudeness.”
“Don’t call me by that name!”

Her hand, charred black, aimed toward the priest.
Four magical circles unfurled in her palm.

-Ziiing!

A crimson wave burst forth, engulfing the priest.
Bending at the waist to evade the magic, the priest lunged toward her, brandishing a dagger held in reverse.

-Kwajijijik!

A slender sword pierced through a single layer of her barrier.
Shards of the barrier scattered, and the tip of the dark sword came dangerously close to her eyes.

Her eyes, devoid of reason, wandered before settling on the priest’s face.

“Begone.”

-Gigigigigg!

Five shields enveloped her body.

“…!”

Behind Azalea, fire and ice merged, forming dozens of spears.
Pink petals, in full bloom, swayed as if dancing around them.

-Jurr.

A trickle of blood streamed from her nose.
She swung her hand without hesitation.

The two priests, who had kept their distance, let out desperate cries as they were impaled by the ice emerging from the floor.

“Just a bit more. Just a bit!”

Her breathing grew ragged, and her consciousness began to blur. Someone grabbed her shoulder.

“Stop.”

“…!”

It was a woman with hair so bright and yellow it seemed almost transparent.

“Don’t push yourself too hard, or Siheon will be upset. Stay still, Pink Chaeng.”

Siheon.

…Siheon?

The two-syllable name echoed in her ears for a moment before vanishing. Her reason returned briefly, and her vision expanded. The dire present situation was reflected in her eyes.

The Black Robe Hood fanatics she had killed. A priest who had met his end, pierced by a skewer. And beyond the barrier, in the sight of the fleeing cadets, she saw the man she had been desperately trying to ignore.

Azalea’s eyes widened.

“…Why?”

Why on earth was he there…?

In a brief moment, a myriad of thoughts raced through her mind.

His trembling voice was strained, and when he tried to continue speaking, the only sound that emerged was that of air escaping.

“Cough, cough.”

He spat out a cough laced with blood. Amidst all this, Azalea was lost in her dizzying thoughts.

-Boom!

Magic power exploded, and flesh was torn away. Blood streaming down his forearm, the man continued his harrowing battle.

There, Lee Si-heon was fighting.

“…Please.”

“Huh?”

“Help him, not me.”

She mustered all her strength to force out the words. Azalea pointed at Lee Si-heon with her fingers, which had shrunk from the burns. Cornus seemed to ponder for a moment before shaking her head.

“No.”

“…”

“I have a different role. Besides, Si-heon is strong.”

As she said, Lee Si-heon was indeed strong. When had he become so powerful? The understated expertise was evident in his nimble and restrained movements.

If it hadn’t been a battle against the majority, there might have been a chance of victory. However, even Jung Si-woo, their best ally, found himself surrounded by the priests of life, unable to properly wield his strength.

This couldn’t continue.

“And now I—”

-Suddenly.

“—am busy enough.”

Cornus spoke, severing the throat of a fanatic who had ambushed Azalea from behind. Blood dripped from the blade she gripped firmly.

“Isn’t there any way?”
“Why?”
“It’s because of my new stepfather. I have to do something.”
“For me, it’s impossible.”
“…Is that so.”

Azalea lowered her head, a shadow casting over her face.

In their current state, they were powerless.

If nothing changed, they risked not only repeating the tragedy of that day, but also losing themselves. Azalea whispered to her spirit. In response, the two-tailed bird perched atop her head, its once fiery red feathers now faded.

“I too…”

What a fool.

– Chirp. Drip. Chirp.

The anguished song flowing from the cuckoo’s throat filled the area. The pink melody that colored the world soon took form, fluttering like petals before scattering.

Bidding farewell to the present spirit,

Azalea draped the elongated melody.

“Liberation”

The scent of blood swirled within his nostrils.

* * * * *

– Koo-gu-gu-gu-gung!

He breathed heavily. What on earth had been happening? Without lowering his guard, he observed Seong-Han’s complexion.

Lee Seong-Han wore a bizarre smile on his face.

“Ahh, the divine. Are you finally fulfilling the prophecy?”

Seong-Han, sighing and muttering, brought his hands together and looked behind me. The scent of iron filled my nostrils. When I turned my head, a massive tree had grown where Azalea had been standing.

‘Lignification?’

On the branches sprouting from her shoulders, numerous blood-red azaleas bloomed. On the roots and stems that clung repulsively to Azalea’s entire body, protective-looking armor was attached. Behind her, a wooden doll tenderly embraced her form.

The doll hugging Azalea took the shape of a middle-aged man I had never seen before.

“Sian, something went terribly wrong.”
“How did this happen?”

At my question, Cornus shook her head. She, who was right beside Azalea, seemed just as puzzled.

“Ah.”

Petals fell from the trees growing on both of Azalea’s shoulders.

-Softly.

The petals cascading through the air fluttered on the breeze before being drawn, like moths to a flame, towards the surrounding zealots.

As the whirlwind of petals made contact with their bodies, flames erupted. With a sizzle, the melted flesh of the fanatics screamed and writhed on the ground.

“Ah-ha!”

Even as his brethren perished around him, Lee Seong-Han’s face was brimming with a confident smile. He maintained an air of nonchalance, as if their victory was a foregone conclusion.

“Lee Seong-Han.”

The first, icy words that flowed from Azalea’s lips. The trembling air seemed to signify that something had gone awry.

“Daughter, come to me.”
“Shut up.”

Slowly, Lee Seong-Han reached into his pocket and revealed a massive, crimson magic stone.

The stone emitted a dangerous light that was evident even at first glance.

Indeed, upon reflection, it was clear that he had only ever wanted Azalea to grow stronger. To nourish her thirst for vengeance, in the hopes of turning her to their side.

Then it was justified to believe that they possessed the power to subdue Azalea.

I couldn’t be certain if it was brainwashing.

What mattered was the existence of such power.

– Swish –

“…There.”

Azalea, who glided over to my side, gazed at me with a complex expression.

“Later, I have something I’d like to ask you.”
“Is that so?”
“Please step back for now.”

– Hmph. Ugh! –

I didn’t like the persistent tickling sound of the Mana Stone’s vibrations that had been bothering my ears for a while. The flow of mana felt on the surface of my skin was also having a negative effect.

I couldn’t predict what would happen.

If Lee Seong-Han’s ability is indeed brainwashing, I might have to confront Azalea.

In that case, I’d die due to failing the quest.

“I cannot step back. There’s still a filthy lot left to do.”

“…What on earth does that mean?”

– Flash.

I retrieved the crystal I had received yesterday from my embrace and displayed it.

“…Lee Si-heon, the Apostle. You’re attempting something foolish.”

He laughs and sneers upon witnessing my actions. Yet, he couldn’t conceal the turmoil in his eyes.

I channel magical energy into the crystal. Naturally, the target is Lee Seong-han before me.

“I’m not sure what you’re planning to do. But wouldn’t it be over if the leader is taken down?”
“Excuse me?”
“…”

Although Azalea expressed her doubts, I disregarded them and glared at Lee Seong-han. His composure was finally beginning to wane.

“I understand what you’re thinking. However, it seems you’re unaware of the future that awaits you.”

Whether tortured or hacked to death, the end result is dying one way or another.
Isn’t it appropriate to invest in a place with even a slight chance of survival?

– Whirring.

Teleportation activates.

In an incredibly short amount of time, our bodies were lifted into the sky—Lee Seong-Han’s and mine. Seong-Han bit his lower lip, his face a mixture of confusion and embarrassment.

“I want this.”
“Do you choose it?”
“…You have my pity.”

Azalea’s distressed cry echoed in my ears, growing louder.

**”You! What on earth have you done…!”**

Had I not said anything yet? I offered a single phrase, intending to convey that we would meet again later.

Take care. I’ll be back soon.
As I thought of these words and parted my lips to speak the first syllable,

“I’m fine—”

My speech was cut off mid-sentence, and our surroundings abruptly changed.

Ah, this is a big problem.
All at once, I had become someone who ventures into the unknown.