Chapter 33: Skein of thread.

I opened my eyes. An unfamiliar ceiling.

I felt a sense of déjà vu.

Chayeon checked the sensation on his back.

Unlike when he woke up in the hospital last time, the floor was hard and cold.

The chill traveled up his spine to his head.

“Umm.”

<<You’re awake.>>

As Chayeon listened to Heukgu’s words echoing in his head, he looked around.

It was dark.

All sides were blocked by stone walls, and the front had a heavy iron door with small, thick iron bars densely embedded in it. Below that, a small door that seemed to allow only arms to pass through was tightly closed.

“Where is this?”

While waiting for his vision to adapt to the darkness, Chayeon looked around as much as possible. There was a traditional toilet carved into the side, but otherwise, there were only walls no matter where he looked.

“A prison?”

<<That’s right.>>

He said it as it came to mind, but it was the correct answer.

“What happened?”

<<How much do you remember?>>

At Heukgu’s question, Chayeon recalled the last scene she remembered. A battle that he didn’t know how it had flowed in his incomplete mental state. The trio appearing just before he finally subdued Sira and brought down the sword.

Come to think of it, his body is fine.

He thought his teeth and everything else had been broken.

Chayeon examined his body in every detail.

Everything looked fine.

But his clothes were different.

Chayeon’s clothes were gone, and he was only wearing a rag that could barely be called clothes.

His cell phone was nowhere to be seen.

<<You remember everything. Then I’ll explain it simply. Currently, we are detained on suspicion of attempted murder of Baekgumiho, Jin Sira.>>

Realistic yet strangely distant words struck Chayeon’s head.

“Suspicion of attempted murder?”

<<That’s right. After being subdued and fainting, we were transported here. It seems that the Jindal guys think you are a demon or at least mentally controlled by a demon.>>

A very embarrassing story followed.

<<If you had killed Baekgumiho right away, you could have escaped from there, but hesitation brought disaster.>>

“Are you blaming me? Now?”

Chayeon, sensitive to the accusing voice, lashed out without realizing it.

Chayeon looked back on his goals and actions.

The thought he had at the end and the feeling he felt at that time revived.

Hesitation.

He didn’t understand why he hesitated.

Moreover, that wasn’t the only problem.

He didn’t know why he had been numb and hadn’t realized it until now.

Even if it was a humanoid, it was completely different from catching a demon that was exuding a dangerous atmosphere at first glance.

What he was trying to do to go back to being a man was murder.

“It’s your fault, isn’t it?”

<<It was none other than you, Jeon Chayeon, who said you would definitely go back.>>

The situation was clear.

<<I’ll ask you one more time. Do you want to go back to the way you were?>>

Heukgu’s reconfirmation.

But there was a definitely different weight than before.

Now that he realized that his numbness was due to Heukgu’s control, Heukgu was asking Chayeon again.

To go back, he had to kill someone.

Could he handle that?

“…Is there no other way?”

Now that he had regained his composure, even though it was due to Heukgu’s influence, Chayeon was once again in a state where he felt no hesitation in killing. Wouldn’t it be better to kill if he could go back to being a man? Moreover, Baekgumiho, Jin Sira, had clearly tried to kill him as well.

At the same time, another self existed somewhere, objectively recognizing that this thought was abnormal.

<<Another way. Killing Baekgumiho is the best way to achieve both of our goals, but if it’s solely for your purpose, Chayeon, it’s not that there isn’t a way.>>

“What is that method?”

<<It’s simple. I just need to absorb power comparable to Baekgumiho. However, I don’t think there is such a thing in this world.>>

Power comparable to Baekgumiho. In other words, power comparable to the Seven Divine Pillars.

As Chayeon, who had heard praise for the Seven Divine Pillars until his ears were sore in Jindal, he couldn’t imagine who would have power comparable to them.

As Heukgu said, could such a thing exist?

Killing another of the Seven Divine Pillars?

That might be enough, and even if it was, it was rejected.

If he had to kill anyway, it was much more ideal to kill Baekgumiho, who was trying to kill him.

“Come to think of it, what is your relationship with Baekgumiho anyway? No, more than that, was that Baekgumiho? Not Jin Sira.”

Although it was a bit late, Chayeon decided to ask.

A word that he seemed to have heard vaguely in the midst of the confusion made him guess their relationship.

<<I’ll answer the latter question first. That’s right. It seems she used possession.>>

“Possession?”

<<As it sounds. A Shinryeong controls the actions of a vessel.>>

Was that even possible?

At least it was a story he hadn’t heard in class.

“Why are you telling me that now?”

<<Do you want to try it?>>

“No. Never.”

<<Then why should I tell you?>>

・・・Is that so? It’s unpleasant but strangely persuasive.

<<Next. Baekgumiho, that girl is, to put it simply, like my younger sister.>>

Heukgu’s continued words confirmed that Chayeon hadn’t misheard at the church.

“Shinryeong also have real parents, siblings, and children. No, more than that, why are siblings trying to kill each other?”

<<We have different reasons. In my case, it’s simple. I’m trying to kill her first to avoid being absorbed.>>

Heukgu stopped speaking for a moment after saying that.

“What is it, why are you hesitating?”

<<…In her case, in a word, it would be love.>>

A completely inappropriate word appeared.

What? Love?

<<That’s right. Love. Pure affection.>>

Heukgu’s words continued.

<<She… Baekgumiho loves me. You could even call it obsession. That’s why she’s trying to eat me. To become one with me. And to get rid of the vessel attached to me, too.>>

Stories that Chayeon couldn’t understand poured into his head one after another, saying that because of love, because of pure love, she was trying to eat him.

He didn’t know well, but he seemed to know just one thing.

“What the hell are you talking about? Are you guys filming a morning drama?”

<<I remember that morning dramas these days are a bit more 막장.>>

Where could there be a more 막장 story than a younger sister trying to kill her older brother because she loves him, and an older brother trying to kill his younger sister to survive?

Chayeon, who was about to shout without realizing it, barely closed his mouth tightly.

Because his thoughts would have been conveyed anyway.

“Anyway, I need to explain things first.”

Now that he knew the circumstances, Chayeon looked around, rolling his eyes, which were slowly adapting to the darkness.

Looking again, the only passage was the iron door in front.

“Now I can reveal your identity, right?”

<<That’s right. Now that Baekgumiho has already found out, there’s no point in hiding me.>>

Chayeon was planning to explain the situation. He didn’t know exactly what to say.

This is a love fight, so please stay out of it, third parties?

I don’t know.

Anyway, he had to clear up the ridiculous misunderstanding that Chayeon was a demon or was being controlled by a demon.

The height of the bars attached to the iron door was slightly higher than Chayeon’s height.

“Ugh!”

He raised his heels with all his might, but he couldn’t reach the point where he could see.

What should I do? Fortunately, there was a slight groove in the place where the bars were attached.

“Heukgu,

“Manifest the sword.”

He was planning to grab the groove and lift his body while increasing his physical abilities.

However, Heukgu’s firm answer thwarted Chayeon’s plan.

<<Impossible.>>

“What? Why?”

<<A very strong barrier has been set up. It seems that great care has been taken. It’s difficult unless it’s broken from the outside. Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an engraving.>>

A strong barrier.

He had driven Baekgumiho to the brink of death, so they were being as cautious as that much.

“Haa.”

Then what should I do?

I wanted to see the outside situation even a little, but it’s impossible with this small body.

Can I only wait like this?

While he was thinking that, Chayeon’s eyes caught a swaying shadow beyond the bars.

There is someone.

“Hey! Is anyone outside?”

Teacher emergency meeting.

Seohee, who was belatedly called, took a deep breath in front of the door.

Knock knock-

“This is Jeong Seohee. I’m coming in.”

The door opened, and the sight of teachers, excluding Seohee, sitting around a round table came into her view.

People’s eyes gathered.

But soon, they scattered in different directions again.

“Ah, thank you. By the way, where is Sira-nim now?”

“She’s not here. I think she left Jindal.”

“Sira-nim is always suddenly appearing and disappearing without change.”

Yeonkyung, sitting at the head of the table, was talking without even looking at Seohee, who had entered.

At that cold attitude, Seohee felt as if a heavy stone had settled in her heart.

There was nothing she could do right now.

Rather, it was a very humane measure that they were letting Seohee go so freely.

It was a part where she could see how much Yeonkyung trusted Seohee.

Tap tap.

Yeonkyung lightly tapped the table with her finger, and everyone’s eyes gathered.

Finally, Yeonkyung turned to Seohee.

“Jeong-sensei, welcome. I called you because I have something to ask. Is this a good time?”

“Of course. Director.”

A ceremonial question that asked for a ridiculously obvious answer.

“Jeon Chayeon, you heard about that student, right?”

“Yes, I heard.”

“Do you know what the student is charged with?”

Forcing open a mouth she didn’t want to open, Seohee answered.

“I know that she is charged with attempted murder of Sira-nim, and murder of six Ineungnyeokja in Jindal.”

“The latter charge is uncertain. There were six demons dead in that place, so it would be reasonable to think that those six demons did it. There were traces of torture on the state of the corpses.”

Tap, tap, tap.

Large drop earrings jingled from Yeonkyung’s ears as she spoke, shaking her head slightly.

“When three students discovered the scene, they witnessed Jeon Chayeon subduing Sira-nim and being on the verge of murdering her. That person who none of us could dare to touch even a finger.”

Ahem, ahem.

Unable to bear the heavy atmosphere, one of the teachers coughed and then shrank his head, embarrassed, after receiving Yeonkyung’s gaze.

“Listening to the story, I heard that Jeong-sensei was the one who recommended her for admission. I heard that Jeong-sensei guaranteed that student, who suddenly came to you one day, so she could enter this place. Am I right?”

At those words, Seohee looked at Yeonkyung’s side.

“That’s right.”

“I want to hear the story.”

At the same time as Yeonkyung’s words, Seohee felt the surrounding air change with a tingling sensation.

She could tell that all the teachers here, including Yeonkyung, were preparing in case Seohee went on a rampage with even a millionth of a chance.

Seohee glanced around.

All of Jindal’s teaching staff and the 5th of the Seven Divine Pillars, Lee Yeonkyung of Yggdrasil.

Next to her was Kang Yoona, who could cast mental control.

And the 6th Shinwi, Wolmyo, was closing her eyes from one corner.

There was no way that even Seohee could handle it.

Is this what it feels like to be standing in front of a thousand-mile cliff?

“There is something I would like to say first.”

She could feel everyone focusing on Seohee’s words.

“It’s about the mysterious existence that communicates with the student Jeon Chayeon.”

After that, Seohee revealed her questions about the Shinryeong that she had with Chayeon, or rather, the Shinryeong that communicated with Chayeon, one by one.

“Communicating with a Shinryeong?”

“A fox Shinryeong at that?”

The teachers opened their mouths one by one and questioned Seohee’s statement.

“Why are you saying that now?”

However, when Yeonkyung opened her mouth, it became quiet as if it were a lie.

“I was curious but didn’t think it was a big problem. It was my arrogance.” “I’m sorry.”

“Hmm…….”

Tap, tap. Yeonkyung’s finger quickened the tempo.

“Sensei, has there been any change in the Seven Divine Pillars recently?”

“As far as I know, there hasn’t been any since the vessel of Heukgumiho-nim changed 11 months ago.”

“Are you aware of the location of the current Seven Divine Pillars?”

“I have grasped the location of all the others except for Baekgumiho-nim. In order, Sydney in Australia, Utah in the United States, Bucharest in Romania, and the other one I have not grasped the exact location, but I have been reported to be in the country at least.”

The man who received the report spoke the location of the four people, excluding Baekgumiho Jin Sira and the remaining two Seven Divine Pillars already in this place, in order of hierarchy.

“Thank you. The Seven Divine Pillars are certainly healthy. Then is what Jeong-sensei is saying something like this?”

Yeonkyung’s index finger, which had been constantly tapping the table, finally stopped.

“Student Chayeon is not a demon. However, she is possessed and manipulated by an unknown entity.”

“That’s right.”

As Seohee bowed her head, her gray hair flowed down her cheeks like a waterfall.

“Okay. Thank you for telling me as much as you know. Kang-sensei?”

“Yes!”

At Yeonkyung’s call, Yoona raised her head and answered in a hurry.

“I need to interrogate her directly. Kang-sensei, assist me. We should consider some rather rough means.”

At the words rough means, Seohee’s blue pupils shook violently from side to side.

“As I said, Chayeon is……! Director,

“It’s to be sure. We have to step on all the sprouts that can cause danger.”

Likewise, Yeonkyung’s eyes, which were tinged with blue light, shone as she faced Seohee.

“Do you understand?”

At those words, Seohee couldn’t answer and could only clench her lower lip so hard that it bled.