Chapter 35: Skein of thread(2) (All ages).

‘Next is…’

In the middle of a cozy room.

Seohee leaned against the sofa, her eyes closed, concentrating intently.

Through her Clairvoyance, Arena and Byeol were running.

The place they were headed to was the barrier prison where Chayeon was confined.

Knowing that the two were looking for Chayeon, Seohee subtly leaked information, allowing them to quickly figure out Chayeon’s location and rush there.

As it was a place created to seal powerful Ineungnyeokja or demons, the security of the prison was strict.

To block those who access and exert power through electronic devices, or even more advanced abilities like Seohee’s, the prison does not allow any indirect vision.

All it has is the bare minimum of facilities.

The guards were also just average Ineungnyeokja with good physical abilities, placed there to deal with situations where inmates and guards might cooperate.

Seohee, unable to directly observe Chayeon’s situation due to Clairvoyance and Telescopic Vision being blocked, chose to assist Arena and Byeol.

She cleared away anything that might be an obstacle on the path to the prison.

Making noises, moving the air to create wind, rolling stones, and using all sorts of diversionary tactics to distract attention from the path they were taking.

Thanks to this, the two girls succeeded in a rescue operation that two students alone could never have accomplished.

Seeing Chayeon beaten to a pulp, Seohee felt that her judgment had been correct.

‘How could that crazy son of a b*tch do that…!’

Anger surged, and at the same time, she felt a sense of relief.

Arena and Byeol were running with all their might after rescuing Chayeon.

Seohee looked around them as much as possible with Clairvoyance, and when there was any chance of someone approaching, she used telekinesis to block the road or knock down trees, completely preventing the possibility of being witnessed.

Finally, the two girls got into a van with Chayeon, and the car left Jindal.

“Hoo.”

Finally, as they left completely outside, Seohee cut off Clairvoyance and let out a sigh of relief.

The atmosphere currently pervading Jindal was unusual.

Recently, Seohee sometimes felt that Yeonkyung was being hasty and impatient.

When Yeonkyung starts interrogation, the method is extremely brutal.

Right now, her head must be running wild due to the excitement over the attack on Baekgumiho.

First, she took Chayeon out, and then Yeonkyung could be slowly persuaded.

First, let’s leave a message for Chayeon.

She sent a telepathic message to coincide with the time Chayeon would wake up.

After leaving all the message, she was suddenly overcome with fatigue.

She had been continuously activating Clairvoyance until Chayeon escaped, and then used telekinesis over long distances and even left a time-delayed telepathic message, so energy consumption was enormous.

‘Let’s collect the clones first.’

To save as much energy as possible, she gathered all her clones scattered throughout the country.

As she was taking a breather and stretched out on the bed, someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

Using Telescopic Vision, she saw Yeonkyung and Yuna standing in front of her door.

It was unusual for them to come directly without being called.

‘It’s a good thing since I was going to tell you anyway.’

Yeonkyung that Seohee had seen was a calm person who knew how to discern things.

After taking after-the-fact measures, Seohee opened the door.

As she had seen through Telescopic Vision, Yeonkyung and Teacher Kang Yuna were standing in front of the door.

“Headmaster, what brings you here in person…”

…Huh?

Even after seeing Yuna’s eyes shining over Yeonkyung’s shoulder, Seohee couldn’t believe what was happening to her for a while.

She really thought it was just in case.

She thought it would never happen.

Seohee was aware that she was in a situation where she was suspicious enough.

Chayeon, who had entered Jindal without much screening due to her recommendation, had attacked Baekgumiho, and had even escaped.

But Yeonkyung that she knew wasn’t the kind of person who would turn a blade on a colleague so quickly just because of that.

Seohee believed that she wasn’t that kind of person.

Yeonkyung’s eyes were coldly dead.

It was strange.

Why?

Seohee’s nervous system was suppressed by Yuna’s mental control, which had burrowed into her brain through Seohee’s eyes, and she couldn’t move at all.

Even when she tried to speak, no sound came out of her opened mouth.

Her body and mind were already beyond her control.

“How is it, Teacher Kang?”

“…There are traces.”

“Traces of what?”

“Traces of mental manipulation. It’s the same property as the Uroboros’s Geumje.”

At those words, Yeonkyung muttered ‘I knew it…’

Meanwhile, Seohee could only be inwardly appalled at that sound without saying anything.

Mental manipulation?

Me?

According to Yuna, Seohee had been mentally manipulated by someone.

Even by someone who had placed a Geumje on Uroboros.

When exactly?

Who is it?

Had she contacted a demon recently?

The fact that a clone was mentally controlled wouldn’t have a big impact on Seohee and could be cut off immediately, so she didn’t even think about it.

The main body was attacked.

But she can’t put a date on it.

If there were any demons she had met recently, it would be Rubrum-Luna and Uroboros.

Is there anything else suspicious?

And at that moment, as if a demon was playing tricks, a memory awakened within her.

A not-so-old memory, place, conversation.

A sense of unease washes over her like a wave.

‘……Huh?’

Only then did Seohee begin to realize one by one the things she had never been able to pay attention to.

It was evidence that clearly told her that she was being mentally manipulated, and at the same time, it was the seed of disaster that would bring about a terrible future that she didn’t want to imagine.

No way.

This is…….

If the conclusion drawn from the sense of unease was true, she had to run away right now.

Why didn’t I notice until now?

No.

How did I notice?

Yeonkyung’s irrational thinking and conclusions that had recently appeared.

Some actions that were the complete opposite of her meticulous personality.

Seohee now realized what was underlying them.

They can’t even suspect themselves right now.

Just like Seohee had been until a little while ago.

Such an unprecedentedly terrible thing was rampant here.

Hell had already come right in front of them.

“Prepare for the ‘interrogation’.”

“‘Interrogation’…… do you mean?”

Yuna looked at Yeonkyung with an unbelievable expression.

“Yes. We’ll have to dig directly into Teacher Jeong’s mind and find out who is behind it. We’ll only know if it’s Jeon Chayeon or someone else behind her after we open it up.”

Yeonkyung spoke coldly and turned around.

Her blue earrings jingled.

“We’ll go to the 4th floor of the old building. Prepare and follow us with Teacher Jeong. This time, make sure to engrave the seal properly.”

“…I understand.”

Yeonkyung left first, and then Yuna whispered to Seohee, “I’m sorry.”

The personnel who had been waiting in the distance, following Yuna’s instructions, covered Seohee’s eyes, gagged her, restrained her arms and legs, and then left a seal.

Until the seal that sealed her abilities was engraved on her skin in several layers and she was forcibly transported, Seohee could only hang her head without being able to do anything.

Leaving the clone restrained as it was, Seohee moved into the mountains surrounding Jindal.

It was fortunate that she had prepared a decoy and the main body had escaped in preparation for a possible situation.

But it was only a matter of time before she was discovered.

She had to get out of Jindal quickly.

Since the entire mountain was surrounded by a barrier, she had to somehow secretly pass through Jindalmok.

She had no idea how many people had been affected.

This was no longer a safe place.

Just as she was about to jump again with teleportation, her power was interfered with.

“…Huh?”

Such a delicate interference of power that she would have admired if it hadn’t been for this situation.

Thud, thud.

The sound of footsteps behind her.

A presence that couldn’t possibly be in this remote mountain.

Turning her head, the existence that she didn’t want to face right now, which turned her suspicion into certainty, was faintly smiling.

“Hello. Fancy meeting you in a place like this?”

A refreshing smile.

A gentle voice.

Soft eyes and beautiful shades of blonde hair.

-By the way, did Chayeon enter through the college scholastic ability test?

-No, I got in through rolling admission.

-Isn’t our school’s student record a bit tough? Your GPA must have been high?

-Ah, well, actually, I didn’t graduate from high school. I got my GED and entered through rolling admission.

A passing conversation from earlier this year, when Chayeon had not yet become an Ineungnyeokja.

Chayeon, who had lost her parents in middle school, did not go on to high school.

The memory that she had forgotten until just now, no, that had been forcibly forgotten.

There was no way Chayeon could have high school friends.

“As expected, it’s Teacher Seohee. To think you’d grasp the situation so quickly just by loosening the memory a little. Chayeon is someone to be respected.”

The man says quietly with a smile and tone that any woman would find attractive.

Seohee couldn’t move from that spot.

Now that the man had given up hiding about himself, she could instinctively tell how dangerous the existence in front of her was.

A Special Grade?

A King-Rank?

No.

Much more dangerous than that.

This man, who had not only completely deceived Yeonkyung, one of the Seven Divine Pillars, in a short period of time, but had also spread mental manipulation throughout Jindal, was a more dangerous existence than any disaster humanity had ever faced.

“I understand your desire to meet Chayeon right away, Teacher. But, it’s not time yet. Could you wait a little longer?”

A calm and gentle tone that was no different from usual.

Jo Namyeon, having finished speaking, smiled sweetly.

At the same time, the light disappeared from his eyes, and Seohee slumped down on the spot.

How many times is this already?

Again, it was an unfamiliar ceiling.

‘Heukgu?’

<<It would be better to hear the explanation from those next to you than from me.>>

Heukgu, now naturally sought out by Chayeon first, only said that without any further explanation.

Following that, Chayeon saw two girls talking next to her.

“More than that, why is Chayeon…, ah!?”

The golden-eyed girl, Arena, who had been babbling enthusiastically, met Chayeon’s eyes.

“Chayeon! Are you okay!? Are you conscious?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“How many of these are you seeing!?”

Arena made a fuss and held up three fingers in front of Chayeon’s nose.

If she held it that close, it felt like even visible fingers wouldn’t be visible.

“Can’t you see? Do, do you not see in front of you!? Is that it!?”

Seeing that there was no sign of calming down, Chayeon decided to take special measures.

Lick-

“Hyaak!”

When Chayeon licked Arena’s middle finger as it was, Arena made a sound like a cat hissing and staggered back.

Leaving Arena behind, Chayeon asked Byeol.

“Where is here?”

“It’s our family’s secret villa.”

At the word villa, Chayeon looked around.

A large yet cozy and refined room, a large painting hung in a frame on the wall, and a flowerpot was placed next to it.

Behind Byeol, who was explaining, a large window was slightly opened, and the lace curtains on both sides fluttered in the wind.

“Villa?”

“Yes, it’s a villa on a desert island near the East Sea in Gangwon Province. I thought it would be a good place to hide, so I ran away here.”

According to Byeol, this was private property that wasn’t listed on the Korean map, not part of the thirty-three generally known desert islands in the East Sea of Gangwon Province.

“Is it safe?”

“Yes. Even though it’s like this, our family is strong. It’s hardly known even within our family. And there’s also a reliable guardian-like person who protects this island.”

While Chayeon and Byeol were answering each other, Arena interjected again.

“Are you okay!? Are you really okay?”

Arena, who had popped out, caressed Chayeon’s face with tearful eyes.

Every time her fingers touched her, she felt a rough feeling, and only then did Chayeon realize that her face was wrapped tightly in bandages.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Thank you.”

Chayeon grabbed Arena’s hand and calmed her down.

The last scene she saw came to mind.

The relentless beating and violence, the powerlessness of having to endure without being able to do anything.

The fear that she might die so futilely.

It was different from fighting demons with Heukgu’s support.

Her body still trembled when she thought about it.

It was scary.

At the same time, she was angry.

Why did I have to go through that? Because I tried to kill Sira? Then what about Sira, who tried to kill me?

She also felt betrayed by Jindal, where she had attended for half a year.

Did they have the right to treat people so carelessly just because they were suspected of being demons?

That man seemed convinced that Chayeon was a demon.

He would never forget Arena, who had run to save Chayeon, who could do nothing but tremble in fear, her white clothes and broom that she saw at that time.

“Ah, th, that,”

“What’s wrong?”

When Chayeon asked, seeing Arena’s face turning bright red, Byeol answered.

“Rumors spread as Chayeon-ssi’s group returned. That Chayeon-ssi was locked up. Hearing that, Rena ran around asking about Chayeon-ssi everywhere. Then she found out where Chayeon-ssi was…”

Byeol laughed hehehe-.

“The rest is as you know.”

She found the prison, used Absolute Severance to cut it open as it was, and then rescued Chayeon.

In one word, Arena’s actions were reckless.

How could she move so recklessly, knowing whether Chayeon, who was arrested on suspicion of trying to kill the Seven Divine Pillars, was really a criminal or a demon hiding her identity?

Besides, even if she rescued Chayeon, the aftermath was the problem.

It was obvious that the future of being chased as an accomplice to a criminal from the status of a Jindal student was as clear as day.

Actions without thinking about the consequences.

She almost lost her life to Rubrum-Luna because of such reckless actions, but she hadn’t changed.

And that consistent nature of Arena’s saved Chayeon.

“Th, ha, hand! Can I hold your hand!?”

“Thank you, Arena.”

Arena’s face was flushed like a patient with a high fever.

“Byeol too. I’m indebted to you.”

“Hehe, what are you saying? How can I turn a blind eye when my friend’s lover is in danger?”

Arena would have been furious at those words under normal circumstances, but she was now unable to think straight from the warmth of Chayeon’s hand that she felt on her hand.

“By the way, I think I can take this off.”

When she tried to take off the bandage that was uncomfortably wrapping around her face, Arena hurriedly stopped her.

“Ah! No! It’s not healed yet!”

“It’s okay.”

Ignoring Arena’s warning, Chayeon took off the bandage without hesitation.

Chayeon’s exposed face was stained with blood clots here and there, but when Chayeon wiped it with a wet wipe placed next to her, the scabs fell off and a clean face without any wounds was revealed.

“Uh, uh?”

“I have good recovery ability.”

After explaining that to the flustered Arena, she got up.

The pillow behind her back was soft and good to lean on.

Grumble-

“Ah.”

As soon as she sat up, Chayeon’s stomach sent a signal of hunger as if it had been waiting.

“You must be hungry. Well, you haven’t been able to eat anything for three days.”

“Three days? Has it been three days?”

“That’s right! I thought you were never going to wake up!”

More time had passed than Chayeon had thought.

“I’ll bring porridge from downstairs. Please wait a little longer.”

“Ah! Byeol! I’ll go with you too!”

“Uh-huh? How about Rena stays here and talks more with Chayeon-ssi? You’ve been crying day and night. You can share more of the joy of reunion.”

“Wh, what are you saying, that!? Anyway, if you’re going, let’s go together!”

Arena pushed Byeol’s back while babbling with a flustered expression.

It seemed that she was belatedly looking back on her actions and feeling embarrassed.

As the two girls left the room, silence fell.

“What should I do now?”

<<What are you going to do about Baekgumiho?>>

I don’t know. Her thoughts were not well organized.

It was because she had been acting too thoughtlessly until now.

Killing a person, especially an existence who is regarded as a symbol among Ineungnyeokja, was an act that carried an outrageous risk.

Chayeon was receiving that impact as it was.

“First, I have to contact Teacher Seohee.”

But of course, Chayeon didn’t have a smartphone.

It was already taken away when she was imprisoned, and there was no way it would walk back to Chayeon on its own.

Just as she was thinking that she would have to borrow a phone when Arena returned, she suddenly heard a familiar voice in her ear.

[Chayeonah, are you okay?]

“Teacher?”

After answering out loud, Chayeon realized that Seohee couldn’t hear her and rummaged around for paper and a pen to write a message.

But before she could find it, Seohee’s next words came.

[The fact that you can hear these words means you’re okay, right? Thank goodness, you’re safe.]

“Pardon?”

[What I’m conveying now isn’t speaking in real time. I don’t know when Chayeon will wake up, but I decided to deliver the words I wanted to say in advance, according to the time. Should I say it’s a message from the past?]

Chayeon’s eyes widened.

In many ways, Seohee’s abilities always far exceeded Chayeon’s imagination.

[I want to say a lot of things, but I’m a little tired right now. I’ll say it briefly. Don’t come back to Jindal for a while. Hide somewhere safe. The atmosphere isn’t good. You’ll be in for a rough time if you get caught? I’m saying it with a smile, but I’m not kidding.]

Even if she didn’t say it, she could tell that Seohee’s words were true.

The guard who was guarding Chayeon was like that, so it was questionable whether they would even listen properly if she told them the situation.

[I’ll try to persuade the Headmaster. I know you must be very embarrassed, but Chayeon is currently under a big misunderstanding. …But it would be good to be a little careful about the spirit you’re talking to. It might not be a spirit.]

Not a spirit?

What is she suddenly talking about?

After thinking for a moment at Seohee’s words, Chayeon was able to draw a conclusion.

Since a typical spirit cannot communicate with a vessel, she misunderstood that some demonic being was tempting Chayeon, about Heukgu, in that way.

It was largely Chayeon’s fault for not revealing the truth.

[Let’s talk about this later, anyway, please wait a little until the situation calms down. I’ll try to do something somehow. Then stay healthy and well. See you next time. Ah!]

As if she was about to finish the message, Seohee suddenly added as if she had remembered.

[Did you like the hair tie? I thought you didn’t like it, but you’re wearing it every day? Come to my room next time we meet! I’ll teach you how to tie it properly.]

With those words as the last, Seohee’s voice was no longer heard.

“Sneaking in the word sister, she’s consistent as always.”

<<That’s right. I can feel her affection for you.>>

It was as Heukgu said.

At first, she was just an acquaintance, a senior she met while working as a scholarship student at the university.

It turned out that that acquaintance was a teacher at Jindal, so she saved Chayeon on the first day.

After taking charge of the admission process, she contributed to the living expenses.

She saved her from the crisis of almost dying from being careless at the end of the battle with Rubrum-Luna, and was angry and helped as if it were her own business when she was almost attacked by Jujiho.

She had received so much from Teacher Seohee, and was still receiving it.

It was an excessive amount of affection.

Chayeon was still tying her hair with the hair tie she had bought, and the clothes she had bought… were unfortunately all in the dormitory, but anyway.

“When I go back…”

I should tell her thank you.

Although it hadn’t been long, Seohee had become a presence no different from her parents in Chayeon’s heart, who had lost her parents.

Since when was it?

That she came to quietly accept Seohee’s stroking hand.

“Still, being dragged into a room and being made to play doll is a bit much.”

“Ugh-cha!”

While she was lost in thought, thinking about this and that, the door opened and Arena and Byeol came in.

“Are you hungry!? Knowing you would be, I prepared a lot!”

The table they brought in with both hands was full of food.

…She said she was bringing porridge. What on earth did she bring so much of?

“Oh my, it’s just Namyeon-ssi here. By any chance, where did the Headmaster go?”

“Ah, she had some urgent business to take care of, so she went out for a while. She’ll be back soon.”

“Ah~ then would it be okay to wait here for a bit?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. It seems like this is the first time I’ve talked to Namyeon-ssi alone like this. Oh my, you were reading. What book is it?”

“It’s a novel. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 「Faust」.”

“Ah~ I’ve read it too. I actually found it a bit boring, do you like books?”

“Yes, I actually like Faust more than anything else.”

“Faust?”

“Yes, he’s a character from German legends, and I’m interested in him, so I’m looking up this and that.

“Hehe, you’re more unique than you look?”

“Haha, is that so? There are various documents about the Faust tradition, and it’s fascinating to see the same legend written from such different perspectives. It’s interesting to see the devil resist and overcome the trials he inflicts on humans, or ultimately fail to resist and be defeated, depending on the document.”

“From our perspective, who are actually fighting against demons, it doesn’t seem like someone else’s story.”

“Was I offensive?”

“No, no. Not at all. Ah, the Headmaster is here.”

And, time flows.

A boisterous season.

The leaves fall, and autumn comes to an end.

The harvest season passes in the blink of an eye.

As usual, the aftermath came.

Winter had arrived.