Chapter 58: Stay, you are so beautiful(4).

After Arena and Byeol left, there were eight people remaining.

Ruined buildings.

Streets thick with the smell of blood.

After sweeping away the demons in the vicinity, all that remained was a silent, deserted atmosphere.

Shattered windows and crushed cars were visible here and there.

“It feels like we’ve stepped into a painting by Manyu In,”

Yeonkyung, who was walking ahead, muttered as she looked around.

Chayeon had no idea who that was, but she could roughly understand the feeling she was trying to convey.

Wasn’t this what the end of the world would look like?

It was such a typical scene that could be found in movies that it felt somewhat detached.

A street swept away by disaster.

The collapsed buildings created an eerie atmosphere.

Just a few hours ago, everything would have been no different from usual.

This morning alone, people would have been eating here, going to work, and strolling down the streets. Cars would have been going back and forth on the two-lane road, someone would have been sunbathing and taking a walk, someone would have been busily moving around, and someone else would have been sitting quietly on a bench, resting.

The moment when the world threw off its mask of everyday life was cruelly instantaneous.

“Chayeon-nim.”

“Yes.”

“Be careful of people.”

Yeonkyung specifically singled out Chayeon and gave her that advice.

“Not demons, but people?”

“People are the most dangerous to you.”

Due to the influence of demons, the violence of those who survived the mind control was likely to have increased.

That was why the situation had deteriorated so quickly.

When dealing with demons, Chayeon, who possessed a Shinsu, and even the Heukgumiho, would not be pushed back.

But it was different when dealing with humans.

“You’ve never killed anyone, have you?”

Chayeon flinched at the tone that was as indifferent as asking if she had eaten.

“No matter how strong an Ineungnyeokja is, unless they were born congenitally insensitive, killing isn’t something that can be done easily.”

In the face of the Heukgumiho’s power, there was not much difference between humans and demons, unless they were demons of king-level or higher.

Judging from what she had shown so far, even king-level demons were not threatening to Chayeon.

Therefore, the former was much more dangerous to Chayeon.

What Yeonkyung was worried about was not Chayeon’s safety. What kind of human could possibly hurt Chayeon? They wouldn’t even be able to break one of Chayeon’s fingernails.

What she was worried about was the mental aspect.

If, by any chance, Chayeon accidentally killed someone, it was obvious that she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“So, avoid people as much as possible.”

“Okay.”

Chayeon nodded obediently, and the group hastened along the road.

The place they were heading to now was Jindal’s emergency contact network in this Jumunjin.

It was a place that operated direct transportation to Jindal, but they weren’t going there to use it.

It was to join up with the Ineungnyeokjas who might be left here.

The sun had already set, and everyone in the group was tired from fighting and running around with demons all day.

They couldn’t relax even on the ship, so they weren’t in a state to run straight to Jindal right away.

‘Is Arena doing well?’

The winter sun sets quickly.

If she had known that night would come so quickly, she should have forced her to rest and then sent her the next day.

Late regrets washed over her.

Arena and Byeol must have been tired too.

Yeonkyung, who glanced at Chayeon, who was straining her brow and gritting her teeth, turned her head silently.

Demons occasionally poked their heads out, but dealing with them was instantaneous.

Unintentionally, they were exterminating all the demons in the vicinity.

Finally, they arrived in front of a building.

“This is the place.”

Yeonkyung had explained that it normally masqueraded as an occult cafe.

As she said, they forced their way through the crushed door, and because the lights weren’t on, the atmosphere was even more gloomy, and various suspicious objects were dangling all over the place.

There was no one to be seen.

“I expected it, but is it a waste of time?”

An undisguised disappointment briefly flashed across Yeonkyung’s face, then quickly disappeared.

They had already run away, or perhaps they were dead.

Communication with the Jindal headquarters was cut off.

The emergency communication was not working either.

“Let’s spend the day here first.”

Everyone led their exhausted bodies inside.

Chayeon was also in a state of accumulated fatigue.

Even though she had rested on the ship, it was still not enough.

Because she had used her strength so much, the tired state of the Heukgu also affected Chayeon.

Even though she knew her condition well, she couldn’t help but feel impatient.

What happened to Teacher Seohee?

She felt pathetic for her past self, who had been waiting for Teacher Seohee’s message for two months.

She was so caught up in her peaceful life that she hadn’t been thinking at all.

She regretted it.

Pathetic.

You pathetic bastard.

<<Excessive self-deprecation is not good. No one knew this would happen.>>

The Heukgu gently calmed Chayeon.

“Let’s put up a barrier first. Can someone keep watch?”

Chayeon, who didn’t know how to put up a barrier, decided to keep watch.

She was the strongest person in terms of martial power among them, so it was the right place at the right time.

While seven Ineungnyeokjas were putting up a barrier inside, Chayeon was blankly looking around the bleak street outside.

Arena, would she be okay?

Should she have followed Arena?

But then she wouldn’t be able to go look for Teacher Seohee.

Arena, the White Witch, had awakened as one of the Seven Divine Pillars.

No matter how many demons rushed at her, they wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on her.

But still, Chayeon was worried about Arena.

No, let’s be honest.

It wasn’t that Arena needed Chayeon.

Chayeon needed Arena.

She was uneasy.

She wanted someone to be by her side. She didn’t want her to leave. She wanted her to be with her.

But she couldn’t bring herself to stop Arena, who said she was going to save her parents.

The truth was, she wanted Arena to only look at her.

She wanted her to postpone going to her parents for a while, go with her to save Teacher Seohee first, and then go to Arena’s house with Chayeon.

She couldn’t bring herself to say such a true feeling out loud.

Disgust for her selfish self was mixed with anxiety.

The Heukgu gently embraced her over it.

…Right, this isn’t the time to be thinking like this.

She shouldn’t just have negative thoughts and become endlessly depressed.

“Chayeon-ssi.”

If only, she had sent her in the morning.

“Chayeon-ssi!”

“Kyaa!”

A hand was placed on her shoulder with a thud.

Chayeon screamed when she saw Wolmyeong, who had made a loud noise right behind her, without her even knowing when she had approached.

“If that was a demon approaching from behind just now, even you would have been seriously injured.”

Chayeon silently lowered her eyes when she saw Wolmyeong, who was speaking with a expressionless face.

Wolmyeong silently looked down at the girl who was somewhat withdrawn.

The girl, who had been moving with anger and desperation as fuel until she met Arena, was in this state as soon as she was separated from her again.

She had stubbornly tried not to separate from Arena on the ship, but as soon as her support disappeared, she noticeably collapsed.

It was clear that Chayeon was mentally cornered.

‘…There’s no choice.’

No matter how physically strong she was, unlike the other Ineungnyeokjas here, it had only been less than a year since Chayeon had been caught up in this.

She was different from the veterans who had lost their parents while fighting demons, lost their friends, lost their lovers, lost their children, and had lived through all kinds of unsavory things.

Even Wolmyeong herself had gone through a heartbreaking coming-of-age ceremony several years ago.

She was a child.

On the outside, she looked like she was in middle or high school, and in reality, she was twenty years old, twenty-one years old since the new year had passed, she had heard.

For a moment, Wolmyeong, who was about to stroke her head without realizing it because her younger sister came to mind, paused.

If she gave her affection for no reason, Chayeon could be shocked later if she happened to die.

An unstable psychological state was fatal in battle with demons.

“Come in quickly. The barrier is all set up.”

Wolmyeong spat out coldly and went inside first.

Chayeon still followed with her head lowered.

She checked if the lights were on, but as expected, there were no lights coming on.

Not only were there no lights, but the electricity was cut off, so the inside was chilly as well.

Looking at the eight people who were gathered around the widest table inside, Yeonkyung opened her mouth first.

“Everyone looks terrible.”

A sound of a snort came, saying, “I know, right?”

Chayeon couldn’t just laugh along.

Yeonkyung raised her right arm.

A radiance flickered in her blue eyes.

But that radiance shone for only a moment and then faded away again.

At the same time as Yeonkyung quietly lowered her arm, Wolmyeong turned her head towards Yeonkyung.

“Yeonkyung, you…”

“Ouch-“

Wolmyeong was about to say something, but she closed her mouth because Yeonkyung was stepping on her foot.

Grumble-

In the meantime, Chayeon’s stomach rumbled.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t eaten anything since morning.

There wasn’t much to be ashamed of, but for some reason, her ears were burning.

A faint laugh erupted, and the atmosphere softened for a moment.

“…Let’s find something to eat first.”

Yeonkyung suggested.

“We’ll divide into four people who stay inside to maintain and protect the barrier, and four people who go outside to find something to eat.”

Chayeon, who didn’t know anything about barriers, naturally thought she would be exploring outside, but Yeonkyung opposed.

“Chayeon-nim, stay here.”

“Yes?”

Why?

“I think it would be better for Chayeon-nim to rest here. If you take a nap, we’ll wake you up.”

“…No, thanks.”

Was she treating her like a child?

It was better in many ways for her to go outside.

It was better to help with something than to sit like a stone statue without doing anything.

<<Chayeon, I’m against it too.>>

‘What are you talking about?’

<<Your condition is very unstable.>>

Was her condition referring to her mental state?

‘I’m okay.’

<<Chayeon.>>

‘Give me the sword.’

<<Chayeon, there’s no need to go through so much trouble.>>

‘Give it to me.’

She couldn’t just stand still.

She had to do something.

Otherwise, she had a feeling that the fact that she was alone, the fact that neither Arena nor Teacher Seohee were by her side, would keep coming to mind.

<<…Alright.>>

With that, the Heukgu didn’t say anything more.

Before she knew it, Chayeon was holding a sword in her hand.

“Chayeon-nim.”

“Frankly speaking, what if a king-level demon appears outside? You two will be inside. Can you handle it without me?”

It wasn’t about being arrogant or standing up.

Yeonkyung closed her mouth at the sound argument.

It was the same when she told her to be careful of people earlier.

Did she look that uneasy?

“…Okay.”

“Don’t worry.”

The other three were selected, and the four, including Chayeon, went outside.

Before long, an intersection appeared, and convenience stores and marts that were scattered here and there were visible.

Since they could all see each other at a glance, they decided to split up and go inside to take a look.

“Chayeon-nim, be careful.”

“If you see even a shadow of a person, you have to run away immediately!”

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard. If anything happens, contact me immediately.”

As they scattered in different directions, the three people threw those words at Chayeon.

Everyone had eyes like they were looking at a child they had put out on the water.

Wasn’t she the strongest among them?

Everyone was treating her like a child.

Chayeon nodded silently and entered the alley.

Silence filled the air.

It was desolate.

Many of the building signs had collapsed and were broken, making it difficult to know what they were originally.

Thump, thump.

Only Chayeon’s footsteps could be heard.

Other than that, no sound could be heard.

A feeling of being left alone on a remote island.

It was quiet.

Arena, would Byeol be okay?

Arena.

Arena, she’d be okay, right?

Where would she be now? She had ridden a big eagle.

Would she be doing well? It was late at night. Would she be resting now?

Had she eaten? Would it be this quiet there too? Had she met people? Had she encountered a demon?

Would she be okay? Wouldn’t Arena be afraid of demons anymore? Her eyes, which she had met again, had turned white. The atmosphere was also different. She had defeated Rubrum-Luna alone. Wasn’t she afraid of demons anymore? Had she overcome it?

Arena, she’d be okay, right? Where would she be?

The forest scenery she had walked together this morning was already a distant memory.

So much had changed in just one day.

She remembered when the Heukgu had possessed her for the first time.

It hadn’t even been a day since that had happened.

She had cried a lot. Ah, she was really a crybaby. It felt like she had gone back to being a child. She had thought Arena was a fool and a crybaby, but the fool and crybaby was her. She had managed to pretend to be strong until now. What did she mean by not letting her mind control her at will? Without the Heukgu, she was always like this. It was the same in front of Joo Jiho. She couldn’t do anything and trembled while squeezing out juice. Pathetic. She felt like she was going to die of being pathetic.

<<Chayeon.>>

“I know.”

There was no good in being self-deprecating. She knew. Like this, she was just a whiny little kid. If Arena knew her, who had been trying to protect Arena, would she hate her?

She was trying to rely on Arena. Right, she had to protect Arena. So, don’t show a weak side.

“…It’s okay. Everything is okay. Now, she was strong enough to fight a king-level demon, so there was no need to be afraid. Arena was the same. If it wasn’t for her lack of adaptability, Arena would have been much better. With the power of the Seven Divine Pillars added to that state, there wouldn’t be an enemy who could match her easily. Besides, there’s Byeol too. She’d be okay.

She had arrived in front of a convenience store before she knew it.

She squeezed her body through the broken glass door.

Anything that could be called food was already gone.

Before food, daily necessities, anything that seemed even slightly useful had all disappeared.

It had only been a few hours since Hexennacht had started.

Human action and survival skills were better than she thought.

Anyway, the fact that someone had taken the items and run away meant that there were survivors.

Where would they be hiding now?

Finding nothing was not good news.

She had to look around somewhere else quickly.

Just as Chayeon, who thought so, was about to turn her body.

In the corner of her vision, a dog snack that had fallen on the floor and gone deep under the shelf came into view.

A place that Chayeon wouldn’t have been able to find if it wasn’t her.

She approached the shelf with a bright expression and bent down.

She put her knees on the ground and stretched out her arm.

The distance was not enough.

When she used the sword to tap it out, a chocolate bar covered in cobwebs and dust came out.

Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to go back empty-handed.

At that moment, she felt a presence. And,

Whirr-

Clang!

A metal bat fell to the spot Chayeon had dodged.