No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 135

“…You were trapped in a rice chest? Is that even called a sentence? Is the academy in its right mind?”

“It’s okay now, so it’s fine.”

Ryuseong and I, who met in the blue night, continued our extraordinary conversation while wandering around quite thoughtlessly.

As if we were visitors who came to an amusement park or a famous tourist spot, not an abandoned house.

‘Is the mission important? This is life.’

This was a leisure that could be afforded entirely thanks to the 100 million won I ripped off from the goblin.

As if the original plot development, which was particularly disobedient today, finally activated its positive function.

A mission paper stating that specific conditions must be met to call the rescue helicopter and that higher mission allowance could advance the helicopter boarding order was finally discovered.

The student who tried to hide the mission paper and deceive the information to escape alone was punished with karma until near death. However, it’s not that the other cadets didn’t want to escape as well.

Since everyone wanted to escape alone, they united to punish the one who interfered with it.

“…Well, okay. Even if we say later that you lack safety awareness, are you not hurt anywhere?”

“You’re one to talk.”

“What a ridiculous joke. As if there’s anyone who could possibly harm this body.”

Therefore, the mess that unfolded among the cadets afterwards could perhaps be called a war. Due to the cadets trying to seize mission allowance and subdue the ‘enemy’, a hell was unfolding in the stuffy and eerie abandoned house village…

‘I’m on a date holding hands with Ryuseong.’

Just because they lack 100 million, they end up like that. I clicked my tongue as if I became a chaebol.

‘No, wait? I am a chaebol, right?’

I feel like a fool. Let’s quickly change the subject.

“How much mission allowance have you collected?”

“Not much. About 500 points.”

“…The groom is just a burden, let alone a dowry…”

Although it was half a joke, I had no choice but to split the money if we wanted to ride the same helicopter. And since I had no intention of separating Ryuseong from my side, there was nothing technically wrong when you think about it.

However, Ryuseong twitched his eyebrows, showing displeasure. What. Did your pride get hurt? Cute.

“I can earn it even now.”

But if he participates in the mission war, we will lose the peaceful time we gained after a while. I firmly grasped his hand.

“If it’s the price to tie the successor of Hanra by my side, this is not bad either.”

It was a good time to date as the sidekicks and Ryuseong’s friends weren’t around. Even when other kids were startled saying they saw a ghost, we weren’t surprised. Even seeing the same thing in the same place. Putting me aside, it was a pity that Ryuseong reacted indifferently. I wanted to see him surprised.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“Ghosts aren’t scary. What’s scary are monsters.”

‘Is that so.’

Ryuseong seemed to have a different thought from me. I wasn’t afraid of ghosts. It was people who were scary. The world was always cruel, and the world was made by people. People are originally like that. From the beginning.

So no matter what conspiracy my lovely servants, who are not showing themselves now, are plotting somewhere and what eventually befalls me, I will not be disheartened at all. Anyway, the time they resonated with me has been erased. What’s left are only people. Yes, just emotions.

Such things could not stop people.

If it’s love, that’s a different story. However, love is an emotion that immerses in oneself. It does not point to others. Loving someone means loving myself seen in them.

People could not change people.

‘Even if I can’t explain why I’ve changed like this by deceiving.’

However, I could assure that my essence had not changed. I raised my head.

The full moon was hanging over the crown of the head, and,

“Shall we go to the Hoan Pavilion? I heard if you pray there, eternal love will come true.”

The plan was unchanged.

After all, I couldn’t break the railway I had laid for myself just for love.

‘Just for a person.’

* * *

Just for a trivial emotion. Just for that.

One should not go astray from the cause for such a trivial and undisciplined reason.

I was told to do so until a stigma is engraved on the soul.

And Capone Jones realizes only now that she had been sick and tired of hearing about emotions and causes for a very long time.

[Young… clan head… where, are you.]

“I don’t know.”

In front of the shadow of Demillang who barged in to take the location information of Cassice, the girl who lied concealed her true feelings that she wanted to lie once to the servant who was acting arrogantly despite being a mere shadow, under a sharp expressionless face.

Because emotions are useless.

If found out, they will be treated as useless…

[…Useless, thing.]

“I’m sorry.”

But was it that she couldn’t deceive in the end? Capone Jones intuitively realizes at that moment that the tie between her and Demillang had been completely severed.

‘But, I saw such a thing.’

The one thing that Cassice Demillang laughed nonchalantly in a play she couldn’t remember chilled her heart because of the inexplicable emotion she felt at that moment…

‘How can you tell me to report that he went to Hoan Pavilion.’

Just for such a reason, it made her go astray from the cause.

A person changed a person.

So the reason she is lying like this now may be because Capone Jones in a trapped room where the corpse of a dead mother was a cradle and a lullaby was sung, still can’t walk out of that place.

So Capone couldn’t say anything. Anything.

Because she didn’t want to admit that just an emotion, just something like that made her go astray from the cause.

Even if she wanted to speak, her mouth wouldn’t open.

In the end, Capone Jones, who became so resentful of herself that she wanted to die, bowed her head deeply. Hoping that they would at least not take back the worn-out eyes they gave her.

But such wishes don’t come true. A shadow was reflected in her downcast eyes.

And the shadow’s grasp entered through those eyes.

[Farewell.]

A lump of blood splattered on the shadow.

“Ugh, ah.”

Capone Jones writhed in pain and fell into a panic without realizing it. The next moment, someone embraced such Capone. It was none other than Hae Yuna. After Hae Yuna embraced Capone Jones, she nimbly stepped back, and a neat-looking boy with an impression of a model student with a pipe on his shoulder frowned pessimistically, unlike usual.

“Why are you saving her because she’s pretty?”

“Because I’m an ultra-beauty! It can’t be helped! The ultra-beauty type should originally help and live with each other!”

“…What are you saying?”

The shaman who naturally stood at the forefront, Lee Hyang, responded to Hae Yuna in an extremely absurd manner, then suddenly erased her sluggish child-like temperament and turned her head to stare at the shadow.

[…!]

At that moment, a majestically chilling aura that her age could not possess made the shadow dizzy.

[The only son… of the Jeonju Yi clan… This, is not your potential… I… know that… much.]

The shadow, crushed by the sublime spirit and about to burst, knew. It could feel. He was Lee Hyang but not Lee Hyang. Two souls in one body. The Four Directional God, Zhurong, and the divine beast of fire, Vermilion Bird, had returned from the South and entered Lee Hyang’s body.

The highest state a shaman who serves gods could reach was unfolding.

[You dare… to hide… your power? From… Demillang?]

After the shadow roared in anger, it rushed at Lee Hyang. It pretended to be very excited, but in fact, it was a plan to take even a single strand of hair to use for experiments. And Lee Hyang blew, hoo, the cigarette smoke that was smoldering at the shadow that came right in front of him… and it ended with just that.

The shadow, devoured by Vermilion Bird’s flames, began to turn into a pile of gray ashes as it was.

[I will not forgive. The enemies of Demillang. I will not forgive. No matter what happens, the limbs…]

The shadow, sensing the end, poured out a curse.

But it lost even in a war of words. It was his mistake for not thinking that there would be a woman who could run her mouth better than the old ghost bound to a noble family.

“Hey, die quickly without making Lee Hyang a heavy smoker. Ptooey.”

[…! How dare you spit at me…!]

“Kak too.”

Hae Yuna spat at the burning shadow and stamped it out completely with her foot. One shadow was finished like this.

But there’s no way it would end with one…

“Lee Hyang.”

There was no answer. Hae Yuna turned her head to look at Lee Hyang. Lee Hyang’s focus was off. Hae Yuna called out repeatedly as if pleading.

“Hyanga.”

“…Sorry. I was pressed for a moment.”

Hae Yuna knew what Lee Hyang was saying. Lee Hyang, who has descended a divine spirit that is too immense into his body, suffers from terrible sleep paralysis every time he uses his power as a price for his senses becoming ‘close to divine’ sensitive.

“Release the state.”

“Not yet. Other places are no joke either.”

Lee Hyang, who was speaking with a serious face, suddenly laughed in a sweet voice as if he became a different person.

“I will save the boring men, child. You take care of the wench who reversed her betrayal.”

Hae Yuna, who quickly noticed that the speaker had changed from Lee Hyang to Vermilion Bird, swiftly asked.

“I understand, Vermilion Bird-nim. But Myohan is…”

“Do you know how many are standing behind that child to say such a thing? Any other god would not even allow me to approach.”

The Vermilion Bird, who smiled consciously, said that and tried to transform Lee Hyang’s body as if burning it with fire and disappear, but,

“Um, that, is, is it safe?!”

A single unpleasant remark caught the Vermilion Bird.

In other words, it was an emotion that felt like the vague disappointment felt in the body met the fire and amplified.

“…It seems you are more concerned about other kids. Even though there is a child who revealed his hidden identity in a laborious and complicated way for your sake…”

“No, what are you saying! Hyang! Is Hyang okay?! Why are you suddenly setting fire to a human body?! Will you take responsibility if my Hyang gets hurt?!”

“…”

Should this be called outrageous? Or should it be called impudent…?

The Vermilion Bird, wearing Lee Hyang’s shell, closed his mouth for a moment and smiled brightly. Anyway, the displeasure disappeared from the body and overflowing affection welled up in its place, so it seemed it wasn’t an unnecessary interference.

“Couples are indeed different. I said something unnecessary.”

“…! I’m not like that!”

“I got it, I got it. Let’s walk. Then there will be less strain on Lee Hyang’s body. Are you satisfied?”

“Yes!”

Hae Yuna’s eyes sparkled, and the Vermilion Bird hoped that Lee Hyang wouldn’t notice that it was tears.

“Please take good care of the cadets!”

The Vermilion Bird bid farewell with a light smile. Without spitting out the words it put in its mouth.

‘That request has already been received from Cassice Demillang.’

Although Lee Hyang still doesn’t know.

Anyway, the Vermilion Bird was no different in wishing that no one would die in Alea. Shinmyohan, who was also entrusted together, was no different.

“During the school trip, Demillang may assassinate the traitors to cut off the tail. Capone Jones, Diedrich Vinckel, Logan Esteban. Unfortunately, not only are the professors untrustworthy, but the principal will die if he acts wrongly, so I have no choice but to ask you. If something happens, please save them and lead the cadets to evacuate to a safe place.”

“Is that the only reason you called us? Even when the demon realm is moving?”

“What are you going to do with your life saying that? You will be the most threatened one.”

At that time, the silver-haired young man who stood in front of the Wargod and the divine beast Vermilion Bird said with a crooked smile,

“Yes, being left alone among those who are trying to kill me. If I say I aimed for that, would you say I’m crazy?”

Cassice Demillang was just waiting for the assassins and shadows of the demon realm’s Incheon to flock.

So in order to save a lunatic who is out of his mind…

‘Even if it means disobeying Cassice Demillang’s words.’

He had to gather the traitors who could become allies, having changed their minds and rebelled against Demillang.

But there was also a traitor who had not changed her mind.

In the foggy forest filled with shadows.

Different hearts (心) were intersecting.