Still Alive? (4)
It had been about two weeks since Dan beca the boss of the Yokai Fox group.
During that ti, Kim Dojun, who hadn't visited the All-God Shrine, was able to hear from Dan about what had happened in those two weeks.
After listening to Dan's story for a while, Kim Dojun spoke with a surprised expression.
"... So, what you're saying is that Twisted Evil ca attacking, bringing all his subordinates with him?"
"That's right."
"... Really?"
Kim Dojun looked at Dan with a sowhat suspicious expression after hearing his words.
"What's with that look?"
When Dan, confused by Dojun's behavior, asked him, Dojun hesitated briefly before speaking.
"By any chance, didn't you experience anything like a life-threatening crisis?"
"Luckily, I didn't."
"As expected."
"?"
"So that's why you're in this state..."
"... Why do you sound like you're almost wishing I'd died?"
Dan wanted to curse him out, calling him "you son of a bitch," but with the bat lying diagonally next to Kim Dojun, Dan could only mumble with a disgruntled expression without realizing it himself.
"... Well, you know."
"?"
"If Twisted Evil attacked when I wasn't here, I expected you would 100% be beyond saving, experiencing a life-or-death crisis."
"... So you an you thought I was going to die?"
"That's exactly what I thought."
"Then even though you knew the odds of dying were extrely high, you made the boss and left here?"
"That's right?"
"You bastard?"
Even though the bat was right there, Dan couldn't help but curse by reflex.
"What? Bastard?"
As Kim Dojun picked up the bat again, Dan imdiately started clearing his throat, pretending to compose himself.
"Hm-hm, that was a slip. I just recalled the scary mont with Twisted Evil and it got to ...."
"Just tell the details."
Kim Dojun looked at Dan with a skeptical gaze, but he rely shrugged and spoke up.
Soon, Dan began to carefully recount the story of what happened that day to Kim Dojun.
"... So, in short, you almost lost to Twisted Evil, but suddenly the Twisted Evil Slayers ca to help you—is that right?"
"That's right."
"And those people who killed Twisted Evil's gang are now part of the Yokai Fox group?"
"That's true as well."
Recalling the notes about the Twisted Evil Slayers he'd seen in the Inhuman Hellscape, Kim Dojun continued.
"Why did they suddenly join the Yokai Fox group?"
"... Honestly, I don't really know why they joined us."
"That's not because your goals align or anything?"
Dan tilted his head at Dojun's speculation, then shook it.
"I don't think that's it. They could hunt down Twisted Evil without joining us at all."
"Maybe it's because you've built up a good image."
In fact, though Dan was just one of the heirs of the Ryu-oh family and a sorcerer keeping a low profile at the Sorcery Institute, here at the All-God Shrine he was now considered a formidable sorcerer—maybe even special rank—leading Scorpion Twisted Evil as a subordinate, prompting Dojun's guess.
"Hearing you put it that way, I suppose it could be."
"What did they say to you?"
At Dojun's question, Dan hesitated for a mont before speaking.
"... They said they felt an abyss from —sothing unimaginably deep, and that it was beyond their reach."
"That punk must have so social skills."
Dojun chuckled unconsciously, but Dan continued in a serious tone.
"If it were just so random guy, I could dismiss it, but to be honest, it worries a little."
"Why?"
"... Before joining the Yokai Fox group, that guy was the leader of the Twisted Evil Slayers and an S-rank sorcerer. He's even known by the alias 'Jinbon (珍本)'."
"Then maybe he was just being social?"
"... Jinbon's sorcery is sorcery about 'essence'—"
"Either way, isn't that a huge win for you?"
"No—"
"You know it is, right?"
Dan wanted to shout, "Stop cutting off, you bastard!" but held his tongue and kept talking.
"For now, it's actually beneficial. With the Twisted Evil Slayers joining, the Yokai Fox group is growing even stronger. But—"
"But?"
"If they have ulterior motives, it won't be so easy."
"Ulterior motives?"
Dojun asked, and Dan nodded.
"For example, after taking down Twisted Evil, what if they're planning to quietly kill and take over the Yokai Fox group?"
"Hmmm, true."
Nodding as if it was a reasonable concern, Kim Dojun replied.
"Well, there's nothing you can do about it."
"...?"
"Guess the backlash is finally coming after you milked it for all it was worth?"
"???"
"There's no such thing as power without a price."
Kim Dojun, intent on extracting all the benefits from Dan's well-raised Yokai Fox group without lifting a finger.
Dan suppressed another surge of harsh curses with difficulty.
"Well, isn't this sothing the boss should handle anyway?"
"You bastard!"
Finally unable to hold back, Dan spat out the curse.
"Bastard?"
"No—"
"Ha, you suddenly reset your trust just because you beca the boss."
"W-wait—!"
Dan wanted to add, "You made do this, you asshole!" but was startled when Kim Dojun imdiately lifted the bat.
Ten minutes later.
"So, after Twisted Evil's bunch got totally wrecked, why haven't they co back for revenge?"
Rubbing his head as if he'd grown three lumps, Dan answered Dojun's question with an aggrieved tone.
"... I don't know that either. At first I thought maybe the Twisted Evil Slayers joining was enough, but it still seems strange that they haven't tried to co for revenge."
"Hmmm."
Kim Dojun mulled over Dan's words.
But soon after—
"So basically, nothing's happening now, right?"
"... That's true."
"Then, I'm off."
"... Huh?"
"Why that look all of a sudden?"
"You're leaving? Now?"
"What else do you expect to do here?"
"No, won't you do sothing about what's going on...?"
"I already gave you a ring for protection, for staying alive, right?"
"No—"
As Dan whined, Kim Dojun recalled giving him a defensive ring that could block anything other than sorcery from malignant spirits, and was about to turn to leave when he suddenly rembered sothing.
"Oh, by the way—did you look into that information I asked you about?"
Dan paused briefly, then sighed, as if resigned.
"... If you an what you asked to look into, was it information about the Prophesied?"
"That's right."
At Kim Dojun's answer, Dan nodded.
"I did check, but even the information agencies didn't seem to know much about the Prophesied. Are you sure that's the right na?"
"I'm sure."
"... If that's true, it's certainly rare. There are info agencies that can find out about groups created just a few hours ago, but there's an organization even they don't know the na of."
"So, you don't know after all?"
"That's right."
"Well, then—I'm off."
"You're really just going to leave like this?"
"Don't worry. I'll handle what you ntioned."
Waving his hand, Kim Dojun left as soon as he heard Dan's reply.
Of course, Kim Dojun had no intention of actually taking any action.
In short, he was just making excuses.
Of course, it would be a big problem for Kim Dojun if Dan died.
Dan absolutely could not die here.
However—
'Anyway, if I think about his "setting," he's not going to die right now.'
Recalling Dan's established "settings,"
Kim Dojun was convinced that even if Dan was put in a lethal situation, he wouldn't die, and left it at that.
'... Now that I've confird Dan's safe, maybe I should try eting Han Soyeon next.'
With that thought, Kim Dojun left the All-God Shrine, stopped by a convenience store near dusk to buy dinner, and then headed to the Sorcerers' Association.
"?"
The mont he entered, Kim Dojun looked puzzled at the completely empty front desk.
'Must be insanely busy.'
Seeing the "Away on Business" signs set up at every reception post, he shrugged and moved along.
As he was about to knock on the door of Han Soyeon's dorm room in the association—
Clack—!
"You're here?"
"?"
Before he could knock, Han Soyeon opened the door, making Dojun ask in surprise,
"You knew I was coming?"
"I heard your footsteps."
"...."
Can you really distinguish people just by footsteps? Dojun wondered but just shrugged.
"I brought dinner. Let's eat together."
He said.
####
It was the first ti eting Han Soyeon since the incident, and Kim Dojun wrapped up dinner with convenience store lunch boxes, making light conversation with her while she smiled brightly.
"Do you rember the ones who attacked you last ti?"
He soon got to the point.
"The ones who attacked last ti? ... Do you an the Sorcery Killing Technique users?"
"Yeah. Did you already know them? Or have you t them before?"
Han Soyeon hesitated a mont, then shook her head.
"No. Maybe the association head or vice head would know, but not ."
"I see... And by chance, have you heard of a group called the Prophesied?"
Once again, soyeon shook her head with a subdued expression.
"I'm sorry... I don't know."
"That's all right. No need to look so down, I was just asking."
Kim Dojun thought to himself.
'Was my guess wrong?'
He couldn't confirm anything with just what happened with Shin Se-yeon, and likewise, just because Han Soyeon and Dan didn't know about the Prophesied, he couldn't be sure the Prophesied and malignant spirits were entirely unconnected.
If he considered Shin Se-yeon's story, the Prophesied seed to hide their identity to the very end.
'Finding info like this might not work.'
So, deciding on another thod, Kim Dojun concluded he'd just chat with her for today.
'... Now that I think of it, I should get back the necklace I gave Shin Se-yeon and give it to Han Soyeon.'
He thought of giving Han Soyeon the necklace he'd left with Shin Se-yeon—originally to protect her if she got possessed by a malignant spirit—since Shin Se-yeon no longer needed it, and Han Soyeon's divine descent ability would be very useful as an ally.
'I'll still have to think about how to help her train her divine descent.'
With that, while continuing their conversation, Kim Dojun suddenly rembered sothing.
"Oh, by the way—is your power back? I heard last ti it would take a month or two to recover gradually?"
"Ah..."
"Why? Still not back?"
"No, actually, most of it has returned. But maybe because I haven't been active in a while... I keep making mistakes."
"Mistakes?"
"Yes. I should be able to control it, but..."
Seeing Han Soyeon look a bit impatient, Kim Dojun said,
"It's only natural to make mistakes, right?"
"Yes?"
"It hasn't been that long since you got your powers back. And everyone makes mistakes now and then. It's nothing to be concerned about."
"... Really?"
"...?"
"Really, no one minds?"
Han Soyeon asked in a suddenly serious tone.
Kim Dojun tilted his head but nodded.
"Of course not. Who scolds soone for a couple of mistakes?"
No matter how talented you are, you can still make mistakes—he didn't add that, just nodding.
After so more conversation, as Kim Dojun said goodbye and left, Han Soyeon muttered,
"Mistakes, mistakes..."
She smiled brightly—
"... Mistakes are, forgiven?"
Looking at Gwigwang, who was bound by tentacles and staring at her with fearful eyes—a sight that had until now been hidden.
At that mont,
Back at his own dorm room, Kim Dojun—
"Hello?"
"!?"
—ran into Mongsang's Leubi, who was sitting perched on his desk.
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