Chapter 164 : Chapter 164

Chapter 164

I ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍greeted a crisp morning at Hero Prep.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was such a refreshing condition that it did not even feel real that, only a day ago, I had been in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

“Is ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this how an increase in magic power affects the body?”

In ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Seoul, where environmental mana lay thick, it was not an entirely absurd thought.

In ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍other words, one could say I was gradually becoming a human more compatible with what lay beyond the Rift.

I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍prepared early and left my room.

On the first floor, I checked my parcel, and the item I had commissioned from Jang Incheol not long ago had arrived.

What I had requested then was clearly an accessory specialized in lightning resistance.

When I tore open the packaging, a plain ring lay inside, devoid of any distinctive ornamentation.

It was a design that perfectly reflected Jang Incheol’s philosophy that decoration on an item was a luxury.

The enclosed manual described what materials had been used and what process had forged it, and when I looked closely, my name was engraved on the inner band.

“Oh, customization.”

The moment I slid it onto my pinky finger, it fit perfectly, as if it had been made for me.

I did not know how much it would resist Lee Eunho’s lightning, but the mere fact that Jang Incheol had made it filled me with reassurance.

“I should visit Ironflame soon.”

Having worn equipment crafted by Jang Incheol, who would become the greatest blacksmith in this world, I found myself seized by desires I had not possessed before.

In any case, the spoils Hyeonseong Express had taken would be deposited as a lump sum within a week.

Until now, I had used whatever I happened to pick up, so it would not be bad to go browse for worthwhile items.

I threw the parcel’s packaging away on the spot and opened the mailbox.

My smartwatch had notified me that mail had arrived, and just as the alert said, several envelopes sat inside.

More precisely, several sheets of pastel-colored paper that reeked of youthful sentiment…

“This cannot be…”

They were love letters.

The kind Lee Eunho would pull out by the handful each time he opened the mailbox.

Just in case, I skimmed through them, and as expected, there was nothing important.

Every one of them was simply asking to exchange smartwatch IDs if there were an opportunity.

Among them, there were even sub-characters who appeared in the original work.

One letter suddenly launched into praising me, making an aggressive appeal, while another went beyond appealing and outright confessed feelings.

“This is my classmate in the Investigation Division.”

Well, she was a kind, neat person, so I had regarded her positively.

Of course, that did not mean I intended to form any sort of relationship.

Until I brought Lee Eunho back, even if I dated, I would not be able to focus on the other person.

Still… it had been a long time since I had worried about something like this, ever since university.

“Ha… damn it.”

As if to fling the thoughts away, I hurried out of the building.

I was about to head toward Hall of Justice, the main building of the Investigation Division, when by chance my eyes met Yu Hyeonjeong as she stepped out of the female cadets’ dormitory.

……

……

As though by appointment, we both stopped and stared at each other.

She looked as if she had much she wanted to say.

And sure enough, Yu Hyeonjeong started walking toward me.

But only for a moment. She stopped again, her posture awkward.

Was she watching the room?

There were no other cadets nearby, so it would have been the perfect time to ask about Lee Eunho.

……

No, she should have asked now.

We had stopped, our eyes had met, and there was not a single gaze around us.

Yet she only watched my reaction, then turned away and left.

“She was not being cautious. She was hesitating.”

She looked as though she were about to confess something to me.

An image utterly different from the one she had shown before, when she had been impatient, desperate to find Lee Eunho as soon as possible.

“She met him…”

No other inference came to mind.

If she was not approaching me, then she was being threatened, or being watched.

Or perhaps not approaching me was the condition.

With the Demonic Eye, there were no signs she had become a Ghoul.

Was Lee Eunho simply taking her heart hostage and using it?

“This bastard is vicious.”

Whether my inference was right or wrong, one thing was certain: Lee Eunho and Gen’s plan was advancing quickly.

It felt like a fire that had fallen at my feet was slowly swallowing my ankles.

Suddenly, the message about An Hwigom taking leave resurfaced in my mind.

For An Hwigom, who had served for decades without interruption, to take leave without any warning…

I did not know what role he held within Manyeong, but the fact that he—who had never left the 4th Scholastic District—had departed meant something ominous was unfolding.

“With high probability, it is their plan.”

Lee Eunho and Gen.

This was already a worldline far removed from the original work.

I did not know how they would cause an incident, but their objective was the same as in the original.

To use Do Minyeong to open the Great Rift.

“The question is how long Lee Eunho will keep cooperating.”

After all, his goal was not the Great Rift, but revenge for what happened thirteen years ago.

No matter how much he was influenced by a magic tool, that purpose would not blur.

A magic tool was an item that stimulated desire as its foundation.

His desire was revenge for Gangneung.

“In the end, he is both a blunder and a variable…”

Feeling parched, I headed toward a nearby vending machine.

But then, as if I did not even have the right to take a breath, my smartphone vibrated.

Bzzzz—

The moment I answered, Park Chaeshin’s urgent voice burst out.

─This is an emergency call! Camellia and Catalina have started a territory war right now!

***

The sun was high overhead.

Of course, the thick ash-gray clouds made it hard to tell, but Do Minyeong, out of habit, carried a lunchbox and headed toward Kim Seulhee’s laboratory.

The laboratory was empty.

She naturally set the lunchbox down and sat, staring vaguely into the air.

At a glance, it might have looked like she was waiting for Ji Seokhyeon and Kim Seulhee, but she already knew they would not come.

Kim Seulhee’s lecture schedule did not align, and Ji Seokhyeon, for some reason, had not appeared in the morning lecture.

“It is because of the Special Affairs Division… isn’t it?”

He had not left any details.

He had only sent a message saying he could not eat lunch with her.

It was entirely understandable, yet for some reason, emptiness swelled in her heart.

The reason she had come to the laboratory even knowing the two would be absent was because she needed a place to organize her thoughts alone.

Namely, about what the woman called Rachel had told her regarding a magic tool.

To think I have a magic tool…

Rachel had said a magic tool dwelled within her.

A magic tool called the Vessel of Jealousy, a name she had never even heard.

And Rachel had called her a Witch.

She did not know much about magic tools, but she had heard countless things about Witches.

“The worst figure who opened the Great Rift eighty years ago.”

A villainess who had taken countless lives, her life or death unknown.

Her grandfather was Sword Saint Kim Yuseong, who had sealed the Great Rift, yet she had never heard this story even once.

Of course, she did not believe Rachel’s words.

But if the reason I cannot release mana is because of that magic tool…

If the overprotection she had received all this time had not been because she was Sword Saint’s direct descendant, but because she was a holder of a magic tool…

From the beginning, it had been strange that Kim Yuseong had brought her in as “direct line.”

Where did I come from?

Where were her parents?

Why, exactly, had Aileen and Kim Shinwoo never told her the truth…?

Her mind was a tangle.

If, as Rachel said, she was a Witch, a key that could open the Great Rift again, was it truly right for her to live this life?

She wanted someone—anyone—to deny her doubts.

To say Rachel’s words had been a lie meant only to provoke.

To say that someday she would be able to release mana properly.

To say Aileen’s death had not been to protect a magic tool.

“Ji Seokhyeon… where are you?”

***

The moment I received the call, I headed to White Bottle in Seoul’s District 2.

Baek Dojun and Park Chaeshin were already there, waiting with grave expressions.

“I am sorry to summon you so abruptly. I heard the semester has begun.”

“It is fine. This is more important.”

“Then that is fortunate.”

The war between the two Psychic Mafia factions had already begun.

Baek Dojun and Park Chaeshin were receiving the field situation through drones stationed in the outskirts, and even through the video alone, the urgency was palpable.

“Why did they suddenly start a territory war?”

“I cannot know the detailed circumstances. But it is certain that the time has come.”

“The time has come…”

Baek Dojun signaled Park Chaeshin with a glance.

Park Chaeshin opened a specific file and handed me a tablet.

“This is material I investigated from the moment I suspected the Phantom Thief was connected to Camellia. These are testimonies gathered through people who remained closely tied to Camellia until recently.”

When did he even investigate all of this?

Park Chaeshin’s competence was impressive anew.

“Putting it together, we could infer that a major change occurred with Ooyama Jiro, Camellia’s leader.”

Baek Dojun cut in.

“You may not know this, but Ooyama is an upright man. Put harshly, he is stubborn to the bone. Therefore, for Camellia—long regarded as a step below—to declare war on Catalina first is extremely unusual.”

“So you believe Ooyama’s change triggered the territory war.”

“Yes. According to the intelligence, at some point he began putting the members through large-scale military training. A Psychic Mafia busy scraping profit in the outskirts chooses to attack a rival despite the risk… What do you think that means?”

It was a question asked while already knowing the answer.

I replied without hesitation.

“It makes me think that the man called Ooyama might not be himself anymore.”

“Heh. Correct. There is no other conclusion. I already consider him dead.”

“Then that means…”

“Gen, a Demonic Being. Have you heard of a Demonic Being named Gen? He is a troublesome one with the ability to change form at will. The one commanding that battlefield now will be that Demonic Being.”

There was no room for disagreement.

I nodded silently.

“Therefore, the likelihood is high that the Demonic Being is connected to Phantom Thief Lee Eunho. It has been proven repeatedly that the Phantom Thief goes in and out of the large house in District 12.”

“And beyond that, he may even have influenced forced awakenings.”

“Excellent.”

“Still, the problem is why the Demonic Being called Gen started a territory war.”

According to the information lines I checked on the way, the war had begun with the murder of Catalina’s boss.

Thus Catalina was resisting under Bruno, the second-in-command, but unless something extraordinary happened, it would end in Camellia’s victory.

“If the relationship that has fought for decades over dominance of the outskirts collapses, the next to be threatened will be the inner districts. Because the Bureau is taking a passive posture, they will be able to dominate other outer districts easily as well.”

“You believe the inner districts will be isolated?”

“With very high probability.”

“But the other Hunters, or Dispel, will not stay still.”

“Dispel is useless. It is foolish to expect movement from them. And as for the Hunters… whose side do you think the head of the Hunter Association will take?”

……

Was it unfolding like this?

It was truly a dead end on all sides.

The head of the Production Guild, the head of the Hunter Association, and the Director-General.

In truth, all those holding real power in Seoul were following Baek Dojin’s will.

There was Baek Dojun, the Special Affairs Division Chief, but that position was nothing more than a cage Baek Dojin had built for him.

Keeping the most dangerous person close, watching him under one’s nose.

Baek Dojun knew that, and so he could not move recklessly.

“We cannot simply watch, however. We must obstruct the fundamental reason the Bureau and the Demonic Being joined hands. If we can fracture their relationship, the balance will swing greatly in our favor.”

His eyes narrowed.

It was the coldest expression I had ever seen on Baek Dojun.

“You know it as well, do you not? The existence of the magic tool that Sword Saint and Sword Emperor have kept hidden.”

……

“We must, by any means, prevent the reopening of the Great Rift.”