Chapter 137 : The Church of Dawn

「Church ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍of Dawn」

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍indigenous religion—and political system—that had stood alongside the thousand-year history of the one billion Juin.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Human Composite State set foot on Planet Ju and established the Governor-General's Office, the very first thing it did was shut down every Church of Dawn temple across the planet.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a strange thing.

Ordinarily, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they never opposed indigenous religions.

Naturally.

What was religion?

It was a culture and a psychological safeguard born from the pursuit of something transcendent and omnipotent, something sacred, or even the truth of the world itself.

Sometimes it served as the tool of intellectuals.

Sometimes it acted as the mouthpiece of those in power.

And sometimes it became stained power itself.

“Religion is the opium of the people.”

Those were the words of Karl Marx, who had since become a man beyond return, the creator of another intellectual religion called Communism.

Whether one agreed with him or not, the point was simple.

Why didn't the Human Composite State interfere with religion?

When an external force shook the systems and culture that formed a society, the people within that civilization would inevitably resist.

Whether they were devout believers or merely loyal to their community was irrelevant.

Intelligent beings might welcome change brought about through internal reform.

But when change was imposed upon them by outsiders, no matter how beneficial it appeared, they would instinctively reject it.

“We don't care about their faith. As long as it benefits the Composite State!”

Those words spoken by the first Governor-General, Sergey Dov, had continued into the modern era and formed one of the pillars of colonial policy.

Which naturally raised a question.

If all of that had already become accepted doctrine...

Why was the Church of Dawn the sole exception?

The answer was simple.

“Because it wasn't beneficial to the Composite State. Well, to be honest, we hated the Church of Dawn too.”

Lang Wei spoke while plucking loose gray fur protruding from his black military uniform and scattering it out the window.

The slight curl of his lips resembled a human smile and looked almost playful.

Yet Jin Crow, sitting beside him, had no difficulty reading the hatred and contempt hidden behind it.

“Why?”

“If you're asking why, then it's only proper that I answer. Ah, go ahead and smoke.”

As he spoke, Lang Wei gestured toward the squad member driving the old-fashioned Letona.

The sergeant, who was likewise a wolf beastfolk, nodded before pressing a button.

Whiiirr—

A quiet stream of air, completely unsuited to a military vehicle, circulated between them.

Blinking once with his black eyes, Jin Crow silently asked what it was.

Unlike before, Lang Wei answered with an innocent smile.

Showing his prominent canine teeth, he placed a rather thick brown cigarette between his lips and lit it.

“As you can see, we shed a lot. Quite a few soldiers in the Governor-General's Office hate that.”

The drifting smoke was immediately drawn outside the vehicle.

At the same time, the loose gray fur floating through the cabin was sucked out as well.

“Well, smokers like us mostly use it for this.”

“Oh?”

It was an impressively practical system.

It solved the inconvenience inherent to their species while accommodating smokers at the same time.

Letting out a small sound of admiration, Jin Crow took a cigarette himself and looked toward Lang Wei, silently telling him to continue.

Lang Wei cleared his throat, rolled the window back up, and, apparently amused by the current situation, lightly twitched his pointed ears before speaking.

“How much do you know about the doctrines of the Church of Dawn?”

He hadn't asked with any real expectation.

Naturally.

How could a major from the Central Special-duty Officer Academy, located near the center of the Defensive Line, possibly know much about the native religion of an obscure colony planet near the Outer Defensive Line that most people had never even heard of?

Yet in response, Jin Crow tapped the ash from his half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray between the seats before answering indifferently.

“This life is merely a passing existence, and when the Dawn fades into twilight, one journeys to the eternal Pure Land of Paradise known as Daybreak.”

“Huh? You actually know that?”

For a brief moment, Lang Wei fell silent.

“...I did a little research. So?”

There was no way Jin Crow could tell him that this was the very planet where Baek Hwi-young obtained the first OOPArt in the original novel.

Avoiding Lang Wei's gaze, he lit another cigarette.

Apparently not thinking much of it, Lang Wei merely shrugged and continued.

“It's what you'd call a doctrine centered on the afterlife. The problem was that the way it was practiced became completely detached from reality.”

It was an order that had endured for a thousand years.

Everything was interpreted as the will of the Dawn.

Even injustice.

Why could only certain clans live in the Pure Land, the birthplace of ten thousand tribes and the place where the miracle of intelligence first occurred?

Why were there rigid social classes despite their doctrine claiming that no hierarchy existed?

Why were the majority of tribes brutally suppressed so that they could never wield Bright Force?

Why did the lower-ranking tribes starve every year despite endless bountiful harvests, while the Pure Land overflowed with luxury?

“And why, whenever a catastrophic natural disaster struck, an entire tribe had to be offered as a sacrifice.”

“Human sacrifice.”

The smile on Lang Wei's face had almost disappeared.

His voice carried only bitterness.

“At least one hundred thousand people each time. They say it only happened ten times throughout history, but then they claimed the entire tribe had simply departed for the afterlife. What utter horseshi—... Ahem.”

“What else?”

“There was plenty more. A handful of privileged clans treated the entire planet like their own backyard. Minor tribes like ours had no reason not to side with the Composite State.”

Everything that followed was already familiar to Jin Crow.

A harsh reality.

A religious system that benefited only a select few.

The overwhelming military power of the ruling class that crushed any resistance.

Then the Human Composite State intervened.

Listening to it all felt remarkably similar to hearing the story of the fall of the Aztec Empire.

So that's where the inspiration came from.

He used to remember every author comment and every reader theory attached to the original novel's episodes.

Lately, though, it felt as though those memories were slowly evaporating.

Meanwhile, Lang Wei apparently had nothing more to add.

The hazy cigarette smoke drifting between them slowly dispersed.

By the time both had extinguished their cigarettes, they found themselves quietly watching the city scenery passing beyond the window.

If nineteenth-century Joseon and twenty-first-century Seoul were merged together... it would probably look something like this.

Skyscrapers rose among towering ancient trees.

Below them stood densely packed traditional buildings, while countless Juin walked about in distinctly Eastern attire.

Meanwhile, a smaller number of Juin and other races wore Human Composite State-style clothing.

If Mercato resembled a dystopian future...

Planet Ju felt like an awkward transitional era where the past and present had become hopelessly intertwined.

Still, it possessed its own unique charm.

“......”

“......Woof. No... Ahem. Sorry.”

How much time had passed in silence?

Unable to endure the awkwardness any longer, the driver coughed.

Lang Wei scratched the bridge of his nose and finally spoke again.

“They were after the Black Iron.”

Since he'd omitted the subject, Jin Crow turned toward him.

Scratching his cheek, Lang Wei continued.

“We call it Mukcheol. But the Composite State calls it Black Iron, doesn't it? They were after the large shipment of Black Iron being transported aboard the merchant vessel.”

“For money?”

“Yes. At least, that's what the intelligence said.”

Though he found it somewhat questionable, it wasn't incomprehensible.

Black Iron.

Why was Carbine Alloy black?

The answer was simple.

Black Iron was the primary material that greatly enhanced the flow of Psionic Energy while also increasing durability.

It was valuable enough to serve as the principal material for Penta-class Special Armaments.

Naturally, its value was enormous.

Even so...

There was something that didn't quite add up.

Even if the Church of Dawn has declined significantly, they shouldn't be so desperate that they'd have to steal Black Iron.

Selling it wouldn't be easy in the first place.

Even through smuggling, it was such a valuable mineral that transporting it would be difficult, and tracing it back to them would be relatively simple.

“You said intelligence came in. Was that really what it said?”

“To be precise, it was an anonymous tip. Honestly, I had my doubts when it claimed they were attacking for money. But according to Sa-un, the merchant ship really was their target.”

Lang Wei's explanation was difficult to refute.

“Well, you don't have to overthink it. The Church of Dawn stirring up trouble because they can't let go of the old days isn't exactly unusual. The informant probably got sick of them too. Their funding must've dried up a while ago. I wonder if they're even eating properly these days.”

He remained as optimistic as ever.

His gray wolf ears twitched as he flashed another grin.

Before long, the Letona arrived at the Governor-General's Office located in the center of the city.

It passed smoothly through the main gate before coming to a stop.

Nor were they alone.

The other Letonas carrying Obia, the Military Police, and the Security Division squads arrived one after another.

Lang Wei immediately got out and opened Jin Crow's door.

With his usual cheerful smile, he saluted.

“Well then, I'll be off to write my report. I ended up finishing last because I was chatting with you, Instructor— Aagh!”

“Sorry for wasting time. Loyalty.”

“S-Seol-ah? D-Don't use your claws... Woof!”

Watching Myo Seol-ah grab Lang Wei by the ears and drag him away, Obia approached Jin Crow with a bright smile and whispered.

“Did you know, Instructor? Cats slowly swish their tails when they're happy, but dogs wag theirs really fast.”

Following her gaze, Jin Crow couldn't help letting out a small chuckle.

After all...

“S-Seol-ah, you're going to tear my ears off!”

“Shut up!”

Both of their tails were wagging enthusiastically.

Creeak—

Just then, the dark teal-haired boy who had been using his phone finally stepped out of the last Letona.

Lowering the black turtleneck covering his mouth slightly, Sa-un flicked out his snake-like tongue and muttered.

“A bottom by day, a top by night.”

His slit eyes were clearly fixed on Lang Wei.

“Respect.”

The Central Special-duty Officer Academy was peaceful.

No incidents had occurred.

Perhaps because final examinations were approaching, a quiet atmosphere permeated the entire campus.

Perhaps that was how an academy ought to be.

After all, wasn't it supposed to be a place where accidents and incidents were rare?

“...Ugh, this is boring.”

Of course, that was only from the instructors' point of view.

“Seriously. It really is way too quiet.”

At Dokgo Ran's complaint as she sprawled across the sofa in the lounge of the sparring hall—which had somehow become their hideout—Beatus nodded with a light smile while continuing to work on assignments and snack.

Perhaps because they'd already weathered countless hardships together, they had grown genuinely close.

Within that comfortable atmosphere, Hino Kanae finally spoke.

“Instructor Jin... He still won't be back for a while, right?”

“Probably not. I heard he was away on official business. Yaaawn.”

Dokgo Ran scratched her black-and-red hair while stretching lazily.

“It's not like something's going to happen to him again, right?”

At that moment, everyone in the lounge gave a tiny involuntary shudder.

Surely...

It was just their imagination.