The effects of Myowol’s Lost-Soul Water wore off, and the priest’s eyes returned to normal.
He looked on with sorrow as the wraiths vanished.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Only after murmuring endless apologies for a long while did he finally calm down.
Lee Chan waited a moment, then told him when the ritual could be performed.
“It’ll have to be at night.”
“At night, is it? Night is dangerous. It’s the time when my power wavers.”
Shin Hyeok made a suggestion to him first as he pondered.
“What if you send the villagers out first? The three of us will stay behind and leave last with you, Priest.”
“……”
After thinking it over for a long time, he eventually nodded.
“Let’s do that. It’s about time I stopped, anyway.”
Eizar finally agreed.
They left the cemetery and slowly began to walk.
“Priest, should I help you persuade the villagers?”
Shin Hyeok spoke to him as he dragged his heavy steps.
He turned back and smiled with a desolate expression.
“No. That is my burden. How could I leave it to another?”
He moved his heavy feet toward the temple.
“Lee Chan, you’re sure there won’t be any problems, right?”
“Mm, there is one.”
Shin Hyeok whipped his head around.
At his demon-like glare, Lee Chan spoke in a fluster.
“M-Me! I’m the problem! If I fall into the ritual, a gap will open.”
“What gap?”
“This.”
Lee Chan stepped closer to Shin Hyeok and pointed at his eye.
“What—ah.”
“You should be able to see it.”
The night sky was reflected in Lee Chan’s eyes.
But the countless stars adorning that sky were rippling and moving.
‘They’re not stars. More like wraiths?’
“There are a lot. Is this what you mentioned before?”
“Yeah.”
Lee Chan had told him once before.
That he had taken countless people, like family from another world, into himself in the form of souls.
Those innumerable souls were being sustained and stored with the power of a World Tree that was no more than a seed.
“What do I need to do?”
“Hold on to me. So I don’t get swept away and fly off.”
Seeing Lee Chan’s resolute determination, Shin Hyeok said quietly,
“If it’s too hard, you can give up. There’ll be another way later.”
Lee Chan shook his head firmly and smiled brightly.
“No. I know. If it isn’t now, that man won’t get another chance. So I absolutely have to do it.”
Shin Hyeok placed a hand on Lee Chan’s shoulder as he steeled himself and waited for night.
“Then, Lee Chan, you get ready.”
He held out the canteen in his hand to Lee Chan.
“Arin, let’s go. By now, it’s probably turned into a mess. If things get dangerous, we’ll have to use force to calm them down.”
“Okay.”
Arin drew her sword, scabbard and all, and held it in one hand.
“I hope they just accept it peacefully. They’re really good people, so if I have to hit them or something, it’ll hurt my heart a lot.”
“I hope so too.”
The two moved side by side toward the front of the temple, where a murmur had risen.
The villagers were gathered around someone.
Seeing that, Shin Hyeok gave Arin a quiet order.
“If things go wrong, jump over the people and protect the priest. Priority number one is the priest, and number two is the two who awakened.”
Shin Hyeok judged the situation realistically and coldly.
A corner of Arin’s chest ached at those words, but she accepted them.
“Yes.”
As the two drew closer and closer, what hung in the air was not shouting or screaming, but silence.
‘The atmosphere is strange.’
“I’m sorry. I deceived all of you.”
Priest Eizar was kneeling before the silent villagers, apologizing.
“I would have nothing to say even if you killed me.”
The villagers quietly looked at Eizar.
Their expressions were filled with pity.
Among those surrounding him, the eldest grandfather helped him up.
“Priest. Did we settle here because we believed in Ariel?”
Eizar looked at the elder who had been the very first to settle in this village.
“We were like slaves, with nowhere to go and driven from place to place. The one who guided us was you, Priest. That is why we accepted Ariel.”
Everyone agreed with those words.
“We only felt it through you. We thought that if someone like you existed, then perhaps Ariel could be trusted as well.”
Those words tore at the priest’s heart.
“Elder.”
“The one we relied on was you. Not Ariel.”
“That’s right! We believed in you, Priest! When did we ever believe in some nameless petty god whose face we’ve never even seen?”
“Hear, hear!”
Everyone nodded and defended him.
The elder smiled and supported the priest by his right side, helping him stand.
“Ignorant folk like us don’t know about gods or demons. We simply followed the savior we could see before our eyes.”
Once on his feet, the priest bowed his head to them.
“Thank you.”
“What are you thanking us for, Priest! We’re the ones who are grateful!”
Everyone smiled and accepted him.
“Mister, that priest must have lived his life well.”
“Looks that way. Trash like you and me couldn’t even catch up to the dirt under his fingernails.”
It was a brutal comparison, but both of them accepted it.
“Then, Priest, where are we going?”
“Ah, that is…”
Shin Hyeok stepped in at the right moment.
“You’ll be going to our world. To be precise, you’ll be going to a country called the Republic of Korea.”
The villagers turned around.
When they saw Shin Hyeok, whom they usually called an “angel” or “apostle,” standing there, their expressions grew ambiguous.
“Then what are we supposed to call you?”
The villagers were thrown into mental chaos.
“You can just call me ‘hey,’ or you can call me by my name.”
“That feels a little… We still owe you for helping us.”
“We’ll just call you Hero. That’s only right.”
“Of course it’s right. If you fought against demons, then you’re a hero. Who else would be?”
The villagers coolly understood Shin Hyeok and the other two in their own way.
‘Hero, huh.’
He was reminded of a term of address that had once been trendy in the military.
“I guess it does fit.”
“Then, Hero, what do we do now?”
Shin Hyeok immediately made a request of them.
“Please pack your belongings. Only take valuables and clothes you’ll need right away.”
The villagers moved at once.
“What about the pigs?”
“No. Please leave all livestock behind.”
“Ah, what a waste.”
After confirming that the villagers were packing, Shin Hyeok spoke to the priest.
“Priest, is there anything you need to take with you?”
Eizar turned back and looked at the temple.
“Well. Since it’s been exposed that Ariel, that damned bitch, ran off, I don’t think there is.”
He took off the priestly robe he had always worn so neatly right there.
Underneath, he was wearing only brown pants and a shirt.
“I won’t need this anymore.”
He simply dropped it to the ground.
Eizar looked around with wistful eyes.
“I can leave without lingering regrets now.”
He was smiling comfortably, his expression relieved.
“You look much more at ease.”
“Of course. I can lay down all the burdens in my heart.”
The priest turned back and spoke to Shin Hyeok as though making a request.
“Please take good care of our villagers.”
“Of course I will. Together with you, Priest.”
“……”
He merely smiled faintly.
“Then shall we wait for night? This is the first time I’ve ever looked forward to it. We always feared and trembled together.”
Shin Hyeok led the villagers, who had finished packing, to the portal.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
“Where are you going? Huh!?”
The villagers were startled and flustered when Shin Hyeok disappeared into the portal.
When Shin Hyeok emerged outside, he watched the situation with a tense expression.
“Sergeant Major Kim Hyeonsuk will arrive a little late.”
Startled, Shin Hyeok looked to the side.
A man in a black suit was looking at him and smiling.
“Ah, you’re… Investigator?”
“Investigator? I have a proper name, you know. Here.”
He smiled and handed him a business card.
There was nothing on it but a name and a number.
“Is it all right for you to give me this? People usually don’t.”
“This one is fine to give out. No matter how hard you try calling that number, you won’t be able to trace it.”
“Ah.”
At the news that the Command Sergeant Major had not yet arrived, Shin Hyeok grinned.
“At least I won’t get chewed out right away.”
“Kheup. You’re really consistent. More importantly, is that the gate?”
“Yes.”
Shin Hyeok checked the business card he had been given.
‘Cha Gicheol.’
Cha Gicheol stuck his hand into the gate and said,
“I knew about it, but I didn’t know trouble had broken out here too. I’ll have to check the other places as well.”
Shin Hyeok found it strange that he said he had known.
‘He knew? The Battalion Commander said no one would know.’
He had boasted that it had been hidden extremely well.
Cha Gicheol turned back and looked at Shin Hyeok.
Seeing the expression on Shin Hyeok’s face, full of things he wanted to ask, he let out a small laugh.
“The Battalion Commander said no one would know, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“I’m the one who concealed it. That’s why no one knows.”
“Ah?”
“Just understand it that way. For now, I’m on the Battalion Commander’s side. We’re old friends, too.”
“Hmm?”
‘This is the first time I’ve seen him.’
Cha Gicheol pointed at the gate and said,
“Vehicles are coming up from below. You should bring them out in about ten minutes. Please tell them in advance not to act hostile or start fighting. And even if they can’t communicate, ask them to stay calm and follow along.”
“Ah, yes.”
Shin Hyeok glanced at him and went back inside.
Cha Gicheol watched him go and chuckled.
“Every time I see him, he causes a new kind of trouble. That part reminds me of Bu Chanyong.”
“Deputy Director!”
He turned around when someone called from behind.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Men in black suits came pouring up.
“We’ve prepared the vehicles and secured a safe house.”
“Good. What about the moles?”
“We drew them off with other information. They won’t be able to pay attention for at least two hours.”
“Okay. It’s a shame we had to play one valuable card, but it can’t be helped.”
Cha Gicheol thought of the people who would soon come out of the gate.
“We have to hide them until we decide how to make use of them. Keep a tight watch around the safe house.”
“Yes, sir.”
A moment later, the gate rippled.
“They’re coming out. Hurry and bring the ones who can interpret.”
“Yes, sir!”
People dressed like medieval European commoners were cautiously emerging.
Cha Gicheol smiled broadly and waved his hand.
“Welcome to the Republic of Korea.”
* * *
After sending all the villagers out, Shin Hyeok headed toward the priest who remained.
“They’re all out. Now it’s just us.”
At those words, the priest let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness. Then all we have to do is wait.”
There was still a lot of time left before nightfall.
“Please rest for a while. I’ll look around and come back.”
Shin Hyeok left him alone for a moment and headed toward Lee Chan.
Arin followed close behind, looking around.
“What a shame.”
“This village?”
“No, my level. I’m almost at 10. I want to become one too! A. Pa. La. Din.”
Shin Hyeok laughed and pointed at the priest.
“Go to the priest and ask him, ‘I wanna be a paladin~’”
“You go tell him for me, Mister.”
“No.”
“Why not~ Just once~”
“Nope.”
“Tch.”
Arin checked her level, disappointed that it would not rise.
“I guess I can’t level up, right? I don’t think I have much experience left to go.”
Shin Hyeok shook his head.
“I don’t think so.”
“Hm?”
“When night falls, the barrier will break. Then monsters will come swarming in like crazy.”
“Ah.”
Shin Hyeok looked at Arin, clenched his fist, and cheered her on.
“You can take care of all the ones that swarm in for the experience.”
Arin was flustered by those words.
“Huh? Huuuh! Mister?! I don’t need to level up! Hello! Hey!”
Shin Hyeok ran away with an excited look on his face.
Lee Chan had been looking around the cemetery for a while, choosing a spot.
“You’re not really preparing anything?”
Lee Chan turned around at Shin Hyeok’s voice behind him.
“No, I’m not setting anything up. This isn’t magic or anything, just a small ritual.”
“Is that so? In movies, sorcery rituals are all creepy, with blood splashed around, skulls hanging everywhere, and sacrifices offered, aren’t they?”
At the considerable prejudice, Lee Chan glared at Shin Hyeok.
“It’s not like that. It’s just calling souls gently. It’s very polite and refined, you know.”
“Ah, yes~ Whatever it is, just be careful and do it safely. How am I supposed to hold on to you later?”
Lee Chan answered simply.
“Just scatter something like light over me. With your mana in it. If you have those Light Potions, use those.”
“Huh? Mm, okay.”
Shin Hyeok took out a Light Potion and asked Lee Chan something.
“By the way, I’ve been curious for a while. You use dark mana, so why aren’t you affected by Purification Potions? Doesn’t it hurt?”
Lee Chan looked at him with an incredulous expression.
“Hyung, I’m not one of the demon race. I’m a dark elf.”
“Hm? Aren’t they the same thing?”
Ichan let out deep sigh after deep sigh at Shinhyeok’s frustrating comment.
“I hate that perception. They’re clearly different.”
“Why? Using dark mana is the same thing.”
“It’s a little different. I’m right in between. It’s definitely different. You’ll understand when you see the ritual later.”
Shinhyeok thought hard about what was different.
“It definitely has a different hue. But what exactly is different?”
There was still a lot of time left before night fell, so he observed Ichan.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
“Observing. I’m trying to figure out for myself what’s different.”
“What’s different is—”
“Hey, stop. Don’t spoil it in advance.”
“Seriously.”
Shinhyeok examined the dark mana subtly wafting around him.
“The scent the mana itself gives off? The attribute itself is a little different.”
The dark mana of an ordinary black magician—in other words, black magical power—provoked revulsion.
It had a negative effect on any living being.
But Ichan’s was different.
It was black, but it was not negative. It was simply cold and quiet. Like a shadow.
“A shadow?”
“Dark, but not contrary to the natural order.”
Ichan turned around at the precise definition of a dark elf.
“Shadow, death. Something like that?”
Seeing Ichan’s broad grin, Shinhyeok was certain.
“I got it right, didn’t I?”
“Ding-ding-ding.”
“So that’s what’s different.”
He had learned yet another thing.
“Okay. I should go get ready to welcome our guests.”
Shinhyeok went out, gathered the village’s equipment, reinforced it, and planted it around the cemetery.
“If you step on these, it’s gonna hurt like hell~”
After planting them properly, he looked up at the sky.
“The sun’s going down.”
The sun of the ruined world was setting.
Shinhyeok called Arin.
“Arin! Come back now!”
“Okay!”
Ichan looked at the priest of Eizar as he approached the cemetery.
“It’s time to go meet them.”
“I’ll be in your care.”
He spoke with a trembling, fearful heart.
The barrier covering the village began to fade.
“Arin, they’re coming.”
At the same time, a bright moon rose in the sky.
Ichan took out the Grave Moon’s Water of Lost Souls and held it out to him.
“Drink plenty of it.”
Priest Eizar accepted the canteen and swallowed it down.
“Ugh, this tastes… absolutely awful.”
“It really is terribly bad. Whew.”
Ichan also steeled himself and drank enough of it.
“Urk.”
He scattered the rest liberally around them.
“Then I’ll call them.”
Ichan held out his hand to Eizar.
“L-like this?”
“Yes.”
The priest took Ichan’s hand.
As he held it, the priest felt the surroundings begin to change in a strange way.
“The moonlight.”
The moonlight shining down grew intense, and shadows spread thickly in every direction.
“Not yet.”
Ichan, his eyes resembling the night sky, was looking into some world beyond the veil.
“Priest, you’ll be able to see them soon. So you have to call them properly, all right?”
At Ichan’s warning, the priest nodded.
“Ugh, uup!”
Ichan seemed about to vomit something up.
The priest looked at him anxiously.
“Are you all right?”
“Ugh! Bleeergh!”
When his mouth opened, what came pouring out was not vomit, but a specter.
“Uwaaagh!”
The startled priest tried to step back, then stopped where he was.
The world changed, and the hidden side filled with spirits came into view.
“Ah.”
Souls and spirits that filled the entire world.
They stared directly at the priest.
“Aila, Daisy.”
When he called those two names, the specters trembled.
They let out mindless screams and tried to rush in.
“Get away!”
At Ichan’s voice, close to a roar, the specters were pushed far back.
“Priest, call them louder!”
“Louder? Louder?! Aila! Daisy!”
The specters trembled and shrieked.
“Eizar?”
Hearing a familiar voice by his ear, the priest looked to the side.
“Daisy?”
A mother and daughter stood there.
The child saw Eizar, smiled brightly, and ran toward him.
“Aila! Aila!”
“Daddy!”
* * *
“Arin, looks like he met them.”
Seeing the priest with tears streaming down his face, Shinhyeok guessed what had happened.
“That’s a relief. Mister, now I think we’re the ones about to meet the River Jordan.”
The barrier shook even more violently, and everywhere they could see, something black was running toward them.
“Seems so.”
Arin drew her sword and roused her fighting spirit.
“Is there no one who can help besides Portal?”
“Probably not. Everyone’s busy! Let’s finish this quickly and go!”
“Awoo!”
The two of them charged at the approaching zombies and skeletons.
“There are too many!”
“If we cut them down faster, they’ll all die!”
“Aaaaagh!”
Shinhyeok put on his gloves and rapidly threw out punches.
“Damn it!”
He hurriedly rummaged through his inventory and took out the magic crystals he had saved.
“Arin, make a light cut on my palm!”
“Mister! I’m seriously busy! Hurry up and give me your hand!”
While dodging an attack by a hair’s breadth, she turned and swung her sword.
Shinhyeok placed his palm there on his own.
The tip of the blade passed by, slicing Shinhyeok’s finger by a margin as thin as a sheet of paper.
“Good enough, right?”
“Yeah!”
The moment he flicked his blood onto them, the crystals crackled in response.
“Arin, back!”
At Shinhyeok’s words, she immediately darted backward.
“Burn to death.”
The crystals reacted all at once, filling the battlefield.
Whoosh.
Kuwaaaang!
Blazing fire and raging wind, followed by the rippling of earth and biting ice.
“That’s insane. Mister, are you moonlighting as a magician too?”
“I can do it the bootleg way.”
Beyond the brilliant storm of magic, the undead swarmed in again.
“Ah…”
“Haa.”
Arin spoke with sorrowful eyes.
“Damn it, I leveled up.”
“Kheuk, congratulations.”
“Aaaaaah! I hate this!”
They charged in again.
By the time they were struggling to hold back the frenzied wave, they felt Ichan’s faint groan.
Shinhyeok whipped around.
He saw Ichan trembling, his eyes about to roll back.
“Arin… hold them off by yourself for a bit!”
“What? What?! Mister! I’m going to die, Mister!”
“Ichan’s losing it!”
Arin let out a hollow laugh as she looked at the undead swarming toward her.
“Damn it.”