Jinseong stood up from his seat.
He left the excessively extravagant room and stepped back into the dimly lit corridor, walking through the bunker filled with the smell of mold and filth.
After walking for quite some time, the sound of his footsteps transformed from a heavy thud to a squelching noise. The narrow, low corridor was filled with water to the point that he had to bend down to walk.
As he turned his head, he saw water pouring from an extremely high ceiling, which he guessed was from a vent.
Like a waterfall, water was gushing into the bunker.
The spilled water was filling the floor, threatening to flood the entire bunker, but it was being mostly drained through a sewage hole in the floor, maintaining a certain water level. Stalactites formed in every area affected by the water.
Stalactites.
Slimy, emanating a dull light, and giving off a peculiar smell.
And nestled between these stalactites were bats clinging tightly, while on the walls, blind insects that seemed to belong in a cave wriggled around.
Jinseong advanced further, stepping on the water.
With every step, he sensed the texture of the moss.
The mist from the waterfall cascading above.
The sound of droplets falling from the stalactites at regular intervals.
He approached the wall and grabbed one of the wriggling insects to slip it into his mouth.
With a cracking sound, the insect burst, spilling into his stomach, and each trip down his throat marked a pattern in his belly.
Finally realizing he was adequately prepared, he stood up and exited the corridor. Then he ignited Samādhi True Fire, wiping away all the moisture on his body, changed into dry clothes, and exited the bunker.
Once outside the bunker, he saw a lake shining with a cold light, almost as if it could freeze one in place, and he spotted a seal staring at him intently from the middle of it.
The seal gazed at him with curiosity, as if it had never seen a creature like him before.
Jinseong stared at the seal for a moment before grabbing a large fish swimming in the lake from thin air. He then hurled it toward the seal, which leaped up with a splash, snatching the fish.
Jinseong didn’t turn away until he confirmed that the seal had taken the fish and submerged into the water. He then used Teleportation consecutively to move to the airport.
Upon his arrival at the airport, he saw countless people.
White, yellow, black.
People of different skin colors, wearing clothes infused with the cultures of their respective countries, bustling around the airport with a myriad of expressions. The clashing and blending of individual personalities made them feel more like a swarm than individuals, and as he tried to look at the people, he felt overwhelmed by the spectacle of their uniqueness.
Yet, among such individuality, some stood out.
Sisters of differing ages with white hair.
Twin sisters with identical black hair.
Two adult women with brown hair.
They were stunning beauties, exuding a notable presence.
“Ah—Is Arin’s house really that peculiar?”
“Yeah. Well, you see, my family’s elderly has… gotten married multiple times? So there are four moms….”
“Oh, so that means you have five parents?”
“Uh? Yeah, um.”
“Wow, it must be nice to have so many parents~”
“…Huh?”
Iarin was caught up explaining her family situation to Anastasia when she received an innocent remark so pure it was hard to tell if it was praise or an insult, leaving her speechless.
“Hmm. Aren’t you hungry? Want something to eat?”
“…N-no, I’m fine…”
Next to them, Odilia and Ella emitted waves of embarrassment just by being nearby, suffocated by the awkwardness.
“Serin. Despite your complicated family situation, it seems you’ve grown up quite splendidly. Such a fine spirit you have.”
“Ah, no… it’s not that complicated…”
“Just like plants need support to grow beautifully, flowers need sunlight and water, and roots shouldn’t rot. Yet they still require sufficient nourishment. Your growth reflects how blessed you and your surroundings have been.”
“That’s….”
“Surely Serin’s parents are loving, sometimes strict. But they must love you dearly. Just look at how beautifully they raised you. Such a healthy, moral, kind, and beautiful child. Even if your family situation is complicated, isn’t the important thing the person? If the person is good and the home environment is good, what more is needed?”
“Um, that’s flattery…”
“Not at all. Moreover, being a Contractor as well. Serin is truly… what should I say? Ah, favoured by luck. Humans inherently suffer through other people and find healing through them. Simply being surrounded by good people means Serin is living a truly blessed life.”
Meanwhile, Agnes was throwing good-natured words of comfort at Iserin.
Iserin, caught off guard by Agnes’s obvious kindness, wanted to escape, but with Agnes’s hand covering hers, she awkwardly looked around, searching for someone to save her.
Then, suddenly, she jerked her head as if the devil was whispering something.
“Uh, uh-oh, Brother.”
“The airplane time is approaching.”
Jinseong gently walked toward them, stating that it was time for the flight as he led them away.
Thanks to him, Ella could escape the suffocatingly awkward atmosphere, Anastasia could detach herself from the constantly tilting Iarin and cling to her younger sister, and Iserin was able to enjoy indifference by huddling next to Odilia, who showed no particular interest in her.
Thus, they boarded the airplane.
Their destination?
Korea.
*
A significant incident occurred.
The incident where a shaman conducting human sacrifices attacked.
And it was impossible for Iserin and Iarin’s parents not to know about such a monumental event. Especially Iyang-hoon, the chairman leading the enormous Gyeyang Group.
His influence even reached Russia, and although he might not catch every rumor quickly, missing vital information was out of the question.
Naturally, he would call Iserin and Iarin to ask if they were okay, if there were any problems, how things went, if there was an issue with Jinseong, if the shaman’s demands led to any troubles for him, and urging them to return immediately.
It was only natural for them to want to return to Korea briefly to show they were fine, and since they were going back anyway, they proposed that Ella and Anastasia, along with their protectors Agnes and Odilia, join them.
There was no grand reason behind it.
They were just friends, allies caught up in the same incident, and they too hoped to tour Korea for some healing.
The combination of these six was not so bad.
Though there was an awkward mix similar to when they were at the airport, it was merely awkwardness; once they grew accustomed to it, there wouldn’t be any significant problems. Additionally, travel has that unique quality of bringing awkward people closer, arguably capturing the true essence of traveling.
However, with Jinseong involved, a strange atmosphere emerged.
“Hmm~”
Sitting next to Jinseong on the airplane, Anastasia fascinatedly stared at his face without uttering a word until they landed in Korea.
“Cough, cough.”
In the limousine sent by Iyang-hoon, Odilia, seated beside Jinseong, kept glancing at him, fidgeting restlessly. Meanwhile, Ella, sitting across from Jinseong, sent suspicious glances toward Odilia’s strange demeanor while being unable to properly look at Jinseong’s face, her eyes darting around as if contemplating whether to speak, her lips repeatedly trying to form words before closing shut.
This was a result of recalling Jinseong’s kindness while debating whether to approach him, yet feeling the ambiance had shifted dramatically from a few days prior, leaving her stiff and unable to find the words.
Indeed.
Unlike the Jinseong from a while ago, the current Jinseong bore an aura suggesting he was not to be trifled with.
He seemed cold as ice, giving the impression that touching him would send chills down one’s spine, yet there was also a sensation of scorching flames, warning that getting too close could burn.
It felt like watching boiling water near a flaming fire, and a flame reacting to droplets falling on it could be seen as fiery wrath.
As if harboring ravenous beasts intent on consuming each other.
Or as if harboring something bizarre where forms blended together.
“Hmm~”
Thus, Anastasia observed him closely, while
“Cough. Cough.”
Odilia, who had always found Jinseong intimidating, kept watching him nervously.
“W-wait? The symbols keep changing…? It’s still unstable…?”
Iserin quietly listened to the devil explaining from the corner of the limousine.
And Iarin was peacefully sleeping with her head on Agnes’s lap, while Agnes looked at her fondly, finding her adorable.
