In the dimly lit rented room, light from the window slanted through the curtain, falling across the back of Lioren's hand—the inverted cross still deeply imprinted, like a scar that had never healed.
Lioren stared at it for a long time.
Lioren:
"So… I've joined the church already."
"Now how do I meet the Pope?"
Kiriel leaned against the wall, arms crossed over her chest, her gaze calm—as if she had grown accustomed to these questions long ago.
Kiriel:
"Every year, each church selects three of its most devout believers."
"They are granted permission to have an audience with the Pope."
Lioren:
"Why does there have to be a selection?"
Kiriel tilted her head slightly, her voice dropping lower.
Kiriel:
"Because the Pope… is not merely a spiritual leader."
"Each generation of Popes passes down a certain kind of magic."
Lioren looked up.
Lioren:
"What kind of magic?"
Kiriel:
"Magic that allows one to absorb miraculous power from the faithful."
A heavy silence followed.
Lioren:
"What is 'miraculous power'?"
Kiriel did not answer immediately. She looked toward the window, where the light was slowly fading.
Kiriel:
"Simply put…"
"It's a form of semi-magic."
"It doesn't require mana."
"It operates through… physical pain."
Lioren clenched his fist.
Lioren:
"Then…"
"My goal is very clear now."
He stood up and draped his cloak over his shoulders.
Lioren:
"I will become the most devout believer."
Without waiting for Kiriel to say anything more, Lioren left the rented room and headed straight toward the church.
Leaving Kiriel… alone.
The door closed behind him.
Kiriel stood still for a few seconds, then let out a very quiet breath.
She put on her coat and left the room, heading in the opposite direction.
---
The Hunters' Guild
The air inside the Hunters' Guild was loud, thick with the smells of alcohol, sweat, and metal.
Hunters were scattered everywhere—some discussing commissions, some drunk out of their minds, others arguing over rewards.
Mocos:
"I'm telling you, this commission costs a lot of effort and a lot of prep money."
Tatdum:
"What about the job to exterminate the bogeyman's lair?"
Mocos:
"Forget it. The pay's terrible."
Tatdum:
"Then what are we taking now?"
"Other than those, all that's left are demon rabbits, demon dogs…"
Mocos:
"I don't want to lose sleep for days because of those things."
In another corner—
Gatta (slamming the table):
"Hey! Bring more beer!"
Server:
"Yes, sir!"
Gatta:
"Today we drink till we drop! AHAHAHA!"
---
Avana (stunned):
"What did you say?"
"Brother Lioren joined the church?"
Basle:
"I saw him enter a church the other day."
"When he came out… there was an inverted cross mark on his hand."
Topas:
"That mark…"
"It's the symbol of the Inverted Sect."
Mocos:
"This Basle group—"
Basle:
"Mocos."
Mocos:
"You guys talking commissions?"
Basle:
"No."
"We're talking about Lioren."
Mocos snorted.
Mocos:
"Now that you mention it…"
"I saw Lioren with a girl the other day."
"They went into a diner… then into a rented room together."
Topas:
"Why are you stalking people?"
Avana (voice dropping):
"That girl… was she a slave?"
Mocos:
"No."
"No collar."
"Very clean."
Basle:
"So, a prostitute?"
Mocos:
"Could be."
"But she was really beautiful."
"So beautiful I was completely taken in."
The door of the Hunters' Guild opened.
The noise instantly died down.
Kiriel stepped inside.
No ostentation, no arrogance—yet her presence alone drew everyone's eyes to her.
She walked straight to the commission board and skimmed through the notices.
Kiriel (thoughts):
(All long-distance jobs, time-consuming…)
(And the pay is low.)
After a few seconds, the guild gradually grew noisy again.
Mocos (whispering):
"It's that girl."
Basle:
"It really is her…"
"She's beautiful."
Topas:
"Yeah."
Basle turned to Avana—
she was no longer there.
Avana was standing beside Kiriel.
Avana:
"Hello."
Kiriel turned, smiling faintly.
Kiriel:
"Hello."
Avana:
"My name is Avana."
"What's yours?"
Kiriel:
"Kiriel."
Avana hesitated.
Avana:
"A few days ago…"
"I saw you with Lioren."
"What kind of relationship do you have with him?"
Kiriel looked at Avana. With just one glance, she understood everything.
(So that's it…)
(This girl has feelings for Lioren.)
Kiriel leaned closer, whispering into Avana's ear, her voice extremely soft.
Kiriel:
"Lioren and I…"
"We're lovers."
Avana froze.
Avana:
"…W-What?"
Kiriel stepped back, her expression still calm.
Kiriel (thoughts):
(A little cruel…)
(But the path Lioren is walking…)
(Is not one anyone can walk beside him.)
Without another word, Kiriel turned and left the Hunters' Guild.
Leaving Avana standing there—
in silence,
as an unnamed sense of unease began to take root.
---
Kiriel (thoughts):
(Working through the Hunters' Guild isn't the best option.)
She left the main street and turned into a narrow alley where light never reached. The stone walls on both sides were covered in damp moss, water dripping steadily like the heartbeat of a city rotting from within.
Before her was an iron manhole cover, old but not rusted.
Kiriel crouched down and opened it.
Without hesitation, she jumped straight in.
---
Beneath the Sewers
Contrary to common expectations, there was no stench.
The air was cold, dry, and unnaturally clean.
Kiriel landed on the stone floor.
Kiriel:
"No foul smell in the sewers…"
"Then this is the right place."
She walked through a narrow tunnel, dim light coming from crystals embedded in the walls. It wasn't part of the city's construction—but something that existed in parallel, deliberately hidden.
At the end of the tunnel stood a thick iron door, with no handle and no keyhole.
A hoarse voice echoed from within.
Iron Door:
"Password."
Kiriel looked straight at the door.
Kiriel:
"I don't know."
A moment of silence.
Iron Door:
"Get lost."
Kiriel placed her hand on the cold metal surface.
The instant her skin touched it—
CLACK.
The door opened automatically.
Iron Door:
"Authorized."
---
Inside was a decayed world.
Swindlers, drunks, runaway slaves, prostitutes, assassins—all mixed together in a chaotic space, loud and morally rotten.
No laws.
No justice.
Only money and blood.
Kiriel (inner monologue):
(The Manhunters' Guild.)
(An illegal organization specializing in assassination contracts.)
(Short time frame. Huge pay.)
Her eyes scanned the commission boards.
Then stopped.
---
Commission
Target: Assassination of Noble Ovarle
Reward: 500 million coins
---
Nearby, a man lounged in his chair, holding a cup of alcohol, with two prostitutes sitting at his sides.
Prostitute 1 (pouring wine):
"Thank you for choosing me, sir."
Prostitute 2:
"I'll serve you very well."
The man laughed loudly.
Ether:
"Hahahaha! That's more like it!"
Kiriel walked past.
The laughter abruptly stopped.
Ether looked up.
His gaze locked onto her.
Ether (murmuring):
"…Stunning."
He stood and approached Kiriel.
She was standing in front of the commission board.
Ether:
"Hey there, little sister."
"My name's Ether."
Kiriel didn't turn around.
She was about to leave.
A heavy pouch of coins was thrown down in front of her, metal clanging sharply.
Ether:
"Stay."
"I want to buy you."
Kiriel looked at the pouch, her voice ice-cold.
Kiriel:
"I refuse."
Ether's smile vanished.
Ether:
"Just a whore, and you think you can name your price?"
He grabbed her wrist roughly and dragged her toward a small room in the back.
Kiriel:
"Let go of me."
Ether:
"Shut up."
"I'll teach you your place."
The door slammed shut.
---
A short while later—
CLACK.
The door opened.
The one who walked out was Kiriel.
Her clothes were torn, blood staining her sleeves and skirt, yet her eyes were terrifyingly calm.
One of the prostitutes looked into the room.
She froze.
Inside—
Ether lay motionless on the floor.
His chest had been gouged open, right where the heart should be.
Prostitute 1 (whispering):
"…Dead?"
Prostitute 2 (coldly):
"Yeah."
No one screamed.
No one panicked.
The two women crouched down, searched Ether's body, took all his rings, money, and valuables.
Then they left—as if it were nothing more than an everyday occurrence.