(Making the sign of the cross) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
It has been (a few days, several weeks, several months) since my last confession.
Make confession. Then, "Please forgive all other sins I have not discovered as well."
(After listening to the priest's penance and words) Thank you.
Western Seoul, in front of a confessional at a certain church. A man was carefully reading each sentence written there word by word. The man made the sign of the cross according to the written text and opened his mouth.
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is my first confession."
His voice was calm.
"I have committed an irreversible wrong. Even knowing that God will not forgive me, I have shamelessly come to this place."
The man began to confess his sins.
"I have killed ninety-two innocent livestock, killed six people, and three of those six were clergy. Two archbishops, one cardinal."
"...Believer? You must not confess falsely."
From beyond the latticed door, the priest's urgent voice could be heard. It was a voice desperately hoping that confession was false, a joke.
The man continued speaking without concern.
"And soon, I will kill dozens of people. Please forgive all the sins I will commit in the future as well. If you have such magnanimity."
Clatter!
The priest opened the latticed door and stuck his head out. It was to confirm the face of the confessor who had blasphemed the sacred.
However, in the place where the confessor should have been, instead of the confessor, the corpse of a dead rabbit remained.
"Oh, God..."
The priest trembled with fear and muttered quietly.
* * *
"Hey, you got first place? How did you do it?"
"It just happened that way."
The morning after the demon race extermination training ended. Gu Jun-hyeok approached me while I was studying by myself.
When he asked how I got first place, I answered evasively. If I explained all the fierce psychological warfare and betrayal drama with Seong Ha-yeon and Kim Ra-hee, it would take too long.
"Jeong In-ah says you're annoying. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Lucky to get first place on the diagnostic evaluation. It just happened that way for first place in practicals."
"That's the truth though."
"Oh, I can see why Jeong In-ah calls you annoying."
The diagnostic evaluation really was lucky. Without Legba's help, forget first place, even middle rankings would have been difficult. The practical training really did just happen to turn out first place. There was no lie in what I said.
It might seem annoying to others, but I have my own circumstances too. Since they're circumstances difficult to tell others, I'm just expressing them indirectly.
"But do you come out every morning to study? Aren't you tired?"
While I was silently solving problems, Gu Jun-hyeok asked.
"Even if I'm tired, I just do it. You also come at 7:30 every day."
"Well, for me. Even if I come early, I don't study."
Come to think of it, I've never seen Gu Jun-hyeok studying.
"If you're just going to chatter after coming, why come early? You might as well sleep more. You doze off during class too."
"No, this is, my eyes just open in the morning, you know? But when I listen to class, I get sleepy. Strangely."
"Ah, I see."
It was a story whether I heard it or not. I listened half-heartedly and concentrated on studying.
Gu Jun-hyeok, who would normally bother me by talking non-stop, was unusually quiet today. He seemed to have slept poorly, with dark circles deeply shadowed under his eyes.
When 8:15 came, an unfamiliar person entered the classroom.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Yu Jeong-hak, substituting for Teacher Ha Ye-jin. Let's begin morning assembly."
Where did Ha Ye-jin go and why is Yu Jeong-hak conducting assembly?
Other kids seemed to feel the same doubt as me, looking at Yu Jeong-hak with puzzled faces.
"Early this morning, Satan worshippers appeared at a church in western Seoul, and several people including Teacher Ha Ye-jin were dispatched there for duty. Therefore, I will conduct today's assembly. If the duty is prolonged, I might do it until tomorrow as well."
Yu Jeong-hak's subsequent explanation cleared up the doubt. The kids nodded slightly as if they finally understood.
"Since too many teachers were dispatched today, shortened classes will be held. It should end around 11:30. No other announcements."
Yu Jeong-hak finished the stiff assembly and left the classroom.
The weather is nice, be careful not to be kidnapped by Satan worshippers on night roads. The atmosphere was quite different from Ha Ye-jin, who would ramble about this and that during every assembly.
The brevity was good, but it felt somewhat empty.
"Ugh. What did the teacher say? I was sleeping so I couldn't hear..."
While I was taking out books to study again, Jeong In-ah approached me rubbing her sleepy eyes.
She too seemed to have slept poorly like Gu Jun-hyeok. The dark circles under her eyes were deep.
"It's shortened today. They say it ends at 11:30."
"Oh really? That's good. I was just feeling sleepy... I should go home and sleep a bit. I think I've gotten too busy since coming to Florence..."
She said weakly while yawning. Gu Jun-hyeok, who had been listening to the conversation from a distance, approached this way.
"You couldn't sleep either? I slept at 3 yesterday. Only slept 4 hours."
"I only slept 3 hours."
"Really? Hey, you'll die like that. You should at least sleep 4 hours."
I was quietly listening to their conversation. The two chatted as if boasting about their lack of sleep to each other. They're growing high school students, shouldn't they sleep about 6 hours a day?
Thinking that, I also only slept 4 hours yesterday. It was due to insomnia that started 7 years ago. We were all equally sleep-deprived.
"Since it's shortened, I should go home early today and sleep... No. Hey, want to go out for lunch?"
Gu Jun-hyeok, who had been going on about sleep patterns, suddenly said as if something occurred to him.
"Go out?"
"There's no school lunch today either. I have to eat lunch and go in today."
"Hmm..."
Jeong In-ah fiddled with her hair.
"Go ahead. But where?"
"There's a Western restaurant that just opened right in front. They say it's really delicious. The price is cheap too."
"Oh! That sounds good. I wanted to try going there once."
"Do Seon-woo, are you going too?"
Gu Jun-hyeok slammed shut the book I was reading and asked. It meant stop studying and answer.
Since I live alone, even if I went home early, there was nothing to do. At most, I could read books or have meaningless conversations with Legba. If that was the case, it seemed better to have lunch together.
"Yeah, let's go."
"Then we eat and disperse? Or do you want to hang out a bit after eating?"
Gu Jun-hyeok asked with inner expectation. His tired appearance from earlier was nowhere to be seen. Gu Jun-hyeok seemed to have a personality that preferred playing to studying. Like most students at this age.
Unlike Gu Jun-hyeok who was excited about playing, Jeong In-ah was still drowning in fatigue. She kept yawning and barely managed to open her mouth.
"I'm really too tired today. Let's just eat and disperse."
"That's why I said you should sleep at least 4 hours. Well, then let's just eat and disperse."
Disappointment was clearly visible on Gu Jun-hyeok's face. While we were having various conversations, the first period had begun.
Today there were no practicals, and everything was either theory classes or self-study. I used that time efficiently to study for exams. Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok just kept sleeping.
After a while, all classes ended at 11:30 as scheduled.
"Tomorrow will probably be normal classes. Everyone go home and rest today. Don't be late tomorrow."
After Yu Jeong-hak's short and insincere closing remarks, students packed their bags and rushed out of the classroom.
Gu Jun-hyeok and Jeong In-ah, who had seemed listless all morning, regained their energy as soon as school ended. The two of them approached me as if they had planned it.
"Do Seon-woo, let's go out. Let's eat."
"Okay."
"Study in moderation too. Jeong In-ah keeps saying you're annoying, you know?"
"Hey. When did I say that? Do you want to die?"
Gu Jun-hyeok and Jeong In-ah bickered as always. I closed the book I was reading, put it in my bag, and got up from my seat.
Even as we left the classroom and walked down the hallway, Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok's comedy routine continued.
"Hey guys."
Then someone called us from behind. We all turned around in unison.
It was Bae Seong-hyeon.
Beside him, his gang was laughing loudly and chatting.
"You're going to eat, right? Let's go together."
"Huh? Why with you guys? Why should we?"
Jeong In-ah asked as if she really didn't understand. Her words were more direct than usual. Due to fatigue, her thoughts seemed to come out as words.
Bae Seong-hyeon frowned as if displeased, but soon forced a smile and continued speaking.
"I told you before. I just want us to get along."
"Hmm, honestly I don't want to go. Unless you guys are paying."
Jeong In-ah said with a frown.
"I'll pay, of course. I've had some good fortune recently."
Bae Seong-hyeon smiled as if it was obvious.
"...Really?"
"No, hey. If he's saying he'll pay, we should obviously go. What's there to think about? Come on, let's quickly go eat."
Jeong In-ah still seemed reluctant, tilting her head askew, while Gu Jun-hyeok's eyes lit up as he urged Bae Seong-hyeon. Bae Seong-hyeon smiled with satisfaction. He led his gang past us and walked ahead.
Whatever Bae Seong-hyeon's usual behavior was like, if he was saying he'd buy food, there was no reason to refuse. Even if I had no intention of becoming friends, I could just eat the food and leave.
Either way, there was nothing to lose.
I thought this way and silently followed Bae Seong-hyeon's gang.
"Definitely going to expensive places. Definitely."
Meanwhile, Gu Jun-hyeok was muttering to himself alone.
"Isn't it embarrassing to move around in a pack like that?"
Jeong In-ah was glaring at Bae Seong-hyeon's gang with sharp eyes.
* * *
Eventually, following Bae Seong-hyeon's guidance, we arrived at a restaurant. Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok, who sat down, looked at the menu with solemn faces.
After examining the menu for a while, their faces hardened stiffly.
"Is this a bug? It seems like there's one extra zero?"
Gu Jun-hyeok looked at the prices and said in dismay. Jeong In-ah was just opening her mouth wordlessly. She seemed so surprised she couldn't speak properly.
The place Bae Seong-hyeon brought us to was a fine dining restaurant located a bit far from Florence. The theme was Italian food.
Prices ranged from a basic 200,000 won per person to sometimes exceeding 400,000 won. It was definitely not a place for students to come.
It was only possible because Bae Seong-hyeon was the son of the dBP chairman, not an ordinary student.
"Seems like your first time at such a place. If ordering is difficult, I'll just do it."
"Ah, okay."
Eventually, Gu Jun-hyeok and Jeong In-ah couldn't choose from the menu and handed the choice over to Bae Seong-hyeon.
Bae Seong-hyeon called a server and skillfully ordered food. It was obvious he had been here often.
"Ah, Do Seon-woo. I just ordered for you too. That's okay, right?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Right. You wouldn't know anyway."
Bae Seong-hyeon smiled and said.
"You wouldn't know anyway." I could guess what that meant.
It didn't feel particularly bad. Whether he looked down on me or not, Bae Seong-hyeon was the one paying anyway.
I actually didn't know much either.
Soon food began coming out one by one. Appetizers and soup, fish dishes followed by main courses. All the food was luxurious in both taste and plating.
Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok ate with dejected faces, clattering their forks and knives. I felt like I'd get indigestion just watching them.
"That's not how you eat it."
While enjoying his meal and eating dessert, Bae Seong-hyeon pointed at me with his knife and said.
"Huh? What is?"
"You eat it with the syrup. Not mixed together. If you eat like that in front of Italians, you'll get slapped."
"Aha, thanks."
Bae Seong-hyeon pointed out dining etiquette. I smiled slightly.
It seemed this was why he invited us to the meal from the beginning. To show off his wealth and feel superior by teaching dining etiquette.
It was truly a thought befitting Bae Seong-hyeon.
I ate the syrup straight as Bae Seong-hyeon said. Whether I ate it this way or that way, there wasn't much difference in taste.
"Making a big deal about nothing. You eat however you want to eat. Ridiculous. Did he invite us to show off money..."
Jeong In-ah muttered beside me. Her voice was quiet so Bae Seong-hyeon couldn't hear.
She wanted to say something but didn't have the nerve to say it openly, so she muttered timidly.
When we finished eating and got up from our seats, Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok's expressions were noticeably dark.
"Somehow my mood got worse."
"Me too. But the food was delicious."
Gu Jun-hyeok said with a satisfied face. Jeong In-ah glared at him as if absurd.
Bae Seong-hyeon was paying at the register, and his gang was noisily hanging around beside him.
Several servers looked at them with disapproving eyes, but the gang didn't care.
Then, Bae Seong-hyeon's expression, who had triumphantly taken out his card, hardened stiffly.
"...The card is suspended?"
"Yes. Don't you have another card?"
The server asked while maintaining a professional smile. Bae Seong-hyeon frantically searched through his wallet.
However, there was only a small amount of cash, a transportation card, and student ID, no other cards.
"Ju-just a moment."
Bae Seong-hyeon picked up his phone and called someone. I didn't see it, but I somehow knew who he was calling.
It would be Bae Jeong-hwan.
"Father, they say the card is suspended. What? It's shortened and mother woke up too, so I just wanted to buy the kids food. It's not overspending, just, yes. It's not talking back. Ha, I didn't sigh. I was just a bit out of breath..."
He who had strutted with his shoulders raised in front of us was just a child before his father.
Bae Seong-hyeon, who had been struggling while holding the phone, soon hung up with a devastated face. It seemed his father Bae Jeong-hwan had unilaterally hung up.
"Ah."
Bae Seong-hyeon let out a quiet sigh and hung his head. The atmosphere was cold. Even the server who always had a smile had a stiff face while watching us.
At this rate, we'd all be arrested as dine-and-dashers.
"Just process payment with this then."
I had no choice but to offer my card. Strictly speaking, it wasn't my card.
The server took the card and swiped it, then widened his eyes in surprise.
"Ah! Payment completed. Do you need a parking ticket by any chance?"
"What? No."
I don't have a car or a driver's license. There was no need for a parking ticket.
"Yes, understood. Thank you for always coming. Please take care on your way."
The server bowed more respectfully. Meanwhile, all the other kids were staring at me dumbfounded. No one dared to move carelessly.
"What are you doing? We should go."
I said to them who stood frozen. The kids began walking while glancing at me with mixed expressions of displeasure and surprise.
As we were leaving the restaurant, Jeong In-ah stuck close to me. She lowered her voice with a worried face and spoke.
"No, are you okay? That was a lot of money."
"It should be okay."
"What do you mean 'should be okay'? It is okay, right?"
Of course it's okay. This isn't my money. It's a card Bae Jeong-hwan gave me to use.
Strictly speaking, it was like paying with Bae Seong-hyeon's money.
"Seong-hyeon, you should say thank you to Seon-woo~"
"..."
Bae Seong-hyeon was walking listlessly with his head down, while Gu Jun-hyeok was teasing him.
I thought he'd get hit for that, but Bae Seong-hyeon was surprisingly docile. He seemed so shocked by his card being suspended that he didn't even have the strength to hit Gu Jun-hyeok.
Come to think of it, Bae Seong-hyeon's card being suspended might be because of me too. I felt slightly sorry for Bae Seong-hyeon.
Just 'slightly' sorry.
* * *
Thanks to the shortened classes, Seong Ha-yeon, who returned to the dormitory early, reflected on the results of yesterday's demon race extermination training.
Team 100 took first place by an overwhelming margin, while Team 32, which Seong Ha-yeon belonged to, was 19th. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it certainly wasn't a satisfactory result.
The original plan was to betray Team 100 and take first place, but because Do Seon-woo didn't lose consciousness even when hit by the magical fog, all plans fell through.
Rather, it was Seong Ha-yeon who lost consciousness. It was because she was so startled seeing Do Seon-woo emerge through the fog that she fainted.
"How can a person look like that?"
Seong Ha-yeon recalled Do Seon-woo's face that she saw last before losing consciousness. Do Seon-woo looking at her with deep, empty eyes without any expression.
That wasn't a human face. It was truly demonic.
"Ugh."
Thinking more about this would only disturb her mind. Seong Ha-yeon decided to forget about yesterday's events by engaging in her usual hobby.
The bookshelf drawer located in the corner of her dormitory room. She opened the third compartment and lifted the double bottom.
Then a book appeared.
The identity of this book that she hid so thoroughly, even using a double-bottom structure, was none other than a romance manga.
"Oh my."
Seong Ha-yeon exclaimed while watching the secret meeting of the male and female characters in the manga. The male protagonist in the manga was perfect in every aspect from appearance to personality. The female protagonist was the same.
The love story between such two people was endlessly beautiful and fantastic.
That's why it felt even more distant from reality.
Slap!
Seong Ha-yeon irritably closed the book and threw herself on the bed. Then she buried her face in the blanket.
"Why that person of all people?"
Seong Ha-yeon's body went limp.
Seong Ha-yeon was from the 'Family of Purification.' All children of the family are born with the blood of purification. The family has been high-ranking clergy guarding the Pope's side for generations, accumulating massive wealth and honor over several generations.
There are those who disparage the family, saying they live comfortable lives just by being born with good blood.
However, the responsibility shouldered by children of the family is by no means light.
"..."
Seong Ha-yeon took out a notebook she always carried and opened it. She received it from her father, and the notebook contained the definition and responsibilities of the 'Family of Purification.'
The Family of Purification with the surname Seong is born with the blood of purification for generations. Family members are hereafter referred to as 'clan.'
Those with the blood of purification have immunity to all impure things. This includes curses, sorcery, and magical energy.
Extremely rarely, there are those who are born with the blood of purification despite not being from the Family of Purification. They are called 'destined ones.'
The romantic and marriage partners of clan members are only destined ones. Romance and marriage with any other partners is strictly forbidden.
When giving birth and naming a child, the child's surname must be Seong.
The above provisions aim to prevent the blood of the clan, which has guarded the Pope's side for generations, from mixing with other lowly blood.
"Ha."
Seong Ha-yeon, who had carefully read the notebook's contents anew, sighed.
To summarize, Seong Ha-yeon couldn't choose her romantic and marriage partner, and could only date and marry destined ones.
She couldn't meet the person she wanted, and had to meet complete strangers she didn't even want. Just thinking about it gave her chills.
But Do Seon-woo seemed to be a 'destined one' born with the blood of purification.
That was the biggest problem and the cause that drove Seong Ha-yeon to despair.
Do Seon-woo didn't lose consciousness when hit by Kim Ra-hee's blessing during the demon race extermination training. Moreover, he was unaffected even after inhaling fog containing magical energy.
It would have been impossible without having the blood of purification.
"Why, of all people. Why on earth."
Seong Ha-yeon couldn't control her rising anger and muttered to herself.
She was the last and only descendant of the clan. She was in a position where she absolutely had to find a destined one, marry, and continue the lineage.
But the destined one she finally found was Do Seon-woo.
She hadn't hoped for a perfect man like a manga protagonist. However, she at least wanted someone close to that.
From Seong Ha-yeon's perspective, Do Seon-woo was honestly below standards.
Do Seon-woo wasn't handsome, nor did he have a good personality.
"Tsk."
In anger, Seong Ha-yeon threw the notebook she was holding to the floor.
She thought about just giving up everything and living unmarried, but she was afraid of the harassment she'd receive from family elders and relatives.
"But wait, thinking about it, I don't necessarily have to meet him now, right?"
A brilliant idea occurred to Seong Ha-yeon's troubled mind.
She didn't necessarily have to date or marry right now. She'd have to eventually, but it didn't have to be now.
Whether in looks or personality, she wasn't lacking anything, so meeting whenever she wanted would be entirely possible.
When she felt really lonely or needed a loyal subordinate. Meeting Do Seon-woo at that time would be sufficient. Someone like Do Seon-woo couldn't dare refuse when someone perfect like her offered to meet.
Anyway, since she had no intention of marriage, let alone dating right now. Let's postpone meeting Do Seon-woo as much as possible.
"Ha."
Even thinking this way, her mood remained gloomy.
Seong Ha-yeon reopened the book she had closed earlier and cast her consciousness into the world full of ideals and fantasies beyond it.