Chương 125: S.05 Time to Fly 09(04)

Scene 04. Approaching the door of Yeon-jin's wrecked office, Yu-seok drew a small 복주머니(Bok-jumeoni_Fortune Pouch) from his coat pocket and tossed it carelessly to the floor. The 잿가루(Jaet-garu_Grey Ash) held in the Fortune Pouch spilled out a little onto the floor. Stepping out the door, Yu-seok rubbed one shoulder as if it were stiff and glanced back over it. In the deep night, Yeon-jin's blood and the blood of Hong-sin's group tangled together and soaked the floor of Yeon-jin's office through.

There was Yeon-jin, face ashen, gazing blankly up at the ceiling and trembling all over. Her wide-open eyes were filled with 검은 모래(Geomeun-morae_Black Sand). In place of tears, stickily caked Black Sand streamed down without end. With a 죽장검(Juk-jang-geom_Bamboo Cane Sword) lodged in her shoulder, Yeon-jin could do nothing but tremble, and Black Sand scattered through the air around her. Sneering at the sight, Yu-seok gathered his things and stepped outside. Yu-seok: Pathetic piece of shit.

The 108 steps of 번뇌(Beon-noe_Klesha) within the Black Sand burrowing into Yeon-jin's eyes were a sensation of utter nothing. Only horrific darkness sat there. In everything her eyes took in sat only the fact of nothing. It was a thing apart from death. She wailed, but what came back was the presence of absence. Because there was nothing, nothing could be heard. It was felt, yet was no more than something that wasn't there. It was horrific. She thought no thought would come, yet every thought lingered too.

Because there was nothing, she raged. Because there was nothing, she feared. Even the misapprehension that she might have been erased made itself felt. Horrific hatred and joy, sorrow and love deep enough to frighten, all made themselves felt. She couldn't grasp why all of this mingled together and filled her mind. More horrific still was the fact that everything she'd seen, everything she'd endured, hadn't been mere nonsense alone. It was all mixed.

The truths she'd wanted to forget even in dreams and the lies she'd wanted to forget even in dreams blended together, blurring and wrecking even her judgment of the truths she'd so longed for and the lies she'd so longed for. She was at a point where she couldn't tell what was real from what was fake. Collapsed atop the large desk, Yeon-jin trembled in fits and starts, the Black Sand circling around her flung out in every direction. She couldn't even think to gather her shaking body.

She could believe nothing of whatever appeared beyond her vacant gaze. It was a horrific 주술(Jusul_Sorcery). A horrific distortion. A horrific truth. She hadn't the strength or the wits to compose her body, which trembled as if convulsing in fits. How many days had passed, she couldn't tell. Whether it had been one minute, one hour, or one day, she couldn't tell. She hadn't the capacity to. She could barely roll the eyes where Black Sand lay stickily heaped. By that alone she was certain she hadn't died.

The sunlight seemed long gone. No—the sun might rise before long. With her vacant gaze buried under Black Sand, Yeon-jin began to tremble again as if convulsing. Scene 05. Ji-young walked into the packed surface lot where her car was parked. At Ji-young's word, Chae-rim and So-eun, who'd been waiting in the car, stepped out and bowed deeply to her as she approached. Yeon-jin's blood was smeared on Ji-young's clothes and hands.

So-eun asked carefully: So-eun: The Oldest, are you hurt some — Ji-young scrunched her face up in jest and shook her head. She'd put on a light bit of teasing, but her heart could not have been heavier. She still hadn't found the slightest clue as to where Hee-jin had been dragged off. But at least it was certain she'd vanished from the Northwest. With a small sigh, Ji-young spoke to So-eun. Ji-young: Squad Leader. So-eun: Yes. The Oldest.

Ji-young: Going by the time, they likely couldn't have gotten far, so pull back the members headed south, southwest, and southeast and bring them home to Headquarters. So-eun: Understood. Chae-rim: Where will you go? At Chae-rim's careful question, Ji-young couldn't readily answer. While Ji-young hesitated over her reply, at the sense of Yu-seok—who'd trailed after them in the meantime—Chae-rim and So-eun edged a step toward Ji-young's back as if on guard.

Yu-seok, approaching Ji-young's rear from a distance, halted his steps as if granting So-eun and Chae-rim's wariness, and offered only his voice. Yu-seok: I'll be taking my leave now. Her back still turned, Ji-young asked Yu-seok, who stood behind her. Ji-young: Nothing came of it? Yu-seok: My apologies. Ji-young let out a sigh and nodded. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Ji-young: Still, thank you for not ignoring my call.

Yu-seok: Why would I ever ignore a call from the Oldest? Ji-young: One way or another, I'll find Hee-jin sis without fail, so just wait a little longer. At Ji-young's words, Yu-seok let out a small sigh. Following his politely folded hands, Yu-seok bowed a little deeper. Yu-seok: Yes. I ask it of you. I, of course, won't simply sit idle either. Only then did Ji-young turn her head slightly to look at Yu-seok, who offered her his deep request and greeting. Ji-young: And don't be too harsh on Yeon-su.

It was a short, light instruction. Hearing Ji-young's instruction, Yu-seok answered with a faint laugh, his waist still bowed. Yu-seok: Today, I doubt I'll even have the presence of mind for that. Scene 06_01. The sight of those who refused redevelopment was nothing she'd just started seeing. It was all too familiar, all too trivial. It was work she could do even after a few drinks.

The menacing men crowding the narrow mouth of the market—where folk had meant to carry on their predawn trade at this very early hour—were threatening the livelihoods of those trying to keep their business going. Because it was all too familiar, Seung-eun didn't even step in herself. It was these people's own fault for not following the forced demolition order anyway. Wherever they went, whether they got driven out—that was none of her concern, nothing she needed to know.

Standing with her arms folded behind the hulking men, Seung-eun rapped irritably at her one leg, oddly numb today, and looked down on the dragging standoff with contempt. Seung-eun: What's the holdup — why can't they get in, what's all that over there. The smell of drink wafted off Seung-eun, but her voice and gaze held steady and clear. At the irritation of Seung-eun, who seemed not all that drunk despite having drunk plenty, someone standing beside her stepped forward and headed for those blocking the way.

As the one given Seung-eun's order left her side, another came to Seung-eun and whispered at her ear. At the voice that sounded as if some task was done, Seung-eun nodded just as she'd heard. A sigh came on its own. Finish one task, and another would jam up. Deciding this was a matter she had to handle herself, Seung-eun unfolded her arms and, planting a long bamboo staff like a cane against the ground, stepped forward.

Her slender figure and clear skin made for a passable look, but the impression was a touch sharper, a touch more chilling. Seung-eun, in whom Yeon-jin's likeness faintly showed, pushed through the crowd. Taking the very front, Seung-eun stood leaning on her staff and looked at those blocking their enforcement as if they were pathetic. Seung-eun: You lot are obstructing a lawful enforcement~ Don't do this. Not unless you want something of yours broken.

At Seung-eun's bothered voice and listless words, the market merchants blocking Seung-eun's pack didn't even answer back. Looking down with contempt on the firm resolve of the merchants—huddled together, arms linked, refusing to ever give up their spots—Seung-eun let out a sigh. Turning her limping steps, she faced back around. Seung-eun: Cut off one arm from each of them. Then they couldn't link arms even if they wanted to.

At Seung-eun's cold, bothered order, the menacing men drew out something they'd hidden in their great frames and stepped forward. Before the menacing men, who'd carefully skirted past Seung-eun toward the merchants, a pair of 수화자(Suhwaja_Korean Traditional Battle boots) was set down. When the heavies, unable to take another step, gave off a flicker of hesitation, Seung-eun—her back still turned—raised her voice a touch as if annoyed. Scene 06_02_Falsehood. Seung-eun: What are you doing?

At the curt prod, the heavies moved again. The two standing in the merchants' way carefully re-set their 수화자(Suhwaja_Korean Traditional Battle boots)-clad feet and shot off as if loosed. In an instant they sliced through the backs of the heavies' ankles and dropped them to the ground so they could walk no further. Only at the gust that followed did Seung-eun look back with startled eyes. To Seung-eun, who'd turned to look behind her, a chilling voice came from the rear. Ji-young: The Strategist.

Where did you take her. At the chilling, composed voice from behind, Seung-eun twisted the staff in her hand and drew out the 죽장검(Juk-jang-geom_Bamboo Cane Sword) housed within. The steel-blue blade of the Bamboo Cane Sword, which traced an arc as if poured out in an instant, glanced lightly away with a small 요령소리(Yoryeong-sori_The Chime of the Ritual Handbell).

Knocking the blade aside and driving in close, Ji-young struck Seung-eun's jaw upward with her palm, then—paying Seung-eun's Bamboo Cane Sword no mind—swung her foot back and cracked it against Seung-eun's neck. Watching Seung-eun tumble limply to the ground with a limp, the heavies finally looked toward her with startled eyes. Before the heavies stood Chae-rim and So-eun; behind them, Ji-young. Ji-young slowly carried her Battle boots over and approached the fallen Seung-eun. The heavies didn't move easily.

On the surface they were slender, ordinary women, but the men recalled their comrades already sprawled on the ground. They'd dropped without even seeing how their ankles got cut. The instinct that these were not people to be touched carelessly was trampling the will of the heavies who held their ground. Ji-young: First, before that. Ji-young approached slowly and stamped her foot down on Seung-eun's neck.

Having stamped hard on Seung-eun's neck and windpipe so she couldn't even move, Ji-young held out her empty hand. Ji-young: The enforcement warrant. Seung-eun: Wh-what?! Ji-young: The demolition enforcement warrant. Seung-eun: That kind of, thing. Ji-young: You don't have one? So it's illegal? An illegal demolition? Ah, figures. Just like that, Ji-young turned her head back and shot the heavies a glare. Ji-young's calm single eye fixed on the heavies' breathing.

Ji-young: That's why you went spouting that dog-shit nonsense about cutting off the merchants' arms. When Ji-young lightly swung her hand and gave the order to Chae-rim and So-eun, the two flew like arrows and sliced off the arms of the heavies in the row behind those already fallen, dropping them to the ground. Ji-young: Next you may take their lives. I'll look the other way. When Ji-young gave the gesture again, So-eun and Chae-rim's blade-work resumed. The people in the next row had their necks severed.

Heads tumbled to the ground. So-eun and Chae-rim didn't blink an eye, didn't draw a heavy breath. Tilting her head, Ji-young pressed the foot that stamped Seung-eun's neck down a little harder. Seung-eun swung the Bamboo Cane Sword in her grip to throw Ji-young off, but Ji-young didn't dodge Seung-eun's blade. She simply, silently let it strike her own leg. Though the blade that struck Ji-young's bare leg cut into her skin, Ji-young only let blood run from her leg and never, ever let go of Seung-eun.

Ji-young: Where, did you take her? When Ji-young put a little more force into her foot, Seung-eun's neck bone gave off the sound of breaking. Ji-young: No? Then you'll die like your bitch of a sister. Seung-eun: Agh!! Where!! Where.... Where did, they put her...? At Seung-eun's stammering, like a shriek, the one who'd whispered to her earlier spoke up hesitantly. Scene 06_03. Everyone lay collapsed as if they'd fainted, having lost consciousness.

Ji-young, having scattered drifting black wire in every direction, seemed to have pushed aside for a while the consciousness not only of the heavies but of the merchants too. There wasn't a single drop of blood on the ground. The only ones with their wits fully intact were Ji-young, Chae-rim, and So-eun. Seung-eun, who'd never even drawn her sword, sat slumped and stared blankly into empty air. Ji-young swiftly drew back her bracelet and rummaged through Seung-eun's waistband to pull out a car key.

Ji-young: Make sure the merchants come to, then head back to my car first. After pressing Seung-eun's car key to check where the car was parked, Ji-young dashed off ahead in a hurry. Chae-rim and So-eun moved to follow her, but as Ji-young had said, the heavies were one thing—they couldn't just leave the merchants like this too. Left as they were, there was no telling what might happen when the heavies opened their eyes.

Letting out small sighs, the two raised their empty hands, which hadn't even held a 무구(Mu-gu_Ritual instrument), slowly folded their arms, and plopped down where they were.