16.
We narrowly escaped the subway.
A deafening explosion erupted behind us, engulfing the subway car in flames.
“…Haaah…”
Gasping for air, In-ju stumbled backward, nearly collapsing.
He had sprinted from the subway with a desperate urgency, as if outrunning death itself, so his exhaustion was inevitable.
With a soft shimmer, the fiery barrier enveloping him dissipated.
No human could outrun such an explosion.
Thus, in that fleeting moment, In-ju had conjured the barrier to minimize the damage he sustained.
In-ju truly was remarkable, even considering such intricate details.
“Let me down! Now!”
So-yi urged, almost snapping.
Ret gently lowered both So-yi and me, whom he had tucked under his arm, to the ground.
“Thank you, Ret.
We made it here safely thanks to you.”
I bowed my head, expressing my gratitude.
Without Ret, I never would have escaped that place, given my slow running speed.
“Don’t mention it.”
Ret offered an awkward smile as he looked at me.
Then, his gaze met So-yi’s, prompting her to swiftly avert her head.
‘So-yi seems embarrassed.
She definitely received Ret’s help, so it might be best for her to express her thanks this time.’
“Well, aren’t you going to say anything?”
Ret spoke with an annoyed tone, and So-yi, seemingly displeased this time, continued in a grumbling voice.
“Fine, fine.
I get it.
Thank you.
I know I should be grateful…”
As So-yi spoke hesitantly, Ret nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face.
‘Yes, it’s important for them to understand each other like this.
I wish they’d stop fighting and cooperate from now on, but I suppose things won’t always go my way.’
Crackling sounds emanated.
Flames and smoke billowed from the subway entrance, the lingering aftermath of the explosion still palpable.
It was, in a way, incredible that we had managed to break through such a subway car and escape.
Now, just a little further, and we would reach the main gate of St. John’s Academy.
“Alright, everyone, let’s move.”
At Ret’s words, In-ju wore a rather weary expression.
Having run so hard just moments before, it was only natural for him to be exhausted.
“Just a moment, let me catch my breath.”
‘This is my chance to impress him.’
I pulled out the water bottle I had prepared.
‘It would be a great help to In-ju.’
‘After all, sufficient hydration prevents exhaustion.’
“In-ju, here.”
“Thank you, Eun-ah.”
In-ju smiled as he looked at me, and his smile made my heart melt.
So-yi, standing behind him, wore a thoroughly displeased expression, but that was none of my concern.
In-ju drank the water I offered, clearly content.
His happiness brought me happiness too.
When he smiled, I was happy.
‘He and I were as if connected, a single entity.’
“So, can we leave now?”
At Ret’s words, In-ju nodded, and we began to move swiftly towards St. John’s Academy.
It wasn’t long before we arrived at the academy’s main gate, where Homunculi stood guard with strict vigilance.
‘We wouldn’t be able to enter easily.’
“What should we do now?”
At Ret’s question, everyone seemed to ponder, unable to offer any concrete suggestions due to the restriction of needing to enter discreetly.
“In times like these, a frontal assault is our only option…”
“No.
If more reinforcements arrive, it might become even more dangerous…”
So-yi thoughtfully considered Ret’s words.
Reinforcements were the problem.
A direct assault would undoubtedly bring Homunculus reinforcements from the academy.
‘That would only complicate things further.’
“Kids, can you hear me?”
Sena’s voice reached us from beyond the Void, and everyone began to listen intently.
“Yes, we hear you.”
“Have you reached the front of the academy?”
“Yes, but there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Homunculi are everywhere.
Approaching them directly would be too risky…”
Before In-ju could finish, Sena interjected.
“Don’t worry about that.
If I just hack the nearby CCTV cameras, I can cause a diversion among the Homunculi.
Could you hold up the Void for a moment?”
At Sena’s request, In-ju lifted the Void upward.
The Void immediately soared into the sky, lightly resonating before stopping at a nearby CCTV camera.
“[Attention, students of St. John’s Academy.
Intruders are currently entering from the annex building.
All forces, with the exception of a small number of Homunculi, are requested to converge on the annex.]”
A voice emanated from the hacked speaker.
Was this Sena’s doing?
The clear voice from behind the speaker caused the surrounding Homunculi to stir.
“[Please proceed to the annex immediately.
That is all.]”
Most of the forces hesitated for a moment, then began to rush towards the annex as if fleeing.
Seeing them move in unison, it was clear they all believed her words.
“Alright, so we can go in now, right?”
In-ju gazed at the main gate, guarded by four Homunculi—a manageable number to subdue.
“Shall we each take one and deal with them?”
At his words, everyone nodded.
I, too, had thoroughly prepared for combat.
Ret and I had always practiced for moments like these, learning lethal techniques that allowed for silent elimination rather than using guns.
This was none other than axe throwing.
I had trained to strike an enemy’s head lightly and swiftly.
I gripped a small hand axe tightly in both hands.
‘Now, I had to fight.’
‘It was an assassination, but for the safety of us all.’
‘I’d practiced tirelessly, so I wouldn’t make a mistake.’
Everyone scattered to deal with the Homunculi.
Now it was my turn.
I had to eliminate the Homunculus blocking the main gate.
Thwack—
I lightly flung the axe from my hand.
With a whistling sound, it struck the Homunculus’s forehead, causing it to stumble backward and collapse.
It emitted a creaking sound.
While slightly unsettling, I knew I had to retrieve the axe.
I slowly walked outside and pulled the axe from the Homunculus’s head.
Standing before the main gate, I felt impossibly small.
White snow fell steadily before the colossal entrance.
As I retrieved the axe, I gazed upward.
‘How long would the snow continue to fall?’
“Eun-ah, are you done?”
“Oh, yeah.”
At my reply, In-ju nodded.
Before the snow-covered academy, it was just In-ju and I, facing each other.
“Are you alright?
No injuries?”
“No, I don’t seem to have any injuries.”
In-ju smiled at my words.
I smiled back at him.
‘My smile wouldn’t stop when I looked at him.’
‘Could this be love?
I was in love with him.
Though it was undoubtedly Ha Eun-ah’s feelings, I found myself unable to control them.’
‘The more her feelings grew, the more mine seemed to diminish.’
‘Like an incoming tide, I was slowly being subsumed.’
‘This moment, as we faced each other.’
‘I wished it could last forever.’
Just then, Ret and So-yi approached from behind, bickering.
“Can’t you just do things normally, huh?”
“Being normal doesn’t suit me.”
‘They were arguing again about trivial matters.
When would those two ever get along?’
“Everyone, stop fighting and let’s go inside.”
At In-ju’s words, Ret and So-yi’s gazes fixed on him.
“No, listen to me.
Ret keeps telling me to be normal when I fight.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
The two continued to bicker.
‘Even with all their squabbling, Ret understood So-yi.
And So-yi, too, tried to be kind to Ret.’
‘One could say they were helpful to each other.’
I slowly lifted my head, gazing at the sky.
Snow was still falling from the heavens.
‘Truly, I wished for these peaceful days to continue indefinitely.’
****
“Oh, Ambrosius, grant us the strength to vanquish heresy…”
Samael clasped her hands, offering a prayer.
She was in the catacombs, located beneath the grand cathedral.
Above numerous skulls and their remains stood a stone statue of Ambrosius.
Ambrosius, his body draped in cloth, held a spear and stared towards them.
‘They had to resurrect Ambrosius, the wingless angel.’
‘Without his resurrection, St. John’s Academy would be forced to close.
More precisely, it would be defeated in the war for supremacy and cease to exist.’
To ensure Ambrosius’s revival, Samael had allied with the Resistance.
This alliance with the Resistance had guaranteed the academy’s safety.
While the Resistance members were untrustworthy, they always participated in such wars for supremacy.
‘Though their exact motives were unknown, they undoubtedly harbored ulterior motives.’
‘However, this was not the time to be preoccupied with such trivial matters.’
‘The greater good demanded the sacrifice of the lesser.’
‘It was a phrase she had always heard.’
‘Now, everyone had to sacrifice for the greater good.’
“Ugh…”
Behind Samael, a nun-student collapsed forward.
Her face was pale, and she trembled like an aspen leaf.
When she coughed, blood seeped from her mouth.
‘Everyone’s life force had to be offered to Ambrosius.’
‘Ambrosius’s resurrection required a certain amount of life force.’
‘Though releasing Ambrosius, who had been sealed by a treaty, weighed on her conscience, this was not the time to dwell on such scruples.’
‘The very existence of St. John’s Academy hung in the balance.’
“Are, are you alright?”
Other students asked if the fallen student was alright.
They shook her, trying to rouse her, but she remained motionless.
“Hey, wake up.”
“Mo-Mother Superior, Emily is…”
The students frantically called out to Samael, the Mother Superior, but she kept her prayer posture, staring straight ahead without faltering.
“None of you must stop praying.
Only by continuing can Lord Ambrosius be resurrected.”
At Samael’s words, everyone resumed their posture and continued to pray, their faces etched with fear.
But there was no other choice.
‘This was all for the academy.’
‘Everyone must sacrifice for Lord Ambrosius.’
‘To protect the academy, everyone would have to be sacrificed.’
‘For Lord Ambrosius would surely demand everyone’s sacrifice.’
