The moment the black bird sitting on the back of Yoon Taehee's hand flew up, at the same time an arrow flew out of the string that was pulled tight. All the magic that restrained Jaegyeom was broken as the spiritual energy ran out of control at once. The black bird charged like lightning at the target, but the arrow's speed was much faster.
"Ugh!"
The flying arrow sent Yoon Taehee flying and crashing into a tree.
With a loud bang, the leaves shook off the tree. He leaned back against the tree and slumped to the ground. The mask he was wearing on his face was crooked, making him look funny.
"Chief... Yoon, you, why.."
Yoon Taehee, who was spitting out a small cough, turned his head and looked at the black bird. The black bird was flapping its wings vigorously and pecking at the top of Lee Youngshin's head with its beak. Lee Youngshin, who was lying face down on the dirt floor, looked up at him with a blank face. The wide-opened eyes trembled in disbelief.
Because Jaegyeom broke the spell, Lee Youngshin was also freed, but he could not shake off the black bird. Because of the scarring, he had no strength left to move even his fingertips. Without even having time to resist, he blacked out onto the ground
All of the exorcists fell to the arrows. Only Yoon Taehee remained awake.
The black bird, which pecked away Lee Youngshin's memory, returned safely to Yoon Taehee. Stretching his arms, he slowly opened his palms, and it opened its beak and spewed out a black orb containing memories. He crumpled the paper bird and beads together in his hand silently, and then roughly brushed his hands off.
Finally, a deep silence settled in the mountains.
The boy, who was slumped over as his legs gave out, slowly lifted his head. Red spiritual energy surrounded the boy's body. He raised his hand and wiped the blood from the rim of his eyes.
"Mesan-ah, come here."
Mesani, who had sunk to the ground and holding his breath in despair, raised his body. He started running towards Jaegyeom with uneasy steps.
"My lord, the spiritual energy, uhngg..."
Mesani couldn't even verbally offer to heal. He just stretched out his hand and floundered. Looking down at his trembling little hand, Jaegyeom first cut off the thin string tied to Mesani's wrist. Then he
added briefly.
"I'm okay."
There was no way it would be okay. Even if he could stop the blood flow right now, the runaway that had started would not stop. It would also stop only when he lost consciousness due to exhaustion, and he would wander at the brink of death for several days.
Mesani hurriedly started healing. However, Jaegyeom pushed away
Mesani's hand and stood up. "Later." There was still work to be done before he had time to be healed. Jaegyeom picked up the fallen bow and walked toward Yoon Taehee, who was sitting next to a tree.
It was not over yet.
Yoon Taehee sat sloppy, his long legs stretched out, leaning against
a tree. Looking down at him with emotionless eyes, Jaegyeom roughly grabbed the arrow from his shoulder and pulled it out. At
that, Yoon Taehee let out a small groan. Jaegyeom grabbed him by the collar with one hand and pulled him up.
"..."
"..."
Yoon Taehee muttered as if talking to himself.
"It's the first time I've seen a red spiritual energy. It's pretty..."
The moment the paper bird leaped into the air, Jaegyeom broke the spell and was released from his bindings. Therefore, even if the paper bird flew toward him, he would have been able to avoid it.
However, the paper bird, which was said to make him lose his memory, flew to his colleague exorcist, who was on the same side as Yoon Taehee.
"Speak."
Jaegyeom opened his mouth with an expressionless face.
"What?"
"Whether it's an excuse or a last will."
A faint laugh flowed from beyond the mask. Yoon Taehee lifted his weakly stretched arm and straightened his crooked mask.
"What do you want to hear?"
"What did you just do?"
"Just. A silly thing."
Jaegyeom's face became even more fierce at the insincere reply.
"I said I would be on your side if you were on my side. Conversely, if I'm on your side first... Then I wondered if you would be willing to be on my side too... I tried to play a trick on you one last time."
Yoon Taehee asked in an intimate voice.
"How is it? Did I get through you?"
"No. Not at all."
Jaegyeom replied coldly, unwavering.
"I see. It can't be helped, then..."
66
Yoon Taehee calmly spoke.
"Just. A mistake."
"..."
"Let's just say it was a mistake."
"..."
While Jaegyeom frowned, Yoon Taehee put his hand inside his suit and took out the square case as before. Seeing that, Jaegyeom's red spiritual energy shook viciously. Despite the stronger grip on his collar, Yoon Taehee silently took off the four pieces of paper.
Soon, when he breathed into them, four black birds were born.
"The night is confiscated in the exorcist's name."
As Yoon Taehee pursed his lips, the four black birds passed Jaegyeom and scattered in different directions. Each paper bird headed to the top of the heads of the exorcists who were scattered here and there. The exorcists' memories were quietly pecked away.
After watching the scene without a word, Jaegyeom slowly turned his head.
"..."
When he fiercely stared at the eyes that could be seen through the mask
"Ah, I made a mistake again."
The words sounded unnatural.
"Unlike my lord, I have poor night vision."
At the nonchalant excuse, Jaegyeom let go of his hand and threw Yoon Taehee roughly to the ground. He grimaced as he landed on his rear. As he stretched his arms back to support his torso, a sharp arrowhead approached. Jaegyeom pulled the bow tight to his chin and aimed precisely at the center of the mask Yoon Taehee was
"You fucker, I told you not to try to be insolent."
The spiritual energy that turned red was very formidable and menacing. Yoon Taehee was defenseless. The arrow entangled in the red spiritual energy looked like it could pierce through his mask and into his forehead at any moment. If Jaegyeom shot an arrow in this situation, there was no way to block it anyway.
"You will die here by my hand."
"Is that so? Do whatever you like."
Yoon Taehee laughed soundlessly.
"Anyway, if it's something that I can't even get on my side, it wouldn't be much of a pity if I die here. What big things can I do in the future..."
Yoon Taehee replied in a self-deprecating tone. At that time, Mesani, who was standing behind restlessly, hurriedly ran and clung to Jaegyeom.
"My lord! Stop, please stop..."
Jaegyeom couldn't understand Yoon Taehee's intentions at all. He thought he must have an ulterior motive. Yoon Taehee had been idle all this time, but he pretended to get involved in the fight belatedly, and at one point, he turned his back on his fellow exorcists and jumped on Jaegyeom's side and brazenly raised his hand.
At first he thought he might have blown the paper bird the wrong way. But it was a trick to win his favor. Whatever his intentions, Jaegyeom didn't want to receive Yoon Taehee's help, and he didn't appreciate it either. He was the one who created the problem, but posing as fixing it was like making one sick and then giving them medicine.
"Get out of the way."
"M- My lord..."
Jaegyeom pushed Mesani away with a unrelenting hand.
"Whether he erases the memories or not, nothing has changed.
Blackmailing me wasn't enough, he tried to kidnap you and use you too. So I will end him. I don't want to get angry, so get out of the way."
A mad rage flashed in Jaegyeom's eyes. At that, Mesani was at a loss, not knowing what to do, and grabbed the hem of Jaegyeom's clothes. determined.
"But m- my lord, this man..."
Hesitantly, Mesani sobbed and glanced sideways at the mask that wore a consistent expression. No matter how he looked at it, it was not a face that looked like it could be trusted, at least, he was dubious until he heard his whisper earlier.
'This guy, at a dangerous moment, stopped me."
If the man hadn't taken the initiative to buy time, his ankle might have been cut off. Thanks to that, his lord was able to pick him up on time. He did not join the attacks of others, nor did he harm his lord. Of course, that didn't really help either. But in the end, he made a move against colleague. That made Mesani think that what the man said to him might be true.
"... What does that mean?"
At Mesani's unexpected words, Jaegyeom's hand holding the bowstring loosened slightly.
"H- He... said something to me in s- secret.."
Mesani hesitated and spoke.
I promise to return you to the original place within three months at the shortest. It won't take long anyway. I'll help you get back safely."
".. Li- Liar."
'It's not a lie. Those people will take you to a place called Naryecheong.
And within three months at the shortest, and within a year at the longest, you and all the spiritual beings and spirits that have been captured so far will be released. So if you hold out for a while as safely as possible, you can go back, because...'
Why, because...'
Mesani stopped talking and closed his mouth. He suddenly hesitated. The man told him it was a secret, so could he say this?
However, the man in front of him was silently listening to Mesani's whispers.
"Because what?"
Jaegyeom, who had been quietly listening to the story, narrowed his eyes. Mesani, who was carefully examining Yoon Taehee's eyes, lowered his eyes while his hands squirmed. Then he spoke in a small voice.
"Na- Naryecheong will collapse..."
"What?"
Jaegyeom's eyes were slightly distorted. He just turned his head and looked down at the bizarre traditional mask that was sitting there.
Still aiming his bow, he asked in a bleak voice.
"Why is Naryecheong collapsing?"
"..."
"Answer me."
".."
Their gazes locked. Yoon Taehee stared silently at the bloodstains that spread like tears around Jaegyeom's eyes before speaking.
'There are rats everywhere. You can't win no matter what you do, and they follow you wherever you go, so you can't even run away.
Do you know the only way to get away from the rats then?"
Instead of answering, Yoon Taehee turned it around and threw an absurd question. Jaegyeom kept his mouth shut and just glared at him. He swept his bangs and answered briefly.
"I can be that rat too."
A subtle crack formed on Jaegyeom's face.
"What does that mean?"
"You hate me that much?"
Jaegyeom's face became stern at the words that kept coming out of context.
'Why? Because I'm an exorcist?"
Yoon Taehee lowered his gaze and murmured.
'Then, if I quit, will you like me?"
With that, he slightly lifted his head and glanced at the exorcists scattered behind him. The mountain in the darkness was silent. In the distance, faintly, the sound of an animal's cry could be heard.
'That's right, Naryecheong will collapse."
Yoon Taehee looked up at Jaegyeom and added,
"Because I will destroy it."