Jingle. Jingle. Jingle.
The bell's sound grew louder, spreading throughout the space.
It was loud enough to make ears ring, but Jinhyuk didn't react.
He just quietly watched the old woman.
'It won't be visible.'
Kurone flashed a chilling smile.
How pitiful.
That brat would die without even knowing what killed him.
She stared at the murderous intent riding the bell's sound.
Five seconds? No, not even three.
That was all the time the brat had left.
Swoosh...!
The intent surged forward unchecked, reaching Jinhyuk's body.
Kurone's lips curled into an even wider grin.
'You'll pay dearly for your arrogance.'
How dare a nobody spout nonsense, calling her trash or whatever.
She'd mutilate his corpse so badly he'd wander the afterlife forever.
Lost in these delightful thoughts, she smiled for a moment.
Then a question mark formed in her mind.
Something was off.
The intent had clearly reached its target.
It should have burrowed into his body by now, but why hadn't it vanished?
Jingle! Jingle!! Jingle!!!
She shook the bell violently, but it was futile.
The intent didn't move.
More precisely, it refused its master's command.
Frustrated, she raised the bell again.
"!!!!"
That's when Kurone realized.
The reason the intent had stopped, unable to fly any further.
She dropped the bell but made no move to pick it up.
Instead, she stumbled back, step by step.
"Uh... uh..."
A grotesque groan escaped her lips.
What the hell was that?
It was a first. No, it had to be.
Was it because of her lack of experience? Knowledge? Ability? No.
Something like that shouldn't exist. It didn't make sense.
"My friend told me. If I ran into you, you'd definitely send your intent again. Since that's all you know how to do. But he said to just take it."
Jinhyuk recited Camella's words exactly.
"Trash can only send trashy things anyway. It won't harm you at all. And sending intent at you is the same as sending it at me. It'll be the best way to make her understand her place."
"Ah, ah..."
For a split second, while relaying the words, Kurone felt that being's aura through Jinhyuk.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
Her face twisted in utter terror.
Having lived as an onmyouji for so long, she knew what would happen next.
Twitch!
The stalled intent began to move.
It creaked as it slowly turned direction.
Cold sweat poured down like rain.
Even with all her imagination, she couldn't fathom it.
How strong and horrific would the intent become, rebounding from a being like that?
"Kill me!! Kill me now!!"
Kurone shouted, staring at the sword in Jinhyuk's hand.
Once sent, intent couldn't be recalled.
Her getting hit by her own sudden death was inevitable.
So she had to die.
Before that horrific thing reached her body.
"Please kill me!!"
The bound children covered their ears.
Her scream was that piercing.
But Jinhyuk didn't move.
He just stood there silently, staring at Kurone without a word.
"Kill—!"
Kurone clamped her mouth shut mid-shout.
A chilling cold crept up from her fingertips.
This wasn't from the intent.
It was from the man quietly watching her, as if he'd savor her gruesome death with everything he had.
He wasn't some brat.
He was something far beyond the ordinary.
"This... this is..."
A dizzying smile crossed her face.
And with that as her last.
Boom!!
The rebounded intent slammed into Kurone.
In Hannam-dong, at Seyeon's house.
"Hmm."
With a low hum, Camella smiled.
The intent's aura was fading rapidly.
From the reaction, it seemed he'd followed her instructions perfectly.
"He's no ordinary guy. Or should I say, far from normal?"
It hadn't even been a full day since he'd joined the party.
Yet she could tell.
Jinhyuk had been so frantic he'd smashed through the balcony.
From that alone, it was clear he cared deeply for Seyeon.
And he'd come face-to-face with the culprit who'd tried to kill her.
An average person would have been blinded by rage and excitement.
They'd have forgotten everything she'd told them.
But not Jinhyuk.
He was angry, but he didn't rush.
His body burned hot, but his mind stayed cool.
And he carried out her instructions to the letter.
Because he knew.
That method would give the enemy the most painful, horrific death possible.
Kurone, the trash who'd tried to harm Jinhyuk's precious person.
Camella's master, Yoo Jinhyuk, wasn't kind enough to grant such an enemy an easy death.
"Mm."
Was it because the intent had been withdrawn?
Seyeon stirred, her consciousness returning.
Camella placed the bracelet on Seyeon's body.
"Child, you don't need to know every truth. Some things are better left buried. For you, this bracelet is one of them."
She brushed Seyeon's hair back and stood up.
It was time to return to her master's side.
Before leaving, she glanced at Seyeon once more.
"You can feel as proud as you want. He's that reliable and strong."
Picturing her master Yoo Jinhyuk's face.
"Having a friend like that is a blessing."
The sky reader, Camella Shirin, released her manifestation.
A couple of hours later.
Seyeon woke up groggily and sat up.
She looked around.
'...Huh?'
That was the only reaction she could muster.
The living room was a total mess, with shattered glass scattered everywhere.
'It wasn't a dream.'
It had seemed so unreal she'd assumed it was, but...
Sadly, it was reality.
Her head, which had felt horribly heavy before, was much lighter now.
The nasty headache was completely gone.
Despite the chaotic situation, she felt in top condition.
"Mm."
Seyeon pressed her forehead, recalling her memories.
One face immediately came to mind.
She jumped up and scanned the area.
"What? You smash my balcony and then just leave?!"
That's when she spotted the beaded bracelet.
Maybe because it was a precious gift from a young fan.
Her annoyance eased a bit.
Worried it might get mixed in with the glass shards, she quickly picked it up and headed to the table.
Her phone was on, as if it knew its owner was upset.
"I'll let it slide this time."
She pressed the call button.
The recipient was, of course, Yoo Jinhyuk.
It rang a few times, but no answer.
Seyeon stared at her phone with a dumbfounded expression.
'What is with this guy?'
She stood there, baffled, for a while.
Ding-dong!
A cheerful bell rang.
Seyeon walked to the intercom and was dumbfounded again.
He'd smashed through the balcony like a maniac, and now he was using the door?
Click.
The door opened, and Jinhyuk entered.
"Hello, Seyeon."
He greeted her as if nothing had happened.
Seyeon was too stunned to respond right away.
Whether she did or not.
"Wow, the living room's a wreck."
Muttering to himself, Jinhyuk started sweeping up the glass shards.
Seyeon watched blankly before speaking.
"I know you wouldn't smash a balcony for no reason. What happened? Hold on. Let me get some water before we talk."
She went to the fridge and chugged some cold water.
Now her head felt clearer.
"I'm ready. I don't think anything could surprise me now."
Seyeon declared confidently.
Jinhyuk nodded and began his story.
And as it neared the end.
"Whaaat?! Intent? Like from those old folktales? Wait, has it ever been in one? Anyway!"
"Yeah, that intent."
"That stuff is actually real?"
"Turns out it is. First time for me too."
"Whoa..."
Seyeon gasped, rubbing her arms as goosebumps rose.
She remembered how unusually bad she'd felt today, and all the misfortunes.
"Super creepy. What happened to the person who sent the intent at me?"
"Dead. Like divine punishment."
Seyeon let out a short laugh.
It was a bit absurd, but she didn't press.
Jinhyuk always only said what he could and skirted the rest anyway.
"I picked up some evidence there. Team Leader Jin Yunho should be here soon."
"Team Leader Jin?"
Seyeon caught his intent and continued.
"So you don't think it was personal grudge."
"She had this in her stuff."
He handed over a stack of papers.
Exactly thirty sheets.
After reading a few, Seyeon's eyes widened.
"Is this...?"
The news she'd seen at Jinhyuk's place that morning flashed in her mind.
She quickly searched on her phone.
It matched the missing persons list perfectly.
Seyeon sank into the sofa, brushing her hair back.
Even seeing it, she could hardly believe it was real.
"They targeted players only."
"Check this out too."
"Ha."
Seyeon let out a hollow laugh.
It was detailed info on her and another Korean ranker.
"A Japanese onmyouji targeting Korean rankers. The form's different, but the pattern feels familiar, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. Reminds me of our damn ex-supervisor."
"It went quiet for a while after that, so I thought it was over. Guess not. Or maybe there's just a lot of groups that hate Korea."
Seyeon let out a low hum and leaned back on the sofa.
"Would I sound like a bad person if I said I'm a bit relieved? Hearing about the intent, I was racking my brain trying to remember when and where I pissed someone off that badly."
"Nah. Who could hold a grudge against you, Seyeon?"
"True. I'm really nice."
"Huh?"
"Just kidding."
Jinhyuk nodded and stood up.
He'd said what he needed, so time to finish cleaning.
"Leave it. I'll handle it."
"But I broke it."
"You were rushing because you were worried about me."
Seyeon smiled softly and took the broom from him.
"Thanks. I could've been in big trouble without you."
"Don't mention it. It's only natural."
"Natural... huh."
Seyeon mulled over the word, and Jinhyuk tilted his head in confusion.
She shook her head like it was nothing and started sweeping the floor.
She knew the situation was serious.
But aside from that, a smile spread across her face.
'Thinking back, it was kinda cool. Jumping through the balcony like that.'
Her memories were already getting romanticized in the silliest way.
Then.
Ding-dong!
The bell rang, and a familiar face appeared.
This is Jin Yunho.
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T/N:
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