A deafening, bomb-like explosion roared from the top of the old building. His hand gripped the young man's collar tightly. The body of the young man was pushed tightly against the wall, yet the young man showed no sign of fear or trembling whatsoever. His eyes were hard and cold. The man with the furious face stared back with eyes blazing with the fire of vengeance, as if he would burn everything to ashes. "...Those freaks... I'll kill them all... Just you watch!!"
The image in his head flashed back... He saw a vision of a beautiful pink spirit like a flower petal, and the power of that young girl that blocked the death that was about to happen to him. But there was not even a hint of pride in his eyes that he had survived this extreme mission... His gaze was filled with lost honor and dignity that was unacceptable. For just a moment, the young man who was like his proud subordinate smiled creepily. That smile was not one of congratulations, but one full of secrets and challenge.
"Go join Parares... if you're going to be this crazy..."
His expression suddenly changed. Stunned surprise was instantly replaced by an uncontrollable fury. His eyes widened with raging vengeance, like a bonfire erupting in a blaze. He raised his index finger and stared at his subordinate who used words that seemed to tread on his honor.
"Huh... Big talk, you... I'll destroy those scraps, too... Just you watch!!"
The young man, who was like his close subordinate, chuckled under his breath, satisfied. "Hmph..." He did not avoid the gaze of the one with greater authority at all, but stared back with full confidence. His eyes, sharp as steel, were full of defiance.
But then, the man who was filled with wrath like a death flame suddenly released his grip on the young man's collar, before quickly and decisively walking out onto the outer balcony without another word. A gentle breeze lightly brushed against his face, but his cold and angry eyes were filled with sparks of raging fire inside. He stared into the emptiness ahead before speaking with a resolute and icy voice. "Mages... they're just an anomaly in society..."
The young man, who was sitting on the floor, picked up a cigarette pack and slowly lit one. Yes, he held his fingers easily in the situation. He called out to the man standing in front of him.
"... Chief..."
The man filled with fury, who was like his Chief, slowly turned back... Just then, the young man tossed the cigarette pack in his hand to him, and the man quickly caught it.
White smoke billowed from his bruised lips. He inhaled slowly. His eyes looked towards the west as the sun was setting.
"...Aren't you going to collect those bodies... people seeing them will cause a big problem..." The voice of the young man sitting behind him sounded casual and relaxed. White cigarette smoke continuously streamed from his mouth.
The man who was like the Chief... the more senior person, raised his wounded hand and looked at it, before speaking in a calm voice full of confidence.
"No need... they'll wake up on their own..."
The young man's eyes widened in disbelief. His expression completely changed from surprise. In a flash, the cigarette in his hand dropped silently to the floor... Everything froze for a moment as he processed a truth that seemed unbelievable.
"What do you mean...!!"
The young man grabbed the gun of the man who was like his Chief, and quickly and accurately took the bullets out of the magazine. Everything happened in a split second, but while he was doing this incredible thing, his eyes occasionally glanced at the other man in front of him. That man slowly turned back amidst the setting evening sun. His eyes were blank, devoid of any feeling beyond description... and those eyes stared straight at the young man without relenting.
On the other side, the bodies of the barbaric group who were like secret organization officers were still scattered all over the area like lifeless forms. They were breathing heavily from their own uncontrollable actions and Conji's cunning. But then those weak bodies slowly opened their eyes and moved sluggishly with exhaustion... One of them who managed to get up immediately rushed to check on the condition of another teammate lying exhausted on the floor.
On the other side, inside the dusty old room, the young man picked up the bullets he was holding. He examined them seriously, but suddenly... his eyes widened in extreme shock. An uncomfortable silence enveloped the entire room... The young man looked up at his Chief with serious eyes. No respect or deference remained in that gaze anymore.
"...What are you planning.... Tell me now..."
Inside the silent room, only the gazes of the two young men stared at each other unyieldingly... The wave of emotions and faith they once shared violently clashed as if it would end soon. But then, the Chief's face suddenly revealed a creepy smile... That smile did not look happy, but was full of feelings that were difficult to predict and dangerous.
[ On the Other Side ]
The surrounding atmosphere was enveloped in silence. Many of them sat still and quiet, amidst the night with only dim lights shining. Chenya sat with her head down without speaking. The terrifying story they had just faced still haunted her deep inside, making her not dare to even look anyone in the eye... as if those memories had become fetters binding her.
Konji slowly turned to Chars and joked with her warmly, full of affection for the junior who saved his life. But his eyes were completely different from his actions. He lightly rubbed her cheek with a gentle gesture, but his eyes were cold and mysterious like the midnight sea. The smile on his face looked cunning mixed with a confusing warmth.
"...I guess I have to... give you the position..."
She smiled faintly with a calm and respectful demeanor, before subtly revealing a secretive smile. "...I probably shouldn't..."
Her voice remained gentle, but the words that followed were like a knife blade slicing his expectations.
"...I am a member of the 'Outward Group'..."
On the other side, the young man and Enclass stood close to the old building wall. They watched the scene below from a distance without saying a word. Enclass's eyes and expression looked at Konji with obvious surprise. Something surfaced in his mind... It was a deep feeling, as if he was seeing through everything and seeing the truth hidden within that man. The young man next to him smiled faintly before sighing in relief. His smile was strangely cheerful.
"...They're really all gone... My Big Brother..."
The silence that enveloped them was extremely unusual. Many of them chose to act as if they had never known about any of the terrible events that had occurred before. Everyone was smiling friendly at each other... The smiles were perfectly crafted, as if they were meeting for the first time, and the fact that they all knew the terrifying truth deep down... made the atmosphere even more tense and eerie. Enclass easily walked up to confront them, even though practically he shouldn't know anyone in this group. It was as if Konji could see deep into him, just as Enclass was staring and assessing Konji's feelings. The two were communicating through their eyes on a level that others did not understand.
Chars' eyes were filled with clear disappointment... The feeling that she couldn't have done better kept resonating in her heart. Konji, seeing that look, chose to smile cunningly as he was. That smile was not mocking, but implied some deep understanding.
"...Me too..."
Suddenly... everyone quickly turned to look at Konji. Whether it was the young man standing next to him, Enclass who normally never showed any surprise, or even Chenya who was sitting quietly in the back, they all simultaneously focused on him. In that moment, Konji became the center of all eyes.
Chenya's eyes trembled slightly. Shock was evident on her face, as if she had just seen an undeniable truth. She was a young woman with jet-black hair contrasting with ruby red eyes that looked like blood-glazed apples, a color that captivated the viewer... And in that shock, a feeling like being of the same blood, yet never having spoken, instantly pierced her mind.
Konji did not look back into any of the eyes staring at him. Instead, he chose to turn his back on all the tension, before looking up and glancing at the stars in the night sky.
"...Yes, I am a member of the 'Outward Group' like you all... I've walked that path... I was like you before... I've been through it..."
His voice was firm and full of undeniable experience... "So, continue to be yourselves. Don't worry about what happened here... I and everyone... will remember everything that happened..."
"...Do not let the events... obstruct the narrative of the future..." Konji's words pierced their minds quickly like a bullet. Chenya's eyes widened in dismay... Everything she feared, everything she had ever speculated, was becoming a reality right in front of her, and she knew exactly what she was about to become.
Silence enveloped them... Konji slowly turned his back without waiting for any answer, leaving behind only the heavy truth and the eyes full of shock of those who had to face predetermined fate.
Stay tuned for the next episode...