Necromancer Survival

on is quite active.”

     “It’s just disgusting.”

     “Choi Lee-kyung didn’t say anything, though?”

     “It seems like he doesn’t even want to engage?”

     Of course, that didn’t mean there was no tension between them.

     Still, the two seemed quite close even though they quarreled.
I kept my mouth closed and didn’t intervene, just watching their war of words.

     I was so tired from Bae Jaemin today that I couldn’t be bothered to care about their conversation or what may happen in the future.

     However, my body had also reached its limit; while taking a step, my feet became tangled from the strength of Moon Issak’s pull, and I almost fell forward if not for the man’s catch.

     As Moon Issak hugged me, he said something completely nonsensical to his silver-haired acquaintance.
“Look at that.
I’m standing still, and Choi Lee-kyung is seducing me with his body again.”

     “When did I…!” However, strangely, as soon as I leaned into the investigator’s arms, my body gradually relaxed.

     I tried to right myself, but, somehow, the more strength I placed in my arms the more my knees buckled.
Moreover, as I got closer to Moon Issak, his scent, which seemed to penetrate deep into my nostrils, felt nauseatingly strong.

     In the end, I vomited iron-tasting blood that surged up while still in Moon Issak’s embrace.

     “Tsk, oh my…”

“”

     Our party paused at that moment.
The silver-haired woman’s brows furrowed, worry etched all over her face.
Moon Issak seemed a bit annoyed, perhaps because I dirtied his jacket and shirt.

     However, instead of cleaning his jacket, he scooped up both my legs with his arms and lifted me up.
This hold–his gesture–was just too explicit.

     “P-Put me down, please!” In my struggles, I grabbed Moon Issak by the collar (?) because I had no other hold.
However, the man merely adjusted his neck and stance a few times before he settled into a comfortable position.

     Moon Issak looked down at my wide-eyed expression and continued walking, “Choi Lee-kyung-ssi.
It seems that your body is no longer responding to the potion.”

     “W…What?”

     “You’ve vomited it all out.”

     As I lowered my head following Moon Issak’s gaze, I noticed my hand had swelled again, turning dark from the spreading bruises.
There was also a pungent, fishy smell in my nose followed by a trickle of blood.

     Moon Issak looked at my mouth, wide open from shock, and clicked his tongue, “Did Seo Dawon not tell you about this?”

     “…What?”

     “Don’t mess with a High Priest.”

     Although it sounded like a joke, his words didn’t seem like mere jest.
After all, a name that Moon Issak shouldn’t have mentioned had tumbled out of his lips.

     Moon Issak looked at me; I turned pale instantly.
Despite my consternation, he offered a faint smile.

     “H-How…”

     “However, the consequences were surprisingly light compared to your actions.”

     “……”

     “Wasn’t Ryu Hyerin’s disappearance also your doing?”

     Moon Issak’s confident tone, which seemed to suggest he had evidence, wiped my mind blank.

     I tried to say something, but I was starting to get out of breath and nothing would come out of my mouth.
Moon Issak did not care about my reaction and continued to walk.

     But, that silence suffocated me.
I wondered what exactly the investigator knew and what his inner thoughts were.

     To be frank, I was so anxious that I couldn’t even express an ounce of my curiosity.
Though he was pretending to be friendly, once we arrived at our destination–a place hidden from the public eye–perhaps at that point, I’d… I’d be dragged into his infamous underground cellar.

     Before I knew it, I had gathered my trembling hands to my chest.
I could feel Moon Issak’s stare, but it was still hard to hide my body’s tremors.
The bones on the back of my re-shattered hand caused acute pain, but I couldn’t calm myself.
Panic overwhelmed me.

     His eyes like snakes, Moon Issak glanced at me before placing a finger on my swollen hand.
He then drew a simple figure–a star? The back of my hand sparkled blue, and the pain began to subside.

     After blocking my pain, the investigator walked to the end of the illuminated path.
The silver-haired woman quietly followed.

     Then, as he embraced me, Moon Issak softly whispered, “Don’t rack your brains and stay still, because it’ll be beyond more than whatever you’re imagining.”