Chapter 154
Heaven’s Door (20)
***
Hae Wolhwa recalled the past.
The recent attack on Jinryeong by the rebel forces.
Officially, it was said that the rebels were stopped thanks to the Cradle freshmen, who were in the south for a mission, and that Jinryeong was spared from complete destruction.
But the truth was a bit different.
Due to the large-scale black magic deployed during the attack, the air and soil composition of Jinryeong had been completely distorted.
It now resembled a landscape from some alien world, much like the Celestial Basin where the Cradle freshmen had their first practical training this year.
Moreover, this phenomenon was identical to the erosion that appeared in various places during the chaos 15 years ago.
Suspicious of this, Hae Wolhwa had joined the Southern Expeditionary Force and confirmed that the captured rebels repeatedly mentioned a figure called the ‘Priestess.’
And now, facing the truth, she was certain.
The woman before her was the one who had passed on forbidden knowledge to the rebels.
And the nightmare from 15 years ago wasn’t over yet.
“You’ve been up to something interesting. A new heaven, a new heaven…”
Hae Wolhwa spoke in a dry tone, staring at the woman named Sadalmelik.
“It’s a rather convincing idea. It aligns perfectly with the beliefs of the rebels who want to end the era of mages. By spreading such nonsense, you were able to infiltrate their core in such a short time.”
“…”
The woman continued to look at Hae Wolhwa with a faint smile.
“Even parasites seem to have the ability to learn. It’s certainly wiser to infiltrate human society than to destroy it blindly.”
“Hmm…”
“But it’s a pity. You were discovered before your schemes could bear fruit.”
Hae Wolhwa lightly flicked her fingers as if loosening them.
“If you barely survived, you should’ve stayed hidden like a dead rat. Yet, you couldn’t resist crawling out again. A bug is just a bug after all.”
“…”
“Even if you possess an extraordinary power, you must know you can’t match us. Let alone a mere remnant…”
“Puhehehe…”
As Hae Wolhwa continued speaking, a sudden burst of laughter echoed through the ruined plaza, as if the woman could no longer contain herself.
Unlike her earlier tears, this laughter seemed genuine and heartfelt.
“Well…”
The witch, barely suppressing her laughter, looked at Hae Wolhwa with a wide grin.
“Hae Wolhwa. First of all, you’re mistaken about something.”
‘She knows me?’
Hae Wolhwa frowned.
“We’re not remnants from 15 years ago. We are the newly hatched second generation. Our elder sisters are no longer in this world. They were all killed by the Adversary.”
“Not… remnants?”
‘Second generation? Elder sisters?’
The witch’s words were quite a shock to Hae Wolhwa, but she didn’t show it and continued the conversation.
At the very least, these creatures weren’t stingy with their answers.
“Elder sisters, huh. Even parasites have familial bonds, it seems?”
“Not really. It’s just that, as the second generation, the most appropriate and refined term to refer to the prototypes was ‘elder sisters’… Oop.”
Sadalmelik snatched a passing dragonfly with terrifying reflexes and examined it, holding its wings as if she were a child seeing a fascinating toy for the first time.
Hae Wolhwa considered taking the opportunity to blow her head off but quickly gave up. It didn’t seem like such a surprise attack would work on her.
“Nom nom… bleh.”
The woman chewed on the dragonfly, then spat it out with a grimace.
Looking at the remains, she continued speaking.
“Second, unlike our elder sisters, who had no information, we have inherited their memories and learned from them. We’ve used their failures as a mirror.”
“…”
“And we’ve become stronger. The atmosphere of this planet is gradually becoming more suitable for us.”
At that moment, the witch turned her head and locked eyes with Hae Wolhwa.
Her gaze was that of a predator looking down on its prey, and her lips curled into a mocking smile.
“Hae Wolhwa, also known as ‘Hae Wolhwa of Sloth.’ A genius with unparalleled talent, but due to your lazy and indifferent nature, you’ve earned that nickname…”
She then recited words as if she were reading a gossip article.
“15 years ago, had you not been holed up in the capital, we would’ve suffered greater losses. There wouldn’t have been any time to teach the second generation anything.”
For the first time, Hae Wolhwa’s face showed a flicker of emotion.
The wicked witch was deliberately picking at the wound of her most painful mistake.
It was something she deeply regretted.
Because of her indecisive attitude, her beloved former disciple had lost her precious lover in the most horrifying way.
“Yes. And to avoid repeating that mistake, I’ve come to kill you. Just like this.”
The once dry tone of Hae Wolhwa’s voice now carried a trace of her inner fury.
“Puhehe… Puhihi… Puhehehihi…”
The witch, sensing this, let out a sticky laugh, as if she were thrilled rather than disturbed or frightened.
“And… third.”
Sadalmelik, barely containing her laughter, fixed her gaze squarely on Hae Wolhwa and spoke.
“You probably think you found me. That you pieced together the clues and came all the way here to avoid repeating your past mistake, just as you said.”
“…”
“But there’s something you need to know.”
At the witch’s words, Hae Wolhwa’s face showed clear signs of agitation.
“You didn’t find me. I… called you.”
***
“What…?”
“I deliberately left traces everywhere. I had no intention of hiding. In fact, I was eagerly waiting for you to notice.”
The witch’s voice was filled with amusement.
“We’ve classified you as the highest threat. You’re the top priority for elimination. Along with that man, the ‘Adversary.'”
At the mention of the Adversary, Hae Wolhwa recalled Sa Jaehyuk’s recent actions.
The Magi’s Oath, which forbade internal conflict among the Five Families.
Sa Jaehyuk had been severely punished for breaking that oath, including the erasure of his records, but that punishment had long since ended.
Yet, Sa Jaehyuk had continued to wander the outskirts with his team for over a decade, brutally slaughtering demons and black magicians as if trying to exorcise some deep-seated grudge.
People believed that the ‘Fallen Student Council President’ had reverted to his old, violent ways, but Hae Wolhwa was one of the few who knew the real reason.
He had been searching for the witch’s traces alone.
However, even now, in hindsight, Hae Wolhwa hadn’t placed much significance on his actions.
She thought it was all over. She pitied him, believing it was just the obsessive behavior of a man who had lost his beloved.
But recently, after being stationed on the northeastern front for so long, he had suddenly left for the ruins in the east, as if he had found some long-sought clue.
Just like how she had come down to the south now.
“Could it be…”
Hae Wolhwa’s pupils trembled violently. She had fallen into a trap, and it was a perfect one.
And now, the situation was different from 15 years ago.
The strongest male mage in history.
Sa Jaehyuk, the first male mage classified as Category 1, was no more.
He no longer possessed the explosive power he once had.
He was no longer the man who could single-handedly slaughter witches. Even with his veteran team by his side.
A clear hand of death was reaching out for him.
“So, you’ve finally realized. I’m glad. I didn’t expect you to appreciate my gift this much.”
Sadalmelik, still wearing a mocking smile, taunted her.
Then, spreading her arms wide, she bent at the waist like a performer taking a bow.
“Welcome. You’ve walked right into your own grave.”
At that moment.
A strange sensation, like the ripple of a wave, washed over Hae Wolhwa’s body and spread far into the distance.
-Rumble…
Hae Wolhwa looked down at her feet. The shattered asphalt fragments were vibrating, creating a loud noise, as if playing the prelude to destruction.
-…!
Soon, a loud commotion could be heard from the outskirts of the city. Screams, the sound of firearms, explosions, and the clash of metal.
A crow hurriedly flew in from the direction of the outpost.
Upon seeing Hae Wolhwa, the crow began to speak in the voice of the commander she had spoken to earlier.
“Hae Wolhwa-nim! We need immediate support…! Corpses are rising from all sides, attacking our forces! Even our own dead… Stop, stop them!”
“Could it be… authority?”
Hae Wolhwa muttered in disbelief.
‘That’s impossible. The outpost is more than 1 kilometer away from here…’
The authority they had shown 15 years ago.
That mysterious power, inexplicable by magic, felt like the law of another world.
It had been an astonishing power back then, but it was nothing compared to now. Neither in scale nor reach.
‘Have they really become stronger…?’
“Wait… what is that… Gaaaaah…!”
The commander’s panicked voice was cut off by a death cry.
The crow collapsed to the ground, unmoving, at the same time, signaling the death of its master.
The commotion from the outpost quickly died down. A strange stillness settled over the surrounding atmosphere.
-Thump! Thump! Thump!
Soon, a powerful vibration, like the beating of a giant drum, echoed from beyond the horizon. Hae Wolhwa turned her head toward the source of the sound, her face filled with shock.
The master of the southwestern plains. The Dartegas Variant, a named beast classified as a special-grade threat due to its massive size.
It had been confirmed dead from natural causes, but now, that beast was lumbering toward them, its body as large as a mountain.
Its face was half-exposed, revealing a skull. It was clearly a corpse.
“Controlling corpses… what a disgusting hobby.”
Hae Wolhwa made a slightly disgusted expression. Although the situation had long since spiraled out of control, she had somehow regained her composure.
The enormous four-legged beast, as large as a building, glared at her with its half-rotten eyes. Hundreds of presences could be heard, but they were not the living.
Unicorns, Gardeners, Humberts, Alligators. Criminals she had clearly disposed of were staggering toward her in grotesque forms. Some dragged their skeletal feet across the ground, while others writhed like maggots when even that wasn’t possible.
Hae Wolhwa recognized many familiar faces among the corpses surrounding her. The commander of the expedition, the officers, the young soldiers.
Those who had looked at her with respect earlier now wore only cold, expressionless faces.
“Puhuhu… This is quite a sight.”
The witch, still wearing her wicked smile, leapt onto the head of the beast.
“Hae Wolhwa. You, who dare to stand in the way of the grand cause, are a traitor. In accordance with the heavens, I, Sadalmelik, solemnly sentence you to death.”
From her perch, she looked down at Hae Wolhwa and pronounced the death sentence.
“Now, farewell.”
Her tone was more that of a clown mocking a judge than a solemn magistrate.
Upon hearing this, Hae Wolhwa let out a light sigh.
“Well… I’m not ready to die just yet.”
What came to her mind now was something her old disciple had left behind with an annoying smirk.
“I’m still in my prime, after all.”
It was a masterpiece, slightly damaged but all the more beautiful for it.
Something that, if rolled around on the tongue, would burst open, revealing the most exquisite flavor in the world.
“I haven’t even had a proper taste yet…”
Hae Wolhwa muttered with an indifferent expression.
Then, she flexed her fingers slightly.
“If you truly want to kill me… you’ll have to give it your all.”
End of Chapter