(EP-229.2) #9

229 – Discovery #9

“A barrier that blocks people from entering is inscribed here, at the corners of the pavement and the columns. It’s a barrier technique used by the church and their priests.”

“I see.”

Indeed, the bricks of the pavement and the stones placed under the trees that Balan pointed out were marked with colorful drawings, as if someone had painted them with a brush.

To describe the exact shapes, they looked somewhat like round snail shells. According to Balan, this barrier technique had a confusing effect that could make people turn back.

“It’s human nature to want to go back when seeing a dark and narrow alley with no lights on. It induces such feelings to those nearby.”

“How very specific…”

She said that if the effect was strong enough, it could trap those who entered the alley like a maze.

Perhaps that was why Elga and Mirna couldn’t find the Guide’s house and ended up wandering in circles.

The one who set up this barrier was probably the one man living alone, monopolizing the multi-family house beyond this narrow alley.

The fact that he could cast magic used by priests made me increasingly convinced that he was from the church.

Uttuk-.

Finally, Balan and I halted our steps.

In front of me stood a dilapidated multi-family house that looked as if it had been built decades ago. A man sat in front of it, by a small fire.

“You guys….”

His deep blue eyes turned to me. I felt slightly worse at the strange gaze of both fatigue and relaxation.

Still, what a strange man.

With his robe removed, I could see his patchy beard which made his face look old. But at the same time, his wrinkle-free skin made him look young.

A face that looked different depending on the angle and perspective.

He opened his mouth.

“I didn’t expect guests at such a late hour.”

His attitude was quite relaxed.

How annoying…

But both Balan and I had come with the determination of someone demanding a refund at a department store. We had no intention of backing down.

Seureuk-.

“We are-.”

“Wait. I’ll handle this.”

I stopped Balan, who was about to step forward with a hand and moved towards him.

“We are not guests. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We don’t have time to beat around the bush, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

“…….”

The man’s gaze remained steady. It was almost as if he was inviting me to say more.

I wanted to see how his composure would waver, so I didn’t avoid his eyes and spoke clearly.

“Whatever you’re up to, you’d better quit and get out of Ark. Otherwise, you should surrender quietly.”

Seureureuk-.

The corners of the man’s mouth turned up, ever so slightly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. And by what right do you intend to drive me out of here? This is my property. If anyone should leave, it’s you.”

At that moment, Balan interjected.

“How, how dare you, do you know who this is-!”

But fearing Balan might cause trouble, I raised my hand to stop her. I had already anticipated that this man wouldn’t be easily persuaded.

So, I decided to play one of the cards I had up my sleeve.

“Guide.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“No, Theodoros Gospel. We need to talk, so it’s best you stop the charade and mind games.”

“…….”

The Guide—or rather, Theodoros—did not respond. I wasn’t foolish enough to miss the strange gleam in his previously relaxed blue eyes.

Seureuk-.

He turned his gaze away from me and looked up at the pitch-dark sky, devoid of even the moon. As he seemed to be lost in thought, I drove my point home.

“Saintess Priga’s colleague, Theodoros. Isn’t that you? A priest of the church who went missing under mysterious circumstances. I also know that what you’re after here is Saintess Priga.”

Saintess Priga had a companion.

It could be said that they were childhood friends who had been entrusted by the church and raised together. However, after experiencing some incident, he went missing. He was last seen at the slave market of Angmar.

At first, I was skeptical.

But when this man mentioned that he had also been at the slave market, it felt like an explanation had been added to my conclusions.

Now, it was just a matter of getting the final answer.

“…….”

The man remained silent, as if he had stopped breathing.

“Can I take that silence as an admission?”

Huhuhu—Then the man began to laugh.

“Huhuhuheuheu━─.”

As his voice grew low and eerie, almost demonic, he suddenly stopped laughing, as if turning off a faucet.

“Even if I deny it now, it would only reveal the lie. You know too much. I never expected my identity to be discovered.”

Gooooooo-.

The man, Theodoros, began to emit a strange aura. Simultaneously, an ominous wind blew from somewhere, extinguishing all the bonfires and lanterns in the vicinity.

━But if you intended to stir up a hornet’s nest, you must have been prepared to be stung, half-fairy.

There was only profound darkness, void of even moonlight.

─Grrrrrrr─.

A growl echoed from somewhere, sending chills down my spine. I felt a foreboding energy brushing against my skin, a sense of déjà vu.

An unsettling premonition of having to fight a giant monster.

And my hunch was generally pretty good…

Hwaaa─.

Today was supposed to be a moonless night. Yet, a crimson full moon, which should not have risen, hung high in the sky.

━Ahhhh─, Gwangyeom God, please show mercy to your lost servant─.

When the dark world suddenly brightened with that light, I found myself standing not amidst the dilapidated garden and house, but in the middle of a dense jungle or forest filled with trees.

What was this forest?

“Why am I here?”

After a moment of confusion, Balan, who had been hiding behind me, shouted.

“The, Theo-nim, this is the barrier’s manifestation. We don’t know what will come out. Please be careful…!”

Edited by: faker