Double Speak - The Cuckoo Falls (7)

Whooooosh, Whoosh!

Giant flames engulfed the street.

Cold ice grasped the filthy traitors' ankles, and sharp winds slashed at their necks.

Shiver, shiver!

The cries of the blood-red Cuckoo filled the square.

Blood was splattered on the pavement where a massacre had occurred, and bursts of flame appeared from every corner.

Boom!

A woman, emitting a menacing glow, mutters as she steps through the explosive flames.

"… Lee Seonghan."

Eyes reddened, and a protective suit burnt to a crisp.

Her glaring eyes were fixed solely on one man.

"Lee Sunghan!!!!!!"

A despairing shout, scratching her throat.

Towards her, two armed cultists rushed.

"Apostle-in-waiting, please forgive the rudeness."

"Don't call me by such a name!"

Her burnt hand reached out towards the priests.

Eight magic circles appeared in her hand.

Ziiiiing!

A burst of red waves covered the priests.

The priest, bending forward to avoid the magic, rushed at her, dagger in hand.

Crrrrack!

A thin sword penetrated the protective shield directly.

Fragments of the shield flew, and the cold sword tip approached her eyes.

Eyes lost in rage, wandered around, and then focused on the priest's face.

"Disappear."

Squeeeeek!

Five protective shields enveloped her body.

"…!"

Behind Jin Dallae, fire and ice conglomerated to form dozens of spears.

The surrounding pink petals swayed like they were dancing.

Drip.

A streak of blood flowed from her nose.

She swung her hand without concern.

The two cultists, who were keeping their distance, screamed as they were pierced by the ice emerging from the ground.

'Just a bit more. Just a bit!'

Her breathing became rugged, and her consciousness gradually blurred.

Then, someone grabbed her shoulder.

"Stop."

"…!"

It was a woman with bright, almost transparent, yellow hair.

"If you push yourself more, Shiheon will be upset. Stay still, Pingchang."

Shiheon.

…Shiheon?

That name rang in her ears briefly and disappeared.

Rationality returned for a moment. Her vision widened. Her dismal current situation was reflected in her eyes.

The black-robed fanatics she killed.

The priests who lost their lives were impaled.

Beyond the shield, students were running away, and the man she had been avoiding was now seen.

Jin Dallae's eyes widened.

"…Why."

Why in the world was that man…

Numerous thoughts flashed through her mind in a short moment.

Her trembling voice was hoarse, and all that came out was the sound of leaking air when she tried to speak.

"Cough, cough."

She coughed out weakly, blood mixed in.

Even then, Jin Dallae was lost in dizzying thoughts.

Boom!

Magical energy exploded, and flesh was torn apart.

Bleeding from his arm, the man continued his desperate fight.

Lee Shiheon was fighting there.

"…Please."

"Huh?"

"Help him, not me."

She strained her voice to its limits. With her burnt and clenched fingers, she pointed towards Lee Shiheon.

Sansuyu seemed to contemplate for a moment, then shook her head.

"No."

"…"

"I have a different role. And Shiheon is strong."

Indeed, as she said, Lee Shiheon was strong.

When had he become so strong? His movements, skilled and restrained, showed experienced prowess.

He would have had a chance if it hadn't been a fight against many.

But even Jung Siwoo, his best ally, was surrounded by the cultists, unable to use his full power properly.

This couldn't go on like this.

"And I'm also-"

Swoosh.

"-pretty busy."

Sansuyu spoke as she beheaded a fanatic who had ambushed Jin Dallae from behind.

Blood dripped from the blade she held.

"Isn't there any way?"

"Why?"

"It happened because of my father, my stepfather. I have to do something."

"I can't."

"…I see."

Jin Dallae bowed her head, a shadow falling on her face.

If things continued like this, she would stay powerless.

If she did nothing in this situation, not only would she be repeating the tragedy of that day, but she could also lose herself.

Jin Dallae whispered to her spirit.

Responding, the Cuckoo landed on her head, its once brightly burning feathers now faded.

'I am really…'

Pathetic.

Chirp, chirp. Chirp.

The Cuckoo's mournful song filled the surroundings.

The pink melody coloring the world soon took form, scattering like petals.

Saying goodbye to her current spirit,

Jin Dallae inverted the long, continuous melody.

「Liberation」

The scent of blood lingered in her nostrils.

Coo-coo-coo-coo!

He breathed heavily, wondering what had been happening since a while ago. He intently observed Seonghan's complexion without lowering his guard.

Seonghan was smiling grotesquely.

"Oh! Dear God! Finally fulfilling your will!"

Murmuring in awe, Seonghan clasped his hands and looked behind me. The scent of iron filled my nose. When I turned, a giant tree had grown where Jin Dallae stood.

'Liberation?'

From her shoulders, branches spread out, on which blood-red Azaleas were blooming. Over the roots and stems grotesquely attached to Jin Dallae's body, there was bark-like armor as if it were protecting her. Behind her, a wooden doll, lovingly enveloping her body, was visible.

The doll, hugging Jin Dallae, had the form of a middle-aged man I had never seen before.

"Shiheon, something has gone wrong."

"How did it end up like this?"

Sansuyu was also by my side, shaking her head in response to my question, and looking bewildered.

"Ah."

Flower petals fell from the tree, growing from Jin Dallae's shoulders.

Swoosh.

The falling petals danced in the wind and then swarmed the surrounding fanatics like moths to a flame.

As the fluttering petals touched them, flames erupted.

The melting bodies of the cultists rolled on the ground, screaming.

"Oh!"

Even as his brethren were dying, Seonghan's face was filled with smiles.

As if they would obviously win, he didn't lose his composure.

"Seonghan."

The first cold word that flowed from Jin Dallae's mouth. The air quivered as if things were about to go wrong.

"Daughter. Come to me."

"Shut up."

Seonghan slowly reached into his pocket and showed a giant, crimson Magic Stone.

At a glance, the Magic Stone was emanating a dangerous light.

Yes. Thinking about it, he only wanted Jin Dallae to become stronger.

To use her as nourishment, to grow her resentment, and turn her to their side.

It was right to assume they had the power to suppress Jin Dallae.

Whether it was brainwashing or not was irrelevant.

What was important was the existence of such power.

Swoosh.

"…There."

Jin Dallae, sliding beside me, looked at me with a complicated expression.

"I have something to ask you later."

"I see."

"Please, step back for now."

Hum. Hmmm!

I didn't like the vibration of the Magic Stone that had been tickling my ears since earlier.

The flow of magical power I felt on the surface of my skin was also acting in a bad way.

Anything could happen.

If Seonghan had brainwashing abilities, I might end up having to fight Jin Dallae.

If that happened, I would die due to the failure of the quest.

"I can't step back. I still have tons to do."

"…What do you mean by that?"

Flash.

I showed her the crystal I received yesterday.

"…Apostle Lee Shiheon. You're trying to do something stupid."

Seeing my actions, he sneered. But he couldn't hide the disturbance in his eyes.

I infused magical power into the crystal. Naturally, the target was Seonghan in front of me.

"I don't know what you're trying to do. But, isn't it over once the leader is gone?"

"What?"

"..."

Jin Dallae was puzzled, but I ignored her and stared at Seonghan. Finally, composure left his face.

"I understand your thoughts. But you seem to not know the future that awaits you."

Whether tortured or slashed, dead was dead.

It was only right to invest where there was a slight chance of living.

Vroom.

The teleportation spell activated.

After a very short preparation time, it lifted me and Seonghan into the sky.

Seonghan, biting his lower lip, looked troubled.

"This is bad."

"Are you surprised?"

"…You are pitiable."

The sound of Jin Dallae's desperate shout echoed in my ears.

"You! What the hell are you…!"

Didn't I say anything yet?

I conveyed a message meaning 'See you later'.

Stay safe. I will be back soon.

I thought of the sentence and opened my mouth to utter the first syllable.

"Stay sa–"

I was cut off mid-sentence, and the scenery changed.

Ah. This was bad.

I might end up dying in my sleep.