Chapter 90 (1/2)

The Forest of Denial used to be the centre of the raging storm of thunderclaps and gunshots as well as other unnatural noises, but from a certain point onwards, it became eerily quiet as if things that happened before were all a hallucination.

Within this leisurely-flowing stillness, Teresa Hussey remained plopped on her b.u.t.t for a long while. Would being s.h.i.+pwrecked and floating aimlessly on an endless ocean feel like this? She might have suspected that the frantic escape of a few minutes ago was all a bad dream if it weren't for all the traces of blood and guts messily strewn about nearby.

Eventually, she regained her wits after spotting the Sky Fairy lying still on the ground unmoving like a corpse. Now that she thought about it, wasn't his injuries rather grim, too? If she didn't see it wrongly just now, then his thigh area was soaked in fresh blood. Most likely, he must've been sniped again.

His body was already in a sorry state, so would he be able to endure yet another injury? And also, would that ghost lady be able to treat the young man?

Nothing seemed certain at this point in time. She figured that, whatever the case may be, his treatment should take an urgent priority. Teresa pushed herself off the ground and helped the Sky Fairy to stand up. She really wouldn't have minded crumbling to the ground and take a break, but this escape attempt was still far from over. Taking a long, long rest could wait.

She managed to drag herself and the Fairy back to where the tomb was and saw that the Fallen Angel was occupied with treating two other Sky Fairies moaning heavily in pain. Everyone had been inflicted with injuries, both big and small. Two others couldn't shake off the pursuers and died. Even then, six of them had made it out. At a bare minimum, they could see this as a resounding success when compared to the plan of causing diversions.

Teresa laid the Sky Fairy down and asked the Fallen Angel.

”What about Seol?” (Teresa Hussey)

”….She took him inside.” (Fallen Angel)

The Fallen Angel replied with a calm face, but her voice was trembling ever so slightly. It seemed that she had seen the ghost lady, too.

”We need to treat Seol, too….” (Teresa Hussey)

”Go in and fetch him, then.” (Fallen Angel)

The Fallen Angel curtly spoke.

”I shall never step a foot inside that place.” (Fallen Angel)

She then added one more thing, her att.i.tude firm and unwavering.

”I do not know which human did what kind of atrocity in this forest, but there's little doubt that the person in question was a madman.” (Fallen Angel)

”What do you mean?” (Teresa Hussey)

”Surely, you can figure it out for yourself since you've also felt that evil aura too, right?” (Fallen Angel)

”T-that…” (Teresa Hussey)

”That soul, she died as her heart was being filled with truly a horrifying amount of resentment. But then, in a situation where appeasing her may or may not even produce a desirable result, they even forcibly had her confined here, too? Concentrated resentment has been condensing here for several hundreds of years, so let me ask you, how can there not be a birth of a vengeful spirit???” (Fallen Angel)

”Euh, euh…” (Teresa Hussey)

Teresa rubbed her exposed arms. She could still vividly recall all those corpses of Parasites killed in a variety of cruel ways. In all honesty, she should've been feeling liberated to see her sworn, hated enemies dying like that, but still….

‘Scary….' (Teresa Hussey)

The hostile aura emitted by the ghost lady was so ominous and vicious that she could never be considered as an ally. Honestly, they should be thankful that the ghost lady didn't harm them along with the rest and let them live. Teresa didn't want to face her again if she could help it, but she couldn't leave Seol behind, either.

Summoning all of her courage, Teresa stood before the tomb. Brrr… The evil aura oozing out from the structure was so scary that her body was trembling all by itself, but she felt sure of a couple of things. It was unknown just what method he relied on, but that ghost lady seemed to be protecting him for some reason. Which meant that words could get through to her. And also, although some animosity was displayed, the ghost didn't attack anyone else.

Teresa opened her mouth to speak.

”M-miss Ghost?” (Teresa Hussey)

Polite speech jumped out all by itself. She might be a veteran Princess Knight who had experienced all sorts of battles and hards.h.i.+ps like aerial dogfights, street fights, etc, but still, there was no helping it. The thing was, she had a traumatic experience when she was a young child and that played a part in her really, really hating ghosts and spectres.

”Uhm, can you open this door, please?” (Teresa Hussey)

There was no reply. Still, Teresa persisted with it and continued on.

”I'm sure you have noticed it by now. He's one of our comrades. He's in a really bad shape right now, and if he's not treated soon, he could really die. I swear I won't do anything bad, so please, let me in.”

She explained herself so the other party could understand her, but again, there was no answer. At this point, she began wondering if the ghost was using this opportunity to confine him and let him die. She couldn't help but suspect that the ghost lady was trying to turn Seol into a ghost too so they could live together all lovey-dovey and stuff. If that really was the case, then she simply had to risk everything and stop that from happening.

”Please, I beg of you. That guy, he rea~lly had to go through h.e.l.l just to get here, you know? We've just about survived our ordeal, but if he ends up dying here ins…. Heuk?!” (Teresa Hussey)

Clunk.

The sound of the door opening resounded out. Teresa was getting ready to cover her mouth with one hand and plop down on the ground to start crying just in case, but when she saw the metal door wide open, she fist-pumped the air.

”It's open!” (Teresa Hussey)

She yelled out in an excited voice, but the Fallen Angel simply looked back at her with a face that said, ”So? What do you want from me now?”

”Go in and bring him out.” (Fallen Angel)

”Well, I…. Eh?” (Teresa Hussey)

”I said this before. I'm not going inside.” (Fallen Angel)

”Look here, Miss Fallen Angel.” (Teresa Hussey)

”I don't want to.” (Fallen Angel)

”No, hang on. You're supposed to be a Fallen ‘Angel', so how can you be scared of a ghost??” (Teresa Hussey)

”It's not as if I started out being scared by them. I just grew to fear them, that's all. Please, do try to understand.” (Fallen Angel)

The Fallen Angel turned around. But then, this happened.

Swish. Something exploded out forth from the interior of the tomb and brushed past Teresa's neck. The aura was so strong that it only brushed by her, yet still ended up causing her messy, matted rose-coloured hair to dance upwards.

”Uh?!” (Fallen Angel)

Just as Teresa's expression was about to blank out, a stream of black smoke suddenly wrapped tightly around the Fallen Angel's waist and yanked at her. She desperately flailed her arms and legs, but still ended up getting dragged inside the tomb. Her long scream trailed after her figure disappearing into the tomb, and right behind her, the metal door solidly slammed shut.

Uwaaaaaah-!!

For a scream, it sounded a bit plain, though.

Seol Ji-Hu opened his eyes about an hour later. The condition of his body was really grave and sleeping for the whole day wouldn't have been all that surprising to see. However, the habit of sleeping for a short period of time became ingrained in his body after trying to stay awake as long as he could to look out for the enemy pursuers. That led to him opening his eyes much sooner than what should be considered normal.

Even then, he felt this snug cosiness enveloping his senses. He couldn't explain why, but began thinking that he was safe now. Of course, he was still conscious of the fact that his problems hadn't been resolved yet.

His body still felt like it weighed a ton. Hunger and thirst still tormented him. He groaned and whimpered in pain before reaching out to grasp his spear out of habit and bit on it. He hurriedly sucked in the cold air spreading inside his mouth.

[You look terrible.]

When he did, he felt a hand cautiously brus.h.i.+ng his head. Seol Ji-Hu was taken greatly by surprise, and his eyes quickly shot wide open to look around him. With a bit of flurry, he raised his upper torso up and found himself inside a rather familiar location. His jaw then fell to the floor after seeing the sarcophagus, too.

How could he ever forget this place? Besides all that, the fact that he was in here meant…..

”Saintess?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

[Yeah.]

He heard the voice he so badly wanted to hear. Even then, he felt a little bit uncertain. Now that he was actually here, he just couldn't believe it.

”Uhm, well, ah….” (Seol Ji-Hu)

[I killed them all. I ripped apart every single thing threatening you, so you don't have to worry anymore.]

Although she spoke in a graceful tone of voice, the contents of her words were somewhat horrific in nature. Still, he felt deeply rea.s.sured by them.

Seol Ji-Hu couldn't say anything else and simply closed his eyes, instead. The memories of the past eight or so days entered his mind one after the other, starting from the moment he entered the laboratory. Rescuing the Princess, getting sniped, getting confined, escaping, going back the way they came from, getting surrounded, running away, and running away some more, until….

”……”

If he were to be honest with himself…. he never expected to make out of this ordeal alive. He tried to hypnotise himself, telling his brain that there was a hope of survival, but the knowledge of his death being only around the corner constantly accompanied him. Especially when he and the Sky Fairy got sniped in the air and they fell - he really thought that he was done for.

Just how badly frustrated and at the mercy of despair was he? More than once, he thought that going insane was more preferable than all this misery. However, here he was, not dead.

….Indeed, he survived. He made it out alive. He didn't die and managed to stumble his way this far.

[It must've been really hard, hadn't it?]

At that moment he heard those words…

[It's going to be alright now.]

Tears suddenly rushed out from his closed eyes.

”….Keuk!”

And he thought that his body had no more moisture left by now; yet, hot tears he couldn't hold back trickled down his face.

[E-eh??]

A fl.u.s.tered voice entered his ears. While crying, Seol Ji-Hu opened his eyes. The only reason he was able to live was all thanks to the Saintess. If it weren't for this soul, he'd have died ten times over.

He couldn't rein in the grat.i.tude mushrooming rapidly in his heart and knelt down on the floor. He pressed his hands on the ground and bowed down until his forehead touched the floor.

‘Thank you…!!' (Seol Ji-Hu)

[Uh? Uh??]

‘Thank you so much….!!' (Seol Ji-Hu)

[W-what are you doing? S-stop it.]

Tug, tug… She began tugging at his arm. However, Seol Ji-Hu didn't move. His forehead remained pressed against the ground, his body trembling as he sobbed softly.

It seemed that the Saintess was in a serious panic mode right now. The black smoke leisurely floating around in the air a moment ago suddenly began whoos.h.i.+ng around uneasily all over his bowing figure.

A short while later. The clearly-panicking and confused black smoke abruptly stopped moving around. It was as if it had come up with a great idea. It slid around a sarcophagus and quickly returned to his side. And just like how one would try to pacify a crying child, it began sneaking something just below his face.

[There, there.]

”…?”

Seol Ji-Hu saw a beautiful bracelet crafted out of gold and blinked his eyes several times.

[Let me give you this, so please stop crying.]

”N-no, hang on. Please, I don't need it. What you gave to us last time was more than enough for me.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

[B-but, I thought you guys love stuff like this? As long as you feel better, then it'll be fine.]

”I'm, I'm fine now. Also, how can I accept something from you again? You even saved my life, too.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

[Eeeek.]

”Take it”, ”I can't” - they ‘quarrelled' with each other for a little while like this, trying their darndest to make the other party give up, only to stop after hearing someone leak out a hollow chuckle from the side. This person seemed to have witnessed this weird scene in its full glory. Seol Ji-Hu used this opening to force the bracelet back and only then did he discover the Fallen Angel squatting by the corner of the tomb.

”Why don't you accept it already? You know, that artefact possesses quite a lot of Magic Power.” (Fallen Angel)

”Even a leech knows shame, you know. I didn't come here for the treasures anyway, and…. Ah.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu replied reflexively, went ”Oops!” and took a hasty look around his vicinity. The Fallen Angel answered his silent query.

”You needn't worry. They are waiting for us outside.” (Fallen Angel)

”Outside?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Don't ask me. I was also dragged in here against my will because of you.” (Fallen Angel)

The Fallen Angel spoke in a flat voice and quietly pushed herself up off the floor. She glared at the sarcophagus and asked.

”In any case, he has regained consciousness, so… I can go now, right?” (Fallen Angel)

[How is your body?]

For some reason, he felt a tickling sensation on top of his head, but he ignored that and looked down on his thigh first. It was wrapped expertly in bandages. The pain had dulled to a significant degree, as well. Meanwhile, the Fallen Angel snorted unhappily.

”I've done the emergency treatment, but it'd be for the best for you to return home as quickly as possible to get proper medical treatment. The wound caused by the Evil Phantom is truly vile and doesn't heal that easily.” (Fallen Angel)

Never before in his life did the words ‘return home' touch him so deeply like this. Seol Ji-Hu nodded his head.

”Thank you.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Don't mention it. Regardless of what, four of us managed to survive as well.” (Fallen Angel)

The Fallen Angel stated her opinion clearly and without hesitation, turned around to leave. Seol Ji-Hu almost asked ”You're leaving already?” but kept himself in check. It was only obvious that she'd leave now. Their escape attempt was a success, so with that, their cooperative relations.h.i.+p had come to an end, too.

”…Ah.” (Fallen Angel)

The hastily-evacuating Fallen Angel stopped walking abruptly.

”What's your name?” (Fallen Angel)

”My name?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”You heard me, so why are you asking back?” (Fallen Angel)

The Fallen Angel pouted and complained softly. Seol Ji-Hu sheepishly scratched his cheek and opened his mouth.

”It's… Seol.”

”Seol, is it? Thanks for the info. I shall remember you.” (Fallen Angel)

”What about you, Miss Fallen Angel?” (Seol Ji-Hu)

The Fallen Angel was nodding her head sagely until then, but she flinched slightly at his question. She seemed to be deliberating on something, just like the young man standing before her had done, and shrugged her shoulders.

”It's Michael.” (TL: In the raw, it was written as in Mikael, but I changed it to the English version. If you didn't know, ‘Mikael' means a gift from G.o.d in Hebrew.)

Michael, she said. He heard that name a few times before in his life.

‘She really is an angel….' (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu looked back at her with mystified eyes.

‘Why did she come to the Paradise?' (Seol Ji-Hu)

Not only that, but as the self-proclaimed ‘corrupted', too. He was curious of so many things but chose not to ask her. Because, well, the Fallen Angel who revealed her name as ‘Michael' was displaying obvious hints of wanting to get the heck out of this place as soon as possible, and he didn't want to make her stay any longer than necessary.

”I shall remember the name, too.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Michael grinned softly before turning around once more. Soon, he heard the sound of the door closing. Seeing that the Saintess was also keeping quiet, she must've given up on making him accept the bracelet. Seol Ji-Hu scanned the tomb's interior one more time and smacked his lips.

”Uhm, Saintess?” (Seol Ji-Hu)