Chapter 351

Jin-Seo approached Simon and grabbed his shoulders. "Simon, are you okay?"

She briefly removed the anti-Voodoo mask to examine his condition closely. Su-Ryeon also removed her gas mask and approached Simon to assess his condition too.

Su-Ryeon's expression darkened. "You’ll live if you’re healed, but... you won’t be able to fight anymore. That much is certain.”

"Hoo, hoo! I-Is there no way? I could use a splint!" Simon gasped, his breath ragged.

Whether it was due to the pain or the cold, his body trembled. Yet, determination was still visible in his eyes. Simon wanted to keep fighting. He wanted to fight to the end and defeat the Cult Leader with his own hands.

"A splint won't heal those wounds. You need to retreat," Jin-Seo said firmly as if crushing Simon's hopes. "You're not fit for battle in this state. Get out of here."

"But, if I get healed—!" Simon protested.

"I can provide some emergency healing, but that won't be enough to move your arm. Go get proper healing from priests specializing in healing," Jin-Seo said as she unleashed her divine power and drew a healing array.

The light of healing enveloped Simon's shoulders, quickly stopping the bleeding. Jin-Seo had talent not only in blessings but also in healing. However, even with Jin-Seo's healing, Simon's wounds could not be treated entirely. Simon broke out in a cold sweat, trying to move his arm in any way possible. He tried to grasp his sword. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't grasp the sword again.

"That's the best you can do right now. There's no room to worry about someone like you who's injured when we’re against someone like the Cult Leader," Jin-Seo said.

She gave her sincere advice. There was no need to fight to the death. Withdrawing from the battle without being stubborn was also an option.

Simon listened to Jin-Seo and pondered. He knew he was in no condition to fight right now.

"Still, just a little more... I want to fight a little more. Even if I can't kill the Cult Leader, I want to at least swing my sword at him once," Simon said firmly, shaking his head while his body trembled.

Su-Ryeon nodded silently. "I understand how you feel. I feel the same way. But... Ah, I don't know. What should I say at times like this?"

Su-Ryeon sighed as if she felt awkward.

Jin-Seo looked at Simon. He was still trembling from pain from the ax that had sunk into his shoulder, but he insisted on fighting. Jin-Seo had nothing to say. More accurately, nothing could be said.

She understood his hatred. Dae-Man had died at the hands of Sun-Woo. Su-Ryeon, Dae-Man's lover, naturally wanted to kill Sun-Woo. At least she would want to confirm Sun-Woo's death with her own eyes. However...

"..."

On the other hand, Jin-Seo did not want that. She knew that to end this fight, there was no other way but to kill Sun-Woo. Even if Pope Yu-Hyun died, the Romanican Church would still stand. Someone else would immediately take over the Pope's position, and the Holy War would continue.

However, if Sun-Woo died, the Holy War would cease immediately, even if the Voodoo Cult did not disappear overnight. She wanted the fight to end. To end the fight, Sun-Woo had to die. However, she didn't want to do that. So what could she do? What did she want to do? Jin-Seo bit her lip.

Meanwhile, Do-Jin was still interrogating Yuk Eun-Hyung. "I'll ask again. Tell me the Cult Leader's location. Then I'll spare you."

"I don't know the Cult Leader's location. I'm just a pawn. Only the executives know the Cult Leader's location," Yuk Eun-Hyung firmly stated in response to Do-Jin's questioning.

Do-Jin pressed Yuk Eun-Hyung's wrist harder and Yuk Eun-Hyung's face twisted a little more. Do-Jin held the broken sword up against Yuk Eun-Hyung's neck and applied a little pressure. Blood dripped from Yuk Eun-Hyung's thick neck.

"Don't lie to me. Even an old and sick crusader like me knows that you are one of the Voodoo Cult's executives," Do-Jin said.

Yuk Eun-Hyung chuckled. "Did you take my words to heart?"

"Answer the question. Before I kill you," Do-Jin warned.

"Stop fucking around. Just kill me."

He pushed his neck further into Do-Jin’s blade. The blood that had been dripping now began to flow steadily. Do-Jin withdrew his sword in bewilderment.

Yuk Eun-Hyung stared at Do-Jin with eyes full of venom and said, "No matter how much you threaten me, I will not speak. Don't waste your time, just kill me quickly."

"..."

“Even if you gouge out my eyes, cut off my tongue, and pull out all my fingernails, I will never speak. I will not yield to measly likes of pain and fear."

There was no wavering in his eyes.

Do-Jin realized that this man would never reveal the Cult Leader's location. No amount of threats or torture would work on him.

"Fine.”

Do-Jin gripped his sword as there was no point in delaying further. Yuk Eun-Hyung would refrain from saying anything. Do-Jin raised his sword high. Yuk Eun-Hyung closed his eyes tightly as if sensing his approaching death.

"Yuk Eun-Hyung, ya bastard―!!"

Crash!!

Psssssh!

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Right then, along with a southern accent coming from somewhere, a bottle flew before the special forces. The bottle shattered, igniting a fire nearby. It was a special Molotov cocktail made with Yeom Man-Gun's factory alcohol engraved with an intoxication spell.

Black smoke and purple mist rose into the air.

"Ugh!" Jin-Seo and Su-Ryeon's eyes widened as they inhaled the mist.

They were preparing for battle with their swords in hand, but their grips loosened due to the intoxication spell. Do-Jin was no exception. He lost his grip on the sword he was holding to stab Yuk Eun-Hyung's neck.

"It's m-me! Yeom Man-Gun has come, Yuk Eun-Hyung!" Yeom Man-Gun shouted.

Yeom Man-Gun threw the Molotov cocktail. He had taken advantage of the moment when the intoxication spell paralyzed the special unit. After swiftly lifting Yuk Eun-Hyung onto his back, he ran away without looking back. Unaware of what was happening, Yuk Eun-Hyung barely managed to survive with the help of Yeom Man-Gun.

Yeom Man-Gun carried Yuk Eun-Hyung on his back and ran surprisingly well. Yeom Man-Gun continued muttering as he ran, "It's the will of the Cult Leader, not my mine. It's all the will of the Cult Leader!"

Yeom Man-Gun carried Yuk Eun-Hyung and escaped from the mountain. As he had said, that was the 'will of the Cult Leader.'

Booom–!

A loud noise echoed from somewhere, which was the sound of a staff striking the ground. The mountain trembled, and the wind blew fiercely, making the falling snow flutter wildly. Yuk Eun-Hyung looked around. The white mountain gradually turned red in all directions. Sinister and eerie red light slowly engulfed the mountain.

***

"..."

Soo-Yeong observed Yu-Hyun while crouching.

"Can't you get in touch with the other Head Guardians?" Yu-Hyun asked, looking at the two Head Guardians beside him.

The two Head Guardians kneeled and bowed to Yu-Hyun, showing their respect. "Yes, Your Holiness. We haven’t been able to contact the Head Guardians of Chastity, Humility, and Temperance. Communication with the Head Guardian of Charity was briefly established, but it was cut off after the battle began.”

"Is that so?" Yu-Hyun replied.

Yu-Hyun took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Meanwhile, Soo-Yeong, fumbled through her memories as she closed her fingers.

According to the Head Guardians next to Yu-Hyun, they had lost contact with the Head Guardians of Chastity, Humility, and Temperance. Soo-Yeong herself had just dealt with the Head Guardian of Charity. Sun-Woo had killed the Head Guardian of Diligence, Dae-Man. The remaining ones were Kindness and Patience. In other words, the two Head Guardians there were Kindness and Patience.

Yu-Hyun looked around. Soo-Yeong quickly lowered her head. It would be a big problem if Yu-Hyun looked in her direction.

"Now’s the time to capture the Cult Leader. He wouldn't be in good shape if he used this much power. Are we in contact with the special forces?" Yu-Hyun said.

The two Head Guardians shook their heads. "Contact with the special forces has been cut off too."

"Damn. Why do we even bother to supply the Branch of the Burning Bush... Anyway, understood. Let's focus on what we can do here for now.”

The two Head Guardians nodded and drew their weapons. The Head Guardian of Kindness had a whip, and the Head Guardian of Patience had a giant wheel. Both weapons looked very menacing at first glance. Soo-Yeong gulped nervously.

Yu-Hyun unleashed his divine power and drew a circle in his eyes. His eyes shone brightly and clearly.

"But first, let’s catch the rat who's been eavesdropping on our conversation," Yu-Hyun said.

The two Head Guardians nodded. Soo-Yeong’s breathing ceased for a second—she could hear her heart racing like crazy. Yu-Hyun approached Soo-Yeong slowly. The Head Guardians of Kindness and Patience followed behind Yu-Hyun with their whip and wheel.

Crunch, crunch.

The sound of footsteps on snow grew closer. Her heart started to beat faster. Should she use the spell array now? If she drew the Executioner's Sword and attacked, could she defeat them? Could she kill them all?

Soo-Yeong knew she couldn't win against the Pope and two Head Guardians. She had barely emerged victorious from a one-on-one battle with the Head Guardian of Charity.

Was this how she’d die, unable to do anything? What should she do?

Her heart raced, and her breathing quickened. Soo-Yeong's thoughts came to a halt. Yu-Hyun was the one responsible for killing Soo-Yeong's mother. Soo-Yeong should have felt wrath and hatred toward him, but she felt fear instead. The same terrible fear she felt when she watched her mother being taken away during The Starless Night.

"Your eyeballs are superb, as always," someone said.

That wasn't Soo-Yeong. It wasn't Yu-Hyun, let alone the two Head Guardians. Soo-Yeong's eyes widened. Standing before Yu-Hyun was Ha Pan-Seok, an executive of the Chungcheong Branch and Soo-Yeong's father.

Ha Pan-Seok held a rifle he had acquired from the Romanican Holy Army during battle. His gun was aimed at Yu-Hyun. The two Head Guardians protecting Yu-Hyun did not hesitate and rushed toward Ha Pan-Seok, as protecting Yu-Hyun was their job. They would throw themselves to protect Yu-Hyun without a second thought.

However, Ha Pan-Seok was no different. Killing Yu-Hyun was his lifelong wish and mission. He did not hesitate and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.