Hui-hyeon, who claimed to be the last descendant of the Divine Palace.

After Hui-hyeon spoke, the children fell silent for a moment before Ho-jin was the first to speak up.

"I don't think you're talking about 'Divine Bow' that refers to someone who's good at archery. That would be the Huye Clan's domain."

"Are you perhaps referring to the Divine Palace from the old legends?"

"That's right."

And then Hui-hyeon fell silent, as if he'd said all he needed to say.

Wait, wouldn't most people add more explanation at this point?

I was about to ask something when Yu-na stepped in.

"Hui-hyeon, that's not enough explanation. Could you tell us more details?"

At Yu-na's question, Hui-hyeon nodded and said, "What you know about the Divine Palace is probably just a group that occasionally appears in old stories. The Divine Palace has already disappeared from records since long before the First Great Human-Demon War, only passed down as legend."

That was indeed true. Even in the game, the Divine Palace would only occasionally be mentioned when explaining certain items, but it had no real influence on the game's story.

Even in the "Killing the Unkillable" gallery, it was infamous as the ultimate MacGuffin group that the developers never explained in detail when asked.

Even in the "Killing the Unkillable" lore book, it was only described as "a group that worshipped gods in the distant past."

So does that mean the "Old Clan" was actually the Divine Palace?

"Then Hui-hyeon, your clan is..."

"The Divine Palace. More precisely, its successor group."

The various experiences I'd had with Hui-hyeon now served as foreshadowing, convincingly settling in my mind.

"So that's how you knew why my hair dye changed color?"

"That's right. Our clan had abundant knowledge about such things."

"But didn't you say before that you weren't affiliated with any group?"

"Yeah, didn't you say that when you introduced yourself earlier?"

To Su-a and Ho-jin's questions, Hui-hyeon answered, "It wasn't a lie. I'm practically unaffiliated now. Above all, I didn't mention it on purpose because I thought you wouldn't believe me if I said I was the last descendant of the Divine Palace. Besides, I'm the only one left in the clan anyway."

I felt like I'd been blindsided.

I already knew he belonged somewhere, but to think that group was the successor to the Divine Palace.

Just how long was Hui-hyeon planning to hide this?

But Yu-na seemed lost in thought before saying, "That's truly an unexpected answer. Hui-hyeon, I believe you're a descendant of the Divine Palace. What you've done is certainly something an ordinary exorcist couldn't do. But there's still something bothering me."

"What is it?"

At Hui-hyeon's question, Yu-na hesitated for a moment before saying, "Did you really just know about it and nothing more?"

"Yu-na."

"Yu-na."

At Yu-na's question, Su-a and Ho-jin called her name reproachfully.

As talented individuals carefully selected by Yegak Academy, everyone here except Yu Ji-a understood the meaning of that question.

Yu-na smiled sheepishly and said, "Sorry, I guess I've become a bit sensitive after everything we've been through."

Taking advantage of the momentary silence caused by Yu-na's question, Su-a asked Hui-hyeon, "Then do you know what harmed Ye-a?"

"A Divine Beast."

"A Divine Beast?"

This time I was the one who asked.

I had been absolutely certain that whatever attacked me was one of the great yokai.

But what came from Hui-hyeon's mouth was somewhat unexpected.

"A Divine Beast? Are you talking about the Divine Beast I know?"

At Ho-jin's question, Hui-hyeon nodded and said, "Yes, the one you know."

"Why would a Divine Beast attack Baek Ye-a? Baek Ye-a sometimes bullies me, but she's not a bad person!"

In response to Yu Ji-a's comment, Yu-na said, "That's right, there's no reason to attack Ye-a, is there?"

"Well, considering it subdued her without killing her, something must have irritated it. I don't know the details either."

Hui-hyeon shook his head as if he truly had no idea.

After our conversation ended, the others decided to help around the village while I went to the Small Council to assist Huye Jin.

"So I'm working with Lee Hui-hyeon, and Baek Ye-a is working separately?"

Annoyed by Yu Ji-a's question, which probably had no ill intent, I pulled her ear.

Stretch, stretch.

"Owww! Hui-hyeon! Baek Ye-a is bullying me again!"

As Yu Ji-a tried to cling to Hui-hyeon, I kept hold of her ear and said in a gentle voice, "I thought I saw something in your ear, so I was checking."

"Really?"

"Really."

When I smiled kindly at her, Yu Ji-a made a strange expression, half disbelieving and half trusting.

"Thanks, Baek Ye-a..."

I smiled at Yu Ji-a, then turned to the others who were making odd expressions behind her.

"I'll see you all at lunch then."

"Ye-a, are you sure you'll be okay alone? After what happened yesterday."

To Yu-na, who spoke with concern, I smiled and said, "I'll be fine. See you later."

I separated from the group and headed to the Small Council.

Honestly, now that my memories had returned, it would be quite awkward to face her, but I should confront this head-on.

"Miss Ye-a, are you alright? You look like you didn't sleep well."

When I arrived at the Small Council for my not-quite-official work, Huye Jin asked with a worried expression.

Hmm, this isn't going to work. Seeing her face makes me really angry.

I smiled at Huye Jin and said, "Jin."

"Yes?"

"Thank you so much for your concern. But I'm fine, so let's get to work."

Huye Jin's head tilted slightly at my tone that emphasized "Jin," but she soon smiled and said, "Yes, let's do that."

"By the way, Miss Huye Jin."

"Yes, Miss Ye-a. What is it?"

"Do you have any news about when the reinforcements will arrive at the village?"

At my question, Huye Jin thought for a moment before saying, "We sent a messenger right after the situation calmed down, so the news should have reached them by now. I expect either the senior students who are about to return from their training in Myeongju or the exorcist group from Ganyangju will come."

Senior students on training or the exorcist group from Ganyangju.

I didn't care which group came, but somehow I had a bad feeling about this.

<>

In a field in Myeongju, a Muji was crawling with its lower body severed.

A silver-haired woman blocked its path and said, "Where do you think you're going? That direction isn't where you came from—it's where humans live. The place you came from is exactly the opposite direction."

With a light swing of her sword, the Muji's head was cut off.

After beheading it, the woman lightly dusted off her sword and looked at the red-tinged sky in the distance.

"Or perhaps you hate humans so much that you'd crawl like this just to kill them? That's a level of obsession I can't understand."

"Ye-na!"

The woman called Ye-na—Baek Ye-na—turned to look at her squad member Jeong Ho-yeon and said, "What is it? Why do you look so urgent?"

"I just received a letter from the rear saying that Seoha Village was attacked!"

Jeong Ho-yeon showed her a note that seemed to have been delivered by a crow, but unlike him, Baek Ye-na responded with an indifferent expression.

"And?"

"What?"

"It's a common occurrence for demons to attack in unexpected ways. So why be surprised that Ganyangju was attacked? Anyway, the fact that such news has reached us means that we students need to withdraw to the rear and help Seoha Village, right?"

"That's true, but..."

Jeong Ho-yeon always felt strange about Baek Ye-na's reactions, as if nothing could ever surprise her, always remaining calm no matter what happened.

Though they had been in the same squad for several years, Jeong Ho-yeon thought he would probably never understand Baek Ye-na's emotions, even until graduation.

"That's not all," he said to Baek Ye-na. "It seems your younger sister is in the village right now."

Baek Ye-na turned around at the mention of a younger sister.

"My younger sister? I have more than one, so I don't know who you're referring to. Be more specific."

"According to the note, our juniors are doing their field training in that village. One of them is in Baek Ye-a's squad. Isn't 'Baek' your family name?"

Baek Ye-na's expression slightly crumpled at the name Baek Ye-a.

Baek Ye-a. If she had been attacked, she was most likely dead.

Baek Ye-a had been a weak, foolish, and stupid younger sister since childhood.

That fragile, spoiled child couldn't possibly have survived an attack.

"That's fortunate."

"What did you say?"

When Jeong Ho-yeon asked as if he had misheard, Baek Ye-na shook her head and said, "Nothing. Well, we've finished cleaning up this area, so let's hurry back. We should help the village and our cute juniors, shouldn't we?"

Baek Ye-na spoke with a calm expression.