Even though Yu-na tried to stop me from leaving by talking about my reputation, I couldn't leave Hui-hyeon alone.
Until now, I've caused Hui-hyeon pain.
I couldn't be with him because I had no memories, and I couldn't give him confidence because I lacked strength.
Yes, Hui-hyeon probably didn't want to leave alone like this either.
Maybe I'm the reason I've been left behind like this.
After staring at the furniture in the room without its owner, I finally made up my mind and prepared my luggage.
I no longer wanted to just wait for Hui-hyeon again.
After finishing my preparations and walking toward the bus stop, I saw someone waiting for me, leaning against a wall at the corner.
It was Hwayun.
"Hwayun? Why are you here?"
At my question, Hwayun looked at me with displeasure, then pushed away from the wall and said:
"Baek Ye-a, didn't I clearly tell you? To wait patiently for the Enlightened One."
Had they said that? Honestly, I hadn't been listening well since all my attention was on Hui-hyeon.
"Sorry, I was completely focused on Hui-hyeon at the time. I wasn't really listening."
Hearing my words, Hwayun let out a small sigh and said:
"Then I'll tell you again. Go back home and just go to bed quietly. I won't allow you to move any further."
"Allow? Who are you to talk about allowing or not allowing anything? Just step aside. I'm going to Hui-hyeon."
At my firm attitude, Hwayun spoke as if annoyed:
"Why is that?"
"What do you mean why?"
"Why won't you listen to the Enlightened One? The Enlightened One left alone with your best interests in mind. Haven't you considered that going after him against his wishes might be a burden?"
"There's no way I'd be a burden. I can be plenty helpful to Hui-hyeon."
Hearing my words, Hwayun snorted lightly and said:
"In what way? Your power is nothing compared to the Enlightened One's. Your resolve is infinitesimally lighter than the Enlightened One's. What do you plan to do by following? Use your precious wealth to help the Enlightened One?"
"If you put it that way, nothing in this world would be helpful to Hui-hyeon."
"That's right. You are not helpful. So..."
"But I can be by his side. Instead of staying behind alone like this."
"You don't understand anything at all."
Hwayun frowned at my words.
"You cannot be with the Enlightened One. The battles the Enlightened One will fight from now on are truly battles of omnipotence. It's not a fight for someone as incomplete as you to get involved in. Accept it. Compared to those two, you're nothing but dust."
"Then how do you compare to those two?"
At my sudden question, Hwayun looked at me as if to say 'what are you talking about?' before responding:
"You're not suggesting you'll defeat me and go, are you?"
"If you keep blocking my way, I'll have no choice."
"Did you even listen to what I said?"
"No."
There was no way I would listen to someone who kept putting me down, calling me dust and whatnot.
In the real world, they call this gaslighting.
And the best way to avoid being gaslighted is to not take those words to heart.
Ye-a.
"You keep saying this and that about me, but the easiest way to settle this is to fight, right? So draw your sword."
As I drew my sword, Hwayun glared at me for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.
"Enlightened One, I've done all I can."
Then, muttering as if speaking to the air, they stepped aside and said:
"Go ahead."
"What? You're not stopping me anymore?"
"I was asked by the Enlightened One to protect you, not to fight you. So I have no choice but to step aside."
Hearing Hwayun's words, I sheathed my Ayong Sword and said:
"You say that, but you're not going to suddenly attack me when I pass by, right?"
"Do I seem that cowardly to you? Hurry and go."
"Alright, I got it. I'll give Hui-hyeon your regards when I see him."
I slipped past Hwayun and ran.
It was time to go meet Hui-hyeon.
<>
Left alone after Baek Ye-a's departure, Hwayun sighed again while watching Ye-a's back as she ran toward the bus stop.
Hwayun, who had been confident in persuading most humans with words, found this first failure quite shocking.
*To think she would be so blindly foolish.*
Are humans who treat this world like a playground always like this?
...But perhaps because of that, Baek Ye-a might be exactly what the Enlightened One needs right now.
As Hwayun turned to leave, someone grabbed their shoulder from behind, startling them.
"...Baek Ye-a? You haven't left yet?"
At Hwayun's question, Baek Ye-a nodded and said:
"I just realized, do you know where Hui-hyeon went? I have no idea where he's gone."
After briefly considering whether to tell her, Hwayun gave up and said:
"The Enlightened One went to the Red Lands beyond Myeongju."
"The Red Lands? He went to such a dangerous place?"
"Because he confirmed that 'Baek Ye-a's' true body is there."
Hearing Hwayun's words, Baek Ye-a nodded and said:
"Thanks for telling me!"
After leaving her thanks, Baek Ye-a turned and ran off.
Watching Baek Ye-a's back as she ran toward the bus stop again, Hwayun brushed off the shoulder she had grabbed and muttered:
"...I still dislike you."
Enough to want to kill you.
<>
As the vehicle continued to rumble toward Ganyangju, Lee Hui-hyeon received a Gasaengi communication from Hwayun.
"Lee Hui-hyeon, Baek Ye-a has started following you after all."
Hearing Hwayun's words, Hui-hyeon sighed lightly and said:
"I see. Thank you for your effort."
Seeing that Hui-hyeon didn't offer any particular reproach beyond thanking them, Hwayun asked curiously:
"You're not going to scold me?"
"I thought Ye-a might follow me no matter what."
Still, Hui-hyeon felt a corner of his heart grow bitter, wishing she had waited somewhere safe.
But since he was the one who left without saying anything first, he couldn't really blame Baek Ye-a for following him.
"Keep watching over Ye-a. Just in case. Understood?"
"...Yes, understood, Enlightened One."
After ending the communication with Hwayun, Hui-hyeon put the Gasaengi back in his pocket.
"I need to finish this quickly before Ye-a catches up."
Hui-hyeon murmured quietly while looking at the red sky outside the window.
<>
As a result of the exorcists—who couldn't foresee the future—concealing news about a yokai breaking seals for the sake of political stability, "Baek Ye-a" was able to break the second seal without much difficulty.
The annihilation of the Yeo family who had been guarding the second seal.
And the subsequent killing of the seal.
"Baek Ye-a," intoxicated by the feeling of omnipotence as power surged through their body again, looked around at the group of followers.
"Good, everything is going smoothly. Those stupid exorcists probably think they just need to protect the remaining seals well, but they don't know. The moment the first seal was broken, they had no future."
"Congratulations, Lord."
"Everything has happened according to your divine plan."
Looking down at subordinates who bowed their heads, not daring to meet "Baek Ye-a's" eyes, "Baek Ye-a" soon smiled and said:
"Now that the second seal has been broken, five seals remain. Is there anyone among you who wishes to step forward and break another seal?"
At "Baek Ye-a's" question, the original followers remained quiet, but some newly subjugated groups spoke up:
"Lord, please entrust this to me. I will definitely succeed."
"No, please entrust it to me. I am the most suitable for this task."
"Baek Ye-a's" expression turned cold as they watched the yokai rising and competing for the job.
"Haa, I see. Even after all that training, there are still those who want to judge, think, and act on their own."
The yokai began to close their mouths one by one after belatedly hearing "Baek Ye-a's" words, but it was already too late.
"Baek Ye-a" turned to the original followers and said:
"Those who just spoke up. Cut off all their heads and kill them."
As soon as "Baek Ye-a's" order was given, the subordinates who had been quiet until then grabbed the yokai who had spoken up and slit their throats.
"Wait... please wait, Lord! I made a mistake...! Aaaaargh!"
As the sounds of several yokai having their throats cut filled the air, "Baek Ye-a" said to their followers:
"I'll say it again. Don't think, don't judge, don't act. No matter what you do, you're bound to mess up. Understand?"
At this, several yokai prostrated themselves before "Baek Ye-a" and said:
"Yes, Lord."
After watching the yokai who had dared to step forward being executed one by one, "Baek Ye-a" ordered an attendant to bring new clothes.