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“Oh, hey,” Tafel said and glanced down at her root bracelet. “Kim Hajun’s requesting entry into the residence.”
“He doesn’t already have permission?” Lindyss asked from her rocking chair.
“No,” Tafel said. “He’s not part of the clan, so….” The demon shrugged and tapped on her root bracelet, and second later, an amber flash from off in the distance.
Jasmine leaned over to Ashley and whispered, “Kim Hajun, who’s that?”
“A prophet,” Ashley said. The Light Lord’s eyes narrowed a little. “He might be a womanizer too, so watch out for his tricks.”
Rustling sounds came from the distance as if someone had stumbled over a bush while walking through the forest. The group turned their heads in that direction, and a few seconds later, Kim Hajun’s figure came into view, the greenery parting as he walked past. He wasn’t dressed in a cloak and mask; instead, he wore his usual business attire. He put on his most-realistic fake smile and waved. “Hello, everyone. It feels like it’s been a while since the last time we’ve met.”
“It’s only been a couple of days,” Lindyss said. “What’re you here for?”
Kim Hajun scratched his head. “Can’t a guy just come to visit without an ulterior motive?”
“They can, however unlikely,” Lindyss said. She pointed her knitting needle at Kim Hajun. “But you’re not here for just a visit. Which one is it? Ashley or Jasmine?”
Kim Hajun’s face took on a tinge of pink. “I told you, I’m not like that,” he said and shook his head. “Gaegukja Yeol is the only one for me.”
Mary disappeared from her seat and reappeared squatting by Tafel. The black-armored woman whispered, “Did you say that guy’s name is Kim Hajun?”
“Yeah,” Tafel said, responding so anyone could hear her if they paid attention. “What’s wrong? Do you know him?” A dark expression appeared on Tafel’s face. “Don’t tell me he hit on you too.”
Question marks floated above Kim Hajun’s head. Why were false accusations flying at him like a storm of arrows?
“No,” Mary said and shook her head as she climbed to her feet. Her eyes narrowed at Kim Hajun as she drew her sword. “He killed my subordinate. Since he’s your acquaintance, I’ll only beat him within an inch of death.”
Kim Hajun furrowed his brow. “Hang on,” he said. “Are you sure you have the right person?” It was true he had killed a lot of people, but most of those black deeds were done before he had entered the tower. He might as well have been a pacifist with how few fights he had gotten into so far. The only person he killed in this tower was Jackal. Kim Hajun hardened his gaze at Mary. “Are you from a different tower? Is this about your pig farm?”
Mary squinted at Kim Hajun. “Jackal,” she said. A faint smile appeared on her lips when Kim Hajun’s expression stiffened for the briefest of moments. Mary took a step forward, instantly appearing in front of Kim Hajun, her pale face inches away from his. “So, it was you.”
Kim Hajun stared into Mary’s green eyes, and his mouth dropped open as she smiled at him. “I’m not sure….” A familiar sensation passed through Kim Hajun’s stomach, and he glanced down, swallowing his words upon seeing the sword stabbed into his torso. There was a crawling sensation as the blade passed through his body again thanks to Mary pulling her sword away. His body heaved against his will, causing him to vomit out a mouthful of blood.
Jeffery, who was seated off to the side with a certain melon-sized caterpillar egg and an ant pupa, lowered his hands to symbolically block the insect children’s eyes from view.
“Hey!” Garlic said. “Stop trying to block my view! I need to see things to grow!” Jeffery paused for a second before lifting his right hand away, keeping the ant pupa’s head covered with his left. The melon-sized egg flashed twice as if it were conveying a snort.
Melody frowned upon hearing the gasps Kim Hajun took as he stumbled backwards away from Mary. The pink-haired woman turned her head towards Vur, who was munching on a cookie while watching the spectacle. His eyes shifted to the side, making eye contact with Melody. He blinked at her upset expression, and a furrow appeared on his brow. After a bit, he realized what she wanted; he reached to the side, picked up a cookie, and offered it to his loyal follower.
Melody accepted the cookie and lowered her head to look at it. She had only wanted to see Vur’s reaction to one of his friends casually stabbing his acquaintance; for some reason, she was handed a cookie. Melody relaxed and sat back, taking a bite out of the cookie. Since Vur wasn’t worried about Kim Hajun’s potential death, what did she have to worry about? Perhaps that was why Tafel and Lindyss were unconcerned as well.
Kim Hajun touched his stomach, his hands quickly turning red with blood. “Jackal was your … subordinate?” His eyes widened as he raised his head and stared at Mary. “Then, you must be the real mastermind behind Virtuous Hand.”
“That’s right,” Mary said and nodded her head.
Kim Hajun coughed out another mouthful of blood and turned his head towards Ashley and Jasmine, the two lords sitting next to each other on a bench made from a large, living root. “Light Lord, Wind Lord,” he said and gasped for breath. “She’s the leader of Virtuous Hand. If the Virtuous Hand continues to exist, the tower will fall to the Oebu Sin sooner or later.”
Ashley blinked at Kim Hajun while Jasmine turned her head towards Ashley. “Hey, should we help him?” Jasmine asked. “He looks so desperate.”
Ashley shook her head. “It doesn’t look like he needs any help,” the Light Lord said. “Mary did say she was going to beat him within an inch of death; she’s not going to kill him.”
Kim Hajun turned his head towards Tafel. The demon shrugged and said, “Just accept your beating. You did kill her underling.”