He Is Still A Child

At my words, Divine Light Garam sighed.

A dark shadow fell over her face.

It seemed that, just like during the Jing Daram incident, the fact that there were too many apostates within the Order was causing her heartache.

And this time, it was a much greater crisis than Jing Daram.

Someone equivalent to a power within the <Order>.
A person of bishop rank.
That person harbored wicked intentions.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Divine Light Garam nodded, continuing with a gloomy expression.

“…Honestly, I still can’t believe it. How could someone who raised the Saintesses possess such evil…? I don’t understand. Even though she already had power she could enjoy, why–”
“Perhaps it’s reversed.”
“Pardon?”
“She harbored evil intentions first, raised the Saintesses, and then elevated them.”
“……”

I left the pale-faced Divine Light Garam behind and thought for a moment.

In ‘GAL,’ the Saintesses were basically portrayed as orphans without proper parents.

But as the story progresses, it’s revealed that they actually had proper parents.

And while it’s unclear exactly when or at what point it happened, evidence shows that Shibasaki Ryuko poisoned the parents and took the children to raise.

‘I don’t know what additional processes were involved…’

Anyway, knowing that doesn’t change anything, so I dismissed it.

In the end, only one fact is important.

Shibasaki Ryuko raised them with a near-obsessive brainwashing education that left them unable to defy her.

And when the time came, she elevated them as a Saintess.

From the beginning, as a device to bring down the Order.

Perhaps we should consider ourselves fortunate.

The divine power they possessed was unimaginably strong, making mental skills like brainwashing or imprinting ineffective.

In other words, their minds themselves hadn’t been manipulated.

It was simply that, being just ten-year-old children, they couldn’t defy their parent’s words.

‘They probably know it well too.’

How wicked the nanny who raised them truly is.
Even knowing that, they likely couldn’t refuse.

Divine Light Garam seemed to have reached a similar conclusion, wearing a sympathetic expression.

Soon, she steeled herself and continued speaking.

“…Let me continue. We sought help from Su Ok-bin. With her power, we succeeded in securing multiple pieces of evidence and circumstances regarding Bishop Shibasaki’s various betrayals.”

I looked at Su Ok-bin with a surprised face.

How exceptionally skilled must she be to find so much evidence that’s nearly impossible to uncover…

Su Ok-bin smiled gently at my gaze.
Soon, she gave a wry smile as if it was troublesome.

“…I tried my best to gather as much as possible, but even if we reveal this evidence now, it won’t mean much.”

I agree.

With Shibasaki Ryuko’s influence, there would be no significant repercussions.
Even if there are various criticisms, there would be no real damage to her.
On the contrary, considering her self-preserving nature, she would hide within the Order and plot even more sinister schemes.

“That won’t do. At the moment she comes out for sure, we must catch and deal with her so she can’t escape. Only then will there be no aftermath.”

“Mother Superior’s words are correct. Besides, we can’t leave an S-grade monster alone.”

If things go wrong, the entire city of Seoul might be blown away.

‘Hmm…’

Listening to their conversation, I wrapped up the tasks I needed to do.

“In conclusion, we first subdue the S-grade monster that appears. After that, we capture Shibasaki Ryuko by any means necessary. Finally, we rescue the two saintesses. Is that correct?”

“That’s right. As expected, Yu Seha, you’re smart.”

Su Ok-bin smiled brightly and ruffled my hair playfully.
Before I could say ‘please stop…’, the gentle touch continued.
My face turned red, feeling like I had become a cat being petted.
Divine Light Garam, who was watching, couldn’t resist her mischievous nature and exclaimed, ‘Oh my!’

‘Ahem. This is embarrassing. Really.’

Additionally, the S-grade monster appearing this time is officially called the <Yellow Dragon>.

As evidence, the pattern around the Heavenly Palace depicts the Four Symbols.

“But it won’t be, right?”
“Yes, it won’t be.”

That information is a lie spread by Shibasaki Ryuko to the Order.

The Yellow Dragon is an S-grade monster that appears with the Five Dragons, not the Four Symbols.

The S-grade monster that appears with the Four Symbols is ‘that one.’

‘But the Order, completely deceived, will prepare to defeat the Yellow Dragon.’

They will waste a lot of money and resources on the wrong boss.

Naturally occurring chaos and failed subjugation.
Numerous casualties.
Conflicts and clashes between different forces.

And taking advantage of that gap, Shibasaki kidnaps the saintesses and offers them to <Tartarus>, fully defecting.

Naturally, the <Order> takes the blame for the defeat and completely collapses.

Ultimately, villains and demons begin to run rampant beyond the fallen fence.

It was the perfect completion of a scenario that the world’s criminals could only dream of.

Su Ok-bin looked at the empty teacup before slowly putting it down.

Soon, she began the detailed explanation of the operation.

“If the Order fails, the Association will have its chance.”

And if the Association fails, the opportunity will pass to the Four Great Clans waiting in the wings.

If it comes to that, we may not know much else, but we can certainly subdue the S-grade monster.

“However, I don’t want to waste time on uncertainties. Additionally, I want to save as many clergy members fighting with their lives on the line as possible.”

“Then…”

“Yes, the moment the strategy of the Bishop fails, we plan to step in. The justification for this will be provided by Mother Superior Divine Light Garam here.”

Divine Light Garam nodded.

As if they had discussed it beforehand, Divine Light Garam placed a hand over her chest, showing a solemn resolve.

“…Though my authority is weaker than that of the Bishop, it means that I have the right to take over command should they fail. At that time, we will execute the main operation. Simultaneously, we will also lead the operation against the S-grade monster.”

Leadership.

‘…Tsk.’

I recalled the tragedy from just a few weeks ago and let out a bitter laugh.

Then I flinched at the words that followed.

“And in terms of tactical command… we would like your assistance, Junior Seha.”
“…Me, you mean me?”

Divine Light Garam nodded, raising her hand to continue speaking before I could respond.

“I know you’re hesitant, Junior Seha. You’re probably worried about walking the path of forcing sacrifices on those who follow the operation again…”

“……”

“But, I can say with certainty. Without your precise instructions at the scene of the tragedy, the damage would have been greater.”

She believed Junior Seha was not wrong.

And embarrassingly, she couldn’t devise such a strategy.

“I need your strength, Junior Seha.”
“……”
“Haha. Don’t pressure him too much. Yu Seha needs time to think as well.”
“Oh! Uh, uh, uh! I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention…”
“No, it’s fine. Just give me a little time to think.”
“Uh, uh… of course.”

Strategy…

‘Me…?’

I hesitated naturally.

Could someone like me, who has always considered sacrifice as a given in every tactic, truly succeed?

Such primal fear surged within me.

I wavered.

Seeing this, Su Ok-bin brought up another topic.

“That pretty much wraps up the overall discussion. And… just in case, I’ve called in another helper. It seems we need a bit more firepower.”

“…A helper?”

“Yes, someone you’re familiar with, Yu Seha.”

When I tilted my head in confusion, Su Ok-bin gestured with her hand.

Soon, I sensed a presence and heard a voice that made my eyes widen in surprise.

“Pardon me.”

The person entering was a beautiful woman with beige hair tied in a ponytail.

She also widened her eyes in disbelief upon seeing me.

“…C-C-Cadet Yu Seha?”
“…Professor?”

Peng Jin-ah.

My one and only teacher.

It was an entirely unexpected encounter.

“…Why are you here…?”
“Professor?”

Peng Jin-ah and I stared at each other blankly.

For me, the feeling was more of joy, but…

It seemed Peng Jin-ah felt differently.

To be precise…

She was showing an emotion close to anger.

“…Su Ok-bin!”
“…Hmm?”

I flinched instinctively.

Peng Jin-ah’s eyes narrowed into a line, emitting a very faint but distinct aura of hostility.

I could tell from my experience with her.

That was the look of Peng Jin-ah when she was extremely angry.

As if to prove it, Peng Jin-ah shouted loudly.

“I told you to keep our kids out of it!”
“……”

‘Out of it?’

I glanced at Divine Light Garam.

She also seemed confused, indicating she didn’t know either…

Did something happen with Su Ok-bin?

For a moment, a subtle silence ensued.

Peng Jin-ah was fuming with anger.
And Su Ok-bin was silently watching her.

Soon, Su Ok-bin stood up.

“Yu Seha? Mother Superior?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, but could you wait a moment? I’ll just finish my conversation with <Pasa’s Sword>.”

Bang!

A rough noise echoed.

Among the two who moved to a different spot, Peng Jin-ah was the first to react.

She grabbed Su Ok-bin by the collar and pushed her against the wall.

“I told you, didn’t I? About Yu Seha… Not to put my precious disciple in danger!”

“So what on earth is this?”
“……”

Su Ok-bin stared directly at Peng Jin-ah, still held by the collar.

Eyes filled with flickering anger.

But that was only on the surface.

What lay beneath was a truth and sincerity greater than anger.

Worry.

Yu Seha.

Afraid he might get hurt, even a little.
The woman’s heart, unable to bear the fear, was fully visible to Su Ok-bin.

With her distinctive blood-red eyes, Su Ok-bin discerned this and showed a hint of sympathy.

At the same time.

“Sigh…”

She revealed a subtle sense of disgust.