Chapter 26: 24: The Action Begins
"Be bold. Unsure of what to do, don't try. Your doubts and hesitations will contaminate your actions. Timidity is dangerous: better to act with courage. Any mistake made with boldness is easily corrected with more boldness. Everyone admires the courageous; no one praises the timid."
— Robert Greene
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What was happening was unbelievable.
Even though I was seeing it with my own eyes, it still felt surreal.
I glanced around, wanting to gauge the expressions of the others in the investigation group assigned to the Djinn case. Their faces mirrored my expectations—astonishment.
I turned my gaze back to Oreki, who stood over Kim Horak sprawled on the ground.
To understand how things reached this point, I need to rewind a little.
We were holding our regular investigation meeting, with two unusual factors. One was Oreki, a recent addition to the team. The other was the time—it was earlier than usual. Typically, we met at night, but now it was still afternoon.
The meeting had proceeded as usual, with everyone voicing suspicions and theories about the Djinn's motive for abducting cadets.
That was until Oreki voiced his suspicion.
"Yun Hyuk."
Immediately, an oppressive silence descended upon the room.
That was all he said, and I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped my lips. It was absurd.
"Are you serious?" I asked, crossing my arms and staring at him incredulously. It was hard to tell if he was joking or genuinely believed what he'd just said.
While I might hold some regard for Oreki, that didn't mean I'd trust him blindly.
Oreki appeared utterly unbothered by my reaction. He just gave me that blank, nonchalant stare that was starting to get under my skin.
"Yes, Yun Hyuk. It's him," he stated, as if declaring something as obvious as one plus one.
"You must be joking," Shin Jonghak interrupted, his usual disdain plastered on his face. "Yun Hyuk has already been investigated. He has a perfect alibi."
"Exactly," I added, backing up Jonghak's claim. "He was with other cadets when the first victim disappeared. Do you really think he'd be that obvious?"
Oreki didn't respond immediately. He simply let his gaze wander around the room, evaluating each of us, before locking eyes with me.
"Sometimes, what's obvious is what no one wants to see," he said with maddening calmness.
I opened my mouth to retort, but Kim Horak was faster.
"This is ridiculous," he growled. "This guy's just spouting nonsense. Why are you even taking him seriously?"
Before Kim Suho could step in, Horak was already on his feet, pointing an accusatory finger at Oreki.
"You know what? I think you're the real suspect," Horak continued with misplaced confidence. "You're the odd one out here, after all. Who's to say you aren't the Djinn in disguise?"
For a brief moment, I thought Oreki would simply ignore Horak, as he usually did with provocations. But this time, he responded.
"If you think that, then come and prove it," Oreki said so casually it was as if he'd been expecting this moment.
That was all it took for Horak to lose his already tenuous patience.
And that's when it all began.
Horak attacked with impressive speed, his fist aimed directly at Oreki. Yet, instead of resisting or counterattacking, Oreki calmly stepped aside.
It was an almost lazy dodge. Horak lunged again, more aggressive this time, but Oreki continued to evade with the same disinterested air. Step after step, blow after blow, the "shooter" seemed to be toying with the fighter.
The room filled with a rhythmic sound: Horak's heavy steps and the dull thud of his fists meeting empty air.
"Are you just going to keep dodging?" Horak roared, visibly losing his composure.
Oreki sighed, sidestepping another punch with disarming precision. Then, he took a small step backward, letting Horak stumble under his own momentum.
And then Oreki spoke.
"You really need to work on your aim. My reflexes are terrible, and yet…"
The comment sent Horak into a frenzy. With a frustrated yell, he charged again, but Oreki moved differently this time. Instead of dodging, he raised one leg and pressed his weight against Horak's, completely unbalancing him.
Horak fell face-first to the floor with a resounding crash, undone by his own force.
The silence that followed was nearly suffocating.
Oreki took a few steps back, adjusting his collar with a casual air.
"In my defense," he said, not addressing anyone in particular, "he came at me first."
I glanced at the others. Jonghak's grin was wider than before. Suho stood motionless, seemingly less concerned than earlier. As for me…
I couldn't decide whether to be impressed or suspicious.
Because, as simple as it seemed, there was nothing normal about what Oreki had just done.
"So… is the meeting over?" Oreki asked. "I need to discuss something important with Yeonha."
That caught me off guard. What could he possibly want to talk to me about?
But first…
"Yoo Yeonha."
Oreki looked at me. "Yes, you."
"Irritating idiot," I muttered. "I'm telling you not to use my name."
He gave me a disbelieving look, utterly unwilling to comply. "No."
This guy…
***
"Huu…"
A groan slipped from my lips as I opened my eyes. I felt exhausted, as if I'd just woken up from an intense training session. My muscles were stiff, my head throbbed, and a metallic taste lingered in my mouth.
"Ah, you're finally awake, Miss Yoo Yeonha."
The voice dripped with sickening satisfaction, as if the speaker had been eagerly waiting for this moment. I turned toward the sound and saw Yun Hyuk standing there, a treacherous smile playing on his lips.
My breath caught. He'd actually done it. The bastard had kidnapped me.
"You… you're insane," I said, my voice hoarse but laced with the practiced coldness I reserved for situations like this.
"Insane?" Yun Hyuk tilted his head as though contemplating the idea. "Perhaps. But what is sanity if not a limitation imposed by the world? I prefer to call it… freedom."
"If you think you'll get away with this, you've truly lost your mind."
"Ah, Yeonha, always so composed. So full of yourself. I can't wait to see what you'll become… after."
He stepped closer, each step echoing ominously in the empty room. A shiver ran down my spine, but I maintained a glare filled with disdain.
"Let me be blunt," he continued, utterly unfazed by my defiance. "I am not like those other cadets. I am blessed. Chosen. By someone far greater."
"Chosen?" I spat the word as if it were poison.
"Oh, she cares more than you think. But enough talking."
Yun Hyuk snapped his fingers, and immediately, I felt an invisible force constricting my body. It was as if invisible chains restrained not just my movement but even my will.
He stepped closer, his hand hovering over my shoulder before sliding to my neck. His touch was cold and repulsive, making my body tremble involuntarily.
"See, Yeonha, there's no need to resist. Lilith granted me something no one can refuse. Soon, you'll understand."
As he spoke, I felt a dense magical power begin to seep into me. It was an unbearably invasive sensation, as if it were trying to distort my very thoughts. I gritted my teeth, fighting to keep my mind focused, but the exhaustion was quickly piling up.
I won't give in.
"You're strong," he murmured, almost admiringly. "But even you have a limit."
His words merged with the overwhelming weight of his magic, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to dissolve around me.
But then, something surfaced in my mind—a recent memory: Oreki. He had been with me when we encountered Yun Hyuk. He knew about all this, and if anyone might be looking for me now, it was him.
Even a faint glimmer of hope sparked something within me.
I wouldn't surrender.
Still, my breathing grew irregular, and my muscles trembled under the magic's effect. But despite the bitter taste of powerlessness in my mouth, my gaze remained fixed on him, filled with hatred and defiance.
"You won't win," I whispered with a determination I didn't know I had.
"Why do you think that?" he asked with an irritatingly 'innocent' smile. "Are you hoping that boy will come save you?"
The grip on my neck tightened.
"Sorry to crush your hopes, but that boy won't save you. I enchanted him while you were unconscious, so even if he broke free, he wouldn't make it far before being incinerated."
Whooom—
In the distance, the muffled sound of a blaze broke the silence, followed by crackles and pops.
Yun Hyuk's smile widened further. "What perfect timing."
This is impossible…
My body tensed at those words. The muffled explosion echoed, bringing an oppressive weight. The faint spark of hope within me flickered, almost extinguished.
"Are you doubting me?" Yun Hyuk whispered, his voice dripping with venom. "The sound you heard is real. And even if it weren't, what would it change? You're still here, alone, with no one to help you."
My breath faltered. The defiance in my gaze began to waver. His words, combined with the exhaustion and magical pressure, seeped into my mind.
Could he be right?
"It's easier when you accept it, Yoo Yeonha." His hand touched my cheek again, sending a shiver of revulsion down my spine. "You know that. Don't worry, though. Your friend, Chae Nayun, will come for you."
My head drooped, the weight of the chains and magic becoming unbearable. The sound of fire persisted in the distance, cruelly echoing.
With my strength fading, a fragile thought lingered: I don't want to die.
Thud… scrrch—
"Hmm?" Yun Hyuk frowned at the sound, glancing toward the wall where the noise originated.
Thud…
"What could that be—"
THUD…
The wall shattered like glass under a giant hammer. Fragments and dust filled the air, and a deafening sound broke the silence:
"Wriiiiiiiiii!"
The piercing, grating noise jolted me out of the enchantment, making me shudder.
Yun Hyuk had no chance to react. A figure burst through the cloud of debris, delivering a devastating punch to his face with overwhelming force. The impact reverberated like thunder—or was it actual thunder?—sending him flying like a ragdoll. He crashed to the ground with a thud that made the entire room tremble.
The grip around my neck vanished instantly.
"Sorry, extra Djinn, but this one's not for you."
That voice… confident, mocking, with the audacity of someone who never backs down.
It could only be…
"Oreki?" My voice came out as an incredulous whisper. I wasn't sure if it was the magic Yun Hyuk had used or my emotions that made it so faint.
There he stood, his green eyes glowing intensely in the darkness, a sharp calm amidst the chaos.
Before he could respond, Yun Hyuk rose, his eyes burning with a furious aura. His expression darkened as he locked eyes with Oreki.
"You'll pay for that!" he snarled, his voice laden with energy that seemed to try to invade Oreki's mind.
I felt a faint pressure in the air, as if Yun Hyuk's words were an almost irresistible command. It only caused me mild pain, as I wasn't his focus.
Yet Oreki remained utterly still, like a statue, his eyes glinting with curiosity and amusement. Yun Hyuk frowned, intensifying his efforts, murmuring words that vibrated faintly in the depths of my mind. But Oreki didn't even blink.
"Did you really think that would work?" Oreki asked, his tone nonchalant, like a slap in Yun Hyuk's face.
"How…?" Yun Hyuk stammered, visibly irritated.
I saw Oreki make a subtle motion with his hand, and Yun Hyuk's body was suddenly covered in shallow cuts, just enough to make him bleed.
But it seemed to have little effect.
This only made Yun Hyuk grin smugly and say, "I don't know what you're doing, but did you really think you could hurt me? Ha! There's no way you can harm me without light-element magic."
"Oh? Really?" Oreki replied, his voice almost innocent and even cute, as if he were unaware of that fact. "What bad luck for you…"
A small smile spread across Oreki's face, making both Yun Hyuk and me shiver.
The smell of burnt flesh filled the air, and soon after, I saw—
Thud—
Yun Hyuk's arm falling to the ground.
"GAHHHHH…!"
Yun Hyuk's scream was deafening, making my eardrums ache to the point I had to close my eyes.
But as the scream reverberated through the room, I felt it. A presence. Cold, oppressive, and overwhelming. When I opened my eyes, my stomach churned.
"O-Oreki! Behind you!" My voice came out as an instinctive scream, as sharp as the terror gripping me.
Oreki reacted with fluid motion, turning at the last second. A massive axe, black as obsidian, sliced through the air in a deadly arc aimed at his head. He jumped back, narrowly escaping, but the blade's impact on the ground was so brutal it cracked the concrete beneath us.
"Pfft. You're quick, kid. No… better to say, you saw it."
The voice was hoarse and dripping with mockery, belonging to a woman with fiery red hair tied in a messy ponytail. Her golden eyes sparkled with arrogance, and the cruel smile on her lips made it clear she wasn't here to play games.
"But let's see how long you can keep running."
"Well, well… an extra enemy?" Oreki murmured, landing casually despite the sudden attack. "And here I thought today would be peaceful."
"Beatrice." She announced her name like a death sentence. Raising the axe, she pointed it at Oreki. "You must be Oreki, right? I've heard about you. The cocky kid who thinks he can play hero."
"Well, I wouldn't call it playing..." Oreki replied with a sarcastic smile.
Beatrice laughed, but the sound was laced with disdain.
"Too bad it won't last long. Showing off against someone like Yun Hyuk? Tsk. What a waste of time. Let me show you how it's really done!"
She lunged without warning, the axe raised for a devastating strike. Her strength was overwhelming, each attack carving craters into the ground as Oreki dodged with superhuman agility.
"Yeonha, I'll cut you some slack," Oreki said casually, still evading. "Next time, warn me about armed maniacs before they try to take my head."
"Oh, sure, because this is my fault!" I shouted, still struggling against the chair's restraints.
But that's when I noticed something strange. The chains...
My hands, once firmly bound, now moved freely. I looked down, incredulous. The chains holding me had vanished as if they'd never been there.
"What…?" I thought, touching my wrists. The marks from the pressure remained, but the metal was gone.
Beatrice cackled, pausing her barrage for a moment. "You two are pathetic. Are you saying you need the babysitter there to save you, Oreki?"
Oreki smirked, but his eyes gleamed dangerously. "You talk too much. You're going to bite your tongue."
"Big words for someone running around like a rat," Beatrice shot back, spinning her axe threateningly.
"No, I'm just giving you rope." Oreki retorted, stopping in place and raising a hand. "By the way, are you left-handed or right-handed?"
Beatrice frowned and charged at Oreki. "What kind of stupid question is that?"
Before answering, Oreki dodged another axe swing aimed at his head, moving behind Beatrice. "I've got a better one. Want to hear it?"
"I don't." Beatrice replied, letting go of the axe with one hand and attempting to grab Oreki's neck.
But somehow, Oreki seemed to be pulled by something invisible—towards me. Beatrice noticed this, her eyes narrowing in irritation. "You stole the Aether?"
Aether?
Oreki's eyes wavered slightly. "Stealing is a strong word. I prefer 'borrowing without permission and with zero intention of returning it.'"
Hearing Oreki's reply, Beatrice's forehead veined, and her face trembled with rage. She muttered something I could only partially hear—thief, bastard, she warned him.
Does she know Oreki? But how? Is he being hunted?
I felt Oreki place his hand on my head and heard him say, "Darling, could you run off already?" His breath, so close, felt like a whisper in my ear.
"This rhythm… it's like what Hazuki used when we were in the dungeon."
Just as I was about to speak, my body began to glow golden, and the exhaustion I'd felt lifted slightly.
What exactly did he do? Was that healing?
No, more importantly...
"You won't be able to fight her alone."
"You'll just be useless here, so leave and get the instructors or Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak. As quickly as possible." Oreki's voice was commanding, a tone I hadn't heard from him before. Since the moment the woman arrived, he hadn't taken his eyes off her for even a second.
"... Alright."
I got up from the chair, my body still weak despite Oreki's help. I had to push myself to make it through the wall Oreki had broken earlier.
…
This is the second time he's saved me…
"Thanks for being kind enough to let me talk to Yeonha."
That was Oreki's voice. It sounded like they were talking.
"I just want to savor the pleasure of cutting your head off in the most satisfying way possible, and that girl would've just gotten in the way, don't you think?"
I heard the woman's voice.
Would I really just get in the way if I stayed there?
"Yes. She would. Especially with that third-rate villain almost waking up."
"Haha. Seems like he's evolved from extra to villain."
Oreki didn't sound very friendly for someone about to be killed.
"Meh, maybe. And things are getting worse because the person who's supposed to be running to get help is standing here listening to us."
… I have to go and get help as quickly as possible.
This time I didn't hesitate and tried to leave the place as fast as I could. As I ran, I could hear the sounds of battle resuming—more frantic than before.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone