Chapter – 09
03. The Outer Demon and the Vermin
“Ugh… ngh, cough…”
Groans of pain, scattered through the darkness, pierced Liriope’s ears like needles.
She tightened her grip around Calliona, holding her close, while scanning the surroundings with wary eyes.
After the Holy Communion ceremony, they had fallen into what appeared to be an underground labyrinth.
Glowing insects, like fireflies, floated here and there—enough to keep the place from total darkness, yet not a single ray of pure sunlight reached them.
Their view was broken up by boulders, earthen walls, and strange clusters of plants, so they couldn’t see far ahead.
Still, Liriope could tell—this space stretched vast and deep, with no end in sight.
“Big sister… please, wake up. Come on, wake up…”
She kept shaking the unconscious woman in her arms, never dropping her guard. But Calliona, bleeding and fainted, gave no sign of life.
The image of her sister’s pale body in that shadow-drenched forest, drained of warmth, flashed before Liriope’s eyes.
‘She won’t wake up… she’s still breathing, but what if—what if she’s in danger?’
[Calm yourself, child.]
‘The bleeding’s stopped… she’s still breathing. Then why won’t she open her eyes?’
[Your sister won’t die. Stop the useless worrying and focus.]
The voice in her head was sharp, irritated—but her rising panic wasn’t so easily put out.
“Damn it… damn it, what the hell is this place?!”
The shout came from the red-haired boy nearby, raw with confusion and rage.
When she turned, she saw him sitting on the ground, face pale, voice trembling.
He muttered curses, choked on tears, then clenched his jaw and forced himself to stand.
“Hey—Dino, Finn! Hey! Get up!”
“…”
“Didn’t you hear me? I said get up!”
He shook the limp bodies on the ground, but the two boys—his subordinates—didn’t move.
Even to Liriope’s eyes, they already looked dead.
The red-haired boy bowed his head, gagging as if trying not to cry or vomit, then staggered to his feet again.
“Ugh—cough…”
Then came a faint sound behind him.
He flinched and spun around.
“Dino? Is that you? Hey, you’re awake?”
“Uhh…”
Though not fully conscious, one of the two was at least still alive.
That alone was enough for the red-haired boy to breathe a shaky sigh of relief.
But relief came too soon.
“Over here! I see a supply mark!”
“We’re lucky—so close this time!”
“Run! Before the others grab it and Jed beats us bloody!”
A commotion of hurried footsteps and shouting echoed from not far away.
Liriope’s head shot up. Sure enough, above them glowed a bright, magical sigil.
‘Don’t tell me… they think we’re the supply drop? That’s insane! We need to move—now!’
Liriope acted immediately.
The red-haired boy didn’t fully grasp the situation, but seeing her run, he quickly slung his unconscious friend over his back.
Compared to him, Liriope had a much harder time carrying Calliona—her body nearly as heavy as her own.
Then a thought struck her: she had returned to the past—to the body that had just undergone the North Tower’s Holy Communion.
Could she use even a simple levitation spell to help carry her sister?
She tried channeling mana through her newly formed core—
—but agony like lightning struck her heart.
[Foolish child. You truly don’t know you can’t use magic right after a mana inheritance?]
‘Ugh… I didn’t know. I never tried casting so soon before…’
[That’s something every mage should know. What on earth did those Bellegot fools even teach you?]
The voice clicked its tongue for what felt like the hundredth time.
[A freshly blessed core is just a mold, not yet hardened. Force magic through it, and you’ll not only feel pain—you could crack the vessel itself. Be careful, understand?]
Liriope half-listened, too focused on stumbling forward under her sister’s weight.
Soon, she and the red-haired boy disappeared into the shadows just before a group of other youths arrived.
“Here! We got here first!”
“Wait—what the hell? These aren’t supply crates.”
“Hold on… they look familiar. Are these the kids from the last Communion? No way—has a whole year passed already?”
Four teenagers—two boys, two girls—stood staring in confusion.
But hesitation didn’t last. Their eyes soon gleamed red with greed as they rushed toward the fallen children.
Their hands, frantic and hungry, tore through the pockets of the unconscious.
Bits of stolen food—sweets, crumbs of bread—along with small personal trinkets disappeared fast.
Among the bodies lay corpses, unmistakably dead, yet none of them cared.
They even stripped the bloodied clothes and shoes without flinching.
[Where do you think you’re going? You can’t carry that burden far. Find somewhere to hide, quickly.]
‘I was already planning to.’
Panting, staggering, Liriope pushed herself onward.
‘And don’t call my sister a burden again.’
At last, before her strength gave out, she found a crevice that might serve as shelter.
But just as she approached, the red-haired boy shoved past her and darted inside first.
“I got here first. Find your own spot!”
He shoved his injured friend deeper into the hollow and blocked the entrance.
[What a vile little brat! Kill him and take the hole for yourself!]
The voice seethed, but Liriope only stared quietly at the boy’s face.
When her young eyes met his, the boy’s gaze wavered for a moment.
She read his expression carefully, then spoke.
“I found this place first… Then where am I supposed to hide—with my sister?”
“Not my problem. Everyone fends for themselves.”
His tone was harsh, but unease flickered across his features.
Liriope, pretending to cower, lowered her voice.
“Then… at least let my sister hide with you. I’ll go somewhere else.”
“No. There’s no room.”
The refusal was sharp, almost cruel—but he couldn’t meet her eyes.
And truthfully, the space wasn’t large enough for three.
She could tell: for all his bluster, he wasn’t heartless. If he truly meant harm, he’d have struck her down or dragged her away already.
“Hey! You guys grab the supplies. I’ll scout ahead before we head back!”
“Got it—be careful!”
That overheard exchange froze them both.
The red-haired boy paled, then hissed at her urgently.
“Damn it, don’t just stand there! Get lost! You wanna die here?!”
That was when Liriope made her decision.
Her gaze hardened—gone was the frightened act.
“I’m not leaving.”
“…What?”
