Chapter 15
“Zuuuhaaan!”
Wenling hurled herself straight toward Zhuhan.
Zhuhan only managed a pale smile as he looked at his younger sibling rushing at him.
“I told you. You’re always late.”
With those words, Zhuhan’s body began to glow—and in an instant, he vanished.
Wenling clenched her teeth as her brother disappeared right before her eyes.
“Damn it!”
“He got away again.”
Yoonseol, who had just arrived, spoke in a troubled tone. Wenling tried to reassure her.
“Don’t worry too much. Even if he escaped, he’ll still be on Jeju Island. We can track him down.”
After all, Jeju Island was surrounded by the sea. Ships and planes could be checked in advance, and if he was anywhere near the coast, Yoonseol would find him immediately.
Saying they could catch him wasn’t an exaggeration.
“Why does everyone look so serious? Did I mess something up?”
Euldong, who had been facing Zhuhan earlier, scratched his head awkwardly.
Hyelim lightly scolded him.
“You should’ve come sooner. What took you so long?”
“Sorry. I ran into a flock of migratory birds on the way. Had to detour around them.”
Euldong grinned as usual.
Then he looked at the animals gathered around the airport park and muttered,
“Anyway… what do we do about this mess?”
“Just wait a moment.”
Hyelim took a deep breath.
Soon, two pairs of sharp fangs protruded from her lips.
She let out a mighty roar toward the airport.
“GRAAAAAAAAH!”
The thunderous roar swept across the area.
At once, the animals began to disperse.
Birds flew away, insects hid, and wild beasts retreated.
Euldong watched in admiration.
“As expected, the command of the Mountain Lord is something else. So, is everything settled now? I didn’t really do anything though. Hahaha.”
He laughed lightly, still holding the relic.
Wenling and Yoonseol simply watched in silence as the situation settled.
* * * *
In the distance, a plane landed on the runway.
Wenling slowly walked forward.
The past few days in Korea had been full of chaos, but at least things were resolved, and his heart felt lighter.
He quietly looked up at the sky. It was endlessly blue—a perfect day to leave.
“Good thing the weather’s nice.”
Yoonseol, who had come to see him off, seemed to feel the same.
Wenling bowed slightly.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“What about the relic?”
At his question, Yoonseol showed the inside of her coat.
It was sealed tightly inside a verified box, layered with inscription magic.
“I’ve secured it properly.”
After all, Korean curators had swarmed Jeju Island just to retrieve it.
If anything happened to it, she’d be torn apart.
“By the way, where did the others go?”
“Mr. Dungsoe and Hyelim already left with Branch Manager Euldong. My aunt went to Hallasan early this morning. She said if you ever come back to Korea, you can ask her out on a date.”
“They’ve already gone…”
Wenling smiled bitterly.
Even though dealing with Hyelim and Dayoung wasn’t exactly pleasant, he had at least wanted to say goodbye.
While he was lost in thought, Yoonseol spoke hesitantly.
“Do you think we were too harsh on your brother?”
After all, Zhuhan had been beaten badly and even struck in the face with a gas gun.
A normal person would be near death.
“We couldn’t even check his condition since he escaped…”
But Wenling replied coldly,
“You don’t need to feel sorry.”
His voice was completely devoid of sympathy.
“You should’ve torn him apart back then. That would’ve been better for everyone.”
Yoonseol let out a small laugh.
“You know? You and your brother are actually quite alike.”
“Me? I haven’t lived my life that poorly.”
Wenling immediately frowned.
Yoonseol giggled.
“Well, you’re a hundred times better than him. Anyway, I’ll start tracking him right away. We’ll catch him soon.”
“I’ll deliver this relic to the Shaanxi branch and return immediately. There are still others we haven’t recovered.”
Wenling nodded.
Solomon’s Ring.
Zhuhan had disappeared with it.
It was probably somewhere on Jeju Island.
A dangerous artifact—it had to be recovered quickly.
Passengers began boarding.
It was time to go.
“See you in a few days, Branch Manager of Jeju.”
Wenling gave a slight nod.
Yoonseol waved.
“Take your time, Curator of Shaanxi. I’ll track your brother in the meantime.”
After their farewell, Wenling boarded the plane.
Yoonseol remained behind, watching from afar.
* * * *
“Med… medicine… bring me medicine…”
Zhuhan rasped.
Every word tore at his wounds, producing a wheezing sound.
Still, thanks to Solomon’s Ring on his finger, the chimeras obeyed his commands.
After giving the order, he gulped down stagnant water from the cave.
Without it, he wouldn’t have survived.
“Damn it… how did it come to this…”
He cursed his situation.
Finding the cave while escaping had been lucky—but without proper treatment, his condition was worsening.
“You look like a mess.”
A sharp female voice echoed in the cave.
Zhuhan jolted upright.
A woman with short hair approached.
“M-Mitsuko…”
He trembled.
Mitsuko chuckled.
“Your inscription magic is impressive. Took me a while to find you.”
Fear spread across his face.
“Surprised?”
She whistled lightly.
A chimera returned.
“You should’ve managed them better.”
She stroked its head.
“That’s how I found you.”
A pair of antennae—like those of a crustacean—emerged from her forehead.
“I’m a chimera too.”
Zhuhan tried to cast a spell—
“Boiling lava, surround—”
“Shut up!”
She kicked his chest.
“Gah!”
He collapsed.
She stepped on him.
“Urgh!”
“What is this mess?”
“I failed… to steal the relic…”
“And now you’re dying.”
“Kill me and you won’t get your money!”
“But I’d feel better.”
Zhuhan panicked.
“I found a mermaid!”
Mitsuko froze.
“What?”
“A mermaid… on Jeju Island!”
“Liar.”
“You can tell by my heartbeat.”
She paused.
“…It’s true.”
She stepped off him.
“You’re lucky.”
Her claws emerged.
“Our master doesn’t kill failures… he turns them into chimeras.”
“Try it.”
“You’re already rotting. Useless.”
She smiled.
“What a shame. I like interesting specimens.”
Zhuhan’s face twisted.
Mitsuko burst into laughter.
Her eerie voice echoed through the cave.
