[“Pleease save me ㅠ I’m trapped in Salvation Church. 1st floor storage. Cult paraphernalia ㅠ I’m Iro-i.”]

Meanwhile, at the Awakeners Management Bureau’s Central Command Center, an odd distress call came in. As soon as it was logged, the sender’s coordinates popped up on the monitor: Salvation Church. The location matched the caller’s report. Yet the duty officer looked oddly irritated.

‘What the hell now...’

Not a Blood Fiend, but they’re calling for a rescue? Isn’t that what 112 or 119 is for? The Bureau catches Fiends, not lost people. Still, any call forces a dispatch, so the operator had no choice but to send a field team. Normally, misdirected calls could be transferred to another agency—but that too was blocked now. A few days earlier, a Fiend had rampaged downtown, sending public fear through the roof. Since then, dozens of panic-reports poured in daily:

[Someone’s raising a Fiend in my apartment ㅠㅠ]

[My friend keeps making gurgling noises—could he be a Fiend? His name’s Kim Danbae, 2nd year at Seoul Middle School. Please investigate.]

[Do you really awaken when you meet a Fiend? Reply pls haha]

[My dog keeps barking at empty air—there must be a hidden Fiend...]

[I hear a Fiend in my ear]

Many were pranks. But after the Apgujeong Fiend incident, public outrage meant every report had to be handled by the Bureau. Even the three major guilds escaped some criticism—but they’re private, while the Bureau is a state agency funded by taxpayers. So the agents had to work overtime to maintain order, no matter how absurd the call. The officer lifted the receiver.

[“Yes. This is Kang Saeon of Special Team 1.”]

“Special Team?” the operator blurted, surprised that the team leader himself answered. Were all other units already deployed? Only the hotline reached Special Team at the very last resort. What would happen if he assigned a prank call to them? A thousand worries flashed through his mind—but there was no alternative.

[“Go ahead.”]

“Well... we received a report and need to dispatch.”

[“Understood. We’ll go.”]

“But it’s not a Fiend—just a simple rescue request. Feels like a prank... If there’s any team nearby, I could forward it—”

[“We’ll take it.”]

Saeon’s firm reply made the operator hesitate. He feared being scolded by his own team leader for wasting Special Team’s time. Yet he had to act: if no dispatch order went out within five minutes of the call, the first responder would be held responsible—possibly facing disciplinary hearings. After a moment’s «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» thought, he closed his eyes and passed on the caller’s details.

“The rescue requestor is Iro-i, trapped in the building.”

[“...Iro-i?”]

Over the line, the air suddenly felt icy. The operator flinched and hastily hung up.

“Right. Thank you, and good luck!”

✧

At that moment, in Salvation Church... Having recruited an unwitting accomplice with Godslighting, Roy had just arrived at B3. As the elevator doors opened, another cultist waited to greet them.

“What’s this? Who are you now? What happened to the glasses and gown?”

“Got stained—threw them out.”

“I see. Anyway, hand it over here. You need to go back up, right?”

As Cultist 2 reached for Roy on the cart, Cultist 1 snatched the body bag away.

“I—I’ll do it!”

“What?”

Actually, moving a corpse to the incinerator was the job researchers dreaded most. But now Cultist 2’s face lit up—he’d volunteered to take Roy down.

“You’ll go to the crematorium? You already did it last week.”

“I did, but... my stomach’s acting up. I need the bathroom, and if I’m late, Senior will freak. I really gotta go.”

Cultist 1’s cheeks flushed red as he bit his lip in shame. His partner believed him and nodded.

“Fine with me. Just don’t get yelled at for swapping.”

“You explain it—say he was urgent.”

“Alright.”

Cultist 2 hurried into the elevator.

“Thanks!”

“Don’t mention it—go on, get to the bathroom. You look like you’ll burst.”

Before the doors closed, Roy heard Cultist 2’s delighted voice. Clunk—the doors shut, and Cultist 1 let out a sigh as he peeled back the corpse bag.

“You can come out now.”

“Already?”

“Yes. There’s no CCTV on 3.”

Roy pulled the sheet fully off and stepped onto B3. It looked like a cavern: damp air, a rank stench. Moisture coated floor and ceiling, and small oil lamps flickered along the corridor. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

‘This isn’t a romantic candlelight proposal... what is this?’

His nostrils wrinkled at the thought of some giant candle-lit heart up ahead.

“This is the crematorium.”

No heart, thankfully. Instead, at the dead end stood a massive iron door bearing the sect’s emblem.

‘Opening it will probably reveal an altar...’

While Roy grimaced, Cultist 1 pushed the door open with both hands.

Kiiik— the rusty hinges screeched. The huge sanctuary beyond unfolded before them. Descending from B2 to B3 had felt endless for a reason: a dizzyingly high ceiling. A grand chandelier, more lavish than any he’d seen, glowed dimly overhead. The walls were carved with grotesque symbols and arcane sigils. Each flicker of the chandelier’s flame made the shapes seem to shift.

“Ugh.”

Roy hesitated at the sight. Cultist 1 gave an awkward, sympathetic smile.

“You can wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Kreek, kreek— the cart wheels sounded eerily like screams. Following Cultist 1’s line of sight, Roy spied a huge floor sigil: two crossing diamonds with overlapping circles at the center, and a number engraved in the middle. He recognized it well—a sickening, eyeball-like mark he’d memorized.

‘The mark representing Chaos Evil’s soul.’

He’d known this day would come, but it still unsettled him. The floor number was 6.

He longed to gouge that eye out, but knew he couldn’t.

“Ugh.”

While Roy ground his teeth in silent anger, Cultist 1 busied himself: dragging the corpse onto the center of the sigil. The floor was stained—undeniable bloodstains.

“They really eat them, huh...” Roy muttered.

“Huh?”

Startled, Cultist 1 turned. Thinking Roy was angry at the delay, he hurried over with the cart.

“Let’s go. You wanted directions to the stairs up, right? I’ll show you.”

“But is it safe to talk here? Could someone be listening?”

“No one’s here. And the chamber where the Sky Lord stays is further in. He’s asleep now.”

Sleeping too well, it seemed—some of us are struggling for our lives. Before leaving the sanctuary, Roy glanced at the body, soon to become Chaos Evil’s next victim.

......

Roy paused, then spotted an oil drum in the corner. Despite Cultist 1’s protests, he grabbed the drum and poured its contents over the corpse without hesitation.

Some might call it desecration, but Roy saw it as the only choice. Cultist 1 raced over, frantic.

“Stop! Are you insane?!”

“Why? You’re burning him anyway. I’m helping.”

“We just leave him and go! I’ll be the one to get in trouble!”

Cultist 1 lunged for the drum, but Roy twisted away.

“Oh, really?”

“Of course!”

“I was planning to help my colleague. Next time you bring a body, stack it here. Should hide well, right?”

“I’m gonna lose it. Let’s go, now.”

Cultist 1 yanked Roy’s wrist.

“A rookie can make mistakes.”

“I’m a rookie too, but not ones like this. Hand over the oil drum.”

“Fine, fine, sorry. I’ll put it back.”

Feigning compliance, Roy tilted the drum sideways.

Drip— the oil spread slowly across the floor. Fortunately, the bloodstains masked it. Unaware, Cultist 1 hurried ahead.

“Just leave it and go.”

“Okay.”

When the drum was back in place, Cultist 1 visibly relaxed.

“Don’t pull any more stunts.”

“When have I ever?”

Roy’s brazen reply made Cultist 1 slap his forehead in disbelief.

“Hah. How did I end up with you as a partner?”

He sighed, then pointed down the corridor.

“I’ll show you the stairs. Now go.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

Cultist 1 led the way and stopped before a pillar.

“See the red light on the floor? Step there and the door opens automatically.”

Zing— as he demonstrated, a hidden passage in the wall slid open.

“These stairs go up to the worship hall?”

“Yes.”

Now the escape route was secured. What remained was chaos. It was time to set a fire like he’d never done before.