...

Footsteps echoed softly in one of the many corridors of the Cube educational complex.

Nayun, Yeonha, and Theo, shortly after returning to the dormitory, changed out of their clothes and into their Cube uniforms and headed to Instructor Park's office as requested.

"It's strange to see everything so quiet, it feels like everyone is in quarantine, doesn't it?"

As they passed through an area that would normally be filled with cadets, Nayun, who was walking beside Yeonha, commented casually, looking at the empty area.

"...In addition to yesterday's Djinn attack, there's also the disappearance of two cadets. So, it's expected that Cube would adopt something like a lockdown to prevent further tragedies..."

With a slight sigh, Yeonha reminded Nayun.

"Ah, that's right... I wonder if the disappearances have anything to do with the Djinns killed by Theo."

Yes, how could she have forgotten about the cadets' disappearances? That was a very hot and sensitive topic throughout the week.

"Who knows. So far, everything is calm. After the second person disappeared on Tuesday, no one else has gone missing. I hope it stays that way."

"What is it? You seem like you want to tell us something, Theo."

It was then that she noticed Theo, a step behind them, scratching the side of his head with a peculiarly hesitant expression.

"Ah, well... There's something I forgot to tell you yesterday."

Both girls looked at him, and before Theo could say anything, Nayun, with her usual thoughts, began to speak.

"Eh, don't tell me you've already hooked Rachel and Hazuki... That..."

"Ah, no, it's not that. And besides, how could my relationship with them have evolved that way when I was with you guys?"

"You heard Yeonha. He's wondering if it's possible for a relationship to take so many leaps at once. Puhehe."

Nayun gave Yeonha a light elbow jab, laughing with amused smugness.

Even the usually "serious" one had to hold back a smile. Yes, she and Nayun were living proof that relationships sometimes happened in a very different way than what was commonly known, and seeing Theo say words like that was a little comical.

"Okay, okay... Maybe things are a little different with me. But seriously, there hasn't been anything between us, yet... What I want to tell you is about yesterday, specifically about the Djinns in the practical class."

With a joint expression of "Oh," the two nodded for him to continue.

After thinking about the right words, he explained.

"...About yesterday's attack. Actually, there was no attack by Djinns, what happened was that..."

Theo explained everything, even the reason why they fainted... He explained in detail, without wanting to hide any information from them.

"I knew it... Now it all makes sense. There was no way those guys could have caused an attack like that so suddenly..."

Yeonha, who had listened silently, was the first to speak. With an expression of someone who had finally understood everything, she replied, her eyes shining with a mixture of relief and admiration.

Beside her, Theo sighed inwardly.

In his opinion, Yeonha was overestimating the nature of Djinns and demons.

These guys didn't care about titles, they didn't care if you were the daughter of a great hero or not, or if it could get them hunted down by the whole world.

If these guys cared about that, there wouldn't be Djinns infiltrating the Cube wanting to cause destruction.

What's more, if they were really afraid of the world, there wouldn't be organizations and Djinns as active as they are.

'If she knows that yesterday's attack isn't the first and won't be the last, I wonder how she'll feel.'

While Theo was lost in his thoughts, Nayun's reaction was completely different from Yeonha's.

Nayun's reaction, however, was visceral and immediate. Her face contorted in pure rage.

"Arg! What a bastard!"

She exclaimed, her voice echoing in the silent hallway.

"I'm glad you killed that bastard. A miserable person who sells his soul for power doesn't deserve to live. If he tried to do anything to me, I would have smashed that disgusting face thousands of meters into the ground myself."

Her fists clenched at her sides, she couldn't understand how a person could destroy their own life like that.

Selling one's soul to a demon just for more power and unrequited love was beyond her comprehension.

"Theo, if they didn't work together, how did you find out that the three of them were djinns?"

Yeonha, curious about another detail, asked him.

By common knowledge, it was almost impossible to distinguish who was or was not a djinn.

Usually, it was only possible to tell when they used their demonic power, or when they were completely overwhelmed and lost their minds.

"With this."

Theo pointed to his own eyes, which glowed a faint shade of red.

"I have the ability to see and perceive things that normal people cannot, such as souls."

With a hint of astonishment, Yeonha couldn't help but comment.

"What's that like? Is it like seeing ghosts?"

Theo smiled at the comparison.

"Not exactly. In a more erroneous way, it's more like seeing a person's color and shape. A healthy soul has a clear and stable glow. The soul of someone who sold their soul to a djinn or demon is different. It's like seeing a dirty, dark oil stain spreading over a whiteboard, until it finally smears completely."

Nayum, now calmer, also joined the conversation.

"...That's unfair, because you received all these abilities when we have to work so hard?"

Nayun, with a helpless voice, couldn't help but complain to the heavens.

Theo was like a walking game hacker, only in real life. And that was completely unfair...

"Ouch!"

A flick flew to the tip of her nose.

"Why did you hit me?"

She said in disbelief as she rubbed her nose.

"Forgot? The world isn't candy, Nayum."

His ironic voice echoed in her ear, making her feel a great urge to beat someone up.

"Sweet is my ass, you idiot, I'll show you what sweet is, and it'll be with my fists."

Nayun ran after Theo, who was already a few meters ahead.

"You two are hopeless."

Yeonha saw this and smiled to herself as she shook her head.

After a few more minutes of walking and joking around, turning into a more administrative corridor less frequented by cadets, they finally arrived at their destination.

In front of them was a door with a metal sign that read:

[Instructor Park]

Theo stopped in front of the door and turned to the two of them.

"Shall we go?"

He raised his arm and knocked twice.

"Knock! Knock!"

After a few moments, the instructor's voice told them to come in.

"Come in."

...