The floor was marked with a large inverted pentagram.

The walls were completely covered in blood.

A church with an upside-down cross.

It was the Satan Church.

The chair where the cult leader should have been sitting was empty, and in the seats of the apostles sat the 1st Apostle, the 9th Apostle, and the 10th Apostle.

The 9th Apostle, Pigrithia, was sitting in her chair almost lying down.

No one dared to point out her strange posture.

“9th Apostle and 10th Apostle. You two will support the Villain Alliance.”

The 9th Apostle, still half-lying down, dragged out her words.

“…Nooooooo. I just got back from Japan yesterdaaaaaay.”

Her eyes remained closed, and her voice sounded like she was answering in her sleep.

In contrast, the 10th Apostle, Grid, had a sparkle in his eyes.

“What do I get if I do it?”

“…How long has it been since you last received your activity fund, and you’re already asking for more money?”

“It doesn’t have to be money, you know. Just give me anything.”

There was no hierarchy among the apostles under the cult leader, so the 9th and 10th Apostles didn’t blindly follow the 1st Apostle’s orders.

But…

“It’s the cult leader’s command.”

Pigrithia instantly straightened up, and Grid’s sparkling eyes returned to normal as they focused on the 1st Apostle’s words.

“…Then I guess we have to gooooo.”

“Oh, if that’s the case, then we’ll do it. Where should we go?”

Seeing the 9th and 10th Apostles change their attitudes as soon as the cult leader’s name was mentioned, the 1st Apostle chuckled and continued.

“Gyeongju. The Villain Alliance will lure the heroes there, and you just need to go and kill them.”

“Easy. Got it!”

“It’s not harder than lying down…”

“Pigrithia, you just need to follow Grid. I don’t expect more from you.”

“…So I can just lie down there?”

“Should I put you in a coffin myself?”

Although the apostles were equal, their numbers indicated the order they joined.

The 1st Apostle was the one who received the most blessings from the cult leader.

Pigrithia, the 9th Apostle, was among the stronger apostles, but she had no desire to challenge the 1st Apostle.

Mostly because it was too much trouble, but also because she didn’t think she could win.

“…”

Whether Pigrithia stuck out her tongue or not, the 1st Apostle continued.

“The executive said she knew it was a trap and set a counter-trap… It should be fun when you get there.”

“Just the two of us?”

“Of course?”

“…Can’t we bring some followers?”

“Do whatever you want, don’t ask me about that.”

“Wow, then I’ll bring them! If the followers die, can I take their mission rewards?”

“…If it’s revealed that they died because of you, I’ll confiscate all your assets.”

This time, the 10th Apostle’s tongue stuck out.

“That’s so harsh… You can’t even give a little boost to a warrior heading to the battlefield.”

“This isn’t a battlefield, and you’re not a warrior. If I had to compare… Well, you’re more like a child going to the playground.”

“…”

The 1st Apostle wasn’t just strong.

After shutting up the 9th and 10th Apostles, he explained what they needed to do and left.

“…So annoying.”

“Then can I go alone? In return, give me the mission reward.”

“No. It’s the cult leader’s command.”

Her drowsy eyes instantly returned to normal, and her tone became serious.

Seeing the 9th Apostle’s serious expression, the 10th Apostle flinched.

“Why are you opening your eyes like that? You hate me, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I hate you.”

“…”

Thinking of a way to secretly ditch the 9th Apostle during this mission, the 10th Apostle realized it was impossible no matter what he tried, so he obediently headed to Gyeongju with her.

***

Arriving in Gyeongju, the 9th Apostle lay down somewhere on the street.

The 10th Apostle went around looking for money-making opportunities.

About a day passed.

Someone fired a signal flare, catching their attention.

“That must be the signal, right?”

“…Why is it so far awaaaaay? Carry meeeee.”

“…Am I your servant?”

“I’ll pay you.”

“Shall I carry you like a princess? Or piggyback?”

“Piggyback, I want to sleep while we’re goinggggg.”

“…You came here just to sleep, and now you’re sleeping again?”

“Got a problem?”

“No! Of course not, I was just thinking of the most comfortable way to carry you.”

The 9th Apostle, Pigrithia, jumped up and clung tightly to the 10th Apostle, Grid’s back.

Instantly, her sweet scent wafted over, and a warm sensation spread across his back.

He could also feel the softness of her thighs in his hands.

The 10th Apostle’s face began to turn red.

“You pervert… Don’t feel anything and just hurry up.”

“…When did I? Don’t slander me.”

Grid quickly ran toward where the signal flare was fired.

Arriving at the mountainside, they saw the villain executive and the Hwarang facing off.

The villain executive was fighting against what seemed like at least dozens of Hwarang.

And, for some reason, two small figures still hiding in the bushes.

Thinking it would definitely be fun, Grid whistled.

Wheee—

“You’re already here?… So annoying…”

“Hey pretty lady, how about a million if I save you?”

Even in this situation, Grid started negotiating incentives with the villain executive.

“…Weren’t you supposed to come help me?”

“That’s one thing, this is another.”

“…How about 3,000? Just finish this quickly.”

“Deal.”

Quickly concluding the negotiation with the executive, the 10th Apostle set the 9th Apostle down on the ground.

“Be careful getting down, sis.”

“…”

Pigrithia wanted to say that by age or appearance, she wasn’t his sister, but it was too much trouble, so she just kept quiet.

“Shut up.”

“Okay, sis.”

Casually replying, the 10th Apostle stepped forward in front of the Hwarang.

“We’ll get 3,000 if we finish this quickly, so let’s wrap it up and go back.”

“…Everyone, stay alert. This is a dangerous opponent.”

He looked no older than 20.

His light demeanor and slender body.

The other Hwarang underestimated him, but the Scorpion Instructor saw his true nature.

The surging magic power and thick killing intent.

The kind of solidity that only someone who had killed hundreds, maybe thousands, could possess.

And even…

‘The woman lying on the ground is even stronger.’

Cold sweat dripped down the Scorpion Instructor’s back as he looked at Pigrithia lying on the ground.

‘Maybe… we’ll all die here.’

Thanks to the signal flare fired by the villain, the nearby Hwarang would gather.

Hoping that Kim Seo-hyun was among them, he straightened his posture.

“All Hwarang! Spread out!”

Shashashak—

As if they had planned it beforehand, the Hwarang began to spread out, centering around Grid and Pigrithia.

‘If we bunch up, we’ll be wiped out instantly.’

They tried to minimize the opponent’s strength and form a formation that would protect them as much as possible.

Everyone began to tense up.

At that moment, something flew out of the bushes toward the villain executive.

“What, what is that!”

Not knowing what was flying at him, he turned his body to avoid the trajectory, but something else flew in from the side and pierced his abdomen.

“Guh!”

The 9th and 10th Apostles knew what it was.

What flew out of the bushes was a dagger, followed by an ice magic spell.

The apostles saw it and could have blocked it, but they didn’t bother.

Pigrithia was too lazy.

Grid instinctively knew this situation could make him money.

“Sis, you’re hurt? 2,000 more for emergency transport.”

“…Even in this situation!”

“Don’t want to? Then we’ll leave?”

“…Fine! I’ll give it to you!”

“Yesss! Thanks, kids. I made some money because of you.”

Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yoon walked out of the bushes.

Jeong Gyeoul was wearing a hero suit, and behind Lee Ha-yoon, a magic formula was unfolding.

They ignored Grid’s words and spoke to the Scorpion Instructor.

“I still don’t get it… Are you guys really on our side? From the start, everything’s been a lie, so how can I trust anything…”

Lee Chun-sam was originally a Hwarang, and still is, but he was undercover?

Or is he not a Hwarang but a third force?

If so, are the other Hwarang still Hwarang or a third force?

The more they thought about it, the more complicated their relationships became.

Jeong Gyeoul gave up thinking and walked out to ask directly.

The Scorpion Instructor looked at them worriedly and advised them to retreat.

“Jeong Gyeoul, the Awakened One? How are you already here… This place is dangerous, so you two should hide…”

“Gyeoul, the way he’s talking, it seems like he’s on our side, right?”

“I guess… Honestly, I still don’t get it, but let’s just subdue the Satan Church and the Villain Alliance first.”

“…I know you’re strong, but this isn’t a place for kids…”

“Mister, have you ever fought an apostle before?”

“…It’s my first time.”

“We’ve done it a few times, don’t worry.”

“…”

Here in Gyeongju, help from Jeong Ha-yul, Kim Bong-du, or Kim Yu-shin was impossible.

By the time they arrived, the situation would already be over.

But… there was Kim Seo-hyun, a first-generation hero like Yoo Soo-gap.

And Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yoon were no longer the same as before.

The signal flare would gather heroes and Hwarang near Gyeongju, and while hiding in the bushes, they had called Kim Seo-hyun through Manager Kim, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

They didn’t think they could win against her, but they didn’t think they would lose either.

“Scorpion mister, that guy looks weaker, so you handle him, and we’ll take the girl.”

“…Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

As soon as the Scorpion finished speaking, Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yoon charged at Pigrithia lying on the ground.