Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 521

‘He cut it off at a deliberately ambiguous point.’

Is there something more after this? Rembrary checked the back of the paper. There was nothing there.

―One of the group

Did he not finish the sentence, or could he not? Or was it written and then erased? Like how words get censored with a beep sound?

There are people who like to torment listeners by cutting off words at important parts, but it didn’t seem like someone who deliberately provides food [hints or clues] would do that.

‘Is there someone in the group who attacked Woo Sungwoo?’

Has Woo Sungwoo already been processed as dead?

The first dead participant disappeared 15 minutes after being discovered by people. Then Woo Sungwoo too…….

‘No, no. I don’t know yet if the corpse disappears only when people discover it.’

Maybe the corpse didn’t disappear 15 minutes after people discovered it, but actually disappeared about 30 minutes after death, and people just happened to discover it 15 minutes later.

In other words, no one knew yet whether it disappeared 15 minutes after the corpse was discovered, 15 minutes after becoming a corpse, or 30 minutes after death.

So, it was still unknown whether Woo Sungwoo died and his corpse disappeared, or whether he didn’t die, or whether he died but the corpse was hidden.

‘Anyway, he didn’t just slip and disappear on his own…….’

Woo Sungwoo was a high-end hunter, but he was already strong enough to work as Nakru [a high-ranking position or organization] even before his awakening.

It wasn’t just his ability that disappeared, but everyone’s abilities disappeared under the same conditions, so he wasn’t someone who would be easily defeated just because his ability disappeared.

Who could be capable of dealing with such a Woo Sungwoo?

‘We should exclude Mulchi and Gamjae. Minsoo was obviously Woo Sungwoo to anyone, so there’s no reason for them to attack Minsoo.’

Then who? Noir? Is Noir in here?

‘Maybe.’

Then is one of the two fakes Noir? What about the other one?

The other one…… the other one might also be a demon. Maybe Noir’s friend. Or unexpectedly, another Warrior.

If they were demons, they could deal with Woo Sungwoo, whose abilities were blocked.

‘I want to talk about this with Mulchi and Gamjae.’

But the only person Rembrary was sure was an ally was Woo Sungwoo.

Rembrary still couldn’t distinguish who was Mulchi between Geumsoo and Cheolsoo, or who was Sagamjae between Insoo and Kyungsoo.

Even if he wanted to discuss this, he didn’t know who among them he should discuss it with.

Feeling helpless, Rembrary muttered with conviction.

“This is all Mulchi’s fault. It’s because Mulchi can’t give me trust.”

* * *

Things are proceeding more quietly than I thought. I thought it would be chaos since Noir directly participated.

Warrior stared intently at the crystal ball and thought.

Thinking the same thing, Cloth, who was initially full of anticipation, kept complaining.

Cloth: You’ve got the wrong culprit

Cloth: Is the culprit asleep?

Cloth: Who is the culprit? Why aren’t they active?

While looking at the dissatisfied sentences, Warrior inadvertently revealed what he saw.

Warrior: Culprit is Cheolsoo

The culprit wasn’t sleeping either. Though he didn’t seem very motivated.

If Noir deliberately made Cheolsoo the culprit, then his judgment was wrong, and if it was randomly assigned…… there’s nothing he can do.

Just because he’s guarding the pillar doesn’t mean he can control the dungeons tied to it as he pleases.

Within the dungeon, the most effective thing wasn’t the demon guarding the pillar, but the rules assigned to each dungeon.

Warrior, who had been repeatedly subjected to it several times, knew better than anyone.

Cloth: Really? How do you know? Did you see it with the crystal ball?

Warrior: I saw it with the crystal ball

* * *

Rembrary paced around the room with the note in his hand.

Now, the problem wasn’t just preventing the culprit from harming people and then escaping together.

If he wasn’t careful, he might lose Woo Sungwoo here.

Woo Sungwoo is a great asset in the real world, so he must be taken out.

‘From now on, everyone should stick together and sleep in the same room.’

Even if two of them are demons, if they stick together, they’ll have to hide their identities, so they won’t be able to do anything more.

Besides, there’s Sagamjae, a grim reaper, on this side.

Unless the demons’ basic powers are blocked, Sagamjae’s powers wouldn’t be blocked either.

Shin Jo-un’s ice ability would be 100% blocked though.

‘Right. Maybe Gamjae can do something.’

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Rembrary quickly put the note in his pocket and opened the door.

“Who is it?”

Standing outside the door was Cheolsoo. The one who was confused about whether Rembrary was Shin Jo-un or not.

“Oh? Why did you come?”

When Rembrary asked, Cheolsoo smiled and replied.

“I waited, but you didn’t come.”

Soon, his gaze reached the opened lunch box over Rembrary’s shoulder.

“You went up after receiving something from the staff. I was wondering if the staff said anything.”

* * *

Woo Sungwoo wasn’t in his room on the second floor either.

Shin Jo-un sat on the bed, crossed his legs, and recalled the story he heard from Yoonsoo.

Yoonsoo was terrified, rolling his eyes around, and finally confessed.

―I don’t know who took the key. I couldn’t see their face.

He said he was alone in the room with the door closed, and suddenly a note was placed in front of the mirror on the dresser.

There was some distance between the door, the mirror, and the window, so it was impossible to put the note on it from the outside.

But there was definitely a note on it that hadn’t been there before.

Because he had thoroughly examined every corner of the room as soon as he entered, Yoonsoo was sure that the note had appeared out of nowhere.

When he looked at the note, it said to leave the key somewhere in the mansion.

The time was also set, and it said that if he did as he was told, he could leave safely.

―Of course, I was terrified. Right? If they can put a note here without a sound, they can kill me without a sound.

Yoonsoo said he did as he was told. He said he never thought they would bring a corpse to his room.

But that was it, Yoonsoo watched Shin Jo-un, saying he didn’t know the culprit’s face or name.

With an expression that clearly showed he was thinking, ‘Why are you all messing with me?’

‘Whether the culprit took it directly or an accomplice helped, it’s certain that a demon is involved.’

In a situation where awakened abilities or Rembrary’s saint abilities are all blocked, the fact that they put only the note on the dresser without entering the room meant that the opponent could use a special method.

‘Maybe the demon guarding the first district pillar has stepped in. If everyone’s abilities are blocked but they’re the only one fine, it means they’re benefiting to some extent.’

Then he heard something tapping next to him, and when he looked, Insoo and Kyungsoo were taking turns kicking each other’s ankles and insteps.

Shin Jo-un looked at his watch.

It had been a while since Rembrary went up to leave the lunch box, but he hadn’t come back.

That strange guy, who wasn’t directly claiming ‘I’m Shin Jo-un,’ but subtly acted like him, also said he was going to get water but hadn’t come back.

“He’s not coming down.”

When Shin Jo-un muttered, Kyungsoo stopped kicking Insoo and stood up.

“Let’s go together.”

The three left Minsoo’s room and moved to the stairs.

But as they were going up the stairs, they saw Rembrary coming out as the door opened.

For some reason, his expression was a bit dazed, unlike before.

“What’s wrong?”

After waiting for him to come down and getting closer, he asked, and Rembrary quickly turned his head to look at him.

As their eyes met, Rembrary grabbed his arm and pulled him.

“Let’s talk. Mulchi.”

* * *

Rembrary took Shin Jo-un to the study, but when there were people there, he moved again to the billiard room.

But when there were people there too, Rembrary had to go up to the children’s playroom on the fourth floor.

Fortunately, there was no one in the playroom.

Rembrary closed the door and kept Shin Jo-un away from the door, then asked.

“Who seems more real between Insoo and Kyungsoo?”

At those words, Shin Jo-un, or rather Geumsoo whose face had changed, raised his eyebrows and looked at Rembrary, asking in a teasing tone.

“You think I’m the real one?”

Rembrary nodded confidently.

“Of course. I knew it from the beginning!”

“No, you didn’t know at first.”

Even when Shin Jo-un didn’t believe him, Rembrary just shrugged.

“You have no sense.”

In fact, it was Cheolsoo, the one who was confused about whether Rembrary was Shin Jo-un or not, who told Rembrary that ‘Geumsoo is Shin Jo-un.’

He didn’t say it outright, but he expressed it in a roundabout way.

But he chose his words very carefully while speaking, and it didn’t seem like he was just trying to prevent the beep sound.

At first, Rembrary was just looking at him, wondering, ‘Why is he doing that?’ but he realized it later.

That there was something like the crystal ball that the Warrior in the third district was looking at in the first district as well.

The demon in charge of the first district might be watching this side.

But why is that guy telling me this story? Rembrary was surprised and looked at him, and Cheolsoo showed his palm.

He inadvertently gave him a high-five, and the guy chuckled, shook his head, and lowered his hand. Then he left first.

But when he was about to tell Shin Jo-un this story, he became cautious because he didn’t know where the demons might be listening to the conversation.

Rembrary also suspected that one of the four, Geumsoo, Cheolsoo, Insoo, and Kyungsoo, was Noir.

But since Geumsoo is Shin Jo-un and Cheolsoo doesn’t seem to be Noir, the range has now narrowed further.

One of Insoo and Kyungsoo was Noir.

Noir who can see what’s happening here. So, he had to choose his words carefully.

“You say I have no sense? I knew you were you from the beginning.”

“Well, isn’t my tone elegant?”

“Is it?”

“Of course. But your words are as common as sand on the beach.”

“……”

“Still, I’m smart, so I noticed. Ah, you’re Mulchi.”

“Isn’t it too late for someone smart to notice? It’s already been three days.”

“That’s not important, Mulchi. One of Insoo and Kyungsoo…….”

Shin Jo-un raised his eyebrows as Rembrary suddenly stopped talking.

“What’s wrong?”

Rembrary widened his eyes and tapped his arm.

Thinking that if one of Insoo and Kyungsoo was Noir, it might be dangerous to leave Sagamjae alone with them.

Yesterday, Noir might have fought Sagamjae like a kangaroo [fought playfully or deceptively] to act, but now that his identity is almost revealed, he might stop acting.

“Let’s talk about this later. Let’s go to Gamjae first.”

“Who’s Gamjae? Cheolsoo, Insoo, Kyungsoo, who?”

“Insoo or Kyungsoo.”

Rembrary quickly opened the door. Then, as he was about to go down the stairs, he heard a scream from the floor below.

A scream similar to the ones people made when they found the corpse yesterday.

“!”

Rembrary and Shin Jo-un looked at each other once and hurriedly went down the stairs at a fast pace.

As they ran around looking for the place where people were gathered in the hallway, they ended up coming down to the first floor.

Several people were gathered around the first floor reception room. Rembrary ran towards there.

‘Please don’t let it be Woo Sungwoo.’