TOMDB 10

Chapter: 10

Instinctively, I spread my arms and stepped in front of Jeong Rabit.

If that hand—or rather, that hoof—hit my head, I might die on the spot.

The thought made my knees tremble, but I clenched my teeth and forced strength into both legs.

‘The bracelet is supposed to block one physical attack…!’

Relying on the bead wrapped around my wrist, I suppressed my fear.

But Ma Yoonsang’s reaction was nothing like I expected.

“What are you doing?”

He muttered in disbelief, narrowing his eyes at me as though I were some strange person.

Then he lowered his arm almost immediately.

The hand that had partially transformed had already returned to normal.

The hoof that had looked ready to strike moments ago had completely disappeared.

“Unnie.”

Rabit hurriedly grabbed my arm.

“I know what you’re thinking right now, but Yoonsang isn’t that kind of person.”

I froze.

The bracelet had definitely turned cloudy just a moment ago.

While I stood there in confusion, Ma Yoonsang shot me a crooked glance.

“You’re a purifier?”

“That’s right. Why?”

“Then don’t go around calling yourself one with skills that pathetic.”

“…What?”

I was left speechless, and he turned his back without another word.

At first, anger welled up inside me.

But the more I thought about it, the stranger it felt.

His tone had been incredibly sharp, yet his eyes…

‘Worry? Or… pity?’

For just an instant, it had felt as though he was looking at me with sympathy.

Silence settled over the empty locker room hallway.

“But I definitely sensed corrupted energy…”

I muttered blankly to myself.

After hesitating for a long moment, Rabit finally spoke.

“Yoonsang… was a victim of forbidden magic experiments conducted by the Horse Clan. When the Horse Clan followed the Rat Clan and declared themselves Fallen, then declared war on the other clans, he opposed the war and left his family.”

“Forbidden magic experiments?!”

My eyes widened.

Rabit nodded weakly.

“Yes. I don’t know all the details either. But ever since then, something has definitely been wrong with his body. That’s probably why you sensed corrupted energy.”

Both worry and sorrow filled her eyes.

I looked down at my bracelet.

The bead that had turned murky was now shining as clearly as if nothing had happened.

‘Damn…’

I bit my lip in frustration.

I felt guilty for having treated him like a dangerous criminal.

‘Because I know better than anyone how painful loneliness and the absence of family can be.’

According to Alfred…

My Spirit Eyes were still only at the beginner level.

I couldn’t see through everyone’s condition yet.

Once the skill grew stronger, I’d supposedly be able to tell someone’s illness with nothing more than a glance.

‘But right now, I can only examine patients I’ve personally treated.’

Yoonsang had refused my treatment.

That brief encounter wasn’t enough for me to read either his spiritual energy or his corrupted energy.

I turned back to Rabit.

“Do you know exactly what’s wrong with Yoonsang’s body?”

She shook her head.

“I don’t. He barely answers my calls… Today he surprisingly agreed to come, so I thought he’d finally decided to get treatment. But it turns out he only came to yell at us.”

She bit her lip.

“Still… I heard he started having seizure-like episodes after the experiments. It’s affected his performance a lot.”

I narrowed my eyes.

A seizure disorder?

And those bloodshot eyes I’d just seen…

That deeply furrowed expression, like he was desperately suppressing his anger…

‘Could it be… he isn’t hot-tempered at all? Maybe it’s because of his illness?’

As I rested my chin on my hand, lost in thought, Rabit lowered her head gloomily.

“I’m sorry. I made you come all this way for nothing.”

“No way! Since we’re already here, let’s just enjoy the match and the performance.”

I waved my hands with a smile.

Then I glanced at my bracelet once more.

My face reflected faintly in the now-clear bead.

‘Right. This isn’t over yet.’

If Ma Yoonsang truly needed treatment…

Then we’d meet again.

The thunderous pounding of drums echoed as roaring cheers engulfed the stadium.

“Korea! Korea! Korea!”

Tens of thousands of voices shouted together, making the very air vibrate.

The sound of cleats pounding across the grass, the referee’s whistle, and the commentator’s voice all blended together until my ears rang.

Sitting in the stands, I took a deep breath.

‘Wow… so this is what a real stadium feels like.’

It was on an entirely different level from watching on television.

But…

Throughout the entire first half, Ma Yoonsang couldn’t seem to concentrate.

His explosive speed remained as incredible as ever.

Yet every shot flew wide, and pass after pass ended in careless mistakes.

Running across the field with a deep frown, he looked less like a soccer player and more like someone furious at the dazzling lights and deafening cheers surrounding him.

“What’s wrong with Ma Yoonsang today?!”

“Focus already!”

Boos erupted from the crowd.

I bit my lip.

‘Just as I thought… there’s definitely something wrong with his body.’

This wasn’t like Rabit’s case.

Even though Rabit had been in pain, she’d forced herself to keep moving, making her movements awkward.

Yoonsang’s movements themselves were flawless.

The problem was that his concentration kept breaking, causing him to lose the ball.

‘What exactly is wrong with him?’

It felt like I was on the verge of figuring it out…

Yet the answer kept slipping away.

While I was lost in thought, the first half finally ended.

2–0.

Korea was behind.

“Take Ma Yoonsang off!”

“Is this really our national team?!”

Since it was a Korea–Japan match—and held on Korean home soil—the atmosphere in the stands became even more hostile.

I clicked my tongue sympathetically.

‘Losing to Japan really leaves a bad taste in your mouth.’

Soon halftime began.

Staff members rushed onto the field, quickly assembling a temporary stage.

Massive spotlights lit up as the stage framework came together with astonishing speed.

My eyes widened.

“Wow…”

Lunar’s halftime performance would consist of only two songs.

Since it was during halftime, they couldn’t perform for very long.

Thanks to Rabit, I was seated in the very front row.

The stage was only a few steps away.

It felt close enough to reach out and touch.

“Everyone, please enjoy the rest of the match~!”

As the music began, Jeong Rabit smiled brightly from the stage, effortlessly lifting the crowd’s mood.

You’d never guess she’d been arguing with Yoonsang just a little while ago.

She looked every bit the professional.

I smiled faintly.

‘Yeah… even if Korea loses, at least I’ll enjoy the performance.’

I still wanted to treat Ma Yoonsang.

But I couldn’t force treatment on someone who didn’t want it.

“Wooooo!”

“Lunar! Lunar!”

The first song ended to thunderous applause.

Just as the second song began—

Flash.

The Cat’s Eye Stone hanging around my neck suddenly sparkled.

Then it started pulling me toward somewhere.

Exactly like the day it had led me to Chairman Baekhojung.

“…!”

I hurriedly grabbed the necklace.

The stone was pulling me powerfully toward the stage.

At the same time, the bead on my bracelet rapidly turned dark.

Far darker than before.

‘What?!’

Startled, I quickly looked around.

CRAAACK!

A deafening metallic snap echoed overhead.

The giant lighting rig suspended from the ceiling shook violently…

Then came crashing down.

Straight toward Jeong Rabit.

“Rabit!”

“AAAAAH!”

People screamed.

But I was already running toward the stage.

Countless eyes turned to look at me.

I didn’t care.

Whoosh!

I threw myself forward, wrapped my arms around Rabit, and hurled us both onto the stage floor.

BOOM!

The enormous lighting fixture slammed down right beside us, exploding into countless pieces.

If it had hit us directly…

We would’ve died instantly.

“Huff… huff…”

Panting heavily, I lifted my head.

Screams echoed from every direction as people ran around in complete panic.

“U-Unnie! Are you okay?!”

Tears welled in Rabit’s eyes as she grabbed my arm.

Calming my racing heart, I answered,

“Yeah… I’m fine. What about you?”

“I… I’m okay too… thanks to you…”

At that very moment…

A chill ran down my spine.

Creeeak…

This time, the large backdrop behind the stage tilted forward.

Its enormous shadow swallowed us.

‘Ah…’

For an instant…

I thought,

‘This is really the end.’

Still shielding Rabit, I squeezed my eyes shut.

Then—

CRASH!

The bead on my bracelet shattered into countless fragments.

A brilliant flash of light erupted.

In the next instant, a transparent barrier spread around the two of us.

The collapsing wall veered away…

And crashed beside us instead.

BOOOOM!

Debris scattered in every direction.

Hidden beneath the rubble, we held our breath.

Beyond the fallen wall, I could hear the audience screaming and staff members shouting in confusion.

Still breathing hard, I grabbed Rabit’s shoulders.

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt?”

“Y-Yes… Unnie…”

Then—

I sensed someone nearby.

Inside the shadow of the wreckage.

I whipped my head around.

A tall, muscular man stood there with his fists clenched tightly.

Ma Yoonsang.

“Yoonsang…? Don’t tell me… you…”

Rabit called out to him with a trembling voice.

He looked utterly flustered, like someone who had just been caught doing something wrong.

“What are you doing—”

Before I could finish my question…

A violent aura surged through the gaps in the wreckage like the calm before a storm.

Then an enraged shout rang out.

“You filthy Fallen bastard! How dare you!”

It was Baek Eunho.

Charging through the cloud of dust, he grabbed Ma Yoonsang by the collar.

“…!”

Rabit gasped.

Meanwhile, I stared back and forth between the two men amid the shattered stage.

Whoosh.

Baek Eunho raised his fist.

It looked like he was about to punch Yoonsang in the face.

“Stop!”

Snapping out of my shock, I hurriedly stepped between them.

“No! Mr. Yoonsang can’t possibly be the culprit!”

“What do you know?! You’re defending him without understanding how vicious these Fallen scum really are!”

Baek Eunho’s eyes blazed with fury.

Frustrated, I clenched my fist against my chest.

“That’s not it! Mr. Yoonsang suffers from photophobia because of his illness! Someone like him could never have caused those stage lights to fall!”

“…What?”

Rabit.

Yoonsang.

Eunho.

All three of them stared at me with wide eyes.

Looking directly at Yoonsang, I spoke firmly.

“Isn’t that right, Mr. Yoonsang? You’ve been suffering because of migraines, haven’t you?”