Call of Abyss

Chapter 13

The sun set, and one by one, the stars appeared through the darkness.

Normally, Ada Mansion would be shrouded in deep darkness, but now it was engulfed in fierce flames, illuminating a stretch of the Gangwon-do mountains as if it were midday.

Sungmin descended into the garden, supporting Baeksan through the thick, black smoke that covered the mansion.

It was because they judged that being in the garden was safer than being in the mansion engulfed in flames.

In various parts of the garden, Medici Family evangelists and Abyss Hunters were engaged in battle against the Abyss One, which had somehow gathered there.

"Sergeant Shin! Seoyeon! Assistant Kim!"

Sungmin shouted at the top of his lungs as he looked around the garden, which had become a scene of chaos.

At that moment, a military knife flew towards Sungmin's eyes.

In his haste, Sungmin swung the silver bow he was holding to deflect the military knife.

"It seems like the Medici Family evangelist you mentioned before, Gas Mask.

A gas mask and a poncho... quite a unique outfit."

Baeksan said, releasing the arm he had draped over Sungmin's shoulder, as he watched the large man who had approached them.

"Gas Mask! Is Mina safe?"

Sungmin shouted towards the large man.

The large man heard Sungmin's words and took off the gas mask he was wearing, throwing it to one side of the garden.

"She's safe. The child has been reborn.

Now she's the strongest force of our Medici Family."

"Medici Family? Nonsense! There's no way she would join such a place!"

"How much do you think you really know about that child?

I bet you don't know a single thing about her properly."

"What did you say?"

"Well, it doesn't matter now anyway.

You're going to die here.

I need to reclaim the power you took from me."

As soon as Gas Mask finished speaking, he rushed towards Sungmin at high speed.

Sungmin swung his silver bow at Gas Mask, but Gas Mask easily blocked it with one arm and then punched towards Sungmin's chest.

Sungmin felt intense pain and fell backward.

"Gas Mask... your strength has become much stronger...."

"You're no longer a match for me.

I promise to kill you as quickly as possible."

Gas Mask said, pulling out another military knife from his pocket and pointing it at Sungmin.

At that moment, a strong gust of wind began to blow between Gas Mask and Sungmin.

Gas Mask covered his face with one arm and stepped back.

"Uncle!"

Seoyeon ran towards Sungmin with Sergeant Shin and Assistant Kim, extending one hand towards Gas Mask.

"It seems like I'm at a disadvantage here."

Gas Mask said, looking at Sungmin, Baeksan, Seoyeon, Sergeant Shin, and Assistant Kim gathered together.

At that moment, the sound of sirens blared from outside the mansion again.

"Let's retreat for now.

But don't let your guard down.

The fun fire festival is just beginning."

Gas Mask said with a creepy smile, turning his body and quickly leaving the mansion's garden.

Sungmin watched Gas Mask disappear and sighed in relief, then turned his gaze back to where the siren sounds were coming from with an anxious expression.

He had a feeling that something bigger and more threatening was coming.

Ada slowly opened her eyes as she felt someone shaking her body.

In front of her appeared the tear-streaked face of Jisoo.

"Jisoo...."

"Ms. Ada.... The mansion is on fire. You need to get out of here quickly."

Ada looked at Jisoo with a gentle expression and stroked her hair.

A smart and lovable child.

When she first met Jisoo six years ago, she never thought their relationship would end so soon.

She wanted to spend just a little more time with Jisoo.

She wanted to teach her more and do more things together.

Ada looked at the sobbing Jisoo and, with Cheongryong's support, leaned her upper body against the wall.

"Jisoo, listen carefully to what I'm about to say.

I'm going to appoint you as the 10th Ada Lovelace from now on."

"Ms. Ada!"

Jisoo shouted, looking at Ada with eyes wide in surprise.

"For the past six years, I've kept you by my side and passed on most of my power and knowledge to you.

It was all to prepare for a day like today.

Now, with the last of my strength, I'm going to strengthen the mansion's barrier until everyone, including you and Cheongryong, can evacuate.

After that... someone needs to take on the name of Ada Lovelace and lead the people.

With your power, knowledge, and leadership, you can do it.

Though you're young, you're already better than me in every way."

"Ms. Ada, that's impossible. How can I replace you? Please don't say such things."

Jisoo said, crying her eyes out as she spoke to Ada.

"Jisoo, come here."

Ada pulled Jisoo's body into her arms.

Jisoo's small and frail body trembled endlessly in Ada's embrace.

"Jisoo, there must have been times when you wanted to play like ordinary kids your age, but you couldn't.

Thank you for spending time with me.

You were truly a gift to me."

"Ms. Ada, please come with me.

I can't do this without you. Please."

Jisoo said, burying her face in Ada's arms and crying.

Ada looked at Jisoo for a moment, then wiped away the tears flowing down her cheeks and gently pushed Jisoo away.

"Trainee Gong Jisoo, heed the command of Ada Lovelace."

Ada said to Jisoo in a soft yet firm tone.

Jisoo hesitated for a moment after hearing Ada's words, then clasped her hands together to form an A shape and knelt on one knee in front of Ada.

"From now on, I appoint Trainee Gong Jisoo as the 10th Ada Lovelace.

May the King in Yellow guide and protect your path until the moment of your death."

"Trainee Gong Jisoo, I will heed the command of Ada Lovelace."

At that moment, the yellow necklace around Jisoo's neck shone brightly.

The yellow necklace, one of Hastur's Three Sacred Treasures, recognized Jisoo as the 10th Ada Lovelace.

"Take the Yellow Sword with you.

When the time comes, you will be able to decide who to give the sword to.

It will likely be the same choice I would make."

Ada pointed to the sword wrapped in white cloth next to Jisoo.

Jisoo wiped her tears and picked up the sword wrapped in white cloth, holding it close to her.

"Cheongryong, take the new Ada and quickly leave the mansion."

"I...."

"Guardian Knight Cheongryong, what is your duty?"

"To protect Ms. Ada...."

"Then fulfill your duty now, Cheongryong."

Cheongryong, with his head bowed and tears streaming down his face, clasped his hands together, crossed his thumbs, and formed an A shape with his remaining fingers, then knelt on one knee towards Jisoo.

"Please climb on my back, Ada.

I will quickly get us out of the mansion."

"But Cheongryong...."

"There is no time, Ada."

Despite Cheongryong's urging, Jisoo hesitated to move her feet, then slowly climbed onto Cheongryong's back.

Cheongryong bowed towards Ada, who was leaning against the wall watching them, and quickly exited the study.

"Cheongryong.... Cheongryong...."

Cheongryong felt Jisoo burying her face in his back, calling his name and sobbing.

Cheongryong also shed endless tears as he ran with Jisoo on his back.

"Who do we have here? Isn't it Ada's attendant Gong Jisoo and Guardian Knight Cheongryong?"

As Cheongryong entered the first-floor lobby, a familiar face smiled at him and spoke.

It was Hyunmu, who had not been seen until now.

Hyunmu was holding the nape of Jujak, who was sitting on the floor covered in blood, with his left hand.

"Hyunmu, what is going on?"

"Have you left Ada behind and are running away just the two of you?

Could it be that woman is dead?

If so, it would truly be a shame.

Had she been alive, she would have made a fine gift for Cult Leader Giovanni."

"Hyunmu, have you betrayed us?"

"Betrayal? If you think about it, this mansion and Ada were the ones who betrayed us first."

Hyunmu pointed to the burning lobby of the mansion with his right hand and spoke to Cheongryong.

"Shame on you, Hyunmu!

How dare you betray Ada's mansion?"

Jisoo shouted at Hyunmu as she got off Cheongryong's back.

"A ten-year-old kid sure has a lot to say."

Hyunmu sneered at Jisoo, who was glaring at him with a frown, as if he was very angry.

"Insolent. This person is now the 10th Ada Lovelace."

"What? That little girl is our Ada?"

At Cheongryong's exclamation, Hyunmu burst into laughter, pointing at Jisoo.

"Hyunmu.... what is your reason for betraying us?"

Jisoo asked Hyunmu in a low and firm tone, unfazed by his ridicule.

"Alright, since you are the new Ada, I will answer.

Look at this mansion, boasting a history of a hundred years.

It had the power to move numerous Abyss Hunters and several top-ranking officers of the state, but what has this mansion done for this country?

It only dealt with abyssal monsters that occasionally crawled to the surface.

Even when this country was rotting from the inside due to people more evil than abyssal monsters, Ada's mansion did nothing.

Despite possessing such great power!

When I traveled around the country looking for abyssal monsters on Ada's orders in recent years, I realized.

This country is already doomed.

Even when powerless and good people are exploited and killed by villains, this country does not impose harsh punishments on those villains.

It just pretends to.

Villains do not fear the law.

They do not fear state power.

Instead, they thoroughly exploit the law and power for their own benefit.

I felt disillusioned.

I felt disillusioned with this country's people, its weak laws and power, and truly with myself and Ada's mansion, which could do nothing.

And then I met Cult Leader Giovanni."

Hyunmu took out a test tube filled with black liquid from his bosom with his right hand and opened the lid.

"After meeting Cult Leader Giovanni, I realized there is a last chance to fundamentally change this country.

Through what we used to call abyssal monsters, we will eliminate the true monsters of this country, the villains, and only leave the good and virtuous people in the country.

This is the Neo Renaissance."

Hyunmu finished speaking and poured the black liquid from the test tube into Jujak's mouth.

After a moment, Jujak's body began to writhe and transform.

Jujak's entire body turned black, and tentacle-like things sprouted from his jaw and face.

After some time, Jujak disappeared, and in his place appeared the familiar form of a monster.

It was the Abyss One.

"Guardian Knight Cheongryong, heed the command of Ada Lovelace!"

Jisoo, who was watching Hyunmu and the Abyss One, raised the sword wrapped in white cloth with both hands and shouted to Cheongryong.

Cheongryong heard Jisoo's shout and immediately clasped his hands together, forming an A shape, and knelt on one knee before Jisoo.

"As the 10th Ada, I give my first command to Guardian Knight Cheongryong.

Immediately eradicate the traitor Hyunmu, who betrayed Ada's mansion and killed our precious comrades, right here."

"Guardian Knight Cheongryong, I will heed the command of Ada Lovelace."

Cheongryong unclasped his hands from the A shape and received the sword wrapped in white cloth that Jisoo handed over.

He then quickly stood up and faced Hyunmu and the Abyss One, unwrapping the white cloth from the sword.

The dazzling handle and scabbard of the Yellow Sword were revealed.

"That is indeed the Yellow Sword, one of Hastur's Three Sacred Treasures.

Let's see its power once and for all. Attack!"

At Hyunmu's command, the Abyss One let out a terrifying scream and charged at Cheongryong.

Before the Abyss One could get close, Cheongryong swiftly drew the Yellow Sword from its scabbard and swung it.

Then a beam of yellow light burst from the sword, sparking yellow sparks, and instantly blew away the upper body of the Abyss One.

Hastur's Three Sacred Treasures, which the Great Old One Hastur gave as a gift to humans who wanted to stand against the dreamers of the abyss long ago.

Among them, the most powerful, the Yellow Sword, is said to have a will of its own and only lends its true power to someone who meets its desired conditions.

The first condition is that the wielder of the sword is chosen by the owner of Ada's mansion, Ada Lovelace, and the second is that the wielder must have a strong will to use the sword, even if it means paying any price in the future.

At this very moment today, when Cheongryong met all these conditions and used the Yellow Sword, its power was beyond imagination.

Cheongryong tightened his grip on the sword's handle as he watched the lower half of the Abyss One collapse to the ground.

With this Yellow Sword, it was certain that he could protect the new Ada, who was still just a young and small girl, no matter what happened.