"The Night He Never Came Home"
"Fine. Tomorrow morning at 9," Suire said.
She and Julian were still standing near the university gate as evening slowly settled.
Suddenly—
Jinha arrived.
"9 o'clock for what?" she asked sharply.
Julian and Suire were both startled.
Julian stuttered nervously.
"W-what? Nothing. We were just fixing a time to talk about something personal."
Suire crossed her arms and replied coldly.
"Yes. And you don't need to interfere in our personal matters."
Jinha looked at them with irritation.
"I'm not interested in interfering in your business."
She paused before asking,
"Julian… did you see Jeigan today?"
Julian shrugged.
"No. I didn't. Maybe he's somewhere eating grass in a field."
Suire burst into laughter.
Jinha's expression hardened.
"Asking you two anything is useless."
"You think everyone is like you."
She looked at them again.
"Do either of you know his home address?"
Suire scoffed.
"We don't keep track of where that idiot lives."
"We don't know anything about him."
"Now stop disturbing us and go."
Jinha turned away.
"Fine. I'm leaving."
Meanwhile…
7 PM.
At Jeigan's house.
Sumie sat at the dining table anxiously.
"Listen… Jeigan still hasn't come home."
"I'm starting to feel scared."
Ruden remained calm.
"Wait. Don't worry."
"I'll call the university principal."
He dialed the number.
The call connected.
"Hello. Who is this?" the voice asked.
"Sir, this is Ruden, Jeigan's father. My son studies in your university, second year."
"Oh! Mr. Ruden," the principal replied warmly.
"Your son is an amazing student."
"He solved the first-to-second year entrance exam within minutes."
"I was actually planning to talk to you about him."
Ruden looked confused.
"I understand, sir… but Jeigan hasn't come home yet."
The principal's tone suddenly changed.
"What? He hasn't come home yet?"
"University ended hours ago."
Sumie gasped and tears filled her eyes.
"No, sir," Ruden said nervously.
"He hasn't come back."
"Wait," the principal replied.
"I will call his class teacher and ask."
"Please do," Ruden said.
The call ended.
Principal Jiroto immediately called Teacher Liana.
She answered quickly.
"Yes, Principal sir?"
"Mrs. Liana, do you know anything about Jeigan?"
"Jeigan? The new second-year transfer student?"
"No… I don't know anything. He didn't come to university today."
Jiroto froze.
"What?"
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes," she replied firmly.
"I checked during roll call and his name was marked absent."
"Why? Did something happen?"
Jiroto sighed.
"His father just called me."
"He left home for university but never arrived."
Liana's voice became serious.
"That's bad."
"We need to do something."
"I'll inform his father that he never came to university," Jiroto said.
"And I'll message the university group to see if any students know something."
"Alright," he replied.
Meanwhile…
Back at Jeigan's house.
Sumie was sitting on the sofa crying.
"My son… where did he go?"
Ruden held her gently and stroked her head.
"Don't worry."
"He will come back."
"Nothing will happen to him."
At that moment—
Ruden's phone rang.
He answered it.
"Yes sir… did you find something?"
Suddenly—
His face turned pale.
The phone slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
From the phone, Jiroto's voice continued.
"Hello? Mr. Ruden?"
"We are trying our best to find him…"
But Ruden stood frozen.
Sumie rushed toward him and shook him.
"What happened?!"
"Where is he?!"
Ruden spoke slowly.
"He… never went to university today."
Sumie began shaking him desperately.
"What are you saying?!"
"Then where is he?!"
Ruden held her tightly.
"Sit down."
"I'm going to inform the police."
Sumie cried loudly.
"No! I'm coming with you!"
Ruden knelt in front of her and held her cheeks.
"Look at me."
"I promise I will bring him back."
"Please don't cry."
Sumie slowly calmed down.
"…Alright."
"I'll wait for both of you."
Ruden smiled faintly.
"Take care of yourself."
He turned and ran out of the house toward the police station.
Meanwhile…
At Teacher Liana's house.
She sent a voice message to the university group.
"Hello everyone. This is Mrs. Liana."
"I need to ask something important."
"A second-year student named Jeigan is missing."
"His parents cannot find him."
"Did anyone see him today?"
"If you know anything, please reply."
Replies started appearing immediately.
"No ma'am."
"I didn't see him."
"Not today."
"I have no idea."
Meanwhile…
At Jinha's house.
Jinha suddenly saw the message.
"What?!"
"He's not at home either?"
Her heart started racing.
Where could he be?
Walinsiya watched her quietly while drinking blood from a blood bag.
"Hm… the fire has started."
"And soon it will spread everywhere."
She smiled dangerously before walking toward her room.
Jinha looked worried.
"What should I do…?"
"Did someone kidnap him?"
"No…"
"Tomorrow morning I'll go out and search for him."
Meanwhile…
At Takemishi's house.
Takemishi was playing a game on his phone.
Then he saw Liana's message.
His face turned pale.
He knew everything.
But he stayed silent.
Feeling guilty, he slowly swiped the message away.
Then continued playing the game.
Meanwhile…
Inside the Lamia Forest Castle storage room.
Jeigan was quietly crying.
(Mom… Dad… where are you?)
His stomach growled loudly.
"I'm so hungry…"
Suddenly—
The door opened.
Two Lamia entered.
Their eyes looked strangely hypnotized.
One of them carried a plate of food.
Jeigan looked at them desperately.
"Why am I locked here?"
"Please let me go!"
One Lamia silently walked behind him and untied his ropes.
The other handed him the plate.
Jeigan looked confused.
"…Food?"
His hands trembled as he tried to eat with a spoon.
The pain from being tied for so long made his hands shake badly.
Suddenly—
One Lamia snatched the plate from his hands.