Game of Manipulation
BOOM!
The Lamia Castle doors shattered.
A violent burst tore through the entrance, dust and debris exploding into the air.
Walinsiya smiled.
"Game… on."
Julian and Suire turned instantly.
"What was that—?!"
Inside the storage room—
Hanaume flinched.
"That sound…?"
Jeigan struggled against the ropes.
"I don't know… but something's happening…"
Back at the hall—
The dust slowly settled.
A figure stepped forward.
Jinha.
Eyes glowing.
Aura heavy.
Unstable.
Each step echoed.
Cold. Controlled. Dangerous.
"So…"
Her voice cut through the silence.
"This is your doing."
A pause.
"Where is Jeigan?"
Julian's expression twisted.
"You…?!"
Suire instinctively stepped back.
Walinsiya raised her hand slightly.
Calm.
"Relax, Jinha."
"What's the hurry?"
"Sit. We can talk."
Jinha's eyes narrowed.
"…Walinsiya."
Julian froze.
"Wal… what?"
Suire looked confused.
Jinha stepped forward.
Ignoring them.
"Where. Is. Jeigan."
Walinsiya smiled faintly.
"Before that…"
"Don't you want to know where he was last night?"
"I don't care."
"Give him back."
Walinsiya's gaze shifted.
"Suire."
Suire stepped forward.
Hesitation.
Acting.
"Actually…"
"…me and Jeigan…"
"We spent the whole night together…"
Her voice trembled—perfectly fake.
Julian smirked slightly.
(What a perfect move…)
Jinha's pupils shrank.
"…What did you just say?"
Walinsiya flicked her hand.
"Still don't believe it?"
"Then look."
Photos scattered across the floor.
Jinha stared.
Slowly… bent down.
Picked one up.
Her fingers trembled.
Another photo slipped from her hand.
Silence.
"…No…"
A whisper.
Barely a voice.
Her breathing became uneven.
"…this is… wrong…"
Her grip tightened.
"…this is a lie…"
Her vision blurred.
She dropped to her knees.
Walinsiya watched.
Smiling.
Deal: Silent Barrier
Status: Activated
A transparent barrier locked around Jinha.
Sound disappeared.
The world… went quiet.
Only one voice remained.
Walinsiya's.
Behind her—
Julian spoke casually.
"So our job's done."
"I'll drop Suire—"
"Stay."
Walinsiya raised her hand.
Deal: Gravity Magnification
Status: Accepted
BOOM!
Julian and Suire slammed into the wall.
"AAAGH!"
Blood splattered.
Inside the barrier—
Nothing.
Jinha heard nothing.
Saw nothing.
Only the photos.
Only the pain.
In the storage room—
Hanaume frowned.
"What was that impact?!"
Jeigan struggled harder.
"Forget that—untie this!"
Back—
Julian coughed.
"W-What… are you doing…?!"
Suire panicked.
"Let us go!"
Walinsiya stepped closer.
Slow.
Elegant.
"You fools…"
"You walked into my trap."
Julian's eyes widened.
"…Trap?"
Jinha slowly stood.
Unstable.
Wiping her tears.
"…Walinsiya…"
"Tell me…"
"…is this real?"
Julian shouted—
"WHO THE HELL IS WALINSIYA?!"
Walinsiya smiled.
"My real name… is Walinsiya."
"'Marry'… was just a lie."
Suire trembled.
"Julian… I don't understand…"
Julian clenched his fists.
"…Hanaume was right…"
"You were using us."
Walinsiya laughed softly.
"And yet…"
"You still chose to be used."
Jinha's aura began rising.
Unstable.
Cracking.
"Answer me…"
"Did he… really do this…?"
Walinsiya looked straight at her.
"Yes."
"He spent the entire night with her."
Outside the barrier—
Suire screamed—
"That's NOT TRUE!"
But inside—
Silence.
Only one truth remained.
The one Walinsiya gave her.
Jinha's lips trembled.
"…He lied…"
"…to me…"
Her fingers clenched.
"…He used me…"
Walinsiya's smile deepened.
"Good…"
Julian shouted—
"JINHA! IT'S A LIE!"
No response.
"Now…"
Walinsiya raised her hand.
"Break."
I, Walinsiya Valtherion
Order: Activate Deal of Valtherion
Status: Accepted
Suire's eyes widened.
"Valtherion…?!"
"That's a royal devil bloodline—!"
Julian roared.
"What are you trying to do?!"
Walinsiya's voice turned cold.
"Her soul…"
"…is pure."
"…and powerful."
"I'll turn her into my weapon."
Julian froze.
"You want to control her…?"
Walinsiya whispered—
"Everything… will be mine."
"JINHA WAKE UP!" Julian screamed.
Nothing.
Walinsiya lowered her hand slowly.
Valtherion: Manipulative Weakness
Status: Activated
Jinha's body froze.
Then—
Lifted into the air.
Her head tilted.
Eyes empty.
Red-black energy wrapped around her.
Something inside her…
Cracked.
Outside—
All Lamia suddenly collapsed.
Their hypnotized eyes cleared.
Julian realized.
"So that's why…"
"They were being controlled…"
Suire trembled.
"I'm scared…"
Julian stepped forward.
"I'm here."
Then shouted—
"STOP THIS!"
"PLEASE!"
Walinsiya smiled.
"You still don't understand."
"You're all already mine."
Above—
Jinha floated.
Her mind being rewritten.
Julian screamed—
"JINHAAAA!!!"
In the storage room—
The ropes suddenly loosened.
Fell.
Two Lamia stepped forward.
"My name is Walmiliya."
"And I am Walminiya."
"We are the princesses of this castle."
Hanaume froze.
"…They can talk now?"
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The wall exploded.
Police stormed in.
"FREEZE!"
"FORCE! AIM!"
Weapons locked onto Walinsiya.
"Surrender now!"
Julian shouted—
"HELP US!"
"We've got you!" the officer replied.
Walinsiya laughed.
Low.
Dark.
"Hahahahaha…"
"More players…"
Outside—
Lamia roared wildly.
Then—
A massive shockwave erupted.
From above.
Jinha.
Floating.
Aura exploding uncontrollably.
Her eyes—
Different.
Empty.
Broken.
Walinsiya smiled.
"Perfect."