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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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After Ha-yeon left for the day, at 7 PM, a man in a neat suit visited Kwon Tae-ho’s Enforcer Office.
“Good evening, everyone at Kwon Tae-ho’s Enforcer Office. I am Lee Jin-ho, Senior Priest and General Manager of the Northern Seoul Diocese of the Truth Cult.”
The man introduced himself and handed Kwon Tae-ho a business card. The information on the card matched his introduction. Kwon Tae-ho’s eyes lingered on the title “Senior Priest.”
“Priest…?”
“It’s probably their ranking system. I saw it in an article.”
“Haha, I’d prefer it if you called it a job title. All our followers are equal. We only have titles for smoother management.”
Priest Jin-ho smiled kindly and added to Yoo Seol’s explanation. His first impression wasn’t bad. He seemed like a typical kind and gentle clergyman.
“Northern Diocese General Manager… you seem to be quite high-ranking. It’s an honor to have you visit our humble office.”
“It is said that God himself visited brothels to save the foolish masses. And today, I’m here to apologize for the mistakes of our followers. There’s no place I wouldn’t go, be it a pit of fire or a garbage dump.”
While his words sounded polite, he wasn’t denying that the office was humble.
But Kwon Tae-ho didn’t bother pointing it out. His office was far from tidy. In fact, calling it humble was an understatement.
“So? You’re here to apologize? Is that all?”
“Of course not. Naturally, we intend to offer appropriate compensation. For property damage, as well as any emotional distress you may have suffered.”
“You’re more reasonable than I expected.”
“However, there is a condition.”
“Take back what you just said. Are you messing with us?”
Offering a condition while claiming to be there to apologize… what kind of manners were those?
However, shamelessly imposing their own standards was a specialty of religious people. Priest Jin-ho, unfazed by Kwon Tae-ho’s complaint, showed him his smartphone screen.
“Have you seen this video?”
“Never.”
“Hold on, Enforcer Kwon. This is…”
Priest Jin-ho played the video. A familiar scene appeared. It was the footage of Kwon Tae-ho subduing the Truth Cult follower who had been causing a scene at the barbecue restaurant a few days ago.
-You’re a noisy little cultist.
-What?! Cultist?!
Below the familiar video were a provocative title and a string of comments.
[Today’s Legendary Beatdown of a Cultist by an Enforcer lol]Views: 504,245 Likes: 17k Comments: 1,675-Lol serves those cultists right!
-Acting all high and mighty just because he knows a bit of martial arts lol So pathetic, his ego must have taken over his brain lol
ㄴIt’s “pathetic,” not “pathethic.” What’s so fake about it?;;
ㄴNobody asked you?
-You can see how scared his companions are, the woman next to him is even tearing up… When you get older, you realize appearances aren’t everything… so sad…
-Can’t back down in front of a woman… but his opponent is an Enforcer… He must have been so conflicted lol
-The biggest problem is the companions who don’t stop him.
ㄴBut if they’re his companions, aren’t they cultists too?
ㄴIf you think the country is doomed, have a drink~
“As you can see, after that video of you was uploaded, malicious slander and rumors about our cult have been spreading rampantly. In particular, since you, as an Enforcer, labeled our cult a ‘cult,’ there’s a high possibility of the public developing unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“Isn’t it a cult?”
“Enforcer Kwon, please…!”
“A cult only appears to be a religion on the surface, but it’s not a true religion. However, we are a true religion. We have doctrines, scriptures, a god we worship. We are a real religion.”
Despite Kwon Tae-ho’s rude remarks, Priest Jin-ho maintained his polite smile as he explained.
“So? What’s the condition?”
“We’d like you to retract your statement about our cult being a cult. Publicly.”
“Publicly? How?”
“Visit our church. And then we’ll film a video and post it online. A video where you admit you misunderstood our cult, that the Truth Cult is not a cult, something like that.”
“We refuse.”
Yoo Seol flatly refused after hearing Priest Jin-ho’s explanation.
“Why? It’s not a difficult request, is it?”
“Difficult or not, it’s impossible.”
This time, it was Kwon Tae-ho who answered. He frowned and spoke to Priest Jin-ho as if he were stating the obvious.
“Enforcers, whether public or private, are public servants who have a duty to remain neutral on matters of politics, ideology, and religion. In other words, if I make that video, it could be seen as endorsing and supporting a specific religion.”
“If that’s the case, wasn’t calling our follower a cultist also a violation of your neutrality, as it defames a specific religion?”
“He has a point.”
Kwon Tae-ho glanced at Yoo Seol, caught off guard by Priest Jin-ho’s pointed remark. This kind of logical argument wasn’t his forte.
“Sigh…”
Seeing Kwon Tae-ho’s reaction, Yoo Seol took over, as if she had expected this.
“You’re right. It was wrong for an Enforcer to label a specific religion a cult.”
“Then-”
“However, that only applies if the religion in question is a legitimate one.”
Priest Jin-ho’s cheek twitched at Yoo Seol’s words. The polite smile he had maintained began to falter.
“Are you implying that our Truth Cult is not a legitimate religion?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I believe a legitimate religion should guide its followers and have a positive impact on both individuals and society as a whole. But the Truth Cult doesn’t.”
On the surface, the Truth Cult appeared to be a wholesome religious organization, engaging in activities like volunteering and charity work for the homeless. However, that was only a small, positive facet of the Truth Cult.
“The Truth Cult has a history of causing social unrest. Not only have they engaged in aggressive defamation of other religions, but they have also instigated violence. They’ve been criticized for illegal assemblies, excessive proselytizing, and occupying facilities.”
“We acknowledge those points, and it’s a source of regret for us, but those are minor issues caused by a few followers. The religion itself-”
“Above all, your practice of using doomsday prophecies to prey on people’s fears and coerce them into faith does not appear to me to be a normal or righteous religion. Do you know what we call an organization that exploits its followers’ finances and labor based on unfounded doomsday predictions?”
A sharp smile spread across Yoo Seol’s face. A smile that looked down on her opponent.
“A fraud.”
“…….”
-Crack!
Those words were the final straw, shattering Priest Jin-ho’s polite facade. A vein throbbed in his forehead. But Yoo Seol continued, unfazed.
“For the record, these are my personal opinions and do not represent the views of Kwon Tae-ho’s Enforcer Office. Unlike Enforcers, Assistant Directors are not obligated to remain neutral.”
“Such a difference in religious views. It seems this matter cannot be resolved through compromise.”
Priest Jin-ho stood up. The kind smile was gone from his face.
“Since you say so, I will no longer request that you film a correction video. However, since you have rejected our condition, we will also retract our compensation offer.”
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Priest Jin-ho added,
“And while I will advise our followers to refrain from causing further harm to Kwon Tae-ho’s Enforcer Office, how can a mere diocese manager completely control the actions of individuals? Some followers may continue to cause trouble, but those are merely deviations of a few individuals and do not represent the will of the entire cult.”
The deviations of a few individuals do not represent the entire group.
The malice dripping from his words, echoing Yoo Seol’s earlier statement, was clear. But Yoo Seol simply shrugged, as if challenging him.
“Don’t worry about that. If any further harm is caused to this office by Truth Cult followers, we will respond accordingly. Extrajudicially.”
“Extrajudicially…?”
What did she mean, extrajudicially, not legally?
Yoo Seol grinned and pointed at Kwon Tae-ho.
“We don’t have ‘Enforcer Office’ on our sign for nothing.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise. If you don’t want your followers to end up in jail, I suggest you manage them properly.”
Priest Jin-ho couldn’t retort to Yoo Seol’s taunt. At this point, logic and reason were useless. The one who lost momentum and initiative would only be further humiliated.
-Slam!
Priest Jin-ho stormed out of the office, his face contorted with rage and shame. Watching the door slam shut, Yoo Seol shrugged.
“Clergymen aren’t all kind and gentle, are they?”
“Well, you provoked him quite a bit.”
“Did I go too far?”
“No, you did well. I wasn’t expecting any financial compensation anyway.”
For Kwon Tae-ho, a sincere apology and a promise to prevent further incidents would have been enough. But they had added a ridiculous condition, so he would rather not receive an apology at all.
Of course, since the negotiation had failed, the harassment from the Truth Cult followers would likely continue, but what could they do? As Yoo Seol said, they would have to resort to “extrajudicial measures” using their Enforcer authority.
“Assistant Director, I’ll escort you home for a while. They might try to follow you again.”
“Thank you for your concern. In return, I’ll make you dinner every day.”
“You can’t cook.”
It wasn’t that her cooking was terrible, but she simply didn’t cook at all. In fact, Yoo Seol’s kitchen cabinets were filled with instant food.
“Be grateful if I even make you ramen. You’re quite demanding for someone who’s getting a free meal.”
“Isn’t this strange? You offered to make me dinner as a thank you, but somehow I’m the one who’s indebted?”
“By the way, do you think Ha-yeon will be okay? There’s no guarantee that I’ll be the only one they target.”
Yoo Seol smoothly changed the subject. Kwon Tae-ho decided not to press the matter.
“Don’t worry about the rookie.”
“She’s a woman too. Aren’t you worried?”
“She’s an Enforcer first and foremost.”
Enforcers were guardians of order and the most readily recognizable symbols of power in the country. Random followers wouldn’t pose a threat to Ha-yeon.
“Still, I should tell her to be careful. She has family.”
“Should we have her leave work early for a while? So she can pick up her mother?”
“Let’s do that.”
This should be enough for now.
Thinking that, the two concluded their conversation.
Although the Truth Cult was suspicious, it was ultimately a religious group. To Kwon Tae-ho and Yoo Seol, who regularly dealt with dangerous criminals, the threat they posed seemed relatively minor.
However,
They didn’t know.
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That the true nature of the Truth Cult, its depths, were far darker and more profound than they could have imagined.
Two hours after the failed negotiation between Kwon Tae-ho’s Enforcer Office and Senior Priest Lee Jin-ho.
Priest Jin-ho, having returned to the cult headquarters to report, knelt before the pulpit in the chapel.
Sweat dripped from his forehead. He had reported everything that had transpired at Kwon Tae-ho’s office and was anxiously awaiting the “judgment” from the being before him.
And then…
The exalted being standing before Priest Jin-ho spoke.
Sky-blue hair shimmered in the light.
A brilliant halo shone above the veil gently resting on her head, and a pair of wings, impossible for a human, sprouted from her temples.
The being, whose eyes were covered with a black cloth, had taken the form of a woman. Her silhouette alone was captivating, almost the epitome of sex appeal.
Yet, strangely, no lustful thoughts arose. The solemnity and reverence emanating from her very being overwhelmed any such feelings.
“I apologize, Heavenly Maiden…! It’s all my fault! I will take responsibility and resolve this matter. So please-”
“……!!”
Priest Jin-ho couldn’t answer.
The Heavenly Maiden was God’s representative. If she decided to punish him, he had to accept it. He couldn’t object or argue.
“F-five hundred thousand…”
“Th-that’s-”
-Step.
The being on the pulpit descended and walked towards Priest Jin-ho. He felt his breath catch in his throat. His mind went blank, and his vision turned white.
Punishment.
The word echoed in his mind, filling him with anxiety, fear, and tension. He felt nauseous.
But then…
-Caress.
The being knelt before him and gently stroked his cheek.
“I… I…”
Each word from the being’s mouth soothed Priest Jin-ho’s mind. The relief that followed the dissipation of his anxiety transformed into an indescribable ecstasy, washing over him like a warm wave.
“Heavenly Maiden…!”
Priest Jin-ho raised his head, and his eyes met the being’s, the Heavenly Maiden’s. Gazing at her beautiful, sculpted features, he unconsciously murmured,
“I… I want a reward…”
Even as he spoke, he didn’t understand what he was saying.
The Heavenly Maiden had soothed his anxieties and comforted him. And he was asking for a reward?
As his rationality returned, his expression hardened. But the Heavenly Maiden responded with a smile before he could speak.
Priest Jin-ho tilted his head back and opened his mouth as instructed. His tense cheeks trembled with anticipation.
The Heavenly Maiden cupped his face and gently parted his lips.
And then…
-Drip.
A drop of the Heavenly Maiden’s saliva stretched from her mouth like a transparent thread. The moment it touched Priest Jin-ho’s tongue, his eyes rolled back, and his body trembled.
“Ah… ah…”
An indescribable ecstasy filled him.
His vision turned white. A brilliant light filled his sight, and a myriad of images flashed before his eyes.
A massive temple in the clouds. Beautiful angels laughing and flying around. And in the center, a colossal god sitting on a throne…
“Ah, I… I can see God…! My God, my almighty Father…! Ahhh…!!!”
Leaving the weeping, trembling Priest Jin-ho behind, the Heavenly Maiden returned to her seat on the pulpit.
A troublesome person to be involved with.
That was her initial thought, but then, a different feeling began to surface.
Despite her divine appearance, the Heavenly Maiden possessed common sense. She knew what an Enforcer was, how powerful they were, and how much influence they wielded.
Therefore…
‘I want him.’
He would be a troublesome enemy, but an invaluable ally. Thinking this, a faint smile touched the Heavenly Maiden’s lips.
She spoke his name aloud. It was a declaration to herself.
To others, it was a simple utterance, but spoken by her, God’s representative, it became gospel, a prophecy. So, the Heavenly Maiden spoke clearly in her beautiful voice.
She would have Kwon Tae-ho.
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A few days later.
-Step. Step. Step.
Lee Ha-yeon was leaving work early to pick up her mother from her job at a nearby supermarket.
The sun hadn’t set yet, but long shadows stretched across the narrow residential alleyways. It was still early for rush hour, so the streets were mostly empty.
-Step. Step. Step.
The only footsteps echoing in the alley were Ha-yeon’s.
-…Step. Step. Step.
Or so she thought. Ha-yeon unconsciously tensed at the sound of another set of footsteps behind her.
She was probably overreacting. It wasn’t strange for someone else to be in the alley. So, Ha-yeon didn’t turn around.
But as she turned a corner, the footsteps followed. This happened several times, and her suspicion turned into certainty.
‘…Am I being followed?’
Ha-yeon remembered how Yoo Seol had been followed by Truth Cult members a few days ago. She clenched her fists.
-Turn.
As soon as she turned the corner, Ha-yeon pressed herself against the wall and waited. The footsteps, oblivious, grew closer.
And then…
-Step.
“Hiyaaa!!”
Just as the footsteps reached her, Ha-yeon sprang from behind the corner with a cute yell.
“Eek?!”
A scream. Ha-yeon froze, her intention to subdue her pursuer forgotten.
“Huh?”
She had been expecting a Truth Cult follower. But standing before her was a young girl, who looked to be about middle school age. Tears welled up in the girl’s eyes, startled by Ha-yeon’s sudden appearance.
“Uh… I…”
But then Ha-yeon remembered. It didn’t matter that the girl looked like a middle schooler. What mattered was that she had been following Ha-yeon for a while now, around several corners.
“You… you’ve been following me… haven’t you? Why?”
“I… I…”
The girl hesitated, then took a deep breath and spoke as if she had made up her mind.
“Y-you’re an Enforcer, aren’t you…? Please… please save my family…!”
“Huh?”
A question mark popped up above Ha-yeon’s head.
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saliva? ewwww
