“Ahh…”
“Se-, Seung-woo!”
“Mother. Father.”
“Huk, huk…”
Nothing but sobs of joy filled the underground auditorium.
They had been reunited, seeing their most precious people again even though they were deceased. They were face to face with the ones they thought they’d never see again.
[Why have you become so skinny?]
[Have you been eating well?]
[Don’t cry. I’m all right. It’s very comfortable here.]
Souls.
These whitish beings, who seemed to glow mysteriously, smiled softly as they embraced the members of the Church of Eternal Life. Naturally, there was no physical contact. It was just that they had done the action.
Nevertheless, that was enough. There were happy smiles on the faces of the members of the audience. It was so strong that it seemed to color the entire underground auditorium.
For those who dearly missed their loved ones, the sight unfolding before their eyes would naturally bring a sense of longing. A bright white glow illuminated the stained glass, causing this place to appear like a paradise.
And yet, Min Ha-rin could not truly share in their feelings of bliss.
She couldn’t explain it, but as she looked at this sight in front of her, a feeling of anxiety welled up in her heart.
…For some reason, it felt morally wrong.
“Sung-hyun.”
Kim Min-chul also joined the group.
In front of him stood the soul of a young man.
It was a face with which Min Ha-rin was all too familiar.
Kim Sung-hyun, Kim Min-chul’s only son.
[Father.]
Kim Sung-hyun wrapped his arms around Kim Min-chul with a warm smile.
Min Ha-rin looked away from the touching embrace between father and son. Someone else had caught her eye.
As soon as she turned around, she realised what it was.
Two souls.
As soon as she saw their hazy faces, a strange emotion swelled in her heart.
“…Dad. Mom.”
The ones standing before her were her two parents who had died miserably. She thought she would never see them again, and a reunion was so impossible that she’d never even thought about it.
[Ha-rin.]
[Come here.]
They smiled brightly and spread their arms.
But Min Ha-rin didn’t approach them easily.
“Why aren’t you going to them?”
Suddenly, a beautiful voice sounded in her ear.
The voice sounded clear like a calm lake, but at the same time, it was cold.
It was the voice of the Saint.
Her cold eyes contained a faint questioning look.
“Your parents are calling for you.”
“…can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Are those really my parents?”
The answer didn’t come immediately.
Min Ha-rin turned to look at the Saint. This was so she would be able to see if there were any changes to her expression.
But it was Min Ha-rin who was shocked when their eyes met.
There was not a hint of doubt or strangeness in the Saint’s cold eyes. She asked in a questioning tone.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Huh?”
“Those are your parents. If there is anyone who would be able to find something strange about them, it would be you, not a stranger like me. Do you think there is anyone in the world who would know a father better than his own children?”
“…that…”
No. She didn’t.
Min Ha-rin had a headache. She was so confused.
She couldn’t find any strangeness in her parents’ souls.
In fact, this was her second time meeting them.
The first time… was during her private meeting with Slei. At that time, a white light had radiated from Slei’s body, which then transformed into what appeared to be a stairway to heaven.
Then, her parents appeared, slowly descending the staircase.
She didn’t believe it at first. She was doubtful.
It could have been an illusion, hypnosis, or deception.
The senses of a human were not very strong, and there were countless ways to deceive them.
Because of her doubts, Min Ha-rin thought, ‘I’m talking to people who look like my parents.’
But within 10 minutes, she realised that they really were her parents.
They knew countless secrets and trivial things that only they, parents, and their children could know. These people were definitely her mother and father.
Their faces, their voices, their personalities, and even their way of speaking.
Everything was just as she remembered.
“Everyone doubts us at first.”
As if recalling the distant past, the Saint spoke slowly.
“Bringing back the dead… Right. It certainly is a dubious declaration. But there is one thing that you can trust.”
Then, she smiled like a true saint.
“There is not a single lie in my declaration to save you.”
* * *
Tap tap tap-
Footsteps rang out in a dark hallway.
Slei, the Bishop of the Church of Eternal Life, walked forward with a pleased expression on his face. Today’s meeting had been extremely successful. This was always the case, but Min Ha-rin’s presence this time made him feel better than usual.
If she maintained her current attitude, then she would become a true member of the Church of Eternal Life within a week if not sooner.
‘This is a great place.’
He really liked this land and the people who lived here.
There was no need to care about the Demons or Demon Beasts, and there were a lot of people who had suffered from some form of psychological trauma. At the same time, there were quite a few outstanding talents who could be made into true believers.
There was no better place for a religion to flourish.
‘At this rate, in just one year…’
Perhaps the banner of the Church of Eternal life would be planted throughout this land.
When this thought appeared in his mind, Slei felt his body burn up with excitement. When he arrived at his destination, he paused, forcibly suppressing his emotions.
He was standing in front of a large door.
Right. The person in this room was the most important cog in his great plan.
He didn’t have to, but Slei decided to knock on the door politely.
Knock knock.
“…”
Silence.
That was strange. Normally, he would have received an answer immediately.
Slei knocked on the door again but still didn’t receive an answer.
‘Surely…’
His heart sank as a thought appeared in his head. Without any hesitation, Slei opened the door and went into the room. Fortunately, it was never locked.
When he entered the room, he looked around with a sharp gaze. Fortunately, the thing he feared hadn’t happened.
Because the being he was looking for was currently sleeping on the bed.
“Arid.”
He called their name but didn’t receive a response.
Slei approached the bed, immediately noticing that Arid’s white face was much paler than usual.
His expression gradually lost all emotion, his face becoming an eerie mask.
“Arid, wake up.”
It was only then that Arid slowly opened their eyes.
“…Grandfather?”
“You must have been very tired. I knocked many times on the door and you didn’t notice.”
“Th-, that…”
Slei looked at the stuttering Arid before speaking coldly.
“You used your power again.”
“Ah…!”
At those words, Arid hurriedly sat up.
“I-, I’m so-…”
Paak!
Before they could finish speaking, Arid’s head snapped to the side as a reddish-brown bruise formed on their cheek.
Slei spoke in an emotionless voice.
“Turn your head.”
“…yes.”
Enduring the throbbing pain in their cheek, Arid turned their head. Slei then slapped their other cheek in a mechanical motion.
Turn the head, slap the cheek. This process is repeated over and over again.
The pale white skin had become red and started to swell. The inside of their mouth appeared to have been torn as red blood slowly dribbled from their lips.
It was only then when Slei stopped swinging his hand.
“Arid.”
“Yes.”
“You are special.”
“…yes.”
“And special people have special fates.”
As he said this, Slei stroked Arid’s cheek.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“Right. It shouldn’t hurt much. And even if it does, it would only be the pain of stinging cheeks and a torn mouth. There are many people in the world who suffer from even greater pain.”
“…”
“Never forget, Arid. Your power is not for yourself. It is for the weak and suffering.”
“Yes.”
“And Grandfather told you the most effective way to help them, didn’t he?”
“…helping the Church of Eternal Life is God’s will and the shortest way to help all of humanity.”
As if reciting something they’d been forced to memorise countless times, Arid said those words in a mechanical tone.
It was only then that a smile of satisfaction appeared on Slei’s face.
“You know it well… Right. Did God say anything after the prophecy?”
“He is still silent.”
“I see.”
Slei thought for a moment.
Of course, there was no reason to hurry.
“…Arid, this is the last time you use your power to help strange souls. You will save it from now on. There will soon come a time when I will need your power.”
With those words, Slei left the room without waiting for an answer.
Arid looked at his back with empty eyes and muttered in a weak voice.
“Yes, Grandfather.”