Chapter 125

Chapter 125 – Swallow the Sun #3

“This atmosphere is…”

Lee Gun-woo looked around with an impressed expression . As they walked down the corridor, most of the building had modern architecture . However, once the door opened, an amazing scene greeted them . It was like a palace from the Joseon Dynasty .

There was an altar with a thin curtain covering it, while the followers were lined up on either side .

“Welcome . ”

“I’ve been waiting for you . ”

Two bishops, wearing the traditional clothing of officials, greeted them with benevolent expressions . Song Chi-hyun introduced them first .

“The two people before you are Pungbaek and Unsa . ” (Two of Hwanin’s 3,000 followers . Pungbaek=earl of the wind . Unsa=master of the clouds)

Lee Gun-woo cried out at the familiar names,

“That means you…”

“Yes . I am Usa . ” (Another follower . Master of the rain)

They were three people from the Dangun myth . (See the Hwanin link) They were natural titles based on the leader of the church being called Hwanin . At that moment, someone’s voice was heard from among the silent followers .

“O-Oppa?”

Lee Gun-woo stared at the other person . She was wearing court clothing, but he was sure that she was his sister .

“Hey, this brat! What are you doing here?! Do you know how worried I have been?”

“What…? I have become one of the seven fairies who serve Hwanin . More than that, Oppa . Listen . Hwanin is really great…”

As the brother and sister reunited, Tae-hyuk looked at the shadow beyond the curtain . It was Cho Min-hyuk, the leader of ‘Sun . ’

‘No, isn’t he called Hwanin here? However, this scent is clearly…’

There were a few incense burners placed around the room . A slightly sweet aroma was coming from them . It was the incense that Choi Sung-yeol used to blur the mind .

‘It is diluted since my stats aren’t falling as drastically as the last time it happened . However, it certainly looks like his judgment is declining . ’

Lee Gun-woo’s eyes were drooping and the mental strength of a soldier couldn’t be seen .

‘The Yakuza made this? It has a crazy effect…’

It was the cause of the blind devotion among the followers . The interior decorations and gorgeous garments that seemed to come from a historical drama set were meant to hide it .

Lee Gun-woo was perfectly drunk on the scent .

Even so, he never forgot his purpose for coming here .

“C-Cough! Anyway, I will be taking my sister . ”

“I mean, I’m not going! I will continue staying here!”

Min-young’s voice was small compared to her brother, who seemed like he would burst on fire at any moment . He grabbed her hand to drag her out . However, the watching bishops didn’t say anything . It seemed like they had expected this and were waiting for something .

Tae-hyuk realized that the shadow behind the curtain had started swaying .

‘It is starting . ’

As if it was waiting, a strange voice flowed from behind the curtain .

“Lee Gun-woo . Your sister is tied up by karma . If you bring her out of here, then she will lose her life . ”

Fury filled Lee Gun-woo’s eyes at the words . No matter how he scolded her, she was still his sister . He wouldn’t allow any threats to her life .

“Haha . You’ve finally exposed your true colours! I think I know how you scammed Min-young . Min-young . Ignore his words . ”

Lee Gun-woo pulled his sister’s hand and tried to leave the room . He thought that his little sister probably told them his personal information . However, Lee Min-young’s condition was strange . She desperately tried to persuade Lee Gun-woo .

“…Oppa, you are misunderstanding . Hwanin’s words are all true . ”

“What? What is it?”

The leader whispered in a low voice towards the confused Lee Gun-woo .

“Lee Gun-woo . The same applies to you . You are also tied up by karma . ”

Lee Gun-woo started shouting,

“It is like I told my sister! Who would fall for such tricks?!”

At that moment, the leader spoke like he was giving a prophecy .

“Aren’t you struggling because of the distorted future?”

“Anyone can say that . ”

“I think it would be nice to speak a little more clearly . Captain Lee Gun-woo and Private Park Woo-hyuk . ”

“……!”

Lee Gun-woo stopped moving with a shocked expression . He seemed like a stone .

Then the surprised Lee Min-young asked,

“O-Oppa? What is it? What does Hwanin mean?”

“……”

It didn’t make sense .

How did that person…?

The accident that occurred six months ago appeared in Lee Gun-woo’s head . It was treated as confidential, and his name didn’t even appear in the newspapers . Naturally, he didn’t even inform his family . But that name emerged from that person’s mouth .

“Tsk tsk . Have you realized your ignorance? But don’t worry . The sins committed are also part of the cleansing . It is my role to remedy that . ”

“……”

Lee Gun-woo bit his lip .

He was originally scheduled to be promoted to major . He felt he was doing well and couldn’t be touched as he lived at headquarters . However, there was a huge mistake . Lee Gun-woo ignored the harsh abuse that was happening . The victim, Park Woo-hyuk, couldn’t endure it anymore and committed suicide through a grenade in his barrack . At the time, there were four other soldiers present and they also lost their lives .

It was a big enough event for the unit itself to be dismantled . Lee Gun-woo could’ve stopped it if he paid more attention to the team . Of course, his promotion disappeared . He was barely able to avoid a dishonourable discharge due to his history .

“Your karma is the soldiers who died unjustly . An offering is necessary to purify it . ”

“Offering? Money?”

The answer came from a different place .

“Oppa, Hwanin isn’t interested in such things . He isn’t a shaman who tricks people for money . ”

“Then what is the offering?”

The leader stopped for a moment and beckoned . The believers moved and lit a few more incense burners . The scent became more widespread in the room .

“The proof that you are still alive is enough . The clothes you wore, the bedding you sleep in, the shoes you wear . Offer them up in the cleansing ritual . ”

The words were convincing . If the leader had asked for money, he wouldn’t have believed it so easily . But the offerings were just keepsakes . Wouldn’t it be okay to try it once?

Some time passed by . The distressed Lee Gun-woo finally opened his mouth .

“…Cough . For Min-young’s sake, I guess I can listen to your story . ”

“As long as you have the offerings, all the things necessary for the cleansing will be prepared . ”

Min-young clapped happily at Gun-woo’s response .

“Right? I told you it wasn’t fake . Hwanin is the real thing . ”

Gun-woo involuntarily nodded .

Song Chi-hyun smiled at the sight . It had been a long time since the play had been so perfectly completed . He had been scamming people for years . They used it to secure hundreds of believers, but this was the first time it was perfected . There wasn’t a chance of getting unknown information from outside .

It was true that money wasn’t important . As long as they gained the person’s faith, they had obtained the life of that person .

Now Pungbaek and Unsa would put the finishing touches on the scam . Then the remaining person…

Song Chi-hyun looked at the man who came with Lee Gun-woo . He was a high school maths teacher . That was the only information they got .

However, this was enough for today . A believer’s family member had been brought in to Sun . In most cases, the remaining family members would also follow .

Then Tae-hyuk, who had been quietly watching the situation, slowly came forward .

“Lee Gun-woo . Can you please wait a moment?”

“Huh?”

“I still haven’t achieved my purpose for coming here . ”

Everybody’s gaze focused on Tae-hyuk .

@

Pungbaek and Unsa frowned at Tae-hyuk .

They were still a little immature compared to Song Chi-hyun, whose poker face was perfect .

“Didn’t Kim Cheol-su come to find your little brother? Hwanin said that he couldn’t find him . ‘Kim Sung-soo’ isn’t here . ”

According to the information obtained, his little brother Kim Sung-soo wasn’t here . He probably got caught by some other cult . This person had found the wrong address .

Just in case, Song Chi-hyun had thought of some measures about his brother’s whereabouts . It could be used to fool him .

“I’m sorry but I didn’t come here to find my little brother . I thought I should destroy the man who is tricking my followers . ”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Tae-hyuk slowly licked his lips .

He could use the fact that his opponent proclaimed himself a god . Among those gathered here, only five people knew that this church was a scam . The rest were followed and really believed they were following a god . Then the most effective way to use that…

Tae-hyuk activated a crime skill .

[Disguise has been used . ]

-Your appearance has changed to Song Chi-hyun .

In an instant, Tae-hyuk’s face changed into another person . The people who saw it shrieked .

“Aaaaack!”

“W-Whatttttt!”

“F-Face, his face changed!”

“There are two Usa’s!”

The shadow behind the curtain shook like he was also confused .

Tae-hyuk used a crime skill before opening his mouth .

[Voice Modulation has been used . ]

-You can imitate the voice of Kim Bum-soo .

Now his voice was dignified .

“Unsa! How dare you use the name of Hwanin!”

“W-What…”

“I am Pungbaek . I received the name from Hwanin and brought rain to the world when I followed Hwanung!”

“O-Oh my god…”

Tae-hyuk’s plan was very simple .

Reveal the true colors of the one pretending to be a god .