Chapter 221

EP.221 Wrong Choice

“Why haven’t you contacted me? I was worried.”

– Sorry. Was everything okay at the Grand Canyon? There were so many demons…

The doctor’s concerned voice came through the phone.

I answered as if nothing had happened.

“I had a bit of a hard time, but I got out safely. What are you still doing in Lyon?”

– Ah… I’ve been busy with interrogations and organizational restructuring…

“Organizational restructuring?”

– We’re trying to root out those committing corruption within the international organization and make them pay for their crimes. We’re also trying to place clean people in positions of power. It’s taking a long time because we have to do background checks. There are also some separate matters to look into…

If only clean people remain, it won’t be fun…

It’s also awkward to use emergency measures.

I should have Marcella erase the crimes of a few people.

By the way, background checks? Seeing the doctor not hesitating to use any means for her goals makes me proud.

“Separate matters?”

– Yes. I’ll tell you when I get back. It’ll probably take a few days. I have to go back to work now. Eat well… I’ll call you when I can. You really didn’t get hurt, right?

“I’m fine. Don’t worry and work hard.”

– Okay. I’ll hang up now.

After hanging up, I smirked.

It seems that the near-death experience had a big impact, leading to these actions.

I’m proud. But her voice didn’t sound good, so I’m not feeling great.

She sounds exhausted… I should make her some nutritious food when she gets back.

As I was engrossed in making the device again,

“What are you doing?”

I was startled by Adeline’s voice coming from my left shoulder.

I turned to look at her, startled.

“When did you get here?”

“Just now. Didn’t you hear the lab door open?”

“Uh… I was focused…”

“You didn’t even notice when your loved one arrived… I’m disappointed.”

“I have no words, even if I had ten mouths.”

With a repentant expression, I got up and pressed Adeline’s face with both hands.

Then I gave her a deep kiss.

Adeline, giggling with her eyes closed, seemed disappointed when I pulled away.

As I stroked her head from top to bottom, I asked,

“You didn’t put your hair up today? It’s different, is there a reason?”

“It’s because of Jihyuk.”

“Because of me?”

“Yes! You left a kiss mark on the back of my neck.”

“Are you embarrassed to show it to others?”

At that, Adeline pouted her lips.

“Jihyuk! How many times have I told you not to think ahead!?”

What do you mean not to think ahead… It’s embarrassing to show.

“I’m sorry. But can’t I express my opinion?”

“Are you arguing with me now?”

“No, but I feel a bit wronged…”

“Once the disciplinary period is over, you can express yourself as much as you want!”

While making childish excuses to extend the disciplinary period, she speaks well.

“Understood.”

“Good. Since we’re on the topic of discipline, I’ve decided to give you an additional disciplinary action. It’s more of a reward, actually. So be grateful for my generosity.”

“A reward…? What is it?”

“From now on, we’re going to build a temple near the government office where we can enshrine Rosario. We’ll make it a building similar to a church or cathedral so modern people can easily access it. How about it? Just imagining it makes you feel good, right?”

What…? I only feel worse…

A temple for the Rosario Church… If I build it obediently, Rosario might descend and punish me.

Also, if there’s a temple, Adeline’s wavering heart might stabilize, so I must refuse.

We need to eliminate any unstable factors.

“You’re planning to do missionary work.”

“That’s right. I also plan to appoint you as an official believer, so start looking for a construction company from today.”

“Uh… Adeline. I agree with your opinion, but can we postpone it a bit?”

“Postpone?”

“With the current economic downturn, the headquarters maintenance costs are tight… I might have to sell a few companies.”

Adeline put her hand to her mouth.

“Is that so…? Is the situation that bad?”

“It’s not at the level of tightening our belts, but it’s not great.”

“Then… we can reduce the scale… even a one-pyeong temple is fine…”

It seems she can’t give up on the temple even if she dies.

Do you like Rosario that much? Don’t make me feel bad.

“One pyeong…? A temple enshrining Rosario being only one pyeong… Even the oldest churches or cathedrals on Earth aren’t that small. I want the first temple of the Rosario Church on Earth to have the best facilities.”

“Is that so…?”

Are your ears perking up?

With a serious expression, I nodded.

“If we’re building a temple, it’s better to make it grand. Later, when the number of believers increases, more temples will be built, but if the main temple is smaller than the branch temples, it will be difficult for missionary work. Once the situation improves, I’ll definitely place an order with a construction company.”

“The Rosario Church values the spiritual aspect more than the material…? There’s no need for it to be grand. If any believers complain about the facilities not being good, I’ll reject them.”

“Of course, faith is the most important.”

I pulled Adeline, who was smiling brightly as if she had the right answer, onto my lap.

Then I gently stroked her cheek with my thumb.

“Let’s have a serious discussion later. The timing is really bad now.”

Falling for my troubled expression, she nodded.

“Okay… It’s disappointing, but I’ll allow the delay.”

Being this naive and talking about a temple… You’ve come up with a great method from your perspective.

Forget about such useless things and just do as I say.

Just focus on the pleasure I give you.

You’re kind. You should listen to me, right?

‘Before I start having such crappy thoughts again, I should bring forward the trip with Silvia.’

As long as divine power resides in Adeline’s body, I can’t instill malice through ordinary means.

It would be obvious.

It’s a very troublesome power, but there’s definitely a weakness.

That is Adeline’s emotions… her heart.

Turning her heart, which firmly follows Rosario’s teachings, to my side is in progress.

But this alone wasn’t enough, so I brought in Silvia.

I planned to sow discord between Adeline and Silvia, whom Adeline trusts the most, and after instilling evil thoughts, when the time was right, I would neutralize the malice and put it into Aiter.

What if malice and Aiter assimilate? There would be no more need to worry about divine power.

@@

– I’m really not!? I did commit corruption. I admit that. The money I embezzled amounts to hundreds of billions of euros. But allying with those crazy monsters… I haven’t fallen that low!

The doctor watched Pierre, the director, desperately defending himself from across the monitor.

The video they were watching was a recording of the interrogation the day after Pierre’s arrest.

They weren’t watching it to prove his innocence.

Even if he didn’t ally with demons, he deserved to die for the corruption he had committed.

Yet, the reason they were rewatching the video of someone already sentenced to death was that something felt off.

“Strange…”

The evidence against Pierre was vague at first, like grasping at clouds.

But as they pieced together the scattered puzzle, it became clear, and thanks to that, they were able to arrest him and the Interpol red notices.

Normally, it should be a proud moment.

But the doctor felt deceived.

It all felt like a well-scripted play.

There was no concrete evidence… but perhaps Pierre and the red notices weren’t the masterminds.

It wasn’t just his desperate, frantic defense that made her think so, but a gut feeling.

It felt like someone had set Pierre up as a scapegoat.

‘The demon we fought with Adeline said it… We’re being deceived by Tairat.’

Of course, you shouldn’t believe demons.

But the fact that Jihyuk has been at the center of several incidents, or that demons appear at just the right timing… there are too many suspicious points.

The situation seemed too coincidental, as if moving according to Tairat’s plan.

After turning off the video, the doctor pulled up all the evidence from this case and began analyzing it.

She also reviewed all the previous incidents.

While digging through the early major incident, the Syria incident, the doctor suddenly had a strange thought.

Jihyuk infiltrated Syria for humanity without her permission and almost got captured and tortured.

He had such a strong sense of mission… why did he come to despise humans?

The old Jihyuk was someone who would never break.

She was sure. She didn’t make him her assistant for nothing.

He was smart and had strong convictions, so she brought him on as a colleague.

Of course, that incident was so shocking that it could change one’s values.

When discussing humans, Jihyuk had mentioned that this incident was significant.

But even after the Syria incident, Jihyuk continued to act for humanity.

He may have wavered, but he didn’t break.

He was truly a just person before meeting me properly, so why did he change?

‘At that time, Jihyuk was… meeting Sehwa.’

Coincidentally, Sehwa’s personality also changed a bit around that time.

Shortly after the Syria incident, a lion-like demon appeared.

At the time, Sehwa hesitated, saying she felt sorry for it before killing it.

At the time, I thought she was just struggling, but in her transformed state, she should have a strong sense of justice, so why would she say that…

That’s not all.

After that, Sehwa tended to look down on humans.

She’s much better now… but it was definitely strange.

Could it be… that Sehwa was struggling under some external influence and confided in Jihyuk?

And Jihyuk, deeply empathizing with Sehwa’s feelings, was influenced by her?

If so, it’s understandable that he came to despise humans.

There was a brief period when the appearance of demons slowed down.

The Syria incident happened during that time, and after that, it was quiet for a while before demons started appearing frequently again.

During that gap, Tairat might have hatched some plan, and we might have fallen for it.

That plan being division through discord.

What if… what if Tairat, realizing that force wouldn’t work, is slowly corrupting the values of just people?

What if Tairat is planning to use them to divide Earth?

What if the demons appearing now are just a smokescreen to erode Earth?

‘Am I going crazy…? Am I delusional?’

Even so, organizing what’s happened so far, it’s a plausible delusion.

It’s worth looking into.

Tairat is a very despicable demon king, so it’s not strange for him to use any method.

Okay, let’s assume this hypothesis is true.

Jihyuk and Sehwa are being manipulated by him, and their values have changed without them realizing it.

The doctor herself has also been influenced by Jihyuk, and thus can’t see the situation objectively.

So she needs help. The help of someone who absolutely won’t yield to Tairat’s schemes.

Bang!

The doctor slammed her laptop shut and picked up her phone to call someone.

After a few rings,

– Hello?

A calm voice answered.

The doctor spoke.

“Sorry for calling so early. Were you sleeping?”

– No. I woke up late, so I can’t sleep. But why does your voice sound like that? You seem urgent…

“I think something big has happened. I need your help.”

– Understood. Where are you now?

“France, Lyon. I might have to travel around the world, so it could take a while. Is that okay?”

– If it’s the doctor’s order, of course I’ll help. I’ll come right away.

If the hypothesis is true, Yuria, whose kingdom was destroyed and parents killed by Tairat, and who is filled with thoughts of humanity, would be the most reliable ally in the current situation.

Having gone through and overcome tremendous hardships, her mental strength is the strongest among the Beast Slayers.

Her relationship with Jihyuk is just that of a colleague, nothing more, nothing less, and with almost no contact, she wouldn’t be influenced by the schemes.

Even if Sehwa, who’s been hanging around a lot lately, has influenced her, just mentioning Tairat’s involvement would make her regain her composure.

Even if the hypothesis isn’t true, we need to move with Yuria.

Her extensive knowledge of demons will be a great help in what we need to investigate, and she has no hostility towards humans, so she can make cool-headed judgments.

“Thank you. Meet me at the portal closest to Lyon. I’ll clean up the surroundings.”

– Yes, doctor.

“Ah, and move in secret. You know what I mean?”

– Understood.

Hearing Yuria’s reliable answer, the doctor hung up and, hoping her thoughts were just delusions, put on her coat.

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