Chapter 268

EP.268 Oh, sister, you’re a dirty girl!

I looked at Sehwa and Yuria.

“If anything happens, come down immediately.”

They were about to enter the portal, smiling softly as if to reassure me.

“Don’t worry too much, Master. We’ll come down whenever we can.”

Sehwa’s reliable answer.

Yuria followed up.

“Master, just focus on making Silvia and Adeline your retainers. We’ll handle the traitorous demons.”

“Don’t overdo it… Send all the troublesome demons from Malphas’s side to Earth. Got it?”

“Yes, of course.”

I hugged them tightly instead of answering.

Soon, they left through the portal.

Currently, the Demon Realm is gathering my followers due to rumors about the retainers.

Moreover, Sehwa and Yuria have fully unleashed their power.

They even packed their special suits inside the Device, so it’s unlikely anything will threaten their safety.

They said they’d come down whenever possible, and Marcella also comes up often to help… I should relax.

After staring blankly at the spot where the portal had been, I turned to Dr. Cash.

“How’s the cloning research going?”

“It’s going well. We’re about to start clinical trials.”

“Good.”

After some casual conversation, my phone rang, and I answered.

“Yes, Adeline.”

-Jihyuk! When are you coming?

“I should arrive by lunchtime, Korean time.”

-Then I’ll go exercise with Silvia unnie! Call me when you arrive!

“Okay, will do.”

After hanging up, I smirked at Dr. Cash.

“Unnie.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll call you soon, so keep taking your medicine.”

“Got it. Are you leaving now?”

“I have to.”

“What about the magic? You need to erase it.”

“Just erase enough so Adeline won’t notice.”

There are plenty of places to spend time.

After a goodbye kiss with Dr. Cash, I opened a portal and arrived in Gangnam.

To be precise, in front of Yunsu’s house.

The two-room apartment I got for her.

I entered the password and opened the door, where Yunsu, in her underwear, was startled to see me.

“Jihyuk! You could’ve called…”

I naturally went to the bed and plopped down.

“Do I need to? Were you getting ready to go out?”

“No… I just woke up and was about to shower…”

I poked Yunsu’s pale legs with my toes.

She smiled suggestively and joined me on the bed.

I’ll spend some time here, erase the magic appropriately, and then go to Adeline.

**

[The monster that appeared in Hawaii this time was dealt with by the Beast Slayer. The building damage is estimated at about 19.2 billion won, and all reconstruction matters will be handled by the World Union…]

While quietly watching the news with Adeline in my arms, I couldn’t help but prick up my ears.

The anchor had reported something noteworthy.

[We have captured a scene where the Beast Slayer, who protects Earth’s peace, and the headquarters are embarrassed. Let’s take a look.]

The screen showed an Evil Energy warning, followed by citizens evacuating to a bunker.

A common sight when demons appear, but this time was special.

A large man was seen pushing an old man’s back.

He hurriedly hid inside the bunker.

The old man was ignored by passing citizens until a righteous young man helped him into the bunker.

[The man who committed this inhumane act was beaten by a mob inside the bunker and is now hospitalized. Netizens are calling it justice and saying he got what he deserved…]

A man pushing a helpless old man.

People not helping, and mob justice.

It was a perfect package for planting seeds of evil in Adeline’s mind.

Although the young man helped in the end, the fact that most people ignored the old man was crucial.

I glanced down at Adeline.

She was glaring at the TV, seething with anger.

“Why would someone do such a despicable thing…!”

I calmly replied, “It happens often.”

If the young man had helped the old man first, Adeline would have been happy.

Why? Because a small citizen, wanting to live, showing care and sacrifice, seems more heroic than a hero.

But seeing the negative scene first, followed by the positive one, doesn’t evoke positive feelings.

In fact, the young man’s actions might even seem hypocritical.

‘Excellent.’

Just like with Sehwa, Yuria, and Dr. Cash… humans are helping me.

They’re selfish creatures. I love it.

“What could he have been thinking to push that poor old man!? And to face mob justice instead of legal judgment…! It’s absurd…! So disappointing!”

Let’s push a little further.

“Where there’s life, there’s darkness. The Heavenly Realm, the Demon Realm, and the Human Realm are all the same.”

“What… No! The Heavenly Realm would never be like that!”

“Well… The last chapter of the Transition Period mentions this. Rosario, who quelled the chaos of seven planets, seated seven new gods on those planets.”

Adeline turned her head sharply to glare at me.

“What does that mean?”

“Those seven gods weren’t benevolent. From a god who caused a flood because people offered fewer tributes, to a god who ordered an orgy across the planet to satisfy his desires. Why seat such evil gods when benevolent ones were available?”

“Those seven planets were too corrupt to be purified. The chaos was temporarily quelled, but it was obvious that bigger incidents would occur over time. That’s why Rosario chose the lesser evil!”

“Wouldn’t it have been better to seat benevolent gods to prevent problems? Regardless of who was seated, the fact that there are benevolent and evil gods in the Heavenly Realm…”

“Benevolent and evil are just standards set by humans! In the Heavenly Realm, all gods are equal!”

“The fact that this distinction is written in the scripture is the problem. The fact that the clergy, writing on behalf of Rosario, wrote it that way proves there’s darkness in the Heavenly Realm, doesn’t it?”

“Quiet, quiet!”

Adeline screamed and jumped out of my arms.

“Do you know why the second chapter of the scripture is called the Transition Period!? It’s when the firm faith of the clergy is shaken by this evil god part, and only by overcoming it can they truly become clergy! Don’t doubt Rosario’s intentions!”

Not even allowing this much. Her faith is still strong.

But I can see the effects of planting evil.

If the old Adeline had heard such criticism, she wouldn’t have even spoken to me.

I shrugged as I sat up.

“I didn’t doubt Rosario. I just expressed my opinion. And all the gods in the Heavenly Realm serve Rosario, right?”

“Well, yes?”

“Then the evil gods ruling those planets are also followers of Rosario’s religion. Shouldn’t we be more selective about who we accept as clergy…?”

“Jihyuk!!”

Whoosh-!

A surge of energy emanated from Adeline, sweeping through the entire lounge.

I could feel the sharp wind brushing through my short hair.

But strangely, none of the furniture was damaged.

This action of mine was a pointless provocation, not increasing the evil within Adeline.

Especially suggesting we be selective about clergy was a double-edged sword.

Still, I provoked Adeline’s anger to pit Silvia and Adeline against each other.

Silvia is in a state where she doesn’t want to give up on me.

And she’s trying to believe in Rosario’s religion.

Given her personality, she’ll soon confess her feelings to Adeline, and Adeline will surely be furious.

At that point, Adeline will think:

[Silvia is trying to believe in the religion to lessen her guilt for loving someone who belongs to another],

[She’s exploiting the loophole that anyone can become a clergy],

If Adeline feels even a tiny bit of agreement with what I said, her faith will crack.

Then my goal is complete. The rest depends on what Adeline decides.

“I’m ashamed of myself for thinking you could be an archbishop! I’ll discipline you!”

“I said it for the sake of Rosario’s religion.”

“It feels like you’re mocking the religion!”

“Thinking of my sincere advice as mockery is disappointing. If punishment is needed to convey my sincerity, I’ll gladly accept it.”

“Ugh…! You’re always a step ahead! Go to the bathroom and don’t come out until I say so! This is an order from me as a saint for clergy discipline!”

The bathroom for discipline… How lame.

She probably doesn’t want to leave me in a comfortable place like a room.

I nodded silently and gave Adeline a pitiful look.

She seemed to soften a bit but didn’t back down.

With my head bowed like a criminal, I passed by Adeline, and she warned me.

“At least ten hours! Prepare yourself!”

I bet she’ll come to comfort me in about two hours.

“Understood.”

**

Being a demon king and lying sprawled in a bathroom…

How pitiful.

After lazing around for about an hour, I knelt in a solemn posture and waited for the remaining hour.

After about two hours and ten minutes, when my cartilage started to ache,

Clunk.

The bathroom door opened, and Adeline came in.

Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t look scary at all.

Her hands on her hips were cute.

Barely holding back my laughter, she asked in a softened tone.

“Do you understand your sin, Jihyuk?”

“Yes.”

“If you answer well, I’ll end the discipline. What did you do wrong?”

“I made Adeline angry.”

“You…! Still not getting it? You ignored the foundation of Rosario’s religion. That’s equivalent to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.”

“If it’s blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, isn’t that an unforgivable sin? Then I must be excommunicated.”

Adeline gritted her teeth at that.

“Further, further… Blasphemy would lead to excommunication, but… Fortunately, it’s not that bad yet. You just expressed an opinion, not a claim. So, just say you’re sorry. It’s an order.”

She’s scared of me being excommunicated, so she’s using authority to hear an apology.

She doesn’t want genuine remorse.

This means Rosario’s religious laws and I are on equal footing.

Maybe even higher.

“…I’m sorry.”

Hearing the desired apology, Adeline quickly ran over and hugged me.

“You almost received Rosario’s punishment. I’ll ask for your sin to be forgiven, so don’t blaspheme the religion anymore.”

Rosario’s punishment, which hasn’t shown up even as you’re falling deeper into corruption?

I’d like to experience that.

“Blaspheming the religion… I…”

“Jihyuk… Stop…!”

“…Understood.”

“Don’t waver. I’m your guide. Just trust me… Okay?”

“Yes, Adeline.”

“Good. Now… close your eyes. After the prayer of repentance, I’ll officially end the discipline. Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Almighty Rosario, please forgive the sin of Jihyuk, who momentarily harbored a wicked heart….”

Whoosh-!

As Adeline recited the prayer, a golden light emanated.

Feeling the energy throughout my body, I secretly smiled faintly.

It used to be a disgusting energy I wanted to spit on, but not anymore.

It’s so sticky, it feels good.

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