Chapter 292

EP.292 The Direction of Faith #2

“Where is this place?”

Adel, looking anxious, tightly holds my hand.

I calm her down and answer.

“This is a place for the judgment of sinners. You can think of it as a courtroom. I prepared it separately.”

“J-judgment in such a… ominous and smelly place… It’s supposed to be a sacred act… I’m disappointed…”

We are currently in a newly renovated underground warehouse.

The same place I used when I made Jihyuk and Boyeong my retainers.

“It’s temporary. I plan to use it only until the temple is properly completed.”

“Ugh…! No way… You all seem like shady cultists…”

“With our will, any place can become a temple or a judgment seat. You said it yourself, Adel. You dislike material things.”

“That’s true… But the smell is too strong… It’s filthy… I hate it…”

“It’s the smell of heresy. The inherent foul stench of those currently captured.”

At those words, Adel’s eyes darken.

She grinds her teeth and speaks.

“That’s a relief.”

“What is?”

“Because my sister doesn’t have this smell yet. She’s still fragrant. It’s proof that there’s still enough time to reform her.”

“That’s right. But we don’t know when she might start emitting this foul odor. So Adel needs to gain experience.”

Adel, shaking her head, looks up at me.

“Will you help me by my side?”

“Of course. I will be by Adel’s side for life.”

At my confession, Adel’s face brightens, and she stands on her tiptoes.

I let out a small laugh, give Adel an affectionate kiss, and take her to the newly made container.

It’s a gloomy place, about two pyeong in size.

Dark, with a TV, chair, and microphone filling the center wall.

Adel, looking around with curious eyes, speaks.

“This is… a room for interrogation.”

“Exactly. I wanted to give it a remote interrogation room vibe.”

“Doesn’t the scripture say that such places should allow face-to-face interaction with sinners? This is Jihyuk’s mistake.”

“It’s not a mistake. I didn’t want Adel to be near those smelly guys.”

“Really… Jihyuk is too much of a softie. Like a doting parent.”

“I’d appreciate it if you called me a devoted husband instead.”

Devoted husband.

Adel, who knows the exact meaning of the word, beams.

“Thank you for saying that, but to convert heretics, we need to face them directly…”

“No. That won’t do.”

A firm tone.

Adel pats my butt and says.

“If it’s because of the smell, I can endure it. It’s very unpleasant, but…”

“That’s not it. It’s because we need to establish new rules. Once the Rosario Church’s temple is completed, the church will be treated as a cult for a while. The closed-minded humans of Earth won’t accept a new religion easily. Even now, many emerging religions are being suppressed.”

Adel’s hand trembles.

She seems disgusted by the thought of those insignificant beings suppressing the church.

“How dare they…!”

“That’s why… I plan to appoint Adel as the cult leader to establish a new religion… What do you think?”

Adel, startled, turns to look at me.

“Me…? As the cult leader…?”

“Don’t think too deeply about it. It’s more like a branch of the Rosario Church. Earth already has religions that have been rooted for hundreds, thousands of years. The resistance to new religions will be severe.”

“You just said it.”

“Yes. That’s why someone like Rosario, who is omnipotent, would be too much for Earthlings to accept. So I think Adel, who can approach potential believers more familiarly, should be the new cult leader.”

“Ah, no…! I can’t be a cult leader…!”

Then what should we do?

Should we appoint me as the cult leader?

“Even though the resurrected Helix is gnawing at Silvia’s heart, Rosario turns a blind eye. I think Adel is more suited to be the cult leader.”

“I didn’t turn a blind eye…! I received an oracle, didn’t I…!”

“That oracle was related to Tairat. Didn’t Yuria tell you? Tairat is the head of the Erandel Galaxy and the king of demons. He’s entirely different from Helix, who feeds on darkness.”

“Th-that’s true…”

“Going back, I said it’s more like a branch of the Rosario Church. Once the temple is completed, we plan to merge, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Ugh…!”

Adel is deep in thought.

I stroke her head and smile brightly.

“The Rosario Church has many branches. You know that better than anyone.”

“That’s true, but… a cult leader… The Rosario Church has only one leader…”

“If you temporarily leave and then merge as a branch, and if Rosario acknowledges you as the archbishop, there won’t be any issues. The temple built on Earth will become the Rosario Church’s bishopric, the Vatican.”

I can almost see Adel’s ears perk up.

I crouch in front of her and continue in a pitiful tone.

“And… I want to be recognized as a believer as soon as possible. I want to meet Adel as a proper member of the church. I wish you would declare the establishment of the religion here and now and appoint me as an official believer.”

“Jihyuk…”

Adel pulls my face to her chest and kisses the top of my head.

She’s moved. Well, of course. What else could she do?

After making some noises for a while, Adel releases me and speaks.

“I understand Jihyuk’s feelings very well. But there’s a big problem.”

“What is it?”

“That proposal would mean I’m changing affiliations. The position of saint is directly under Rosario. So I can’t be the cult leader. Instead…”

“Instead?”

“I can support friendly religions or those that need to be absorbed. For example… I can dispatch support to the religion Jihyuk establishes. This applies to all the conditions mentioned earlier.”

She’s telling me to be the cult leader.

It’s what I’ve been waiting for.

Hmm… Let’s manage my expression first.

I pretend to be shocked for a moment and ask.

“Me?”

Adel bursts into laughter and nods.

“Yes. Once peace comes to Earth, I’ll formally pray to Rosario. Then you’ll become the archbishop and we’ll have a wedding ceremony. I originally planned to appoint you as a cardinal, but after hearing your proposal, I changed my mind.”

“Adel…”

“You look touched. As you should be. Now, Jihyuk, as the founder and cult leader of a new religion, you must work with me to reform the evil beings harming Earth’s peace. This is the first step for the Rosario Church. Understood?”

“Is that an order?”

“Yes. An order as a saint. And advice as an advisor.”

I slowly rise from my seat and answer.

“Understood. Then from now on, as the cult leader of a new religion, I will reform the wicked and accumulate merits for the Rosario Church.”

“That’s exactly it.”

“And all matters will be decided after discussion with Adel. That way, I can feel at ease.”

“Jihyuk, you’re really… embodying the role of a devoted husband. Good. Then shall we decide on the religion’s name first?”

Of course, it should be the Tairat Church.

But I can’t name it that now.

Adel still harbors hostility towards Tairat, my true form.

For now, I’ll pretend to follow the Rosario Church.

I’ll change the direction of faith every time I inject malice.

Very quickly.

I smile warmly and tidy Adel’s bangs.

“How about we decide on the religion’s name later? There are more important things now.”

“Ah, that’s right… Reformation…”

“Exactly. Shall we get back to the main point? I think we should first establish the doctrine for reformation.”

“But can’t we just follow the Rosario Church’s doctrine…?”

“The Rosario Church’s doctrine doesn’t suit Earth. It’s too merciful, accepting anyone as a believer. Forgiveness is granted almost entirely if one sincerely repents, without even requiring penance. It’s too indecisive.”

“Ugh…”

Adel makes a serious expression, as if she agrees.

Right? You’ve realized it too.

From the conflict with Silvia and seeing the insignificant humans of Earth.

“Moreover, we haven’t been formally recognized by the Rosario Church yet. How can we dare to follow their doctrine in this state?”

“That’s true. Jihyuk is right.”

“Good. I told you, right? Earth is very territorial. As a new religion taking its first steps, we need strong action guidelines. Especially for heretics who insult the Rosario Church, we must properly punish them and give them a chance to repent.”

Adel clenches her fist and speaks.

“I agree.”

“So, I plan to use pain as penance.”

“P-pain…?”

“Yes. Those who tried to embezzle part of the construction funds and rare materials for the temple’s construction. Strong penance is needed. Don’t you think?”

“Jihyuk… First-time offenders shouldn’t be punished so harshly…”

She was furious in the lab, but now that it’s about inflicting pain, she seems to have softened.

Ah… My Adel, your heart is too kind.

I pull out a piece of paper from the drawer under the TV.

And I wave it at Adel.

“They’re not first-time offenders. Here’s their list of crimes. Now, I’ll read the charges of the first target.”

I clear my throat and stand in front of Adel to read the charges of the first judgment target.

“Name: Lee Mansu, age 42. A foreman at a construction company’s subcontractor. He hit someone while drunk driving but hired an expensive lawyer and was sentenced to 2 years in prison, suspended for 3 years, citing mental weakness and involuntary manslaughter. He habitually abuses his high school son and daughter, and his wife couldn’t endure his abuse and left home.”

As I explain, anger fills Adel’s eyes.

“How… how can this be…!”

“Taking bribes is routine, and he sold various construction materials to China for profit. He didn’t use the saved money for his children’s education but squandered it in entertainment establishments.”

“How can such a person be a fair foreman leading others? A grave sin…! A grave sin!”

Adel, who has been chuckling several times, sits in the chair prepared in the center.

And crosses her legs.

“His crimes are very serious, and the likelihood of reoffending is high, so I grant penance!”

I shake my head and turn on the TV.

There, a middle-aged man in his underwear, bound and gagged, is trembling in the corner.

Seeing him, Adel frowns deeply.

“Where is that…?”

“The container box in front. I modified it for judgment. The next sinner is probably waiting behind.”

“Ah… So that’s why this place smells so bad…! Just looking at him is disgusting. He’s society’s waste, so inflict pain until he sincerely repents!”

“Since it’s the first penance, I’ll demonstrate. From the next sinner, Adel will decide the level of penance.”

“Huh…?”

Adel blinks several times and looks at me.

I smile kindly and speak.

“Adel needs to reform Silvia, right? Only Adel can bring her back to her original self.”

“Y-you plan to inflict pain on my sister too…?”

“That depends on Silvia’s charges. I hope it doesn’t come to that. But in that regard, Adel needs to be cold. It’s related to Helix, after all.”

At those words, Adel looks at the TV with sharp eyes.

Even in the dark container, I can see Adel’s green irises slowly turning purple.

“Jihyuk is right…! Since it’s related to Helix, we must be serious…!”

“Exactly. Shall we begin?”

“Please do.”

I grin and press the button next to the microphone.

With a clang, a young, pretty woman enters the container where the sinner is and bows towards the TV.

-Hello, Adelain.

“Huh…? Who is that woman?”

Adel pokes her head out, looking puzzled.

I stroke her cheek and explain the woman’s identity.

“Let me introduce her. Her name is Kim Minji. She’s my childhood friend and a prospective believer who will assist Adel and me.”

“Y-you’ve already recruited her?”

“Only her for now.”

“Does she know I’m the Beast Slayer?”

“Not at all. Why would I tell her? And she’s a loyal person who will do anything for Adel’s orders. You can trust her.”

Adel’s eyes sparkle.

“Anything for my orders…?”

“Yes, anything. Even as a saint, I was concerned about not having an assistant, but I hope you like her. She’ll carry out penance under Adel’s orders today, so use her as you would a limb.”

Adel, who was pleased, suddenly turns serious.

“That depends on her evaluation. If she performs today’s task well, we’ll have a serious discussion about her joining.”

You can’t help but like her, right?

Marcella is really capable.

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