The Cult Leader in the Clergy Academy

Chapter 272

The location of Noah's Ark was on a mountain that was not marked on the map.

I rode Sung Yu-Da's car on the way back from visiting Noah's Ark, but even the navigation did not work near it. When I took out my phone, the signal did not work, and even the time was set randomly. It felt like a separate space isolated from the rest of the world.

"Due to Do Myung-Jun's Voodoo spell, signals do not work near the Ark. It's impossible to even pinpoint the Ark’s location," Sung Yu-Da said while glancing at the non-functioning navigation system.

"Then, how do I come back to Noah's Ark?"

"You can only rely on remembering the way back. Even if you remember the way, you cannot enter the Ark without permission from Noah, the owner of the Ark."

"Permission, huh."

"Since Noah told you to come back, there should be no problem with obtaining permission. As long as you remember the way, you can come back anytime," Sung Yu-Da said.

Fortunately, it seemed like I would be able to return to the Ark because I had captured the scenery on the way to and from there.

As the car swayed back and forth on the winding mountain road, I recalled Sung Yu-Da's memories which I saw within the Ark. I understood the relationship between my father, mother, and Sung Yu-Da. Sung Yu-Da's desire for revenge against the Voodoo Cult was instilled by the Pope, thus leading to a tragedy for the group of three friends.

The problem lay with the Pope. Why did he incite a Holy War and try to eliminate the Voodoo Cult by manipulating Sung Yu-Da? What did my father and Pope discuss when they met before the Holy War broke out?

I wondered if Yu-Hyun might know about this.

"Shall we talk about the underground prison now?" I asked.

Sung Yu-Da said while driving, "As I mentioned earlier, there is a method to enter the underground prison. We might be able to reach the prison sooner than expected."

"Sooner than expected? What do you mean?"

"Thanks to you being a Florence Academy student and maintaining a good reputation among the clergymen, if we have a good reason to visit the prison, you might be able to visit right away," Sung Yu-Da said.

He mentioned that during his time working for the Central Paladin Order, he had the opportunity to enter the underground prison right after suppressing the Satanist executive known as Greed. He said that as long as I had some sort of valid reason, I would also have the opportunity to enter the underground prison at any time.

My affiliation as a Florence Academy student rather than the Central Paladin Order was an issue, but Sung Yu-Da said that he could somehow resolve it with the power of his clan.

"Normally, it would be absurd for a Florence Academy student to suppress a Satanist executive, but... if it's you, you could probably do it."

"Yes. I've already done so once."

Once my words sank in, Sung Yu-Da said, "It seems like you were the one who suppressed the Satanist executive known as Envy.”

I nodded and said, "Yes. But I couldn't tell the clergymen that I defeated him, though."

"Why couldn't you tell them?"

"Because I used too many Voodoo spells and too much of the power of the Loa at that time. If I told the truth, I could have been exposed as the leader of the Voodoo Cult."

Jun-Hyuk was strong. He was stronger than any opponent I had ever met. So I overexerted myself and used all the powers of the Loa and all the Voodoo spells that were available in my arsenal to defeat him. Even then, I was still unable to kill him.

He was still alive in the underground prison, and he hinted at a reunion by occasionally contacting me via his taxidermied creatures.

Sung Yu-Da listened to me and nodded. After that, he didn't say anything. He just continued driving.

When the car finally left the mountain, he said, "I can’t believe that Seh-Hwa is still alive. But if she really is still alive..."

He skillfully entered the highway. The non-functioning navigation system finally started working properly.

Sung Yu-Da continued, "I absolutely want you and Seh-Hwa to reunite, even if it’s just for the sake of repentance."

Bzzzt—! Bzzt—!

At that moment, vibration sounds reverberated. Calls and messages frantically flooded my phone and Sung Yu-Da's phone.

Since communication was cut off while we were in Noah's Ark, these were the phone calls and messages that we had missed during that period of time.

I quickly checked my phone. There were calls from Han Dae-Ho, Oh Hee-Jin, In-Ah, Jin-Seo, and Joseph. Way too many people had tried to contact me.

Many people also tried to contact Sung Yu-Da. Before he could check all the contacts, a call came in from Ha-Yeon. When he answered the phone, a man urgently pleaded to him.

—Save me. Save me. Save me...

"..."

—Kyaahhh!

Thud.

On the other end of the phone, the man continued to plead for help. The call was suddenly cut off along with what sounded like Ha-Yeon's scream.

Sung Yu-Da's face hardened. A phone call from Han Dae-Ho was also causing my phone to vibrate incessantly. When I answered the call, Han Dae-Ho's angry voice immediately pierced my ears.

—You bastard! What are you doing right now? Why can’t I call you?

"..."

—Immediately... immediately head to the cathedral affiliated with the Central Priesthood. Hurry!

Click.

Han Dae-Ho said his piece and hung up. Sung Yu-Da turned off the navigation with trembling hands and turned on the news.

Urgent reports stated that a person suspected to be a Satanist executive named Lust was carrying out a terrorist act at the cathedral affiliated with the Central Priesthood.

Ha-Yeon was undergoing dispatch training at the Central Priesthood. Sung Yu-Da's hands trembled slightly. He glanced at the news with bloodshot eyes, then floored the accelerator.

Vroom─!

The car roared as it began to speed down the empty highway.

***

"Jin-Seo, are you going to the promotion ceremony this time?"

In response to the student's question, Jin-Seo nodded and said, "Yeah... I have to go."

The Romanican Church held a promotion ceremony every year, and this time the Paladin Order Northern Branch Director was selected as a promotion recipient.

In addition to the Paladin Order Northern Branch Director, several clergy members from the Eastern Paladin Order and Southern priesthood were also going to be promotes.

With so many promotion recipients, many clergy members and key figures were expected to gather at this promotion ceremony.

That was why Jin-Seo was even more reluctant to attend the ceremony. Prelates and key figures would definitely notice her presence because she was the daughter of Florence Academy’s Chairman, Kim Chang-Won. Nevertheless, she had to attend the promotion ceremony because she was an apprentice crusader of the Crusader Order Northern Branch.

Jin-Seo grimaced. "I don't want to go, but I have to."

The student smiled faintly and said, "Since we have to go anyway, just think of it lightly."

"I am trying to think of it lightly. I’m just annoyed is all... What about you? Are you going to the promotion ceremony?"

"Yes, I have to go too. Even though it's not mandatory, they kept pressuring me to come. Since we are both going anyway, shall we go together?" the student asked.

Jin-Seo silently looked at the student. There was no need to go to the promotion ceremony with the student. Normally, she would have declined the offer and gone alone. At most, she would have considered going with her driver.

"Sure, let's do that."

However, Jin-Seo nodded willingly. Even though there was no need to go together, it seemed better to do so. Maybe it wouldn't be boring if there was someone to talk to on the way. After Jin-Seo nodded and responded, she suddenly tilted his head to the side as she was curious about something.

"But where is the promotion ceremony being held?"

"Wow... You really don't care, do you? It's being held at the cathedral affiliated with the Central Priesthood," the student said as she looked at Jin-Seo as if she couldn't believe it.

Jin-Seo narrowed her eyes and nodded.

"The cathedral affiliated with the Central Priesthood," she repeated unnecessarily.

If the promotion ceremony was being held at the cathedral affiliated with the Central Priesthood, not only would the director of the Central Priesthood attend, but also all the priests.

Even the apprentice priests undergoing dispatch training would not be exceptions. So, most likely, Ha-Yeon would also come to the promotion ceremony.

Jin-Seo didn't have a close relationship with Ha-Yeon. They only occasionally talked during meetings as members of the Florence Academy student council and as members of the Seven Holy Names. They were in such a strained relationship that they didn't even greet each other. Therefore, there was no kindness, and of course, no malice between them.

The words Ha-Yeon said back when Jin-Seo encountered both Sun-Woo and Ha-Yeon together still lingered in her ears.

‘When should we have our next secret meeting?’

Jin-Seo didn't hold any ill feelings toward Ha-Yeon just because of that one sentence. However, after that incident, she felt awkward and embarrassed whenever she faced her for no reason.

"We probably won't meet," Jin-Seo muttered.

The student tilted her head and asked, "Meet? Who?"

"Nothing. Anyway, let's meet tomorrow and go to the cathedral together," Jin-Seo mumbled, quickly changing the subject.

On the day of the graduation ceremony, Jin-Seo met the student near the school and went to the cathedral together with her. Knowing that public transportation would be crowded due to the graduation ceremony, she called her driver. The student stood there with her mouth agape as she looked at the driver and the car he was driving.

"You were rich?"

"You didn’t know? I thought you were pretending to be close to me because of that," Jin-Seo said nonchalantly.

"Oh, I knew... but how come you’re saying that I was pretending to be close? Aren’t we close?" the student asked, blushing and bowing her head.

"Just kidding. Hurry up and get in."

She laughed and opened the door for the student. Then she waited until the student got into the car.

The student, perhaps unfamiliar with such consideration, cautiously got into the car and hunched her shoulders. Jin-Seo followed suit and the car started moving.

The road heading toward the cathedral was congested. All the cars were heading to the same place for the promotion ceremony.

The student glanced briefly at Jin-Seo and said, "We’re close, right? You don’t think I’m just pretending to be close, do you?"

Jin-Seo stared at her intently. Seeing her nervously wait for an answer, she felt a desire to tease her.

"Well, what do you think?"

"I, uh, I..."

The student hesitated and couldn't easily answer Jin-Seo's question. Jin-Seo admired that sight for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course we're close. Otherwise, why would I be going with you right now?"

“...Ri-right,” the student hesitantly responded.

Jin-Seo stared intently at the student and then shifted her gaze beyond the window. The road was packed with cars. If she had known it would be like this, she would have taken public transportation.

‘I can’t be late,’ Jin-Seo thought as she absentmindedly stared out the car window.

Meanwhile, the student sitting next to her looked at Jin-Seo's profile.

They finally arrived at the graduation ceremony venue. Jin-Seo exchanged greetings with the students and parted ways with her. Then she went to sit in the seat prepared for the members of the Crusader Order Northern Branch.

She glanced around at the other people gathered in the cathedral. The other members of the Northern Crusader Order had arrived before Jin-Seo and were already seated, along with a few prelates she recognized.

Then, Jin-Seo saw an unwelcome face.

"Hello." Ha-Yeon greeted her first.

Jin-Seo received the greeting with a slight nod.

The seats for the Northern Crusader Order and the Central Priesthood were right next to each other, and there were separate seats for apprentice clergymen, so they were practically sitting next to each other.

It was not an atmosphere where they could initiate a conversation, and there was nothing particular that she wanted to talk about with her, so Jin-Seo remained silent. Ha-Yeon also did not bother to start a conversation.

The silence lingered for a while.

—The promotion ceremony is about to begin, so we ask all guests to please take their seats.

Jin-Seo looked around upon hearing the announcer say that the ceremony was about to begin. She quickly scanned the faces of the clergymen inside the Central Priesthood's cathedral. She was trying to look for Sun-Woo.

There was also a member of the Eastern Paladin Order among those up for promotion, so Jin-Seo thought Sun-Woo would come too.

At that moment, as if reading Jin-Seo's mind, Ha-Yeon said, "It doesn’t seem like Sun-Woo’s coming."

Jin-Seo glanced at Ha-Yeon with a somewhat displeased expression, then put on a relaxed smile.

"Really? I didn't know. But why suddenly tell me that?"

"Well, it seemed like you were looking for him. If not, forget it."

While the two were talking, the ceremony had already started.

Before the official ceremony, formal procedures such as praying and singing hymns were performed.

As the voices of the choir filled the cathedral, Jin-Seo cautiously approached Ha-Yeon and asked, "Do you know why he's not coming?"

She fixed her gaze toward the choir and she cautiously opened her mouth slightly to reply, "I don't know."

Jin-Seo slowly nodded and said, "Oh, he didn't tell you in the secret meeting either?"

Ha-Yeon responded by quickly turning her head toward Jin-Seo. And then she glared at her with narrowed eyes.

On the other hand, Jin-Seo kept her gaze on the choir, seemingly unfazed. Ha-Yeon found Jin-Seo’s attitude to be extremely irritating, along with Sun-Woo's attitude.

At some point in time, Sun-Woo not only avoided any secret meetings with Ha-Yeon, but he also stopped communicating with her whatsoever. Whenever she tried to call him naturally as always, he would either not answer or come up with various excuses to end the call. It seemed like he was avoiding Ha-Yeon.

"You seem very interested in Sun-Woo. Whenever I see you, you two are always talking and seem very close," Ha-Yeon said as the choir rehearsal was coming to an end.

Jin-Seo eyed Ha-Yeon with suspicion. She nodded and said, "We are on good terms."

"Then, Sun-Woo must have told you about his secret too, right?"

“...”

Jin-Seo stared intently at Ha-Yeon. This time, Ha-Yeon focused on the choir and avoided eye contact with Jin-Seo. Jin-Seo’s brow furrowed slightly.

—Can the twelve clergymen selected as promotion candidates all step onto the stage?

After the duo engaged in a peculiar conversation, the formal procedures were soon completed, and the actual promotion ceremony began.

Following the announcer's request, the twelve clergymen selected as promotion candidates ascended onto the stage. The announcer conducting the event stood at the center and held the microphone.

The announcer slightly bowed his head toward the clergymen seated in the audience as he said, "Before we begin the promotion ceremony, I would like to express my infinite gratitude to the distinguished guests who have gathered here today to congratulate the promotions of the clergymen on the stage."

Then he turned toward the promotion candidates on the stage and said, "Promotion does not simply mean the rise in the hierarchy within the church. It also signifies becoming a person who receives more of the will and mission of Adonai..."

It was a tedious and formal speech. The announcer's words went through one of Jin-Seo’s ears and out the other as she pondered what Ha-Yeon had said about Sun-Woo's 'secret.’ Jin-Seo had never directly heard any sort of secret from Sun-Woo's mouth. It irritated her that she didn’t know about Sun-Woo's secret and yet Ha-Yeon knew.

"You all are setting an example for all clergymen and leading the revival of the Romanican Church while dealing with the cults—!"

Shriek—!

At that moment, the announcer's voice was cut off. A sharp noise echoed through the speakers. Jin-Seo tightly closed her eyes and covered her ears. Somehow, the sound coming from the speaker reminded her of the roar of the demon she encountered in the past.

Eventually, when she opened her eyes, the face of the announcer skillfully conducting the promotion ceremony had changed.

The announcer held on to the microphone and muttered incomprehensible words. "The cults... Satan. Satan, the Satanists. Satan, Satanist. Satan, Lord Satan...!"

Their tidy face was currently distorted beyond recognition, and dark smoke billowed out from their grotesquely wide open mouth.

The ground vibrated mysteriously, and as time passed, the vibrations gradually increased.

Crash—!

At that moment, the announcer's body shattered into pieces. Simultaneously, a creature that was familiar to Jin-Seo slithered out from underneath the stage.

It was the same demon who had killed Jin-Seo's foster mother and the one who had appeared at the practical examination site to battle her. It was the demon that they had ultimately failed to defeat.

Shriek—!

As if celebrating its resurrection, the demon’s scream echoed through the speakers and spread throughout the entire cathedral. And then a couple of the clergymen began to collapse as they shed black tears.

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