Chapter 45: The Angel Walks Outside (5)

Episode 45

Countless people gathered in the main hall, all cheering for Leffrey.

“Our prayers have finally…”

“The light that will save us…”

But Leffrey, seeing the believers cheering for him, couldn’t help but give out a bitter smile.

“What’s so great about an angel…”

Then, a voice came from beside him.

It was leader Kim Man-soo.

Kim Man-soo, who had been flustered, suddenly, as if he had received instructions from someone,

“Finally! Finally, our prayers have reached Heaven! Heaven has sent us His agent!”

He shouted those words.

Leffrey, bewildered, immediately looked at him.

Kim Man-soo was truly rejoicing.

No, he was acting as if he were rejoicing.

“Only Heaven! Only angels!”

“Only Heaven! Only angels!”

He cheered along with the people, with a truly joyful expression, then…

“You, what is your true identity?”

He suddenly turned serious and asked Leffrey. Leffrey, thinking ‘I can’t lose either’, replied clearly,

“I’m an angel.”

“Are you kidding me? It’s been ages since all the angels died.”

Kim Man-soo lowered his voice menacingly and whispered to Leffrey,

“Look here, kid. You seem to be trying to gather suckers with an angel’s corpse… but you know, even a small restaurant in the countryside has trade secrets.”

He then casually placed his hand on Leffrey’s shoulder.

“You shouldn’t be spying on someone else’s business like this. Don’t you have any business ethics? Huh?”

“Business ethics…”

He was being so blunt that…

Leffrey felt deflated.

‘The corpse is one thing… but how did he acquire these holy relics?’

This was the important part.

The angel’s corpse was a famous holy relic of the otherworldly empire, so if Kim Man-soo was incredibly lucky, perhaps he could have acquired it during the chaos of the empire’s fall.

But the angel’s holy weapons were different. Even in Leffrey’s past life, the existence of such holy relics was never revealed.

Surely, if their existence had been known… they would have been much more famous than the angel’s corpse.

These precious relics, hidden away without ever being revealed… were in the possession of a mere cult leader?

‘…There’s someone behind Kim Man-soo.’

Therefore, Leffrey could only come to this conclusion.

There’s a backer behind Kim Man-soo. Someone powerful enough to provide angelic holy weapons that have never been revealed to the world.

“You should give up on leaving peacefully. Unless you hand over the angel’s corpse you have…”

“…Leaving peacefully would be better for you.”

Leffrey took out a small glass bottle from his pocket.

“I was sent by the higher-ups.”

And naturally, the bottle contained the Blessing of the Power Angel who Graced the King, at Lv.3.

A Level 3 angelic blessing. It was literally the essence of Angelic Power. Even Leffrey, who was immune to Angelic Power as an angel…

‘I can feel the holiness.’

He thought so inwardly.

Naturally, what would leader Kim Man-soo think after seeing this? This powerful holy oil that only Leffrey could produce.

Therefore, Kim Man-soo, seeing this fragrant oil, would think about the mastermind who provided him with the angelic holy weapons.

“I-I see. I apologize for my rudeness.”

Kim Man-soo, as soon as he received the glass bottle, immediately became polite.

“What brings you here today?”

“Let’s see the progress of the operation. Lead the way.”

There was no other choice but to act confidently now. He had to buy time for Soya to install magic circles throughout the sanctuary.

‘I have no choice but to draw the aggro!’

If the leader and an angel are together… everyone’s attention would be drawn to Leffrey and the leader…

He could definitely attract enough attention.

“Higher-up? Ah… you’re an investor. I’ll escort you right away.”

Investor?

Leffrey didn’t understand why he was being called an investor… but he nodded anyway.

Kim Man-soo gestured with his hand, leading him out of the main hall. Next to him were countless believers praying towards Leffrey, and among them was Sori, the bird beast folk girl who had guided him here.

Leffrey looked at Sori, and Kim Man-soo muttered in a sinister voice,

“Ah, as expected of someone from above, you seem to like that kind of child.”

As expected of someone from above, he likes that kind of child?

Leffrey looked at Sori. As a bird beast folk, Sori had wings on her back, making her a beautiful girl with an angelic appearance.

‘Something… feels ominous.’

A villain who likes angel-like children.

Leffrey knew just one such evil villain from his past life.

‘Surely that monstrously strong being isn’t here… The demon army invasion hasn’t even properly begun yet.’

When Leffrey remained silent, Kim Man-soo smiled knowingly and called out to Sori.

“Sori. The angel has chosen you.”

“Me? Really?”

“Now, you and your brother are as good as saved. The angel has finally answered your prayers.”

Sori shouted joyfully,

“Yes!”

Then came applause from all around. The believers seemed genuinely happy that Sori had been chosen, clapping loudly.

“Sori, I’m happy for you.”

“I’m a little envious.”

Some were even envious.

While people were cheering, Kim Man-soo smiled like a true cult leader and said,

“Let’s go.”

Leffrey, feeling a sense of unease, followed Kim Man-soo.

Next to them was Sori, smiling brightly with joy.

* * *

The three of them walked down the grand hallways of the Central Sanctuary. Even though there were only three of them in this massive hallway, Leffrey used the Cheongu Swordsmanship detection technique to realize that all the surrounding forces were focused on them.

‘Good.’

As Leffrey had intended, all the aggro was being drawn here.

“Now that an angel has descended, my brother’s illness can be cured, right?”

Sori, as a bird beast folk, chattered incessantly.

“Ahem, how dare you be so disrespectful to the angel.”

“Ah, I apologize.”

“Hmm, Angel-nim, would you like to see this child’s brother?”

Kim Man-soo smiled.

Leffrey didn’t like that smile.

“Let’s do that.”

“Then let me show you our sanctuary’s pride, the healing facility.”

A healing facility.

Leffrey, to probe Kim Man-soo, opened his mouth,

“To operate a healing facility… you’re doing quite a good deed.”

“Haha, you’re being sarcastic even though you already know everything.”

Kim Man-soo raised his hand.

“We’re doing this all because of this.”

And then made a circle with his fingers.

It was the gesture everyone recognized, signifying money.

Leffrey was a little surprised to see that.

‘He’s being so blatant about his true nature, even though Sori is right next to him?’

Even Sori tilted her head at Kim Man-soo’s tone. But Kim Man-soo just muttered as if it didn’t matter anymore.

“First of all, by operating a healing facility, we can sweetly evade taxe- ahem, no, I mean reduce taxes, using related laws. And if we take in homeless people and receive subsidies… you can consider the operating costs covered.”

They had almost arrived at the healing facility, the core area of the Central Sanctuary.

“And that’s just the beginning of our business’s revenue structure.”

“Just the beginning?”

Kim Man-soo took out a keycard from his pocket.

It was the key to the door leading to the healing facility.

And then iris recognition and fingerprint recognition.

Finally, even mana recognition.

‘Why are there so many security procedures?’

The iris-shaped door opened with a hissing sound. Even Sori, who had been chattering until now, closed her mouth and looked at Kim Man-soo.

The atmosphere was truly ominous.

Sori, slightly trembling with fear due to the ominous atmosphere, Leffrey held Sori’s hand and asked,

“Sori.”

“Y-Yes, Angel-nim.”

“Have you ever seen your brother in person?”

Sori, barely maintaining her smile, muttered,

“O-Of course. Sometimes, when he’s healthy, he comes out of the healing facility and plays with me…”

Suddenly, a question came to Leffrey’s mind. Kim Man-soo, who established a cult after acquiring an angel’s corpse, how did he handle the angel’s corpse?

Perhaps, just like the otherworldly empire, he used necromancy to handle the angel’s corpse.

Necromancy… necromancy?

“Investor-nim, please come in.”

Leffrey and Sori entered the medical facility, following Kim Man-soo’s lead. A fancy brass nameplate read ‘New Truth General Hospital’.

There were no visible patients, instead only suspicious-looking people.

“After the fall of the other world, many people have suffered greatly from mana poisoning, mana sensitivity, and magical accidents. And such injuries are difficult to treat unless they’re in a superhuman medical facility.”

Kim Man-soo began explaining the facilities with eyes full of greed.

“Therefore, this business can only flourish. This religious business, using an angel that boasts healing powers superior to the saint as its banner… is practically a cornucopia that just rakes in money.”

Kim Man-soo, revealing his true colors, smiled at Sori.

“P-Prophet-nim.”

“From these suckers. Haha.”

Sori, the bird beast folk who was slightly smaller than Leffrey, couldn’t help but tremble and hide behind Leffrey. Leffrey grabbed Sori’s hand.

[Protecting a girl trembling in fear is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power!]

“But it would be a mistake to think that our company conducts business in such a simple manner. Investor-nim, you know too…”

The place where Kim Man-soo led them…

…was hell.

“Whether it’s people from the other world or this world, their bodies are quite valuable. And you know how expensive souls are…”

An unspeakable hell was unfolding before their eyes.

“Ah, of course, we’ll continuously supply them to our investors at a reasonable price, so don’t worry.”

Sacrifices, magic circles, wriggling monsters.

People having their souls ripped out.

Leffrey bit his lip.

‘No way… To think he was this evil…’

And the people around them were all…

‘I recognize their faces. They’re elites of the demon army…!’

They were opponents Leffrey couldn’t possibly defeat right now. Kim Man-soo and his cult were far more dangerous than he thought.

‘It wasn’t just about dealing with Kim Man-soo. This place is practically a core facility of the demon army!’

Sacrificial souls were needed for the demon army’s summonings. And just by roughly counting the visible victims…

‘Is it possible that one of the Four Heavenly Kings has already been summoned? No, that’s impossible! The Four Heavenly Kings are monsters among monsters, beings even the professors can’t defeat without working together.’

But the possibility that one of the Four Heavenly Kings had been summoned couldn’t be ruled out. Of course, Leffrey didn’t want to believe it.

“So, Sori. Shall the angel happily go see your brother?”

“N-No, I don’t want to. Angel-nim.”

“…Why would you think I’d be happy about this?”

Kim Man-soo muttered as if he didn’t understand.

“Huh? The other investor said he loved watching angel-like children despair. That’s what he said.”

“Despair?”

And another door opened.

There was a monster beyond the door.

A hideous monster with wings.

But somehow…

“Brother.”

…it resembled Sori.

“Ughhhh!”

A chilling groan.

Sori, trembling and unable to speak after hearing that sound.

“Brother?”

“Beast folk are particularly expensive as experimental subjects, making them a good source of profit. I guess it’s because their bodies are different from humans, so there’s a lot to research. Look at this.”

The monster wriggled towards Sori.

“Isn’t it amazing that it’s still alive in that state?”

Kim Man-soo spoke as if it were nothing.

“I’ll compile the data for you, but as you can see, our business is continuously flourishing. If you continue to invest in us with things like that holy oil… we’ll definitely meet your expectations.”

Kim Man-soo smiled, pointing at Sori with his hand.

“Then consider this… a free gift for our investor. You can use it however you like.”

“Calling a person a free gift… I need… to hold back.”

[Angels become stronger when they do the right thing!]

Fairy Martial Arts, Chapter 3. Explosive Pinecone.

The Fairy Martial Arts emanating from Leffrey’s body instantly struck Kim Man-soo’s jaw. The impact sent Kim Man-soo flying several meters.

“I can’t hold back anymore! You scum!”

The heavy body of that fat blob,

“Aaaaargh!!”

With that scream, crashed into the wall.

Then Leffrey immediately shouted,

“Sori, stay behind me. We’re getting out of…”

“Haha. I was waiting to see how long you would keep up the act… It’s a bit disappointing. By the way, you truly are a handsome boy. Like an angel. I’ve been obsessed with you ever since I saw you on TV.”

A man was standing next to Kim Man-soo.

The man, dressed in a black suit, had sharp teeth and burning eyes.

Although he lacked horns…

He was truly the form of a human like demon.

No, the form of a demon like human.

Leffrey knew the man’s name.

“One of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings! Drewmark the Reverser!”

Drewmark, baring his sharp teeth, grinned at Leffrey.