Chapter 74: Omen (11)

‘…If someone needs help, help them as much as you can.’

It was what his mother had always whispered in Hitler’s ear when he was a child.

His father would mercilessly beat his mother for such words.

And himself as well.

His other brothers and sisters too.

Though those in need of help were closer than anyone, the very young Hitler could do nothing.

And soon, he lost even the chance to help his mother.

Because his father passed away.

Art.

His desire to reach the pinnacle as a painter was not purely for wealth or fame.

He wanted to proudly boast to his father in heaven, Alois Hitler.

That he had succeeded by walking his own path, not the path of a tax official that his father had forced upon him.

He wanted to exact a most satisfying revenge.

‘You must not enter the warehouse.’

A voice resonated from deep within his heart.

It was the voice of his endlessly gentle and kind mother, and also the voice of his sternly scolding father.

Telling him he must never enter.

Everyone in his memory was speaking with one heart and one mind.

‘…Don’t go in.’

Even Ms. Eva.

Yes.

His instincts were signaling him.

To turn his back and flee immediately.

That he must not expose the two children to danger.

“…I’m going alone from here.”

“Brother?”

“No matter what happens, don’t come in. If, by any chance, you sense anything strange inside, run away immediately.”

“But…”

“Listen to me!”

Hitler raised his voice for the first time.

The two children looked up at Hitler with tearful faces.

Hitler stroked their foreheads and said,

“Hans, Erik. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen. You two… stay back.”

Hitler resolved and resolved again.

That he would move forward no matter what.

Even if it meant walking into hellfire.

That he would help those in need.

He couldn’t back down now.

The sound of Father Johann gasping for breath began to grow louder.

He didn’t know what on earth was happening inside, but.

Surely.

The priest couldn’t handle it alone.

Though meager, he himself could be of some help.

Clenching both fists.

Hitler began to advance towards the warehouse.

His five senses trembled.

An overwhelming sense of awe made him bow his head instinctively.

It wasn’t just the priest inside.

He didn’t care what else was there.

Fate and destiny.

The unknown painter dreaming of fame confronted the trial before him head-on.

“Father!”

What unfolded before Hitler as he kicked open the warehouse door was.

“The four living creatures had six wings each and were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’…”

For the first time in his life, Hitler felt a holiness beyond words.

“…Adolf? Is that you, Adolf? No! Don’t come in! You mustn’t look at its eyes…!!!”

An angel, or rather, a pair of angels, radiating light.

Thwack!

Father Johann stopped his kneeling prayer and rushed to Hitler, slapping him hard across the cheek.

“…Ugh, Father.”

“The door was surely locked with a chain from the inside, how on earth did you get in!”

As if possessed, Hitler looked at the door he had entered.

Certainly, when he opened the door, he hadn’t felt anything.

But he realized that a heavy chain had been wrapped around the doorknob just moments before.

Looking at the scattered pieces of chain on the floor, Hitler surveyed his surroundings.

“Get down, now!”

At Father Johann’s words, Hitler quickly dropped to the ground and asked for an explanation.

“…Father, what on earth happened! And what’s that shotgun in your hand!”

“That’s what I should be asking! Why did you return so quickly! Didn’t that thing covet your soul! Pray earnestly to the Lord that you can get out safely!”

“Pray…?”

“No time to explain! Don’t get up until I give the signal!”

Father Johann hastily knelt again and began to mutter verses from the Bible.

Hitler felt an instinctive awe towards the being radiating light and looking down at him from right in front.

His heart was gradually warming.

“Is that an angel?”

“…Satan also came among them.”

The priest, kneeling and making the sign of the cross while praying earnestly, muttered softly.

“No, a demon.”

“A demon?”

“A demon in the form of an angel. It was not sent by the Lord. It clearly came from the depths of hell.”

A demon.

That thing could never be an angel.

A demon among demons, adorned with mercy, leaning on holiness, its wide maw agape.

An enemy of all humanity, including the German people, and the entire world.

“…Never be deceived. Old records stating that angels have such an appearance are all fake. Thoroughly fabricated, apocryphal, and false. Poison spread by the unspeakably evil servants of the demon. Angels never look like that.”

Without hesitation, the priest aimed the shotgun at the angel floating in the corner of the warehouse.

“A Mannlicher rifle… Father, did you learn how to shoot?”

The priest grinned and looked at Hitler.

“I was a soldier. Don’t you worry.”

Hitler recalled the old military uniform he had once seen in the priest’s room.

“Two months.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s been two months since that thing settled here. I’ve tried to eliminate it during that time, but I never got the chance. The children have nowhere else to go. I couldn’t eliminate it with the children present. It was too dangerous.”

‘…Ms. Eva.’

It seemed Ms. Eva had taken the children and left the church.

“This is the end. I can finally cut the breath of this damned demon that has settled in the holy church. I have prayed to the Lord every day for this moment.”

Courage resided in Father Johann’s eyes.

Courage to confront the unknown enemy, the demon disguised as an angel.

The false radiance of the angel could never outshine the halo behind Father Johann.

There was no hesitation or fear.

Father Johann overcame the faint fear lurking deep in his eyes and aimed the gun at the angel.

To protect everything.

An indomitable spirit.

To Father Johann, who was showing the courage to overcome the darkness.

Hitler offered silent praise.

For the object of the awe he was feeling.

Was no longer the angel.

“Of course, Adolf.”

Click-

An era where man-made iron horses ravaged the heavens and earth created by God.

An era where God, who had wielded immense influence over the world, had been reduced to a ridiculous clown.

In an era where humanity’s aspiration to reach the heavens was soon to be realized.

The priest quietly pulled the trigger.

Bang!

A weapon of war that had undergone dramatic development.

The lead shot pouring out with faint smoke from the most horrific and cruel weapon in human history.

Was enough to tear apart the demon’s flesh.

‘Or so I thought.’

Vweeeeen-

The lead shot did not reach the demon.

It turned to ash in the blink of an eye.

“…Father.”

“Yes.”

The angel, whom the two had called a demon, unfurled its crouched body.

It spread its massive wings, filling the warehouse,

And its countless eyes stared at the two of them.

“Run.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Run and bring soldiers. If you feed it enough lead shot, that thing will die too.”

“Let’s go together.”

“No.”

Father Johann silently pointed to one of his legs.

“…I can’t walk anymore.”

Hitler flinched as he looked at Father Johann’s leg.

The bones were haphazardly broken.

“Kuh, ugh….”

“Father!”

Hitler hurriedly supported Johann, who had lost his balance.

“You mustn’t… look into its eyes. You mustn’t let its thoughts seep in… Just by looking into its eyes… it can penetrate your body…”

Hitler nodded silently and picked up the Mannlicher rifle Father Johann had dropped.

“…Run, Adolf. This isn’t something you can fight alone.”

“I have to try what I can.”

Could he escape?

No.

The moment Father Johann lost his balance, Hitler had glanced behind him to escape with the priest.

The chain.

The chain that had been haphazardly broken and scattered on the floor.

Was now looped around the doorknob again.

The angel, as if to mock the two of them.

Was gently flapping its wings.