episode_0000

“As the Lord protects us, we must also become the sword of the Lord. Do you agree?”

“Yes!”

“With the grace of the Lord, we can block any bullets. Therefore!! We must sharpen our swords and drive out all the demons in this world!!”

“Amen!!”

“Do you believe!!”

“I believe!!!”

The person spreading their beliefs in this hall right now is my father.

In front of him, numerous believers were praying with their hands together, supplicating to someone, and crying out for something.

Even now, I couldn’t understand their actions.

Then, there was a word my father said to me.

“Son, you are beloved by heaven. So, inherit my work and sharpen the sword.”

It was a word from my father when I was not even five years old.

I didn’t know what that meant.

I just thought it was something my dad told me to do. Something my parents told me to do.

Nodding my head without understanding a word.

In that moment, with that one action.

My whole life got twisted.

Instead of fairy tales that children read, I first encountered the Bible.

While everyone talked about fairy tales in kindergarten, I read the Bible.

It was the same in elementary school.

While everyone talked about comic books, all I could do was quietly listen to their stories.

As I grew older, the story of me being the son of a cult leader spread.

In an instant, a few of the friends around me left.

From then on, I gradually started to resist my father’s words.

And that day was the first day I skipped the swordsmanship training that I loved.

“Why didn’t you come out today? Your father always says that the son of the cult leader should always set a good example.”

“Yes.”

“Son. Your rebelliousness has been getting worse lately, but pull yourself together now and inherit my work. Otherwise, you could really get into big trouble.”

…

I bowed my head without agreeing or disagreeing.

I resented him so much for not knowing who was suffering because of whom.

After that, I stopped talking to my father altogether.

I just wanted to leave this house as soon as possible. With that one belief.

Even if invisible gods were to punish me.

Just with the thought of wanting to leave this house quickly.

Endure and persevere.

And so, the day of my long-awaited college graduation ceremony approached.

No one was there to congratulate me.

But it was familiar.

‘Now I’ll live alone, get a job, make friends, and maybe even find a girlfriend…’

Can I do that? With the label ‘Son of a cult leader’ written on my back?

If there really is a god as my father says, wouldn’t this be wrong?

How much…

Bang!! Crash!!

Thud!

‘Ugh…what, what’s happening…’

My whole body is screaming in pain. It hurts…

I can hear my heart pounding.

I can feel blood flowing from my body.

The faintly glowing red traffic light and the puddle of red blood.

There was no one around.

The car that passed by me. The person who would call 911. The person who would worry about me.

No, maybe there wouldn’t even be anyone sad about my death.

Yes, there is no god.

Even if there is, I won’t believe it.

What’s the point of believing in those heartless beings.

It’s better this way.

Just dying like this, it’s one way to find freedom.

The body that was screaming in pain gradually quieted down.

The blood that was flowing stopped. At the same time, the heartbeat slowed down.

As the pain disappeared, a feeling of fear slowly crept up.

Is this how I die.

I still don’t want to die.

Memories from elementary school came to mind like a flashback.

The story of the protagonist starting a new life in a past life given by a friend.

I still vividly remember it.

If only I could start a new life like the protagonist…

Just not as the protagonist.

I want to live as an ordinary student.

I closed my eyes with a mix of regret and anger.

“%&#*%&@”

“&$@*&@%”

At the same time, I could hear people murmuring around me. Am I not dead yet?

No.

My body, which couldn’t even move, suddenly moved freely. Could it be that I miraculously survived?

But can recovery be this fast?

Well, I’ve always had a good recovery ability.

Now, even thinking feels bothersome.

I slowly opened my eyes.

Bright light blocked my view. Despite that, I could see a wide rectangular table and the exquisite feast of food decorating it.

After a few seconds of adjusting to the light, I saw the people sitting beside me and in front of me.

And I heard the voice of the old man sitting in front of me.

“You will now be the successor to take over my place in the stead of your brother.”

Who would have known.

That word I heard for the first time in this world.

In my past life, it was probably the word I hated the most.