episode_0032

Time flowed quickly.

Even as I lived a life like a hamster wheel, and the world went to shit.

Before we knew it, two weekends had passed, and finally the time had come for us to return to our original lives.

“I heard you’re leaving tomorrow, Holy Woman-nim.”

“Yes. It’s already come to that.”

After staying for a short period, completing the meeting with the king and inspecting the parishes in various regions, the Holy Woman was scheduled to move to another country.

Was it Kram, or Nabre? I didn’t hear exactly, but anyway, it was a place that wasn’t friendly with us.

Her intention must be to reorganize the scattered religious order and regain influence as the Holy Emperor’s authority collapses.

“It was enjoyable even for a short period. I wish you good luck and happiness in the future, Holy Woman-nim.”

“Yes. May the Goddess’s grace be with you too, Instructor-nim.”

After getting slapped, I didn’t do any lectures or tutoring, but still, we were master and disciple in name.

Since she was leaving far away, I gave her a sincere farewell.

Hoping that this clumsy girl would one day wake up from her pathetic delusion.

She gave me a moderately perfunctory answer, and I thought our relationship would end like this…

But unexpectedly, was the Holy Woman still attached to me?

She tentatively made a suggestion to me for the last time.

“Excuse me, Instructor-nim.”

“What is it?”

“Would you perhaps consider going with me? Giving up the academy, I mean.”

An on-the-spot scout. I didn’t think I had made such a strong impression to receive an opportunity like this.

“Suddenly? The person who slapped my face for saying blasphemous things?”

“Th-that’s because Instructor-nim’s remarks were too dangerous! If it had reached the ears of the Inquisitors, you would have been executed on the spot!”

Most of the Inquisitors have disappeared these days.

I heard it’s hard to find them except in the crazy religious areas of the Goddess Church in Hispania.

Anyway, I nodded obediently. It was true that I had committed a great wrong by this era’s standards.

And if anyone else had been there, my instructor position could have been in danger. It was a cheap deal to get away with just one act of violence.

“I don’t think a mere lecturer with impure words would be of much help to the Holy Woman-nim.”

“That’s not a matter for Instructor-nim or me to arbitrarily evaluate. Actually…”

She approached my ear and whispered.

“The Goddess said that she needs Instructor-nim.”

What the fuck?

That damn bitch dared to mention me?

“She said that you would be helpful in catching someone named Ishmael who is operating secretly in the outside world. That you are the only one who can stop him and end this war. She didn’t say it exactly like that… but judging from the nuance, that was definitely the meaning.”

The Holy Woman held my calloused hand tightly.

I could feel the warmth of her bare hand through the soft velvet gloves.

“So please, I beg you. Help me. Let’s work together to bring peace back to this world.”

I couldn’t answer immediately to her shocking remarks and froze.

She took my reaction as anguish and gave me a slightly regretful smile, saying she understood.

“If it’s difficult to decide right away, you can take your time. Come find me anytime. I’ll make sure that Raemis is always welcome.”

She left the classroom and went to where her party was. To the delegation of the Goddess Church, consisting of many bishops, priests, and nuns.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t even think of sitting down in a chair and was mentally replaying the story I had just heard.

‘That bitch of a Goddess noticed my actions.’

That damned thing knows that I am Raemis and Ishmael.

I don’t know how or why the oracle was distorted along the way, so the Holy Woman misunderstood me as a collaborator, but it must be a misunderstanding.

In this wide world, there’s no way the Goddess wouldn’t know my past if she openly pointed out my identity.

‘She’s even trying to actively stop me by bringing the Holy Woman.’

Judging from the fact that she’s borrowing the power of a human, she probably can’t intervene directly. Or there’s a reason why it’s difficult to do so.

Judging from the fact that she hasn’t corrected the Holy Woman even though she heard the oracle strangely, she probably can’t give orders as she pleases.

There may be restrictions depending on the period or conditions.

Just as priests use divine power to cast holy magic, there may be a price to pay.

Whatever the case, it’s clear that she lacks the ability to manage the Ishmael search going on on Earth.

If so, that means there’s no need to worry about being discovered for the time being…

“Fuck.”

I muttered a curse.

That bitch who I wouldn’t even feel bad about tearing apart and killing. After throwing others into another world as she pleases, she’s now trying to clean up the mess?

If she had treated me properly from the beginning, this kind of messed up problem wouldn’t have happened.

After being consistent with threats and neglect, she’s now trying to find me and eradicate me.

Do you think I’ll just sit still and let you do that?

“I guess I need to hurry.”

Since it has come to this, I need to bring forward the release of the ideologies I’ve been preparing. If possible, our organization’s plan too.

Before the Holy Woman realizes her mistake, I need to ruin the world to the point where it can’t be turned back.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, around the same time.

Somewhere deep in the mountains of the Kram Empire.

“Move faster, you bugs!”

Carts loaded with piles of ore and rocks moved.

Not by horses or cows, but by human hands.

Some pulled, some pushed, moving the heavy carts forward.

Some were too tired to stop, but every time that happened, relentless pain and violence were inflicted.

“Don’t stop walking if you don’t want to die! Walk and move the stones, you trash!”

A chilling scream was heard along with the crack of a whip.

Too common, like a broken clothesline.

But with the most chilling impact and screams.

–Whip, crack!

“Aaaagh!”

He flinched at the sound of the leather strap cutting through the air.

Following the impact, blood burst from someone’s back. The torn, shabby clothes were stained red, and blood flowed to stain the ground.

The person who was whipped screamed in pain, but soon gritted his teeth.

He wanted to scream and roll on the ground, but he couldn’t. It would only bring more pain.

To avoid further punishment, he started moving his feet again.

With a much faster pace than before, giving strength to his arms until his teeth broke.

“What’s that bastard doing? Where is he being lazy!”

–Crunch!

One of the guards suddenly frowned after kicking the person who had knelt on the floor while pushing the cart a few times.

The feeling on his military boots had changed to being excessively heavy. It shouldn’t be like this if it was a normal person.

He kicked the smelly, blood-covered worker and frowned, gesturing to the side.

“He’s already dead. You there, take this corpse.”

Boys waiting with empty carts approached.

The boys loaded the corpse onto the cart as if they were used to it, and struggled to head to the pit dug far away.

Meanwhile, the workers, no, the inmates, lowered their heads and continued to transport the stones. All the way to the furnace that separates the discarded stones and minerals in the distance.

It was only after finally going to the promised spot and taking out the stones that they were finally freed from the pain. But that liberation would only be momentary, as they would have to repeat the same process until the sun went down.

The stones mined from the mine in that way made a low hill, gradually increasing in size.

As it has been until now, until the day this terrible work is finished.

The nameless artificial mountain may one day be called this. The tomb for all the inmates who died here.

It wouldn’t be wrong, since the corpse pit was dug right next to it.

“Damn it, it’s hard to make these disgusting bastards work. I feel like even my soul is being corrupted.”

“Just bear with it. Still, we’re better off than the guys rolling around on the front lines.”

“That’s true.”

And the guards who supervise this entire process.

They didn’t feel any guilt.

They chatted as if they were enjoying their ordinary lives, and didn’t care even when people died in droves in front of them.

Why?

Are they villains?

Are they inherently evil trash?

Of course not. The reason was simple.

“It’s kind of fun to beat up those demon bastards.”

To them, the inmates were not human.

They are demons. They are humans.

Since their races are different, how can they be treated equally?

The higher-ups said.

They are evil seeds.

A race that has turned its back on God’s will and should not be forgiven.

So anything was allowed.

Killing, beating, stabbing, stealing, all actions were forgiven.

Because they are sinners.

Beings born with an unforgivable original sin that deserves to die.

“Let’s go eat dinner soon. I’m hungry.”

“Wait a minute, let’s give a warning first. Hey you bugs! I’ll be back in 30 minutes so keep working! If you get caught slacking off even a little bit, I’ll kill you!”

The guards left, snickering among themselves.

The remaining demons continued to work, suppressing their resentment inside. They had to in case they were being watched in hiding.

Thousands of demons dragged from all over the empire died like that. Not only here, but also in other mountain ranges and countries.

The welfare given to them was literally garbage.

Dozens of people lived together in one house, with no sewage system at all.

The cramped and unsanitary living environment spread infectious diseases, and people were constantly starving.

The food given by the warden was only shriveled potatoes, a small amount of bread, and rotting rye.

Almost no fuel is given to survive the cold nights.

They say it’s a ghetto for demons, but the expression execution ground is more fitting.

Probably no one could endure more than a few years here.

Because from the design stage, they didn’t assume that residents would survive and leave.

‘Save me. Or just kill me.’

‘Anyone, please.’

In a place where life and hell are almost the same, the demons just prayed and prayed.

Hoping that a savior would appear to stop this cycle of suffering in any way.