episode_0050

Ju-Hye Ju (1) – Incheon Commerce and Industry

‘How high is your skill level? .’

Joo Ju-hye continued to look around at the sight of 30 people flying stably.

It was a miracle that he could not even dare to imitate.

‘to me… If only I had that kind of ability… .’

I wouldn’t have stayed in the main temple praying like a fool… .

My head was thrown back in despair and I stared at the sky.

The blue sky, which had been out of reach even if I stretched out my hand, seemed to be within my reach.

White clouds decorate the sky even more mysteriously.

For the first time in a really long time, she was looking at the sky rather than the ground.

Could it be that the zombies heard my footsteps?

How many magazines are left?

How long has it been since you ‘appreciated’ nature, rather than the hell you walked through with bloody thoughts?

“Ugh― Black― Black―”

Even when she was flying in the sky, Seo Hye-won couldn’t stop crying.

The eyes filled with guilt, all the madness from before gone.

“Hye-won, it’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

“Ugh, I know. Oh, I know… .”

Yes, that was the foolishly kind Hyewon he knew.

He spoke to her again with a soft smile.

“There is absolutely no need to feel guilty. That person was just using you.”

Yes, the really bad person was that person who was clearly listening to this conversation right now.

Hyewon was simply caught up in that person’s cold plan.

It was the result of persistent digging into her weakest and most delicate side.

The word that most accurately described him appeared in her mind.

Pseudo (似而非).

‘Why am I your daughter? I am my mother and father’s daughter.’

A narcissist who carelessly discusses salvation.

A psychopath who goes beyond killing and enjoys slaughter.

All kinds of negative words were wrapped together and spread into one picture.

The blood flowing from the search team spread across the cross and onto the man floating in the air.

A red color that dyes the entire drawing paper bright red.

‘Antichrist’.

Even though I had been listening intently to the pastor’s spit-spraying speech, I could tell.

‘An enemy of Christ. ‘False prophet.’

The devil was not far away.

“Wow, wow-”

There was a feeling of admiration among the companions.

Joo Joo-hye finally woke up from her thoughts and hurriedly grabbed the hands of the grandmother and grandfather next to her.

“Joo, Joo Hye-ya. Look at that.”

At her grandmother’s words, she lowered her head.

The same admiration flashed in her eyes as the rest of the group.

A huge orange membrane was visible just below them.

Just by looking at the curtain, which was overflowing with special power, I could see for what purpose it was unfolded.

Countless zombies outside the shield were seen struggling to somehow get inside the shield.

As if to give them time to appreciate it, the group that had been standing still began to fall slowly downward.

They fell very slowly like feathers and passed gently through the protective shield.

“Ohhh―”

The eyes of the group who arrived at the sanctuary were filled with ecstasy.

A sacred white temple nestled under a protective shield.

The vibrant lawn and trees seen outside the sophisticated building, which exudes grandeur and strangely modern colors.

They fell into the feast of pure white and fresh green.

The lawn softly welcomes them.

A group of people in white clothes sitting on a bench and talking smiled brightly at them.

“Ah, good afternoon, teacher!”

At the greeting of a man in the group, people gathered throughout the garden laughed and gathered around the leader.

“Yes, good afternoon. Have you all had lunch?”

“Oh my, how dare we… when the leader is not there? ”

“Hahaha, you can see it all in the expression, Shinto Lee Kyung-min. The vice principal said there would be no meal until I arrived?”

“Alas! We got caught, everyone!”

“Hahahaha! I should have been wiser and come a little sooner!”

Ha ha ha ha ha-

Laughter spread from them in an instant.

Joo Ju-hye turned her head to the peaceful atmosphere that she could not get used to.

Zombies with their eyes wide open looking at themselves outside the shield.

“Keee!”

Bang – Bang – Bang – An auditory hallucination that was heard automatically in her ears.

The ‘daily life’ that made up her until now.

“Hahahaha― Was pork belly for lunch today?”

“The leader should have seen Brother Seo Taesan’s face. While I was preparing the meal, saliva was dripping from my chin.”

“Hahaha― You will understand right away just by hearing the word.”

We took turns looking at the ‘daily lives’ they lead.

After laughing and talking for a while, he pointed at us and said.

“These are new family members who will be joining us from today. Please tell the assistant master to prepare more tables.”

“Ahh― So many people… I can’t wait to tell you this good news!”

A bespectacled believer who had been conversing with him ran into the building.

A very short time passed, and Joo Joo-hye’s hearing caught small sounds.

Cheeek-

I could tell right away just by listening.

Meat cooked on a hot grill and small juices popping.

Smoke from grilling meat dancing over the white grill.

As she imagined it, white smoke flowed toward them like a haze out of the building.

The familiar smell contained within the smoke.

Grumble-

A blush appeared on everyone’s faces at the embarrassing sound made by someone in the group.

match-!

A small applause attracted the attention of the group.

The white man who led them here said with a bright smile.

“Strange people in an unfamiliar space. I am well aware of the embarrassment and anxiety that is dominating you right now.”

A friendly voice, completely different from the loud voice from before.

“I will explain the whole situation so you can fully understand, but first… Suddenly these words come to mind. ‘Mt. Geumgang is also a great view after a meal.’ Oh, was it too unexpected?”

Every word that person says is calculated to captivate people.

Joo Ju-hye felt it.

Even though I clearly feel it… .

“Now! Shall we eat first?”

She felt relieved as she saw him smiling kindly while pointing at the building.

She was so alert, but there was nothing for other people to see.

The people of Starlight Church follow the man’s guidance and move to the building with expressions on their faces.

She held her family’s arms tightly as if making a promise.

Cheeek-

The delicious sound becomes clearer as you enter the building.

A brightly shining white hallway and a huge stone statue in the center.

The people sitting at the long table centered around the statue all applauded as they looked at the companions.

Clap- Clap- Clap- Clap-

“Wow, nice to meet you!”

“Welcome! Everyone is welcome!”

With a very warm welcome, some of them got up and led the group to the table.

The grilling plate and the juicy pork belly on it are visible to the group of people awkwardly sitting at the table.

My mouth started watering at the texture that its light brown color made me imagine.

Sigh-

Suddenly, the leader who was sitting at the head of the table stood up, dragging his chair.

A woman wearing a more luxurious white robe than the other believers sitting on either side of him and a woman wearing an office look.

The two held hands and looked up at him.

At the same time, others around Joo Ju-hye and her family joined hands at the same time.

It was a very familiar yet alien sight to her as she came from a Christian family.

“What kind of person are you really?”

He slowly scanned the crowd.

“Who on earth’s sincere prayers made the vice-president tell me that I should cook a delicious lunch for the believers?”

Ha ha ha ha ha-

As soon as he finished speaking, he gestured to both sides of himself with laughter ringing at the same time.

“Today is a very happy day. New family members came, and I learned that your faith has become even clearer. Wouldn’t it be okay for the vice-priest and the saint to join in on a festival like today?”

“Of course! Welcome!”

The man next to the bespectacled man I saw in the garden shouted loudly.

In response to the man’s answer, the religious leader asked with a sly expression.

“Are you saying that pork belly is welcome? Are you saying you welcome executives?”

“They are both!”

Ha ha ha ha ha-

With another resounding laugh, the leader opened his arms wide.

“Now! There is plenty of meat, so feel free to eat as much as you want!”

As soon as he finished speaking, numerous chopsticks pointed towards the grill.

A pleasant meal started with loud chatter.

“Joohye, you eat quickly too.”

“… Oh, it’s okay. Grandpa, eat first.”

Joo Joo-hye, smiling slightly at the pork belly served on top of white rice, stared at the right corner of the first floor.

Pork belly piled up on the self-service dining table.

‘Even if I can’t do it at the point shop, I have to give 100 points per person… .’

The points accumulated there were more than the points she had farmed by killing zombies.

She glanced sideways at the woman in office attire and the cult leader who was whispering something softly.

‘really… ‘What are you planning, you?’

With a small sigh, he placed the well-cooked meat on top of the rice of Seo Hye-won, who was just munching on the rice next to her.

“Uh, sister, eat first… .”

“No. You too, feel free to eat a lot. Those people say eat as much as you want.”

Nothing would change just by worrying about it.

There was no reason to ignore the goodwill shown.

She lifted the tongs and placed the pork belly piled high on the plate on the grill.

‘It’s not like I can defeat that monster… .’

A joyful festival followed with a little resignation.

The mountain of pork belly was gradually decreasing, and people were patting their bellies with happy expressions.

The faces of the Starlight Church people, relieved of their hunger, glowed smoothly for the first time in a long time.

People wearing Shinto uniforms began handing out pieces of paper to them one by one.

[One Mind Salvation Church prospective believer questionnaire]

“One Mind Salvation Church… .”

After all, these guys… It was all fake.

When all the members of Starlight Church received the questionnaire, the woman to the right of the leader stood up and attracted attention.

‘Vice leader of One Mind Salvation Church.’

A haughty yet innocent face in a tight office look.

He was also ridiculed by his college classmates for looking good at chatting on KakaoTalk, but in his opinion, that woman fit that image more.

“Nice to meet you. Dear prospective believers, The only zombie safe zone on Earth. Welcome to Hanmaeum Salvation Church.”

She began to explain in a clear voice that gave confidence.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. We will not take anything from you by force. Rather, we want to share happiness and abundance with you.”

She raised the questionnaire in her hand.

He said, pointing out the questions on the questionnaire one by one with the ballpoint pen in his other hand.

“At Salvation Church, we would like to allocate one living space per person to each of you. If you agree to this, please circle and answer the following questions, and if there is anyone in particular you would like to live with, please write their name. and… ”

Specially desired amenities and food.

There are questions about items needed for washing or applying makeup.

Joo Joo-hye’s mouth opened slightly at the questions that were not at all pseudo-sophisticated, but even too pretentious.

‘Yeah, yeah. Originally, cults show all surveys as normal.’

While she was trying to compose herself, her grandfather slightly raised his hand.

A person wearing a Shinto uniform assigned to each table hurriedly approached the grandfather.

“Yes, what are you curious about?”

She was an intelligent, beautiful woman wearing glasses.

“Ah, that… We are family.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Even if we are family members, if you don’t mind, can we use a separate room?”

“Ha, grandpa!”

Joo Ju-hye was startled and raised her voice loudly.

In this pseudo-space, it’s not enough to get together, so they have to stay in separate rooms!

Now that I think about it, I found it strange that the person who was so devout that he was second to none was quieter than me.

“Hehehe, Joo Hye-ya. Does a grown woman still want to sleep with us so badly?”

“That’s not what it means―”

Even when the female believer secretly poked her thigh, the grandfather smiled without saying anything and held the hand of the grandmother sitting across from him.

“Look at your grandmother’s hands. Those pretty hands… . I’ve lived my whole life causing hardships. I promised that I would live a really comfortable life when I retired… . Even now, I want to create a space where I can relax alone.”

Both of their eyes were filled with tears.

The grandfather said he would go on a trip around the world, which was the grandmother’s dream, on a large cruise ship, and the grandmother slapped him on the back, saying it was a cheap plan even though she had no money.

The world that unfolded to them was their son and daughter-in-law who left before them.

And the days when I lived without being able to die while being a leash that oppressed my granddaughter.

“Joo Hye-ya. We’ve been living wrong all this time. I was punished for praying to the wrong god.”

“… … .”

She couldn’t bear to speak as she saw her grandfather’s weak appearance for the first time.

Because I knew His pain, suffering, and faithfulness.

Still, this wasn’t it.

“Hal… ”

“I understand. Brother. I also had a moment when I walked down the wrong path with confidence.”

“Oh, really?”

A female believer wearing glasses spoke faster than her.

The grandfather’s eyes sparkled with a warm sense of kinship.

“But now there is not a speck of delusion in my mind.”

“Oooh― How… ?”

“The leader said. He said that just praying gave him the greatest courage. I was able to become perfect just by entrusting all my thoughts and heart to Him and just praying.”

“… … Prayer.”

Those were things my grandfather had done all his life.

A lifetime of hard work that went completely unrewarded.

A female believer gently holds the hands filled with hard work.

“What’s important is the direction. You will be saved just by turning your full faith in the right direction.”

“… direction. I see, direction is important.”

The female believer’s head turned toward the center.

A man in white looking at us with a kind smile from the head of the table.

Grandfather turned to look at him and smiled broadly.

“… It was something like that. Sister.”

The smiles of Shindo and the grandfather became similar, like decalcomania.

Looking at that distorted smile, Joo Joo-hye felt an inexplicable goosebumps.