episode_0077

Second Coming (4) – In front of the safety zone in Guro-gu, Seoul

Zombies that were flying, zombies that were running.

The men who were twisting their bodies and struggling in pain, and even themselves who had given up on life.

Everyone stopped in place and was stuffed into the world.

“… … Ah.”

Kim Ji-ho’s eyes still rested on the man’s hand facing forward.

An extraordinary ability that can only be described as a miracle.

“Si, it’s the referee! The religious leader has passed judgment on the non-believers!”

It was a judgment on non-believers.

The white crowd was cheering and laughing at themselves.

Even though people died and were in danger of death, they didn’t really care.

‘Will I become a family member or an outsider?’

To them, we were complete ‘outsiders’.

“Who!”

A loud cry came to the believers who trembled with the joy of revenge.

It was that man.

He still raised his right hand and scolded the believers.

“Who smiles at the family’s faults!”

Everyone held their breath at one word from the man.

In the sudden silence, the man winked at himself and spoke.

“Jiho Kim. Bring the men who went outside together to the front.”

As soon as the man finished speaking, I felt the power that bound me disappear.

Kim Ji-ho immediately regained his freedom and carefully approached Park Young-ho.

“Kkkk

Park Young-ho, now a complete zombie, was screaming in pain as if there was a gag in his mouth.

With trembling hands, I slowly pushed Park Young-ho’s back.

As if someone was helping him, Park Young-ho was pushed aside and stood face to face with the man.

Led by Park Young-ho, who was stuffed again on the spot, his entire group of zombies lined up in front of the religious leader.

“Thank you for your hard work. Come now and rest in peace.”

Kim Ji-ho, who was panting after bringing the whole group in, flinched at the man’s words.

He habitually held the journal tightly in his hand and settled down in a place far away from the white crowd.

Lee Ji-woo and those around her had stinging eyes.

The man smiled as if he understood him, then looked at Park Young-ho and opened his mouth.

“My children, do not hate this person too much. This man is so angry at the world that took his daughter away. The same goes for his group.”

He lifted his left hand, which he was not holding.

Bottles with bright lights popped out from his left hand and floated.

The floating bottles floated above Park Yeong-ho’s group.

“Don’t laugh carelessly at their sadness. Just open your arms and hug them. I will do the same too.”

Youngho Park’s group simultaneously raised their heads and looked at the sky.

A liquid containing light flowed out of the mouth as it slowly opened.

“Kiss, kkissss—!”

Their bodies flashed with painful screams.

They sat down like dolls whose strings had been cut, and their bodies continued to twitch.

After a very short silence, they slowly stood up.

The group of people in white facing them covered their mouths with their hands and were shocked.

Kim Ji-ho, who was also looking at them, whispered softly.

“Resurrection… .”

Those who died as zombies rose again as humans.

Park Young-ho, who had been groping his body countless times, saw the man in front of him and fell to his knees.

Everyone in Park Young-ho’s group, who had made the reckless escape, shed tears of apology.

“Ahh― I, I… ”

Jiho Kim closed his eyes without seeing anything more.

now.

I was the only one here who didn’t believe in him.

***

[20th day of rescue.]

“Brothers and sisters, please receive today’s worth of food!”

“All sisters who need separate sanitary pads, please come here!”

Kim Ji-ho looked at Park Young-ho’s group distributing food and daily necessities.

The pure white clothes they were wearing were clean and without a single stain.

Rustling-

He quietly grabbed the last remaining snack bar.

Other than this, there was no food to fill his hungry stomach, but he did not stand in line.

Even if food was rationed anyway, if you looked away for a moment, it would disappear somewhere.

‘Unbeliever.’

He knew that the man’s believers were knowingly or unknowingly ostracizing him, the last remaining non-believer.

Since he did not have the ability to store something in the air like the leader of that group, there was no point in receiving rations.

A disgusting revenge that involves stealing food.

However, if the retaliation is a direct threat to survival, it becomes more fearful than anything else.

‘Why are you so stubborn?’

I asked myself, but I couldn’t answer.

There was no strength in my body.

I just felt like my whole body was drying out.

He was dying very slowly right now.

“Do you want to eat it?”

dump-

Someone sat down next to him and offered him food.

Jiho Kim smiled when he saw the face of the person offering him a snack bar.

“This is what it means to give and take away.”

“You might think so.”

The man smiled, not paying attention to his sharp tone.

He put down the snack bar at his feet and just looked at his face carefully.

At first, I thought it was because of the musty smell coming from my own body, but it wasn’t.

“Seeing you reminds me of my daughter who I left behind at the sanctuary.”

He was thinking of someone as he looked at himself.

“You are talking as if the sanctuary really exists.”

“Because it’s true.”

He was as calm and peaceful as always.

“She was just like you. I was afraid that if I forgot the past, I would never be able to go back there again.”

Kim Ji-ho’s weak eyes wavered slightly.

“She was complaining to me about the broken world. Still, I didn’t hate it. I knew that it was also another expression of love.”

He told the daughter he left behind at the sanctuary, but Jiho Kim knew right away.

He was talking to himself by projecting his daughter.

“… So what happened to her?”

Therefore, the question to ask him was decided.

The man stared into the distance and spoke softly.

“I embraced you with love.”

love.

What exactly is the love he is talking about?

His eyes, which had been staring into the distance, turned to himself.

“What is good for you?”

The man looked at the journal he was holding.

“People who like to write things down like everything to be clear.”

He slowly stood up without listening to his own answer.

Then, I said to myself as I stood up and looked up at him.

“Tomorrow, I will show you the proof you desire.”

He spoke for the last time as he faced himself with confident eyes.

“Don’t be overwhelmed by atmosphere and delusion. Face me only with your logic and reason.”

He walked towards the door with a bright smile as always.

“I really like people like you.”

Jiho Kim held the snack bar at his feet close to his heart.

Curled up on the blanket, he repeated the man’s words.

‘tomorrow.’

He hoped that tomorrow would never come, yet he hoped that tomorrow would come quickly.

***

[Day 21 of rescue.]

The ‘tomorrow’ the man spoke of started out rather loudly.

The lobby, which had been active since morning with food distribution, was filled with silence.

Everyone looked at the man lying on the floor.

Park Young-ho cried at the man’s feet, naked, even taking off his Shinto uniform.

“Master! Please forgive my disbelief!”

Youngho Park hit his forehead on the floor with a thump.

“My faith in you was so young and foolish!”

Thump-thump-

Kim Ji-ho’s eyes shook at the sound of shock that could never be imitated with pretense.

He was regretting the past days when he really couldn’t trust men.

To the point where I fought like that and begged for forgiveness.

The man squatted in front of Park Young-ho and stroked his forehead.

“Your heart hurts, so my heart hurts too.”

“Aaaah― Cult leader.”

“Wake up. Today is a very painful day, but it is also a happy day.”

The man who helped Park Young-ho up shouted to everyone.

“Today! The first believer with a pure white body and mind was born!”

And that was Park Young-ho.

There was astonishment in the eyes of the believers.

Wasn’t the author a non-believer who took the lead in humiliating the religious leader until recently?

However, the man shouted again.

“Don’t talk about the past! You were obedient for part of your life, but this one has been obedient every day since he was born!”

The man slowly walked out, leading Park Young-ho.

The white believers and Kim Ji-ho followed.

In the middle of the road, where all the zombies had disappeared, the man raised his voice again.

“That’s why I give you grace!”

After saying those words, the man whispered something in Park Young-ho’s ear.

“Aaaaa―”

Immediately, Park Young-ho, with hot tears flowing from his eyes, knelt down and raised his head.

The man smiled slightly at that and also gazed at the sky.

“Ah… … .”

Everyone’s eyes and mouths were filled with wonder.

The man’s body gently floated in the air.

Jiho Kim could tell that the man’s eyes were looking at him.

“That’s why I prove salvation to my son!”

proof.

Jiho Kim couldn’t say anything and just looked at him floating in the air.

He spoke with everyone’s attention focused on him.

“Speak! My son, who longs for peace! I will grant you the one thing you truly wish for!”

The white light emanating from the man’s body gradually expanded in size.

Park Young-ho’s cries were heard as his vision naturally became frowned.

“Master! Please to your sinner! Please save me!”

Paaa

As if answering his earnest prayer, light came down in front of Park Young-ho.

The eyes of the believers who were staring blankly at Park Young-ho grew so big that they could not get any bigger.

Something that cannot be expressed in words other than light truly descended upon Park Young-ho.

The light coming down from the sky in a straight line slowly formed a single shape.

And he made a holy and huge gate.

“Aaaa—!”

Youngho Park carefully walked towards the door with a shaky body.

Kkeeek!

A door with bright light slowly opened, as if welcoming Park Young-ho.

Park Young-ho shed tears in a place that became clearer as the door opened.

really.

There really was a sanctuary as he said.

A peaceful and fresh feast of green.

People dressed in white were gathered together, talking, laughing and hugging.

The magnificent temple behind it and the towering…

“… … Light!”

Kkeeek!

After Park Young-ho’s short words, the door closed.

The huge door had disappeared without a trace, like a midsummer night’s dream.

“… … .”

Everyone opened their mouths at the miracle that could not be described in words.

Only one truth continued to ring in their minds.

Park Young-ho has truly entered sanctuary.

“… … Snake.”

The man’s voice quietly awakened the long silence.

“I have been watching the snake growing in your hearts for quite a long time.”

The door disappeared, but he remained.

“Those who wore the clothes I gave them because they were hungry, because others belonged there, because they were lonely staying up all night, and because they were bored.”

He told the rest.

“You fools who raise the spear of doubt towards me who embraces me with love!”

Everyone shivered at the man’s solemn and cold voice.

Kim Ji-ho also looked at the man with trembling eyes.

He smiled kindly as always at those who looked at him.

“Still, I love you.”

“Aaaaa—!”

Among the believers who express admiration and respect, his gaze stays on one place.

Naturally, Kim Ji-ho faced him as always.

“You who groan at monsters, open the door in front of you.”

Kim Ji-ho’s whole body trembled at the leader’s whisper.

He was demanding an answer from himself.

“Do not doubt.”

The religious leader said.

“I will obey with faith.”

Jiho Kim answered.

“For those who open the door, there is only light.”

Truly, there was only light for Park Young-ho.

“I will cleanse your impure body and soul.”

Truly, the religious leader was purifying us.

“So you.”

The leader smiled at himself.

Therefore, I had to answer with faith.

Kim Ji-ho whispered in response to the religious leader’s bright smile.

“It will be colored with the light of salvation.”

The leader seemed to like his answer and smiled brightly again.

And this time, he looked at everyone looking at him and spoke.

“I will definitely protect you.”

his promise. His promise. His salvation.

Everyone whispered in unison.

“I will save you.”

Tuk-

He gently landed on the spot where Park Young-ho was.

Everyone watched that scene, their whole bodies shaking.

He didn’t say anything.

He simply opened his arms with a gentle smile.

“Aaaa!”

Believers ran to him like a dam bursting open.

Among them, Lee Ji-woo, who was at the forefront, cried out in his arms.

“I believe it! I believe it! I believe it!”

“I love you! i love you! I love you completely, Kyojuniii!”

The believer who fell down in front of him kissed his feet and shed tears.

I raised my eyes and my whole body trembled at his gaze.

A believer who fell while running was crying and shaking his arms and legs.

Faith is contagious.

Faith explodes.

Kim Ji-ho shook his head wildly and began to draw something in his journal.

His ballpoint pen was scribbling as if he were possessed and it was square.

“Please forgive me! I repent! I repent! I repent ah!”

“Aaaaa! Ah ah ah ah ah! Ahhh!”

The believers cried, shouted, and rejoiced.

Jiho Kim, who had finished what he had to do, threw away his journal and headed towards him.

Everything he said was right.

What I truly need.

It is not doubt and caution, but faith and obedience.

“Aaaaa! I believe it! I believe it!”

The journal Kim Ji-ho threw away fluttered with the heat of faith.

Bright sunlight illuminated the last page he wrote.

The magnificently unfolded Gate of Salvation.

Park Young-ho enters the sanctuary.

Above all, there is only one god.

There was no need to keep a journal anymore.

He had already completed the last sentence of the previous record.

The last words flickered in the journal as it slowly fell to the floor.

[Day 21 of Salvation.]