episode_0141

Revival (6) – One Mind Salvation Church Paradise

“Ahh—!”

Female believers clasping their hands together with voices filled with emotion.

A man projected on the large screens on both sides of the stage.

The number 1 thing my mother said.

The leader of One Mind Salvation Church.

A familiar face, often seen in stone, looked down at the stage and smiled softly.

That light smile somehow made my heart flutter.

He said with a face that seemed to glow.

[We hold prayer meetings every week in the hope of seeing you more often, but today is even more special.]

[Today is a prayer meeting for the guests who have come a long way to share in the abundant salvation.]

Park Yuna slightly turned her head and looked at Inari.

She, who was staring at herself with sparkling eyes, turned her head back towards the religious leader.

Inari quietly looked at the ribbon hanging on her chest.

[renaissance.]

[With the light of salvation spreading throughout the world, Paradise is entering a time of great revival. Let us pray for everyone who shares this joyous moment.]

“Salvation―.”

A low whisper echoing from both sides at the same time.

Inari also suddenly grabbed both hands.

[Guests do not have to awkwardly imitate the congregation. Come to think of it, didn’t the guests feel anything strange while looking at paradise?]

Inari’s shoulders twitched as she looked at the podium.

The leader shown on the screen hardened his expression and shook his head.

[You must have noticed something strange. It seems to me that our congregation was a little nervous that guests had arrived. Normally, he was having more fun, but he couldn’t do that.]

I blinked at the strange content that was not what I expected.

[I understand. I actually get a little tired of playing.]

ha ha ha-!

“Please make jokes like this often before you start praying.”

Park Yuna, with a bright smile, whispered to Inari.

[What shall we talk about today? Since this is a prayer meeting with guests and believers, let’s talk about it a little differently.]

He put his arms around the podium and opened his mouth a little more comfortably.

[Today we will talk about faith and love.]

[What do faith and love have in common?]

He smiled softly and looked around at everyone.

Along the way, Inari felt as if the cult leader’s eyes lingered on her face for a short period of time.

[The two things that seem similar but are slightly different have something in common: they can be proven by giving.]

[Whether it is an idea or a substance. Only those who give something of themselves can fully prove their faith and love.]

[An empty space that inevitably appears to those who give such faith and love.]

A void that only occurs to those who have given something precious to a precious person.

[That gap is human ‘goodness.’]

[If a person only receives anything, he or she is not good. I am no different. I am proving my faith and love to you by giving, not receiving.]

[While cultivating paradise with that belief, I met a woman with a different opinion.]

He quietly gazed somewhere and smiled.

The gaze of the religious leader standing on a podium, not a screen.

I had an intuition that those gazes were constantly meeting my own.

[I talked to the woman about happiness.]

[I talked about happiness by comparing it to a painting. Our proud painting completed with infinite faith and love.]

[But she said it wasn’t happiness.]

The leader continued speaking without turning his head.

Only then did she become sure.

The leader is now looking at himself.

[Why could he speak so firmly? Because the happiness we drew together wasn’t beautiful? Or because you don’t like it?]

[I thought about the question and answer with her for quite a long time.]

Inari naturally realized who the woman the cult leader was talking about was.

mother.

[And then I realized. The reason she said she wasn’t happy with our paintings.]

[I was so absorbed in the thought of having to share something with you that I neglected the trust and love that you would give me. You were blocking the opportunity to reveal your ‘goodness.’]

He continued speaking, placing his hand on his chest.

[Let’s talk about happiness again, not with her, but with you. You all have to give me something for each person’s happiness, not for the Salvation Church.]

[The happiness you drew, not me.]

She recalled her own happiness at the words of the religious leader.

I hope that the day continues like yesterday, no more, no less.

However, that happiness was a mirage that could not be easily achieved.

[In a picture darkened by each person’s extremely sharp pain.]

He smiled softly and looked at Inari.

[First, give me all the black fear.]

The black that encroached on the drawing paper of happiness.

Inari recalled the black grime flowing from the bathroom.

He spoke one after another.

[Give me deep blue gloom, loneliness, and sadness.]

[Pain and wounds engraved in bright red.]

[Give me your anxiety painted in light orange.]

Everyone’s happiness was ruined by a sudden disaster.

The countless colors that embroidered the drawing paper are slowly being erased.

[Give me the past that glows ominously in purple light.]

The religious leader completely removed all the colors that made them sad.

[The drawing paper where all the colors have disappeared.]

Happiness.

[It’s right here.]

He smiled brightly and pointed at everyone.

Everyone dressed in pure white Shinto clothes.

Inari looked with trembling eyes at her Shinto clothes, which she had put on without thinking.

[I am always listening to your prayers. I know your earnest wish.]

Inari recalled the prayer she had prayed while looking at the stone statue in the temple.

That earnest wish.

Inari clasped his hands together again without realizing it.

[We will be exchanging something with each other. Don’t cry if you ruin the picture. All you have to do is start again.]

[I will be your pure white drawing paper.]

He said with a bright smile.

[Let us continue to give and receive faith and love.]

[That is our salvation.]

“Salvation.”

A whisper that echoes throughout the solemn square.

Everyone clasped their hands and faced him with passionate eyes.

[I talked for too long about a heavy topic. Let’s brighten the mood a bit and continue the story.]

Next, a choir and a male believer holding a guitar came on stage.

The piano accompaniment sounds playing at the same time.

[Nice to meet you today too, believers. Let’s sing together while reflecting on the grateful words of our leader.]

Park Yuna, who was sobbing and holding back tears, waved her hands to the sound of the accompaniment.

[Create paradise with your words~]

[The religious leader who came to us, the first fruits~]

A square filled with the voices of choirs and men singing.

Before we knew it, the square was filled with people waving and raising their hands.

[You take on everyone’s fears.]

Everyone sang along in unison.

“To the light of salvation~”

[With the light of salvation~ Shine on us~]

The sound of a song that resonates to the lead of Shindo, who is holding a guitar with a fast beat.

“Happiness and love~”

[The leader who is proof of happiness and love]

Inari raised her head, which had been quietly bowed amidst the shaking waves.

Biting her lip slightly with quivering pupils, she left the square.

A believer who sings a song with tears in his eyes.

He raised one hand and ran to the platform, passing the believers looking at the sky.

Sooo!

The train stopped at the platform with good timing.

“Are you leaving?”

As she boarded the train, she looked back.

She nodded to Lee Jeong-wook’s question.

“Yes.”

“I see.”

Lee Jeong-wook nodded in agreement and slightly lowered his head.

“I hope you were happy at Salvation Church, even if it was only for a short time. We would appreciate it if you could board the train after returning the ribbon.”

At Lee Jeong-wook’s words, Inari slowly gazed at her left breast.

With a small smile, she shook her head and boarded the train.

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Yes?”

“I will protect my principles and come back.”

Push profit!

She sat down through the closing train doors, smiling more carefree than ever.

It didn’t matter what the method or the reason was.

She realized something from the religious leader’s words just now.

Paradise was not a paradise that gave infinite happiness.

It is a land of salvation that gives us the opportunity to start anew.

As she looked out the window and touched the ribbon on her chest, a white paradise flashed through her pupils.

***

Regardless of whether one awakened person returned to his city or not, the paradise continued to cycle through day and night.

A time when everyone walked through paradise with happy smiles on their faces.

An unfamiliar voice came from the neutral authority after the broadcast of the Salvation Church joint wedding had ended.

[Ah, can you hear me? All believers in paradise.]

A broadcast that airs during breaks in the Salvation Church’s broadcasts.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the electronic display board.

The executives who discussed methods of communication with Taecho at executive meetings were no exception.

[And I hope you watch this broadcast even once.]

A woman wearing a mask sitting at a long table.

I whispered as the unforgettable atmosphere pierced through the screen.

“… … Number 2.”

[We at ‘Minguk’ are also hearing the news from number 1. Just like when we first met, he is brainwashing citizens who know nothing with outrageous stories.]

“… … Is it Inari?”

I clicked my tongue and furrowed my eyebrows.

I clearly saw proof of faith blooming shallowly within her body.

According to what Lee Jeong-wook reported, the possibility of her conversion was 100%.

[I want to say to all the citizens who have been brainwashed by you. Please listen, all free citizens of paradise.]

A singing-like, rhyming voice resonated through paradise through the airwaves.

[You are victims of being brainwashed by the false ideals of the salvation cult leader. They are unfortunate victims who were not even given the opportunity to choose as they should have been.]

“They are non-believers! An unbeliever whispers with his dirty mouth!”

“Get out! You unbelieving bitch!”

“Snake’s whore! The snake whore sings!”

All the believers in paradise stood up and pointed at the electronic display board.

[I want to give you a chance to choose. In that sense, I ask you for number 1.]

She took off the mask that covered her face.

“… … Wow.”

Oops!

He contorted his body exaggeratedly as a hand-held sword struck his back.

Seong Ga-eul stared at the screen again, looking at me with pitiful eyes.

A warmth that feels like it contains all the softness in the world.

Just by looking at it, a warm feeling naturally wells up in one’s heart, yet its assertive features are clear.

Plus, the chest clearly reveals itself even when sitting at the table.

[If you have a lot of money, you are just a person with a lot of money.]

[A strong and fast awakener is simply a superior awakener.]

[I will invite Awakened Person No. 1 to ‘Minguk’. If you believe you are God, please convince everyone in a space other than your paradise.]

[Please take off your mask and confidently accept our invitation.]

“Shut up, you whore!”

“Mom, what is that woman saying?”

“You can’t listen! Bad people are saying bad things.”

A paradise in full bloom.

She, who had no idea about such a situation, knocked on the desk and sang powerfully.

[no. 1. A man in his twenties or three years old with an absurd name tag called One Mind Salvation Church.]

[no.]

Their eyes meet each other through the electronic display board.

[Cult leader.]

[Someone said that. Attempts to create heaven on earth have always brought about hell.]

The owner of a vain paradise called paradise.

Please keep this in mind.

[You are not God.]