episode_0166

Mountains and Sea (7) – One Mind Salvation Church Republic of Korea Branch

It was a dark night with only one person missing.

Therefore, it is a dark night where everything has disappeared.

A quiet mansion where you can’t even hear the sounds of grasshoppers.

The empty eyes of the river were staring blankly at the night sky outside the terrace.

I was squatting on the cold terrace floor, desperately chasing something that was neither the stars nor the moon.

“It might still be a little cold.”

My head turns slowly despite the sudden voice.

My lips softened when I saw the religious leader who had suddenly taken the seat next to me.

“… … Ah.”

The passage of time that I belatedly feel after waking up from long thoughts.

“meeting… … .”

He smiled as if to reassure me at the weak, stuttering voice.

“Don’t worry. Today’s meeting has been postponed until tomorrow.”

chin-.

He leaned back in a more comfortable position and continued speaking.

“Don’t even be sorry. I’m on my way to have a long talk with Ha Chae-kyung, who couldn’t attend the meeting for the same reason as you.”

Nari is still with her.

He continued to add affectionately.

“ Following Park Jin-heon, Kang San and Young Yeong also left without saying a word. Of course, there is bound to be a lot of heartache.”

“… … .”

Just hearing my brother’s name made me flutter again – my whole body trembled.

Kang Bada buried her face in her knees, shedding round tears.

Her brother’s last face repeated painfully in her mind.

The peaceful face that had been staring at her back for a long time did not leave her like a stigma.

“… … It’s because of me.”

A confession flowing quietly on a terrace steeped in silence.

“… … I said something too harsh to my brother.”

Unable to contain the anger of the moment, the flames soared.

And there was nothing left in the space where the fire stopped.

Her black, burned heart was all that lay there.

“I’ve been able to tolerate more things well… … Now… … Now I thought it might be a little bit possible.”

I ruined it… … .

A wet cry flows softly.

“… … .”

The religious leader did not respond to her cries.

He just stared calmly at the night sky while listening to her blame.

“My brother says the leader is a cult leader.”

“… … .”

“So, that’s why I shouted no.”

For the first time, I got angry and confronted my brother.

Regret exuded in a trembling voice.

“My brother said that the religious leader is wearing a mask.”

She quietly raised her head and looked at the Salvation Church leader.

“The leader you have been seeing is not the leader.”

Perhaps because he sensed my gaze, the leader of the Guwon Sect slowly made eye contact.

“… … Is what you said true?”

“… … .”

The silence that lasts for a while due to the earnest question.

The leader of the Salvation Church chanted with an inexplicable smile.

“It could be so.”

A bitter voice echoed across the terrace.

Once again, the head of Guwondo Church, who had been quietly gazing into the trembling eyes of the river and sea, looked up at the night sky.

The stars in the night sky fill his eyes.

“I’ve been thinking that way lately, sea.”

He spoke in a slightly weak voice, not the serious tone I had heard so far.

“There are not people who change and people who do not change—”

As if in self-deprecation, he stayed quietly and made eye contact with the sea with a smile that disappeared.

“I think there are people who want to change and people who don’t want to change.”

“… … Ah.”

A person naturally associated with a short sigh.

‘… … How can a child who doesn’t know anything-‘

brother.

My vision becomes blurry as the face appears in my mind again.

Even though Kang Bada was crying, she steadfastly wiped away her tears.

“Kang San is probably someone who doesn’t want us to change. I am just an older brother, and you are just a younger sister.”

“… … .”

“We are not like that.”

The hope that he wanted his situation to change more than anyone else in the world.

“We are people who hoped to change beyond what Kangsan wanted.”

The younger sister, who always wanted to change her older brother’s gaze, lowered her head without realizing it.

The religious leader smiled slightly as he looked at the river and the sea and continued to say.

“You can’t conclude that someone is wrong just because what each other wanted is different. Or do you want me to tell you that Gangsan is wrong?”

Kang Bada quietly shook her head in response to the leader’s question.

I didn’t expect my brother to tell me that he was wrong.

but-

“Then… … What should I do now?”

An anxiety that would not go away was surrounding her.

Kang Bada asked the religious leader with slightly trembling eyes.

“Oppa… .”

I couldn’t finish my sentence and bit my lip tightly.

So she managed to calm herself down and asked again.

“… … How am I supposed to live when my brother disappears?”

The religious leader shook his head in response to Kang Bada’s pitiful question.

It was a stern face, not the warm one I had hoped for.

“Don’t be mistaken, it’s the sea.”

The leader shook his head and continued speaking.

“In reality, nothing has changed.”

It reminds the sad Kang Bada of reality.

“As long as you are with me, your brother will never die suddenly. You will definitely arrive at your desired destination with inspiration.”

A sparkling electronic display board caught the eye of the religious leader,

Other areas continue to advertise fervently.

“Whether it is Daehan, World, or another area, we will definitely meet again someday.”

The relationship with Kangsan has not yet been severed.

Either it’s good or it’s bad.

“In that respect, not much has changed. You just still don’t have what you didn’t have before.”

“… … .”

Kang Bada stares blankly at the Gusun Bridge with small, open lips.

Her eyes trembled with a different feeling than before.

The salvation leader calmly sentenced her.

“Kangsan, who left to change, is waiting for you without changing.”

“… … .”

What the Salvation Church leader said was correct.

No matter how he changes, to Kang San, the river and sea will still be just the river and sea.

To him, she is just a young and delicate sister.

No matter how hard you struggle and how hard you try, it is a cold reality that never changes.

My insides became hot again, and my vision blurred with tears.

Paaa!

At that moment, thanks to my tear-filled vision, a more brilliantly shattering light appeared.

Before she knew it, a beautiful jewel had moved from her pocket to the hand of the religious leader.

As the light warmly illuminated the terrace, a quiet whisper came.

“There is a reason for everything.”

In the not-too-distant past, he said the same thing he said today as he held out his jewels on the terrace.

“There is also the correct order.”

Reason and order.

The words that didn’t really hit home that day finally filled her heart.

The leader smiled softly and continued his unfinished sentence.

“So, only today will grace become an opportunity for you. It will be a tool that will help you change.”

‘It is an opportunity and a tool.’

A conversation we had in a lightly dark office.

Kang Bada, who had been looking at the jewel, looked up at him blankly.

“… … instrument, … … Tools.”

I mumbled like an idiot and pursed my lips.

Eventually, in a trembling voice, he confessed his feelings that he had kept hidden until the end.

“Well, I’m not qualified. The reason I believed in the Salvation Church in the first place was all for my brother-”

“I know.”

A soft voice and warm hands covered her confession.

“And that has nothing to do with it.”

A very warm hand, unsuitable for the night air, caressed her cold hand.

Following his lead, I carefully reach forward with my hand.

The grace that carefully approaches him with the outstretched hand.

“You prayed.”

For my brother.

With more sincerity than any other heart.

so.

Grace arrived in my slightly trembling hands.

“It will shine.”

Your heart too.

Paaa!

Jewelry too.

“… … .”

The jewel given to me by the religious leader shone more brightly than ever.

The pure white warmth that finally enveloped her in full light.

Reason, sequence, occasion, tool.

and.

… … pray.

Kang Bada quietly withdrew her hand with a peaceful face.

Slowly, very slowly, I embraced Grace with both hands and put my heart into it.

I repeated my true wishes countless times and kept the grace in my mouth like that day.

A grace that melts away without popping out.

Warm light slowly began to surround her whole body.

Paaa!

A bright light that doesn’t suit the dark night.

The light that had illuminated the terrace for so long slowly faded.

At the same time, the river and sea open my closed eyes.

“What is it like?”

The leader’s question was answered in a hazy tone, as if he had just woken up from sleep.

“… … I don’t know.”

He gave a small smile and continued to give a weak answer.

“… … I just, strangely, feel at peace.”

After answering, Kang Bada shook her head.

The leader smiled briefly with a tilted face and then looked at the night sky.

“There are cases like this.”

Are there differences between individuals who accept grace?

Anyway, she definitely accepted the grace and became an awakened member of the Church of Salvation.

“Anyway, stay busy for the time being, hoping to meet your brother again. I have already finished talking with Ha Chae-kyung, so from tomorrow onwards, you will live under me without any thought, just focusing on work. Of course, the affiliation remains the same―”

Tuk-

The river that quietly leans on the shoulder of the leader who continued talking.

A small smile came out when I saw her fast asleep, breathing softly.

Tiring—!

[You are being rewarded!]

A status message that suddenly appeared at that moment.

The religious leader’s eyes naturally scanned the river and sea where he rested his head.

[Name: Gangbada]

[Gender∘Age: Female∘21 years old]

[Affiliation: One Mind Salvation Church (Temporary Affiliation: Minguk)]

[Occupation: Salvation Church prospective priest (awakened believer)]

[Religion held: 0]

[Exclusive skill]

[Repayment of love, Reciprocated love Lv.1]

[You are a sunflower waiting for love to come true in the end. In return for your love, it amplifies the abilities of targets within the radius. As the level increases, the radius and amplification amount increase. However, your love must be reciprocated.]

[Reward Share]

[90%: (Does not exist within that radius!)]

[10%: Han Gu-won]

[You are being rewarded!]

A status message popped up like a pop-up again.

The white mana that bloomed from Kangbada’s body was gently seeping into the cult leader.

However, he did not just receive it.

The same white mana blooms from the person who gave up his shoulder.

The same mana was seeping into the river and sea where he rested his head.

The face of Kangbada gradually changes into a smiling face as it receives mana.

“… … Repaying love, reciprocating love.”

The leader, who smiled, sighed lightly and looked at the sky again.

A much larger amount of mana was floating in the air than the mana given to him.

The white mana that bloomed in the river and sea flowed arrogantly to the other side of the Republic of Korea.

However, the white light does not go all the way and collapses like a wave.

In the end, the light faded before reaching the top of the mountain hidden in the clouds.

The leader watched as her skill, unable to find its target for a long time, sank into the depths of the sea.

Unrequited love was breaking apart.

Mountains and sea END.

***

An area that was Gangdong-gu in Seoul for a long time.

A quiet space where countless skyscraping buildings and apartments have disappeared.

There was a huge castle there.

A wide fortress wall that majestically protects Gangdong-gu.

A towering spire piercing the moon in the dark night sky.

A treasure of extraordinary ability that cannot be created by humans.

Number 4, Seongju, who had created his own space there, looked down at his world.

“We are looking for 2 people in normal mode who have not yet paid the point tax!”

“Now~ Gather here! First of all, you know that you will submit one zombie cure to me, the leader, right? If you haven’t used it, of course we’ll give it back to you when it’s finished!”

People who raise their voices without hesitation even though it is late at night when everyone is supposed to be asleep.

Seongju stared at the ordinary person who was recruiting normal mode participants in an unusually high voice.

Kiiing!

Purple mana that only lingered in his eyes for a moment.

[Name: Kwon Do-hyeon]

[Gender∘Age: Male∘25]

[Affiliation: World]

[Occupation: Beginner]

[Strength: 35] [Dexterity: 19] [Intelligence: 10] [Magic Power: 0]

[Free distribution stat: 10]

[Points held: 154]

[There is no dedicated skill!]

“Ah! come here! Here, here!”

The gaze shifted to Kwon Do-hyeon’s face, which suddenly brightened as if he had found someone to be with.

“Please, can you give me some points? If I don’t pay the point tax tomorrow-”

Whoa!

“Child- You bastard, I’m in a shitty mood today, so tell me to go after you. Hey you idiot, don’t lie on the floor like that, go and make some money!”

Whoa! Whoa!

With a man kicking a beggar like a soccer ball.

“If it’s long, I won’t do it unless it’s 20 points.”

“Hey― Whose joke is 20 points?”

“It’s not a joke, so I won’t do it unless it’s 20 points. If you pay in advance, I can wear stockings and even cum in your mouth.”

To the obscene and muddy streets tinged with red.

From a bar with loud chatter and loud crashing noises to a large building where people with weapons keep coming and going.

It was a world created by him, the owner of the castle.

[A new world where everyone can become strong. ‘World’ awaits you!]

At that moment, his advertisement was heard on the airwaves.

After staring at the electronic display board for a while, he started to think.

“… … Are you doing well?”

Even as he asked that question, a slight smile appeared on his face as if he wasn’t worried at all.

“Well, I’m just following the ranker, so I won’t turn into a complete idiot.”

An imitation of the broadcast that Expo No. 1 made by surprise.

A space where everyone can be happy, but with a twist, where everyone can become strong.

No matter how you think about it, it was a catchphrase that was perfect for ‘World.’

He nodded in satisfaction and threw himself onto the soft sofa in the back.

“Ugh―”

Seongju turned his face away from the sofa and stared at the ‘Video Player’, an item he had farmed.

There, numbers 1 and 2, where they exchanged handshakes with bright smiles, were being played back-to-back.

A scene from the ‘Proof Event’ extracted from the broadcast.

Number 4 looked at Number 1 with a light smile and stuck out his tongue.

“Wow- I really can’t imitate that even if I die.”

I felt it at the expo, but the atmosphere of the well-determined concepter was different.

“It’s just that everything is one, everything is one.”

I shake my head and raise my back and lean back on the sofa.

Kiiing!

Purple mana filled the castle lord’s pupils again.

[You cannot identify the target yet!]

Kiiing!

[You cannot identify the target yet!]

“Really crazy bastard… … .”

No matter how much you save up the point tax and grow yourself, it is a gap that you cannot even understand.

Seongju shook his head again and heated up his mana.

Kiiing—!

Purple mana fills the entire body.

His skill, which allows the castle lord to literally rule as the owner of the castle and the world, is activated.

[Start of the One Mind Salvation Church strategy guide.]

A sentence that comes to mind linked to ‘video player’.

Seongju stares again at the sentence he has seen a hundred or a thousand times.

[Phase 1 of the One Mind Salvation Church strategy.]

A pencil pops out on the screen with a sharp woman’s voice at the end.

The pencil moved noisily through one section of the ‘proof event’, making a crunching sound.

On number 1’s face, I drew sharp horns and cute tendons that showed he was angry.

And then the pencil moves backwards.

A pencil draws the same horns and sinews on the woman standing like a shadow behind him.

The strategy guide that marked VS between the two briefly summarized Phase 1.

[Knock those two off first!]

Seongju quietly stared at the sect leader and vice-president for a long time.

The strategy guide just kept saying the same thing.

[Knock those two off first!]

[Knock those two off first!]

[Knock those two off first!]