episode_0167

Bog (1) – One Mind Salvation Church Republic of Korea Branch

“King of kings~ I completely praise you, the leader~”

relaxing.

“To this endlessly dazzling grace~ I can give you~”

If you exaggerate it, it can even be enjoyable.

“Only faith and obedience~”

match-! match-! match-!

The sound of applause echoes continuously to the beautiful piano melody that flows through the prayer meeting.

Everyone, regardless of age or gender, was smiling and singing along.

Seong Jae-young awkwardly responded with applause amidst the crucible of faith.

I imitated the song with my lips, and whenever I had a chance, I continued to aggressively sip on the carbonated drink that was placed next to me.

Before I knew it, my legs were stretched out and all the snacks had already been eaten.

The feeling of fullness that made my whole body feel tired was so welcome and nice,

The best part was the atmosphere where each action was given meaning and there was no censorship.

“Ahh~ Our leader and leader~”

Everyone was looking for their own pleasure without caring about themselves.

For the first time in a long time, he looked up at the ceiling in a comfortable position and smiled, then slowly withdrew his smile.

A face that glimmers every time I realize that another world exists.

For Nampa operative Seong Jae-young, it was a moment when God, who had given him this reality, became angry.

‘If these people sing, should we blame the religious leader?’

If there really is a God, why do our brothers have to go through this humiliation?

With a frown on his face, Seong Jae-young thought of his younger brother, who had been left behind in Daehan, or rather, taken hostage.

The days when I lived worthlessly as a second-class citizen of Korea, doing labor after labor every day.

A few people gathered at the sudden call of an officer.

The officer walked around a few times without saying a word, lining up second-class citizens who did not know each other by face.

Chuck- Chuck- Chuck-

Because one is not allowed to make eye contact with the officer, one’s eyes are fixed on the kinky shoes.

The sound of gunfire, which makes me cringe just hearing it, stops for a moment-

Oops! Oops! Oops!

He mercilessly slaps the cheeks of the second-class citizens lined up from the far right.

The sound of a body quickly collapsing and standing up.

Seong Jae-young also clenched his teeth as he heard the threshing sound coming from close range.

Wow!

In an instant, light flashes and my head shakes.

He shook his head and stood up, desperately trying to gather his collapsed body, just like other second-class citizens.

Everyone knew that if they didn’t, they would be beaten more severely.

“You bastard pigs!”

The officer’s voice rings out after a beating for no apparent reason.

Everyone trembled at the terrifying growl that contained both anger and coldness.

“His Excellency Yeon Yeon-cheol personally gave a mission to these useless bastards.”

chuck-!

A body that reacts immediately at the mere mention of its name.

Immediately, the second-class citizens, who were standing straight and at attention, shouted at the top of their lungs.

“Long live His Excellency Combustion Iron—!”

“Shout louder, you scum!”

“Long live His Excellency—!”

Pow! thud-!

The officer’s kick followed immediately after the end of the banse.

The second-class citizen, who was hit mercilessly against the wall, let out a dry cough.

“You had the quietest voice, a second-class citizen.”

“S-sorry-!”

A second-class citizen who clutches his stomach and hurries back to his seat.

Other second-class citizens could immediately tell what the situation was just by hearing the sound.

────.

This time, a dead silence followed.

At the moment when everyone’s hair was turning white from fear that they could not get used to-

“Starting today, you will become the proud number one citizens who gather information on traitors.”

The officer declared solemnly and coldly.

Everyone’s eyes were fluttering with confusion and fear.

“If any information was helpful in the great Korean nation’s national salvation, you will forever be praised as the number one citizen.”

For the first time, a slightly softer voice came through.

“Of course, all your family members will be treated as first-class citizens.”

The faces of the family flash in the minds of everyone listening to the officer’s words.

The officer continued speaking.

“It’s obvious what the livestock will do when they hear this.”

That’s why I tell you guys to get rid of it.

The officer continued speaking in an uncharacteristically soft tone.

“You can betray.”

The voice, which had flowed softly and did not fit the content, suddenly turned gloomy.

instead.

“I will take responsibility for the family of the person who betrayed me and rip them to pieces.”

Drops of blood spattered on the faces of the families that second-class citizens remembered.

Everyone clenched their shaking fists and desperately looked at their shoes.

“If you can’t avoid it, accept it with confidence as the benefactor of Korea! You bastard second-class citizens, the opportunity of a lifetime has come!”

Make your mission a success with desperate efforts!

“Instant death, instant death! Daehan and the great Yeoncheol welcome you!”

chuck-!

“Long live His Excellency Combustion Iron—!”

thud-!

The officer hit the ground hard with his military boot and shouted at the top of his voice.

“For the hero of national salvation who returns, wealth, fame and beauty will be waiting for him! His Excellency Yeon-cheol is never stingy in praising merit!”

chuck-!

“Long live His Excellency—!”

good! very good!

The officer nods his head in satisfaction and stands again in front of the second-class citizens.

Second-class citizens who hold their outstretched hands together and shout.

“Second class citizens—! under! re! Goo!”

As the ear-splitting roar came closer and closer, Seong Jae-young finally firmly held the hand out in front of him.

I screamed until my phlegm boiled, thinking of my starving younger brother.

“Second class citizens—! castle! re! Young!”

Operation name: ‘Landmines of Freedom’.

That’s how the operation began, with the goal being to search for meaningful information for numbers 1 and 2, a deadline of two weeks, and a return plan by boarding each ‘train’.

What is your impression when you arrive secretly in the outskirts of the Republic of Korea and see it shining even at night?

You can’t even imagine it.

It was only three days until I carefully entered the Republic of Korea and joined the first religion, the One Mind Salvation Church.

The only activity he did for three days was to enjoy a rich day to the point where he wondered if this was okay.

“Let’s all pray. The religious leader who loves us and looks after us today as well-”

A prayer meeting where the song ends and the prayer begins again.

Everyone had their hands folded and their heads bowed with a calm expression.

Seong Jae-young followed them carefully and took another gulp of soda.

‘Keuuuh-’

I feel like I’m going crazy.

I feel sorry for my younger brother, but I wish time would stop.

but.

‘… … brother.’

I had to pull myself together for the sake of my younger brother who was suffering in Korea.

“Peaceful daily life and daily bread―”

Sigh-

The door opened and the calm prayer was interrupted for a moment.

“Please excuse me while I pray.”

Everyone’s eyes moved back to the beautiful voice, like beads rolling.

Innocent and handsome features that strangely match the black suit.

“Wow… … .”

An admiration that comes out unconsciously.

While everyone was looking at her face with their mouths wide open, she stretched out her hands and asked everyone.

“Is there any believer Seong Jae-young here?”

“… … Huh?”

A name that immediately breaks you out of the feeling of seeing a lifelike doll.

Everyone looked at Seong Jae-young at the question he foolishly asked in the quiet prayer room.

She also looked at Seong Jae-young and smiled brightly, saying, ‘Ah!’

“You were there, believer Jaeyoung Seong!”

A smile and a fluttering hand gesture as if asking you to come closer.

However, Seong Jae-young’s heart sank infinitely coldly.

“Can you come here for a moment, Shindo?”

“… … Yes, yes!”

what? Did you get caught? how?

I’ve never done anything special, so how?

With questions cluttering my mind, I stood up as calmly as I could and walked towards her.

“Okay then, let’s go. Excuse me while I was praying!”

A woman bows politely and then immediately leaves.

Seong Jae-young also suddenly followed her lead.

Togak- Togak-

The sound of high heels hitting the smooth floor resonates mercilessly in my ears.

Seong Jae-young, not as a man but as an agent, swallowed his saliva and soothed his dry throat.

I could already feel my back becoming damp with cold sweat.

“Um- Guide the believers- Prepare refreshments- Coordinate the meeting schedule with my mother- ”

A woman was walking ahead, shuffling through documents and muttering busily.

Togak- Togak-

Just above the third floor where the prayer meeting was held.

Two people entered a sparsely populated space where not a single believer came and went.

Seong Jae-young suppressed his heart, which was pounding as if it was beating against his chest.

Sigh-

When a woman who appeared to be a secretary opened the door, a wide open space welcomed them.

A table was placed in the middle of a large room and a generous meal was prepared on it.

I became more confused by the fragrant smell coming from there.

what. Why did you bring me here?

“I am the believer Jaeyoung Seong you mentioned, leader.”

However, my eyes widened as if they were torn apart by the next words.

The head of the church, who was leisurely looking out from the window, nodded and walked to the table.

Tap- tap- tap-

‘S-shit-‘

All that came out of my mind was cursing.

Seong Jae-young hurriedly and desperately tried to think back to the moment when he was caught.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t think of a moment when I might have been caught.

Then there was only one thing he had to do.

‘If I get caught, my younger brother will die. If I get caught, my younger brother will die. If I get caught, my younger brother will die.’

I am a new believer who came to Republic of Korea by train and joined One Mind Salvation Church.

I kept repeating this to myself and put my chin forward, pretending to be calm.

“Come here.”

The serious voice of the religious leader flows quietly.

At the same time, there was a sound of clanking armor, and a woman searched Seong Jae-young’s body.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

A delicate but strong hand searching over one’s body.

chuck-!

Your body naturally reacts by putting your feet together and straightening your back.

“… … It’s okay if you don’t go that far.”

The awakened person looked confused and nodded with a shaky head.

“… … ah. Yes, yes!”

I deliberately bit my stuttering lip to gather myself.

After completing the body search and walking to the table, the leader smiled.

“You were very nervous. Take a seat.”

“… … Yes.”

Seong Jae-young sat on the chair and faced the religious leader with the most calm expression he could think of.

He looked at Seong Jae-young quietly for a while and then smiled softly again.

Then he gently pointed to the meal.

“Get in. I prepared it as if I had stolen lunch time.”

“… … yes. I will eat it gratefully.”

Seong Jae-young concentrated all his attention and lifted the spoon naturally without any trembling.

I moved my chopsticks to a plate that oozed luxury.

widely-!

A cup of coffee and a simple refreshment were placed in front of him.

The woman who neatly placed cups and refreshments in front of the religious leader bowed politely.

A secretary carrying a tray and going back somewhere.

Togak- Togak-

I heard the sound of high heels pounding in my chest and saw her soft back, but I felt no emotion.

Seong Jae-young was confused as to whether the grain of rice he was chewing was sand or rice.

“I am a new believer who has been around for about 3 days.”

The religious leader doesn’t even drink coffee and continues his conversation calmly.

Seong Jae-young politely placed the spoon and nodded.

“Yes, I am.”

“So, what is life like at the Salvation Church?”

“I am very satisfied.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Seong Jae-young smiled along with the smile of the Salvation Church leader with his mouth slowly loosening.

I was so grateful that my mouth and mind were gradually adapting to the atmosphere.

“The name is Seong Jae-young… … How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-six years old.”

“It’s at its peak. What is your family relationship?”

“… … .”

I was speechless at the religious leader’s question.

I hurriedly answered, looking into the leader’s eyes with a subtle and desperate look.

“I am alone.”

“Alone… … .”

The tension increases as the length of the speech increases.

“… … Yes.”

“It’s a common thing in this day and age.”

The leader nodded with an inexplicable look and asked one question after another.

“Anyway, there aren’t that many train entrants to the Republic of Korea.”

“Yes.”

“Is there a reason why you came to Republic of Korea instead of Paradise?”

“… … I just wanted to get off somewhere quickly.”

“I understand. Where were you before?”

“… … This is Dobong-gu.”

Dobong-gu… … .

“Yes. How has that place changed?”

“… … It’s hell.”

The truth sticking out amid lies.

Thanks to this, I made eye contact with the religious leader with a completely calm face.

“I see.”

It ended with just one positive word.

An expressionless face that turns people away, and peaceful eyes with no meaning.

The leader, who could no longer ask questions, called someone.

“It’s the sea.”

“Yes, leader.”

Togak- Togak-

A woman in a suit approached again with the sound of high heels echoing throughout the large room.

‘Did I deal with it properly? Is this the end?’

Then why did you call me?

Why don’t you tell me why?

Boom boom – boom boom –

My heart was beating so hard that I was worried that the religious leader might be able to hear it.

Seong Jae-young clenched his teeth tightly and maintained a calm expression until the end.

The secretary bends down at the gentle gesture of the religious leader and puts her ear to his ear.

A religious leader who conveys something while whispering.

The secretary is calmly nodding her head in the affirmative.

Seong Jae-young’s eyes move around and look at them.

My ear flaps twitched endlessly and I was anxious to hear their conversation.

“Yes… … yes… … .”

The only thing that echoes in the large room is the voice of a woman who continues to reply to the leader’s words.

“… … Of Korea—”

“… … Yes.”

At that time, my pupils fluttered at the fragment of conversation that suddenly popped out.

Goosebumps growing all over my body and my hair feeling tight.

It felt like there was a sudden cramp in my head.

‘Fuck, did you get caught? Please, please fucking jeevaaaal—!’

After a short period of earnest prayers to all the gods he remembered-

The secretary, who had been listening to the leader’s whispers for a long time, turns her eyes to herself.

She looks at herself with quiet eyes and nods repeatedly.

‘… … ah.’

Just with that, my body, which was tight with tension, slowly relaxes.

“… … Proceed like that.”

“Yes, leader.”

The secretary falls back on the floor and steps away from the table.

“That’s all for today. Enjoy your meal and leave.”

“… … Ah.”

Seong Jae-young sighed as he looked at the religious leader who stood up from his seat.

“Well, just to this extent… … .”

“See you tomorrow.”

tomorrow.

Seong Jae-young’s eyes turned red.

As my vision becomes increasingly blurry, tears come out.

Well, I guess I didn’t think such a lame excuse would work.

One Mind Salvationist, Daehando.

He was just an outcast who was happy if he succeeded and had no restrictions if he failed.

Seong Jae-young pushed the chair roughly and grabbed the hem of the teacher’s uniform.

I shed tears and prayed earnestly.

“Church, teacher! Please – please – can you just take a look? My, my younger brother- my younger brother-”

I couldn’t be more desperate than this, so I held on to the religious leader and repeated this countless times.

“Please, can you just pretend not to know this once? I- I did everything wrong!”

If they find out that I was caught, my younger brother will die! please-!

A hand gently caressing the head of Seong Jae-young, who was desperately crying.

The religious leader looked up with a tear-covered face and was smiling and asking.

“If there is a way, what would you do?”

“… … Yes?”

“If there is a way for you and your younger brother to both be happy… … ”

The leader spoke kind words and handed him a book.

Jaeyoung Seong took it carefully and read the title he had become so familiar with over the past three days.

[Book of Salvation]

The head of the Salvation Church looked up blankly and asked as he finished his sentence.

What are you going to do?