episode_0226

See (4) – One Mind Salvation Church

It wasn’t that I was disappointed in my religious leader or my brother.

I just felt deeper regret than ever before at having to periodically look at the sky.

“… … Why.”

Why can’t I just do this?

Why do I have to just watch?

‘Everything is okay now, Ayoung.’

Her brother’s voice rings in her ears again.

The very warm hand that stroked her head and warmed her shoulder for the first time in the library.

‘Starting today, I will become Ayoung’s family.’

He was the first significant person she ever had.

Her family was the first to come to her when she had nothing.

A real family, not a father who always looked at them and frowned in annoyance.

so-

Her brother’s family, the religious leader who was more precious than anything else in the world, was her family.

“Aaaaagh―!”

I had no choice but to look at the sadness and crisis of such a family.

Yoon Ah-young captured with sad eyes each and every one of the believers in Daehan who were desperately trying to block the zombies.

“Stop it! Even if I die, I will stop it―!”

Her new family members, each with their own weapons, go out of their way to stab the heads of zombies.

Yoon A-young’s face naturally falls into tears as she sees them desperately trying to fill in the gaps that the Holy Knights were unable to block.

The reason they are so desperate is to protect themselves, but-

It was also to protect the saint and branch leader.

“… … Why.”

A gentle hand tightly grasps the hem of the dress along with the question that comes to mind again.

Why can’t I do anything?

Why aren’t you smart like Seong Ga-eul, why aren’t you strong like Shim So-young, why don’t you have good skills like Joo Joo-hye, why aren’t you like Ha Chae-kyung?

Could it be someone special?

She recalled the sight she had secretly glimpsed in the garden behind the temple.

A beautiful shade with green leaves swaying like a picture.

Two men and a woman sitting on a moderately shaded bench.

The scene where my brother and Ha Chae-kyung quietly looked up from reading.

The scene where they met eyes by chance and laughed lightly.

Yoon Ah-young couldn’t forget her brother’s very comfortable smile at that time.

The sight of someone giving the comfort they cannot give to the person they love and cares more than anyone else.

Nevertheless, Yoon Ah-young could not help but suppress the jealousy that naturally arose at the expression on her face that she could not find when she was with her.

Rather, he cowered even more out of fear that his ugly feelings would be revealed to Han Gu-won.

He simply showed himself absorbed in his studies and emphasized his usefulness.

Clearly, in the days after she became a saint, Yoon Ah-young was also full of motivation.

However, Yoon Ah-young realized too late that she could not do anything with motivation alone.

She always just looked.

Even when Seong Ga-eul became the vice principal and always accompanied her brother.

New executives continue to increase—

Until the home that was a library became a sanctuary and a paradise.

She just watched the whole process from behind her brother.

The only moment when Yoon Ah-young is needed is when her first skill as a saint, Prophecy, is activated.

However, even that prophecy gradually faded as the Salvation Church grew stronger.

It was certainly her fault to predict the white disaster at Lotte Mart and the current crisis, but she was not satisfied with that alone.

I wanted to help my brother like other executives.

I wanted to walk next to my brother, not just watch the crisis or the threat.

I wanted to be Han Gu-won’s shadow.

“… … Why.”

A question that comes to mind again and again.

Krraaa!

The roar of steroids rings in the ears of Yoon Ah-young, who quietly lowers her head.

The sound of thorns produced by a strange mutation being stuck in the ground and-

Kwaang-! Kwaaaang!

We can hear Shim So-young’s performance as she withstands an all-out attack by zombies and instead fights them off.

Indeed, worthy of the name Awakened-

A bright light that resembles a one-man army.

“… … I should have studied Taekwondo diligently.”

I could not dare to raise my head in that desperate struggle.

I just mocked myself in a small whisper.

I should have studied harder at the Taekwondo gym I went to for free for a month when I was young.

If that were the case, wouldn’t the system have given us more useful skills instead of these painful skills?

Wouldn’t she have been given a skill that could help believers more clearly like Soyoung?

like that-

Yoon Ah-young actually knew that she was constantly looking for reasons and someone to blame.

The system determines the skills of awakened people more objectively than anyone else.

What she received with the ‘seeing’ skill was,

Maybe it’s because she’s been watching things since she was young.

From the day I quietly waited at the door for my father who didn’t come home until late at night-

During recess, even though I couldn’t sleep, I forced myself to lie down on my desk, listened to the noisy classroom chatter, and imagined playing with my friends.

There was a time when I hated the chillingly quiet house, so I made excuses to go to the library and saw people coming and going.

There were times when I silently stole a glance at the bright smiles of the people talking there.

Moments that can never be left out when talking about the person named Yoon Ah-young.

All those moments come together –

Wow!

It would have been ‘Awakened Yoon Ah-young’.

Just hearing a cry causes a feeling of tightness in the chest and a strange pain that twists the blood vessels all over the body.

Kiiing!

Shim So-young’s pink mana is squeezed out even while hearing those cries from up close.

If Shim So-young was the human being she saw, would she be able to show that kind of will because she was a human being who resisted and eventually overcome?

In the first place, couldn’t she resemble Shim So-young and other executives?

Keying!

Pink sparks fluttered all over Shim So-young’s body.

“… Pfft!”

The mana that encompassed Soyoung Sim’s entire body disappeared, and at the same time, she staggered.

This was the first gap that appeared for Shim So-young, who was both attacking and evading.

There was no way the mutant, who was looking down at everything from the air, would miss that gap.

Byun Byeon’s white hand stretched out towards Shim So-young.

Keying! Keying!

Once again, the thorns that have completely taken over all directions are fired at Sim So-young, who continues to fail to generate mana.

Sooo!

Thorns cutting through the wind with a terrifyingly sharp sound.

Shim So-young bit her lip and placed both hands on the floor.

Since normal evasion was already impossible, I had to roll to avoid it.

Naturally, it was dangerous to have weak defenses, but it was better than a fatal wound to an organ.

“Stop it!”

A small shadow is cast on Shim So-young, who was assessing the moment of avoidance.

The paladins, whose armor was clanking, surrounded Sim So-young and raised their shields.

Wow!

A bizarre crying sound that still resonates throughout Korea.

thud-! thud-! thud-!

Thanks to this, the Paladins’ shields, which are not protected by mana, cannot maintain their shape and are distorted by the bombardment of thorns.

I’m so excited!

Telekinetic power that lifts the shield that covers Shim So-young, as if someone were tearing it apart.

Keying!

“Are you okay?!”

Kim Hae-il, who was desperately trying to block the mutant’s telekinesis by generating mana, looked back at Shim So-young.

Shim So-young slowly stood up with her hands on the floor, nodded and whispered something to Kim Hae-il.

Kim Hae-il, who heard Shim So-young’s whisper, nodded with a stern expression and shouted.

“Knights—!”

thud-!

At the vice-captain’s call, the Holy Knights folded their shields covering Soyoung Sim and began running toward the Daehan branch.

The look in the vice-captain’s eyes was clearly felt in the gaze of Yoon A-young, who was clutching her hands in surprise at the imminent crisis.

For some reason, the vice-captain was returning to the square with his eyes fixed on Yoon Ah-young.

Kiiing—!

The mana of Shim So-young stands in the middle of a wave of zombies, leaving them behind.

As if Yoon Ah-young did not give in to the mana blocking, her face hardened as the pink color bloomed even more brilliantly.

“… … Holy woman.”

The Holy Knights hurriedly escort Yoon Ah-young.

The rotten flesh and bloody smell that stuck to their armor and faces clearly showed the fierce battle that was taking place.

Kim Hae-il, who took a step further from the center of the Holy Knights forming the guard formation, politely opened his mouth to Yoon A-young.

“… … We will serve you.”

The worst thing I expected, and so I hated hearing it even more.

Cuuu!

Yoon Ah-young chanted as she looked at Shim So-young, who was struggling under the gaze of zombies.

“… … Where?”

“… … .”

“What about our believers?”

“… … .”

Kim Hae-il cannot answer her series of questions.

Yoon Ah-young looked alternately at Kim Hae-il, who quietly bowed his head, and the sky that was still stained with darkness.

Today – you are very late.

“… … We must protect Korea.”

A precious responsibility entrusted to her by the religious leader.

“You must protect it, not just watch from afar.”

If the miracle she was waiting for didn’t come, she had to do it.

Although she was also ‘Awakened Yoon Ah-young’ –

“Saint!”

Because she is also a saint of the Salvation Church.

Keekeeek!

The Paladins who belatedly reached out to grab the Saint and the zombies who recognized the Saint during the melee.

Everyone was unable to catch the saintess running forward.

Like a miracle-

“… … .”

Yoon A-young blocked Shim So-young’s path.

“… … You!”

Shim So-young’s eyes widen as if they are about to tear as she briefly goes down to the ground for the next leap.

Yoon A-young’s extremely delicate back is reflected in her vascular eyes.

“kkieeek―!”

Yoon Ah-young smiled faintly at the zombies’ howling, which was heard more clearly than when seen from a distance.

Zombies running faster as if welcoming the person who suddenly appeared, and a variant in the air that silently extends its hand to the person.

Knock knock!

The thorns circling around the mutant had sharp edges.

“… … Sister.”

Yoon Ah-young looked back at Shim So-young and smiled brightly.

A delicate hand grasping the hem of the dress as if to say hello.

Yoon A-young, showing off the sacred object she received as a gift from the religious leader, was captured in the trembling eyes of Shim So-young.

Yoon Ah-young doesn’t know about fighting.

Although she didn’t know a single thing about battles and wars, she remembered reading books.

A scene from a comic book that I secretly saw in the children’s library at the library.

‘Fighting is all about preemptive strikes.’

What Yoon Ah-young felt as she watched Sim So-young’s battle from afar was the same as the main character’s lines from the comic book.

The reason why the great Shim So-young continues to struggle is because she has no choice but to be passive.

Protecting believers takes priority over fighting off zombies.

The contradiction of having to protect the entire island with that small body was making her passive.

So, the way to make her fight easier is-

Sooo!

All you have to do is make her take the lead.

“Zenjaaang―!”

The zombies’ attack focused on the saint who suddenly appeared.

Shim So-young crossed paths with thorns that seemed to tear her apart.

Yoon A-young put her hands together as she watched Shim So-young pull back her fist with pink sparks flying through the air towards Byun Byeon.

She had a sacred object given to her by her brother.

A precious shield that can defend against any attack.

Sooo!

Before she knew it, Yoon Ah-young raised her head, ignoring the loud sound that was hitting her ears very close.

He’s not here, but—

Here was his gift.

That’s why it’s not about seeing-

Something could be done.

Kiiing—!

A fire that flutters in pure white mana.

A sentence appears in Yoon Ah-young’s mind as she quietly closes her eyes.

[‘He said, ‘I dwell in you-‘]

Han Gu-won’s voice is suddenly heard.

When Yoon Ah-young opened her eyes in surprise, the sky she saw was still dark, but-

[‘This is your land that no one can take away.’]

he was here

“… … Ah.”

always.

Tiring—!

[The will of the would-be saint ‘Ayoung Yoon’ and the holy relics of the Church of Salvation respond!]

[Discovering the second quality of a saint.]

[‘Will to Salvation’]

[A second exclusive skill is given to prospective saint ‘Ayoung Yoon’!]

[Land of Salvation Lv.1]

Numerous messages suddenly appeared before Yoon Ah-young’s eyes.

Yoon Ah-young held both hands tighter without even reading the long explanation.

Kiiing—!

A saint from the Church of Salvation who shines in pure white.

Yoon Ah-young only whispered briefly as if calling someone.

“Light―”

Paaah!

As if answering her call, a ray of light descended straight from the sky.

The beam of light that completely surrounded Yoon Ah-young gently penetrated the ground she was standing on.

The saintly woman’s will permeates all of Korea as if she were sharing light.

At that moment, all the thorns that were fiercely shooting at the saint lost their power and crumbled into powder.

The zombies that were running towards the saint with open arms stopped moving all at once.

The cries of the Black Baby, which continued to harass the Knights of the Salvation Church, slowly stopped.

If the place where the strange crying was heard was their land –

This is a land solely for the salvation of the Salvation Church.

Kiiing—!

Just like the first time, Shim So-young’s whole body shines bright pink again.

Her fist hit the head of the mutant, who seemed to have lost his strength and was falling to the floor.

Fuuu!

The variant that lost its head fell to the ground even faster with a loud sound that seemed to contain the anger of the past.

Tuk!

It was a very shabby ending to be considered a variant that had plagued Daehan until now.

Shim So-young quietly looked down at Byun Byung, who had lost his head and was lying on the floor.

[You have defeated the mutant.]

[Acquire 3000 faith.]

[Acquire knowledge about variants!]

[Variant ‘Gyoju’]

[‘The cult leader’ is good at telekinesis.]

Shim So-young ignored the explanation, which was too simple to be considered a variant that had been bothering her, and quickly ran to Yoon A-young.

This was because the zombies, who had quietly lowered their heads and stopped moving, started running toward the saint again.

“kkieeek―!”

Rather than an orderly rush that seemed very bizarre, it was a familiar sprint toward the target.

Whoa!

The Holy Knights who ran to the saint ahead of Sim So-young lightly kicked the running zombies.

“Protect the saint—!”

Kiiing—!

The white mana of the paladins shines whiter than when it was in perfect condition.

Like Sim So-young, the Holy Knights were also stepping on the ‘land of salvation.’

“Charge—! Everyone charge—!”

Sim So-young, who approached the saint, shouted at the knights who were guarding her.

“Brothers―!”

Kim Hae-il quickly nodded and immediately swung the knights and activated his mana.

Kiiing—!

Their mana was once again brightening up the Korean Peninsula as if resonating with the Land of Salvation.

Pow!

Shim So-young caught a glimpse of the Paladins fighting off the zombies who had quickly lost their game and approached Yoon A-young.

Haak- Haak- Haak-

As I get closer to her, I can hear Yoon Ah-young’s suppressed breathing.

“… … Ahyoung.”

When I cautiously called her, Yoon Ah-young, who had been bowing her head with her hands together, slowly raised her head.

Yoon Ah-young’s pale face appears in Shim So-young’s gaze.

“… … You.”

Every skill has a price.

It was a truth that not only Sim So-young but all awakened people knew.

The price for special abilities was mostly mana, but at this moment—

“… … Sister.”

I looked at Yoon Ah-young, who was smiling quietly with a face full of cold sweat.

Perhaps thanks to Yoon Ah-young’s skills, her body is in near-perfect condition.

The mana that I had been saving so desperately had returned to its perfect state.

Not only Sim Soyoung, but all the Holy Knights of the Church of Salvation who received her skills.

“… … Are you okay?”

The price of the prophecy was fainting for a certain period of time.

So, what is the price of this skill that Yoon Ah-young has cast now?

“… … are you okay. Just a little too much―”

Yoon Ah-young, who was smiling brightly and continuing to answer, stumbled.

Yoon Ah-young smiled again as she looked at Shim So-young, who hurriedly helped her.

“… … I’m a little tired.”

“… … .”

Shim So-young could not say anything and kept her mouth shut.

Fluttering – Yoon Ah-young’s trembling body.

With such a delicate body, Yoon Ah-young fulfilled her responsibility as head of the Korean branch.

We protected Daehan from a strange zombie wave.

“… … Sister.”

Yoon Ah-young’s voice quietly calling her.

Yoon Ah-young whispered softly as she saw Shim So-young making eye contact with her.

“… … Nice team play.”

“… … .”

A joke that Soyoung Shim always told as a joke.

After hearing the joke, Soyoung Shim quietly closed her eyes.

She could only answer with a faint smile, her eyes still open during the winter.

“… … Nice team play.”