The Cult Leader in the Clergy Academy

Chapter 193

It was a horrifying sight. Just like Joseph had previously said, this was completely different from some simple operation where they just had to neutralize a demon or demonic beast that appeared in the middle of the city.

Ye-Jin's mental image of a Satanist had only been the tip of the iceberg. What she was seeing in front of her right now was the true form of the Satanists that had been hidden beneath the surface. The corpses that were getting cooked in the fire, the scattered entrails, and Ji Hye-Sung and the women who were dancing and singing as if they were enjoying themselves...

Everything transcended her wildest imagination.

At that moment, Joseph tapped Ye-Jin’s back as she was vomiting from the shock. "Miss Ye-Jin, I request your assistance with blessings!"

Ye-Jin couldn't properly hear him. It was because she didn't even have the mental capacity to listen to Joseph's words at the moment.

"Huh, huh...? What did you just say?"

By the time she barely managed to catch her breath and look up, Joseph had already disappeared from that spot. He had slipped away and joined the crowd that was dancing and enjoying the Satanic gathering. His movements were as beautiful as the flames flickering in the center of the cavern. No, they were even more beautiful than the flames.

"A bouquet...?"

Joseph's steps were light. His movements were so remarkably efficient and graceful that it seemed like a dance.

He swung the bouquet in his hand. When the bouquet touched one of the women's heads, flower petals that seemed to be colored a fusion of crimson and yellow fluttered out beautifully, like a scene from a movie. Even the blood that poured out of the woman’s head looked as beautiful as flower petals fluttering in spring.

Smack!

Joseph's bouquet struck the woman's head once again. It made such a dull and loud sound that it was hard to believe that it had come from the bouquet. Ye-Jin learned for the first time that even flowers could be used as weapons.

Joseph looked down at the woman who had fallen. Her frail body trembled, but she was not dead yet.

Joseph taunted, "Ahh, do you know when the Satanists are most beautiful?"

He raised the bouquet above his head and said, "It’s when they’re like this. When they’re disfigured beyond recognition.”

Smack, thud, smack...

The bouquet was ruthlessly smashed down onto the woman’s face. With each strike, her face crumpled and lost its form. The woman’s face, which had been structurally beautiful due to her deep eyes and a high nose, was now a dull plane. Meanwhile, the once vibrant and colorful bouquet took on a monotonous shade after being stained red with blood.

"Now you look somewhat presentable," Joseph dryly remarked while looking down at the woman's face, which was disfigured beyond recognition.

He viciously wiped away the blood that had splattered on his face and moved toward the next woman. While moving, Joseph turned his head toward Ye-Jin.

Due to the darkness cast by the backlight of the flickering flames, she couldn't see his expression. And that was what made it even more eerie. It seemed like Joseph's face was devoid of all expression after being swallowed entirely by darkness.

"Miss Ye-Jin! It seems like you didn't hear me. I requested your assistance with blessings earlier!"

"Yes, um...! But, behind, behind! Look behind you!"

"What? I can't hear you clearly─"

Crash.

While Joseph was delivering instructions to Ye-Jin, a woman approached him from behind, and a sinister sound echoed through the air immediately after.

However, it was not Joseph who collapsed, but the woman. She lay sprawled on the ground with her neck twisted in a grotesque fashion. It appeared as though she had been instantly killed with a single blow. Joseph prodded her face with his foot. Strangely, the sensation felt more like touching a mannequin or a doll than a human being. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that all thirteen women had identical faces. Rather than being actual people, they seemed to be something created to resemble humans.

“It looks like there will be no need for me to feel any guilt,” Joseph muttered as he wiped away the blood.

Even if they were humans, he wouldn’t have felt any guilt. He just felt like saying that. With a smile on his face, Joseph rushed toward the next woman. Once the woman fell, he proceeded to the next woman. Eliminating these thirteen women, who more or less had no combat capabilities, was a walk in the park for Joseph. After exterminating all the women, only one person remained.

It was Ji Hye-Sung, his colleague and friend.

"Oh dear, my good friend. What on earth is up with your appearance? Isn’t it embarrassing to be fooling around like that at your age?”

"...Joseph, I'm not fooling around. I'm opening a passage for that person to come."

"Oh, is that so? Then how about we make a bet?"

Joseph pulled out a flower from the bouquet and held it up.

"Let’s see whether it’ll be faster to open a passage for that person or whether it will be faster for me to pierce your head with this flower," Joseph said.

"You talk too much," Ji Hye-Sung replied.

Crack! Rip, rip...

Ji Hye-Sung casually pulled out his right shoulder and tore it off. Then he threw his torn-off arm into the flames burning the center of the cavern. His right arm turned black as it was engulfed by the flame, and it soon twisted into a grotesque shape.

A finger grew out of the charred arm. The nails at the end of each finger in the arm became sharp and keen. Upon touching the flames, the aged and sagging skin turned into a tough carapace. Ji Hye-Sung grabbed his transformed right arm and placed it on his shoulder. After doing so, tentacles growing out of his transformed arm began to reattach the arm to the shoulder.

After witnessing this sight, Joseph exclaimed in awe, "My friend, have you also been learning magic? Detaching and reattaching your arm like that...”

While Joseph was casually speaking to Ji Hye-Sung, he suddenly felt a foreboding presence. He stopped mid-sentence and stepped back. It was a weird feeling. It felt like he would die if he approached any closer than this. He had been through countless encounters with numerous demons, demonic beasts, and Satanists, but this was the first time he had felt so endangered.

Screech—!

In that instant, a loud noise echoed in Joseph's ear. Ji Hye-Sung's elongated fingernail moved horizontally as if cutting through the air.

Splurt!

A long horizontal wound appeared on Joseph's chest. An unbelievable amount of blood poured out of the wound and quickly soaked his clothes dark red. Joseph looked at the wound on his chest with bloodshot eyes.

"Ah, I aimed wrong. This time, I'll properly aim for the neck."

"...I don't understand. Is this also magic?"

"Indeed, it's black magic," Ji Hye-Sung said while raising his fingernail.

"You will not be able to dodge my attack as long as you are in my line of sight.”

Screech...

Ji Hye-Sung's fingernail slowly started moving horizontally. Joseph scanned the area in an attempt to find a place where he could hide. However, in the wide open cavern, there was no place where he could escape Ji Hye-Sung's line of sight. He felt an uncomfortable tingling sensation in his neck. It was the unmistakable feeling of impending death. Quite literally, he was in a situation where he was on the verge of death.

It was then that Ye-Jin's clear voice echoed through the square.

"...Amen."

Crack, crack, crack—!

The divine power pouring out of her body formed a cloud of light on the ceiling of the cavern. Red hail poured down from the cloud. Just like the calamity brought about by the first angel's trumpet in the Book of Revelations, the hail possessed a creepy yet radiant light.

Crack, crack, crack—!

There was a lot of hail, but it was small in size and weak in power. It wasn't an attack that could deal significant damage to Ji Hye-Sung. However, it could momentarily obstruct Ji Hye-Sung's vision. Even that brief moment was enough for Joseph. What he needed was just an instant, so a moment was more than enough.

After getting unexpectedly hindered by Ye-Jin, Ji Hye-Sung blocked the hail that was raining down with his grotesquely deformed right arm and said, "Do you think such cheap tricks will work?"

The fact of the matter was that it worked. Due to the red hail obstructing his vision, Ji Hye-Sung was unable to hastily attack. Black magic was absurdly powerful, but it was also immensely burdensome, so it required extreme caution every time it was used. Ji Hye-Sung diligently tried to peer through the gaps between the dust that had been disturbed by the hail in an attempt to find Joseph.

It wasn't necessary to see him clearly. Just seeing his silhouette was enough for him to use the black magic. Was he on the right? No, he wasn’t there. He wasn’t on the left either.

Above? However, when Ji Hye-Sung turned to look up, all he could see were the red hail and the light clouds that Ye-Jin had created. Joseph's figure was nowhere to be seen.

Where, where could he be...?

"Are you looking for me? I'm behind you!"

Splurt.

Suddenly, Joseph appeared behind Ji Hye-Sung. He pulled out a flower from the bouquet and inserted it into Ji Hye-Sung's head.

Just like that, the flower was shoved deep inside his head. His body leaned forward and then collapsed. Ji Hye-Sung tried to move his fingers to attack Joseph, but his fingers wouldn't budge. He couldn't even lift his arm. However, he was still alive. He had escaped instant death with the power of the ‘chakra’ he had obtained as a Satanist.

Joseph squatted down and looked at the fallen Ji Hye-Sung.

"Did you think your gaze would be able to catch me? I’m faster than you think," he said.

"If it weren't for that damn woman, you would have already died. Your severed head would be rolling on the ground right about now."

"That's true. Ye-Jin basically saved me. If you’re not satisfied with that, then how about you also make some reliable comrades?”

"...Soon, that person will come," Ji Hye-Sung said with his dying breath.

"In front of that person, you are nothing more than a pathetic existence, even lower than the ants that are crawling—"

Splurt!

His last words were cut short. Joseph had inserted another flower into Ji Hye-Sung's head.

"So that person is coming. I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be great if it’s the same bastard that I’ve been waiting for.”

Splurt, splurt.

Joseph continued inserting flowers into Ji Hye-Sung's head. "Those twelve long years of repentance seem to be approaching fruition. Thank you! Thanks to you, I have found a reason to live again! I sincerely express my gratitude!"

Splurt, splurt, splurt.

Joseph repeatedly stabbed flowers in Ji Hye-Sung's head. As a result, Ji Hye-Sung's head became a new flower arrangement. Joseph gazed with satisfaction at Ji Hye-Sung's head, which was filled with flowers, and jumped up from his seat.

"Unbelievable! You’re a talent that should have become a flower pot instead of a Satanist! It's truly a pity to see someone like you wasting their talent."

"..."

Ji Hye-Sung no longer said anything. Upon inspection, he wasn’t breathing. It seemed like he was dead.

Joseph carelessly dropped the bouquet he was holding onto the floor and adjusted his clothes before approaching Ye-Jin. She had exhausted her strength after casting a miracle replication and simply sat on the ground.

Ye-Jin's eyes, which were gazing at the approaching Joseph, looked so unfocused that it appeared as if her eyes were dead.

"Thank you. I’m alive thanks to you," Joseph said.

"..."

Ye-Jin silently looked Joseph up and down. The wound on his chest seemed quite deep, and it appeared to be bleeding heavily. Ye-Jin tried to draw a healing array and unleash her divine power, but Joseph stopped her from doing so.

"I'm fine. This kind of injury is nothing. Can you get up? If it's too difficult, I can support you."

"No, I'm okay. This much is no big deal."

Ye-Jin pretended to be strong and forced herself to stand up. Her legs were quivering so intensely that it felt like it was impossible for her to walk, but she somehow managed to regain her composure and was able to walk by herself. She didn't receive support from Joseph, and she didn't want any support either.

Alongside Ye-Jin, Joseph limped out of the cave and said, "As soon as we get out, I'll contact the Paladin Order to handle the aftermath."

"Understood. Should I make the call?"

"If you could do so, I'd appreciate it," Joseph said with a smile.

It was the same exact smile that he had on his face when he killed Ji Hye-Sung and the thirteen women.

Ye-Jin silently watched Joseph as he said, "By the way, they were really horrible people. Those bastards were just like devils. No, perhaps they are actually manifestations of the devil himself.”

Back when Joseph was fighting, Ye-Jin had shifted her gaze back and forth between Joseph's face and the faces of the Satanists. However, she had been completely unable to differentiate between who was the inquisitor and who was the Satanist. Ye-Jin kept her mouth shut and remained completely silent.

***

Ha-Yeon stood in front of the dormitory building and waited for Sun-Woo to arrive for a long time. They had definitely agreed to meet at 12 o’clock, but Sun-Woo had yet to arrive even after it was half past twelve. She tried calling him, but there was no response.

"He was the one that suggested we meet here, and yet...” Ha-Yeon muttered with her brows furrowed.

Because the sunlight was unusually strong today, it pierced through the mountains. She was already annoyed because of Sun-Woo, but that sunlight was also triggering her. She really couldn’t stand it this time.

Just as she was gritting her teeth in fury, Sun-Woo’s audacious voice reached Ha-Yeon’s ears.

"Ah, I’m a bit late."

Ha-Yeon frowned fiercely, irritably turned her head, and glared at Sun-Woo.

"A bit late? Is this just a bit late for you? You’re thirty minutes—”

"Sorry, I was busy choosing what to wear.”

Ha-Yeon was just about to throw a tantrum, but she ended up examining Sun-Woo’s attire instead.

"..."

He wasn't overly well dressed, but it seemed like he had put some effort into looking neat. She was used to seeing him in a school uniform or in casual clothes, so this was a different feeling. Sun-Woo’s physique was neither too small nor too big, so the clothes fit him well. He wasn’t exactly ugly when she looked at him like this.

"I'll let it slide just this once."

"Okay, thanks."

"...But don't be late next time. Follow me for now. We don't have time."

"Why don't we have time?"

"Because you're late."

Ha-Yeon led Sun-Woo to the school gate, where a driver that Ha-Yeon had called was waiting. Sun-Woo got into the car after Ha-Yeon. After confirming that Sun-Woo had gotten in, the driver immediately started the car. Ha-Yeon leaned her head against the window and stared out blankly for a moment before suddenly deciding to ask something that she had been curious about since before.

"By the way, why exactly do you want to meet my father?”

"Because I'm curious," Sun-Woo replied without much hesitation.

He was curious? Ha-Yeon couldn't understand what exactly he was curious about. She tilted her head and asked, "What are you curious about?"

"This and that. And since we'll be seeing each other often in the future, it's better to get to know each other in advance."

"...You’ll be seeing each other often in the future?"

Ha-Yeon slowly pondered the meaning of Sun-Woo's words, and after belatedly realizing what he meant, her face turned red in embarrassment.

"Wh-what, what are you thinking?!"

"What’s the problem?"

"No, but you’re already thinking so far into the future..."

"I don't think it'll be that far into the future,” Sun-Woo said, his face expressionless.

His tone was cold and composed, but the contents of his words were not. Ha-Yeon felt like her face was burning. She knew that he was a free-spirited person, but she never expected him to respond so boldly. Since they would be seeing each other often in the future, he wanted to meet her father in advance... Those words were practically no different from a confession!

Moreover, judging from the way he was saying that, it didn't seem like it’d be that far into the future. It seemed like he had the intention of confessing soon. With a pouting face, Ha-Yeon contemplated how she would respond if Sun-Woo officially asked her on a date. She could use the school rules as a basis to reject him, or she could ask him to wait a bit longer, or maybe...

"We have arrived, Miss Ha-Yeon."

While she was preoccupied with her thoughts, the car had already arrived in front of her house. The driver opened the door, and Ha-Yeon gracefully bowed her head in gratitude as she stepped out of the car.

Sun-Woo followed suit. Ha-Yeon caught a glimpse of Sun-Woo's expression. It wasn't a smile, nor was it a frown, but an ambiguous smirk. It was impossible to tell where he was looking since his eyes were unfocused.

She had no idea what he was thinking about. Well, then again, Sun-Woo always had that kind of expression on his face. In the first place, it was pointless to try and read his mood from his facial expression.

Ha-Yeon pressed the doorbell in front of the main gate.

Ding-dong!

The door opened with a loud creak, revealing the garden. For the first time in a long time, Ha-Yeon was taken aback by a certain sight as she looked around her family's mansion.

It wasn't because the garden and mansion were large or because they were elaborately decorated. It was the same house that she had lived in since she was a child, so being surprised all of a sudden would have been weird.

What had surprised her was that her father, Sung Yu-Da, had come out of the mansion to personally greet them in the garden. Sung Yu-Da walked across the garden and approached the two of them.

The first words that Sung Yu-Da said to Ha-Yeon after seeing her were, "You're a little later than expected."

Ha-Yeon had not expected a warm greeting, but she still felt a little disappointed.

However, she couldn't show it. Ha-Yeon forced herself to smile and said, "I'm sorry, there was some confusion with the meeting time..."

"Well, it's a relief that you arrived safely," Sung Yu-Da replied coldly, then shifted his gaze toward Sun-Woo.

He extended his hand for a handshake and said, "You must be Sun-Woo. Nice to meet you."

"Yes, I’m Sun-Woo. It's an honor to meet you," Sun-Woo politely replied as he shook Sung Yu-Da's hand.

On the surface, it seemed like a very proper and respectful greeting. However, Ha-Yeon couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when she saw Sun-Woo exchange greetings with her father. It was because Sun-Woo’s face, which had always remained expressionless, was strange.

“...”

His expression clearly indicated that he was cautious and hostile toward the other person.

Dylin TLN: Well... That was quite brutal. Joseph basically flattened a face into a pancake. Well, I suppose it’s more like a kimchi-buchimgae(?????), if you know what that is. Kinda like pizza, I guess?