#8. Providence: Raise a Cleric (1)

Kim Dae-hoon stood in the corner, blankly watching the first service of the Providence Church.

Hundreds of people packed into a shabby, rundown, cramped space, listening intently to a young man on the platform.

To anyone else, it screamed cult or multi-level marketing scam.

But to Kim Dae-hoon himself, this place felt strangely beautiful and comforting.

The drone motors, explosions, agonized screams—his haunting memories faded here like never before.

For Kim Dae-hoon, suffering from severe PTSD, Lee Seop was more effective than any therapy.

Me, of all people, dipping into a cult?

Kim Dae-hoon let out a hollow smile, incredulous at himself.

I never got why people fall for this... but now I do.

A few years back, he'd been abandoned on a secret mission on the far side of the homeland.

The orders: "Disguise as volunteers, confirm North Korean troops deployed to the Russo war, and recruit them."

But mid-mission, martial law hit back home, the regime collapsed, and he was forgotten entirely.

He barely made it back, but no one acknowledged the black ops agent.

All he had left: meager savings, a miraculously intact body, and a mind shattered by PTSD.

Like ocean trash, he drifted to Yeonok-dong.

The reason for Yeonok-dong? An old man he'd once owed a debt to lived here.

"Dae-hoon, what do you think? Feels good, right?"

The old man who'd brought him to this service hall asked.

The elder was something of a local fixture, but after years apart, here he was, deep in some weird cult.

"Yeah... it's kinda amazing."

The problem? Kim Dae-hoon himself was starting to waver toward this cult.

His "amazing" wasn't empty flattery.

"With this, today's sermon concludes."

Lee Seop's sermon came to an end before he knew it.

Ah...

For the first time in his life, Kim Dae-hoon felt regret that it was over.

"Now, we shall proceed with baptisms."

The service moved into its latter half with the baptism ceremony.

"Before that, those meeting me and Providence Church for the first time today, please raise your hands."

Before baptisms, Providence Church's leader, Lee Seop, began sorting the crowd.

Seemed like separating longtime believers from first-timers.

"Gotta head that way. See ya later."

"Sure."

"If you like Providence Church, give it a real shot with faith."

"Hahaha..."

Kim Dae-hoon responded to the old man's urging with an awkward laugh.

"Huh? Still hesitating? You've felt it already, haven't you? That Lee Seop-nim isn't ordinary. This is your chance to join him—early member status. Not something you get every day."

"I'll keep coming to services for now. Definitely feels peaceful."

"Good thinking! Stick around, get baptized later. I'll go first and tell you how it is."

Hong Dong-su, the old man who'd dragged him here, left with barely contained excitement.

And in the spot Hong Dong-su vacated, a young man approached.

"Hello?"

"Ah... hello."

"How was my sermon? Worth listening to?"

"Yes? Yes! Hahaha!"

"It was a mysteriously soothing sermon that truly calmed the heart."

Seeing the cult leader Lee Seop up close—whom they'd only glimpsed from afar—left non-believers like Kim Dae-hoon at a loss.

"Glad it was worth it."

Up close, Lee Seop's mystique and holiness felt even more profound.

"If you're interested in Providence Church and want to participate more actively, could you install this app on your phones?"

"An app? What...?"

"Search 'Providence: Raise a Cleric' in the store—it's the app I made by revelation."

Before baptizing believers, Lee Seop made a small request directly to the first-timers.

"Of course, it's not mandatory at all. If it feels off, no pressure. I stake my name and soul—no downsides."

He said it wasn't forced, but the vibe carried subtle pressure.

A third party would've found it sketchy as hell.

"Hmm, shall we give it a try...?"

"This Lee Seop guy doesn't seem bad."

"It's on a burner phone anyway, micropayments blocked at the source—no harm."

But reactions weren't sharp or wary.

Lee Seop's voice, infused with Divine Power, had softened their guards considerably.

"Kinda suspicious, but it's officially in the store, so should be fine."

"Not a shady link, so I'll download."

Like they'd been hit by a hypnosis app, everyone installed it willingly.

"Lee Seop-nim! Should we install too?"

As non-believers started downloading, longtime followers whipped out their phones to follow suit.

Lee Seop shook his head.

"No need. Those already in Mother's embrace, about to be baptized, will receive something else. That app is just a temporary lantern for those wandering in the dark."

Listening to Lee Seop's explanation, Kim Dae-hoon downloaded Providence: Raise ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a Cleric on his phone.

A legit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠app?

Drawing on his black ops experience, he ran a quick security check—no red flags.

Not even basic data or location tracking.

"If the app feels off after installing, delete it anytime."

Lee Seop spoke with utter confidence.

"Alright, once installed, you're free to go. Use the app now or at home."

Definitely a peculiar cult. Normal ones would've clung to keep you in the fold.

Lee Seop's Providence Church brimmed with unmistakable self-assurance.

"If you want to stay longer, that's fine too. Baptisms are starting—great show."

His tone implied: You won't turn us down, will you?

"Hmm... I'll stick around."

"Me too. Nothing at home anyway."

"Ahem! Stay a bit more? Feels good here."

"Aigoo, gotta make dinner for the kids... Next time, bring them."

Sure enough, many chose to stay.

Only a few with no choice slipped out quietly.

Kim Dae-hoon decided to wait for his acquaintance, old man Hong.

Leader Lee Seop had already returned to the platform area.

"Come forward one by one for baptism."

The baptisms began.

"Upon baptism, miracles will greet you. But never spread it carelessly. It's a sacred secret between us."

"As Providence wills."

"As Providence wills."

Lee Seop gave a meaningful warning as baptisms started.

"First baptism: Grandpa Heo Jae-su."

The old man Heo—close with Hong Dong-su, who'd brought Kim Dae-hoon—stepped forward first.

"The Mother of All Things embraces you. The Weaver of Providence loves you. I, Her proxy, merely reflect Mother's will. And you?"

"I love the Mother of All Things. I offer my body and soul to the Weaver of Providence. Lee Seop, Mother's firstborn and proxy of Providence, grant me Her grace."

"As Providence wills."

"As Providence wills."

Lee Seop and old man Heo made the Providence Church sign of the cross.

Then Lee Seop's right index finger touched the old man's forehead.

"??"

For a split second, Kim Dae-hoon sensed a soft, warm light spreading.

Just lighting effects, probably.

He tried denying the Divine Power, but his heart pounded against his head.

"Aaaah! I see it! Mother's miracle!"

Touching Lee Seop's finger, old man Heo trembled like a fanatic, staring reverently into empty space.

"Shh."

Lee Seop hushed him gently.

"Next, Heo Yu-na."

"Yes! Lee Seop-nim!"

Baptisms continued. A high school girl—seemingly old man Heo's granddaughter—knelt reverently before Lee Seop.

"The Mother of All Things embraces you. The Weaver of Providence loves you. I, Her proxy, merely reflect Mother's will. And you?"

"I love the Mother of All Things. I offer my body and soul to the Weaver of Providence. Lee Seop, Mother's firstborn and proxy of Providence, grant me Her grace."

"As Providence wills."

"As Providence wills."

The same rite repeated.

"Ah...!"

As Lee Seop's fingertip touched her forehead, Heo Yu-na reacted like she saw something in the air.

Her eyes filled with shock, awe, and emotion.

"Next, Grandpa Hong Dong-su."

"Yes!"

Countless believers followed.

"My God! I see it!"

"It's real!"

"As Providence wills! Aaaah! As Providence wills! I am the servant of Mother and Her proxy!"

Each one muttered in rapture and shock, staring blankly into space.

What the hell? What's really there?

Watching, Kim Dae-hoon felt unwanted curiosity stir.

"Is there really something?"

"Can we get baptized too?"

"Heard you need official believer status."

"They really believe that? All staged?"

"Staged? With that many?"

"Especially old folks far from acting."

Those lingering in the hall, witnessing it all, buzzed in confusion.

Doubts, curiosity, denial, affirmation swirled around Kim Dae-hoon.

Official believers get baptisms, right?

Kim Dae-hoon pulled out his phone.

Opened the app he'd downloaded.

Per Lee Seop, two ways to become a general believer: attend events diligently, or build faith via Providence: Raise a Cleric if time or circumstances didn't allow.

Doing both ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sped it up, naturally.

"....."

Kim Dae-hoon stared blankly at his phone screen.

Normally, he'd skip mobile game tutorials, but this one he read fully. No skip button in sight anyway.

Main screen loaded: Status window took top half, bottom had menus like doctrine, rituals, counseling, missions, quests, diary.

Like an RPG game?

He tapped quests first.

He backed out reverently and tapped missions.

If it demands donations, deleting immediately.