Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Spectrum!
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4th Floor, across the Rajesta Continent, there are places where demons lie dormant.
These spots are kept extremely secretive, as there's always the risk—intentional or not—of someone awakening the demons.
One such place.
Silos Cathedral.
A golden sphere enshrined in the cathedral's basement.
In the past, three holy knights had sealed a demon there, and in respect for their devotion, their weapons were embedded before the seal.
A sword, a spear, and a shield.
Hazy smoke filled the golden sphere.
It should have been slumbering quietly.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
For the past few days, the demon Arhelac, now awake, had been relentlessly pounding the barrier.
"Wh-what do we do, Archbishop?"
"……."
The archbishop couldn't answer Nun Maria's question. He gripped his staff tightly, squeezed his eyes shut, and prayed fervently, but no one listened.
Most of the gods on the Rajesta Continent had died 1,500 years ago in the Liberation War.
Thus, their prayers weren't directed to gods.
Hopes, dreams, the future, life.
Things that serve as hope for humanity.
They didn't seek power from the gods. They simply resolved to overcome it themselves.
"Should we request support from the other cathedrals?"
The archbishop gave a grim reply to Maria's question.
"We already have."
"What? Then—."
"However, Arhelac is relatively less dangerous among demons. The other sealed ones have awakened briefly before returning to sleep."
"What? So this isn't unusual?"
"That's what they say."
Yet the archbishop's haggard expression betrayed his deep worry.
Was it really?
Just a brief awakening?
Would it go back to sleep with time?
Doubts bubbled up in her mind, but Maria couldn't argue.
The other bishops had said the same.
She should just follow along.
"So, Maria, no need to worry too much. It's late—go get some rest."
"Yes, understood."
She gave that answer, but her feet wouldn't move.
The archbishop watched her for a moment before leaving first.
"……."
Left alone, Maria.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The demon's relentless attempts to break the barrier felt like a heartbeat—or the drumroll signaling the start of battle.
Below the barrier, three sacred weapons came into view.
The legends of three people, not even 50 years old.
"Holy Knight."
Three who had perished gloriously in battle against the demon.
Maria closed her eyes before Holy Knight Dukaryon's sword, where she had once knelt.
To reiterate, the Rajesta Continent doesn't pray to gods.
"Holy Knight Dukaryon."
Thus, their earnest pleas are directed to people—and reach people.
"Just like that day you protected me as a little child."
Please.
"Protect us."
After finishing her brief prayer, Maria stood slowly and did a quick cleanup inside.
Before stepping out, a chilling sensation—like the demon's red eyes watching her through the hazy smoke in the golden sphere—made her flee.
"Eek!"
She'd tried to act strong, but maybe it was too much for her?
Admiring Holy Knight Dukaryon, she'd volunteered for seal chamber cleaning duty, but now she wanted to pass it off to someone else.
Entering her room, her roommate nun Hela lay sprawled on Maria's bed.
They'd clearly done rock-paper-scissors, and Hela had lost the top bunk, yet she took the bottom every day.
Even scrolling her smartphone—a modern marvel—with a grin.
"You're wrinkling my blanket!"
"Oh, you're back? Maria, check this out. Isn't it insane?"
"What now? Don't show me another anime where giants eat people like last time. Not fun."
Why watch that stuff on the 3rd Floor?
Treating being devoured by massive beasts as entertainment.
Here, it's life or death.
"Not that. What if our hymn team did something like this?"
"Hymn team?"
As the hymn team leader, Maria peeked over curiously.
There, women in outfits barely qualifying as clothing danced in sync!
"Oh my god!? What is this!? How can you watch this!"
"Ack! Aack! Don't hit me! This is what idols do. Amazing, right? These sisters are so pretty, huh?"
"Pretty? Nuns like us must train body and soul, keep ourselves pure—how can you—."
The idol on Hela's dropped phone kept dancing.
Maria stared blankly, entranced.
"What? Why so serious? Fine, I won't watch. Don't snitch to the bishop—."
"Th-this! Who's this person?"
Maria urgently pointed at the woman dancing center stage on the phone.
"Huh? That's Seo Hajin, leader of the idol group Prism—."
"Seo Hajin? Forget that—this! Don't you know what this is?"
Behind Seo Hajin, a faint golden glow shimmered.
Hela blinked, confused by the intent.
"This? Lighting. It glows. On the 3rd Floor, stages have special—."
"No! Not lighting!"
A light she'd seen in dreams.
The power said to be wielded only by the chosen great saints.
"It's holy power!"
"……."
"Ahem, khum."
Meracle's consultation room.
She glared over the paperwork at the man seated before her.
Name: Kim Deokgu.
Gender: Male.
Age: 49.
Plenty in the file begged questions, but weight stood out most.
213kg.
Obvious obesity; even the chair trembled.
"Hoo, khum! Hoo, huff!"
Just sitting there, breathing heavily with odd snorting sounds interspersed.
"Ahem, Mr. Kim Deokgu."
"Ah, khum! Yes—!"
Look at him huffing.
"Well, as you know, your age is a bit advanced, and with the weight, it's hard to get a high rank on looks."
"Khum! But don't young women like sturdy guys? Bear-like vibe?"
"Ah, yes. But there's a standard for that too. Oh, you left the job field blank—may I ask?"
"I-I. Do distribution. Khum."
"Distribution? What kind?"
"We-weapons. Ar-armor. Potions too."
"Oh? In military supplies?"
That pays well.
"Khum! N-no. Se-selling game items. Khum! To survive."
"……."
Damn.
What to do with this.
Someone give me a miracle.
I'm sweating just thinking.
For reference, Deokgu was already sweating like a waterfall.
"Ahem, Kim Yang. Bring a towel."
Opening the door, she called Kim Yang, who peeked in and deliberately fetched her own towel from inside instead of hers.
"Wipe your sweat. The office is stuffy, right?"
"Khum! Y-yes."
Note: Kim Yang wore an outer layer, claiming cold.
"Any savings or assets?"
"As-assets. Khum! One full metal gauntlet and—."
"Not game items. Cash, real estate, stocks, car. Real stuff."
"……."
"……."
Awkward silence.
The man spoke as if waiting.
"I'm the Spectrum Fan Club president! Khum!"
"Sigh, I see."
Spectrum.
The fan club name for the girl idol group Prism.
She knew this well because five Spectrum members had visited today alone.
"Deokgu, let me say this upfront."
She closed the file folder.
"Y-yes?"
"Seo Hajin hasn't registered with us. Even if you join, we can't match you with her."
"……Why?"
Why?
Do I have to spell it out?
How bad do you want me to be?
"Ahem, anyway, we can't accept registrations targeting specific clients. Sorry."
"Khum! N-no one loves Hajin like I do?"
"Could be."
She wouldn't deny it.
"But marriage isn't one-way, right? Consider Seo Hajin's feelings."
"Khum! I can make Hajin truly happy."
This conversation wasn't landing.
"Sigh, again: Hajin hasn't registered with us."
"B-but Spectrum execs are talking. Khum! H-Hajin might join here."
Execs?
"Who exactly?"
"Secret. Khum!"
"Tell me, and I'll let you know if she comes—for you only."
"Khum! Khum!"
What was that sound.
Pressure cooker?
"H-heard it's an insider. Don't know details, but saw her with your business card."
"……That's it?"
"Y-yes! That's all."
Look at him stammering excitedly.
He didn't know much, so she eventually persuaded Deokgu to leave.
Probed for membership fees too—just in case—but no money due to 'Goodbye Concert' tickets, so no registration.
Thud.
Door closed.
"Kim Yang! Air out the room!"
"I-I. Al-already did."
"Ugh—! Elves have sensitive noses!"
Kim Yang hastily opened windows; Reneah pinched her nose, crouched in the corner.
Harsh truth: it was sour-smelling.
Shouldn't you wash up before going out, as courtesy to others?
"Whoa, idol fans' obsession is scary for real."
"Th-that. Was. Tru-truly scary."
Kim Yang shuddered, spraying air freshener.
"Must be tough. I try not to judge by looks, but that guy—."
She and Kim Yang turned to Reneah simultaneously.
"Reneah? Something you should know."
"Hm? What? Lunch is sashimi rice bowl again?!"
Reneah beamed expectantly; she chose words carefully.
"People like that usually get F-rank."
"Makes sense?"
"You know you're F-rank too, right?"
"……."
Reneah's smile froze.
She got the point now.
"You could match with guys like that—bow out! Block her! Kim Yang, block—!"
"C-calm! Down!"
Reneah suddenly drew her bow; they both tackled to stop her.
Moments later, calmed Reneah huffed off for air.
"Sigh, no other clients today, yet so draining."
"Ag-agreed."
Kim Yang nodded, then glanced over.
"Bu-but boss."
"Yeah."
(Note: Debt paid off. Stocks rose, pulled out; Luminous Plaza ad brought crowds.)
"Re-really no Seo Ha-Hajin?"
"……."
At her words, she checked surroundings furtively, then showed her phone.
Chats coordinating schedule with Seo Hajin.
Yes.
Contact already made.
"……?!"
Kim Yang gawked, staring through the screen.
"Re-real?"
"Yeah, Kim Yang. Time for our big score."
An idol, no less.
At 27, fading in idol world but prime in marriage market.
"Bu-but why ma-marriage agency?"
"Well, everyone has circumstances."
Valid question, but if they pay, why pry?
"Bu-but if guys li-like earlier come again?"
"Deokgu? Tsk, can't be helped. Can't intro Hajin, but find a match."
"Pos-sible?"
"Gotta find the merits."
"Wh-what?"
"……."
"……."
Silence fell.
She slammed the desk.
"Kim Yang! He could be a potential client—judge like that? He's working hard too!"
"We. Are. The judges."
"……True, but no gossiping behind backs. Got it?"
"Y-yeah, but merits. What?"
Merits, huh.
Racking her brain, barely.
"His stammer's kinda cute? Ah! You stammer too. Similar."
Reneah returned to the office, mulling her future.
Can't live as F-rank; must strive harder, reigniting resolve.
"Boss, Kim Yang! I'm back. Sorry if I was sensitive earlier—."
Bang! Bang!
At first, thought someone hammering.
But no.
Kim Juseon, curled in his chair, brutally headbutted by Kim Yang.
"Wh-who—! Who're you—!"
"Urk?! Sorry—guh!"
"Similar?"
"Sto-op! Boss'll dieee!"
"Passeee—!"
"Boss—!"