Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Unmasked Betrayal
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"How did you know?"
Park Jeong-hwa spoke flatly as she faced Jeong Sia's grief.
"It's my trait. It resists all status ailments. The moment I took a sip of the water, a message popped up saying I resisted the hallucination."
She had tampered with the water she had given to me and Jeong Sia.
"Were you trying to feed me drugs?"
It seemed to be the drugs Park Jeong-hwa had mentioned before.
In my case, with my current stamina stats, even the strongest drugs wouldn't affect me much, but Jeong Sia was surprisingly resilient.
Not a purification skill, but innate resistance to status ailments.
If it was resistance from a legendary trait, it would be close to immunity at this point in time.
Even more shocking was that Park Jeong-hwa had pulled this stunt in Jeong Sia's home.
A place where, if things went wrong, there would be no one to protect her.
"Legendary traits are on another level. Yeah, Sia. I spiked the water you were about to drink with drugs."
"Why on earth?"
"Your [Resurrection] is something we absolutely need."
"Was my skill important enough to sever our relationship over?"
Tears were already welling up in Jeong Sia's eyes. The betrayal from Park Jeong-hwa, whom she trusted more than anyone, must have hit her hard.
"Sia, you were the one who cut ties first. From the moment you didn't choose the Resurrection Church."
It was a self-centered sophistry.
"So you've always been like this, Unnie. I guess I misjudged you again."
"Right. You just didn't see me for who I am. Foolishly trusting people after a little kindness."
Park Jeong-hwa had fully dropped her mask and was now sneering.
"Of course, you got bullied at the broadcasting station for acting sweet and wagging your tail at guys. I was the only one who looked out for you, so it makes sense. I only approached because I was curious if you were really flirting like that."
From their conversation, I could piece together Jeong Sia's past.
A woman with no interest in men.
She must have treated them casually, just like she did with me, and that probably looked repulsive to the other women.
Childish.
But this woman...
She's admitting everything too easily?
Was it because of the drugs? Had she given up?
No way.
Jeong Sia died in the end last time too.
In my previous life, the drugs had failed as well.
She was definitely waiting for something.
"Unnie, so what did you want to do with my skill? What made you throw off that mask?"
Jeong Sia stopped her tears amid Park Jeong-hwa's venomous words and asked. Her expression said she had to know the truth behind this.
"Your skill? Use it on our Cult Leader. Resurrection within three days of death. Proclaim the birth of a messiah in the modern world and turn the Resurrection Church into a global religion."
Hmm, simpler than I thought?
Lee Si-woo planned to deceive people with resurrection.
But even so, simple resurrection alone seemed insufficient to elevate it to a world religion.
There must be something special about Lee Si-woo.
"That's why you tried to kill Lee Han today. He kept interfering with our plans from your side, and this secret couldn't leak. In the Resurrection Church, only me, the Cult Leader, and Kim Hyun-seong know about your power."
Kim Hyun-seong was unexpected.
He didn't seem like the type to be involved in something this critical.
"Kim Hyun-seong knew about my power too?"
Jeong Sia echoed my thoughts, asking in disbelief.
"Yeah. He got the gun that shot Lee Han and the drugs you were supposed to take—all on his own. More useful than he looks. Enough to share our secrets."
It had been bothering me.
The person Park Jeong-hwa was talking to on the phone the first time I saw her.
Handled itself without hassle.
From the conversation, I figured they had to know about [Resurrection].
"No point talking anymore, Unnie."
Jeong Sia pulled out her phone.
"Hello? Someone tried to secretly drug me here, so I'm reporting it. Yes. Yes. The address is..."
No time to stop her.
Calling the police right away.
No time.
I needed to learn about Lee Si-woo before they arrived.
For some reason, Park Jeong-hwa had been answering Jeong Sia's questions so cooperatively. Maybe she'd spill to me too.
"Auntie, what's Lee Si-woo's trait?"
Tell me or don't.
Park Jeong-hwa's gaze turned to me on the sofa.
"The Cult Leader's trait?"
At my words, Park Jeong-hwa smirked slightly and replied.
"Why should I tell you? Guess if you're so curious."
It felt like she was testing me.
"Taking the hard road, huh."
I slowly stood from the sofa.
Trying to get Lee Si-woo's power from a few words was greedy.
Negotiations need leverage.
"Hard road?"
Park Jeong-hwa tilted her head.
In that instant, my fist slammed mercilessly into her abdomen with a thud.
"Hurk...!"
She gasped and collapsed to her knees.
Jeong Sia, who had ended her call, urgently called my name.
"The police will be here soon! No matter how angry you are, hitting Unnie like that is..."
I wished she'd snap out of it from anger herself.
So frustrating.
Definitely failed.
In the war with the Demon Realm?
One of Park Jeong-hwa's arms would already be on the floor.
"Noona, if I didn't have my trait, we'd be the ones crawling on the floor. So from now on, trust me and stay put. This has to be done."
I reached out and grabbed Park Jeong-hwa by the hair.
"Still not getting it? No one's coming to help you, no matter what I do here."
I raised my fist.
"And remember, this is me being way too gentlemanly by my standards."
Park Jeong-hwa frantically raised her hands.
"W-Wait! I'll talk! Stop!"
All that bravado...
And she cracks at this?
Pathetic.
Of course, she'd never been this defenseless against violence before, so fear was natural.
"Disappointing."
I nodded, and Park Jeong-hwa immediately spoke.
"The, the Cult Leader can see the opponent's future!"
I doubted my ears.
"See the future...?"
Was she messing with me?
"You wanna try me?"
In my previous life, I'd never heard of a trait that could see the future.
And there was a reason Park Jeong-hwa's words couldn't be true.
"You think it makes sense that someone who sees the future didn't know about this situation?"
Kim Hyun-seong and Park Jeong-hwa's consecutive failures. And Hyeon A-rin's death.
If he truly saw the future, Lee Si-woo shouldn't have let things unfold like this.
"That's all because of you!"
Park Jeong-hwa shouted indignantly.
"Me?"
"Yes!"
"What did I do?"
Ran into the Enchantress of Charm by chance and took her out cleanly, killed Kim Hyun-seong for getting cocky, gently coaxing Jeong Sia peacefully...
That's basically doing nothing.
I tilted my head in genuine confusion, and Park Jeong-hwa furrowed her brow.
"The Cult Leader said he can't see the future of anyone connected to you. And from the moment Kim Hyun-seong and I got tangled with you, everything went wrong."
"Hmm..."
Can't see the future of anyone connected to me?
If it was just me, it could be a level or trait gap, but...
If it's everyone connected to me, it's definitely linked to my regression.
"How far into the future can he see? If it's a skill, there must be limits."
"Not far. Max three days. But even those three days let him accomplish a lot. If he's lucky and sees the future of someone dying within three days, he can save them from death."
"Do all the Resurrection Church folks know about Lee Si-woo's trait?"
"No. They believe he's hearing God's words and foretelling the future. Like the son of God."
"And topping it off with resurrection within three days of death? Perfect."
"Exactly. Resurrection from death is a miracle on a whole other level from seeing the future..."
Just as Park Jeong-hwa was spilling freely.
The intercom buzzed.
"We're here on the report!"
Still more to ask.
I released my grip on Park Jeong-hwa's hair.
"Yes. One moment."
I went to the door and opened it.
They'd arrived fast.
"Hello. We meet again."
It was the police who had investigated Kim Hyun-seong's murder.
"Yeah. You haven't left yet, I see."
"We were just checking the CCTV when the call came in. The reporter was Jeong Sia, right? Did someone try to drug Jeong Sia?"
The cop with the name Choi Chi-won on his badge peered past my shoulder into the house.
"Come in first."
The two entered, closed the door, and took off their shoes.
"That woman over there spiked the water Sia Noona and I were about to drink with drugs."
I pointed at Park Jeong-hwa, still on her knees.
"She did that to Jeong Sia? You sure? From what I remember, you two were close."
Choi Chi-won tilted his head in confusion.
"Circumstances."
"What circumstances?"
I wasn't sure where to start, but...
"Take her to the station and investigate the details yourselves."
It's their job, not mine.
"Sure, that's our line of work. But how did you know she tried to drug you? Did you see her mix it?"
"No. Sia Noona detected it with her trait. A message popped up right away resisting the hallucination status."
"Ah... As expected of a legendary trait. Got it. Jeong Sia wouldn't lie about something like this. Park Jeong-hwa, you'll come with us to the station. We'll investigate thoroughly and contact you, Lee Han."
As soon as Choi Chi-won finished, I moved to Jeong Sia's side.
I positioned her protectively behind my back.
"Han? What's suddenly...?"
Now all the pieces fit.
Why Jeong Sia's death remained an unsolved case. Why my dagger became evidence.
And what Park Jeong-hwa, trembling from one punch, was relying on.
"I never said her name was Park Jeong-hwa."
The authorities were involved.
Come to think of it, the police chief was in the Resurrection Church too.
With enough power to cover up a murder.
"Ah... To make such a basic mistake. Deacon Park, my apologies."
My guess was right.
Choi Chi-won bowed slightly to Park Jeong-hwa.
"It's fine. I was planning to change plans anyway."
"Change how?"
At Choi Chi-won's question, Park Jeong-hwa glared murderously at me and continued.
"No need to wait till night. Kill them both now. And make that bastard suffer painfully."
My punch must have hurt a lot.
"Bastard? That stings a little. I was polite, you know."
"Shut up, you psycho! You beat a woman and now you're grinning!"
Park Jeong-hwa yelled, her face flushed red.
Hurt that much?
"Can't cry about it, right?"
I shrugged.
"You crazy bastard! What are you waiting for? Kill him!"
So she's giving up on Jeong Sia this easily?
"Isn't killing her after one failed drug attempt a waste of Sia Noona's trait?"
"The Cult Leader ordered to kill her rather than let her fall into enemy hands!"
That meant...
Today's the day.
My ties to this damn Resurrection Church end here.
"Sang-woo, get ready."
"Yes, Officer Choi."
The cop guarding the door responded to Choi Chi-won.
Prepare what?
The cop called Sang-woo placed his hand on the door. A green translucent barrier spread from his palm.
A protective shield?
The barrier enveloped the interior from the walls, sofa, dining table—everything like plastic wrap.
"From now on, nothing that happens in this space will be detectable outside. No sounds, impacts, or traces. It'll absorb them all."
Choi Chi-won drew a familiar dagger from his pocket.
"And Lee Han will be recorded as killing Jeong Sia with this dagger before committing suicide."
I thought they just wanted to steal my weapon under the guise of evidence.
Why explain it?
The reason this world fell makes more sense by the minute.
"This isn't your first or second time at this?"
Too many crazies in the world.
"The world always has its dark side. We're police, but pros at this."
I chuckled at Choi Chi-won's reply.
"What's so funny?"
"Just cute."
"Cute? Not something to say to a 24-year-old."
"It fits. Anyway, moving on."
Dark side?
The world I lived in was darkness itself.
And pros? Killing a few people and calling yourselves pros? Laughable.
"What are you doing? Finish it quick!"
Park Jeong-hwa shrieked impatiently.
She really wants to see me die.
"Yes, Deacon Park. Let's begin."
Choi Chi-won approached me with murderous eyes.
"Level 10 necromancer-type trait. All points in stamina, right? Even if you summon, it'll be one or two at most. No way out of this. My trait's pretty good too, Lee Han."
His analysis was spot on.
None of it was actually right, though.
"Sorry, mister. You missed one crucial piece of info."
Choi Chi-won furrowed his brow and halted.
Sensing unease from me.
"What info? We've confirmed everything."
That confirmation was all based on my lies, but that's not important now.
"No, one thing's missing."
My right side on the floor.
A black swamp formed, like it would swallow everything.
"Have you ever seen my summons?"
The black skeleton slowly crawled up.
