Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: The Pastor's Clone
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Despite the tangled circumstances, Pastor Lee had ultimately succeeded in buying himself a week.
And as expected, Yoo Seongwon delayed his entry into the Pyongyang Undercity—where the duel over knightly honor would take place—and instead expanded operations into the surrounding Korean Peninsula territories, pushing forward relentlessly.
No one knew what gave Pastor Lee the confidence to secure that week, but the main strategy was to scorch the surrounding vegetation just in case, ensuring they could counter any schemes he might hatch.
“Aaaargh! You bastards! How dare you invade His Excellency’s sacred land! Graaaaargh! You insolent, wicked filth!”
“Is that Limiju, one of the Scavenger bosses on par with S-rank? Eh… sure, she’s got firepower, but her body’s made of water.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty need not lift a finger. A bunch of A-rank Hunters will suffice.”
Limiju, the ruler of Hamhung Undercity, resisted fiercely against the invaders who had breached her holy site. But she crumbled helplessly before Yoo Seongwon’s army, which had arrived with perfect strategy and tactics backed by not just troops but numerous Hunters.
Countless Scavengers were captured or slain in futile resistance… They were being thoroughly crushed.
“By the way, Park Sookja… that woman still hasn’t shown up? Tell me the moment she’s spotted. I promised I’d kill her myself, after all.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Phew…”
The war effort was going exceptionally well, but just thinking of her left a bitter taste in Yoo Seongwon’s mouth.
They’d never shared a proper conversation or forged any special bond, but as a comrade who had survived that hellish facility alongside him, her plea to be killed by his own hand tugged at his heartstrings in a way he couldn’t quite explain.
That said, there was no reason to spare her life.
“The head of Pyongyang Undercity… one of the top elites under the Slaughter King, right?”
“Yes. Top of the top. You need the utmost skill and the strongest forces to claim that territory.”
“Yeah… and as a subordinate of the constellation Slaughter King to boot…”
She’d likely taken countless lives to climb to that position and gain her power.
No denying she was a villain through and through.
Yoo Seongwon tried to shake off the bitterness with that thought.
While awaiting the duel date with “Pastor Lee,” he continued overseeing the expedition, receiving dungeon clear reports, and handling his duties.
***
Duel D-1.
The ruins of old Pyongyang Undercity, Core Dungeon entrance.
In front of the blazing red portal entrance, Pastor Lee had set up a new camp. His frame and gut had ballooned even larger as he relentlessly devoured humans one after another.
With time running critically short, he now had fleeing Scavengers cooking for him while he focused solely on eating.
Park Sookja watched him stuff himself with suspicion, harboring serious doubts.
“Um… is that really okay? Is that actually a solid plan?”
*Crunch crunch… What’s the problem?*
“No, I mean, can you even fight like that? Your opponent’s a monster among Hunters…”
*Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’ve got it all figured out. So just… nom nom… bring more of those Tritonias fritters.*
Park Sookja knew Pastor Lee wasn’t one to show baseless confidence, but she couldn’t help doubting his current state.
Sure, eating was power, but just ballooning up like that offered zero reassurance.
His opponent, Yoo Seongwon, was no longer that green rookie Hunter—he was a monster who had toppled and absorbed countless apostles and constellation forces.
“It’s not like bulking up closes the gap in class.”
*You’re interrupting my meal. If you’re gonna make noise, go somewhere else.*
“Fine, fine. Do whatever you want.”
In the end, Park Sookja backed off, and Pastor Lee kept gorging himself.
A prophet was destined for persecution, and austerity was fated for those who followed God’s word.
But Pastor Lee, who understood that true faith ignored such trials, crammed a hamburger stuffed with a patty made from Tritonias meat into his mouth without pause.
*I may not win, but I won’t lose. My faith… has already reached the realm of immortality.*
Crunch crunch…
He muttered to himself while staring into the Core Dungeon.
In the scenes within, Pastor Lee had grasped this world’s “truth.” All humans were mere fodder for Him, and humans devouring each other was just to make a more delicious meal for Him.
*Proof? Look at me… ascending like this! Crunch crunch…! Unlike when I was blind to the truth!*
As he ate humans, he reflected on his past, when he’d devoted himself to false faith.
He’d believed faith, hope, love, and charity were humanity’s truth, running a small church and caring for the weakest.
No matter how his body ached or toiled, he thought of God’s truth, taking in orphans, tending the elderly, enduring gossip or stones with a smile—all while maintaining his faith and activities.
*…Pointless. I’d been lost in the wrong truth.*
He’d embodied faith and deeds perfectly, yet reality was brutally harsh. No one recognized his goodwill as such.
Aid always ended in futility. He acted on God’s teachings with steadfast faith, but his surroundings—and the world—grew only drier and more desolate.
The children he helped clung during aid but soon betrayed him or fell to Scavengers, criminals, or bad influences. Adults were worse.
‘Pastor, I’m so, so sorry… could you just help me one time?’
‘For real, just once! I swear I’ll repay this kindness.’
‘When did I say that?’
‘Huh? Don’t know that guy. Do I know you?’
They’d swallow favors sweetly, spit them bitterly, treat aid as entitlement, then deny it later… Trials testing Pastor Lee’s patience and faith were constant, and church operations grew harder by the day.
To sustain it, he had to earn money, overworking his body even more.
*Lost in that foolish faith, endlessly praying to that nailed idol on the cross, He revealed the truth to me. This truth!*
One day, after prayers, as he lay shivering in his cold room, true “God’s” revelation came.
Visions of the Slaughter King’s Core Dungeon—like hell itself—revealed the world’s reality.
*Yes, that Core Dungeon that opened then. My god, constellation Slaughter King’s world. Why humans devour each other so cruelly to grow! All to enter God’s belly! Otherwise, why the greed and cruelty?*
Even beasts avoided such pride, betrayal, jealousy, rage… vile sins. If true good seeded any human heart—no, even that was just another tool.
Yes, we raise chickens, pigs, cows with care, but eat them in the end. Possession at that level at best.
Everything existed to be eaten! And to fatten and grow to be eaten by God.
From that realization, “Pastor Lee” became the current “Pastor Lee,” studying how to feed this world’s humans to constellation Slaughter King deliciously and enjoyably.
That mindset evolved from human farms to human factories, and to preserve his faith, he kept eating to grow stronger.
***
The next day. Pyongyang Undercity ruins, Core Dungeon entrance.
Duel day. As the transport carrying Yoo Seongwon in the sky and the golden dragon he rode appeared, every Scavenger with any sense for self-preservation had fled.
Even Kwak Won-ho, a Scavenger rivaling S-rank Hunters, had withdrawn—watching this duel risked his life.
No one even considered Pastor Lee winning; only he and Park Sookja remained at the Core Dungeon entrance.
“Oh? No Hanwoo form today? And you didn’t run—impressive.”
Yoo Seongwon, seeing Pastor Lee waiting in human form for some odd reason, descended slowly and greeted him.
Pastor Lee responded with a brazen grin.
“Heh heh heh, sworn to God—how could I flee?”
“I see. That your duel witness over there? Should I bring one too?”
“Heh heh. No, just a spectator. Who needs witnesses? He’s watching here… and inside there.”
“Fine then… Hup. Eldraen, thanks for the ride. Now…”
Thud!
Yoo Seongwon drew Titan’s Stake and aimed it at Pastor Lee.
He had no intention of casually revealing the hidden weapon meant for constellation-level foes like the Tyrant Knight Yoo Cheon, so he opted for his well-known gear.
Watching Pastor Lee for a reaction, Yoo Seongwon saw him do nothing but smile and check his watch.
“Don’t know duel protocol? Arm up, state names, fight. Simple enough?”
“Heh heh, no, hold on. Just… three minutes. Give me that.”
“Planning another trick?”
“Trick? As a man of faith, I have rituals. Anyway, three minutes… Ah, here it comes.”
Creaaaak~
The grinding of wheels on ruined ground echoed as a massive table emerged from the Core Dungeon. Atop it sat a huge plate covered by a massive metal lid.
It evoked a hotel serving the main course—over 3 meters long, 2 meters high. Yoo Seongwon eyed it curiously.
Something savory wafted out, hinting at food inside, but he grimaced, guessing what “dish” Pastor Lee would bring.
“We’re not exactly dining buddies, are we?”
“Heh heh heh, why ask the obvious? This isn’t for you. Just as you value your knightly games, worship is paramount for a man of religion.”
“…Fair enough.”
Unpleasant as it was, this was Slaughter King’s faction—Yoo Seongwon let it go.
Couldn’t fault a religious man worshiping his constellation. He gripped Titan’s Stake, eager to end the rite quickly and obliterate him the moment the duel began.
“O Slaughter King, your servant offers this final worship ‘in His stead.’”
*‘In His stead?’*
“The ‘truth’ you revealed and the ‘plan’ beyond it will continue unbroken—rest easy. Watch as I send this world’s humanity to your side. With your grace, ‘His’ knowledge and truth, and faith, we press on.”
*‘What the hell?’*
“So accept this parting masterpiece from ‘Him,’ though lacking—I regret not serving more. Punish this ‘Golden Knight’ who hinders your work. And…”
*‘This is… what?!’*
Pastor Lee’s prayer continued as Park Sookja flung open the food cover.
Yoo Seongwon stared in shock.
Inside lay a devilish beast resembling Wagyu from Slaughter King’s old apostles— a massive bovine form, roasted whole.
Linking the prayer, context, rumors, and Pastor Lee’s ascension tale flashing through his mind, Yoo Seongwon realized what he’d done.
“…You mad bastard, don’t tell me…”
“Heh heh heh, the final supper for God is oneself. This clone can only pray to God in the original’s stead.”
“…No, you lunatic… This is a duel! Why show me this madness?”
“Heh heh heh, ‘madness’? Harsh words. Duels allow ‘proxies’—trading what you have for one. What’s wrong with that? Heh heh heh, He’s already answered…”
Crack!
At that instant, the tailbone of the roasted “Original: Pastor Lee Whole Roast” shattered, vanishing into thin air as if devoured.
Like erasure by eraser or a ghost’s bite, Pastor Lee faded, leaving teeth marks.
Noticing the clone’s sly grin referencing the “proxy”… no, “proxy god,” Yoo Seongwon sensed an ominous energy gathering and watched the original’s flesh fully consumed and disappear.