The Pseudo-Human Ara - 3
My work started at 9 AM.
I woke up around seven, knelt down, and offered a devout prayer.
After receiving my identification card from Director Kim Miryeo, I was assigned a single ordinary room instead of a containment facility.
The space was quite spacious, more than enough for prayer.
But the fact that it wasn't a shrine bothered me.
...I just needed to save money and build a shrine.
Since there was still plenty of time before work began, I decided to take a casual stroll around the Seoul branch.
I greeted the people I passed with a cheerful smile.
"Good morning!"
"Ha... yes, yes!"
...
...
...
"Have you eaten breakfast?"
"Hiik...!"
But, as expected, most people were extremely afraid of me.
It made sense; after all, I was a shaman who emitted an aura called 'Mind Value' from my body.
From the employees' perspective, it was like a powerful demon roaming freely through the branch, and they had no choice but to fear me.
Still, I had pleasant conversations with those who knew me.
"Long time no see, mother."
"Oh my, Director Ara!"
"Yes, did you give birth to the child in good health? I hope the effects of my shaman ritual took well."
"Of course, thanks to Director Ara! Our child..."
Some had received a ritual from me.
Or had taken an amulet and seen great results.
Anyway, those who knew me and had benefited from my help greeted me warmly.
But it was still not enough.
Most still avoided me.
It was a bit bitter, but I had expected it.
I made a decision.
With time, slowly, I would plant my influence within the Seoul branch.
I had rolled around under the worst tyrant in Korean history for ten years.
The day I first entered the palace was still unforgettable.
Everyone in the palace had hated me to the extreme, so this situation was actually much more encouraging than back then.
...By the way, I realized anew how well Director Kim Miryeo treated me.
Kim Miryeo was not an easy woman, but at least there was no fear or hatred in her.
After casually surveying the branch, I began my official duties.
I produced amulets and handed them to the employees.
The price was set at five hundred thousand won.
I performed rituals for those who were ill.
Since I didn't have a medium, it took a long time, so I would need to prepare one soon.
I studied modern knowledge.
Hmm, there were a few points that clearly differed from what I knew.
But the basic structure was similar.
I started learning English again.
Since I was familiar with the Hangul and Chinese characters created by the great King Sejong, I had forgotten English completely.
...It seemed it would take some time to learn again.
And.
I began a conversation with Kim Miryeo.
...
...
...
The conversation with Kim Miryeo was one of my main duties.
More than anything else, we needed to discuss first.
Without a doubt, it was the 'Cult of Chaos'.
Since the Cult of Chaos was deeply related to the religion I knew, 'Catholicism'.
I first explained Catholicism to Kim Miryeo.
"However, it's only thirty years of memory, so I can't explain it in detail."
"Um...
"Don't worry. Even if it's over thirty years, I remember the basic doctrines and the story of the saint of Catholicism, Jesus, quite clearly."
I explained Jesus to Kim Miryeo.
Conceived by the virgin Mary.
Suffered under Pontius Pilate and crucified on the cross.
Rose from the dead after three days.
Hmm, even with thirty-plus years of memory, I remembered it quite accurately.
This was not all.
I remembered several miracles Jesus had performed.
I told Kim Miryeo about the miracles Jesus performed.
Healing the sick by touching them.
Feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish.
Turning water into wine.
Kim Miryeo showed surprised expressions at times while listening to my story about Jesus.
Probably because there were parts that matched what she had investigated about the Cult of Chaos.
Kim Miryeo nodded as if she understood.
"I see. I have perfectly understood the existence called Jesus, Ara."
"Ooooo!"
As expected, Director Kim Miryeo.
Her head was so sharp it couldn't be compared to any civil official in Joseon...
"Jesus is weird."
...What?
Completely misunderstanding.
Whether I showed a dumbfounded expression or not, Kim Miryeo continued speaking.
"Even thinking about the scope of that 'miracle' special ability, it's at least five stages... or perhaps it could be treated as a weird like me at zero stages."
"What nonsense! D-don't compare me, a saint of Catholicism, Jesus, with me! Above all, Jesus is not a demon!"
"You say it's not a weird? Ara, that sounds like a claim that contradicts logic. Jesus is obviously a weird."
"So this is... ugh, I don't know how to explain... Jesus is not a weird, but a god."
"Ara. From my perspective, even the 'gods' you describe are weirds. Logically. Of course, the general you saw last time is the same."
"..."
"I define your special ability as 'temporarily accepting a weird into your body'."
My head was getting dizzy, but I still tried my best to explain the 'deity worshipped in religion' and the existence called 'Jesus'.
But Kim Miryeo still asked me if I couldn't understand.
"So, you can use a power that breaks physical laws, but it's not a weird?"
"...Yes. No, whether Jesus really performed such miracles or not isn't that important."
"Um? Then what is important?"
"The important thing is that you 'believe' in the miracles performed by Jesus."
"...So, you need evidence to believe or not."
Failed.
Explaining the concept of 'faith', which is the core of religion, was not easy.
By the way.
Originally, if atheists and theists argued about religion and faith, no one would lose or win.
The reason was simple.
Faith came from something beyond reason or emotion, not from reason or emotion itself.
And the general logic that Kim Miryeo knew and the religious logic handled in religion were clearly different.
That's why there was a separate academic field called theology.
That's why it was impossible for Kim Miryeo's head to understand.
When two different logics collided in the head, of course you couldn't understand.
I sighed and said.
"If you can't understand with your head, just accept it."
"Ugh... My head is so messed up that I wonder if there's a separate subject that I struggled with like this."
"I understand. From the doctor's perspective, religion would be unfamiliar."
"Then do you believe in Jesus?"
"Me? Me, well. I don't think I can simply define it as believing. I don't believe, but I don't disbelieve either, and I have a respectful heart. In the end, I'm also one of the religious people."
"I don't quite understand what that means..."
"As I explained last time, shamanism is polytheism. Basically, I'm ready to accept all deities. Therefore, I think Jesus is a spiritual being and a deity, but I don't worship him. Easy explanation: My 'faith' and the Catholic 'belief' in Jesus are different."
"...Didn't you say you wouldn't explain easily?"
"Ugh. Doctor, this conversation seems like it will continue tomorrow and the day after. Take your time and understand slowly. I'll tell you about other religions too."
Besides Catholicism, there were many religions.
Buddhism.
Hinduism.
Islam, Taoism... If I explained about other religions, Kim Miryeo would eventually understand the concept of 'faith'.
Next.
It was Kim Miryeo's turn to hear about the 'Cult of Chaos' from me.
"By any chance, among the stories I explained so far, was there anything similar to the Cult of Chaos?"
Kim Miryeo listened attentively, taking notes.
Nodding, she said.
"Surprisingly, yes."
...As expected.
Yes, the one who wore the skin of that evil god drew the cross sign.
If there was no connection, it was strange in its own way.
Kim Miryeo continued.
"But it's twisted somewhere greatly. The 'weird' called 'Jesus' that you explained..."
"Doctor."
"Ah. The god called 'Jesus', from what you said, is interpreted as a noble being who sacrificed his own life for humanity. But the 'Twisted Victim' of the Cult of Chaos is different."
Kim Miryeo's words continued.
"In the basic doctrine of the Cult of Chaos I investigated, it says this: Every human must willingly offer their life for that person, the 'Twisted Victim', and this is a holy glory."
"Completely the opposite."
"It's not just the opposite. The 'Twisted Victim' of the Cult of Chaos, to resurrect from death, had his followers nailed to a cross-shaped tree and killed, according to what I heard."
"Tsk. Human sacrifice. This is openly a demon god. No more detailed stories?"
Kim Miryeo shook her head at my question.
"As I said before, the Cult of Chaos is an antagonistic force to our anomaly management bureau. So my information is up to here."
"Ugh... Is there no insider in the Cult of Chaos?"
"Of course there is. The information I've told you so far was what those insiders said."
"It seems a bit sloppy compared to the information from the insiders."
"Well, all the insiders sent by the bureau have been corrupted by the Cult of Chaos by now."
"...Ha."
"Of course, the bureau threatened to demote all the insiders' families and relatives to D-rank agents, but it didn't work. Rather, there is a record that they were greatly pleased that their own family became a twisted victim."
"..."
"What do you think?"
I frowned at Kim Miryeo's question.
Without a moment's hesitation, I answered.
"Without thinking, it's a mad group that worships an evil god. They should all be wiped out."
"But it's not an easy task. The Cult of Chaos, the Church of Order, the Neutral Church. These three religions are uniting to restrain the bureau."
"Hearing that makes it even stranger. Religions uniting? Hah, a passing dog would laugh."
"...Is that wrong?"
"Yes, definitely wrong. If the doctor deepens her understanding of religion, she can understand what I'm saying."
With the information I currently had, I couldn't grasp the Cult of Chaos in detail.
But one thing was clear.
The Cult of Chaos was.
A mad group that worshipped an evil god, clearly based on 'Catholicism'.