Chapter 450
Chapter 450
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 450
Chapter Title: Level Up System
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The faces of the followers who saw my follower ID softened.
"You must be a new follower who joined recently."
"Yes. With Bishop Ji Hyeong-woo's help, I awakened to the truth and became a follower."
"Please follow me. I'll guide you to the room where Follower Sung Yu-jin will be staying for the next three days and two nights."
I quietly surveyed my surroundings as I followed the man.
A large valley flowed beside us, surrounded by mountains. The air was good, at least, even if nothing else was impressive.
'They sure picked the most remote spot in the mountains, like a proper cult.'
There were seven four-story dormitory buildings, all quite luxurious since they'd been newly built.
"Excuse me, follower. May I ask your name?"
I asked the follower guiding me. He gave a friendly smile and replied.
"I'm Kim Hyun-wook. I came from Incheon. This is my follower ID."
Follower ID.
It was the most important item in the Red Sea Church. You needed it to be recognized as a follower.
I pretended to be impressed as I looked at his ID.
"You're Senior Follower Kim Hyun-wook. I apologize for my rudeness."
"No need to call it rudeness. We're all just people who have awakened to the truth. We're all equals. There's no hierarchy among us."
"Indeed... Senior Follower Kim Hyun-wook is truly remarkable. That's inspiring."
I flattered him. I considered using hypnosis but decided to save my mana. I'd use it on any pretty female followers I came across.
"Senior Follower Kim Hyun-wook, may I ask about today's schedule? I came in such a hurry that I didn't check."
I saw followers moving around, all dressed in white robes similar to those medieval priests might wear.
"Please wait in your dorm until dinner. You'll share it with other regular followers, but don't worry. We all share the same purpose."
Share my ass.
"Are the dorms mixed gender by any chance?"
"No. We've separated the men's and women's dorms. Even if nothing happens, it's best to eliminate any possibility of issues."
"Ah, I see."
I was quite disappointed and rolled my eyes. If they were separated, there had to be a building just for women.
'Found one. A woman was on the balcony and just went inside. It's on the outer side.'
I'd located the female followers' dorm.
"After dinner, there's a prayer meeting. All followers will gather in the field to pray to the Cult Leader together."
"The Cult Leader... I heard we'd get to see him. Will it be at the prayer meeting?"
"No. The Cult Leader is currently busy fulfilling his mission against the unbelievers on Jeju Island as an apostle. He should arrive tomorrow afternoon."
"...Ah, I see."
I clicked my tongue inwardly. I'd planned to find the Cult Leader right away and hypnotize him, but things had gone off track from the start.
"What's the schedule after the prayer meeting?"
"We need to sleep to prepare for tomorrow."
"......I see."
It's a cult, but no sex parties or anything?
A bit disappointed, I followed him into the dorm. At the entrance, burly male followers surrounded me.
"Senior Follower Kim Hyun-wook...?"
"No need to be tense, Follower Sung Yu-jin. For the next three days and two nights, please entrust your belongings to us. Money, cards, smartphone, and clothes too. Put everything you're wearing into this basket."
A smartphone made sense. The Red Sea Church was a full-fledged cult, after all. They needed to maintain secrecy. But clothes were unexpected.
"...Even the clothes?"
"Yes. Including underwear and shoes. Please change into the follower robes we've prepared."
I did as they said. I hated handing over my smartphone, but with them glaring, I couldn't refuse. I changed into the loose follower robe inside.
There was a difference between regular and senior follower robes. Regular ones were plain white, while senior ones had the Red Sea Church symbol—a cross and red waves—on the right shoulder.
"Your room is 304, Follower Sung Yu-jin. It's on the third floor. Dinner will be announced, so wait there."
"Yes."
I entered room 304 as he said.
It was spacious enough for five or six people: one bathroom, one bedroom, one living room. But there were already eleven people inside. Twelve including me.
'Fuck. It reeks of desperate single dudes in here! And those bastards probably aren't wearing anything under their robes either, just like me.'
Dangling.
My face twisted at the dirty thought that popped into my head, but I quickly smoothed my expression.
"Looks like a new follower to share with us."
They were gathered in the living room chatting when a man with glasses stood and greeted me.
"I'm Senior Follower Choi Dong-jin. What's your name, follower?"
"...Follower Sung Yu-jin. Nice to meet you."
"We were studying doctrine. Please join us here."
"Yes."
I looked around.
The men sitting on the floor all gave off a weird vibe. Not quite human—more like dolls.
'They've been brainwashed.'
As soon as I sat, Choi Dong-jin started preaching doctrine. The brainwashing was embedded in the Red Sea Church's teachings. The more you mulled them over, the deeper it sank in.
Of course, it didn't work on me. I wasn't taking it seriously, my mana resisted it, and above all, I had the [Absolute Mind] skill.
The basics of the Red Sea Church doctrine were simple.
The day the moon falls to earth, the sea will turn red. The apostle from the heavens will lead the followers to paradise beyond the red sea.
'What bullshit.'
Utter nonsense. But logic doesn't work on cultists. They believed this crap because the doctrine carried brainwashing power.
For reference, the "apostle from the heavens" referred to the Red Sea Church's Cult Leader.
'Bored as hell. The academy principal's speeches were more entertaining than this garbage.'
Sitting still made me antsy.
I glanced at the largest guy sitting diagonally across from me. He had a bear-like face and was mumbling the doctrine.
I hypnotized him.
'Sugelra!'
Partial resistance.
It wasn't because the man's mental strength was high. He'd already been brainwashed, so he partially resisted my hypnosis.
'Still, over 30 minutes of duration. That's enough to make him kill himself.'
I gave him a mental command.
"Grrrrraaaahhh!"
The man suddenly jumped up with a beastly roar. As everyone flinched in surprise, Choi Dong-jin adjusted his glasses and sternly addressed him.
"Follower Park On-seok! What's with the commotion? We're studying the sacred doctrine right now. Kneel and apologize for the disturbance. I can't forgive disruptions during doctrine study!"
"Dieeee!"
Park On-seok charged at Choi Dong-jin, mercilessly punching him in the face despite the glasses.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Senior Follower Choi Dong-jin!"
"Stop him! Restrain him!"
"Get another senior follower!"
"Follower Park On-seok! Calm down! Talk it out if you have complaints! If you keep this up, the Red Sea will drag you to hell!"
Chaos erupted. Other followers tried to calm Park On-seok, but he kept raging.
Thud! Bam!
He even swung at nearby followers.
I kept my distance from Park On-seok and feigned shock. Thanks to my acting skill, no one suspected me.
The situation ended when other burly followers rushed in and subdued him.
"Arrrghhh! Let go! Let me go! God said it! Kill all those bastards! Arrrghhh!"
Park On-seok was dragged to a special room and locked up.
I looked around, suppressing a laugh. Choi Dong-jin, who'd been hit by Park On-seok, was a bloody mess, and several others had bruises, bloody noses, or black eyes.
"Demons! A demon possessed Follower Park On-seok!"
"Yes, the bishop warned us before. We must always beware of demons. They tempt and control us."
"Follower Park On-seok is possessed!"
The brainwashed cultists interpreted things their own way. I nodded seriously in agreement while inwardly chuckling.
???
Dinner.
Kimchi, bulgogi, seaweed soup, five-grain rice, japchae, sikhye—surprisingly normal menu.
We gathered in the cafeteria, prayed, then ate.
Halfway through my meal, I eyed a senior follower handling the food distribution.
'Sugelra!'
The senior follower, who had been smiling warmly while serving, twisted his face into a grotesque snarl and flipped over the food trays, smashing them on the floor.
"Arrrghhh! This garbage food! Who the hell is supposed to eat this?! Chicken! Bring me chicken!"
He went berserk, dumping all the food containers on the ground.
"Senior Follower Son Hyeok-su! What are you doing?! Stop right now!"
"Arrrghhh!"
"Senior Follower Son Hyeok-su has gone mad! Subdue Senior Follower Son Hyeok-su!"
"A demon! A demon is controlling Senior Follower Son Hyeok-su!"
The cafeteria grew noisy in an instant. Incidentally, the followers who couldn't eat had to make do with tasteless bread.
I scanned the female followers in the cafeteria and licked my lips.
I'd assumed cults were full of middle-aged folks, but there were quite a few young people.
'Whoa, plenty of young beauties too.'
Over six beauties had already caught my eye. I felt my dick twitch as I licked my lips.
'Gonna fuck 'em all!'
???
After dinner. Prayer meeting.
All Red Sea Church followers gathered in the field.
The bishop on the platform grabbed the mic and addressed everyone. His robe was ornate, befitting a bishop, with strange symbols embroidered on it.
"An unfortunate incident has occurred. Demons have possessed followers. Follower Park On-seok and Senior Follower Son Hyeok-su are the victims. The demons seek to break our unity through fear. We must band together now more than ever!"
The boring prayer meeting began.
I quietly scanned the surroundings. My targets were the female followers. Not the regulars.
'Senior female followers lead the regulars, and female bishops lead the seniors. Oh, found some. There are more bishops than I thought.'
The bishop on the platform was getting worked up.
"The day the moon falls!"
"The day the moon falls!!!!!"
The followers echoed after the bishop's lead.
"The sea turns red!"
"The sea turns red!!!!!"
"The apostle leads us to paradise!"
"The apostle leads us to paradise!!!!!"
What nonsense.
'Sugelra!'
I used hypnosis on the bishop.
"Arrrgggghhhh!!!"
The bishop convulsed and bashed his head against the platform.
"Arrrghhh!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His forehead split open, blood spraying.
Nearby senior followers rushed toward him in shock.
"Bishop!"
"Bishop! Snap out of it!"
"You demon bastard! Now even the bishop!"
"Arrrgggghhh!"
"We have to stop the bishop!!! He'll kill himself!"
The field descended into pandemonium. I used the chaos to approach a female bishop.
I hypnotized a middle-aged female bishop watching the platform worriedly.
'Sugelra!'
This duration wasn't enough to completely rewrite common sense, but I could alter simple perceptions. Even after it wore off, the female bishop would see me as an important figure and not treat me lightly.
"......Do you need something from me?"
"I have important information for the bishop!"
"Understood. Come to Building C after the prayer meeting. We need to stop him now."
"Yes. I'll head there right away."
The female bishop headed to the platform. I turned toward another female bishop.