Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: I Am Your God - 3
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Rifts appeared, and Awakened individuals were born.
Naturally, some people weren't about to let this opportunity slip by.
The cults, that is.
Those lunatics preaching that the end of the world had come, that the rifts were the work of the Antichrist.
Of course, once Awakened became Hunters, slaying monsters and closing rifts, things died down a bit.
But there were still groups keeping the flame alive.
Like these guys.
"Hmmm..."
I couldn't just ignore that symbol after seeing it, so I headed straight to the Hunter Association.
And I told them about what I'd seen in the Tower.
"Could someone else have entered the Extra grade besides me?"
"Hard to say. We can't rule it out entirely... but right now, you're the only one in the world climbing that grade's Tower—Yoo Wol-young, the mage."
"Really?"
"Probably. Tower grades are self-reported, after all."
There were folks who lied about tackling Hell while grinding Normal or Hard.
"But that doesn't last long."
The Tower was like a training ground for boosting an Awakened's abilities.
Of course, you could die in there.
Still, the tougher the Tower, the more rewards—and the greater the power gains.
"The gains from Normal Floor 10 and Hell Floor 10 are worlds apart. Even if it's a secret at first, it'll all come out eventually..."
Who'd bother with that kind of scam?
"True enough. So what about this symbol?"
The Association staffer couldn't answer my question.
Why were the Tower monsters worshiping a symbol that a real-world cult was also revering?
"We'll need a proper investigation."
"Can't we just send in all the Hunters and tear the place apart?"
Seemed like the best plan to me.
"Unfortunately, that's not so easy."
"Why not? They're a cult, aren't they?"
"They are a cult, but there's something off about them."
Cults usually preyed on the gullible and weak-minded, swindling them out of their money and rights.
But this one—Truth Society—was different.
"They focus on caring for rift victims. No forced conversions either. Just prayer and volunteer work."
"...That doesn't sound like a cult. More like a pure volunteer club."
With that kind of public image, forced raids were off the table.
Public opinion was a scary thing.
"The issue starts after they take people up the mountain for these 'prayer meetings.'"
"What's the problem...?"
"Everyone who comes back from those meetings dies within six months. And the weird part? No medical cause."
"Just natural death?"
"Some are accidents."
"......"
"Around forty people. Most of them dead. In all sorts of ways."
"Hmmm... something smells fishy."
"We sent Hunters to check it out, but we've lost contact with them too."
"Does this cult have strong Hunters?"
"Not on record."
Awakening happened randomly.
Heck, I'd awakened rolling around at home.
And if an Awakened didn't register with the Association, no one knew about it.
"So, powerful unregistered Awakened in the cult, snatching up anyone who comes sniffing around?"
"That's our working theory. For now."
Got it.
First things first, I wanted to check if they were using that Tower symbol.
"I'll take the job."
"Appreciate it. And take this..."
It was a tracker.
They told me to keep it on me just in case, and I left the Association.
"Hm..."
The prayer center was in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.
Site of a massive rift outbreak that had turned the place into a wasteland.
"I've got a business trip, so don't come around for a while."
"Sniff... hu-hu-hu..."
"Heh-heh-hu-hu... hu..."
"Hu-hu... hu..."
The virgin ghosts, fresh from today's karaoke party, looked bummed out.
And Leraje, who'd been keeping rhythm on the tambourine beside them, pouted too.
"Can't I handle it alone without you?"
"Not like it couldn't be done, but..."
"Then go and come back."
"Got it. Hey, while you're at it, check on the field. And eat all the bear stew in the freezer. No takeout. And don't stay up late reading novels."
"Don't worry."
I was worried, though.
Could I really leave her home alone?
It felt worse than leaving a five-year-old.
"What's with that look? Like leaving me alone worries you more than a five-year-old?"
"Think about everything you've done so far."
"I did. I'm fine."
"If you say so... Oh, and one more thing. It's cool you're using my ID for webtoons and manga, but skip the weird stuff. Or at least clear your history."
Kept getting bizarre recommendations.
Even Japanese adult comics.
Last time, I went to read some manga on the subway and nearly had a heart attack.
"Always thought about it, but nothing beats pure harem love."
Could harem pure love even exist?
And the adult stuff she read wasn't the cute kind you could call "pure."
"And stop posting nudes on the gallery. Don't you feel bad for the poor mods?"
She'd seen me on the gallery and started one herself.
Now she was this crazy chick spamming shitposts and nudes nonstop.
"You're burying my Three Kingdoms bait and killer jokes."
"Hehe."
I smacked Leraje as she stuck out her tongue and struck some weird pose she'd picked up somewhere.
After kicking her while she clutched her head and whined, I turned to the red-masked figure stretching nearby.
"I'll leave your training schedule here. No slacking."
"Got... it."
That should do it.
Time to go.
I grabbed some gear from the workshop and headed out.
An Association vehicle was waiting.
It sped me to the express bus terminal.
"We'd love to take you all the way to Yeongwol, but..."
"It's fine. You said Truth Society has eyes everywhere in Yeongwol, right?"
"Yes. Best to avoid any Association ties. Here's the request form."
They probably already knew I was an Association Hunter.
Me showing up would just look like I was handling a request nearby.
So, I'd disguise it as clearing a quest around the prayer center.
"Take care."
I got out after the staffer's farewell.
The terminal was crowded.
I'd bought my ticket online, so no need for the counter.
Waiting at the platform, the Yeongwol bus pulled in.
Not many passengers.
Quiet. Nice.
I sat in my reserved seat, popped in my earbuds, and closed my eyes.
A good nap, and I'd be there.
The bus started moving soon after, and I passed out.
"Sir. Sir. We've arrived."
"Ugh."
"You slept like a rock. Wasn't it noisy?"
"Nah."
"Heard all sorts during the ride."
"Why?"
"People praying, begging to find the truth."
"Eh, folks are all the same."
With a Truth Society prayer center in Yeongwol, some were heading there.
Nothing weird about it, so I brushed it off and got out.
The Yeongwol terminal was already bustling.
And.
They were all gathering under one flag.
"Those heading to the Truth Society prayer center, over here!"
Cultists waving their Truth Society flag.
I glanced their way.
No one paid me any mind.
Whatever. Not my problem now.
I boarded the bus to my request site—the hotel.
"Welcome."
A high-ranking-looking gentleman greeted me at the hotel.
His grim face said things were serious.
"Yoo Wol-young, mage."
"Pleasure. Jang Yeon-ho, section chief. You know the request?"
"Yes. Something weird happening at the hotel lately?"
"That's right. We run a foreigners-only casino here."
But there was a problem.
Some casino guests claimed to see ghosts afterward.
"Yeongwol's been declining hard since that massive rift. We're trying to revive it with resorts, hotels, and a casino for foreigners, but..."
Winners seeing ghosts every night.
Had to be driving the hotel nuts.
Who'd stay at a haunted hotel besides someone like me?
"Understood."
"Want to check the casino first?"
"Huh? Can I?"
"Here's your pass."
"Oho. Throw in some chips too. If others saw ghosts after winning, I need to win some myself."
"Of course."
With chips and pass in hand, I headed down—but security stopped me.
"Koreans not allowed."
"Here."
"Ah... but say..."
"Yeah?"
"Ever thought about security work?"
Unbelievable.
I figured my face was known after that news bit.
Didn't he know I was a mage?
"Haha, no thanks."
The disappointed guard let me through.
Inside was a whole new world.
Loud, smoky.
Not my scene.
But how did any of this work?
I didn't know the games.
I tried a slot machine-ish thing, fed it chips, spun.
Bust, naturally.
Not this...
Maybe roulette, like in movies?
A big roulette wheel in the center, crowd around it.
"Hm..."
Where to bet...
-Black. 11.
A voice whispered in my ear.
Someone talking to me?
I looked around—everyone glued to the roulette.
-Black. 11.
A ghost?
Ghost roulette king, huh. Fun.
I bet on black 11 as advised.
"Roulette starting."
Dealer spun the wheel, tossed the ball.
It slowed... stopped on red 31.
-Close!
This bastard?!
I'll exorcise you right now.
More ghosts whispered after that.
Not one right.
Made sense—lowly casino spirits couldn't foresee the future.
"Oho."
Following my gut started winning.
I felt eyes on me.
Ghost eyes.
Eyes of the unfulfilled.
Tonight would be good.
I'd won enough and was resting in the hotel room they'd set up when it began.
A hazy something materialized.
-You hog all the wins...
-I... I wanted to win too...
-Share if you win...
-Some scraps...
-Satisfied with that? Let's do more... more...
Yeah. Come all. I'll give you scraps.
I flicked a chip, and every ghost in the hotel swarmed me.
"You who staked everything on a moment's thrill. You evil spirits lingering here, seething with envy and jealousy at the living."
-Wh-what...?!
-No! Stop! STOP!!
"Begone to where you belong."
I burned a strand of Leraje's hair.
The acrid smoke from the demon's tresses dragged the ghosts away.
"...Huh?"
What.
Why wasn't she going?
All the ghosts gone—one left.
A young man, looking clueless.
"What are you?"
-Eh. I don't like gambling...
"Then why here?"
-Dunno. I just fell asleep at the prayer center...
Hold up.
This guy's a living soul?
Soul slipped out while alive.
Neat.
"Prayer center. Truth Society?"
-Yes. Truth... ugh... uuu... UUUU... N-nooo... NOOO...!!
"Hey, calm down."
I lit incense to soothe the living soul.
It settled, trembling, and spoke haltingly.
-Th-those guys...
"Yeah."
-They're... summoning monsters... at the prayer meetings... sacrificing people... calling monsters from the rifts...!!