Chapter 28
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Hoping Not to Lose Hope
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Battling through the wind and rain, we arrived at the entrance to the Bupyeong Underground Mall.
Rain poured down endlessly, as if a hole had been torn in the sky, and the streets were devoid of people or even a single passing car.
"They're probably down there, right?"
"I hope so. If they're not here, we'll have to scour the entire Incheon area."
We donned our raincoats and stepped out of the car.
Bupyeong Underground Mall Entrance No. 32.
In truth, there is no Entrance No. 32 at Bupyeong Station Underground Mall.
In other words, this entrance itself was a kind of trick—a supernatural anomaly that had to be used to access the sealed zone of the underground mall.
"Sister, did you bring all the supplies?"
"Yes... Everything needed for the exorcism is in this bag. I checked beforehand."
Sister Shin Seo-hyeon retrieved the bag she'd stashed in Bungbung-i's trunk.
She said it was a jet-black Boston bag containing holy water and all the exorcism tools.
With the opponent confirmed as a demon, she'd come prepared to launch the exorcism ritual at any moment.
"Good. Then let's head down."
To enter the sealed zone of the underground mall, I wrote the character for "open" on the entrance with oil-based permanent marker, which wouldn't wash away easily in water.
Clunk!
The moment I finished writing, the lock released, the sealed entrance swung open, and a deep darkness greeted us.
"This place is already..."
"A step removed from reality, Sister."
Even with a map, the Bupyeong Underground Mall was easy to get lost in.
With that kind of darkness filling such a place, it was impossible to gauge the complexity inside.
We had to assume the interior had already transformed into the hidden world.
Stepping inside felt like crossing into a realm detached from reality.
No telling what dangers lurked.
Yet we had to press on.
"...Bungbung-i, you get what I'm saying, right?"
Before descending, I gave Bungbung-i a few instructions.
I hadn't anticipated the exorcism happening today, so I'd left the most crucial item back at the office.
From now on, Bungbung-i would head to the office and fetch it for me in my stead.
"You're sending the car back alone?"
"Yes. Just in case. Insurance."
Bungbung-i would return on its own, so no time to waste—let's head underground before it got any later.
Once the sun rose, Entrance No. 32 would vanish, sealing us off from Priest Kang Yo-han's hiding spot in the underground mall's sealed zone.
Inside the sealed zone, a foul stench roiled, accompanied by scraping sounds echoing from all directions.
"F-Fixer?"
"Yes. Speak."
Sister Shin Seo-hyeon, who had been silently advancing through the darkness relying on a single flashlight, finally spoke.
"How much do you know about the exorcism ritual, Fixer?"
"The exorcism ritual?"
"Yes. To drive out a demon, you need to understand the essential elements."
"I know the basics, but..."
As far as I knew, exorcising a demon required three basics.
First, the officiating priest.
Sister Shin Seo-hyeon was handling that.
Second, the holy relics for the ritual.
Holy water, cross, Bible from her bag.
And finally, the third.
"Faith, right?"
"Correct. That's actually the most crucial. Without faith—or strong will and belief in God—the ritual can't succeed."
Without faith, you can't expel a demon.
Not only the lead priest, but any assisting deacons needed unshakeable faith.
No matter how many priests or relics, without devout belief, nothing could proceed.
So the core of this request was Sister Shin Seo-hyeon leading the exorcism.
I was purely a supporter and protector.
"Sister, this might sound ridiculous, but I don't have much faith. What then?"
I didn't particularly believe in Jesus or God.
I lacked the belief or faith that Priest Han Kyung-muk or Sister Shin Seo-hyeon possessed.
Having lived without religion my whole life, suddenly acquiring faith in Jesus was tough.
"I know, Fixer. But don't worry too much. I'll hold firm with my faith—you just protect me."
Sister Shin Seo-hyeon smiled in this dire situation.
A nun smiling amid the worst—yet anxiety and fear peeked from behind her smile.
"I'll protect you with everything I've got."
That was all I could say.
In response, she nodded trustingly and continued.
"When we meet Priest Kang Yo-han... we'll start the ritual immediately."
The ritual's core was revealing the demon's name.
And inflicting sufficient pain in the process.
That sparked a question.
"What if I spot Priest Kang Yo-han and instantly know the demon's name?"
"Pardon?"
I could read names or basic info just by looking.
For demons, wasn't this near-cheat level?
Just see it and know the name.
"The process of discerning the name and making it confess is key."
"Guessing or spotting it outright doesn't count?"
"It has some effect, but under Heaven's Father's command, forcing the evil to confess its name and submit is paramount."
"Ah, got it."
So discerning the name wasn't enough.
We needed the demon to speak its own name and admit defeat.
"Looks like we've arrived."
In our conversation, we'd reached the sealed zone's deepest point.
And in that deepest darkness, at its heart, stood a man.
A bespectacled man in his early forties, clad in priestly robes.
Matching Priest Kang Yo-han's profile photo exactly.
Finally, face-to-face with the culprit of this request.
But far more ordinary-looking than expected.
No—upon second thought, he only looked ordinary to me.
Sister Shin Seo-hyeon, without Baby Mode Pack, must have seen something different; she raised her hand slightly upon spotting him.
She seemed too tense, so I gripped her shoulder, easing her trembling a bit.
As I reassured her, the thing wearing Priest Kang Yo-han's face spoke to us.
"To think you'd kill my minions and come all this way. I never dreamed Sister Joanna would reach me intact."
Priest Kang Yo-han's eyes weren't those of a God-server.
His black, deep pupils brimmed with endless malice and greed.
Priest Kang Yo-han's will had long died, its light extinguished.
"You caught me off-guard before preparations were complete. The real fun was set for tomorrow. You two arrived too soon."
It chuckled self-mockingly, like a child caught in a prank.
Sister glanced at it, then quietly pulled salt from her bag.
Signaling the ritual's start.
"Fixer. We're commencing the exorcism now."
A circle formed by sprinkling salt.
I expected demon attack while she prepared, but the thing possessing Priest Kang Yo-han watched her actions with interest, unmoving.
"How amusing. You still try old-fashioned methods against me. No better than stagnant monkeys."
Having mocked Sister Shin Seo-hyeon, it turned to me.
"So you're the helper who ruined all my plans? No, silly question. Of course it's you."
The demon asked and answered itself.
As I glared to discern its name, a warning popped up.
[Accessing information will reduce mental strength.]
[Proceed?]
A first—warning that mere discernment would drain mental strength.
It must have countermeasures against insight skills like this.
'Proceed.'
[Discerned the identity of the evil entity.]
[Mental strength reduced by 20.]
In vanilla mode without cheats, that'd be near-instant death damage.
Its defense against cheat powers?
No matter. I won't die.
Its info laid bare.
Demon's name: Andromalius.
First I'd heard of it, but left unchecked, it'd fully descend, threat level hitting catastrophe-class.
"Probing me at will? Whatever. A faithless one like you sees nothing that changes anything."
Ignoring Sister Shin Seo-hyeon, it fixated on me, tracking my every move.
It noticed me reading its info. As expected of a near-catastrophe monster.
I wanted to close in and smash that sly face before it evolved fully, but couldn't leave Sister unprotected.
The moment I stepped away, it'd target her relentlessly.
Its goal: make the kids kill her, burdening her with unforgivable sin.
"Faithless wretch overblessed, nun with shaken faith. Bizarre duo baffles me."
At its gesture, a shutter rose, and kids from the runaway pack emerged from shops, tools in hand.
The runaways finally showed.
Their eyes rolled back.
All enthralled, minds stolen by the demon.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Preparations complete, Sister Shin Seo-hyeon made the sign of the cross.
She splashed holy water forward, Bible in hand, commencing the exorcism by reciting Psalm 91.
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence..."
As Sister's prayer deepened, the demon's laughter grew.
The runaway kids charged, swinging tools at us.
I shoved and knocked out charging kids non-lethally, guarding the salt circle to keep it intact.
That circle mustn't break—doing so exposes her to direct attack.
Problem: kids resisted fiercer than expected.
Couldn't kill, so precise force control—tricky.
Soon, kids I repelled wailed from the floor.
"He told us... the world abandoned us... only He would take us in..."
"Mom... Dad... hated me. Called me worthless trash. Said my birth was a sin and dumped me. Only He wanted me..."
"He cared for us... gave money, shelter... led us lost lambs..."
"True saint. Our savior. Great lord? Jesus? What good ever came from them in our lives? Did they ever look down on us?"
"A god who ignores prayers can rot in hell. Pointless... seeking God is useless..."
Half-mad runaways, demon-deluded, drowned her prayers in worshipful cries.
Sister's voice faded under their shouts, then a pivotal plea shattered her spirit.
"Please don't shatter our peace. This is enough for us. Don't take our happiness... please, Sister..!"
The girl's tearful beg to stop rocked Sister hard.
Shocked, she stared at the girl.
Her righteous prayer pained the girl.
A momentary lapse—she dropped the Bible.
Prayer cut, kids' wails swelled, demon laughed louder, pointing at her.
Priest Kang Yo-han's aura shifted. Playful grin twisted into demonic visage, voice changing as it whispered to her.
"Pathetic fluster amuses. Think Father's protection, infinite glory, His halo shields you? Is Lord Jesus truly watching? Answer, child. Do you truly believe?"
To its question, she shouted prayers louder.
"Put on the full armor of God to stand against devil's schemes. Our struggle not against flesh and blood, but rulers, authorities, dark powers, spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms."
"Your prayer mere impotent cry. Insincere. False. Your faith falsified."
Sudden gale tried shoving her outside the circle.
"Not on my watch!"
I rushed forward, blocking the wind, but some salt scattered.
Luckily not fully broken. But precarious.
Then grubs writhing at demon's feet lunged at me.
Non-lethal on kids, fight grubs, block demon probes—multitasking.
"Faithless one, valiant but futile thrashing. Doubt seeded in her heart. See? She's wavering."
Second crisis: Kids charging circle now self-harmed, screaming to stop the prayer.
That shocked Sister again.
Her shock toppled the censer, incense flying in wind. Holy water spilled wildly, relics breaking one by one.
Lead priest wavers, ritual crumbles.
"Still blind? No one wants you. No priest answered your call. Your helper? Faithless fool. Hilarious. Your Lord Jesus isn't watching. You're abandoned."
"Light shines in darkness, but darkness comprehends it not. In the Lord's name, I command..."
"Jesus has grand plans. Sadly, you're not in them. Pathetic end here? Or did He plan your death? Then even your Lord wills it."
"S-Saint... and Jesus' name... No. There must be reason He sent me. Surely..."
"Reason? What? Ancient evil from West Sea? Still believe that lie? Foolish wench. Just ploy to push you off cliff. All hate you—sent you alone to die."
"No way..."
"Can't see? Your existence sin. Don't the dead's faces rise from your arrogance? Joanna—no, Seo-hyeon. You know your sins best."
"S-Stop... stop! Jehovah is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He makes me lie in green pastures..."
"Recite all you want. You know it fails. You're no exorcist. Just inquisitor hunting heretics."
Soon the demon approached.
Restrain charging, self-harming kids; block attacking grubs bodily; now fight advancing demon.
"Joanna, you lack power, authority to threaten me. Drifting buoy pushing me away? Faithless prayer—ultimate futility. Collapse here, be my sustenance."
Demon's whispers eroded Sister's mind.
"No... I'm innocent... wasn't me... accident... please... don't look at me like that... I..."
She stopped praying, collapsing, clutching her head.
Situation critical. She'd shatter completely at this rate.
If the sole believer here broke, request failed.
Worst: client reduced to wreck.
No choice. Hoped she'd rise alone, but force it if needed.
Especially couldn't watch her crumble.
"Sister. Sister! Hey! Shin Seo-hyeon! Snap out of it!!"
"F-Fixer? I..."
Dazed face, frail voice.
[Status: Doubt, Delusion, Despair]
Demon's whispers and power drained her mental strength to zero.
I understood. Her shaken faith too.
If I were her, I'd crack too.
Me holding now? Baby Mode Pack's power.
Near-catastrophe beast—mental drain from facing it natural.
Impressive she's not fully mad.
Thus, couldn't let her fall here.
I believed she could fight evil more.
Hoped she wouldn't lose hope.
That even deepest despair, she could shine light.
"If you crumble... those kids trapped forever in false comfort, dying buried."
"..."
"Giving up already? I'm still fine here. Fell for mere whispers, harboring doubt? You vowed firm faith to fight."
"Sorry... can't anymore... my voice doesn't reach... Father in heaven... abandoned me..."
"Wait, Sister. You sought me for help, right? Not Father—you came to me."
Collapsed in despair, Sister Shin Seo-hyeon looked up at me.
"I don't know metaphysics like Jesus or Buddha. Honestly, aren't we the ones fighting on-site, not them? Why seek only Father, ignoring me fighting beside you."
"Ah..."
I don't believe in God.
I believe in the person fighting with me here, now.
"Sister, I don't think you're the type to crumble easily here."
"But... against that... what can I do..."
Lost in helplessness.
Directionless collapse.
Prayers failed, demon unmoved despite shouts.
Doubt in own power, faith shaken by whispers.
"Pathetic prattle to raise broken wench. Your words futile. She's ruined."
"Quit rushing the end, demon scum. Whether she quits, we'll see at the finish."
Couldn't stand its blather—plant some hope in her.
"Sister, thinking no one helps? Big mistake. Father ignoring us? Nonsense."
"But my power didn't reach..."
"Think, Sister. If He truly ignored, could we reach here so fast? Day before incident. Kids still alive."
"That..."
Grabbing rat king's severed tail to shield her.
Exiting factory timely, taking pipe hit for her.
Skill activating, unraveling pentagram secret, rescuing location-knowing boy from grubs.
All coincidence?
Demon blind to me till arrival?
No. Inevitable. Heaven aids us.
Don't believe in Jesus, but can't ignore His help.
"Chain of miracles. Not nothing, right? Coincidences become inevitability. Rise, grasp Bible. Real fight starts now."
"Real fight...?"
"Yes. High ones aid from heaven—we deliver results. Plus... my helper's arrived."
Kwang-!
Far off, sealed zone entrance tore open.
Something infiltrated the mall, racing here at high speed.
Yes, Bungbung-i succeeded.
Fetched "her" before sunrise closed Entrance 32.
"An-another anomaly..!"
Another disaster-class anomaly appeared.
Sealed zone atmosphere shifted instantly.
Demon's face twisted; fear dawned on Sister's.
"Don't worry, Sister. That's our side."
The White-Faced Bride had arrived.
Now Sowol guards Sister.
Time to properly thrash the demon.
Let despairing Sister hear demon wails.
The moment for true physical exorcism had come.