Chapter 55
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Why Is It Always the Villain? (2)
"Okay, let's begin today's service."
Just as my mind was reeling from the horrifying hybrid of a sermon, the cult leader—known as the Heavenly Demon—began her preaching.
"Everyone, you all have your Power Stones, right? You might believe that the power of these stones, brimming with positive energy, will fill your lives with good fortune, but relying solely on objects won't lead you to a truly positive life."
At first, I was skeptical.
And when I saw it was a mishmash of martial arts, Christianity, and Buddhism, that skepticism turned into certainty.
"The Power Stone is like a compass. It guides you down the right path, but walking that path is your own choice. If you harbor negative thoughts, no matter how clearly the compass points the way, you'll end up straying onto the wrong road yourself."
But the sermon itself was perfectly sound.
Of course, that didn't mean it wasn't a cult.
Bad guys don't go around advertising "I'm a bad guy!" except in movies.
And yet...
"That's why we need the mindset that says, 'The cup is half full,' rather than 'It's half empty.' Positive thinking combines with the power of the Power Stone to bring happiness."
Did I mention this already? Ever since my skill got upgraded, I could vaguely sense people's emotions just by looking into their eyes.
"And positive energy grows stronger the more you accumulate it. What brings forth positive energy? Loving your neighbor and helping those in need—that's the key."
The look in the leader's eyes as she gazed at her followers held nothing but warmth.
Even without my skill, her eyes resembled those of a shepherd watching over his lambs.
"Now, let's pray. Heavenly prosperity forever! Heavenly prosperity eternal!"
No, the whole organization screamed cult, but the sermon was fine, and the way she looked at her followers was fine too. Why?
While I was lost in those thoughts, the sermon apparently ended, and the followers chanted their ridiculous slogan once more.
"Heavenly prosperity forever! Heavenly prosperity eternal!"
After the sermon, the plump leader stood at the entrance, personally seeing off each departing follower.
"Looks like things are going well for you these days. Your aura is so bright—I'm happy for you."
Standing in line behind them, watching the scene, my head was spinning.
*'Is it a cult or not? That is the question.'*
Was I judging based purely on appearances, like in that webtoon about looks?
The line dwindled until Ms. Mansun and I finally faced the leader.
"Oh ho, we have a new face here."
At that moment, the leader's eyes widened slightly.
The light in them wasn't much different from before, but I could tell the emotion within had shifted.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Yang Ha-yoon, leader of the Heavenly Harmony Church and the Heavenly Demon."
"I'm Yoo Jun-hyuk."
Her hand was massive, like a bear's paw.
At the same time, the intense lust and sticky desire in her gaze toward me.
No, as I shook her hand, my own eyes gleamed.
"How much do you know about our church, by any chance?"
"Nothing at all. I just came along with an acquaintance... It's all pretty unfamiliar."
"Oh ho, in that case, if it's not too much trouble, how about a cup of tea while I give you the straight! From! The! Source? What do you say?"
Gotcha, you bastard.
So you are the villain after all!
*'What are you planning to do to me once we're alone?'*
But to catch a tiger, you have to enter its den.
I nodded readily.
"Sure."
＊＊＊
I followed the leader, Yang Ha-yoon, into a tidy study.
Ms. Mansun had fussed enviously beside me, congratulating me with a big smile, but I wasn't letting my guard down.
*'This woman's suspicious. She didn't win over her followers with ordinary methods.'*
What had she done? Called them in one by one like this and slipped them drugs?
I'd never heard of a drug that could make people fond of you, but who knows? With mana as this all-purpose cheat code, I couldn't rule out any possibility.
*'Living this lavishly, she's probably committed crimes too.'*
Extorting money from followers.
Making them do shady jobs for profit!
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
I thanked Yang Ha-yoon as she brought the tea.
I'd already cast hypnosis during the handshake. The kind that made her answer my questions completely honestly, and the kind that made her feel no discomfort in that situation.
"By the way, Leader, I have a question."
"What is it? I'll answer anything about the Heavenly Harmony Church."
Good. Then I'll dig up your criminal history!
After that, I'll decide whether to handle you myself or report you to the police.
"Is this building owned by the Heavenly Harmony Church?"
"Yes. It's my personal property."
"Ah, I see. Must be expensive. How exactly did you make that kind of money?"
I started with financial crimes.
They were the easiest to verify, with ledgers and such for evidence.
*'Now, confess every single one of your crimes!'*
Did you scam your followers? Tell them to invest in some "great opportunity"?
Or demand payments because their Power Stone's positive energy was "insufficient"?
But...
"I got lucky. Despite my appearance, I have a PhD in mana chemistry."
My expectations missed the mark completely.
"After getting my doctorate, I did some independent research and successfully developed a drug for a rare disease. I patented it, and the money poured in."
"...One patent made enough to buy a building like this?"
"Of course not. I used that as seed money for investments. A bit of speculation too. But as I said, I got lucky—everything paid off."
"How much did you make?"
"Hmm..."
Yang Ha-yoon stroked her double chin, calculating for a moment, then took a sip of tea and spoke.
"About one trillion in cash? Add in real estate and stocks, and it's around three trillion."
What the fuck did you say?
Three trillion? Was that even an amount a single person could have?
Under hypnosis, she couldn't lie, so it was real.
*'S-suddenly, she looks like a different person!'*
Just moments ago, she was pure evil villain.
Now she seemed like a successful, capable woman who'd just put on a little weight.
She even looked... a bit pretty, somehow.
*'Pretty is an overstatement... but cute!'*
Not just a pig, but a flower pig?
No, I can't fall for it. That lust she showed me earlier was definitely a criminal's!
"Then let me ask about something else. Have you ever done anything bad to your followers?"
"Anything bad? What do you...?"
"For example, sexual harassment. Or ordering them to commit crimes."
"Never once! I swear on my name!"
She'd never done that.
But she showed lust to me, a mere visitor?
The more I asked, the more I felt like I was harassing an innocent person.
"I see. But why do your followers worship you so blindly? Honestly, this Power Stone thing—it's not scientifically proven and never will be. Isn't it a scam?"
"Of course it's a scam. The Heavenly Harmony Church is a mix of various religions from the start. I buy all the Power Stones myself."
"Then why..."
As I spoke, Yang Ha-yoon—no, Ms. Yang—formed a circle with her thumb and index finger.
"Nothing money can't solve."
"Pardon?"
"As the leader, people subtly spill their troubles during these one-on-ones. I secretly solve them with money. For example, Ms. Mansun who came with you was worried her company would go bankrupt before the game launched."
She continued leisurely over her tea.
"It was a company that had been doing well once, but successive development failures had it on the brink. Imagine how worried Ms. Mansun must've been, working there. So I invested anonymously. About 50 billion? And she perked right up."
She'd handled things like that for some followers.
For others, she'd secretly supported their dreams.
The stories went on, all centered on solving problems with money.
*'Money is the best.'*
Someone once said you can't buy happiness with money.
I'd ask them: If you can't buy happiness with money, maybe you just don't have enough—check that first.
"I see. I understand now."
"Haha, all your questions answered?"
"Yes. Questions cleared up, but I have something to say."
"What is it?"
I bowed my head in apology.
For assuming from looks alone that she was a villain and the church a cult.
"I honestly thought this place you built was a cult. That it was meant for swindling followers' money, ordering crimes, sexual harassment, that sort of evil."
"I see."
Even that lust I'd sensed earlier—thinking about it, it was understandable.
It's a reversed gender world, right? Think back to men from my past life.
Whether single or taken, they'd naturally have dirty thoughts about a knockout beauty.
Women in this era must be the same.
The recent incident with Ji-young, where I got all excited thinking she confessed—now I'm used to it, but I'd mistaken it briefly. For a guy like me, it was natural for Ms. Yang to feel lust.
*'The leader's a woman too.'*
I'd made the mistake of holding her to a stricter standard and jumping to villain conclusions.
That's why you shouldn't be too quick to judge.
"It's understandable. With how I look, people often misunderstand."
Fortunately, the leader accepted my apology with a smile.
So gracious in forgiving me.
It was a mishmash religion, sure, but she was a true saint.
"I'm relieved. Honestly, I thought you called me here alone for something naughty. Haha, what a foolish idea."
I tossed out the joke lightly, feeling at ease. I'd erase all memory of this place with hypnosis anyway.
The leader laughed and played along.
"Huh? No? I'm gonna fuck you silly?"
"...Pardon?"
"I slipped an aphrodisiac in the tea I gave you. It'll boost your stamina, get your body all riled up— you'll want to jump any woman you see."
What?
"...You're joking, right? You said you've never harassed followers sexually."
She'd seemed like a saint just moments ago.
"No guy I liked came along. That's why I started the Heavenly Harmony Church—to snag men for fucking. I have so much money, guys flock to me, but I suspected they were all gold-diggers eyeing my cash. So I made a religion to hook one who'd give me his body and soul sincerely. It got fun, so now I run it in full method-acting mode."
The more she spoke, the more she demoted back to flower pig.
"Anyway, I studied nonstop till my PhD, never had my first time. If I'm gonna do it, might as well with the best, right? I waited, and now someone like you shows up—perfect match for my tastes. Like they say, 'pound first, love later.'"
Flower pig to plain pig.
"I'll train you hard so you can't escape me body or soul. Your dream from now on will be to be my kept husband."
Pig to villain.
"You bitch..."
Give me back my感動.