The Patience Class is Always Noisy
The Patience Class was always noisy. It was because the classmates got along so incredibly well with one another. There were even rumors that a few of them were dating.
Kim Jin-seo sat alone at her desk, staring blankly at the classroom scene. Not a single person approached her amid the groups of boys and girls mingling freely. She wasn't the type to get lonely usually.
But today, more than anything, she wanted to talk to someone. The words Seong Ha-yeon had said that day at the Han River, when the demon species appeared, kept echoing in her ears.
Secret affair. That suspicious, unsettling word refused to leave her mind.
She wanted to grab anyone and vent about it, but aside from Do Seon-woo, she had no one she felt truly comfortable talking to.
She slumped over her desk. She figured she'd try to sleep. But having gotten plenty of rest the night before, sleep wouldn't come.
Tap tap.
Then someone tapped her shoulder. When she looked up, a familiar face greeted her.
"What brings you to the classroom? You never show up for class, always off training."
A petite girl was talking to her. She'd often struck up conversations with Kim Jin-seo before, and somehow they'd ended up getting friendly.
Kim Jin-seo stared at her blankly for a moment before letting out a dry chuckle and opening her mouth.
"......Just felt like taking it easy today."
"You sick or something? You, skipping training?"
The girl teased playfully. Kim Jin-seo shook her head.
"Not sick. Just wanted a break for one day—"
"Because of Do Seon-woo?"
"......"
Kim Jin-seo's eyes went wide in surprise. The girl snickered at her reaction, as if it was ridiculous.
Kim Jin-seo stared at her in stunned silence for a while, then furrowed her brow like she couldn't comprehend it.
"How'd you know? You hear some rumor or what?"
"What else would make you mope like this?"
"Well, yeah, but... no, that's not it. Me and Do Seon-woo aren't even—"
"From what I see, he likes you too. Everyone thinks so."
"......Why 'he too'?"
"You like him, don't you?"
"......"
Kim Jin-seo shut her mouth, too shocked to speak. There was more than one thing to be surprised about.
First, her feelings for Do Seon-woo had been exposed. She'd thought she'd hidden them pretty well.
But what shocked her most was the girl's claim that Do Seon-woo liked her back.
She couldn't accept that. She'd convinced herself he had no feelings for her at all.
He was sometimes kind to her, and occasionally dropped cryptic remarks. But that wasn't just for her. He was kind to everyone, cryptic with everyone.
"......He doesn't like me."
And above all, he was secretly meeting Seong Ha-yeon behind everyone's back.
If Seong Ha-yeon tossed around a word like secret affair so casually, they had to be pretty close.
That's why Kim Jin-seo was almost certain Do Seon-woo didn't like her.
The girl snorted at Kim Jin-seo's words.
"What? His face changes when he's with you. If he didn't like you, he wouldn't make that expression."
"Changes how? Looks the same to me."
"No, it does! Different, I tell you! He only grins like an idiot around you."
The girl pressed on emphatically.
"And say he doesn't like you. You gonna give up?"
"......"
Kim Jin-seo fell silent. She had considered giving up.
But even thinking about it hurt. Folding away her feelings and staying just friends—then imagining someone else having him—made her chest burn with frustration.
Truth be told, she wasn't even sure if she truly liked him. Maybe she just wanted to possess him.
Kim Jin-seo stared into space, lost in thought, then suddenly slammed her head onto the desk and buried her face.
"I don't know......"
"What exactly do you want with him?"
the girl asked. Kim Jin-seo pondered what she really wanted from Do Seon-woo.
Nothing specific came to mind. She didn't particularly want to do anything for him, or have him do anything for her.
She agonized over it with her face down for a while, then abruptly lifted her head.
"I just... want him to look at me. Even a little."
Kim Jin-seo said it, then dropped her gaze to the floor.
She wanted Do Seon-woo to see her. She'd always hovered near him, waiting for his eyes to turn her way.
But he'd never truly looked at her. Not once.
His gaze was always elsewhere.
He gave his all in every exam, but not for good grades.
He was kind to everyone, but not to win favor.
He'd save others even if it meant risking his life.
But not for admiration or respect.
Grades, popularity, praise, reverence—none of that mattered to him. They were trivial.
Do Seon-woo chased goals she couldn't even imagine.
"Just... I want him to look at me. Even for a moment."
That's why he wouldn't look at her. He was too busy pursuing his aims to spare her a glance.
The girl pondered Kim Jin-seo's words, arms crossed deep in thought. Then she nodded solemnly and spoke.
"Then just tell him that."
"......How do you even say something like that?"
"Being honest works best. Tell him exactly what you're thinking."
The girl said that, then suddenly stiffened her expression and bowed her head. She muttered softly.
"You're...... fine, so it's okay."
"What does that mean?"
"Ah...... no. I mean...... someone like you, just being straightforward will work. What do you lack? Right?"
She added excuses in a jumble.
"Anyway, try it. Love's about seizing it. Hesitate, and someone else will snag him."
"......"
Kim Jin-seo said nothing, just looked at the girl's beaming smile.
She'd gained nothing concrete from the talk. The girl had just suggested confessing—vague and absurd.
Still, spilling what she couldn't tell anyone else lightened her heart.
*
"Cult Leader, it's been a while."
"Ah, Executive Yun Chang-su. Good to see you."
I shook hands lightly with Yun Chang-su as he greeted me. With him, all the executives had gathered at the Chungcheong Diocese Chapel.
Now that everyone was here, there was only one thing left to do.
"Then, let's begin the executive meeting."
The executive meeting.
We hadn't held one in a while. Ever since reviving the tribute system, communication with the regional executives had smoothed out—no need for meetings.
I'd been busy with everything else too.
But today, we had to. There was an agenda that couldn't wait.
"The first item is regarding accommodations for Executive Yuk Eun-hyeong's mercenary band."
Accommodations for Yuk Eun-hyeong's mercenaries. That was item one.
His band had been hit hard by the Papal Court's extermination order and the Holy Warrior Order's assault. I'd intervened in the fight, saving them from annihilation, but casualties were heavy, and two-thirds of their base lay in ruins.
Plus, their hideout's location was exposed to the Papacy and Holy Warriors. To prevent a second strike, new lodgings were essential.
Fortunately, I had a plan.
"After discussing the first item......"
I paused to catch my breath. It was content I couldn't voice without steeling myself.
If it was just about Yuk Eun-hyeong's crew, I wouldn't have summoned everyone.
The real reason I'd called the executives today was something else.
"......There will be a memorial for Second Cult Leader Do Myeong-jun."
Today was the anniversary of Second Cult Leader Do Myeong-jun's—my father's—death.
As I finished speaking, the executives bowed their heads in silence. A moment of mourning for him.
I, too, bowed my head wordlessly for a time. My uncle and Kang Ji-a did the same.
"We'll continue the mourning and remembrance at the formal memorial later. Now, let's discuss the first item......"
I broke the silence and kicked off the meeting proper. Only I, as the son of Second Cult Leader Do Myeong-jun, could do that.
Once the mourning ended and the meeting began, Executive Yeom Man-geun spoke up as if he'd been waiting.
"That fool Yuk Eun-hyeong goes and causes a mess, and now we gotta discuss it?"
Yuk Eun-hyeong's face hardened at that.
Yun Chang-su cleared his throat politely and spoke.
"Executive Yeom Man-geun, mind your words. Didn't you receive the Cult Leader's aid for your factory expansion at the last meeting?"
"Sure, Yeom Man-geun did. But I'm asking for the Cult Leader's help to save my men's lives. Not like you, sucking up headquarters funds for your selfish factory expansion. No reason to take your flak."
"You call my factory expansion selfish? Damn, you slow-witted bastard, I oughta just—!"
Bam!
"......Everyone, just shut up."
I slammed the desk hard before the argument escalated further, demanding silence.
Thankfully, they obeyed and fell quiet.
In the sudden hush of the chapel, I scanned their faces. Yeom Man-geun and Yuk Eun-hyeong looked plainly intimidated. Yun Chang-su had his head down, silent. Ha Pan-seok stared into space, looking dazed for some reason.
Ha Pan-seok's state worried me a bit, but I cleared my throat and spoke.
"I already have a plan for Executive Yuk Eun-hyeong's band's accommodations. Preparations are nearly complete."
"......Cult Leader, forgive me, but may I ask what that plan is?"
Yuk Eun-hyeong asked. He was jittery, leg bouncing, chewing his lip.
I understood his anxiety completely. He'd loaned me one of his mercenaries in exchange for new lodgings. That mercenary had performed excellently, enabling Jeong Yun-ah's safe reunion with Jeong In-ah.
But I still hadn't provided the new place. He had every reason to worry.
I nodded and replied.
"We'll use Noah's Ark."
"......Noah's Ark?"
Yun Chang-su reacted first. He blinked at me, his usual composure shattered—a face I'd never seen.
I gauged the others' expressions. From their looks, only Yun Chang-su knew what it was.
"N-Noah's Ark...... isn't that Romanica Church property? You don't mean steal or seize it...... that's far too dangerous."
"No, no plans for theft or seizure."
To the stammering Yun Chang-su, I shook my head and explained.
"I'm thinking of acquiring it fairly. Or rather, taking back ownership."
Yun Chang-su still didn't get it. He couldn't grasp the idea of gaining ownership of Noah's Ark—or how.
Which made sense. Noah's Ark belonged to the Romanica Church. Voodoo couldn't just use it, and they'd never hand it over.
In the old days, even dreaming of using it would've been impossible.
The old days.
"But originally, Noah's Ark was ours."
During the Charity Holy Mark reelection exam, I'd spoken with Noah, the Ark's master. That's when I learned it was built by Second Cult Leader Do Myeong-jun—my father—and Seong Yu-da.
And recently, I'd forged an alliance with Seong Yu-da.
Now, I knew how to use Noah's Ark.
No—how to reclaim and own it.
(To be continued next time)