Atonement Slice Mania

Holy Church, Saintess's Office.

Silence hung heavy in the air, the sacred atmosphere undisturbed.

Then, an alien scent invaded the holy space.

"Saintess. Take a look at this."

Priest Yohan stormed in, panting. In his hands was a pizza box.

The aroma leaking from the seams was violently tantalizing—smoky ham, nutty cheese, sharp yeast.

"Yohan. What... is that?"

Isha von Estel struggled to keep her eyes on her scripture. Her nose twitched toward the source.

"Pizza from that scammer Lee Han! Not content with false ads, now threatening public health. Whatever drugs he laced it with, people are lining up."

Yohan slammed the box on the desk.

"Impersonating you wasn't enough—now seducing the masses with junk food. I brought it for ingredient analysis."

"I see. We should dispose of it immediately... but."

Isha swallowed dryly. After three days of fasting prayer, her stomach screamed.

"Know your enemy, win every battle. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Shouldn't we analyze his tricks first?"

"Pardon? Well, yes, but a saintess eating such vulgar—"

"Vulgar? This is the enemy's weapon. Analyzing asymmetric threats is a commander's duty."

Isha kept a solemn face, eyes locked on the pizza. Yohan backed off, flustered.

"Then... I'll leave it, just in case. Call if issues arise. I'll dispose of it right away."

Yohan left, door clicking shut.

Isha's trembling hands opened the box.

"Hoo... "

The glorious pepperoni pizza revealed itself. Entranced, she lifted a slice to her mouth.

Right... This is analysis, my duty. Won't fall for Lee Han's petty tricks.

But her hand didn't stop.

—Crunch.

Chewy.

"...!"

Crispy dough, rich cheese, salty ham juices exploded in fanfare.

Beyond delicious. A salvation soothing weary soul, filling empty heart.

"So... good..."

Tears streamed down Isha's cheeks. Desolatus's loss, love-hate for Lee Han, betrayal, hunger's sorrow—all melted into this slice.

Forgetting dignity, she devoured it.

"Ugh... You bastard... Why's even your pizza this good..."

—Knock knock.

"Saintess? You okay? Heard crying from inside..."

Yohan. Isha startled, gulped the slice, wiped her mouth.

"N-No! Just rage at their villainy... Ahem."

"Ah, as expected. Their sales tactics piss me off too—I brought an extra slice sample."

"Leave it. Now."

Yohan left puzzled. Isha returned to the box, face grave.

She pulled out her smartphone, checking Redeemed Pizza's notice.

Lifetime free subscription.

Isha's eyes wavered.

It's Lee Han's shop. Paying would fund crime. Unbecoming of a saintess.

But never tasting this again? Torture.

One way: Win it as a prize... Legal. No money spent.

Resolved, Isha opened the [Naming Contest] board.

Lifetime sub. I'll claim it.

Lee Han. I'll hit you where it hurts—your wallet.

[Atonement Slice.]

After much thought, Isha submitted her entry.

"This is beyond marketing—too much. Lee Han, gonna take three days to read all this."

Seoul outskirts hideout. Black Rose clutched her aching head at the mountain of entries.

Excel scroll went on forever.

"Narrow it down roughly. It's for promo. Name doesn't matter."

I lounged on the sofa, cracking a canned beer casually.

"This is narrowed. Big names: [Pizza King Lee Han], [Pepperoni Rhapsody]... Oh, this one's good. [Devil's Temptation]. Fits our vibe?"

"Too generic. Tacky."

"How 'bout [For Desolatus]? Looks like Adel's."

"Veto. Joking with the dead brings divine punishment."

I got up, approached Black Rose's monitor.

The baited gallery spawned endless posts. Jokes, curses, praise, mishmash names.

My ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gaze halted her scrolling hand.

"Hold up. Stop."

"Huh? Which?"

"That one."