The Pyre Sect's Korean Branch Manager
A middle-aged man with an appearance that must have once been strikingly handsome appeared on the screen, eyes fixed on the camera as he spoke.
“I have come to shed a light of truth upon the many who hold me in reverence and deep respect.”
His voice was steady and calm, yet it carried clear eyes and a warmth that seemed almost passionate. Anyone could see he was a professional speaker who had charmed crowds with countless speeches.
But he did not appear to be someone who offered constructive arguments. It was highly unlikely that anyone normal would belong to a peculiar organization called the Pyre Cult.
Or so it seemed. The middle-aged man in the video soon began spouting nonsense.
“I, Clitia Elluke—the false savior who leads the masses down the wrong path through techniques and sorcery from a different world—must be denounced.”
“……”
I paused the video first. Watching it would surely bring a flood of anger, resentment, and irritation. I needed to steady my mind before that happened.
Steady. Deep breath. I pressed a finger gently against the temple point, massaging it softly.
[Emotion: Anger rising. Heart aching. Mind preparing.]
“Looks like I’ve stumbled into another headache.”
I hadn’t even seen the video yet, but I could already guess its contents. It was probably another attempt to find fault and insult me.
The fact that they had labeled me the “false savior” alone was infuriating. It insulted not just me, but even the Goddess.
“This… is he a heretic from this world? The terms they use match exactly.”
Yong-yong-i frowned, eyes narrowing as he asked.
“There are no heretics in this world. Only scammers abound.”
“Scammers?”
“More precisely, a cult that wears the mask of religion and preys on the weak.”
The heretics I had encountered in the other world at least possessed true faith. The problem was that they worshipped strange beings like evil gods, demons, or fiends, but at least their belief was sincere.
In contrast, these pseudo-religions cared nothing for faith. They only worried about inflating the wealth of their leaders and filling their own lusts.
“They are nothing but scammers who exploit the pitiful with their fake belief. I will not accept them as genuine believers.”
“Understood. Just as I refuse to treat dragons who desire to mate with humans as kin.”
“……Close enough.”
The example was truly lacking in dignity, but I let it slide. The important matter was not this.
“The video will play again. Please remain silent.”
I lightly patted Hecatrite’s back, then pressed play. The man in the video—Hwang In-gu—continued his claims.
“Many of you may wish to refute my words. You will insist he is the true savior. I understand. Drawing closer to the flames of truth is always difficult.”
Hwang In-gu shook his head slightly, as if feeling sorry.
“Then, from now on, I will tell you about the wicked schemes of the false savior Clitia Elluke.”
The screen soon switched. A documentary-style video appeared.
“Lovely Pink Blizzard—!”
……A scene from a performance meant for the little ones. The highlight of it, in fact.
“Puff. Huh huh, hu hu hu.”
“……”
“Ah, sorry. I couldn’t help it… puff!”
While the wicked dragon laughed as it reveled in someone else’s dark past, Hwang In-gu reappeared on screen.
“Our cult’s experts in supernatural abilities have analyzed the phenomenon shown in the video just now. What you saw is not a divine miracle, but a result of techniques from another world commonly called ‘magic.’ Let me show you the analysis.”
The screen switched again. This time they systematically dissected the performance video and organized it neatly.
The core of the document was that I had used magic to create various strange phenomena.
It was not entirely wrong. Most of the stage effects, lighting, and so on had been created by Liam’s magic.
But that alone did not make me a scammer, nor was it enough evidence. It was absurd to simply declare that a magic user cannot wield holy power.
But would ordinary people—those who knew nothing about such things—think the same way?
“None of the phenomena shown by that woman were holy miracles. They were merely wicked and outrageous acts of deception using magic!”
They wrapped their insufficient logic in a neat analysis table and used provocative language to beguile the viewer.
It was a transparent scheme, but my face remained stern.
“Hmph. It’s an obvious attempt at manipulation. Well, those stupid enough to fall for it probably won’t see through it. Humans are not the clever race that never swallows nonsense without deep thought.”
My brows furrowed at the sharp assessment that carried the flavor of one who had once been a dragon.
“……I cannot deny that.”
With a throat burning from swallowing, I nodded.
While I did so, the middle-aged voice continued.
“It does not end here. There is more evidence that proves she is a false savior.”
I watched as more personal broadcast clips started rolling out.
Scenes of using holy titles. Casting holy power into the air. Wearing the Sun Blocker and speaking casually. Scenes of Liam using magic.
Every one of them had been edited with a clever hand to make me look like a “magic-user Clitia Elluke.” It was a cunning trick to pin the label of deception on me.
“How meticulously prepared this is.”
I watched the video in stunned silence, then slowly rose to my feet.
Yong-yong-i, who had stood up behind me and sat on the floor, asked with sparkling eyes for some reason.
“Is this perhaps for assassination?”
“……”
If I could, I wanted to do exactly that. I wanted to grab the man in question—Hwang In-gu, whoever he was—by the collar and flip him onto his back right then.
But I was the Pope.
If I lost my dignity and composure, the reputation of the entire clergy would fall. I could not afford to be consumed by undignified rage without restraint.
So I called in the specialist who could gather people’s attention and cause a proper uproar in my place.
“Hecatrite-nim, bring Liam.”
“Oh! As you wish!”
“Ah, and one more thing, please.”
I fanned my heated face with a fan while smiling.
“Please bring Seoyun-noona too.”
It was the perfect opportunity to pay the price for her shameful personal revelations.
***
In the room where Hecatrite’s magic had been undone.
“……I’ll kneel here.”
Seoyun sat on the bed with a gloomy face, kneeling beside it. She had already sensed why I had called her, even before I spoke.
“Her instincts are terrifyingly fast.”
Should I raise both hands? I seriously considered it, then abandoned the idea. Mercy was a basic virtue every believer should possess.
“What is it?”
Liam, holding Rohan, sat on the bed and asked with a puzzled expression. Since explaining would be bothersome, he silently showed the video again.
“……”
Silence. While the video played, Liam kept his mouth shut. Even after it ended, he remained motionless for a long time.
Finally, with a twisted expression, he muttered.
“Should I kill him?”
The line that would have terrified anyone else in the past was oddly reassuring today.
“Not yet.”
I did not immediately order an all-out attack.
Right now, calm action was required. Rushing in impulsively was exactly what the enemy wanted.
“Then what should we do first?”
Liam’s brain-like mind fired off the question with eager energy. Having experienced so many such situations, he was now acting on instinct.
“We need to gather information and prepare countermeasures first.”
The purpose of their actions, the impact this incident will have on our clergy, suitable responses, penalties, and the resulting aftermath.
Even if we gathered information from every angle, formulated strategies, and then acted, it would not be too late. Impulsive responses could backfire, after all.
Especially important was the identity of the enemy.
“The Pyre Cult. Let’s find out who these people are.”
“Yes.”
Liam nodded obediently.
Actually, from his expression, he seemed to be holding back the urge to fly out and slaughter them on the spot. The fragile patience of a former delinquent would not last long, so we had to hurry.
“Seoyun, start.”
Seoyun quickly sat at the computer and began searching for data with impressive speed.
In the meantime, I poured hot water into a tumbler and added two green tea bags. When the situation called for it, nothing calmed the mind like a proper tea time.
“Hoorok.”
Honestly, I was boiling. If I had not been trained in this kind of stoic calm, I would have already flown to the enemy’s headquarters with Liam by now.
“Hoororok.”
Why me? Because I was Korea’s only returnee? Or because I was the most successful person lately?
“Fullllk.”
Perhaps because the only one in Korea who communicates with gods is me. Would overseas religious returnees have suffered such humiliation?
“Hrolk.”
……The more I thought about it, the more infuriated I became.
“I’ll be a little faster!”
Seoyun’s fingers moved quicker as her uneasy mood leaked through.
“Hey! It’s all clumped together here?”
And Liam, after placing Rohan on the bed, began massaging my shoulder. I did not refuse and quietly received the massage while sipping my tea.
How much time passed like that?
“Everything is mostly organized.”
Seoyun, who had been scouring the internet for a long time, turned toward me. Nodding as if to say “tell me,” her voice, slightly hoarse, continued.
“To start with the conclusion, the Pyre Cult seems to be a pseudo-religious group from China.”
“……From China?”
From the beginning, something felt off.
“Yeah. It felt familiar. It was a Chinese group I saw mentioned here and there in the news.”
“I knew it was a fake religion from overseas because the YouTube channel was ‘Pyre Cult Korean Branch,’ but I didn’t know it was the Chinese side. China is a country that suppresses even normal religions, right?”
“Apparently it’s a religion founded by Chinese returnees. The leader’s name… Hao Ran? He reincarnated as the protagonist of a xianxia novel world and returned three years ago.”
Seoyun shifted slightly and pointed at the monitor.
On the screen was a photo of a man with a profound smile. A handsome face that looked almost drawn, and a body of balanced muscle. It was the perfect protagonist appearance.
“Not bad looking, at least.”
Even when it came to male appearance, Liam—who was the most strict of all—had to admit the leader was attractive. But that was not important right now.
“But why did he found a pseudo-religion? Xianxia novels are a type of martial arts novel… do they have priests in them?”
“I wondered the same thing and searched. Normally, the protagonist of xianxia novels aims to become a celestial being through transactions.”
“……Then is this man a celestial being?”
“Probably?”
A celestial being was not a omnipotent god, but he was at least similar. He could probably recreate phenomena similar to divine miracles.
Moreover, in China—where even returnees numbered in the tens—being a celestial being would place him among the higher ranks. It would be easy to attract followers, then.
“He seems to be gradually expanding his cult influence around Sichuan Province. It’s not huge yet, but it’s not something to ignore.”
“Did you find any materials about their doctrines?”
“Yes, I did, but…”
Why did his voice trail off? I could guess the reason soon enough.
“Those who are troublesome are burned alive. Those who block the path are turned to ashes. That is the doctrine. They have actually burned live Chinese returnees and journalists.”
“……”
As I gaped in shock, Liam let out a dry laugh and muttered.
“Compared to that madman, I was tame.”
It was absurd, but impossible to deny.