Chapter 1565: A New Normal (20) |
Even when I thought about it again, it was so absurd that a fake laugh almost slipped out of me. Why was it that such a sense of foreboding was never wrong? I half-joked and felt half-worried about it, but it actually came true, so it would be strange if I weren't shaken.
‘Who would have thought that the real thing would show up?’
Fortunately, I didn’t seem to be affected by the hypnosis, but the problem was that Ahn Ki-Mo had already fallen for it.
"Huh? Where’s the sub guild master? Wait, why am I…"
"Priest Ahn Ki-Mo, didn’t the Saint of Sacrifice and Revival say he had something important to discuss with Priest Benet in a safe place?"
"Ah, I see. In that case, it can’t be helped."
"…"
"By the way, can you not tell him about me stepping out? My girlfriends…"
"What do you…"
"I, Ahn Ki-Mo, would never get distracted during a mission. Since you said he’s in a safe place, I let my thoughts wander for a moment. Actually, now that I think about it, I shouldn’t be here; I should be by his side…"
"…"
"By the way, how much revenue does the Republic branch bring in these days?
"What? Why do you…"
"I figured the offerings must be pretty substantial."
‘He’s like that even while being hypnotized.’
It was honestly baffling that someone who had just been bragging so much ended up getting hypnotized, and for a moment, I even wondered about cutting his salary instead of raising it.
Before I could make any decision, a faint light flickered in my line of sight.
“…”
“…”
‘So he didn’t completely drop the ball.’
I wasn’t sure exactly when, but it seemed he had cast a dispel on me before he got hypnotized. It wasn’t really a spell I needed, but…
‘At least, he noticed that something was off.’
It was possible that he had cast it out of reflex just because the guy looked like the Hypnosis Guy, but it was more reasonable to think that Ahn Ki-Mo actually sensed something beforehand.
He usually didn’t come across as very reliable, but when it came to work, he had never disappointed me. Unfortunately, his usual smirking demeanor ensured that he would rarely be appreciated properly.
For a moment, I wondered whether it was better for him to cast it on himself instead, but he had to have made that decision on his own. Ahn Ki-Mo had to have judged that it was less risky for him to be the one affected than for me to be affected, and he probably thought I would be the better one to uncover whatever was hidden inside this temple.
Based on our earlier conversation, he could have also considered the possibility that I wasn’t completely immune to hypnosis.
In other words, he made that decision in the brief moment he had to cast a holy spell. It wasn’t the perfect answer, but it wasn’t a bad one either. The only problem was that the opponent was a bit too much.
‘I didn’t even notice when he cast the hypnosis.’
I didn’t see him cast a spell, and I didn't even notice any mana. It happened so fast that by the time I sensed anything, the hypnosis was already in place. It was almost a miracle that Ahn Ki-had Mo picked up on it.
From the situation, I figured it was an artifact, or perhaps the hypnosis was triggered when I made eye contact with them one by one, but even that wasn’t certain.
I was also not even sure whether the guy in front of me was the caster, as it was possible that he was just a pawn.
“Yes, yes, Saint of Sacrifice and Revival. Hehe… it’s common sense to enter the private prayer room barefoot,” Benet said.
‘Even his laugh sounds like he would be the Hypnosis Guy.’
That same laugh would sound cute coming from Ha-Yan, but coming out of his fat-laden vocal cords, it was nothing short of disturbing.
“Hehe…”
Was there really someone pulling the strings behind him?
“Hehe…”
Anyone would think that this guy was the one doing the hypnotizing.
“Keke… hehehe…”
‘No… he’s a bit too dumb… to be the mastermind.’
He looked like a toad drunk on poison. He was like some vessel of desire that only cared about his own pleasure. It was hard to believe that someone this stupid had been operating in the open without getting caught.
‘Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange if he had been caught once already.’
Of course, that just proved how dangerous their hypnosis abilities were, but still, this was the Republic, and Commander Jin was here. The fact that a cult raising extremists right at the center of the Republic had gone unnoticed this long made no sense.
Everything had to have been progressing slowly and quietly beneath the surface, which only reinforced the idea that the idiot in front of me wasn’t the one in control of it all, unless that peal of laughter coming from him wasn’t an act.
“Now then, please go inside, Saint of Sacrifice and Revival,” Benet said.
“Okay.”
There was definitely someone else behind this. There had to be someone else.
I stepped into the private prayer room. I felt uneasy, but the room was cleaner than I had expected. I assumed something unsanitary would be waiting for me because of how he looked, but that was just prejudice on my end. It was an empty room with a small altar and a few chairs.
As I naturally moved to stand in front of the altar, Benet asked, “What are you doing, Saint of Sacrifice and Revival?”
“Pardon?”
“When you enter a private prayer room, isn’t it common sense to first show respect and sincerity to me, the head priest of this Republic branch?” he questioned.
“Ah, right. When entering the private prayer room, it’s common sense to show respect and sincerity to you, the head priest of this Republic branch,” I replied.
I hesitantly stepped toward him and offered a polite greeting, but his irritated voice came again.
“Tsk. Do I have to teach you everything? When showing respect and sincerity, it’s common sense to kneel before me,” he said.
‘How many of these ridiculous rules are there? Maybe try washing yourself first, that’s common sense.’
“Of course. My apologies, Priest Benet. I seem a bit distracted today. I can’t believe I committed such rudeness. Will you accept my apology?” I asked.
“Yes, of course, Saint of Sacrifice and Revival. I understand everything. It’s your first time visiting the Republic branch of the Benigoa Order, after all. If it were anyone else, I would never forgive them, but since you’re special, I’ll make an exception,” he answered.
“Ah, t-thank you,” I said.
Naturally, he broke out into a wide, delighted grin. Sure enough, I could see his satisfied smile. He seemed to be enjoying this situation quite a bit.
“…”
Yeah, what showed in his expression was a sense of superiority, as if the fact that he was in a position above me meant everything to him. To exaggerate a little, it looked like he was getting pleasure out of it.
Once again, I couldn't help but think that he was not the real mastermind.
‘This bastard… is just a pawn.’
The certainty only grew stronger. There was no way someone this full of inferiority was the one in charge. I didn’t know why he had been transferred from the Vatican headquarters to a place like this, but somehow, it felt like that Hypnosis Guy look of his had played a big role.
It felt a bit wrong for my thoughts to suddenly turn so superficial, but honestly, if I had any say in it, this guy would have been pushed out of the order long ago—no, he would have been outright expelled a long time ago, not just pushed out of the order.
One couldn’t have followers nervously praying while worrying about getting hypnotized. They probably wouldn’t even want to make donations. As for me?
Sure, I fell a bit short compared to Kim Hyun-Sung, but with the aura buff from Lust and Eternal Sleep and Sacrifice and Revival, my carefully maintained skin that practically glowed, and Ji-Hye noona’s makeup skills enhancing my appearance even further, I was in a position that practically invited resentment.
Judging by how he suddenly tried to hypnotize me, it didn’t seem like he had any real reverence for the Saint of Sacrifice and Revival to begin with. As expected of an extremist, he probably had some level of faith in Benigoa, but he clearly separated me from Benigoa entirely. It was no wonder he disliked me.
“Thank you once again, Priest Benet,” I said.
“Ahem… ahem…”
Kneeling down was only natural. As if he had been waiting for it, he sat down in a chair and looked at me with clear satisfaction.
“That’s a very good posture, Saint of Sacrifice and Revival. So, you do understand that in the private prayer room, it’s common sense to show absolute gratitude to me,” Benet said.
“Ah, yes, of course, Priest Benet. Since you invited me into this private prayer room where you offer prayers to Goddess Benigoa, it’s only natural that I show you my gratitude,” I said.
Soon, I saw him reach out and place his hand on my cheek. He grabbed it roughly and pulled hard enough that my body followed along with it. He handled me as if I were some kind of toy.
“T-Thank… you…” I muttered.
“To think someone like you is called the Son of Benigoa… tsk. What a ridiculous claim, don’t you think so?” he questioned.
“…”
‘Yeah, figures. This bastard…’
He even grabbed my hair and yanked it roughly. Honestly, I was starting to get a little scared. The thought that I could end up taking random abuse born from this hypnosis freak with an inferiority complex wasn’t exactly comforting, but for now, I had no choice but to keep playing along.
“Y-Yes…”
'Should I just kill this bastard and run?' My thoughts drifted to the dagger I always kept hidden on me. I wasn’t sure if this short blade could even pierce that thick layer of fat, but for some reason, staying here any longer felt dangerous. I had thrown myself into plenty of risky situations before, but none of them had ever felt this unpleasant.
‘Damn, this is making me sick.’
To make matters even worse, his breath would hit me every time he spoke, and it was truly unbearable, yet I was still managing to keep a grateful face, which was impressive in its own way.
Right now, he seemed delighted just by the fact that the Saint of Sacrifice and Revival was kneeling beneath him, but who knew when that inferiority and resentment toward the world would explode? Still…
‘I have to wait.’
“…”
“…”
There was definitely someone above him, or at least, there had to be someone backing him. There had to be someone backing him. Moreover, not every extremist would be hostile toward me. They disliked my stance of cooperating with the Republic, but in the end, Benigoa and the Saint of Sacrifice and Revival were closely tied.
‘I'm definitely valuable to them.’
“…”
“…”
Of course, the response to the phishing attempt itself could have been the will of the entire group, but what he was doing right now felt more like this hypnosis creep acting on his own.
“Look at me, Saint of Sacrifice and Revival,” Benet ordered.
“…”
“Do you not hear me?” he asked.
“…”
‘Someone’s going to show up. I’m sure of it.’
“Listening to what I say is common sense—”
“What exactly do you think you’re doing, Benet?”
Just then, a heavy voice echoed from the darkness.