The Heretic of Cleric Academy-Chapter 118

"A proposal?"

I asked back, intrigued. I never imagined that Ogun would make such a proposal to me.

Ogun’s power had become stronger today than in the past. Thanks to advances in ironmaking technology, weapon manufacturing technology, and the development of warfare.

Ogun’s power, which had been limited to swords and armor, could now extend to firearms and tanks. Even setting aside the severe side effects, being able to use Ogun’s power would be an enormous advantage for me.

[That’s right. You should know that I don’t concern myself with mere offerings.]

"..."

[If you offer tributes, I would gratefully accept them, but it would be shameless for me to accept offerings with just words when I don’t lend my power. I might be misunderstood as a Loa who exploits the prophet...]

Ogun’s voice was chilly and sharp, but heat was boiling within.

Ogun also wouldn’t tolerate himself acting contrary to honesty. At least he was consistent. That didn’t mean I liked his personality of demanding honesty without any flexibility.

"So what’s the proposal?"

[I will lend you my power when you finally become honest. I’ll accept the offerings then as well.]

"What bullshit..."

Kiiiiiing...

Suddenly the metals screamed.

A creepy, sharp noise tickled my ears. The surroundings suddenly seemed hotter. The iron armor and weapons I had set aside as offerings were glowing red hot. Thin white smoke was rising.

It meant Ogun was angry.

"...Could you please explain a bit more kindly?"

[Very well, I understand.]

Only when I corrected my tone did the metals finally quiet down. I wiped away the sweat from the sudden heat and waited for Ogun’s words to continue.

Ogun opened his mouth with a rough, sharp cough like the sound of metal.

[Are you the Voodoo cult leader, or a Florence student? It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the two. Become who you think you are. That will be the path for you to finally become honest.]

"That’s difficult."

[Honesty is inherently difficult.]

As Ogun’s voice grew distant, the crying sounds of the metals also stopped. The heat emitted by the heated metals still remained where Ogun had departed.

Waving my hand to drive away the heat, I opened the offerings sent by other executives.

"Oh..."

What Executive Yuk Eun-hyeong from the Gyeongsang congregation sent was water. On the outside of a 500ml plastic bottle half-filled with water, the name ’Sahara Shower’ was kindly written with a name pen. It seemed suitable to offer to Dan Wedo and that deity of water spirits.

There was only one item that could be considered top grade, but there were many offerings corresponding to high grade items like Bashan bull hooves or black rooster feathers.

They could be offered to Bosu and Marinette respectively. There were also offerings suitable for Bade. The offerings Executive Yuk Eun-hyeong sent were substantial in composition and sufficient to capture the Loas’ hearts.

Next, I opened the offering sent by Yeom Man-geun. The surface was covered with blue tape, making opening the box itself a chore.

Thud!

And as soon as I opened it, I stepped backward and fell to the floor. I hit my tailbone but strangely it didn’t hurt. I was so surprised that I couldn’t feel the pain.

"...That startled me, what is it?"

What Executive Yeom Man-geun from the Jeolla congregation had sent was an animal carcass.

Its fluffy fur was charred black, and unfocused pupils could be glimpsed through eyelids that couldn’t quite close. The pupils were horizontally elongated. They were sheep’s eyes.

A note left by Yeom Man-geun was placed on top of the carcass.

[It’s a young ram. I obtained with difficulty one that died from lightning.]

[Young ram is a dialect for lamb.]

When I tilted my head, the quick-witted Legba immediately translated. It was writing that seemed to echo Yeom Man-geun’s rough dialect in my ears.

A young ram that died from lightning was an offering for Sobo. This was a level of offering that could boast of being the finest among the highest grades.

[I, Sobo! As the Loa of thunder and lightning, I’ll speak my mind conscientiously.]

"Yes, please do."

Sobo’s voice was more serious than ever.

[Since you’ve been using me all this time, I think you should accept an offering of that level. If you don’t give it this time too, Sobo... cannot endure it!]

"Of course I’ll give it to you. You’ve worked hard all this time... Please continue to help me in the future."

I comforted Sobo who was making threats in his foolish tone.

Sobo’s power was sometimes light that illuminated darkness, and flames that burned magical beasts.

Since it had high versatility and strong power while having few side effects, I had been favoring Sobo’s power until now. Sobo had worked hard all this time, and would probably work hard in the future too.

In other words, it was better to build favor with Sobo for later. In the silence, I could hear Sobo sniffling.

[I’m moved! I also look forward to working with you...!]

"...Yes!"

Feeling slightly guilty, I answered cheerfully for no reason.

After that, I offered the tributes through the altar. Dan Wedo quietly shed tears, and Sobo sobbed with emotion.

[Prophet, Sobo and I are twins, but strictly speaking, I’m the older brother. I hope you’ll acknowledge that...]

However, Bade seemed quite displeased. This was because while the offering I gave to Bade was good, its quality was lower compared to what I gave to Sobo or Dan Wedo.

"I’m sorry. I’ll give you something better next time. The circumstances don’t allow it right now..."

[There’s nothing to be sorry about! I just want you to acknowledge it. I’m not such a petty Loa that I’d whine about low-quality offerings!]

"Of course, I know."

[I’m grateful that you acknowledge it!]

Bade disappeared with those final words. Since Bade also had good power efficiency like Sobo, it was better to build favor in advance.

So Bade wouldn’t feel left out, I thought I should ask the executives to find wind-related offerings next time.

Next, I offered tributes to Bosu.

[Bosu overflows with power! I feel like I could pull out all the chapel’s pillars!]

"What? That won’t do."

Bosu was in a very excited state after receiving offerings for the first time in a while. While I was stopping him, I placed the medicinal herbs I received from Yoon Chang-su on the altar. Then Granbwa’s clear voice began to echo in my head.

[Prophet, you seem to have forgotten to place the last herb on the altar. Please put that on the altar too.]

"This... I was going to brew it as medicine for myself to drink..."

[...Tsk, you’re listening to Legba’s words after all. I’m disappointed, really!]

"No, that’s not it..."

[Never mind, just take care of your health. Save your body a bit too.]

Granbwa disappeared with a sulky, cold tone while leaving warm words of concern. With Granbwa being the last, I had offered all the tributes received from the executives.

Except for the iron armor and weapons I had intended to offer to Ogun.

"..."

I fell into idle thought while looking at the armor and weapons scattered on the floor.

[Are you the Voodoo cult leader, or a Florence student?]

Ogun’s voice was circling in my ears.

The reason I entered Florence was to rescue my mother imprisoned in the Vatican’s underground prison. However, that wasn’t a mission I had as the Voodoo cult leader. It was purely a mission I had as my mother’s son.

Then what mission do I have as the Voodoo cult leader? Or what mission should I have?

[It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the two.]

What exactly was the honesty Ogun wanted from me? I couldn’t tell. It was a problem I had never thought deeply about.

I just lay down in front of the scattered offerings and altar. I was tired but sleep didn’t come. I sat up abruptly. I thought I’d practice sorcery in my spare time.

[It would be better to sleep early today.]

Then the Voodoo magic power I had emitted turned into purple mist and settled on the floor in waves. The mist swayed and scattered before gathering again, finally taking shape.

What appeared was a pure white hand.

The long fingers were withered like tree branches. The voice was coming from those fingers.

[Has it been a long time?]

"I don’t think it’s been that long."

[Really? My sense of time has become quite dim lately. Is it time to die, hahaha...]

Baron Samedi laughed. Since he was the Loa of death, his mention of death was itself a joke, but it wasn’t funny at all.

I glared at the palm with a serious expression. The palm waved as if embarrassed, trying to drive away my gaze.

[There’s no need to glare that intensely. This is quite hurtful.]

"What about your body? Why did only your hand come?"

[I left it at the crossroads.]

It was an enigmatic statement. Baron Samedi’s words seemed meaningless while sometimes sounding meaningful. His words were always like that.

His pale hand was swaying fluidly as if swimming through the air.

[That’s not what’s important. As I said earlier, it would be better to sleep quickly now. If you don’t sleep now, you’ll be very tired tomorrow.]

"Tomorrow... Is something going to happen tomorrow?"

I asked anxiously for no reason.

Baron Samedi wiggled his fingers. As if hesitating to answer.

[Well, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to know. I don’t know exactly either.]

"How bland."

[If you pay moderate attention to what I say from now on, it will be helpful. As always.]

Baron Samedi continued without even caring about my complaints.

[Beware of screams and wails. They are echoes of false pain.]

"..."

[Don’t trust what the head says.]

"You’re saying incomprehensible things again. Can I break your fingers?"

I asked while grasping Baron Samedi’s fingers. He became mist and escaped my grasp. The mist took the form of a hand again.

His dry, elongated index finger that had suddenly appeared was pointing at me.

[This is the most direct prophecy I’ve ever made. You’ll understand when tomorrow comes.]

"Tomorrow..."

[There’s no need to worry too much.]

Baron Samedi’s hand was scattering into mist. As the mist scattered and became faint, Baron Samedi’s voice also grew smaller.

However, it was never unclear. His voice never lost its distinctness. It was a mysterious characteristic that human voices couldn’t possess.

[Tomorrow will be a very enjoyable day. For you and for me.]

* * *

Early in the morning, there were a total of 12 teachers and staff gathered in the conference room. Three were professors from each department: So Do-jin, Ha Ye-jin, and Kim Bok-dong, and the remaining eight were combat personnel who had worked as former Holy Warriors or Holy Knights, or had experience participating in the Holy War. And the last one was Kim Chang-won.

"You must have been very confused being called so suddenly, but I’m grateful that you all came like this. The reason I called you here so early in the morning is... Ah, please accept this first."

Ziiiiip...

Kim Chang-won opened the zipper of a backpack he had placed on the conference room’s round table. What came out was ’branches of Moses’ burning bush.’

Kim Chang-won took out as many as 11 of these items, which would be quite valuable even individually, and gave one each to the teachers he had called. The teachers accepted them without understanding why.

"The Satan worship detection operation is nearing its final stage. From the Satan worshipper’s perspective, the current situation must be very unpleasant. They thought we would split up and scatter if they just threatened us a bit, but instead we’re uniting to detect Satan worship."

The teachers quietly nodded with puzzled expressions. They still had no idea what Kim Chang-won was trying to say by calling them here.

"So I think they’ll probably cause some big trouble soon. Whenever Satan worshippers caused incidents, CCTVs and security systems always went dead. At that time, there’s a high possibility that electronic devices like cell phones and radios won’t work either."

The CCTVs where Satan worshippers had passed were always broken or damaged. Security systems were the same. Satan worshippers always made electronic devices malfunction through unknown methods.

"The reason I gave you branches of the burning bush is also preparation for that time. If you capable fighters maintain contact and move together, not only will evacuating students quickly be possible, but subduing the enemy won’t be difficult either..."

Then Kim Chang-won stopped speaking and coughed while covering his mouth with his hand.

After wiping the blood that came out on his palm with tissue, he caught his breath and continued.

"...Conversely, if we can’t maintain contact, there’s a high possibility that even the evacuation of students, which should be the top priority, won’t be achieved."

A turbid gleam was flickering in Kim Chang-won’s eyes. It was light created by a mixture of fear and conviction.

What he feared most was casualties among the students. There absolutely must not be any situation where students suffered damage due to teachers’ negligence and inadequate response.

Therefore, Kim Chang-won was trying to organize a school organization centered on teachers capable of combat, and as a prerequisite, he had distributed burning bush branches to establish their own communication network.

"I’m truly sorry that this is all I can support you with right now. Even this was prepared suddenly..."

"Oh no, sir. This is more than enough, Chairman."

"That’s right. What’s so great about that Satan worshipper bastard? As long as we don’t let our guard down, such a guy isn’t even worth a punch."

When Kim Chang-won bowed his head while speaking, several staff members bowed back and spoke urgently.

Kim Chang-won raised his head and smiled warmly. It was a mysterious smile that was kind and gentle, yet conveyed firm, reliable trust.

"Thank you so much. I’ll rely on all of you. Now then..."

Kim Chang-won sent the teachers back to the faculty office, each carrying a burning bush branch. He didn’t forget to give each person different words of encouragement.

The teachers returned to the faculty office feeling renewed admiration for Kim Chang-won’s character while also feeling a sense of pride in being trusted by the chairman.

"I’m sorry, but could Teacher So Do-jin come to the chairman’s office?"

When all the teachers had returned and only So Do-jin remained, Kim Chang-won spoke to So Do-jin.

So Do-jin followed Kim Chang-won into the chairman’s office without understanding why. What Kim Chang-won handed to So Do-jin after rummaging through his desk was some kind of reagent bottle. The liquid inside the bottle held a subtle glow.

"As you know, this is a reagent made by former Cardinal Saint Judas, and it has the effect of purifying ’Contract’ black magic."

’Contract’ was black magic that turned humans into demon species or humanoid magical beasts. Because of this black magic, countless clergy had to stab their colleagues’ hearts with their own swords. ’Contract’ was the black magic that clergy feared and loathed most.

"It’s still in the development stage, so it can’t turn those who have already become demon species or magical beasts back into humans. However, it can temporarily stop the progression of demonization or beast transformation."

"This is the reagent that was stolen last time."

"Right. Since the research lab has looser security than the chairman’s office, they probably stole the one that was there. It was probably the Satan worshipper’s doing."

Kim Chang-won handed the reagent bottle to So Do-jin with a bitter smile. So Do-jin didn’t accept it. He just stood with his hands behind his back, staring blankly at the glowing liquid in the reagent bottle.

"Take it."

"If you suddenly tell me to take it like that... Please at least tell me the reason."

"I’d like you to protect this reagent. In case of emergency, you can use it at your discretion."

"..."

Clear confusion appeared on So Do-jin’s face as he was suddenly burdened with an important responsibility. Kim Chang-won was just smiling warmly as usual.

"We can’t leave such an important thing in the hands of an old man who retired long ago. It would be much safer in your hands as an active practitioner."

Saying this, Kim Chang-won forced So Do-jin to hold the reagent bottle.

"Most importantly, my judgment has already become clouded beyond measure. I hope the situation requiring the reagent’s use won’t come, but if such a situation does come... my judgment will probably be influenced by personal emotions."

"Unlike what you think, Chairman, I’m not calm at all."

So Do-jin bowed his head in shame and continued.

"It would be better to entrust it to Kim Bok-dong. Despite appearances, he’s sharp in judgment and rational."

"I already made the same proposal to Teacher Kim Bok-dong. He declined, judging that you would be suitable for this task. Since he, who has sharp and rational judgment as you said, actively recommended you, wouldn’t it be right for you to take on this task?"

Kim Chang-won’s smile deepened. So Do-jin looked down at the floor as if perplexed. There was no longer any justification left to refuse.

So Do-jin took the liberty of sighing deeply and opened his mouth.

"To be honest, I’m afraid. The fact that the reagent’s use depends entirely on my judgment is too burdensome, and thinking about taking responsibility for it..."

"You don’t need to worry about that part."

Kim Chang-won stood up and placed both hands over So Do-jin’s left hand holding the reagent bottle.

"I’ll take all responsibility. I’m the one who entrusted this task to you. So don’t feel burdened."

Kim Chang-won’s eyes as he looked at So Do-jin while saying this were filled with conviction and resolve.