Chapter 28: One-Man Army

Question (1)

Unlike the Princess's confidence that she had memorized the location, finding the pseudo-religion was not easy.

"So, you're saying we should turn left here?"

『……Wait a moment. Hmm, hmm, hmm. It's probably left.』

"You said that before, and it turned out to be wrong. Thanks to you, we went around in circles."

『Trust me one more time. This time, it's right!』

"If you say so."

They moved to the left path.

『Now, a mart will appear.』

"What kind of mart?"

『Don't ask me about the brand.』

They went straight, but there was no mart.

The Princess became quiet.

Comet scratched her cheek. With a faint hope, she took out her phone and turned on the map app, but of course, it didn't work.

"This is awkward. At this rate, we'll get lost instead of finding it. Let's just give up and go back."

『That would be good…….』

The small jellyfish became dejected.

"Don't be disappointed. Princess, you just have a bad memory."

『Are you comforting me or teasing me?』

"Comforting you."

Comet looked around.

"Let's rest for a while. I'm a bit tired, maybe because my Stamina Stats are low."

『It's probably mental fatigue from getting lost.』

"Maybe."

Comet found an open convenience store and went inside. It was surprisingly intact, and when she asked why, the store manager was an Awakened. He said he was forcibly commuting because he felt lethargic just staying at home.

There was no suitable food, only a lot of ice cream left, so she bought ice cream.

"Just take it."

"Ah, thank you."

Comet took a popsicle and went outside. She sat on a nearby bench. When she peeled off the wrapper, white ice cream was revealed. When she bit off a little of the end, red flesh was visible. It was strawberry ice cream.

"Cold……."

Comet licked the ice cream.

『This body wants to try it too! Can I borrow your body for a moment?』

"No way. I can sense other intentions."

『Hmph! Hmph! It must be very delicious. This body can't even enjoy gastronomy and has to watch the Necromancer's daily life……, how pathetic.』

"You can whine all you want, but I won't lend you my body."

Comet slowly licked the ice cream and threw the trash in the trash can.

As she stretched for a moment, she saw a noticeable person. It was a stranger, but the outfit was familiar. It was the pseudo-religious attire that Kwon Hyun-seung used to wear.

"Princess, I think we've come to the right place. There's someone walking around in pseudo-religious fashion over there. There must be many similar people nearby, so they're wearing it, right?"

『This body may have been a little confused about the location, but I think I guided you well. It must be somewhere around here!』

Comet approached the pseudo-religious person. The believer was carrying a sewing box and moving.

Comet bowed her head.

"Excuse me. I'm lost, can you guide me?"

The believer's eyes widened.

Then she hugged the sewing box to her chest.

"Yes? I don't believe in religion. Grab someone else."

The pseudo-religious person left at a fast pace. Then she turned her head and glanced at Comet, then moved even faster.

Comet was stunned for a moment.

"……What did I just experience?"

『In a turbulent time, it's natural to be wary when asking for directions.』

"Ah, is that it? I didn't even ask if she believed in anything, so I hope I didn't cause unnecessary misunderstandings. I should apologize."

Comet understood and chased after the believer. Hearing the sound of footsteps, the believer walked as if running without looking back. But that was just the walking speed of a non-Awakened.

Comet quickly caught up and bowed her head.

"Hello."

"Hick!"

The believer didn't even accept the greeting and was horrified, then ran away. The sound of the sewing box rattling echoed.

Comet paused in embarrassment.

The Princess clicked her tongue.

『Why are you greeting her there?』

"……It's hard to live. How do I apologize?"

『First, give up on that commoner. Pushing further is not an apology.』

Comet squatted down on the sidewalk. A gloomy time passed.

"It's really hard to live."

『Where is anything easy in life? Don't blame yourself too much.』

"I'm not blaming myself. I have no conscience."

Comet poked the sidewalk. It was cold and hard. The nearby roadside tree rustled. The wind was a little chilly.

Footsteps were heard, and a shadow fell.

"Are you okay?"

Comet raised her head.

A different pseudo-religious person was looking down with concern.

The wind blew.

Comet blinked.

"I'm lost. Can you guide me?"

The believer nodded.

"Of course."

#

The cult was located next to a small mountain. It was more accurate to think of it as the edge of the city rather than being isolated from the city. Even if you crossed the small mountain, it was still the city, so strictly speaking, it wasn't even the edge.

The cult was simply on the street next to the small mountain.

The believer pointed to the street.

"From that gas station to that officetel is owned by the cult."

There were no religious buildings in sight. Buildings existed separately like a typical street, but several blocks were entirely owned by the cult. Originally, it was one building, but after the rift situation, they bought buildings around that had plummeted in price, so it became wider.

More than half of the surrounding pedestrians were in pseudo-religious attire. Comet became somewhat scared. She seriously questioned whether it was okay to leave this group alone.

The believer pointed to a large building. It was a commercial building. A pseudo-religious sign was attached to the top floor.

"The leader is there."

"I see. Thank you for the guidance."

The believer left. Comet stared at the building where the leader was, then turned her steps. She wanted to see this terrifying group a little.

She arrived at the officetel complex owned by the cult.

"I wonder what a pseudo-religion with accommodation facilities is like."

『I don't think it's a good idea.』

"Right? Even companies with sleeping rooms are scary, but a pseudo-religion with accommodation is."

The officetel door opened, and believers poured out. Comet flinched and stepped back. The believers passed by without having anything to do with Comet.

"Um? Comet?"

Kwon Hyun-seung in pseudo-religious attire came out of the officetel. Comet sighed at the sight of the attire.

Complete death…….

Complete death is needed.

"I was passing by, so I stopped by."

"You came at a good time. Have you talked to the leader?"

"No. I was just looking around the neighborhood."

"Then I'll show you around."

"Aren't you on your way to do something?"

Comet pointed to the believers moving away.

"It's not mandatory. But if you're curious, you can come with me."

"Shall I?"

『……There's a saying on Earth that curiosity killed the cat, isn't there?』

"But a cat has nine lives. Meow."

Comet followed Kwon Hyun-seung. Kwon Hyun-seung didn't stick close to the believers and walked at a distance. It seemed like he intended to have a conversation.

"How is your father doing?"

"I persuaded him well, so he went back home."

"Then why are you still here?"

Comet blinked. She wondered if he had really converted to the pseudo-religion.

Kwon Hyun-seung smiled slightly and looked around.

"Living here, I had that thought."

In front, the believers were talking to each other and laughing softly.

"There are so many people who need a place to lean on."

Kwon Hyun-seung pointed to the street.

"From there to there is owned by the cult. Isn't it scary to look at? That there's a place like this. What on earth do they do? Everyone asks. What else could it be."

The believers stopped in front of a commercial building. It was a restaurant. The believers went inside and leisurely ordered food.

"It's just a place where people live."

Kwon Hyun-seung held the door and looked back.

"Have you eaten?"

"I can eat if I have to."

"Then eat and go. I'm not eating."

"Shall I?"

There was no menu. When they just sat down and ordered, the same food came out. Rice and soup. There were a few pieces of beef floating in it.

"Today's menu is Seolleongtang. We negotiated frozen food with another force this time, and the results are good."

Kwon Hyun-seung mixed the rice into the soup. As the spoon moved, the clumped rice scattered.

Comet also mixed the rice.

"When I receive the distribution, I feel scared. What if a looter appears to take this away? Is someone waiting in that alley? What if someone broke in while I was out? My pace quickens, and I sweat. And when I arrive home and realize it was just imagination, I finally feel relieved."

Comet looked at Kwon Hyun-seung. Kwon Hyun-seung had a calm attitude.

"And after a while, I feel pathetic. Because if it really happens, I can't do anything."

The sound of the bowl and spoon clashing rang out.

"Unlike the Awakened, we are powerless."

With those words, a moment of mealtime took place. After finishing the meal, Kwon Hyun-seung drank water.

"So we gather. Whether this is a pseudo-religion or a cult that worships evil gods, once we gather, we can feel at ease. Everyone gathers for that reason. This place seems like a pseudo-religion, but in fact, there are more people who have come because they have nowhere else to go. It's thanks to the leader focusing on external expansion and not making religious rituals mandatory."

Kwon Hyun-seung sighed.

"But after the cult leader went to Seoul, he started forcing religious rituals on everyone. It seems like he really wants to become a pseudo-religion now. I wonder if something changed his mind."

Comet blinked. Surely, it wasn't because Comet, who looked like a government official, treated the cult leader favorably that this change occurred.

"Most of the people here are normal, but at this rate, it will really become a pseudo-religion. I don't even want to imagine how vicious a pseudo-religion can become to its insiders during a chaotic time."

Comet realized that the surroundings had become quiet. There were no gazes, but it felt like everyone was watching this exchange.

"We won't run away. This place has already become a haven for too many people."

Kwon Hyun-seung met her eyes.

"Will you help us?"

Comet looked back at Kwon Hyun-seung.

"What kind of help?"

Kwon Hyun-seung smiled.

"Small actions, small negligence, and small silences will suffice."

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