Sitting at the table in the bishop's office, I pondered.
These thick ledgers and documents, all reeking of money.
The scent of it brought a smile to my face almost involuntarily.
"Hehehe."
Now I will now show them.
The Demon Martial Arts of Wealth, the Demon Embezzlement.
I opened the first page of the ledger. Beside me, Bishop Oh Seol-hwa, with hands politely clasped, stood ready to assist.
I knew I had to ask immediately if there was anything I didn't understand.
"Wow, are the profits really this huge?"
Never in my life did I expect to see such an astronomical figure, in the billions.
Is this for real? My heart is racing like crazy.
"The donations from the congregation, battle commissions, and returns from diversified investments."
"Ah, diversified investments, of course."
And so, I continued through the ledger.
To my surprise, it revealed a deficit exceeding 10 billion.
"A deficit of 10 billion?"
"I'm sorry, my Lord. It was our oversight."
I quickly looked back at the top of the ledger.
Money was flowing out towards something called Heavenly Demon Academy.
"Where is this Heavenly Demon Academy?"
"It's an educational institution for children who have suffered at the hands of psychics."
I immediately turned on my smartphone to look up Heavenly Demon Academy. It appeared to be a place that educates children disabled by psychic powers.
Incredible. In an era where even parents abandoned their children for fear of psychic retaliation. Like Jamsuni and Nayu.
"So, a child attacked by a psychic is essentially at odds with psychics. Can the academy handle such retaliation? I've heard that these psychics are cruel and obsessive, and their vengeance is thorough."
"Protecting the people of the mundane world from the enlightened ones is our law."
In that moment, Oh Seol-hwa's eyes seemed to sharpen.
"That is our creed."
"I see. And what about this Heavenly Demon Medical Center?"
A considerable sum was also going to the Heavenly Demon Medical Center.
What exactly is this place?
"Heavenly Demon Medical Center is..."
After an hour-long lecture from Oh Seol-hwa, one thing became clear to me. These folks were not a cult. They were essentially a vigilante group and a volunteer organization. If they were going to live so righteously, why carry the character for 'demon' in their name?
I had also looked into real estate, but it was the same as the ledgers.
Everything was being put to good use. Or, it was just this town's real estate, filled to the brim with corruption.
"Ha."
Even if I was considered trash for abandoning my younger sibling, I couldn't bring myself to embezzle this money.
If I didn't have money, I could just skip a meal, but for these people, lacking this money meant immediate death.
But giving up so easily wasn't in my nature.
Who am I? Nothing less than the leader of a pseudo-religious cult. And such leaders usually live off the donations of their followers.
"I've looked through the ledgers and the real estate. Before I leave, there's one last thing I want to do."
"Speak, my Lord."
I couldn't leave like this. Leaving without earning a single penny would keep me up tonight, filled with indignation.
So indignant I might just pull the plug on Jamsuni's gaming session in frustration.
"Gather the believers who wish to meet me. I will accept their donations."
"If you're speaking of those who wish to meet you, my Lord... everyone desires an audience."
"But there are those who feel it's urgent, aren't there? People who think they won't make it unless it's now. Those desperately wanting to meet their leader to the point of madness. Bring those people to me."
Such desperate individuals would likely fall for my amateur acting. And those willing to make donations are likely believers with means. Accepting donations from such followers wouldn't prick my conscience!!!
I'm the one who's poorer!!!
Thus began my Heavenly Demon Cult fundraising broadcast.
* * *
The man, who was simply referred to as the nameless one because he had no name, ran through the corridor. His arms were smeared with the blood of a Gwizon he had just killed, but there was no time to clean it.
"The one who has lifted the Black Star Vessel has appeared?"
It had been 500 years.
After 500 years, a new Supreme Entity of Heavenly Demon had been born.
Just thinking about that fact made the heart of the nameless one beat rough.
Excitement, anticipation, and fear. It was a mix of these three emotions.
What kind of being would the new leader be? Would this person change the direction of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Favoring the strong while despising the weak? A cruel being with no mercy?
Would this person twist the legacy of the predecessors to whom the nameless one had pledged loyalty?
If so...
The nameless one shook his head in surprise at his own rebellious thoughts. He had to meet this person first. To understand what kind of being they were, he needed to see with his own eyes.
Thus, the nameless one observed him from a distance.
A man who could indeed be called handsome was sitting in the leader's seat.
"Seol-hwa has gathered the believers on the brink of spiritual extinction."
Believers on the brink of spiritual extinction. Attacked so severely by psychics that even the healing powers of Heavenly Demon Divine Cult couldn't save them, these were the terminally ill followers.
Their souls were so corrupted and decayed that they were on the verge of dissolving, causing even their fellow believers to recoil in disgust.
They possessed nothing, with only the looming dissolution of their souls remaining. Yet, the leader treated them with utmost respect.
"Wow, a ten thousand won donation... I mean, thank you for your ten thousand won support."
The leader treated even the girl with the tormented soul before him with kindness.
Of course, he had no choice. Yoo Hajin couldn't see ghosts. To Yoo Hajin, the girl in front of him was just a supporter. And it was only natural to be kind to supporters if he wanted to prolong the broadcast.
However, the nameless one was unaware of this fact. To maintain a gentle tone even when facing such a disgustingly decayed soul, to ensure the believer was not hurt. The nameless one had to look up at the ceiling, overwhelmed by his emotions.
And he was left speechless by the scene that unfolded next.
"The proper reaction for a ten thousand won donation is a demon embrace."
The leader hugged the girl with the rotten soul.
A soul so decayed that even the nameless one himself would hesitate to touch. But the leader did not hesitate.
At that moment, the vile succubus filled with horrific lust clinging to the girl's soul dispersed instantly. Feeling liberated, the girl embraced by the leader started to cry and sob.
"This can't be. My Lord, thank you. My Lord, my Lord, my eternal Lord."
"If you liked it, subscribe and like. No, wait. If you liked it, let's meet again."
Thus, the leader met with believers on the verge of spiritual extinction.
This time, it was a young boy protecting his mother, cursed and distorted.
"Candy? Thank you for your candy donation. Your mother is very ill? Well then. A prayer is in order for your candy donation to help your mother recover. Come on, mother, give me your hand."
Receiving the candy, the Lord proceeded to heal the child's mother.
The Lord, who did not hesitate to embrace even the most tormented souls.
"A hundred thousand won! Thank you for the hundred thousand won donation. Your grandson is ill, you say? May I embrace him? And a hundred thousand won seems too much, so I shall accept only half. Let's take a photo together. Come here. Sit on my lap. The Heavenly Demon Shot. Since we can't show faces, please understand."
It is said that one day all three thousand worlds will be immersed in enlightenment. But as long as the Heavenly Demon exists, that day is not today.
As long as he is here, that day will never come.
The nameless one looked around.
Three other bishops next to him were shedding tears.
The high-ranking officials standing behind were doing the same. And he himself was crying.
"My Lord. My Lord."
"I will simply follow. My Lord."
"My eternal Lord. The Lord who shall command obedience from all."
Before he knew it, the nameless one found himself kneeling.
The other bishops and officials did the same.
The leader gave them a nod before dashing out of the Heavenly Demon Palace at full speed.
"That's all for today's broadcast."
"Eh? My, my Lord?"
The bishops were momentarily taken aback, unable to hold back the leader.
* * *
And so, I escaped from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It was only around nine o'clock when I finally got off at a bus stop near Louisville.
It's been a while since I've come home this late.
"But it's okay."
I can't help but smile. Anyone would smile with around a million won in cash + candy received in donations from Heavenly Demon Cult.
Who knew I had this in me?
"Maybe I should debut as a VTuber."
With a Heavenly Demon concept, of course. When I start the broadcast, I'll announce my arrival with the Heavenly Demon's Royal Decree, and when banning the villains, I'll declare a Heavenly Demon Death Beam.
"Should I buy broadcasting equipment?"
I can't stop laughing.
Today, I'll have to call Jamsuni, Uncle, and Nayu over for a meat party.
That's how I arrived in Louisville.
"Hey! Why are you so late! Have you lost your mind? Hurry up and get going!"
For some reason, Jamsuni's sharp tone sounds especially pleasant today.
Really, money is such a fascinating thing.
"Hey Jamsuni, how about we have meat today?"
"Meat? Wow, that's awesome. I'll prepare the green onion salad... Wait, didn't you go out to meet some girl?"
"I met both girls and guys, a variety of people."
I pulled out the million won I received in donations from my pocket.
"The important thing is, I've made a ton of money. Nayu!"
"Nayu Speedy Run!"
Nayu, with her blue hair and blue eyes, runs down the stairs as if sliding.
Lately, Nayu has been very obedient to me.
Maybe if I raise her affection a bit more, she'll tell me the lottery numbers?
"Uhhuh."
Lottery, a billion, penthouse!!!
Lost in blissful daydreams, I said to Nayu.
"Nayu, how about we have meat today?"
"Nayu Yummy Meat NomNom!"
At that moment, I smelled something burning.
Turning around, I saw Jamsuni burning my million won.
"Hey!!! What, what are you doing!!!"
"Where did you get such filthy money? Must've been with some really dirty stuff. It got cleaned up somehow, but there's still a bit of a smell left. We can handle this money, but if you give it to those worldly people, they'd be so disgusted they'd vomit all day. You're too strong, unaware of the weak's hearts."
"All money is dirty. Hey!!!"
I flailed around in front of the burning million won, lying spread-eagled on the ground.
Nayu, finding this intriguing, started flailing beside me as well.
"Nayu Flail Flail!"
"So, when are we grilling the meat? Should I go up and make the green onion salad?"
"Ja, Ja, Jamsuni!!!"
That's when my super flick exploded on Jamsuni's head.
