The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 82 - Salvation (3)

 

[Boss Bastard]
Sorry, Seo Do-hwan. I ended up going somewhere with Lee Man-deuk—to where Han Young-won is.

 

Seo Do-hwan frowned, caught off guard.

 

‘What is this?’

 

If he was apologizing, it probably meant he couldn’t make it to L-World after all.

 

‘But why all of a sudden?’

 

Just as Seo Do-hwan was about to text back and ask what was going on, another message from Kwak Yoon-hoo came in—just as baffling as the first.

 

[Boss Bastard]
We’re going to take down a cult, so you’ll have to hang out with the kids today.

 

‘A cult…?’

 

Seo Do-hwan rubbed his eyes and checked the message again. He thought he might have misread it—but he hadn’t. His eyes trembled slightly.

 

‘Kwak Yoon-hoo, you bastard. What the hell are you and Lee Man-deuk up to?!’

 

This wasn’t something to handle over text, so he immediately tried to call Kwak Yoon-hoo.

No—he was about to.

 

[Boss Bastard]
Please explain things well to Deok-soon and Soon-deuk. And to Yoo-seong and Victory too.

 

Another message followed right after.

 

[Boss Bastard]
I’ve already informed L-World. Just give them my name and you’ll be let in. Anyway, have fun.

 

Have fun, my ass!

 

Seo Do-hwan felt like tearing his hair out—and for good reason.

 

“Is that about our oppa?”

 

“Is that about our hyung?”

 

Lee Deok-soon and Lee Soon-deuk, who had been waiting for Lee Man-deuk, immediately crowded around him, pressing him for answers. As if that weren’t enough, Lee Yoo-seong and Kang Ye-seong quickly joined them, all firing questions at once. 

 

“Hyung, what about Yoon-hoo hyung? Didn’t you hear anything from him?”

 

“That’s right, Mr. Seo Do-hwan. I heard the CEO left work early today, but he’s taking quite a while to get here.”

 

At Kang Ye-seong’s worried tone, the other members of Victory chimed in.

 

“Nothing happened to the CEO, right?”

 

“If something did, that’d be a serious problem…”

 

“Lee Nak-hwa! Shin Yoo-soo! Stop worrying about nonsense!”

 

“Cheong-ryang, your legs are shaking.”

 

“You’re imagining things.”

 

As the Victory members talked over one another, the situation quickly descended into chaos. Fortunately, Ji Ye-chan stepped in to calm things down.

 

“Alright, everyone, quiet! Mr. Seo Do-hwan will explain everything. Let’s focus.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Victory members, who had been chattering nonstop just moments ago, all turned their attention to Seo Do-hwan.

 

Their leader, Kang Ye-seong, and Ji Ye-chan—along with Lee Deok-soon, Lee Soon-deuk, and even Lee Yoo-seong—were all staring straight at him.

 

“Uh… well…”

 

The boss took Man-deuk to go take down a cult?

 

There’s no way I can say that!

 

What kind of grudge does that damn boss have against me to dump this on me?

 

Seo Do-hwan clicked his tongue before speaking.

 

“Looks like the boss had something urgent come up.”

 

“Then… does that mean Yoon-hoo hyung can’t come today?”

 

“He’ll come. Eventually.”

 

It wasn’t certain, but Seo Do-hwan said it anyway.

 

“What about our oppa?”

 

“Didn’t he contact you?”

 

“He’s not answering our calls…”

 

Seo Do-hwan smiled at the dejected kids.

 

“The boss is with Man-deuk right now. Don’t worry—he’ll bring him over later.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

At Seo Do-hwan’s reassurance, Lee Deok-soon and Lee Soon-deuk’s faces brightened. Soon, they started chatting with Lee Yoo-seong about which ride to go on first.

 

But Victory wasn’t convinced.

 

They looked suspicious about what could have caused Kwak Yoon-hoo’s delay. On top of that, they knew Lee Man-deuk—and even owed him for what happened with Kang Ye-seong.

 

‘Is it because of Gaechul that they’ve been through so much?’

 

They’re quick to catch on.

 

Still, Seo Do-hwan managed to resolve their doubts surprisingly easily this time.

 

“Victory, listen up.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“The boss said he’ll be checking how much fun you guys are having.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Seo Do-hwan raised his phone and waved it.

 

“Looks like he plans to keep an eye on your SNS accounts until he gets here.”

 

“Ah!”

 

Victory immediately averted their gaze.

 

“Hyungs! Let’s start with the roller coaster!”

 

“I’m not going.”

 

“I wasn’t asking you, Shin Yoo-soo!”

 

Having successfully diverted their attention, Seo Do-hwan quickly sent a message to Kwak Yoon-hoo.

 

[We’ll be having fun, so come to L-World later with Man-deuk—even if you’re late.]

 

There was no reply.

 

***

 

Bzzz—!

 

His phone vibrated. It was probably Seo Do-hwan’s reply, but there was no time to check it.

 

“So this is where those trash bastards are hiding, huh?”

 

They had just arrived at the headquarters of the Ark of Universal Salvation Church with Lee Man-deuk.

 

“Pretty damn extravagant.”

 

Lee Man-deuk narrowed his eyes at the gate blocking the church.

 

“Bet they built all this by squeezing money out of their followers.”

 

Clicking his tongue, Lee Man-deuk placed his hand on the gate.

 

“Mr. Lee Man-deuk, wait—”

 

Boom!

 

The tightly shut iron gate burst open with ease.

 

A faint shimmer of light surrounded Lee Man-deuk—it looked like he had used magic. At the same time, it felt as if even the air itself had frozen in place.

 

“CEO Kwak, what are you waiting for? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of turning back after coming this far?”

 

Lee Man-deuk grinned.

 

“Want me to teleport you to L-World?”

 

“No.”

 

Firmly rejecting the offer, I stepped up beside him.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

I already knew where the core members of the Ark of Universal Salvation Church would be. The problem was that the ordinary followers would likely be gathered there as well.

 

Current time: 10:05 PM.

 

It was their prayer hour.

 

***

 

“Our Master has spoken to me! Seeing how all His sons and daughters devote themselves so earnestly, He shall grant grace and mercy—and when you face death, He will open the path to heaven for you!”

 

‘Boring. Utterly uninteresting.’

 

That was what Han Young-won thought as she watched the man shout himself hoarse from the podium. It had already been half a month since she infiltrated the Ark of Universal Salvation Church.

 

‘No… it feels much longer than that.’

 

But none of that mattered anymore. Today would be the day the Ark of Universal Salvation Church ceased to exist.

 

‘I’ve waited long enough.’

 

Han Young-won ground her teeth with a sharp crack.

 

In both The Return of the Mad Heavenly Demon and this world, people pointed at her and called her insane—but Han Young-won always handled things cleanly, without leaving loose ends.

 

There were methods that relied on overwhelming force, but that wasn’t her style.

 

Everything had its proper timing.

 

With that mindset, Han Young-won always moved in secret when dealing with matters that needed to be resolved.

 

Just like now.

 

“Do you pledge your loyalty to our Master?!”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Do you swear never to betray Him?!”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Do you vow to offer everything you have?!”

 

“Yes!”

 

Among all the voices, Han Young-won’s was the loudest. Of course, she was answering through the body she had taken using the Soul Dominion Art. Even so, despite finding the entire scene dull and tedious, she focused on the prayer.

 

Her purpose was singular.

 

“Our believer Gu Seong-bin has quite the voice today. Very good.”

 

To catch the leader’s attention.

 

‘So that disgusting worm is the leader.’

 

Han Young-won narrowed one eye slightly. No one knew how much effort it had taken to suppress the urge to tear that worm apart.

 

But that was over now. Today was different from all the previous “prayer” days. Today was the day things would truly begin.

 

“Now! Offer everything you have to the Master!”

 

It was said to be a day of receiving the Master’s grace and mercy—in other words, a day where believers offered everything they possessed to the leader.

 

As soon as he finished speaking, the followers rose from their seats.

 

“Our Master! I offer my son!”

 

“Here—money! I’ll give you all my wealth…!”

 

“Master! I’ve brought what you commanded! Please grant me grace! Mercy!”

 

“Master!!”

 

They rushed forward, presenting everything they owned. Living beings and lifeless objects alike—everything was laid before the leader.

 

Han Young-won’s expression twisted. 

 

It reminded her of the moment she first opened her eyes in the Demonic Cult, in the body of the Heavenly Demon.

 

‘Disgusting.’

 

They couldn’t see the greed in the leader’s smile.

 

And if they could?

 

‘They wouldn’t be doing this.’

 

Curling her lips, Han Young-won stepped forward and approached the podium, then knelt.

 

“Believer Gu Seong-bin?”

 

“I offer myself to the Master.”

 

“Oh-ho.”

 

The leader’s lips curled upward.

 

“Well, well… to think our believer Gu Seong-bin would offer even his own body.” 

T/N: She is currently possessing a male body. 

 

He stepped down from the podium, smiling with narrowed eyes.

 

“The Master will be very pleased.”

 

“Shouldn’t He be? This body is bowing to a lowly worm.”

 

“Mm?”

 

For a brief moment, her thoughts slipped out aloud—but she acted as if nothing had happened.

 

“What did you say?”

 

The cult leader frowned in confusion, but soon dismissed it as mishearing and laughed.

 

“Excellent. Very excellent.”

 

He helped her to her feet and addressed the followers.

 

“Today, believer Gu Seong-bin will receive the grace and mercy bestowed by the Master!”

 

“Ooooh…!”

 

The members of the Ark of Universal Salvation Church gasped in awe, oblivious to the fact that what they had offered was already being taken away by the senior members.

 

After giving a few closing remarks and telling the dazed followers to take Gu Seong-bin as an example, the leader ended the gathering and left the hall.

 

“Believer Gu Seong-bin, will you follow me?”

 

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

 

Han Young-won formed a faint smile—though her eyes remained cold. The leader, of course, noticed nothing. Still smiling, he opened the door leading to the basement and led her downstairs. 

 

“Believer Gu Seong-bin, would you recite the Five Precepts for the Master?”

 

“First, remain loyal to the Lord. Second, never betray Him.”

 

After listing what was essentially identical to the Demonic Cult’s precepts, Han Young-won fell silent.

 

The leader tilted his head.

 

“And?”

 

She said nothing.

 

“…Believer Gu Seong-bin?”

 

“That isn’t my name, worm.”

 

Han Young-won stopped walking. The leader froze as well, blinking in confusion.

 

“Believer Gu Seong-bin… what did you just say? Did you call me a worm? Perhaps I misheard?”

 

“You heard correctly.”

 

Folding her arms, Han Young-won revealed a haughty smile.

 

“You asked for the Five Precepts, did you not? What I stated corresponds to the first and second.”

 

And the third—

 

“You do not offer children to the cult leader.”

 

Not just children. Not the living. Not the dead.

 

Nothing should be offered at all.

 

“You worm. You’ve already violated the third precept.”

 

She grabbed him by the collar.

 

“W-what are you doing?!”

 

“Can’t you tell? I’m about to take your worthless life myself.”

 

“Y-you insane—!”

 

“Are you introducing yourself? How amusing.”

 

Han Young-won threw him to the ground and walked forward with light steps.

 

As the cult leader struggled to push himself up—

 

“Ughk…!”

 

He let out a strangled cry and collapsed again.

 

Standing behind him was a man with a faint smile.

 

It wasn’t Han Young-won.

 

A device crackled against the cult leader’s back—the man holding it casually in his hand.

 

“You!”

 

Of course—

 

It was that rich bastard.