#Chapter 11.
"The shootout that occurred in... was revealed to be caused by a power struggle between organized crime groups, and fortunately, there are reported to be no casualties. Meanwhile, the violent crimes division, using this gun incident as an opportunity, is taking strong..."
Breaking news on the screen.
"As expected, power and money are the best!"
However, the core of that news is completely hollow.
The names of Kang Cheol-jun and myself, who were the most deeply involved, are completely omitted.
Does it make sense that they can't identify him and me in South Korea, where CCTVs are installed every 10 meters?
Nevertheless, the fact that it wasn't reported on the news (and the same goes for all other media outlets) was Chairman Kang's power.
If a figure of that caliber makes a move, manipulating the media is a piece of cake.
"My activities will be much easier from now on."
Even with the trait of Enhancement, there are countless things that cannot be solved by that alone.
Just looking at this recent incident proves it.
No matter how I dealt with the thugs, the aftermath was the problem.
If Chairman Kang hadn't intervened, I would probably be eating prison food behind bars by now.
In the modern era, where law and order are still maintained, it is inevitable that relying solely on brute force is hard to endure.
Amidst all this, I've incurred two debts from Chairman Kang of the leading conglomerate, Taewang Group, so my future activities are on a royal road.
"Let's see..."
A pen dancing across the notebook.
*Scribble, scribble, scribble.*
Written pitch-black are names.
A list of those who will play an active role in the apocalypse coming one year from now, in the future.
At first, I was flustered by the fact that there was still a whole year left until the apocalypse, but now it's different.
There's a whole year left.
Which means I can change the fate of those who will earn fame—and infamy—in the future.
That is why the first one had to be this guy.
『Park Jang-il』
A madman who claims the apocalypse is salvation and tries to hasten it.
In reality, because of him, the efforts of those trying to stop the apocalypse sometimes went down the drain.
He must be eliminated.
"And..."
A name circled following Park Jang-il.
『Seong Ye-il』
A Holy Maiden brainwashed by the Cult Leader.
I must change her fate, as she essentially became the Cult Leader's greatest source of power.
*Ring ring ring ring!*
The smartphone, set to its default ringtone, rings.
The name appearing on the screen is 'Tiger'.
It was the name I had saved for Chairman Kang.
"Yes. Speaking."
"The Park Jang-il you requested. It seems we've found him."
"Wow. I don't think even half a day has passed since I made the request, but already?"
"It's a request from you, of all people, so I had to."
I could definitely feel his changed attitude.
Until I gave him the Jangnoe-sam, he just thought of me as a somewhat interesting kid, but now it's different.
How should I put it.
A business partner?
He seemed to be treating me as an equal, no longer looking down from above.
"But you're calling me directly for that. You could have just had your subordinate do it."
"I'll say it again, it's because it's you."
"I'm just grateful for your respect. So, where is the location of that cult leader, no, Park Jang-il?"
"It's a bit much to say out loud. I'll send you the data regarding him via email, so check it."
Merely half a day.
However, the information on this one person that Chairman Kang obtained was so extensive that it made the short time of half a day pale in comparison.
"Hoh?"
Moreover, the information even included very detailed data on Seong Ye-il, whom I had additionally requested.
*
Subway station.
One of the places with the largest floating population.
Of course, a large floating population also means that many bugs swarm there.
"Your complexion looks quite poor. Your ancestral spirits..."
"Do you believe in the Dao? If you have time, why not join us..."
Typical proselytizing activities of a cult.
'Tsk tsk. What era is it now, and they still use those outdated lines.'
*Slurp-*
By the window inside a cafe with a full view of the subway station.
Sitting there where warm heating flows out, I'm watching the outdated proselytizing activities.
The majority are women.
Women are definitely easier to approach than men, and since they can captivate young men, it's a natural choice.
And the one I'm looking for is also a woman.
But it's not her, nor her.
'Is this place a bust too?'
I heard information that she appears in the vicinity (?), so I've been wandering around nearby subways and areas with large floating populations, but there's no success so far.
If I knew it would take this long, maybe I should have just let Chairman Kang deploy his men when he offered.
'But if I did that, I wouldn't be able to earn Chairman Kang's trust.'
The peak of the mountain called Taewang Group is showing interest in me because I am demonstrating that level of ability.
But if I say I can't even find one person and ask to borrow his power?
He would be immediately disappointed, and that trust would shatter.
It's better not to make requests other than what's necessary.
Chairman Kang and I are business partners, first and foremost.
For that relationship to be maintained, I must show outstanding ability like when I took down over 100 gangsters.
"Oh?"
A familiar face visible at that moment.
Hesitantly, she approaches people to try and talk to them, but when the person speaking is hesitating like that, who would want to engage with her?
'Wow, so fresh. So innocent.'
The innocent days of the one who would later be called the Holy Maiden feel very unfamiliar.
That's because she was the one who demonstrated a transcendental power, splitting the sea with a single wave of her hand.
For such an inhuman existence to hesitate, unable even to string words together properly...
*Sluuurp-*
In the cold winter, I downed the rest of my iced Americano in one shot and left the cafe.
As unnoticeably as possible.
"..."
I loitered around aimlessly, making myself noticeable so I'd catch her radar.
"..."
But she doesn't come.
No, she was at least trying a moment ago, but she doesn't even show signs of wanting to speak to me.
Huh?
This isn't right.
Come quickly.
There's a fresh, gullible sucker right here, so bite and reel me in already!
Perhaps it was the result of such efforts.
"...Excuse me."
Seong Ye-il, who finally approached.
Whatever shampoo she used, a subtle fragrance wafts from her hair as soon as she gets close.
She's only 20 now.
A freshman who just graduated from high school.
She looks a bit different from what I saw in the future, but she radiates an innocent beauty like an unopened flower bud.
"Yes?"
Did I make it too obvious that I was waiting?
Startled, she takes a slight step back.
But soon, as if determined, she bites her lip hard and says,
"I, I'm trying to do a survey for a university assignment..."
Good grief, this girl.
If you roll your eyes around so anxiously like that, even someone who was going to help won't do it.
I can definitely see why she was rejected so much despite having a pretty face, the moment we started talking.
"Ah, a university assignment. You're working hard in this cold weather. Shall we go to a nearby cafe and talk?"
"Pardon?"
Oh no!
In my haste, I ended up saying the line the other person was supposed to say first.
"No, I mean, since the weather is cold and all..."
"..."
For some reason, her gaze looks like she's staring at a pervert.
"...If you don't want to, never mind."
"Ah, no. It's exactly what I was about to say."
"Really? Then that works out perfectly. Shall we go?"
"Huh? Y-yes, yes."
With her approving my company in a daze, we entered the cafe I had just stepped out of.
"What would you like to drink? Iced Americano, hot Americano?"
"...Iced Americano."
"Wow. Iced Americano in this freezing weather? So you're an 'Eol-juk-a' too? I'm an 'Eol-juk-a' as well. Two iced Americanos here, please."
After ordering two iced Americanos from the staff, I sat at the window seat where I had been sitting just a moment ago.
"So. What survey do you need to do?"
I brought up the main point right away.
"Uh, well, um..."
She must have prepared something to say.
But since she lacks real-world experience (?), it must be a jumbled mess in her head, unable to come out properly.
'Just as the intel said. She hasn't been part of the cult for long.'
It's exactly as I saw in the email Chairman Kang sent.
She hasn't been involved with the cult for long.
This is a huge gain.
If she had been brainwashed by the Cult Leader, it would have been that much harder to bring her back to normal.
But in her current state, if she hasn't lost her sanity yet, that process will proceed much more smoothly.
'If so, there's no reason to hesitate.'
Full steam ahead.
"You don't have anything to say, do you?"
"...Pardon?"
"You must have run a few simulations before coming, but actually facing a person in person makes your prepared words a tangled mess, you don't know what to say anymore, and you just want to hide in a mouse hole."
"..."
Flustered, her eyes widen.
"...W-who are you?"
"Who else. The person who will pull you out of hell."
*Screech!*
She kicks her chair back and stands up.
"I'm sorry. I need to leave first..."
"Tell me you want help."
Her movement, as she was about to turn away, stops.
"Guwon Church, which you sought out to heal your sickly younger sibling. Looking at your sibling, you donated your entire fortune to that place, and coupled with your parents' coercion, you joined the religion. That's how your proselytizing activities began. The penalty fees that increase every time you fail to convert someone. I heard that amount has reached hundreds of millions of won?"
The tragic family history of Seong Ye-il, detailed in the email.
To cure her sibling suffering from a rare disease, both her parents fell into the cult called Guwon Church and donated their entire fortune there.
At first, they probably told them that offering their wealth would cure the illness.
But they must have severely gaslit them, saying their devotion wasn't enough, or that they needed to accumulate more good deeds to receive salvation.
To others, it might seem like an incredibly stupid action, but if you think about why desperate people turn to religion, the answer is clear.
The parents' desire to save their sibling's life by any means produced a twisted outcome.
That's the reason cults are so terrifying.
They infiltrate the mind gradually without one even realizing it.
Parents brainwashed like that wouldn't be able to think of anything else.
'Even if that means dragging their own daughter into a pit of hell.'
Even knowing of this desperate situation, she couldn't escape.
With her parents and sickly sibling held hostage, she had no choice but to do as Guwon Church, as the Cult Leader, commanded.
"...Just who are you? Why did you approach me? What's your purpose?"
A barrage of questions.
And the answer to those questions remains the same.
"I told you. The person who will save you, who will pull you out of hell."
I put my sincerity into those words.
And it seemed to have quite an effect.
"...Is, is that really possible?"
*Shiver.*
Her body trembles.
A frail young woman, at an age where she should be dressing up and dreaming of campus romance, had become an older sister taking care of her sibling, and the breadwinner forced to pay off her parents' debts and coercion.
How agonizing must it have been under that burden, that unbearable weight?
Having never once received a helping hand, she couldn't contain her emotions at someone else's aid.
"Can you really pull me out of this cesspool?"
I gazed directly into her trembling eyes.
And.
*Pat.*
I placed my hand on her head and lightly ruffled her hair as if stroking it.
"You've been through a lot."
Those were not the words of Shin Yoon-chan, the high school student.
They were words of appreciation from Shin Yoon-chan of the apocalypse, who had endured the apocalypse for 20 years and knew her hardships better than anyone.
"Waaaah!"
Seong Ye-il collapses to the floor as if crumbling.
*Drip, drop.*
Tears streaming down her cheeks continue to wet the floor.
"H-help me. I don't want to live like this. Please, please..."
Only after the lock was removed did her fragile true feelings emerge.
The child who had to mature early because of her sickly sibling was now facing her own true feelings for the first time, bursting out in sorrow.