Episode 13.
『+99(★) Gorosoe Sap Water Sourced at Dawn by Sticking a Straw into a Tree
Classification: Consumable (Potion)
Durability: None
Unique Effect: Excellent efficacy against all joint-related diseases
Reinforcement Effect (9/99): Slight increase in osteoporosis prevention
Reinforcement Effect (15/99): Joints change to a 'Good' condition for one week
Reinforcement Effect (20/99): Kidney and liver functions temporarily increase……
Reinforcement Effect (99/99): Moderate increase in rheumatoid arthritis prevention
Full Enhancement Effect (Max): Grants powerful resistance against all joint-related diseases (No effect if already in that state)
Transcendence Effect: Removes one joint-related rare disease (random)
Description: The diligent middle-aged man, Mr. Seok Hosan, goes up the mountain today as well and sticks a hose into the gorosoe tree. Bearing the small wish that many people would feel the efficacy from this water and make a fortune.
And this wish was fulfilled by the Reinforcer, Sin Yunchan.
The gorosoe sap water, which has evolved through repeated reinforcement and transcendence, possesses excellent efficacy against various joint diseases—truly transforming into a panacea for joint pain』
The identity of the water in the plastic bottle was none other than Gorosoe sap water, evolved through transcendence reinforcement.
‘I knew this would happen.’
Through Chairman Gang, among the patients who had entrusted their bodies to the Church of Salvation, he had focused his attention on the most desperate ones—the parents of Seong Yeil.
Of course, part of it was to get on the Holy Maiden’s good side, but he had also thought that, faced with their son’s critical condition, they would definitely cause some kind of commotion.
And his prediction was not wrong.
Ah, of course, he did have other consumable items in his possession that could cure other patients.
"It’s a miracle."
"He performed a miracle."
Commotion arose among the believers.
And why wouldn’t it?
Until now, the only one among them who possessed miraculous power had been the cult leader.
They must have believed that only he could perform miracles and that only he could save sinful mortals.
But now, a completely unexpected young man had performed a miracle.
Moreover, a miracle that cured a rare disease the cult leader had never been able to treat—one that had seemed fatal at any moment.
"Wh-what are you doing? Get him right now!"
The cult leader, so flustered that he forgot his act, shouted.
"Y-yes!"
But fanaticism doesn’t peel away so easily from a single miracle.
Several burly men loyal to the cult leader rushed toward me to subdue me.
But.
Hwaarak!
Their movements stopped due to the radiance that had grown even more intense.
「To still fail to come to your senses even after witnessing a miracle. Truly foolish.」
The voice echoed ethereally like an echo.
『+9(★) Karaoke Microphone
Classification: Miscellaneous Item
Durability: 13/15
Unique Effect: Amplifies voice
Full Enhancement Effect (Max): Grants a voice that echoes from all directions as if one were in a concert hall
Transcendence Effect: Adds a sense of mystery to the voice
Description: What is the reason for a microphone’s existence? It is the volume of the voice.
But this microphone, enhanced with transcendence and reinforcement, has an additional strange ability that makes listeners feel a sense of mystery.』
He had attached the microphone beneath his shirt.
Of course, since he had turned on the mic button just now, the mysterious voice was only now flowing out.
「If you take even a single step, divine punishment shall befall you!」
Beeeeep-
A voice so intense it caused ringing in the ears.
"…."
They hesitated at the mysterious atmosphere and the scolding words.
Indeed.
With a tone that echoed as if in a cave and this radiance shining around him, who would dare act rashly?
『+9(★) Christmas Tree Light Bulb
Classification: Miscellaneous Item
Durability: 15/20
Unique Effect: Emits a bright incandescent light
Full Enhancement Effect (Max): Intense light that penetrates obstacles
Transcendence Effect: Adds a holy atmosphere
Description: Mr. Jeon Seonghun, a factory worker who makes Christmas tree light bulbs. Working hard today as well to pay for his son’s tuition, he briefly dozed off. And so one defective Christmas light bulb was produced.
But there is no need to worry.
This light bulb, which has undergone transcendence reinforcement, has become one that shines with an intense light and adds even more to the holy atmosphere of Christmas—so much so that no one will know it was once a mere defective product.』
What he had prepared was not just the microphone.
Inside his clothes, wrapped around his bare body like Rambo, were light bulbs.
That was the true identity of the radiance.
Had they been ordinary light bulbs, it would have been obvious, but how could a cheap knock-off vibe emanate from a miscellaneous item that had undergone transcendence reinforcement?
With this, he could produce an effect similar to the halo the cult leader had displayed in the past.
"What are you all doing! Get him right now…."
「Silence!」
The atmosphere had shifted to my side.
For now, after shutting the babbling cult leader up.
「Who else is in need of a miracle?」
"…."
They hesitated for a moment, glancing at the cult leader’s eyes.
However, right before their eyes was someone who had just cured a rare joint disease.
"M-me!"
"We desire a miracle!"
"Please, our daughter…."
"My grandson…."
The reason the cult leader had been able to suddenly expand his influence was the existence of those who desired miracles.
Desperate people are easily deceived, after all.
Especially since cults are groups that exploit such desperation to bewitch people.
Those who had been hoping for miracles, who had been standing in line with number tags because their faith was supposedly insufficient until now, rushed forward.
"Please, a miracle for me as well!"
"You may take my life, I do not mind."
"I will give you anything. Please, please…."
Most of those hoping for miracles were not seeking it for themselves.
It was for their children, their parents, their grandparents.
「Please keep this firmly in mind.」
He increased the brightness of the light bulbs using the remote control in his pocket.
Then the human form disappeared, leaving only a silhouette made of light.
"Oooooh-"
"O, Our Savior!"
But precisely because of that atmosphere, reverence settled in the people’s eyes, as if it added even more mystery.
Some were going wild, even shedding tears, calling him the savior.
‘Since they’ve already been deceived once, it’s that much easier to dig deeper.’
Thanks to the cult leader’s brainwashing.
They already believed the savior existed, and since he had even performed miracles, their faith grew even stronger.
Only the fact that the object of that faith had changed from the cult leader to me.
「Miracles do not desire compensation.」
To the middle-aged man gradually losing his eyesight to a rare disease, he gave transcendentally reinforced lutein.
To the one whose back had rotted away from severe bedsores, he gave transcendentally reinforced barrier cream.
To those incurable by modern medicine, he fed transcendentally reinforced nutritional supplements and medicinal drugs, performing miracles called complete cures.
"Aaah!"
"I-it’s a miracle!"
"The savior has truly appeared!"
Not just one, but several.
Moreover, they were not suddenly appearing accomplices, but people the believers had known for a long time.
They were certain it was a miracle.
「If you truly wish with all your heart, and if you bestow kindness for this purpose, miracles will find you.」
Of course, it was a lie.
Since when was the world so easygoing?
He was brainwashing them so that they would never again be deceived by a cult, so that they would not fall under a second cult leader.
「So do not be fooled by this foolish fraud any longer.」
He pointed at the root of all problems—the cult leader.
「He is not the savior. He is a swindler with a wicked, three-inch tongue who seeks to exploit your desperation.」
"That’s absurd…."
The flustered cult leader.
But his denial held no influence whatsoever now.
"The savior is right. How long have I wished for a miracle."
"I donated so much, yet nothing ever came back."
"How devoted I was to the church!"
Only after the brainwashing peeled away a layer did they see the truth.
Yes, this much was enough.
He had severed the seed of the cult.
At least here, neither the Church of Salvation nor a second cult leader would appear.
"Eeek!"
With his long tongue, he was quick-witted too.
Realizing the situation was unfavorable, the man fled with his tail between his legs.
You bastard, I came here to catch you, did you think I’d let you get away?
「Take care of yourselves. Heaven helps those who help themselves. Then miracles such as this will find you.」
That was the last advice he could give them before the end.
And he raised the remote’s brightness to the maximum.
Hwaaraaak!
"Ugh!"
All the people in the auditorium closed their eyes or covered them with their hands at the light illuminating everything brightly.
The chance is now!
Suuuuu-
Through the pre-prepared, transcendence-reinforced Heelys, he quickly escaped the auditorium.
"Ah!"
When they opened their eyes, the savior had disappeared without a trace.
"H-he ascended!"
"The savior performed miracles and ascended!"
"Ooooooh-"
No matter how much the light had blinded them, there was no way they hadn’t noticed the noise of someone skating out on inline wheels.
But those immersed in fanaticism believed he had disappeared by ascension.
‘They’re all crazy, really.’
If there was one sane person there, it was Seong Yeil.
She, who had led Yunchan to this place, the Church of Salvation, shook her head.
"Mom, Dad!"
She looked at those who had come to their senses thanks to Yunchan.
And.
"Guhwan!"
With a bright smile toward her younger brother, who had seemed on the verge of death from a joint disease, she ran to them.
*
"Fuck, fuck!"
Vulgar curses poured from his mouth.
His hands moved busily, stuffing bundles of cash and accessories into a training bag.
Bak Jangil, the cult leader who until moments ago had commanded countless believers.
But now, driven out by an unexpected miracle, he had lost all his power and position.
But it was fine.
‘As long as I have money, I can start over anytime.’
They say a clever raccoon dog digs dozens of burrow entrances.
The cult leader, too, had hidden funds in a secret place only he knew, so he could flee at any moment.
The amount accumulated by extorting believers for several years was substantial, and with this money, rebuilding the Church of Salvation would be no problem.
"By the way, what the hell was that bastard?"
Curing a disease modern medicine couldn’t fix in one go.
Was it really a miracle?
‘Damn! As if.’
If a real savior or god truly existed, there was no way a guy like me would be living so freely.
In the end, all of that was an illusion.
No, if a god truly did exist, they would surely be either incompetent or a complete son of a bitch.
"Did I pack roughly everything?"
He smiled in satisfaction as he lifted the heavy training bag.
It was a shame to waste all that effort and work, but with this money, creating a second Church of Salvation was not impossible.
"Where might our cult leader be heading in such a reckless hurry?"
There was someone blocking the way at the main gate.
"You…!"
It was that guy who had performed the miracle just now.
"...What the hell are you?"
"..."
But there was no answer.
Thud-
He merely took a single, threatening step.
"W-wait!"
The cult leader was no fool.
The fact that someone who had performed a miracle had appeared here meant he was being targeted.
"I’ll give you this…."
He threw the heavy training bag.
Kung!
A dull roar rang out once from its weight.
"...Please, spare my life."
Without hesitation, he knelt.
"I won’t show myself before you again, please…."
He had abandoned what he possessed and even his pride to survive.
He didn’t need the money either.
If he could just survive….
"Hey."
A spine-chilling voice, as if a chill were emanating from it.
"..."
He raised his head, soaked in fear.
"No matter how much you struggle, it’s useless. You’re going to die."
He was not Sin Yunchan, a high school student living in the modern world.
Before regression, a murderer who had cut down tens of thousands of lives without hesitation for his own objectives—a hero. Something in between.
"So die."
"Y-you, the red string…."
Swoosh!
But those words could not be continued.
A sharply glinting katana.
One of Chairman Gang’s cherished collectibles, a katana in a transcended reinforcement state, sliced through flesh.
Swish, clack.
The diagonally fallen head rolled across the ground.
Puhwaak!
Blood spurted like a fountain from the split flesh.
"I don’t leave loose ends."
Yunchan looked down at the cult leader’s corpse with cold eyes.
Swish!
Flicking the blood off the blade once, he moved on.