### Chapter 440 – Room 206, The Room of Curses – ‘The Demon King who Revives after 100 Days’ Re (5)
—
– Kim Ahri
—
After deciding to meet the prophet, the higher-ups of the cult brought the laypeople outside Paradise.
As always, the outside world was different— far superior to the cursed city they had just left.
Normally, the cult members would enjoy the beautiful outside world while criticizing the Kadiruf family for imprisoning everyone in such a hellish city.
But today was different.
Everyone was looking at one young man instead of nature or the Kadiruf family.
The prophet, Han Kain, was strolling through the soft grass with miners he had brought from underground.
The miners looked dazed as if they were seeing the outside world for the first time, but upon our approach, they instinctively clustered closer to Kain.
Every little action of theirs showcased Kain’s significance among them.
As the cult observed Kain, he was also inspecting the cult.
He briefly locked eyes with me before scanning the laypeople in the back.
He was probably looking for our secret agent and Level 2 citizen, Kim Sanghyun.
Soon enough, Sanghyun tapped his foot lightly on the ground, indicating he was present.
Breaking the silence was Raymond.
“Apostle Ahri! I heard you had a vision?”
“That’s right.”
“Could you share what it was about?”
“Of course.”
—
Kain vividly described the overwhelming form of the Demon King he had seen in a dream.
A magical force capable of plunging the entire city into madness in an instant.
A colossal hand that could easily shatter Paradise.
He included how it was an endless whirlpool of impulse, more resembling an astronomical disaster than a living creature.
The response from the laypeople in the back was one of disbelief.
Kain’s depiction of the Demon King was far from the divine imagery typically associated with religious figures.
On the other hand, the higher-ranking members of the cult widened their eyes in astonishment.
It was consistent with the records they’ve passed down regarding the Demon King.
Of course, it was.
That description was a ‘memory’ born from Kain’s direct confrontation with the Demon King, not just his imagination.
However, there were skeptics as well.
“Hey! Young man! Did you just stumble upon the cult’s records or something?”
Kain calmly replied.
“Do you happen to find sacred records describing deities lying about on the road?”
“That’s not it, but the history of the cult could have leaked outside!”
“Hmmm…”
—
Instead of arguing with the skeptic, Kain casually took a step back—
“Huh!”
“What the—?!”
—
He instantly teleported about 5 meters away.
The tattoo of wings I received as a reward for clearing the first floor door sure comes in handy here.
There’s a saying: “Seeing is believing,” right?
Instead of boasting about being a prophet a hundred times, demonstrating my power with a single teleportation is the most convincing argument.
No wonder a bunch of charlatans in the world prepare strange shows.
As clear evidence of a “miracle” appeared, Raymond couldn’t help but be amazed.
“I acknowledge you. You seem to possess an extraordinary quality.”
“Not just ‘some quality.’ The Demon King granted me a vision, after all!”
“Hmm? There are others in the cult with special powers besides you.”
With those words, Raymond clapped lightly and howled.
— GoOoOoOoo!
—
From Raymond’s mouth came a sound impossible for human vocal cords to produce.
The ordinary disciples collapsed in a panic, unable to keep their balance, and leaves fell from trees all around.
I knew he was a psychic, but I had no clue his powers were like this!
What could be the source of his strength?
Kain smirked.
“You sure have a booming voice.”
“Long ago, the Demon King bestowed upon me a speck of power. It’s just a minor trick.”
“…”
“A special power doesn’t necessarily mean one is a prophet.”
“…”
“Of course, I won’t deny that you possess some uniqueness. Care to join our cult? Though I can’t promise you any benefits.”
—
Raymond proposed one negotiation.
While he acknowledged Kain’s exceptional nature, he insisted their skills were comparable too.
So instead of trying to stand above them, why not join their ranks as equals?
…
—
That’s quite the arrogant proposition.
I didn’t come here to share the pie with some extras from a small-time cult.
Naturally, I expected such resistance.
Who would willingly bow to someone demanding submission out of the blue?
It must be forced submission.
And I have the inheritance to enforce that.
—
“What a presumptuous lot…”
—
Suddenly, a sacred sun, radiating the weight of the world, emerged, amplifying Kain’s presence.
Even while currently inactive, the supernatural charisma radiating from the sacred sun was too much for ordinary humans to bear.
Soon, the laypeople began collapsing in a stupor.
“Oh! Great Hand!”
Some even started shrieking with tears flowing freely.
“Ahhhh! O mighty one! You who are coiled!”
Imagine how overwhelming the sacred sun’s charisma is for the average person.
—
A few weeks prior, Kain had summoned it in front of a crowd.
What did we feel back then?
It was a moment of tension, but nothing intense beyond that.
Having seen their reaction compared to the “real ordinary people” in front of us made things a bit complicated.
Was I supposed to rejoice over everyone’s growth, or be cautious since we were drifting further from humanity?
—
Suddenly, I noticed Sanghyun wearing a likewise perplexed expression.
While everyone else was on the ground, wailing, he stood with a calm demeanor, making him stick out like a sore thumb.
In that brief exchange of glances, we realized we shared similar thoughts.
This was problematic if someone disguised as an ordinary person appeared so zen in such chaos.
When I pretended to bow slightly, Sanghyun quickly caught on and hit the ground.
—
Emotions of awe, shock, fear, passion, and madness swirled through the chamber. The high-ranking culters, including Raymond, gazed at Kain with drool pooling in their mouths.
Several elders were crying tears like the laypeople while chanting “prophet.”
“Phew… Is it done?”
—
With this level of performance, we can claim the Demon King cult as our possession—
—
“No!”
—
Huh?
—
“This, this fraud! Everyone, snap out of it! Open your eyes!”
—
Raymond began spewing his animosity!
“Wake up, everyone! This guy is fake!”
As if on cue, other nearby elders joined in, shouting in agreement.
What’s going on?
Things just took a nosedive!
— GoOoOoOoo!
—
Raymond unleashed that monstrous sound wave with several times the power he used earlier.
In an instant, it felt like someone was beating my entire body with a bat, and those entranced by the sacred sun started to regain their senses.
“You scoundrel! That vile creature! Kill him right now!”
Just a moment ago, they had wanted to welcome Kain into their ranks.
Now they’re 180 degrees corrupt and chanting for his death!
The laypeople were bewildered and could barely react, while Sanghyun and I could do nothing but watch in confusion.
And in the eye of the storm was Kain, who suddenly dropped to his knees—
“Father… please forgive them.”
—
Now he’s crying and praying out of nowhere!
Is he not a freshman from K University? Where did all this dramatization come from?
It’s not like anyone shoved onions into his eyes, so why such a waterfall of tears?
This wasn’t part of the plan!
“Father, please forgive them. They don’t understand what they’re saying.”
—
When did Kain memorize these verses from some holy book?
—
What a mess!
Things suddenly spiraled out of control, and now both the elders and Kain were throwing bizarre antics, which gave me a headache.
“You scoundrel! Do you think I wouldn’t recognize you as the Apostle of that heretic? Do you know where you are—”
Apostle of a heretical god?
—
At that moment, Kain rose with a darkened expression.
“Oh… The coiled Savior is here. Such a multitude of unredeemed sinners.”
—
As all eyes turned to Kain, a pitch-black bookshelf appeared in mid-air.
—
“Thus, I have become the living whip. I am His claw and His fist!”
—
Only at that moment did I start to comprehend the situation.
I realized what Kain was trying to do!
He was aiming to kill everyone “real” present in this gathering!
Once the long-forgotten Demon King’s might spread through the vicinity, a scene out of a horror film unfolded.
First to go was Raymond, previously inciting chaos, who suddenly began choking himself.
“Grrk! Guuh!”
Next were the elders who had been subtly siding with him.
Some of them were holders of peculiar powers, but they simply lacked the will to resist the “avatar’s” control.
“Ugh! Eeeek!”
One by one, the high-ranking members of the cult were suffocated into unconsciousness.
Even while losing consciousness, they clutched their own necks with desperation.
One.
Another.
Now two.
And then three.
Out of the blue, dozens of corpses collapsed to the ground one after another.
Just moments ago, the disciples were reveling in joy over the prophet, and now they were overwhelmed by an unspeakable dread, praying for their lives.
At that instant, someone tugged at my sleeve.
It was Sanghyun.
“W-What in the world is going on?”
“…?”
“Did you and Kain plan this all along?”
“No.”
—
I’d never intended to purge the cult’s leadership like this.
Many of them were psychics, so I figured they’d be quite useful as assets.
“This is… this is… what the hell happened?”
Sanghyun’s wide eyes glistened with sweat.
He was unable to hide his extreme tension.
Kain is our companion.
He’s someone who has never threatened us before.
Yet still…
The scene flashed before my eyes.
With just a flick of his wrist, hundreds of people were dazed on the ground while some even sobbed and prayed.
With just a book opened, dozens killed themselves.
Could such a being be labeled a ‘cult leader’?
“Calm down, Sanghyun.”
“… The ‘avatar’s’ power has amplified immensely compared to before.”
“Right? He never seemed to control this many people at once back then.”
“Which is why I was a bit… a little bit surprised.”
“…”
“K-Kain’s suffered for hundreds of years in Room 203, and yet he was still on our side.”
At that moment, someone grasped my foot.
“Apostle Ahri! Please… please save me!”
“Lloyd.”
—
How are you still alive?
Oh, Kain must’ve expended all his ‘avatar’s’ power.
“Th-That thing is a monster! Don’t you understand? That thing isn’t a prophet! It’s a monster!”
Just like Raymond earlier, Lloyd’s eyes were filled with despair and conviction.
He possessed an unwavering belief that Kain wasn’t the Messiah the cult had been waiting for.
“How did you know?”
“W-What? A-Apostle Ahri?”
“How did you know Kain was a fake? Did the Demon King tell you?”
Lloyd gazed at me, stunned.
I grabbed his neck.
“I admit it. You were the ‘real’ ones.”
“Grrk!”
“Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll ensure I don’t make this mistake again next cycle.”
—
— KWAJIK!
—
The ‘last’ envoy of the Demon King was slain.
Now, all that remains in this place are foolish humans who don’t even know who they serve.
Then, a false shepherd’s voice echoed through.
“Do not fear, everyone! Rise! A new dawn breaks; it’s simply new wine in a new flask.”
—
With this, the cult became ours.
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