### Chapter 358 – Room 205, The Cursed Room – ‘□□□□’ (7)
—
– Elena
“Something feels off.”
As the rickety wagon shook, Songi tilted her head, prompting grandpa to respond.
“What’s that?”
“Pero hasn’t come back for a few days now.”
“When has that rascal ever told us anything?”
“Even if he leaves, he usually comes back within a day? To be gone this long usually means….”
“Usually?”
“It seems like he’s helping another comrade far away. Who could it be?”
“Hmmm…. The only one not here and still alive would be Miro, right? Maybe he’s trying to bring Miro back to us.”
“That’s possible.”
— Clang!
“First Apostle! Could you step outside for a moment?”
Three days after leaving the palace, the leader of the knights had come to deliver news.
“First Apostle, I have both good and bad news. Starting with the good news, the sect has sent letters to the heretics. We now have a valid reason to officially intervene in the civil unrest of the Radiant Empire.”
“That’s great! And what’s the bad news?”
“Yesterday, the Baehwa Sect’s pursuit squad was dispatched.”
“That was expected.”
“They say Jo Wonhong is among them.”
“…”
Will the Baehwa Sect’s pursuit squad catch us before we even enter the Western Empire’s territory?
If it’s just the average warriors of Baehwa Sect, it’d be difficult.
After all, we’ve been running without a moment’s pause too.
But what about Jo Wonhong?
Isn’t he the kind of guy who could fly through the sky with his bizarre tricks?
The answer came later that evening.
*
As the sun began to set, the air felt suffocating.
An overwhelming presence spread across the land, stretching from the eastern sky.
We, who had no martial arts training, and even the horses were stunned, unable to move forward.
Grandpa sighed heavily, his face darkening.
“Ah! So this is the presence of a master, something I’ve only read in novels!”
Those with weaker constitutions started to feel nausea creeping upon them.
And then—
Beneath the darkening sky, Jo Wonhong appeared shrouded in darkness.
He called out to just one person, seemingly without regard for anyone else.
“First Apostle. Let’s have a face-to-face meeting.”
So, we’re pretending to know each other now. It’s not that strange.
Before the sect split due to the interpretation issue regarding the ascension ceremony, I was part of the same religion as him.
Given that the horses were too frightened to move, I stepped out of the wagon.
“Long time no see.”
Jo Wonhong, whom I met for the first time in person, was truly someone special by appearance.
To put it frankly, he was incredibly handsome, boasting a strong build and radiant eyes that were anything but ordinary.
“Has it really been three years? You’re still as beautiful as starlight!”
“…”
“How unfortunate it is! What could have happened to our former family?”
“Isn’t that your responsibility?”
“My responsibility? Why do you think so?”
“You unilaterally interpreted the doctrine on ascension—”
“Stop right there. Let’s not get into confusing discussions about doctrine. Those debates are for old men who have spent their lives poring over scripture. And frankly, do you really believe you understand the scriptures and doctrine better than I do?”
“…”
“Let’s set aside that talk and speak as humans to humans. Do you think what I am doing is something for you to ‘judge’?”
Judgment? That word feels significant…
“Four years ago, a great flood struck. Over 3,000 talented and diligent people from Guangdong perished.”
Now, I understood what the leader of the Baehwa Sect was doing.
“In the year before last, frost fell in early summer, ruining the wheat crops of the Hebei plains. I wonder what the imperial family did during such calamities?”
“Who knows?”
“They were too busy fighting over who should become the crown prince. In that process, Ija Seong’s daughter even died.”
“…”
“Setting aside the Baehwa Sect and the ascension ceremony, look with your own eyes. What greed do you see in my resolve to topple the empire? If I acted merely for my own convenience, I swear to heaven I wouldn’t resist your judgment.”
Jo Wonhong clearly understood the blessing of ‘Justice.’
So now he was asserting that he isn’t a ‘villain,’ and paradoxically advocating that the emperor, who I was currently protecting, should be punished by the Baehwa Sect.
This could also mean that Jo Wonhong is uncertain whether I can currently wield ‘Justice.’
I had many thoughts on this.
It seems the power of ‘Justice’ on this stage is a divine authority bestowed by the entity worshipped by the Baehwa Sect to me, the First Apostle. If I consider that we originally belonged to the same religion, it’s natural for the leader to be informed about my strength.
As I realized this, I understood why I began with the background of the Abester Church of the Western Empire unlike the other comrades.
The leader’s intent was to share the obscure information of the Baehwa Sect—specifically, the details of the ascension ritual—while simultaneously enlightening my comrades about ‘Justice.’
It became essential to verify how much the sect leader knew about me.
For instance, does he know the specific standards of ‘Justice’?
“Leader. You must know that words like ‘human to human’ and ‘resolving to save all people’ are inherently meaningless, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Once I sat upon the celestial throne, I was granted the power to punish sinners—those who defy the will of heaven.”
“…”
“Do you not understand that your arbitrary interpretation is a grave sin?”
I proclaimed to Jo Wonhong.
The suffering of the people, the tyranny of the imperial family—it doesn’t concern me. The standard for judgment lies solely in whether one adhered to God’s will or not.
“An arbitrary interpretation? Can there really be a correct answer in the interpretation of doctrines? My unwavering belief in preserving the lives of the Empire’s 180 million citizens holds no reservations. Hence, you cannot judge me.”
Upon hearing his response, I felt certain.
Jo Wonhong does not know the precise standards of my powers.
I might as well apologize to the prisoner in Room 205, but I don’t possess any faith, so the standards of ‘Justice’ couldn’t possibly relate to divine will.
The core of it is merely my internal standards, and Jo Wonhong’s earlier argument about the tyranny of the imperial family is even more meaningful.
“This answer itself is evidence that you are a sinner! You presume to judge the will of the one in heaven and blindly confuse your own thoughts with divine will, is that not arrogance?”
“Arrogance, you say? Let me ask you this. According to your rationale, we, being mere mortals, cannot grasp the will of the great light, can we? Yet, how do you know I am wrong with certainty?”
“…”
I was at a loss. What should I say?
The leader’s claim is that neither of us knows God’s will, so what basis do you have for declaring my error? I couldn’t find a retort for that.
This exchange isn’t some meaningless verbal sparring.
At least, he believes in the existence of a God in heaven.
Kim Mooksung: Ask him if he has recently communicated with the divine!
This… this is it!
“Leader, this question is one you can answer for yourself!”
“What do you mean?”
“You are the one destined to spread glory in this world, answering to the will of Asha, so let me ask you: Have you received a revelation from the one sitting in heaven recently?”
I recalled the forgotten fact.
After we overcame the schemes of the Demon God, the hotel vowed to us.
In the next room, they would suppress the interventions of the prisoners!
The prisoner in Room 205 is, contextually speaking, a deity of the Baehwa Sect. If that being’s influence is indeed suppressed, then the leader must have sensed ‘something.’
What could he have sensed?
Perhaps the daily revelations and prophetic dreams have ceased?
The blessings granted from above might have disappeared.
A holy object could have shattered, or a sanctuary might have been demolished.
…
Silence fell over the room.
The leader remained silent for a long time, avoiding an answer.
In the next moment, the ferocious power that had been enveloping the room vanished in an instant.
The horses, weary from gasping, began to regain their composure, and those still unable to stand finally got back on their feet.
“Phew….”
“…”
“What’s there to hide? Not long ago, the sacred flame of Asha, which the first prophet received, was extinguished.”
“That means—”
“Perhaps your words might have a point.”
Is it really becoming persuadable?
Because he’s a believer who prioritizes divine will over personal gain?
“First Apostle, it’s possible that in my arrogance, I misinterpreted Asha’s will. If so, it would be only fair for me to receive judgment….”
Is this really how a wordplay resolves things?
“Therefore, I, Jo Wonhong, will not shy away.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Judgment of the Crimson Flame Fan!”
From thin air—an odd object appeared.
It was a fan made of iron.
The spokes of the metal fan carried bizarre, colorful patterns, depicting the moment the prophet of the Baehwa Sect answered Asha’s call in the wilderness.
“O my father, who dwells in heaven—my righteous and truthful one, I beseech Asha. Among the humans present, who has committed great sins? Let the flames of judgment rain down on the gravest sinner!”
The fan revealed its multicolored brilliance.
A sacred light erupted, a light so divine it could not be mimicked by the power of mere mortals.
In that fleeting moment, an incomprehensible vision filled my sight.
It was flame.
A single spark could incinerate the entire world.
Even a fraction of its power would be sufficient to dry up the ocean.
Beneath that overwhelming pressure, I felt the defeat creeping in, unable to lift a finger.
The Judgment of the Crimson Flame Fan descended.
…
…
…
“What’s going on?”
“…”
At least I could be sure of one thing.
I wasn’t the target of judgment.
“What in the world is this?”
Seeing him unscathed, it wasn’t Jo Wonhong either.
It definitely felt like something monumental was about to happen, but nothing happened to anyone at all.
While we were both confused and stunned, the Crimson Flame Fan—a relic of this room—lost its light.
A hush fell over us.
Neither Jo Wonhong, the leader of the Baehwa Sect, nor Elena, the First Apostle, nor even the boy emperor Park Seungyub or the members of the Iron Cross Knights behind him understood the situation, enveloped in silence.
After a while, the leader opened his mouth, seemingly having grasped the circumstances.
“First Apostle, as you know, the judgment of the Crimson Flame Fan cannot be evaded. Even the greatest demon known through the ages could avoid death by some unknown power, yet not one hair of ours remains unharmed.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means there are no sinners present in this room. That’s my belief.”
“…”
“Asha has declared, neither am I wrong, nor is your choice incorrect.”
“…”
“Suddenly, I thought. The late emperor caused the world to sink into turmoil, but I too have killed many in my quest to rise….”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Perhaps I was too hasty. Maybe I’m not qualified to punish the young emperor. If this is Asha’s will, I shall step back.”
“…”
“It won’t take long. I will rally the sect and quell the suffering of the people. In doing so, I believe that my heavenly mandate will come, and Asha will affirm my entitlement to the throne.”
With those words, the leader of the Baehwa Sect departed.
His strength was such that even I couldn’t guarantee victory over him, even if I activated ‘Justice.’
But…
Before he became an absolute master, he was still a believer.
Four days later, as we arrived at the Western Empire, an ‘Escape Notification’ popped up.
—
– Miro
What in the world is happening?
After that terrifying grandpa collapsed, I, the sole survivor, actively used my ‘words of power’ to seek help from the surrounding townsfolk and remained hidden.
Then, as I was floundering about cluelessly, a divine bird approached me.
“Pero!”
Without chitchat, Pero—wait a minute, birds can’t talk, can they?—transformed and began running with me in tow at a frantic pace.
I was half-faint from the speed before I vaguely understood the situation.
Could it be that Pero is trying to take me to where our comrades are?
…
On the third day after departing the palace, as signs of the past wagons began to appear.
I caught sight of flames.
“You, who has committed the greatest sin in history. The greatest sinner upon this earth…”
“Uh? Pero, did you hear that?”
“In the name of the righteous and truthful Asha, I ask: How have you plunged the entire world into the crisis of doom for your own greed?”
“Me?”
“Your sins run deep. Even burning in the Inferno for 25,000 years wouldn’t suffice to cleanse you; living 3,000 lives as a beast wouldn’t fulfill your debt.”
What on earth is this nonsense?
“Accept the judgment.”
‘An inescapable death’ engulfed me.
That was my last memory…
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