54. Salvation Church (4)
‘As expected, it is amazing.’
Crack.
Lien, who had buried his sword, was inwardly impressed as he touched the dug-up ground around him with his hands. She was thinking of Deon when he was infiltrating the Salvation Church.
He even uses his body to infiltrate!
He fell and swept the floor until he reached the woman. Anyone could see that he looked like a poor person who had starved for several days and whose legs were weak.
I didn’t see him go inside, but he must have gone in. Because there was no reason to doubt it.
The problem is when the robe is lifted from the inside…
‘The Count will take care of that.’
He’s actually a count. I guess you are prepared for that.
Lien, who had overlooked an important issue due to his extreme faith in Deon, picked up a small rock nearby and placed it on top of where the sword was buried.
With this, you won’t have to worry about losing your sword.
Now, all you have to do is go inside Salvation Church and meet the Count…
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s difficult to receive any more new believers today…”
“…Yes?”
“I guess you want bread and water, right? I’ll give it to you here, so can you come back later? I’m really sorry.”
“….”
It’s intentional. It’s clear they didn’t let it in on purpose.
Lien suddenly took the bread and water and looked blankly at the woman in front of him.
The woman with an apologetic expression is clearly the woman who was standing in front of the Count when he fell.
But why is the treatment between me and the Count different? Did you notice something? Or discrimination? Well, the Count was handsome… or did he wear a robe?
Although she didn’t understand, Lien had no choice but to walk away because if she just stood here, she might arouse suspicion.
‘I’ll have to wait nearby.’
When the Count comes out, I will apologize for my incompetence in infiltrating properly.
***
‘Did you think I’d let you in?’
Come and visit once in a lifetime. See if I let you in.
Saerin, the face of the Salvation Church and the actual director, looked at Lien’s back as he trudged away with a bright smile on his face.
There was a reason why she let the man from before come in and sent the woman back.
‘Because that woman learned the sword.’
The gait is that of someone who has learned the sword. A disciplined, powerful and overly regular gait.
Even if we assume that he is a knight who fell into poverty and became a poor person, this does not make sense.
There is no way that a desperately poor person who has starved for days on end could walk with such strength.
‘On the other hand, the man I sent in a little while ago had a normal gait that is commonly seen.’
I even lost strength in my legs and fell.
When I got up, the movement of one arm was unnatural. There’s probably something wrong with his arm.
‘Plus the blood.’
It was the kind of thing that couldn’t come out through acting.
It is inappropriate to use such a person as a spy.
In order to steal important information, you need to be skilled enough to steal ledgers. Is it possible for a person who has a chronic illness that causes him to vomit blood, can’t use one arm properly, and has no leg strength due to starvation for a long time to go into the center and steal ledgers?
So the probability that the man is a spy is close to 0.
‘At this point, we need to add one more believer.’
Saerin, who had no way of knowing that the man she had sent in, Deon Hardt, had no formal swordsmanship since he had learned the sword on his own while rolling on the battlefield, went inside the building to see him again without any doubt.
***
“Here, have some tea.”
“Oh, thank you.”
I reached out my hand and took the tea cup held out. Of course, I didn’t drink it without any doubt. I knew what was inside this.
As I quietly and naturally smelled it, the woman smiled brightly, wondering how she had noticed it.
“It’s just a common, cheap tea. It doesn’t contain anything, so don’t worry and drink it.”
“…yes.”
It definitely doesn’t smell like any medicine… but I don’t know. From that woman’s point of view, she would have nothing to gain by killing me, who is just a poor person.
I carefully put the tea in my mouth and swallowed it. Warm energy enters and spreads throughout the body, relieving tension.
If it were winter now, it would have been twice as effective, but it’s a bit disappointing. Tea is best drunk in winter.
“But aren’t you frustrated?”
“…ah.”
I reflexively adjusted the hood of my robe. I almost fell backwards, but I managed to stop it.
Is it because of my mood? At first glance, the woman’s eyes seemed to sparkle.
No, now is not the time to worry about that.
‘What should I answer?’
If you take off your robe, there is a risk of your identity being discovered. Fortunately, my face is not yet widely known due to my infrequent presence in social circles, but my red eyes are also my symbol…
What should I say?
“…It’s okay. It’s ugly…”
“Huh? If that’s the reason, you can feel free to take it off. No one here will make a fuss about your appearance.”
“ah…!”
It was only for a moment that the strong hood that covered his face was removed.
I hastily fixed my gaze downward. I wanted to cover my face with my hands or lower my head, but objectively speaking, that was too much of an excessive reaction, so this was the best I could do.
…Damn it.
Even though I could clearly see the woman’s hand reaching out in this direction, I couldn’t resist it.
If you refuse, they will definitely be suspicious.
The robe comes off, revealing a dull-colored head that has been painted with dirt just in case.
A woman’s soft voice fell overhead.
“It’s okay, raise your head.”
“….”
After hesitating for a moment, a beautiful hand reached out without delay. Both cheeks were gently cupped and the head was raised.
My red eyes met the woman’s eyes that were disguised as kindness.
And at the same time, the suspicion in the woman’s eyes was clearly reflected on her retina.
“Your eyes… are red?”
“…Um…”
Even though I was prepared, I was speechless because I could clearly see the suspicion.
My mind feels completely blank and no thoughts come to mind.
If things continue like this, we will meet the worst possible ending.
‘Wake!’
You shouldn’t lose your mind here. I quickly rolled my eyes.
As if it is true that the number has increased a lot recently, you can see the back of the sentry guarding the entrance. Inside, several men carrying weapons were standing guard.
‘…I should have just waited for Lord Lien.’
If I had her at a time like this, I would have felt reassured.
You can’t even dream of escaping, and the only thing you can freely tease in this situation is your mouth. So you have to say it.
‘What?’
What should I say to erase the doubts that have already begun to arise?
‘think.’
When that woman urged me to take off my hood, what did I say and refuse?
The Maginot Line of time to give a natural answer is approaching. If the silence lasts longer than this, they will probably get suspicious.
time goes by. The moment the doubt in the woman’s eyes gradually turned into confidence, I opened my mouth.
He bowed his head slowly, without any sign of urgency, but rather with a hint of hesitation, as if hiding his eyes.
“…As expected…”
“….”
“It’s ugly, isn’t it…?”
“….”
There was a short silence.
Did it work? I can’t tell because I can’t see their facial expressions because they have their heads down.
Just waiting like this might seem like a good result, but looking at the situation, I think it would be better to add a few more words.
Silence is evidence that you are shaking.
It would be much better to tip the scales clearly rather than vaguely.
“I thought you would hate it as expected…”
He opened his mouth with misery, sadness, resignation, and resentment.
Acting wasn’t difficult. Although it was only half-hearted, it clearly contained sincerity.
“Who would like these eyes that even abandoned their family?”
“Oh no! It’s not ugly at all!”
done!
An urgent yet kind voice continued.
“You know Deonhardt? Deonhardt, the hero of the Empire! He also has red eyes. Just like you.”
“Deonhardt… you mean?”
“Yes! Of course, there are many infamous people like vampires and murderers…!”
“….”
I shouldn’t have said that. I felt a little hurt.
Well, I’m glad that my suspicions seem to have been put aside.
The woman also closed her mouth for a moment, perhaps thinking that her last words were a mistake, and then quickly changed her stance.
“Do you know what this place does?”
I know, but I don’t know the details. That’s why I came here.
Putting aside the fact that it wasn’t entirely my will, I shook my head.
“No. I just heard that if you come here, they will give you something to eat…”
“Aha, many people come here thinking that. That is the norm, so don’t pay too much attention.”
I didn’t notice. It seemed to the woman that she had her head down for fear of remembering my face.
A woman with a benevolent smile gently opens her mouth as if to explain. I also pretended not to do that and listened closely and focused on what she was going to say.
‘Yes, this is how they would attract people and turn them into believers. How well would you have been able to speak so well that you would have increased your income like that?’
So, try persuading me at least once.
“This is the Salvation Church.”
“Salvation Church…?”
“It is a religious organization created to save those suffering under the reign of the tyrant Edoardo.”
oh my god.
Respected Emperor, I said nothing. I just listened. No, I didn’t listen. Actually, I have trouble hearing.
So please save me.
Is he crazy? Why do you hesitate to make such dangerous remarks? What if someone hears it?
‘Manage your facial expressions Manage your facial expressions!’
I gathered my collapsing expression.
Now I am a poor person who knows nothing. They are poor people who are easily swayed by a few words. So how should I react?
“So, bread…”
“Yes, it is because of the emperor that you all live so hard. If the emperor had ruled properly, would you be living like this?”
“okay.”
Your Majesty, the emperor whom I cannot help but respect and respect! I didn’t say anything. It’s just another me speaking arbitrarily. I don’t know!
‘…But if it were the emperor, he might kill you, saying it’s not right for you to flaunt it with the same mouth and body…’
But there’s nothing you can do about it. I can’t even shout here to stop insulting His Majesty.
And why does this woman keep throwing bombs? Isn’t life a waste?
Or maybe you have discovered my identity? So, let’s die together…?
It’s scarier because it doesn’t make sense. But looking at the woman’s expression, I don’t think that’s the case and it seems like the goal was really to incite…
I sighed.
‘The argument is flimsy. It’s so clumsy that it’s almost ridiculous…’
The reason the poor exist is because the emperor can’t rule. Relieving the poor is something that no ruler throughout history has been able to accomplish.
If I fall like this, I will blame the emperor.
“The reason you fell and got hurt was because the emperor didn’t properly pave the road…”
Was it true?
He buried his face in his hands to hide his expression. A faint sigh flowed out.
This is an absolutely absurd claim. But it will be different for the poor.
What they need is not something like whether it is true or not, but a place to vent their resentment and anger about the disadvantages they have suffered because they are poor.
To put it simply, the woman in front of me threw a desirable prey in front of those who needed something to complain about and dragged them in.
Below is a group called ‘Salvation Church’.
Meanwhile, the woman’s explanation did not stop.
“You may think it is a pseudo-religion, but Salvation Church is different from general pseudo-religions. We don’t want money and we just believe in ‘salvation’ and nothing else.”
“…If I believe, will I really be saved?”
“Yes, of course.”
“who?”
In the end, all questions revolve around one thing.
‘who?’
Who will save me?
