Chapter 90: Cult (2)

I arranged to meet Ju-won hyung in person so that I could hear the full story.

“You know about the Person123 Church, right?”

Hyung looked exhausted as he slowly turned the coffee cup between his hands.

I nodded.

“Yeah. Did Jiu noona get involved with them?”

I had seen her participating in Person123 Church activities before, but...

I had never realized that things had become this serious.

Or perhaps her involvement had simply deepened over time.

Ju-won hyung began to explain.

“Apparently, the Person123 Church is divided into all kinds of sects and denominations. It isn’t just the one everyone knows about...”

To summarize what he told me, the Person123 Church was not a single, unified organization.

I knew very little about religion, but apparently it had split into numerous sects and independent branches.

The largest of them worldwide was the Salvation Faith, officially known as the Society of Hope for Human Salvation.

It was the organization that appeared on the news most often—the version of the Person123 Church familiar to the general public.

But alongside the Salvation Faith, countless smaller Person123 sects had sprung up throughout the country like weeds.

The mainstream Salvation Faith was less a formal religion than an enthusiastic fan club devoted to supporting Person123.

Some of the smaller, more obscure sects, however, had gone far beyond that.

In a word, they were cults.

“...You know how joining the Person123 Church has become something of a trend lately? Jiu was like that at first too. It was all casual. I even attended a few meetings with her.”

He tightened his grip around the cup.

“But at some point, she started getting much more deeply involved. Then she began telling me about a strange group called the Religion of the Heavenly One.”

The Religion of the Heavenly One.

That was supposedly the name of the cult Jiu noona had fallen into.

“The leader claims to be Person123’s representative or something. That’s obviously nonsense, right? It has to be a cult.”

“Yeah. Obviously.”

When the hell had I appointed a representative without knowing about it?

Unbelievable.

The rest of the story unfolded more or less as I had expected.

Hyung had tried to stop her and reason with her, but she refused to listen.

Eventually, she had cut off all contact with him.

He had gone to her studio apartment and found it empty. After that, he contacted her friends and family, but none of them had been able to reach her either.

“When exactly did she stop responding?”

“It’s been almost a week since she stopped replying altogether.”

“What about school? Ah, right. It’s vacation now, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you report her missing?”

Hyung sighed.

“I did. But the police said they had confirmed she was safe.”

“So they managed to contact her?”

“Apparently... Jiu told them that she was fine where she was and that she wanted everyone to stop contacting her. Since she responded herself, the police said they couldn’t treat it as a missing-person case.”

If the person in question responded normally and claimed to be safe, the case would not be classified as a disappearance.

Hyung had asked the police to at least tell him where Jiu noona was, but they had refused to disclose that information as well.

If she herself did not consent, the police had no authority to reveal her location or address to anyone else.

She was not a runaway minor.

She was an adult who was legally acting of her own free will.

Hyung showed me the chat history between him and Jiu noona.

He accused the group of being a cult and begged her to come to her senses.

She denied everything.

They argued again and again.

Then, several days ago, she sent him one final message saying she was sick of his interference and that he should stop contacting her.

After that, she went silent.

“Even if the police say she responded, I feel like I’m losing my mind. What if Jiu is actually in danger? She isn’t the kind of person who would suddenly cut everyone out of her life like this...”

He was right.

The Jiu noona I remembered had always been bright and cheerful.

For someone like her to become entangled with a cult and suddenly sever all contact...

What on earth had happened?

“...I’m seriously thinking about joining the Religion of the Heavenly One myself. Maybe that’s the only way I’ll be able to find her.”

“Hyung, don’t. That’s a terrible idea.”

I immediately tried to stop him.

Even from the little I had heard, this was clearly not a normal organization.

It could be dangerous.

All I could do was listen while he vented his frustration and persuade him not to do anything reckless for the time being.

***

When I returned home, I searched the internet for information about the Religion of the Heavenly One.

It did not take long to find them.

They even had an official website.

—Master Shin Du-rang, the representative of Person123, shall guide you to the righteous path.

“Ha.”

The very first line was enough to make me snort.

I scrolled down.

—The fate of the present world rests entirely in the hands of Person123. Master Shin Du-rang is the one and only representative personally appointed by Him.

—The people of this world remain trapped in foolish ignorance. In the end, the world shall perish, and only those whose faith in Him is purest shall receive salvation. This is the hour in which Person123 separates His true believers from the faithless. It is a time of trial.

—Once the trial has ended, the age of the Fall and Salvation shall begin. Just as the Tower presented the Ark on the Sixth Floor, most unbelievers shall perish and descend into monstrosity. The chosen faithful, however, shall receive His salvation.

—Time is running out. Do you wish to stand among the chosen? Master Shin Du-rang, His sole representative, shall guide you to the righteous path...

.

.

.

The introduction went on and on, radiating the unmistakable stench of a cult from beginning to end.

What was especially ridiculous was that they had even incorporated the recent Ark incident into their doctrine.

Did they regularly update the website to keep up with current events?

A contact number was listed at the bottom of the page.

I stared at it for a moment.

‘What should I do...?’

The idea forming in my mind was simple.

I would infiltrate the Religion of the Heavenly One myself.

They were a cult exploiting my name and falsely claiming to act through my representative.

And what if Jiu noona really was in danger?

At the very least, I needed to find out where she was and what she was doing.

This was not entirely unrelated to me.

Besides, I felt bad for hyung.

I did not hesitate for long.

I tapped the contact number on the website.

The call connected, and a woman with the polished tone of a customer service representative answered.

“Hello? Yes, I read the introduction on your website, and I’m calling because...”

***

The very next day, I arranged to meet representatives of the Religion of the Heavenly One at a café.

“It’s wonderful to meet you. We heard that you’re interested in joining the Religion of the Heavenly One.”

Two people arrived.

One was a girl around my age who looked like a college student.

The other was a middle-aged woman.

Perhaps cult recruiters were always like this.

On the surface, both of them looked completely ordinary.

“...If I join, will I truly be able to receive salvation directly from Person123?”

The younger woman smiled brightly.

“Of course. He never turns away anyone who believes in Him with a sincere heart.”

“And is the Master of the Religion of the Heavenly One truly His representative?”

I asked the question deliberately.

If I appeared too eager to believe them from the beginning, they might become suspicious.

The girl clasped her hands together and nodded.

“Yes. Our Master truly is the representative of Person123. Person123 Himself personally proclaimed it.”

“Person123 personally proclaimed that?”

What kind of nonsense was this?

Without the slightest trace of uncertainty, the girl continued spouting absurdities.

“Yes! Only the Master and the High Priests have had the honor of seeing Him in person.”

“...So you haven’t seen Him yourself?”

“I’m merely an ordinary believer. But even ordinary believers may become High Priests by accumulating sufficient holy merit and serving faithfully beside the Master. Once they do, they are granted the honor of meeting Person123 in person.”

This was unbelievable.

The girl continued explaining the teachings of the Religion of the Heavenly One.

She spoke about how to receive true salvation, how little time humanity had left, and how fortunate I was that fate had guided me to their religion before it was too late.

She went on and on.

I swallowed my sighs, nodded at the appropriate moments, and pretended to be gradually persuaded.

“...Then what is the best way for us to demonstrate our faith in Person123?”

“Hmm... Prayer?”

“Of course, prayer is important. One must pray with a heart that truly believes in and follows Him. But it is equally important to express that faith through action.”

Where was she going with this?

“As I explained, the destruction of this world has already been decided. In that case, what use will material possessions have?”

“None.”

“Exactly! They will have no value whatsoever. Therefore, anyone who truly believes in His salvation has no reason to cling to worldly possessions. By abandoning that attachment, you prove the sincerity of your faith. Do you understand?”

“Yes. That makes perfect sense.”

I had known this speech was building toward something.

In the end, they simply wanted money.

“To join the Religion of the Heavenly One, you must begin with a small demonstration of faith. The initiation fee is three hundred thousand won.”

Three hundred thousand won.

I could afford that easily.

It was no great loss.

“Once I join, will I be able to meet the Master immediately?”

The girl shook her head.

“To receive baptism directly from the Master, new members must first complete a probationary period.”

“So I can’t meet him right away?”

Why did they have so many barriers around meeting a mere cult leader?

When I allowed a trace of disappointment to show on my face, the girl quickly continued.

“The Religion of the Heavenly One regularly holds a sacred gathering known as the Rite of Praising the Heavenly One. It is a holy event where all ordinary believers assemble to receive the Master’s guidance.”

The Rite of Praising the Heavenly One?

That was certainly an impressive name.

“Every believer in the Religion of the Heavenly One attends?”

“Yes! During the ceremony, probationary members who have completed their three-month probation also receive baptism directly from the Master and are elevated to full believers. The Rite of Praising the Heavenly One is held once every three months.”

She smiled.

“And by wonderful fortune, the next ceremony is only a few days away.”

Her expression became even brighter.

“So if you join now, you may begin your probation immediately after the upcoming ceremony. Then, once the probationary period ends, you will be promoted to a full believer.”

I considered what she had said.

An event where all the believers gathered in one place.

Perhaps I could use it to confirm Jiu noona’s whereabouts.

“Where is the Rite of Praising the Heavenly One held?”

“At the sacred grounds of the Religion of the Heavenly One. Only those who have completed their probationary period are permitted to visit.”

It appeared they had no intention of revealing the location to outsiders.

That made sense.

The probationary period was probably also a means of screening potential members.

People engaged in suspicious activities would hardly allow just anyone to enter their headquarters.

Rather than pressing her for the location, I adopted an earnest expression.

“Didn’t you say there isn’t much time left before salvation? I’m willing to pay more, if necessary. Is there truly no way for me to attend this Rite of Praising the Heavenly One?”

“Ah... I’m sorry, but the probationary period is prescribed by the doctrine of our order...”

The girl glanced at the middle-aged woman beside her.

The woman gave a slight shake of her head.

The girl turned back to me apologetically.

“I’m sorry. But there is no need to rush. You can attend the next Rite of Praising the Heavenly One in three months. That will not be too late.”

“When exactly will that ceremony be?”

“Ah... One moment, please.”

She checked the calendar on her phone.

“April sixteenth.”

“That’s nearly one hundred days from now. That means I would be waiting roughly ten days longer than the three-month probationary period.”

I paused deliberately.

“So the upcoming Rite of Praising the Heavenly One must be taking place about ten days from now.”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Is there truly no way for me to attend that one?”

“I’m sorry. There is simply no way to shorten the probationary period...”

Ten days from now.

That was all I needed to know.

To remain in contact with them, I paid the three-hundred-thousand-won initiation fee.

“I’m so glad you have made such a wise decision. From this moment onward, Brother, you too stand at the beginning of the path toward true salvation.”

The girl clasped my hand tightly between both of hers and offered a brief prayer.

She was already calling me Brother.

After that, they conducted a simple background check.

They asked for my name and age.

I introduced myself as a college dropout who currently worked part-time.

“It was truly wonderful meeting you today, Brother. We will see each other again soon.”

We agreed to meet again at a later date and parted ways.

Once I returned home, I considered my next move.

[Person123: Bilon, would you be able to obtain something like a location-tracking device for me?]

I contacted Bilon.

His answer arrived almost immediately.

[Chicken Sandwich: Of course. What precisely would you require?]

Bilon never asked why I needed something.

He simply agreed to provide whatever I requested.

I described the sort of tracker that appeared in spy films—something small enough to attach secretly to a specific person.

[Chicken Sandwich: I understand. If you wish to track one particular individual, I can instead provide a device capable of hacking directly into their phone. Naturally, it would also allow you to access their GPS data.]

[Person123: Then please prepare that. Would it be possible within a week?]

[Chicken Sandwich: Certainly.]

I had no intention of waiting several months to investigate the Rite of Praising the Heavenly One.

So what was the simplest solution?

Attach a tracker to one of the cult’s believers.

The ceremony was supposedly attended by every member.

When the upcoming Rite of Praising the Heavenly One began, they would all travel to the same location.

All I needed to do was track one of them and follow.

The hacking device Bilon had promised arrived the very next day through the Magic Stone Courier.

[Chicken Sandwich: Connect the device to the charging port of the phone you wish to access.]

According to Bilon’s explanation, three seconds of contact would be enough to gain complete control over the target phone.

Terrifying.

Another day passed.

For the first time in my life, I was going out to participate in a religious activity.

And not just any religious activity.

I was attending as a believer in a cult that was exploiting my own name.

“Welcome! We’re meeting over here.”

I met the girl who had recruited me, and we headed to the gathering together.

Her name was Lee Hye-ri.

She was one year younger than me, though that information was not particularly important.

The location itself was nothing suspicious.

It was an ordinary study café.

I had imagined a dark room packed with fanatics chanting themselves into a frenzy.

Instead, they had simply reserved one of the café’s study rooms.

Inside, a group of strangers introduced themselves and chatted cheerfully with one another.

Was this friendliness merely because I was new?

This was probably how they gradually lowered a newcomer’s guard before drawing them deeper inside.

Whatever.

It did not matter.

Hye-ri had carelessly left her phone lying on the table.

Connecting the hacking device to it and removing it again was easy.

We ate, drank coffee, and talked until the gathering came to an end.

When I returned home, I checked the device.

“Oh. It worked.”

Just as the instructions had explained, I connected the second tool that had come with the hacking device to my own phone.

Hye-ri’s phone became completely accessible to me.

It was as though I were holding the device in my own hands.

I could see everything.

Her messages, private chats, files, and records.

As I searched through them, I discovered that Lee Hye-ri was no ordinary cult follower.

She was deeply involved in the organization.

More importantly, I found all the information I needed.

The Rite of Praising the Heavenly One was scheduled for January fifteenth.

Exactly five days from now.

Hye-ri was indeed planning to travel to the cult’s headquarters for the ceremony.

Five days passed.

Early that morning, I checked Hye-ri’s live location and saw that she had begun moving.

Following her route, I saw her leave the Seoul metropolitan area and travel south toward Chungcheong-do.

Once Hye-ri arrived, I would go there myself.

I would find Jiu noona and make certain she was safe.

What I would do after that...

I had not decided yet.

Eventually, Hye-ri’s location stopped in the middle of a mountainous region.

The area was Boeun-gun, Chungcheong-do.

It seemed she had reached her destination.

I put on a cap and mask, pulled the hood of my sweatshirt over my head, and activated the Warp Device.

Let’s see.

Let’s find out what those cult bastards are doing out there.