"Thank you very much, Master." Marie wept in reply.
To Oliver’s surprise, she wasn't crying because she was sad. Rather, it was the other way around– Joy, happiness, gratitude, and exhilaration, and so on, she wept with positive emotions.
You're beautiful. At that word, she was more delighted than anyone else in the world, and at the same time showed infinite gratitude to Oliver.
It wasn't a matter for Oliver to judge, but it seemed out of the ordinary.
Everything from start to finish…
‘What happened?’
Time passed while Oliver questioned in his head, and Marie, who had calmed her emotions, regained her composure and returned to a calm state.
"I'm sorry, Master. I was so moved to see you again like this… I'm sorry for showing such an ugly side.”
At her sincere words, Oliver shook his head.
"No, you didn't show any ugly side. Um… by any chance, could you please do me a favor?”
"Yes, Master! Tell me!"
Marie knelt down again with infinite joy.
Oliver felt like he had seen something similar somewhere…..
‘Oh, I remember.’
It was very similar to the people praying in the cathedral of Parter church– People praying to God.
“Marie… I’ll say once again, please don’t kneel to me. Please. ”
As if she understood Oliver's intentions, Marie jumped to her feet in surprise. She was like a child being scolded by an adult.
"I'm sorry, Master. Please forgive me…..”
Oliver felt dizzy and uncomfortable beyond description. However, he decided to calm down and thought of solving the problems step by step.
“… I'm not going to say anything because I left on my own, but if you don't mind, can I ask how other people are doing? The Joseph family.”
“Everyone is doing well. Thanks to the grace of Master.”
"……."
“And I have something to tell you, Master.”
"Please tell me. I have a lot to ask, too.”
"We changed the name of our organization. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness for changing it without permission."
"Oh… there's no need to apologize, Marie. After all, I left without saying anything, so it's up to you to change it to whatever you want. Can you tell me what the new name is?"
"The Chosen Ones."
"Oh… Who chose you?”
"You, Master!" Marie answered with confidence and without hesitation. She was so sure that Oliver was speechless.
"Uh… Me?"
"Yes, Master!"
"Um, Marie. The former owner… Uh, wait a minute… could we stop this conversation and talk about something else?"
Oliver sat on the nearby tree root as he spoke. He was a bit tired.
"The chair…"
"… No, it’s fine. I feel comfortable here. Marie, sit down, too."
"No, how dare I….. I feel comfortable standing."
"…OK, well, let me ask you another question."
"Yes, Master."
"….May I ask what happened after I left? Something's not right.”
"Ah, yes… After Master left, a small trial came."
“A trial?”
"Yes, some fools thought the master had disappeared forever, so they tried to leave, some declared themselves as the new master, and others tried to steal."
"Oh…I didn't know it was that bad. I'm sorry."
"No, why do you apologize for the likes of such filthy beings, Master? You don't have to do that at all, Master. Everything was taken care of."
"Um, how?”
"I killed them all.”
Whiiiii…
A cold wind carrying the winter chill suddenly blew in the forest. It was so cold that it sent shivers down the spines of the people present in the forest.
"Um… I guess that could happen. If you don't agree on things, you could fight or kill. But you won. How did you do it?"
It was a sincere question.
Oliver had given Marie intense training before leaving and had taken her to the battlefield to gain practical experience.
However, objectively, Marie's skills were on par with other Senior disciples, and it was difficult for her to face multiple opponents alone.
It was difficult even if she faced everyone one-on-one.
"Was it only the Intermediate disciples who revolted?"
"No, Master. They were all Senior disciples. I had to kill more than half of them."
"I don't understand, but it's really great."
"Everything is Master's grace."
"I didn't do anything for you though.”
"No, I can tell. From beginning to end, it's all the grace of the master."
Marie’s every word came from her heart. Oliver wanted to correct this part, but he decided to postpone it for now because he had a lot to talk about.
"Well, let's put that aside for now… I heard that you're producing Pilgaret [Gift]. Marie, you were actually acting as a broker, right?"
"Oh, it's a kind of camouflage, Master. To explore Landa."
"I see. Well, that's not the point, are you producing pilgaret Gift?"
"Yes, I applied the recipe that Master taught us and made it with all my heart. I’ll never become someone who disregards your teaching, Master."
"Thank you for saying so. But, I heard one strange thing.”
"What is it, Master?"
"I heard that it was made by Warlock cultists. Is that true?" Oliver asked, remembering Magic Gun Nina, whom he met and killed while protecting Jane.
Somehow he didn't ask about it in detail at that time, but he always had a slight suspicion.
"No, it's not true, Master."
"Oh, I see.”
"Yes, cult, that’s ridiculous. We are a true religion serving the true savior, Master.”
"………………….what?"
“Unlike pathetic fools of Parter Church, we are honored to be the Chosen ones and serve Master… It's ridiculous to call us a cult."
As soon as he heard it, Oliver didn't know what to say. He was so confused that his brain could not process the data. Nevertheless, Oliver did not give up and tried to understand Marie.
The light faded, and Oliver also left the Joseph Family for a purpose, and after little over a year later, the Joseph Family….. No, the ‘Chosen Ones' have grown into a pretty big organization for it to do business with Crime Firm.
He understood that part.
However, worshiping him? He couldn't understand it at all, and it was confusing.
As if she misinterpreted it as a signal to explain, Marie spoke.
"After Master left, I was very sad, but I didn't give up. I realized the trial Master gave us and worked hard to endure them."
“A trial I gave?”
"Yes, I realized our laziness. I realized our incompetence was the reason you left us."
"Um. You can look at it that way, but I think it's completely wrong overall?"
Marie didn't listen to Oliver's words. She became more agitated and shouted.
"I discovered the impure elements in the organization and realized how pathetic we were. We never even thought of repaying the grace of our master and sucked your grace like parasites! Even if we tried, we couldn't really take action!"
"……."
"So I decided to create a new group that would serve only Master, not lacking in any way. I worked hard to make believers who would serve only Master, do everything for Master, and worship only Master."
"……."
"First, I reorganized the organization to let everyone know how graceful Master is to us. And I spread Master's teachings."
"Teachings? Mine?"
"Yes! Cooperate without discrimination! Treat people according to their abilities! Provide fair education to everyone! Share your knowledge with each other! Guarantee a minimum standard of living and constantly devote yourself!"
Marie gasped for breath as she shouted.
"TO US FOOLS, all of this is a lesson we are grateful for."
“… .I think it's basic.”
"This world doesn't even have that basic, Master."
Marie replied with all her heart.
"We have received immeasurable grace that we cannot repay to our Master."
“Um… …Okay, for now, keep talking.”
"Everyone understood what I was saying, and I informed Pharmacist about it."
Pharmacist, the ruler of Wineham, and the power behind the darkness that grips the small city.
Oliver felt a little sorry for him, too.
Pharmacist wanted to do business together with him, but Oliver left unilaterally without a word.
"He was furious when he heard us, but we quickly persuaded him."
"Persuaded?"
"Yes, he was convinced when he saw the teaching left by Master and the power left by Master."
"Is he still alive?"
"Of course. He is in charge of the finances and relief efforts for Chosen Ones."
"Relief efforts?”
"Yes, a God needs the right followers. We're not yet at a scale where we can tell you about it, but our religion is expanding little by little around the small city."
"……."
"Please don't misunderstand me, Master. I know who Master is. I'm not forcing them to believe. We rather help those in need, just like Master did to us."
"……."
"The sick, orphans, old men, women, workers, beggars. We give money, food, clothes, and jobs to those who cannot live alone in this harsh world. In the process, we only spread Master's teachings and give credit to Master for all of it."
"……."
"Then, they open their eyes to Master's teachings and follow us wholeheartedly."
"And if they achieve something, they will mistakenly think it's all because of me."
"It's not a mistake, IT’S A FACT!" Marie raised her voice unintentionally. Even she was surprised.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me, Master. I dare to raise my voice without knowing the subject… Please forgive me."
"No, it's okay to shout. Just don't try to kneel."
"Thank you for your mercy, Master….. Currently, we have about 200 chosen ones, including the Warlocks, who are going through the curriculum, and we have just over 3,000 believers. Although it is insignificant for our Master, the growth rate is steep. All of this is for Master…"
"…Marie."
"Yes, Master?"
Oliver thought for a moment and sighed.
"I didn't ask for anything like that. I didn't want that either."
"……."
"What I wanted was for everyone, including you, Marie, to do what you wanted. Working hard, getting rich, or getting revenge on the people who hit you… Marie, why did you become a Warlock"
“… It's because I want to become stronger. Because I hated the time when I couldn’t do anything.”
"Yes, that's right. You didn't like the time when you couldn't do anything, even when dirty sewage was dumped right next to your house, or when your mother collapsed from illegal labor, or when your father was beaten to death by the neighborhood gangsters, isn’t it."
Marie looked surprised and pleased. She was grateful and surprised that Oliver remembered her story.
"Then wouldn't it be better to practice black magic rather than do something no one wants?"
"……you're right."
"You understand.”
"Yes, and I still want to be strong, Master. To be able to be by your side."
"……."
"What I want has changed, too. I want to serve you, my SAVIOR and my GOD.”
"I am neither a savior nor a god. What I did for you was just my job as the temporary owner of the family."
"Yes, of course, I know that. …Master, do you happen to know the act of sun worship?"
"…No."
"In ancient times, before the emergence of the Parter religion, some humans worshiped the sun."
"……."
"It is said that they drew pictures, made statues to worship, and offered the most delicious meat and bread. The sun shines on the earth, dispelling darkness and giving warmth and nutrients for crops to grow. … But the sun doesn't do this for the humans, nor does it want anything from them.”
"……."
"The sun just does its job. Whether it's worshiped or insulted, it always rises and sets. It does its job silently."
"Yes, so…"
"… But isn't the sun worth it?"
"……."
“No matter how the little things on the ground behave, the sun that silently does its job is the Savior and the God?! It's better than those imaginary existences who call themselves Holy Father, Mother, preach kind words but do nothing!"
At that moment, Joanna's face flashed in Oliver’s mind. No, he corrected himself, he couldn't remember her face anymore.
"……."
"All you've done for us was give us that light, that warmth, that nutrition. You taught me black magic by putting your hands in my hands, you listened to me, and you talked to me. I….my… God."
Marie knelt down again and cried with her hands together.
"Please come back to the humble place where we worship you, my God. I swear on my soul and on the soul of my followers, I will bring you everything you desire, and I will exalt your glory. So please be our savior, our god."
Oliver looked down at Marie, who had kneeled three times, and opened his mouth.
"You'll do whatever I want?”
"Yes!" Marie answered, her face brightened with hope.
"Then, stop the nonsense, go back to your own life, and live for yourself."
"Master…"
"I don't want anything Marie did. Besides, it's not reasonable."
"Not reasonable?"
"Yes, as Marie said, the sun rises and sets whether it's worshiped or insulted. That's why people look for new things to worship. But why is Marie trying to serve the sun so desperately? Isn't that an act beyond the sun's teachings? It's not for the sun."
Oliver's unusually firm tone was enough to lower Marie's head. She remained silent, facing the ground, as if in despair.
"That's all I have to say. It's different from what I thought, but it was nice meeting you. I hope we can meet again, differently next time."
Oliver went back to the way he had come, leaving behind those words.
He thought it would be dawn when he reached home.
"That's right."
Oliver stopped his steps and turned.
"What?"
"What you said is correct, Master. In fact, I didn't do this for Master. I did this because I wanted to be by your side. I did this in the hopes that you would stay with me."
"…it's too bad."
"Yes, I feel the same way."
Mary slowly stood up. At the same time, her hair grew longer and her pale skin turned pure black.
"……."
"So, I have decided to change the way I do things. You told me to live my life the way I wanted, then… I can use force to take you with me if I want to, right?"
Marie's body turned completely black. Her slender hands were stretched and her long, creepy nails grew.
Oliver removed his leather mask and replied.
"…. Fine. Try it if you can."
(To be Continued)
OR
$5/month6 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$15/month12 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month19 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$45/monthAll advance chap + 6 chap/week
