Return of the Volcano – Episode 1743 (1744/1753)
Episode 1743. It’s not visible. (3)
An elaborate and vivid statue of a god carved out of wood is placed in the center of a dark tent. It resembled a devil rather than a god, and a suffering animal rather than a devil.
Every time the surrounding candles swayed, the long shadow cast from the statue fluttered greatly along the tent wall. The scene was eerie, as if an animal was struggling to escape from the darkness.
The strange space is filled with a chant-like recitation. The atmosphere was eerily gloomy thanks to the many voices sticking together.
Among them, a man slowly approached the statue.
He was constantly reciting strange verses and held out the strangely shaped jegi held in his hand. The large circular ancestral rite with numerous animals intertwined with it looked like it symbolized the word ‘sacrifice.’
The ritual vessel is slowly tilted over the statue. Soon, seventeen streams of blood began to flow out and stain the statue red.
The chanting, which was close to muttering, began to transform into a true song.
“Aaaaaah!”
It is infinitely pious yet endlessly gloomy. A unique and strange ritual that could not be found anywhere else was held.
The hand of the blood cult leader, the one standing in the center and presiding over all of this, moved with utmost care. At first glance, it may seem like a simple act of pouring blood on a statue, but there are strict procedures for all of this. The strong determination that even the slightest error could not be tolerated remained at my fingertips.
fluttering.
And at that moment, the tent flapped once in the wind. At the same time, the eyes of the blood cult leader holding the flag narrowed.
“Aaaaaaa!”
The squeezing sound of the song reached its peak, and at the same time, the blood flowing from the jegi began to subside.
The blood cult leader, who had shed blood to the last drop, carefully withdrew his hand. After concluding the ritual with a reverential gesture, he knelt in front of his statue and exposed both palms.
Eventually, after completing all the procedures, the blood cult leader carefully took a step back.
Although it is elaborate, it is ultimately nothing more than a wooden statue. It doesn’t feel particularly old, and I can’t see any special parts.
However, the head of the blood cult put his heart and soul into it until the end, as if the statue really contained the god he served.
The blood cult leader finally retreated and turned his head. His eyes, which had been endlessly reverent, suddenly began to shine red.
Jeez.
He took a step. The place he headed was towards the religious group that was reverently holding a rite in one corner of the tent.
The cultist’s face turned dark as he realized that the blood cult leader was approaching me.
“Church, leader… … ?”
“Do you know what a blood ritual is?”
An eerie red glow flowed from the blood cult leader’s eyes.
Sweat began to pour down from Kyodo’s entire body like rain. Blood sacrifice is one of the most important religious rituals. If you are a religious believer, there is no way you would not know its meaning.
So now the meaning of this question was also clear.
“It is a place where unqualified people who were cruelly driven out can at least prove their faith.”
“Yo, forgive me! Forgiveness… … .”
Quack!
The long fingers of the blood cultist grabbed the cultist’s neck. His fingertips penetrated his throat.
“ugh… … . Crumbling… … .”
“But that sacred place is being filled by an unscrupulous man who shatters faith at the mere sound of the wind.”
Although his voice did not show much emotion, a member of the Blood Cult could not have known how much anger was seething within him.
Toad!
The blood that flowed down my toes and dripped onto the floor. The cultist instinctively ripped off the blood cult leader’s hand that was clutching his neck and struggled, but the blood cult leader was as indifferent as a person looking at bugs under his feet.
Wow.
In the end, the cultist’s fingers crushed the cultist’s neck vertebrae. The teacher hung out his tongue and hung his head.
dump.
An eerie light leaked from the eyes of the blood cult leader who threw away the lifeless one.
“Clean it up.”
“yes!”
“Do not leave even a single drop of dirty blood here.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The blood cult leader glared at the prostrate men and turned his head. I saw a statue half-soaked in blood.
After staring at the statue for a long time, he turned and left the tent. And before I could even take a few steps, a person quickly followed me.
“Cult leader.”
The blood cult leader took a quick glance to the side.
There were only three elders in the church, and among them, there were three elders. His complexion looked dark and heavy.
“After a long wait, it is worth reducing the blood sacrifice, but you know that this could be a problem.”
The blood cult leader’s eyes sank.
“Do you mean a sacrifice?”
“I guess you know.”
The defeated army, Jang Il-so, was forbidden to touch civilians. The reason was that since he had to fight in enemy territory, there was no need to go out and upset the public sentiment.
It was a truly trivial reason, but it was clear that such an order had been given in the name of a defeated army.
The problem was that the blood used in blood sacrifices could only be obtained from the hearts of men, women, and men.
“But we had no choice but to perform the ritual.”
“This incident… … .”
The blood cult leader suddenly turned his head and glared at the three elders.
“So are you saying that we shouldn’t even have offered sacrifices to the god who was robbed of his rightful place?”
“God would understand. Because you are merciful.”
“I guess people are taking advantage of that mercy.”
“Cult leader.”
“There is no need to say more. “Because we can’t undo what has already happened.”
Elder Three sighed heavily. What the religious leader said was not wrong. What if it could have been prevented before it happened, but what can you do when it has already happened?
Elder Three said, trying to shake off his heavy heart.
“You need to pay attention to the dynamics of the Sapaeryun.”
The corner of the blood cult leader’s eyes twitched.
“You must not forget. This is our only chance to step onto the white soil of the central plains again. “If SPA does not win this time, we will have to remain silent again for a long time.”
“Because the Sapae-ryeon failed to win?”
“… … “Cult leader?”
“It wasn’t because of the Sapaeryeon, it was probably just because we didn’t have the strength. “No, it wasn’t strength, it was lack of courage?”
“Cult leader! “What do you mean by that?”
“I will go first.”
The head of the Blood Cult suddenly broke eye contact and took a step forward. But the anger boiling in his chest eventually made him utter one more word.
“And remember: “Whether we get a win or a loss, the outcome will not be different.”
“What do you mean by that, cult leader?”
The blood cult leader took another step without replying.
‘Old people… … .’
Strength goes into my hands.
Those who were said to be armed with faith did not have the courage to face the disaster, so they turned their backs on the white earth and ran away. Because of this, their gods lost their rightful place and did not even receive the treatment they deserved.
Even if it is a blood sacrifice, it is nothing more than feeding a desiccated patient enough salt water to keep him from dying. But does that mean we have to be afraid?
It is a blood religion that was once said to have ruled the world. But now it felt like there was nothing left that could be called a remnant.
My heart sank heavily.
I was furious, but at the same time I understood. Why can’t the three elders say something like that?
‘Where did it start to get distorted?’
When we first joined hands with Sapaeryeon, the school’s plans were different from what they are now.
The Sapae-ryeon will completely engulf Gangnam, and will be in conflict with Cheon Woo-maeng centered on the Yangtze River. In that case, the religion gains its territory in return for helping the Sapaeryun.
If the plan worked out… … By now, Gyo would have achieved his long-cherished wish of entering the central plains. Because coexistence with those who live differently from others is possible.
‘Jang Il-so… … .’
Things started to go wrong when the defeated Jang Il-so crossed the Yangtze River and advanced toward Gangbuk.
Anyone who holds something in their hands tries to protect it tenaciously. That’s normal. But Jang Il-so was different. Like a starving anglerfish, he threw away everything he had and coveted the enemy’s land.
As a result, ‘coexistence’ has now become impossible. If this war is lost, the apostles in the central plains will dry up, and the religion will have to go through a long period of suffering again. Unless they can deal with the entire Jeongdo on their own.
I didn’t want it, but before I knew it… … The school ended up sharing the fate of Sapaeryeon.
‘Did you know it would be like this from the beginning? or not… … .’
The face of Jang Il-so, smiling brightly, flashed through the blood cult leader’s mind.
Yeah, you got it. All of this can’t be a coincidence. It is no exaggeration to say that the entire school was played into the hands of Jang Il-so. In a way, it was natural for the elders to be so wary of Jang Il-so.
‘but… … .’
– Take your pick.
The blood cult leader laughed softly.
Even Jang Il-so could not have predicted such a thing. This is literally genius. Predicting a lightning strike in a dry sky is not the domain of humans. The same goes for blood cult leaders. Just crying and moaning.
It’s a choice… … .
Either perish right now, or become a dog and survive for a little while.
Can choosing one of the two really be called a ‘choice’? The results won’t be different anyway.
The blood cultist’s eyes flashed again.
‘If there is no way, we have no choice but to create a way.’
And until that opportunity comes, I have no choice but to call myself a dog. That would be the maximum devotion he could offer to the God who had taken his place.
The blood cult leader’s eyes sparkled with madness.
Of course, this situation is not pleasant. As the anger builds up, it finds a place to express itself. The death of a believer for losing his faith may have simply been the result of him finding a way to vent his anger.
“Master.”
At that time, a prisoner whose entire body was covered with a dark red blood-covered robe quickly approached him.
“Has the defeated army moved?”
The blood cult leader’s eyes immediately calmed as he remembered Jang Il-so.
There is no need to be afraid. Even more so now that it is clear that he cannot change the fate of the school.
But even though I know that, I am afraid. It is Jang Il-so’s madness that has pushed the blood religion into its current predicament. An endless madness that cannot be found even in those who have learned magic.
The church is already suffering from the madness.
“no.”
“then?”
“It’s a matter of Cheon Woo-maeng… … .”
The teacher quickly explained what he had heard. Hearing all of this, the blood cult leader’s eyes became a little redder.
“Is it him…?” … .”
“yes.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
The blood cult leader looked down at his hands.
The blood of the seventeen men, women, and children used in the ritual is buried there, as well as the blood of the religious leaders.
“I guess you’re still hungry.”
“… … yes?”
“The best sacrifice is the blood of a religious enemy. “The heart of someone who insulted religion may be able to soothe the hunger of someone who lost it, even if only for a moment.”
The blood-soaked fingers of the blood cult leader twitched slightly.
“Are you willing to step forward yourself?”
“It would be suitable for entertainment.”
“But the defeated army… … .”
He may have blurted out his words, but in the end, he must have been concerned that if the blood cult leader moved, he would be disobeying the defeated army’s order to stay in place.
The blood cult leader frowned.
“There is only one person who can give me orders.”
“That was presumptuous.”
The blood cult leader’s face, covered in bandages, was slightly distorted.
The church does not condone religious affiliation. Even if it means going to the end of the world, they will follow you and make sure to rip out your heart.
There is one reason why that is possible. This is because there are tens of millions of people in the world, and the scent of their blood is all different. If they put their minds to it, there’s no way they wouldn’t be able to find one like that.
And this… … It is also related to another task he must keep.
The blood cult leader turned his head without blinking. In the distance, you can see the largest and most colorful tent, towering alone.
A luxurious tent that can only be used by the master of the Sapaeryun. The corner of the blood cult leader’s mouth twitched slightly as he stared at that scene.
“Assemble the believers.”
The blood cultist’s eyes widened. It is not normal for the cult leader to step forward himself, but if the cult members move together, the problem will become even bigger.
“Didn’t you hear?”
“Oh, no. “I will convene right away.”
The prisoner quickly disappeared. The blood cult leader narrowed his eyes.
– Do what you wish. As you wish.
An unpleasant cough-like laugh leaked out.
It’s what I hope for… … .
Do you even know what he wants?
But the funny thing was that the blood cult leader clearly knew what those random words meant.
“I’d rather be grateful.”
If you push my back, there’s no way I won’t do a sword dance.
Soon everyone will know.
Both those who enjoyed false peace and those who run wild with false prestige will feel it.
The anger of someone whose place was taken away. The existence of someone who dyed the world red. and… … The deep resentment of those who have kept that will.
Did you say 100 thousand?
“It started… … “It starts with the blood of that religious leader.”
The Blood Cultist’s two eyes, revealed between the bandages, radiated dark red light. It was the ominous and gloomy madness of someone who had nothing to lose.
