Chapter 66

Chapter 66. The Appearance of a Great Demon (3)

About thirty minutes after the conversation began, Jungon called back the people he had previously sent out. He also gathered several priests who had been working at Myeongdong Cathedral for many years.

"Ahem. Father Jungon, you look much better now."

Just as Chief Nam said, Jungon appeared much more relieved after listening to Michael.

"I guess you two had a good conversation?"

Sia was secretly happy to see Jungon looking so much brighter. Since Sia was happy, the animals gathered around her seemed to smile along with her.

"Well, I suppose he's made up his mind in his own way."

Michael, who was lying back on a pew, recalled their conversation.

He hadn't revealed everything. He had simply explained that the Omen, which had appeared repeatedly for thousands of years, was an apocalypse brought about by fate working together with demons, and that the events happening now were also part of the Omen. He had concealed everything related to Helena and had instead adjusted the story to emphasize how he had sacrificed himself for humanity throughout the various apocalypses.

"Thank you."

Jungon's first reaction after hearing everything hadn't been fear or confusion. Instead, he had thanked Michael for all the sacrifices he had made for the world.

"You understand that knowing the truth won't change anything, right?"

"I do. If it's an unavoidable fate, then we have no choice but to accept it. Still, thanks to you, I feel as though something that was blocking my mind has finally cleared."

His fear probably hadn't disappeared completely. However, after learning the truth, Jungon's trembling hands had finally stopped shaking.

Just as Michael finished recalling the conversation, Jungon played the video from Japan for the gathered people. Everyone fell silent at the horrifying scene, which words alone couldn't possibly describe.

Once Jungon believed they were sufficiently prepared, he finally explained why he had gathered them.

"As you've all seen, if Marbas enters Korea, it would be no exaggeration to call it a disaster. Does anyone have a good countermeasure?"

"Ahem. I think we should station personnel at airports and ports he might use to enter the country. I'll provide as much support as my authority allows."

Having witnessed the terrible events in Japan, Chief Nam understood the seriousness of the situation and began offering every resource he could provide.

Michael had heard that Chief Nam, whom he had earlier called a pig, was the head of the Exorcist Support Police, commonly known as ESP, a special police organization dedicated to handling demons. Since Michael didn't understand the hierarchy of modern police ranks, he simply interpreted that to mean Chief Nam was someone important.

"If necessary, I'll also submit requests to my superiors to obtain additional support."

"I'm grateful for your offer alone."

Jungon looked pleased with ESP's willingness to help. Next, Sia cautiously raised her hand.

"Um... I think it might be a good idea to set up barriers too, just in case."

Her suggestion was reasonable. Jungon signaled to his aide to prepare the materials needed for the barriers.

"And we should probably prepare additional sacred objects, such as holy water and incense burners..."

Everyone gathered in the reliquary chamber offered their own suggestions. The group accepted ideas that seemed useful and discussed their differences whenever they disagreed, gradually developing a coordinated plan.

Michael, however, remained sprawled across his pew and didn't participate in the meeting.

To humans, Great Demons were natural disasters, especially ones with a high standing among Great Demons, such as Marbas. No matter how many ideas they came up with, those suggestions would mean very little against such an opponent.

It's about time...

For some reason, Michael couldn't stop thinking about the priest who had come from Japan. He quietly rose from his seat and left the reliquary chamber without making a sound.

Under the sky, where the sun had already begun setting, Michael opened his palm and held it toward the heavens. Small fireflies rose from his aura-covered hand. He transferred the sensation he had memorized from Father Matsumoto to the fireflies.

"Guidance of the Holy Spirit. Track him."

No sooner had Michael finished speaking than the white fireflies scattered throughout the cathedral. A short while later, the Guidance of the Holy Spirit completed its task and formed a thin line that only Michael could see.

"This direction is..."

Following the line, Michael arrived not at a guest room but at the religious-goods shop prepared for visitors to Myeongdong Cathedral.

"A little farther down?"

Michael lowered his gaze toward the floor. The thin line continued through the shop and extended downward.

BOOOOM!

At that moment, an explosion sounded from somewhere nearby. It was extremely close. The explosion seemed to have occurred within the cathedral grounds, and it wasn't the only one.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"AAAAARGH!"

Explosions erupted one after another. Every new explosion was accompanied by screams.

"That's pretty bold. Setting off explosives inside a sanctuary."

A sanctuary was a place officially recognized by the Pope. Locations containing the remains of Saints or places considered historically sacred were usually granted this status.

According to rumors, the sacred energy accumulated within a sanctuary weakened evil and amplified the aura of priests.

But that depends on the location.

Since recognition by the Pope was the deciding condition, not every sanctuary was necessarily filled with sacred energy. Some places were designated as sanctuaries because of their special significance, while others received the title simply because the Pope chose to grant it.

Fortunately, Myeongdong Cathedral appeared to be a proper sanctuary, judging by the way it amplified aura.

"Ugh..."

"Guuuh..."

Michael sensed demonic energy nearby. Several priests who had been caught in the explosions were lying on the ground. Their limbs were still intact, suggesting they hadn't taken direct hits, but,

"They don't look like they're going to live much longer."

Thick streams of blood were flowing from their backs. Pieces of wood or stone had probably been driven deep into their bodies by the explosions.

"They might survive if they're lucky."

Michael's healing ability had not yet awakened, and he didn't have the time to save them right now.

Leaving the injured priests behind, Michael expanded his senses. He needed to find whoever was responsible for the explosions before more people were hurt.

"...There's nothing?"

Michael frowned as he concentrated. Explosions were still occurring, and he could sense demonic energy every time one went off. Yet there was no trace of whoever was causing them.

"Are they hiding themselves with a demonic artifact?"

Valefor had possessed demonic artifacts that could conceal demonic energy, so it was certainly possible.

Rustle, rustle!

At that moment, a small insect resembling an aphid, with a swollen abdomen, approached Michael's feet. Unlike ordinary aphids, which were somewhat translucent, this one had a reddish appearance. Michael knew exactly what it was.

"An Exploding Bug!"

Michael's eyes widened. Reflected in his pupils, the Exploding Bug's abdomen grew redder and began swelling.

BOOOOM!

Its abdomen burst, releasing a flaming shockwave that engulfed Michael. The explosive force was almost impossible to believe, considering it came from such a tiny insect.

The explosion left a deep depression in the ground. Thick, black smoke containing demonic energy spread across the area before slowly beginning to disperse.

"Insects, huh..."

A gentle breeze passed through the smoke. As it thinned, Michael's pale silhouette gradually became visible.

He had one hand covering his mouth to protect his respiratory system. With his other hand, he held Durandal in a reverse grip, its wrapping having come loose, and had planted the sword into the ground. Using Durandal as support, Michael had endured the shockwave. He slowly straightened his slightly bent back.

"No wonder I couldn't detect them."

Exploding Bugs were insects native to Hell that had a habit of self-destructing whenever they sensed danger. Their distinguishing feature was that they emitted no demonic energy until they exploded. In fact, there were quite a few insects in Hell that concealed their demonic energy to avoid predators.

"This isn't good."

Michael's previously composed expression hardened.

Now that he was paying attention to the Exploding Bugs, he could spot the swollen, reddish insects almost everywhere he looked. Naturally, they reminded him of one particular individual.

"Has he already entered Korea?"

At this point, the only person, or rather, demon, who would release Exploding Bugs was Marbas. More importantly, to direct Exploding Bugs to specific locations and make them explode, he needed to be within the same city.

"Insects! They're insects! The insects are exploding! Everyone, be careful!"

The priests who had rushed out of the cathedral finally discovered the cause of the explosions. However, even after identifying the threat, how were they supposed to stop such an enormous number of Exploding Bugs? If they approached one even slightly,

BOOOOM!

The insect immediately exploded.

What's down there that's important enough for them to cause such a disturbance?

If the Exploding Bugs had entered the cathedral, Matsumoto must also have been carrying an insect. Marbas had caused a disturbance to attract everyone's attention while sending Matsumoto underground because there was something he wanted.

The religious-goods shop or the insects...

Michael couldn't simply ignore the Exploding Bugs when they could hurt Sia. However, he couldn't leave the priest who had gone underground to do whatever he pleased either.

Just as Michael found himself forced to choose between the two,

"Um, wouldn't it work if we made them fall asleep? If they explode whenever someone gets close, we could put them to sleep first and collect them afterward... Could I try?"

A small, thin young man among the priests cautiously proposed an alternative. It was Jinwoo.

"Are you confident you can do it?"

"I, I'll try."

"Then, while Deacon Marco recites the prayer, the rest of you must prevent the insects from reaching him."

Perhaps it was because Jinwoo was famous for being the child John had brought to the cathedral, or perhaps the oldest priest among them simply appreciated the deacon's willingness to take on the challenge. Whatever the reason, he ordered the other priests to protect Jinwoo.

With everyone's attention focused on him, the extremely nervous Jinwoo began reciting his prayer.

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid."

As Jinwoo recited the prayer, it almost looked as though a halo was rising behind him.

"That's the aura of a kid who isn't even twenty years old?"

"Has some Saint been reincarnated or something?"

The priests who were reciting the Prayer of Protection were astonished by Jinwoo's dense aura, which was ready to spread at any moment.

"Oh? So there's a method like that too."

Having understood what Jinwoo intended to do, Michael watched with interest.

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety..."

With every passage Jinwoo recited, the aura that resembled a halo spread farther outward. The aura, which brought to mind a vast and peaceful ocean, rode the gentle breeze and brushed against the Exploding Bugs scattered throughout Myeongdong Cathedral.

Thud! Thud!

The Exploding Bugs touched by the aura began falling asleep, their bodies going limp.

"Hurry! Move the injured!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the priests began transporting the wounded.

"Little brat. I guess he's not just a coward after all."

Watching from a distance, Michael smiled as though he had seen enough and turned toward the religious-goods shop.

Following the line created by the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, Michael entered the shop, which was filled with souvenirs. The line didn't end there. It continued through a door that someone had broken open.

Step, step.

Michael passed through the broken doorway and descended the stairs. In front of a wide-open iron door, he found several security guards lying with their backs toward him. They were already dead, and there were clear insect bite marks on their necks.

"They're definitely Marbas's insects."

The insects had probably been carrying a disease, which had spread to the guards' brains almost instantly after they were bitten. As proof, Michael could sense faint demonic energy coming from the bluish marks.

"I should at least prevent any secondary infections."

Although Marbas's diseases were formed from demonic energy, they were still diseases. They carried a risk of spreading, so any trace of them had to be removed immediately upon discovery.

Michael wrapped his hand in White Flame and pressed it against the wounded areas.

Hissssss!

The White Flame detected the demonic energy and entered the tiny wounds with a burning sound. Even though the guards were already dead, their faces began growing hot. This was the result of the White Flame searching for and consuming the demonic energy hidden inside their bodies.

"Heave-ho. Let's open this thing up and see what they're plotting."

After eliminating the demonic energy, Michael withdrew the White Flame from the guards.