Chapter 151: 17. Jinsando

February 7, a port near Jinsando.

Today’s lowest temperature is minus 5 degrees. The highest, even at best, is just 1 degree above zero. It’s freezing weather, but I didn’t feel any kind of skin-piercing pain.

After awakening, I couldn’t say I felt the intuitive physical changes or the dulling of thought that Sung Uijae or Im Haekyung talk about, but when I focused on the finer sensations, I could tell—there were definite differences from before.

The impression these things gave me was... well, just a lingering question of whether I could ever readjust if I went back to that dull life I used to live.

‘Well, that’s not what’s important right now.’

I grinned, shoved my hands into my pockets, and turned to face the two figures staring at me.

“It’s a little cold.”

“.......”

“.......”

At my words, two pairs of eyes followed me in silence. I looked between them and lifted one corner of my mouth.

Right now, I was waiting at the port to head for Jinsando, together with Do Yehyun and Ryu Taejun.

I looked out at the sea and briefly recalled the past.

On my way back after meeting with those two S-rank bastards, Joo Seowon brought good news. He’d finally managed to contact the missing Ryu Taejun.

‘Yeah, finally got him. What’s a cultist bum so busy with that he can’t answer his phone?’

‘...He said he’ll be heading to Jinsando soon. Should I set up a meeting?’

‘Yeah. As soon as possible.’

‘Got it.’

Just like that, Joo Seowon easily arranged for Ryu Taejun to go to Jinsando together. He’s capable enough that I wasn’t really worried anyway.

I immediately asked Joo Seowon why that bastard had disappeared.

‘So what the hell was he doing all that time without replying?’

The answer was just what I expected.

‘He said Lord Haedo gave him a blessing, so he was preparing for the match.’

‘Hmph....’

The match.

In true cultist-madman fashion, Cheonmyeonggyo found endless ways to act insane. The “match” they hosted was one of the prime examples of that madness.

To briefly explain that “match,” a word disguised as something ordinary to avoid suspicion—it was a kind of status-elevation event, where they cast what they called a “blessing,” basically a buff, on certain Hunters and then made them actually fight each other.

That “status elevation” meant only one thing: the winner would have their Awakening rank fully raised.

So what was the real reason those bastards held these matches?

‘They’re trying to find usable ones.’

No need to overthink it. It’s the most efficient way to pick the strongest of the bunch. What they use them for afterward could wait—but the match’s purpose itself was crystal clear.

Joo Seowon added a few guesses about other motives.

‘And there’s also the effect competition brings.’

‘What effect?’

‘Just the fact that they select one person stimulates the need for recognition. These are people desperate to be chosen. For them, the tangible sense of achievement from winning a match becomes the goal itself.’

‘You’re saying Jin Haedo created the matches to exploit that?’

‘...That’s one possible effect. As for Jin Haedo... not sure. From the testimonies and Ryu Taejun’s words, he’s practically described like an angel incarnate.’

‘Angel, my ass. He’s just a dopamine-junkie cult freak.’

‘.......’

And digging deeper, we found a few intertwined interests.

That ridiculous fight I saw under the hotel Sung Uijae first took me to—that had been a “match” run by Cheonmyeonggyo.

At the time, I hadn’t understood why unawakened people were crowding around to watch, but there’d been a reason.

‘There was gambling involved.’

They stripped off the Cheonmyeonggyo label and disguised it as an entertainment event mixed with ordinary citizens, impossible to pin on anyone. Conveniently, it doubled as a funding source.

After realizing that, the organizational structure of Cheonmyeonggyo finally started to make sense.

Cheonmyeonggyo was more vertically structured than I’d thought.

At the top sat the cult leader, Jin Haedo. Below him were the “Agents.” These Agents went out to the cult’s shrines, delivered Jin Haedo’s words, prayed, and kept believers bound together. Excluding Jin Haedo himself, they held the highest rank within Cheonmyeonggyo.

The interesting part was that most of those Agents were Awakened—and not just any Awakened, but many of them were mental-type.

‘So these bastards are using suggestion in the name of holy faith.’

No wonder their follower count was growing so fast. They’d set things up disgustingly well.

Below the Agents were executive-level members called “VIPs.”

Unlike the Agents, VIPs weren’t limited by whether they were Awakened or not. Their only condition was results.

‘They have to meet quotas?’

‘Yeah.’

‘How?’

‘...Two ways. One is by supplying funds, and the other....’

‘Yeah, the other?’

‘Selecting Hunters for Jin Haedo and bringing them in. Through the matches, they make the Hunters they picked win. Which means first, they have to supply plenty of Hunters to those ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) matches.’

‘Aha.’

After hearing that from Joo Seowon, the next question came naturally.

‘How the hell are they supplying all these Hunters?’

Even with lots of followers, there simply aren’t that many Awakened. They’d always be short on numbers. But Cheonmyeonggyo’s matches took place every week, secretly, in three rounds across arenas nationwide.

If every participant was a “volunteer,” that number would be impossible to sustain.

So how were those VIPs sending Hunters to fight—and picking out the best among them to send to Jin Haedo?

The answer came from a conversation I’d had months ago with Do Yehyun.

‘At that shop run by the Infinite Guild where Do Yehyun used to work... they were “renting out” Hunters, right?’

From there, it was obvious. Those Hunters were being funneled straight into the arenas.

‘Were these freaks already insane before believing in the cult, or did the cult make them insane?’

Once my thoughts got that far, I became sure that taking Do Yehyun along was the best choice. Even ignoring his value as a healer, recognizing familiar faces could be useful in its own way.

Anyway, after working Joo Seowon day and night to dig up information on Cheonmyeonggyo, the next step was clear.

‘Infiltrate somehow.’

So how do you get into this vertical, closed cult from the inside?

Following Ryu Taejun’s path was technically the best method—become a believer, get Jin Haedo’s attention, receive the blessing, win the match, and earn entry to Jinsando.

Of course, I didn’t even consider that option for one simple reason.

‘Fuck, I don’t have time for that.’

In just two months, Kwon Taehan wakes up. Even if I can’t push myself to B-rank, I need another ability to compensate for this weak body.

Which meant I had to face Jin Haedo with my own two eyes as soon as possible.

Of course, I hadn’t come here blindly without a plan. Even if I’m a dopamine addict, I don’t act without thinking.

I called out to Ryu Taejun.

“Taejun.”

“...Huh?”

The guy who’d been talkative enough in the messenger chat with Joo Seowon suddenly went mute now that we were face-to-face.

I glanced at my watch and said,

“It’s almost time to board, but the boat’s not here.”

“Ah, i-it’ll... it’ll come soon.”

“Yeah?”

For reference, by the time I’d arrived, I’d already had a meal with him at a nearby restaurant and finished introductions.

Honestly, with their rule of attaching “believer” to the surname, introductions felt pointless, but since I knew his older brother Ryu Taeyoung, it was obvious we’d cross paths again. So I told him my name. Of course, I cut off any curiosity about Do Yehyun.

I watched Ryu Taejun, who couldn’t even make eye contact, and spoke again.

“But you don’t look happy.”

“...H-huh?”

“It’s your first time going to Jinsando. Aren’t you excited?”

“Huh...?”

He shook his head, flustered.

“N-no! Just a little nervous, ha-ha... y-you know, everyone gets nervous. You don’t seem nervous, but still. It’s my first time, so... uh, yeah. Since it’s my first time, I’m worried? Worried but also excited. I mean, not that I’m worried about going to Jinsando, just...”

“.......”

“...W-whether I can do well, that kind of thing! You know what I mean?”

‘What the hell is he even saying. Try speaking like a human, for fuck’s sake.’

The guy couldn’t talk properly, and every time he opened his mouth, it turned into a ramble.

Just then, a small boat came cutting across the water toward the port. Instead of answering his nonsense, I turned and watched it approach.

“There it is.”

“Y-yeah.”

A moment later, the pilot finished docking and stepped off with practiced ease.

I reflexively opened my Status Window.

Name: Gyeon Taeri

Age: 28

Rank: C

Title: –

Main Skills: Appraisal (C), Path of Judgment (C)

Growth Limit: C

‘Nice Status Window.’

Before long, Gyeon Taeri walked over and greeted us in a businesslike tone.

“Good afternoon.”

“Hello.”

Scanning each of us carefully, he took out his phone and started checking a list.

“I’ll confirm the boarding list.”

“Okay.”

“Y-yes!”

“.......”

For reference, that boarding list was the entry permit to Jinsando, given to Hunters who’d won in the matches.

And obviously, I had never written my name on anything like that.

‘It’s not there to begin with—how would I write it?’

After staring at a list that probably had just one name on it for a while, Gyeon Taeri spoke firmly.

“I’m sorry, but the boarding list for today has only one person. If there’s no mistake, you can register here on site...”

Of course, not being on the list didn’t mean there was no way.

I smiled and cut off the masked Gyeon Taeri.

“No need.”

Because “alternatives” are meant to be prepared in layers.

“There should be three of us. I’m sure.”

“.......”

“Could you check again?”

As soon as I finished speaking, the clear Status Window before my eyes flickered.

<Mimic (S) is activating.>

Yeah. It’s been a while.

Right after, along with the sensation of mana draining all at once, the text on the Status Window changed.

<Mental Domination (S) is activating.>