The Cult Leader in the Clergy Academy

Chapter 355

"What do you mean you don't know about the Pope's side?" Ha-Yeon asked.

Thud.

Yeon moved the pieces without saying a word. The game had reached its climax, but there wasn’t a clear winner. At first glance, Ha-Yeon seemed to have the upper hand, but Yeon was not to be underestimated. The winner would only be known after the game ended.

"If what you are doing right now is a reform, then I will most likely die."

"..."

Thud.

Ha-Yeon moved a piece without responding. Then, she nodded. If the Cult Leader won the battle against the Pope and the Pope died, the occupation of the Holy See by the reformists would truly be a 'reform.' Then, Yeon, the Pope's closest aide, would probably die.

At that moment, Yeon suggested, "How about sparing me and using me for the duties of the Holy See? It seems like a better option in many ways."

Yeon did not make a move. The game came to a halt without a clear winner. Ha-Yeon lifted her head and stared intently at Yeon who had a faint smile on his lips. His expression did not reveal a hint of what he was thinking.

"Is this a negotiation? Or are you begging for your life?" Ha-Yeon asked.

Yeon smiled and said, "It's closer to negotiation. If it seems like I'm not needed, you can kill me."

"Go on. Why is this a negotiation?"

"If the Pope suddenly changes, some will naturally have reservations. Even if it's for reform, some may perceive it as a coup," Yeon said as he placed a piece down on the board. "Among Yu-Hyun’s supporters, some actually support me. Because I joined under Yu-Hyun, they eventually became his supporters too."

"So, keeping you alive means gaining the support of people supporting you. But that would only reduce the opposition to reform to some extent."

"Isn't it better than nothing?" Yeon said with a sly smile.

Ha-Yeon was lost in thought. However, there was no need to make a decision right away. It was still undecided whether this would be a reform or a rebellion.

Ha-Yeon moved another piece. “You speak as if you expect Yu-Hyun to lose."

Yeon also made another move. “I don’t expect Yu-Hyun to lose. I don't know, that child just can’t prepare himself for death. That's the kind of child he is."

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"..."

"But the Cult Leader, based on his actions so far... seems to be prepared for death. So I don't know how this fight will end.”

The two continued to play chess. The game sometimes flowed in Ha-Yeon's favor—at other times, it shifted in Yeon's favor. The outcome of the match remained uncertain until the very end.

At that moment, someone entered the Pope's residence and said, "Priest Ha-Yeon!"

It was a member of the reformist faction. He was breathing very roughly. Ha-Yeon could roughly sense what he was about to say.

"The Holy War has ended."

The war had finally ended.

***

Boom―!!

With a flash of lightning, Yu-Hyun and Sun-Woo fell simultaneously. Yu-Hyun gasped for breath as he rolled on the snowy ground. He felt intense pain. His lungs hurt every time he breathed in, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. He coughed. With each cough, clumps of blood poured out.

"C-Crazy, crazy bastard. This crazy bastard!" Yu-Hyun muttered.

Sun-Woo attacked Yu-Hyun with lightning, but Yu-Hyun wasn’t the only one struck by it. Sun-Woo also suffered damage from the lightning as well because he was close to Yu-Hyun. Sun-Woo was truly prepared to die—that was why he could pull off such a reckless attack.

His desire to defeat the enemy bordered on madness, as he was determined to inflict meaningful damage against the enemy even if he died.

"Huff, huff!"

Yu-Hyun crawled to a nearby tree and leaned against it. He checked his physical condition.

The snake had bitten off his leg, but that was fine. He could manage without one leg—moving around would be uncomfortable, but he could just use a wheelchair. He could also rely on the support of his Head Guardians. As long as he lived, as long as he survived, everything would be okay. Yu-Hyun grasped the spear of light.

"Third... Third Form!" Yu-Hyun shouted.

The spear in his hand shone brightly again. Eventually, it turned into a huge scale composed of light. The scale swayed from side to side and stopped at a certain point. A large amount of light flowed out from the scale and covered the surroundings.

Plants touched by the light withered. All the life forms that lingered where the light passed died, and the ground rotted. The light took away all the nearby life and flowed into Yu-Hyun's body. His skin, grotesquely burned by lightning, was healed by the light. It was a Berakah that could be used with the Third Form: The Scale of Famine.

"Sigh.”

Yu-Hyun let out a sigh. It was easier to breathe than before. The pain had not completely vanished, but it was greatly reduced. As long as Sun-Woo did not launch another reckless attack, Yu-Hyun was no longer in immediate danger.

The problem was that he could not assess Sun-Woo's condition. Sun-Woo was not in perfect condition, but this was just Yu-Hyun’s speculation. He might still have enough stamina to deliver a final blow. If so, Yu-Hyun would not survive. In the end, Sun-Woo would kill Yu-Hyun.

‘Should I use the Fourth Form as well?’ Yu-Hyun pondered.

If he used it, he would definitely be able to eliminate Sun-Woo. But he would also put his own life in danger. It was something he had to use in a life-or-death situation.

“I greet your Holiness.”

Someone suddenly approached Yu-Hyun, and his face stiffened. He cautiously raised his head and scrutinized the face of the person who greeted him. Finally, Yu-Hyun smiled. It wasn't Sun-Woo, but Simon. He was a member of the special forces unit organized to kill the Cult Leader.

Behind Simon, Yu-Hyun could see other members of the special forces unit—Jin-Seo, Su-Ryeon, and Do-Jin. They were all elite members who were more than capable of killing the Cult Leader. Moreover, dealing with the weakened Cult Leader after the battle with Yu-Hyun was no big deal for them.

“...”

Jin-Seo, Su-Ryeon, and Do-Jin ran toward the Cult Leader silently. Simon bid farewell to Yu-Hyun and immediately followed them. Jin-Seo, Su-Ryeon, and Do-Jin did not greet Yu-Hyun.

They had known Yu-Hyun since their time at Florence Academy. They felt awkward greeting Yu-Hyun formally after he became the Pope, but Yu-Hyun did not have any complaints about it.

"Ha, hahaha. Haha―!"

In this situation, what importance did such formality and etiquette hold? They had won. Yu-Hyun did not need to personally kill Sun-Woo. Whether he had to use Romanican Church clergymen, mercenaries, or natural disasters, as long as Sun-Woo died, it would be enough. The Voodoo Cult would disappear, and the status of the Romanican Church and the Holy See, as well as the power of the Pope, would be strengthened.

The special forces would go to the Cult Leader, who had become a charred mess. Armed with swords and guns, they would gladly cut off the Cult Leader's neck and kill him. Through this, they would become heroes of the Holy War.

Afterward, the squad would safely escort Yu-Hyun to the Holy See. In this way, Yu-Hyun would become the victor. He would emerge victorious as the Pope of the Holy See and the ruler of the Romanican Church.

"I won. I won! Sun-Woo, you bastard! Haha, hahaha!" Yu-Hyun shouted.

He laughed like a madman. He was so glad that it felt like tears of joy would stream down his face.

***

The squad finally came face to face with their target, the leader of the Voodoo Cult. He stood before them. However, the squad did not draw their swords or take a fighting stance upon facing the Cult Leader. They simply stared blankly at the Cult Leader in front of them.

The Cult Leader's expression was haggard. He stood there, but his legs trembled as if he would collapse at any moment. Blood flowed out, not only from the wounds all over his body but also from his mouth, nose, and eyes.

"..."

It was very different from the image of the Cult Leader that the special forces unit had imagined. The appearance did not quite fit the name of 'devil' that had been given by the Holy See.

The Cult Leader was clearly dying. He looked like he could die at any moment even if the special forces unit didn’t use their swords or guns. The special forces unit was taken aback by the unexpected Cult Leader’s appearance.

At that moment, Sun-Woo muttered, "Bossou."

The gazes of the members of the special forces unit changed as they blankly stared at Sun-Woo. They knew what Sun-Woo's muttering meant.

Jin-Seo and Do-Jin tightened their grips on their swords. Su-Ryeon quickly climbed up a tree and aimed her gun at Sun-Woo. Simon also held his sword. He could not do much due to his injured right shoulder, but it was better than just standing still. Do-Jin's body shone brightly with the light of blessing. He crouched down, pounded the ground, and leaped forward. Then, he swung his sword toward Sun-Woo.

Whoosh!

The sword passed over Sun-Woo's head. Despite wielding the sword while being buffed by the power of a blessing, Sun-Woo easily dodged it by tilting his head.

Sun-Woo was still fast. Right after dodging Do-Jin's sword, he clenched his fist and punched Do-Jin’s stomach.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

Do-Jin let out a scream and doubled over in pain. However, that was it. Do-Jin had been hit in the stomach by the Cult Leader before during the Yuk Eun-Hyung mercenary corps suppression operation.

Back then, it felt like all the internal organs in his stomach area had burst, and he thought he was going to die. But the strike he just received wasn't nearly as severe. Although he momentarily lost strength in his legs and sank down, he quickly regained his footing.

He could endure the amount of pain he felt. Sun-Woo, now in a desperate state, struggled to properly wield the power of the Loa.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out, and a bullet flew toward Sun-Woo.

"Ogun," Sun-Woo muttered.

The bullet stopped in front of him. He raised his finger and pointed at Su-Ryeon on the tree.

"So... bo."

Bang.

Lightning struck Su-Ryeon’s location. However, Su-Ryeon managed to easily avoid the lightning by moving to another tree. The lightning Sun-Woo had summoned was too thin. It was an insignificant bolt of lightning that was so weak and feeble that it didn’t split a tree properly.

Sun-Woo shed blood just by summoning such lightning. His nose bled, and tears of blood flowed. Every time he muttered the name of the Loa to use their power, Sun-Woo inched closer to death.

"..."

Jin-Seo silently watched Sun-Woo in that state. She could immediately slit Sun-Woo's throat if she swung her sword, but she did nothing and stared at him quietly.