Chapter 282 – Cheonma Religion

When Hong Yeon-hwa revealed her return to the Cheonma Religion headquarters, there was a dramatic change.

The guards, who had stood like steel fortresses, stepped aside and made way for her.

Even the congregants who were just standing around wanted to confirm with their own eyes that Hong Yeon-hwa had returned, so they lined up next to her.

It was like an impromptu welcoming ceremony.

The Black Sword Grand Duke, who was nodding his head with a pleased expression, explained, “Of course. To the congregants, Cheonma is a divine being who has taken on the form of human punishment…a living god-like existence. Even if the heavens don’t acknowledge it, to us, Cheonma is the heavens.”

“Ah.”

Right. These guys were originally a cult. And Hong Yeon-hwa was their leader.

Realizing this, they all looked at Hong Yeon-hwa with subtle expressions, but perhaps they were all caught up in the atmosphere of being recognized and welcomed after a long time.

Hong Yeon-hwa shrugged her shoulders and half-danced forward with an awkward gait, too conscious of her dignified steps.

“Wow! Look at that strange appearance!”

“Surely it contains the essence of some profound martial arts we don’t know!”

“By the way, you’re so cute. I heard you’re older than me, but how…?”

“Idiot! Cheonma doesn’t age!”

“That’s right! Cheonma is a god!”

“Cheonma regime! Cheonma regime!”

Why is it always us who get the short end of the stick?

Correcting Hong Yeon-hwa’s posture with her head bowed, I asked, “Hmm? Why are you doing that? Are you trying to hide your greatness…ahem? Are you jealous?”

“…What?”

“Ehehe…cute. Are you jealous of how popular you are with your congregants? This woman is my woman…! I love her the most…! That’s what I mean.”

“……”

Wow. I want to have a sweet night. I want to make a sound from his lips that makes him feel good.

Even Sama Yeoryeong, a figure of authority in this industry(?), was looking at Hong Yeon-hwa with an incredulous expression, so I had nothing more to say.

But just correcting her posture was enough to make people think, “Who is this guy who dares to interfere with what Cheonma is doing?” and send me disapproving looks, so I couldn’t do anything about it.

Forced to pull up the corners of my mouth with a pouting lip, I spoke with a smile.

“It’s not like that. People were asking me to wave my hand because they were cheering me on like that.”

“Wow! I didn’t even think of that! Thank you so much!”

Stay in character.

As Hong Yeon-hwa waved her hand with a broad smile, a deafening cheer erupted that shook the ground.

“Wow!!”

“Cheonma has seen this way! She’ll send me to the heavenly realm!”

“No! She saw me!”

“By the way, we just offered a prayer to Cheonma!”

“Thank youuuu!!”

The tide of public opinion had flipped like a palm turned upside down.

This is crazy…this is why religion is scary.

But I couldn’t blame Hong Yeon-hwa for getting carried away with the excitement. From their perspective, she had risen from the dead after five years and was now back in their midst. Might as well make the most of it.

I slipped my hand under Hong Yeon-hwa’s armpit from behind and lifted her up, holding her high for everyone to see. She responded by waving her hand, using her Cheonma powers only in her arms. The giant claw made of steel that covered her thin arm, along with her sharp nails, reminded me of a demon’s.

As Hong Yeon-hwa waved her arm, the congregants responded with even more fervor, as if they were about to faint.

“Kyaaaa!!”

“Cheonma power!! She’s really Cheonma!”

“Are you saying she’s fake?!”

“Seeing is believing!”

“Kkeok.”

Wow, someone actually fainted.

Luckily, a friend of his seemed to have safely taken him out of the crowd…I feel a little sorry for him.

I lifted Hong Yeon-hwa even higher so that he could see her from afar.

The procession continued, with Hong Yeon-hwa showing off like an otter, boasting about her baby here and there, and the cheers getting louder and louder until they reached the largest building in the center.

…And as soon as they closed the door, both Pung So-so and Sama Yeoryeong hit us on the back of the neck.

How mean.

***

“Hmph! I’m annoyed.”

“Jin Gaga…Jin Gaga, even if you imitate Hong Unni, it’s not that cute, is it?”

“That’s right, that’s right. Jin-rang and I are trying to feel bad.”

Pung So-so and Sama Yeoryeong looked at me with cold eyes and made comments.

But the other two seemed to have a different opinion.

“Hmm? Isn’t this cute enough?”

“Oh my? You can’t see it, but when you hear it, it sounds cute, doesn’t it?”

Hong Yeon-hwa and Sama Mang nodded their heads in agreement.

Taking advantage of their reactions, I held my chin up with a determined voice.

“Did you hear that? You guys were the weird ones just now. So hurry up and hit our backs. No matter how much I’ve mastered the Cheonwangho Heart Sutra, it hurts when you hit me with your inner strength.”

“That’s not it, Jin Gaga. Hong Unni and Mang Unni would say you’re cute just by breathing! …We’ll hit your back, but.”

“That’s why they say age is just a number…! Ah, hold on for a moment. I can’t tell where you hit me.”

The two of them grumbled as they brushed off my back.

Hong Yeon-hwa looked envious of their attention, but my back was already full of people.

I’ll ask them to do it later.

But aside from that, Pung So-so and Sama Yeoryeong, who were quietly guiding us from the side, asked Hukgeom Daeju, “What do you think, Hukgeom Daeju?”

“It was tasteless.”

“Hong Unni said Jin Gaga was cute, so he’s cute.”

“……”

“……”

Of course.

Hukgeom Daeju has been a long-time member of the Cheonma religion, escorting Hong Yeon-hwa since she was young.

He’s the kind of person who can only speak like that because of the Cheonma religion’s doctrine.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who was grumbling behind Pung So-so and Sama Yeoryeong, asked Hukgeom Daeju, “I know we’re going to the office, but who’s managing the religion now?”

“According to principle, people like me, who are in charge of the religion, handle the major and minor affairs of the religion through meetings… but everyone seems to lack the talent for using their heads, so it’s practically being run by Mamo.”

“Oh, if it’s Mamo, we can definitely trust him.”

“Yes. Even after Cheonma disappeared, the religion was able to maintain its position thanks to Mamo. However…”

“However?”

“Although it’s somewhat stable now, in the beginning, there were too many things going on, so… like this. It’s like saying a tiger will come if you talk about it, and he couldn’t wait and came to greet us.”

Hukgeom Daeju sighed deeply as he spoke.

And in the distance, the sound of loud footsteps could be heard.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

“Cheonma-nim!”

A giant figure that was about the same size as me or a little bigger. A muscular body filled to the brim. And long, grown-out beard.

But his head bowed down in front of Hong Yeon-hwa, sliding on his knees like a shiny monster.

Crack!

It’s hard to say whether he gently touched the ground or slammed it with great force.

“The sound we heard outside was true! This is Maengyo! I’m going to see Cheonma-nim again…! Cheonma reigns! Ten thousand blessings!”

He cried, tears streaming down his face, then shouted again and slammed his head on the ground.

Thump!

Hong Yeon-hwa, who had raised her head for a moment with tears in her eyes, hid behind me and peeked out, looking surprised by the sudden appearance of the muscular man.

I was also surprised. I thought Mamo, with his nickname, would be more like a sophisticated bookkeeper like Sama Mang or Sama Yeoryeong…

Hukgeom Daeju, who had been watching the scene, spoke in a calm voice, finishing what he had started earlier.

“I poured too much energy into the backlog of work, and my hair started falling out.”

“That’s…that’s too much….” Hong Yeon-hwa looked at Maengyo with a sad expression.

“Wait a minute. Was he always like this?”

“No! He used to be much fuller!”

“I mean, besides his hair! Like his muscles or his size…?”

“???”

As if wondering what she meant, Hukgeom Daeju tilted his head, then quickly realized what I was trying to say and clapped lightly.

“Ah! Those in high positions in Cheonma religion cannot afford to be weak, regardless of whether they are good or bad.”

“Is there a culture that worships strong people like Kangjajon…?”

I was slightly nervous, thinking that a classic martial arts setting was coming up, but as always, reality exceeded my expectations.

“If that were the case, would they have tried to fight against Muryeommaeng? No, those who are in the middle and weak in power lose their lives to the assassins of the opposing faction during the Jungma War.”

“Oh…”

I hadn’t thought of that.

In the suddenly gloomy atmosphere, Hong Yeon-hwa lifted Maengyo, who was bowing, to his feet.

“Judging by his hair, he must have a lot of stories to tell. I’m the same. Where are the others?”

“Since we have a shortage of personnel compared to the vast land, other officials are working in their respective branches. However, when they hear that Cheonma-nim has returned, they will come running.”

“Okay. Let’s do that. Oh, is there a room where I can stay?”

“Of course. Although some tools are lacking because it has never been used, we have made the best room into the leader’s room.”

“First, let’s unpack and relieve the fatigue of the journey.”

“I’ll serve you personally. Oh, should I give the other guests the guest room?”

Maengyo, who was trying to guide us with the surrounding noise, was stopped by Hong Yeon-hwa.

“We only need one guest room.”

“What? Oh, it seems like you’ve become closer with the other guests. Then, we’ll give them separate rooms for men and women…”

Maengyo nodded towards me, and Hong Yeon-hwa pointed to us.

“That’s not it. We’ll be using the guest room.”

“What? Then…?”

Me, Hong Yeon-hwa, and the other women. Maengyo’s eyes shook mercilessly as he looked back and forth between us.

Hmm. Is this pattern happening again?