Chapter 282 – Wild Guys (4)
There was a huge building at the end of the eastern plains. Four statues were erected inside a building with thick walls and narrow gates that were like a fortress. One of them is like mud running down the river. Another was that of Lamia, the other was that of a woman with bat wings, and the other was that of a strange human-like figure.
After between these statues and passing through a long hallway, there was an auditorium when you opened passing the door. The auditorium is a huge rectangular hall, and when you open the door, there is a podium on top of a high staircase. It was a structure in which believers had to raise their heads and look up to hear the voice of the speaker.
A large number of believers were standing in the auditorium. As I climbed the stairs following the crowd of believers, the men in armor were staring straight ahead with stiff expressions. At the end of the huge hall, a man in a fancy white costume looked down at the followers. Beside him, a woman dressed in purple and wearing her mask watched her man. The man took a deep breath and screamed.
“Belief!”
After the Hall’s call to leave, all the congregation raised their hands and shouted.
“Belief!”
“Himaaaaang!”
“Himaaaaang!”
“Saraaaaang!”
“Saraaaaang!”
A ritual of prayer repeated many times. The man stretched out his hands in the air, closed his eyes and shook his head. The woman behind her laughed at the commotion through her mask. The man’s name is Cutlass. He once worked under the name of Jang May Hem, a high-ranking priest of Daecheon Shinkyo.
“Today, in the midst of such a hard time, you gathered like this.”
His toes His wriggled. No, his whole body was limp like slime. Cutlass was not human. He is a being who can perfectly copy all beings, including humans. He was the doppelganger. However, very few people noticed his flow. They were taken aback for a moment, but when they saw the silence in the audience, they fell silent again.
Now, the future of Sarangkyo was bleak. Numerous branches of the Sarangkyo in the eastern plains and elsewhere were suppressed, and rumors circulated that a large army from the kingdom was advancing toward the headquarters. Thousands of believers here were zealous followers of the cult of love who remained in this place despite being stigmatized as devil’s puppets. Cutlass let out a deep breath and looked at their faces again. People who remain with one thought to make love blossom all over the world. Their faces were full of love for Sarangyo.
“A long time ago. I was wandering. At that time, I was drifting across the eastern plains, losing the will to live. Do you know why I wandered? It was because the demon king died. After the demon king passed away, my life was completely ruined.”
At the unexpected remark, the believers began to mumble. Each of them was discussing what the hell this was all about. It was because it was impossible for the high-ranking priest of the Daecheonsingyo to express himself as ‘Demon King’. Cutlass opened his mouth again, as if he had expected this commotion.
“At one time, as a faithful servant of the Demon King, I wanted to give my life for him. The name Archbishop Mayhem is a lie. I am the demon king’s doppelganger. It’s Cutlass.”
With those words, Mayham’s body began to melt. Devotees were either screaming in shock or looking around in bewilderment. In front of them, Cutlass revealed himself. A blue slime human. He had no eyes, no nose and no mouth, and a being that did not even feel like a living thing stood in the church. Ironically, that plain and unappealing appearance quickly calmed people down.
It was partly because the story of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s Army did not reach reality, so it was because I wanted to hear more.
“Listen to the story!”
“Listen to the end and judge!”
“Have a seat!”
It was also thanks to the heavily armed knights roaming among them and shouting like this. Cutlass looked at his own body and spoke again.
“What is a doppelganger? We are monsters whose existence itself is unclear. Anything can change, but nothing can be confirmed. Even in the Demon Realm, our only value in existence was to scare opponents by portraying very powerful monsters. That’s why I was called the ‘Echoing Cutlass’ because I only had the knack of copying others in the Demon King’s Army.”
Cutlass looked at the people with a smooth face. Believers felt that way. It was because Cutlass nudged his head.
“It was good though.”
Cutlass said so. He stared into space and returned to Mayhem’s form. I could feel the people breathing as if they were relaxed.
“It was good because Demon King was there.”
Cutlass raised his head toward the ceiling with his eyes closed. He let out another breath and looked at the congregation.
“But after the demon king died. My life is completely ruined. The plans I had planned and the existence of my country all became meaningless. So I ran out of Daecheonsingyo and walked aimlessly across the eastern plains. Because the plan didn’t mean anything anymore. Therefore. That’s how I just wanted to live as a savage in the plains.”
Bang!
Cutlass suddenly slammed the lectern and shouted.
“By the way! I saw it there! The brutal predatory acts of humans! Put a leash around the beasts’ necks! The cruel acts of forcible dragging! I’m just watching! And I found out! How many different races are suffering in this land! Even at this moment, mermaids are being hung up with their scales and skins ripped off! The fact that prisoners are being taken as slaves! I found out!”
Cutlass took a deep breath and scanned the crowd. His booming voice His was enough to overwhelm the crowd. Cutlass resumed his soft tone.
“So I decided to make a love bridge. To save beastmen and mermaids from the cruel hands of humans. And to enlighten humans and make this land a true paradise. I decided to sacrifice my body.”
Cutlers spread his hands wide and asked the followers.
“Do you guys know? How many children are sold into slavery and sacrificed again. How many people are persecuted for having customs slightly different from humans. Do you guys know?”
The devotees nodded. No one opened their mouths in the suffocating atmosphere. Cutlass pointed to the church and nodded.
“That’s how I created the love bridge. But those evil, ignorant and ignorant racists. They are persecuting us now. They use my career and identity as the pretext to accuse us of being the remnants of the demon king’s army and try to kill us. If we die, if we die, who will protect the prisoners? Who will set the mermaids free?”
People were looking at each other. Someone shouted in the crowd.
“You’re right!”
At the same time, those in armor stood up and started shouting.
“You’re right!”
“We must fight!”
“We must protect the prisoners!”
“You’re right!”
An irrational madness was spreading in the field. A few people screamed, and the men caught in it screamed again.
“You’re right!”
“You’re right!”
Cutlass screamed.
“Yes! We must fight! We fight! Freedom must be won from them! If we die like this, we just! It will remain as the remnant of the evil Demon King’s army! To those cruel racists! We need to know who we Are! We are the guardians of the beasts! They are prophets who share love with the world! Believe!”
“Belief!”
“Himaaaaang!”
“Himaaaaang!”
“Saraaaaang!”
“Saraaaaang!”
People started cheering. Those in armor were also shaking their bodies and cheering for Cutlass. The masked woman was just watching. Cutlass roared again, enjoying the crowd’s applause.
“Let’s show them that we were right! Raise your arms, everyone! Beasts and mermaids! We have to save them from those vicious humans! Got it! We must not be swayed by those wicked bastards who call us the Demon Lord’s Army! I am not the Echoing Cutlass who served in the Demon King’s Army! Not even Archangel Bishop Mayhem! From the moment I saw the prisoners being abused in the eastern plains! I am reborn! My name is Cutlass! I am the leader of the cult of love and your father, Cutlass! Trust me!”
At the cry of the Cutlass, the believers voluntarily began to shout prayer slogans.
“Believe!”
“Trust! Faith is our shield! With our firm faith, do not listen to their wicked words! Believers! You guys are the correct answer and it is the truth!”
“Himaaaaang!”
“Hope! Believe in hope! After overcoming this hardship, you will surely see the truth! Even after you die, you will go to heaven where prisoners roam freely!”
“Saraaaaang!”
“Love! Love is our weapon! Surround each other tightly with love and counter their aggression! Our love is stronger than their hate! We are lovable beings who will meet the hate! Devotees, unite! I am your father and I am your savior Even after we die, we will spread love to the world!”
“I believe!”
“I believe!”
“Raise your arms! Those evil demons are attacking! How long will you remain trembling in fear! Everyone, take up your weapons and prepare to fight!”
With Cutlass’ final cry, the followers scrambled toward the weapon box. Their faces were full of joy. The joy of serving the Sarang Church. Pride in contributing to the world from now on. Those wearing heavy armor calmly controlled the enthusiastic followers and handed out weapons. The woman in her mask saw it, shrugged her shoulders, and hid herself in the shadows.
Cutlass smiled brightly as he wiped away the sweat. A bright, wrinkle-free smile made him look like a religious person.
Haha…!”
He smiled and looked at the people. There were still followers waving at him. Cutlass was busy waving them. Many believers took up their weapons and went outside. Cutlass murmured in a low voice.
“Like fools.”