72 Episode 72 - Messiah vs. Messiah, Part I (2/2)
Above all, it was no exaggeration to say that the value of religious relics in this era was perhaps the most powerful in human history.
'Rather, the power of the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje is…' Even the power of the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje that the Messiah had was appalling by explanation.
According to the explanation, the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje was an object that summoned an animal made of golden smoke. The power of the animal summoned was at least equal to the second-grade Horse Figure Type Earthenware currently in his hands.
'It's more threatening than I thought.'
It was said that not even one but several were summoned, and since they were made of smoke, no physical attack could hurt them.
The believers of the Messiah said that there was not a single monster so far that they could not kill by with Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje.
'A monster made of golden smoke that is not hurt by physical blows…'
That was enough to be called a miracle. This was not the only thing.
Instead of calling them an Awakener, the Messiah used Guardian, and they expressed the mark of an Awakener as the Stigmata of a Guardian.
It was not just an impulsive group, but evidence that the Messiah system was built based on a number of purposes.
Of course, it was an awkward system for Kim, who had to capture them and then take the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje from them.
'I'll have no problem if I have time…' If he had time, the Messiah would never be an opponent. Kim knew how to deal with a stronger opponent or a stronger group.
There was no need for the power of an Awakener. All he had to do was take the time to kill them one by one.
'There's no time, and that's a problem.'
But now, the time he was given was... until June.
He must be back in Bucheon in July. Otherwise, he would not be able to stop the assassination of Colonel Lim Hyun-joon.
He could not afford to trace Messiah's movements right away, and he knew that it would take the time to destroy them. In addition, using such methods, Messiah and the Guardians might choose to hide or escape. All he needed now was to make them come out by themselves, then knock them out.
'That's what works best for those who use religion as a weapon.' And he was well aware of how to catch a group that used religion. 'The rise of a cult.'
He was also more aware of the dangers of a group using religion better than anyone else. He swallowed a cup of coffee and closed the lid of the thermos bottle.
'The use of another poison to remove the poison. I will be a Messiah, too.'
3.
The arrival of the monsters took away everything: it became an absolute reality in a changed world
”What do you mean by that?”
”I think there has been a rebellion at Buyeo.”
”Rebellion?”
Under the warm sunshine, the car campsite located in the north of Mt. Gyeryong was spectacular. Expensive SUVs were flashing themselves, expensive camping supplies were scattered, and countless kinds of wines and food were everywhere. It was hard to believe that such a sight was real.
In one place there was even a DJ machine, and some people were dancing to the songs.
It was a sight that was hard to see even before the monsters appeared. A short-haired woman laying down on a hammock between two trees handed her wine glass to the man standing next to her.
”Why don't you take care of it?”
”Well…”
”What's the matter?”
”I sent people, but they were all beaten.”
At this, the woman was no longer lying in the hammock. She sat up from it and looked at the man kneeling in front of her, as she sat in the hammock and held the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje.
The man continued at her glance, ”The rebels seem to be armed properly, and-”
”And? Are there any more problems?”
”Some of the survivors who went to quell the rebellion say strange things.”
The man who was trying to spit out his words took a breath and then continued, ”The true Savior saved us… The people who revolted in Buyeo said that.”
As soon as he said those words, the golden smoke began to flow out of the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner the woman was holding. With the appearance of the golden smoke, not only the man who knelt before the woman, but also the man who stood guard near the woman's hammock and everyone around her stood stock still.
Soon the smoke disappeared back into the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner, and the woman held out her right hand. The man who had just received the glass of wine put it back in her right hand, the one with Stigmata on the back of it.
The woman drank her wine, savored it a while, and said, ”Maybe a cult has appeared.”
The woman made a light gesture at the words. At the sign, the people around her gathered beside her as if they had been waiting. All of them had marks on their right hand, which they called Stigmata. Already listening to the preceding conversation, they scrambled to talk to each other.
”I'll take care of it.”
”Please leave it to me.”
The woman did not respond to them as they called out their willingness to take on the mission. Before replying, she touched the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner she had in her hand.
”No, all of us going.”
”All of us?”
”Yes, all of us.”
”Is necessary?”
The woman in command sighed. ”If the rumor goes all the way to Nonsan, we'll be in trouble.”
”Due to the crazy monster in Sejong City, we cannot be active in Daejeon City, so Nonsan is our base area. If the rumor spreads in Nonsan, it will be nothing good for us. We will show them, who deny us and resist us, what a cult is treated like!”
Show. Everyone's eyes changed at the word.
The woman's eyes had changed.
”Everyone, gather.”
Soon after, at her words, the partygoers at the campsite stopped everything and began to gather at the place where the woman was sitting on a hammock. More than a hundred people gathered in a flash.
All of them with the Stigmata on their right hand were wearing Bronze Swords or Gandol Swords at their waists.
The woman smiled at the crowd and began stroking the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner in her arms.
”Buyeo, this guy is going to its hometown after a long time.”