Master of All Sins

Chapter 14 : The Sorcerer and the Priest - 5

When I opened the gate to the Phantom World and stepped out, I found myself inside a room that, surprisingly, felt quite familiar.

Never having imagined that the entrance to the Phantom World would be located inside a building, I was looking around the interior when I realized why the room felt familiar; the building's structure was a hanok, the same as the one I had lived in.

“The finishing techniques and the materials don't completely match the traditional style. There are no crests either…… this is probably District 2.”

After a quick scan of the room's interior, Geum Mo-a spoke and I nodded in agreement.

I knew that Seoul, the capital of Aeshin Hanguk, could be divided into districts.

The center of Jongno, where the palace and the Aeshin Great Gate guarded by the royal family were located, was designated as District 0.

Outside of that was District 1, where three of the Eight Families of White Blood in Seoul and the gates they protected were located.

Further out was District 2, where the wealthy class lived and finally, the exterior, District 3.

As it was the capital of a country, there wasn't a severe difference in public safety or living standards even in the outer districts.

However, District 0 housed not only members of the royal family but also the national sorcerers belonging to the royal court and District 1 was also constantly garrisoned by sorcerers of the Eight Families of White Blood, so it was true that the closer one was to the center of the capital, the easier it was to receive a sorcerer's help in an emergency.

If there was a downside, it was that if something happened at the gates protected by the royal family and the Eight Families of White Blood, Districts 0 and 1 were too close to escape harm, but at that point, the nation's survival would already be at stake, so it hardly mattered.

“If it were a house belonging to the Eight Families of White Blood, it would be decorated with a crest and if it were a house that didn't belong to them, they wouldn't be able to build a hanok (traditional Korean house) within District 1.”

“Permission is granted to those in high government positions, but only within District 1, and they must affix the royal family's crest. Therefore, this place is definitely District 2.”

Whether it was comfortable to live in or not was a separate issue, but because all of Aeshin's highest elite lived in hanoks, the hanok style was an object of aspiration for the entire nation.

Thus, it was common for families with no connection to the Eight Families of White Blood or government posts, but with a good deal of money, to build hanoks in District 2.

Yes, the problem was why a gate to the Phantom World had opened inside a building in District 2—in the house of a rather wealthy family.

Perhaps the mission Father Lucas was assigned was related to this family…….

“Brother, I'm glad you made it back before it was too late!”

Just then, the door slid open and Father Lucas entered. Spotting my figure, he exclaimed brightly.

His voice, as immaculate as a child's, suddenly reminded me of something, and as I studied his face, I saw that both his eyes were a brilliant, shining blue.

“What is it, Brother?”

“……It's nothing. But Father Lucas, is there nothing else you have to say to me?”

“Ah! Welcome. This is the residence of the believer Kim Hyeon-u, located in District 2 of Seoul. Believer Kim Hyeon-u is newly wed and is currently living with his wife and sister-in-law……”

“That's not it.”

Shaking my head at the priest who was about to launch into an explanation of his mission, I stared at him intently and said.

“You fool, I asked you to keep my identity a secret. You should have told me to exit through a different gate beforehand. What do you expect me to do when you drag me directly into the house like this?”

“Ah. So……”

“So?”

“No!”

The priest waved his hands in a hurry and explained to ease my worries.

“As I said earlier, I wasn't sure how I ended up falling into the Phantom World. As soon as I came out this way, I had a ‘whoops’ moment myself and immediately sent everyone away. So there will be nothing for you to worry about, Brother.”

“Hmm, you're not very meticulous. There's no way a house where such a rich person lives wouldn't have a device to detect intruders.”

“Of course, I've already taken care of that…… huh, are you perhaps that demon from before?”

“Tsk.”

The priest, who had been puffing out his chest in response to Geum Mo-a's point, looked at her anew, his eyes widening in surprise.

“The soul is definitely the same, but you're completely human now! How fascinating. Was it a human who transformed into a demon or a demon who transformed into a human? Or am I perhaps still wandering the Phantom World and everything, including you, Brother, is a temptation of Satan?”

“Tsk, I knew I didn't like him.”

Geum Mo-a, who must have felt uncomfortable with Father Lucas seeing through her identity so quickly, hid herself behind my back.

When she was acting as Hoa, she had revealed a certain amount of her monstrous presence, but since undoing her transformation, she had been acting completely human.

For the priest to see through her in an instant must have been unsettling.

“Now that I look at you, Brother, your impression has changed a lot too! The mask is cool.”

“You recognized me right away?”

“Of course! I have eyes that can see the light and shadow of the soul. It's an eye that sees the essence without being deceived by a person's outward appearance. My mentor who taught me in my childhood praised me for it a lot.”

So that was how he knew immediately that Hoa and Geum Mo-a were the same person.

“The same goes for you, Brother. When we first met and now you have a very clean and good soul!”

“I see.”

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Let's just overlook the fact that he was wary of me when we first met.

Even the Fire Dog was going on about the sins of my past life when it saw me, yet Father Lucas was praising me for having a clean soul…….

Unless the East and West had different perspectives on viewing souls, how could those words be describing the same person?

“Should I have been born in the West instead of the East?”

“Young master?!”

“A joke.”

After calming the pale-faced Geum Mo-a, I turned back to Father Lucas and said.

“Father Lucas, from now on, you can call me Shin-hae.”

Originally, I had named myself Shin-hae to mean liberation from the Shin Clan, but the character Shin , meaning embers, could only be used by members of the Shin Clan in Aeshin.

So instead, I changed it to Shin-hae , which held the will to be liberated from my suffocating status and my wretched, crippled body.

“Shin-hae, that's a wonderful name.”

“Are you being sarcastic, knowing that it's an alias?”

“Of course not, I'm also active under my baptismal name. The Order of Exorcists and the Order of Exorcist Nuns are forbidden from giving their names.”

Being ignorant of Western culture, I hadn't even known that the name Lucas was a baptismal name.

“That is… wise. There are many curses that can be cast just by knowing a name.”

“Right? So if you're going to call yourself a sorcerer, Brother, an active name is a must. Shin-hae, I think it's a wonderful name. I'll be sure to tell believer Kim Hyeon-u that.”

After mulling over my alias a few times, Father Lucas nodded and gestured for me to leave with him.

However, I shook my head and stopped the priest.

“Father, where are you staying now?”

“I'm at a nearby hotel… shall I get a room for you? But before that, we should first meet the believer and hear an explanation of the situation.”

“No. I'm sorry, but.”

Leaning heavily on the hand gripping my staff, I said.

“I have long since passed my activity limit. To the hotel, your guidance, please hurry.”

“The young master just used an English word himself……!”

“Ac-activity limit?”

“Quickly.”

“Follow me, for now!”

Seeing that I didn't seem to be joking, the priest urgently opened the door and led me out.

It seemed he was telling the truth about sending people away, as not a single person was seen inside the rather large hanok.

By the time we crossed the wooden floor, passed the courtyard, and completely exited the house, Geum Mo-a, just in case, relaxed the posture she had held in readiness to activate a spell at any moment.

“Father… you didn't send everyone away, did you?”

My vision is already blurry, and I can hear something burning in my head like firewood.

Despite this, I managed to not let go of Fire tail in my arms, and supported by Geum Mo-a, I straightened my back to pretend I was as fine as possible, planting my staff in front of me as I even managed to speak to the priest.

Father Lucas, who was leading the way while holding a phone and busily contacting someone, flinched at my words and then nodded.

“That's right. Since it has come to this, I will explain the mission on our way. First, the mission is to protect believer Kim Hyeon-u's wife, Sister Do Yu-na.”

“The person lying still, in the master bedroom… is that the wife?”

“Yes, but she can't move right now, so she probably doesn't even know you were there, Brother. She is currently under a truly terrible… curse.”

Father Lucas's face was filled with anger as he said this.

Watching his profile, I thought that handsome guys even look good when they're angry, and then I smiled, realizing how childish my thoughts were becoming.

It meant my limit was truly near.

The countless curses I harbored affected even my thoughts and emotions and if my spiritual power failed to manage them for even a moment, it could lead to a situation beyond imagination.

“Young master, if you're having a hard time, just lean on me comfortably.”

“I can endure it. Father, are we still far from the lodging?”

“He didn't say hotel this time……!”

“It's right over there!”

The place the priest pointed to was a top-class hotel that soared so high I couldn't see its top even when I tilted my head back as far as it would go.

Considering it was located in the middle of the city, its grandeur was understandable.

“Including the hotels in District 1, not just District 2, this place is within the top three. I had a rough idea, but it seems that man has a lot of money.”

“I thought, Catholic priests… took a vow of poverty.”

“These days, the only ones who take vows of poverty are the priests who enter monasteries. No, that's not to say I'm being extravagant! The Vatican provides support for activity expenses!”

Father Lucas led the two of us into the hotel lobby without hesitation.

A Westerner who was already as handsome as a movie star was wearing the stylish habit of the Order of Exorcists and behind him followed a crippled man in a suspicious mask and a woman of dazzling beauty.

It was only natural that the eyes of everyone in the hotel lobby were drawn to us.

However, before any unnecessary interference could come from elsewhere, a woman at the front desk, her eyes sparkling, came running over as if she were flying.

“Father Lucas! You reserved another room, right?”

“That's right, Sister. I will guide these two myself, so could you just give me the key?”

“But I should, ah, ack, I understand……!”

The employee, who likely wanted to spend a little more time with Father Lucas, had been dragging out her words with a disappointed expression.

Her face crumpled when she saw Geum Mo-a's beauty, and then she froze stiff upon finally noticing me.

I couldn't be sure, but if she had seen me wrapped in bandages, it probably wouldn't have ended there.

– Now that's a human I recognize. This is how humans should be. So disgusting I want to burn them all.

“Shh.”

I covered Fire tail's mouth as I watched the back of the employee who, after handing the key to the priest, was walking away with the stiff movements of a wooden doll.

The hotel employee didn't seem to have any spiritual power, so she probably couldn't understand Fire tail's words anyway.

“Father, did you learn Korean?”

“Ah, no. I have a holy object that enables translation. Every exorcist who goes on external activities is given one. It's a replica, though.”

If it enabled two-way translation regardless of region or language, it would be a priceless treasure whether it was a replica or not.

For all of them to carry one, I realized anew that Father Lucas was indeed an exorcist.

“Then I will continue my explanation.”

The priest, leading the two of us and one animal, got on the elevator and pressed a high-floor button, continuing in a subdued voice.

“You've probably guessed, but my final objective is to lift the curse on Sister Do Yu-na. However… the problem is that I'm being obstructed right now.”

“Father, is that related to how you were thrown into the Phantom World?”

“That's right. A while ago, a letter arrived from the person who cast the curse on the Sister. It said that if she didn't break up with Brother Kim Hyeon-u immediately, they would make it so she could never meet anyone again.”

“Never, meet… anyone, again.”

“Naturally, Brother Kim Hyeon-u interpreted that as a threat to kill his wife with a curse. That's why he asked the Holy See for help.”

But it turned out that besides the curse, the culprit had other means to torment the new bride.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened.

Father Lucas checked the key and guided the two of us as he continued his explanation.

“Disappearance. At first, small objects around them began to disappear one by one. The two of them didn't think much of it, but it was actually a warning from the culprit.”

“I see…….”

I did think that for such a luxurious house, the furniture didn't stand out much.

But to think that things had been disappearing.

“……People?”

“Until now, it was fine. But just yesterday, one of the servants who helped with the housework.”

The moment I heard that, my eyebrows twitched.

Casting a curse because of a love affair was something that had been happening since ancient times, so there was nothing to be surprised about.

But for a mere human to use the Phantom World for that?

And even drag an innocent person into it?

Though I had been kicked out of my family, as someone who had nevertheless resolved to bear the karma of a gatekeeper of the Phantom World, it was something I could never forgive.

“Even then, you… had no idea the Phantom World was involved… and while searching for the missing person, you were thrown into the Phantom World, just like that.”

“That's right. So now, no, I'm sorry. Rushing things on my own won't solve anything. You've been through more hardship in the Phantom World than I have, Brother. Please, rest for now.”

“Just your consideration is thanks enough.”

When the priest arrived at the room and opened the door with the card-shaped key, a room as spacious as a palace revealed itself.

I wondered if the Order of Exorcists, great as they were, would really provide this much for activity expenses, but this was not the time to be asking such things.

I entered the room, and the moment I was sure that no outsiders could see me…… I collapsed into the arms of Geum Mo-a, who had been waiting nearby.

It was a little funny how Fire tail, startled, pricked up its ears and landed on the floor.

“Brother!”

“It's okay… rest will heal it. Much better than before. So wait.”

“Yes, yes, young master. Don't say any more and rest. This way.”

– To think I made a contract with such a weakling, my life is truly sad, so sad.

Even while being helped to the bed by Geum Mo-a, the story I heard from Father Lucas swirled in my creaking mind.

Just from the brief summary, there were several elements that bothered me, but the one that bothered me the most was one thing.

‘They arbitrarily opened and closed the gate to the Phantom World?’

Someone other than the royal family and the Eight Families of White Blood?

Or.

One of them?

Just as I was about to laugh at such a ridiculous possibility.

My consciousness could hold on no longer and snapped.