Chapter 262

The Class of Patience was always noisy. The reason was because the classmates in the Class of Patience got along well with each other. There were even rumors that some of them were dating.

Jin-Seo sat alone, staring blankly at the classroom scenery. The kids mingled among each other without distinction between boys and girls, but no one approached Jin-Seo.

She wasn’t the type to feel lonely. However, she wanted to talk to someone today.

The words Ha-Yeon had said on the day the demon had appeared at the Han River kept echoing in her ears. The term 'secret meeting,' with its suspicious and uneasy connotation, lingered in her mind.

She wanted to grab onto someone and talk about this matter, but besides Sun-Woo, she didn't have anyone else to comfortably share her thoughts with. She rested her head on the desk and thought about getting some sleep. However, perhaps due to sleeping a lot the previous day, sleep did not come easily.

Tap, tap.

Someone tapped on her shoulder. When she looked up, she saw a familiar face.

"Why are you in the classroom today? You usually skip class to exercise, right?”

A small-framed girl was talking to her. Since Jin-Seo often talked to her, the girl had become friendly with her.

Jin-Seo stared at her for a moment, then let out a dry laugh and said, "I just wanted to take a break today."

"Are you feeling sick? You never skip exercise," the girl joked.

Jin-Seo shook her head and said, "I'm not sick. I just wanted to take a day off today—"

"Is it because of Sun-Woo?"

Jin-Seo's eyes widened in surprise. The girl looked at Jin-Seo with a pitiful expression and snickered.

For a while, Jin-Seo stared at the girl in surprise and furrowed her brows as if she couldn't understand.

"How did you know that? Where did you hear such rumors?"

"Is there anything else that could possibly make you this depressed besides him?”

"That's true... No, that’s not true at all. In the first place, Sun-Woo and I don’t have any sort of relationship anyway—”

“From my perspective, it seems like Sun-Woo also likes you. I think everyone else in the academy would think the same.”

“Why are you saying

Sun-Woo also

?”

“Because you like him too, right?”

“...”

Jin-Seo was so surprised that she was rendered speechless. There weren't just one or two things that surprised her.

Jin-Seo was surprised that her feelings toward Sun-Woo were exposed. She thought she had not shown any signs. But what surprised Jin-Seo the most was the girl’s words that Sun-Woo also seemed to like her. She found it hard to accept that fact.

She believed that Sun-Woo had no feelings for her. He would sometimes show kindness toward her and sometimes say meaningful things to her, but those words weren’t exclusively directed at just Jin-Seo. He was kind to everyone and said meaningful things to everyone.

“...He doesn't like me.”

And above all, he was secretly meeting Ha-Yeon. Since Ha-Yeon was able to use the words ‘secret meeting’ without hesitation, she clearly had a deep connection with Sun-Woo. Therefore, Jin-Seo was almost certain that Sun-Woo did not like her.

It was at that moment that the girl laughed and said, "What? His expression changes when he's with you. If he doesn't like you, there’s no way his expression would change like that."

"What do you mean? His expression doesn’t seem to change at all."

"No, his expression changes! He grins like an idiot when he’s with you," the girl said with an agitated tone. "Are you just going to give up if he doesn't like you?"

Jin-Seo remained silent. She had considered giving up before, but just thinking about it felt painful.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The thought of closing her heart and just becoming friends with him but then suddenly seeing someone else have him made her heart ache. In fact, she wasn't even sure if she really liked Sun-Woo. Perhaps she just wanted to possess him.

Jin-Seo stared blankly into the air, lost in thought, then suddenly banged her head on the desk and lay down.

"I don't know..."

"What exactly do you want to do with him?" the girl asked.

Jin-Seo thought about what she wanted to do with Sun-Woo, but nothing specific came to mind. She didn't have anything she wanted to do for him, nor did she want him to do anything for her. After pondering for a while while lying down, she suddenly lifted her head.

"I... I wish he would look at me, even just a little," Jin-Seo said, then lowered her gaze to the floor.

She hoped Sun-Woo would look at her. She always hovered around him, waiting for him to look at her. However, he had never really looked at her even once. He always looked elsewhere.

During exams, Sun-Woo always did his best, but he didn’t do so for the sake of getting good grades. He treated everyone kindly, but he didn’t do it to win people's favor. He rescued others even in situations where he had to risk his life. However, he didn’t do so to receive people's admiration and respect.

Things that people generally considered important such as grades, other peoples’ favor, admiration, and respect meant nothing to him. His goal was not such trivial things. Sun-Woo pursued a goal that was so large in magnitude that Jin-Seo could not imagine it.

"I just... wish he would look at me. Even if it’s just for a moment."

That was why he didn't pay attention to her. He was too overwhelmed by the pursuit of his goals to spare time to look at her.

The girl listened to Jin-Seo and fell into thought. With her arms crossed, she pondered deeply, then earnestly nodded and said, "Then why not just say that to him?"

"How can I say something like that to him?"

"It's best to be honest. Tell Sun-Woo exactly what you think."

After saying that, the girl’s expression stiffened and she bowed her head. Then she mumbled softly, "You... can do so."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh... Nothing. What I mean is... I’m saying that for a girl at your level, just being honest has an effect. What exactly are you lacking? Nothing, am I right?" the girl said in a flurry as if she was coming up with excuses for what she said earlier. "Anyway, give it a try. Love is supposed to be something that is conquered. If you hesitate, someone else will take it."

Jin-Seo looked at the girl’s face. She was just smiling awkwardly without saying anything. She gained nothing from this counseling session with her. The girl just suggested a vague and ridiculous solution of confessing to Sun-Woo. Nevertheless, after confessing something she had never told anyone else, her heart felt lighter.

* * *

"Cult Leader, it's been a while."

"Ah, Executive Yun Chang-Su. Nice to see you."

I exchanged a light handshake with Yun Chang-Su as he greeted me. With Yun Chang-Su’s arrival, all the executives had gathered at the Chungcheong Branch’s underground chapel.

Now that all the executives were present, there was only one thing left to do.

"Then, let’s begin the executive meeting."

It was the start of another executive meeting. Up until now, executive meetings were rarely ever held due to the fact that it became unnecessary to hold executive meetings after resurrecting the tribute system and improving communication.

It was also because I was busy handling various tasks.

However, an executive meeting had to be held today. There was a matter that needed to be addressed.

"The first agenda is about finding a residence for Executive Yuk Eun-Hyung's mercenary corps."

Due to the Holy See's suppression order, the Crusader Order had attacked Yuk Eun-Hyung's mercenary corps.

Thanks to my intervention, they avoided annihilation, but there were a significant number of casualties, and about two-thirds of their base had been destroyed. Furthermore, because the location of the existing base had been exposed to the Holy See and the Crusader Order, they needed to secure a new refuge to prevent further harm. Fortunately, there was a plan in place for this.

"Once the discussion of the first agenda is concluded..."

I took a deep breath. I could not discuss this matter without catching my breath first.

If we only had to discuss establishing a new refuge for Yuk Eun-Hyung's mercenary corps, there would have been no need to gather all the executives for a meeting. The real reason I had summoned the executives today was different.

"There will be a memorial service for the Second Cult Leader, Do Myung-Jun."

Today was the anniversary of the death of the Second Cult Leader, Do Myung-Jun, or in other words, my father. As I finished speaking, the executives quietly bowed their heads. It was a silent tribute to my father.

I, too, remained silent for a while with my head bowed. Both my uncle and Ji-Ah sat in silence with their mouths closed, contemplating.

"Let's continue our tributes and mourning for the Second Cult Leader at the memorial service later. Now, let's discuss the first agenda..."

I broke their silent tribute and officially started the meeting. As the son of the Second Cult Leader, Do Myung-Jun, I was the only one who could break the tribute. As the silent tribute ended and the meeting began, as if having waited to speak, Executive Yeom Man-Gun said, "Hey Eun-Hyung, reckon we oughta talk 'bout that daft kid's actions?"

Upon hearing those words, Yuk Eun-Hyung's expression hardened. Yun Chang-Su calmly cleared his throat and said, "Executive Yeom Man-Gun, please refrain from insulting the Cult Leader. In the past executive meeting, didn’t you receive help from Cult Leader for the expansion of your factory?"

"Yeah, Yeom Man-Gun, I’m seeking the Cult Leader's help to save the lives of numerous members of my mercenary corps. There is no reason for him to receive blame from you, who used the headquarters’ capital to expand your factory business for the sake of personal gain.”

"I ain't expanded my factory biz for my own gain! It's plumb ridiculous, this here hopeless fool's jest skatin' on thin ice—!"

Bang!

"Everyone, please calm down."

Before the argument could escalate further, I slammed the desk forcefully and demanded silence from them. Thankfully, the executives listened to me and obediently closed their mouths. I surveyed the expressions of the executives within the sudden silence that fell upon the underground chapel.

Yeom Man-Gun and Yuk Eun-Hyung were clearly intimidated, Yun Chang-Su kept his head down and remained silent, and Ha Pan-Seok seemed to be lost in thought, staring into space.

Although Ha Pan-Seok's state concerned me a little, I cleared my throat and said, "I have already thought of a residence for Executive Yuk Eun-Hyung’s mercenary corps. The preparations are almost complete."

"Cult Leader, I'm sorry, but may I ask what you have in mind?" Yuk Eun-Hyung asked.

His legs trembled, and he chewed his lips nervously as if he was anxious.

I could fully understand Yuk Eun-Hyung's feelings. He had lent me a mercenary corps member in exchange for me providing him with a new residence. The mercenary corps member he lended me did a great job, and thanks to that, Yoon-Ah's younger sibling was able to reunite with In-Ah safely.

However, I had not yet arranged a new residence for Yuk Eun-Hyung. It was only natural that Yuk Eun-Hyung would be anxious.

I nodded and said, "We’re going to use Noah's Ark."

The first to react was Yun Chang-Su. He lost his composure and blinked his eyes as he stared at me with a blank expression. This was the first time I had seen him lose his composure like this.

I observed the expressions of the other executives. Judging by their faces, it seemed like Yun Chang-Su was the only one who knew what Noah's Ark was.

"No-Noah's Ark... doesn’t that belong to the Romanican Church? Are you trying to steal or rob it? T-that's too risky."

"No, I have no intention of stealing or robbing," I explained to Yun Chang-Su, who was stumbling over his words.

"I plan to acquire ownership fairly. More precisely, we are reclaiming ownership."

Yun Chang-Su still seemed to be unable to understand my words. It seemed like he could not grasp the concept of acquiring ownership of Noah's Ark.

Or perhaps he couldn’t think of a method of acquiring ownership of Noah's Ark.

It made sense. Noah's Ark belonged to the Romanican Church. It was not something the Voodoo Cult could recklessly use, nor was there any possibility of them transferring ownership of Noah's Ark to us.

If it were the past, we wouldn’t have been able to even consider using Noah's Ark.

“But, originally, Noah's Ark belonged to us.”

On the day of the re-election test for the Holy Name of Charity, I had a conversation with the owner of the Ark, Noah.

It was then that I learned that the Second Cult Leader, Do Myung-Jun, my father, and Sung Yu-Da were the ones who jointly created the Ark.

And recently, I was able to establish a cooperative relationship with Sung Yu-Da.

I knew the method to use Noah's Ark. No, I knew how to reclaim ownership of Noah's Ark.