NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 45
“The basics of exorcism are to make the demons inside the possessed person give up on their own.”
My hands trembled. I was just a mere priest. I was only a sub-priest from a rural village.
“Can we… face the demons?”
“Priest Lucio, that is…”
Suddenly, a scream echoed from within the tent.
It was the lament of despair boiling up from hell. It was painful to my ears, shaking even the deepest faith.
The cold sweat trickling down my temples felt hot. I wiped the sweat that had accumulated on my forehead.
“I, I am… I am…”
I can’t do it. I’m scared. It’s terrifying. This was the emotion I felt when I first faced someone possessed by a demon.
Fear. It was not the fear that comes from the unknown. Within the limits of my understanding, it was an existence that showed me infinite terror.
That is why it is frightening. It is unbearably frightening.
Helena the priestess tightened her grip on my shoulder. I looked into her clear eyes.
“It does not matter whether we can face it or not.”
Her clear, emerald-like green eyes reflected me, an insignificant person trembling in fear.
“Priest Lucio. This is something only we can do.”
However, the moment I heard her words, the image of myself reflecting in Helena’s eyes was surprisingly different.
* * * * *
“Sofia Sub-priest.”
Sofia Sub-priest was kneeling down with reverence, placing a notebook and pen in front of her outside the salt boundary.
“Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“It’s not difficult. You just need to follow and write down the conversation I have with the demon from beginning to end.”
Leaving Sofia Sub-priest, who nodded her head, I poured holy water into the basin.
The blessed river of Samadan gradually filled up. After pouring in a whole bottle, I placed the holy water basin neatly inside.
There was no time to waste. I immediately took out a cross the size of my forearm and placed it neatly on Priest Peter’s chest.
“…You will receive what you seek, for your faith has touched me.”
Priest Peter’s body remained completely still. I covered his closed eyes with the cloth and pressed down firmly with my left hand.
“Lord, have mercy.”
I felt his eyeballs rolling beneath his closed eyelids. I pressed down on the cloth a little harder and continued my prayer.
“You who are omniscient and the Lord of all centuries, you are the one who created and changes everything.”
– Caw. Caw. Caw.
I heard the sound of crows. At least, it was not a sound coming from inside the dormitory. I lightly ignored it.
“The Lord is my shepherd; all that is in my mind, soul, and body is with Him. Who shall harm me?”
Sss—.
Suddenly, centipedes descended from the dormitory ceiling. I glanced over at the centipedes crawling down the wall.
“I am not afraid, for I am with You, my eternal Savior. My strength, my future, and the peace of light that has been with my ancestors. Protect us…”
“Ugh… Ugh….”
“…from all evil. By Your most holy and glorious grace, drive them into the eternal flames.”
Priest Peter’s body began to tremble slightly. As his limbs moved, the cloth binding him tightened even more.
“O, great and almighty Lord. Through the intercession of Archangel Michael, free our brothers and sisters who have become slaves of evil.”
“Grrr…! Ugh…!”
“O, all the saints on this earth who are with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Help us.”
Clank! Clank!
The once trembling body of Priest Peter now began to thrash about violently as if it were going to break the bed. I pressed down harder on the cloth covering his eyes.
“Protect us as we face the hatred, jealousy, anxiety, and sorrow, and may we be freed by You, O Lord.”
“Ugh, ugh…!”
“Grant us the peace that is light, and free us from all evil and curses. And let us forever enjoy Your peace.”
The prayer raced toward its conclusion. I gestured a cross in the air toward the still trembling body of Priest Peter.
“I earnestly wish to testify to the Lord who is present among us. Come, Lord.”
Clank!
Priest Peter’s quivering body collapsed weakly onto the bed. I removed the cloth covering Priest Peter’s eyes. He was still in a state of closed eyes.
“There is no use hiding now. Show yourself.”
“…….”
“…Fine. If you wish, I will do this all day long.”
I once again covered his eyes with the cloth. Priest Peter’s body began to stir.
“I beseech the Lord in heaven, do not allow the evil of the falsehood of the beginning and the forsaken to spread here. May the faith increase in protecting us, and only…”
“Ah, Antonel….”
Priest Peter’s mouth opened. It was a terribly dry, cracked voice. I stopped my prayer and opened my eyes.
“Antonel, Li… Head Priest… it’s me… Priest Peter….”
“…….”
“I don’t know what this is…. Please release me…. It hurts…”
“…Only heal the suffering of the brothers and sisters here.”
“Head Priest…! Please, release me…! It hurts…!”
“You are my life and the resurrection of the divine. Be assured of this and enjoy joy and peace.”
“My, leg…!”
Priest Peter’s body began to shake violently. I anxiously watched the bedposts creaking.
Sofia Sub-priest was wide-eyed, looking this way, yet her hand did not stop writing down the conversation.
Since this was her first time participating in an exorcism ritual, she would need special care. I focused on Priest Peter’s forehead, putting the rosary against it and pressing down with my finger.
“Using wicked means will be useless. You have already been exposed, so using clever tricks will only result in more pain.”
“What do you mean…! Don’t you want to let me go!? Why are you ignoring my words…!”
“I beseech the Almighty Lord. Drive out the demons that consume the body and soul.”
Ignoring Priest Peter’s words, I continued my prayer. The longer the prayer went on, the more Priest Peter’s body began to writhe in torment.
“Why are you ignoring my words…! My, leg…!”
“Do not allow them to taint us any further with evil. Protect us from all the evil and sin, jealousy and anger they commit.”
“Just…! Please listen…!”
“O Lord, the light of our being, look down upon Your servant Benedict and Peter, and free us from the threats that come from all evil and that lie…”
“Listen to me—!!”
Creak! Creak!
The living room light sputtered and lost its light. From one side of the darkened living room, I could hear Priest Peter’s whisper.
“O children with ears, listen.”
It was the whisper of evil. A message from the darkness.
“You miserable little insects should just live quietly. If you see us, close your eyes; if you hear us, cover your ears.”
“…Please exterminate all threats and lies that come from evil. I earnestly beseech the archangel Michael, who punishes all evil and his Lord.”
“Listen to my words, children of original sin.”
As I lit the blessed candle I had prepared in advance, I slightly uncovered one of Priest Peter’s eyes. His eyeball, covered in white and filled with blood, rolled toward me.
“Just pretend you didn’t see anything. Do you not understand my words? What you are doing is just a waste of time.”
A foul odor emanated from his mouth. I turned my head slightly and drew a cross in the air.
“We, Your servants, will not listen to your words.”
“You must be afraid. You filthy coward…!”
I removed the rosary from Priest Peter’s forehead. Still pressing down on the cloth with my left hand, I drew another cross over Priest Peter’s face.
“O false one of the beginning, I will ask in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From where do you come?”
Priest Peter’s face became darkened. The Priest, writhing in pain, revealed his gums soaked in dark red blood and smiled.
“I was there when you first tasted the grace of the divine. I was there when you crossed over the water on a small piece of wood, gazing at the sky. I was there when you first established your dynasty in the blessed land, when I tempted your king.”
The corners of Priest Peter’s mouth lifted up as if they were about to reach his ears. Leaving behind that vile smile, I drew a cross again and asked.
“When did you come here?”
“Ha, ha, ha—!”
Priest Peter laughed loudly. Gasping for breath, he continued to laugh with enough force to shake the bed, spitting blood and saliva as he spoke.
“I crossed over here when your first offspring was conceived. When you began to serve the false father, I betrayed the light you worshipped.”
“When will you leave that body?”
Priest Peter clamped his mouth shut. The trickle of dark red blood stained the bedding as it flowed from the corner of his mouth.
“I will ask again. When will you leave that body?”
“Hehe… Why should I leave?”
His voice had changed. It was a slightly thinner and sly tone than before. I glanced sideways at Sofia Sub-priest, who nodded her head, having read my gesture, and continued to take notes.
“I will ask one last time. When will you leave that body?”
“This body is so comfortable… The soul is sweet! Why should I leave such a comfortable body? I will not leave!”
Communication was no longer possible. In that case, I had no choice but to take action.
I lightly dipped my thumb into the holy water. The clear holy water wet my finger, and with that wet finger, I drew a cross on Priest Peter’s forehead.
Creak…! Creak!
As the cross marked with holy water settled onto his forehead, Priest Peter audibly ground his teeth. It sounded like bones being crushed.
I placed the Bible I received from Sofia Sub-priest under his pillow and covered Priest Peter’s eyes with the cloth.
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I will ask. For what reason have you come here?”
“…….”
“Speak. For what reason have you come here?”
“Ptooey!”
Suddenly, Priest Peter, who had been mumbling, forcefully spat something out. I slightly turned my head to avoid it.
It was a centipede, wriggling and soaked in blood. I snickered and drew a cross in the air.
“Do not test my patience. I will ask again. For what reason have you come here?”
“…We have come here to extinguish the light.”
His voice changed again. This time it was a thick, low voice that reminded me of a dog barking with a throat full of phlegm.
“We crossed over to extinguish the light. We will snuff out the light you worship. Darkness will come into the world! You will not be able to stop the 666 beasts that will cross over here!”
My ears began to ring. I furrowed my brow and pressed down harder on the cloth covering Priest Peter’s head.
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I ask. Who is your leader?”
“We have come here to extinguish the light! We have come here to extinguish the light! You worms cannot see the crumbling net of heaven!”
“The Lord has already triumphed over the world! Who is your leader?!”
“…….”
Silence flowed. Cold sweat dripped down my chin.
The suffocating air pressed against my lungs. Sofia Sub-priest’s eyes, looking this way, were trembling.
“I know you.”
Priest Peter’s mouth opened. It was another voice.
A chilling voice, scraping against metal. I focused on the creature’s voice.
“I know your sins. Benedict the 891366th.”
“…May the Lord’s spirit sanctify me. May the Lord’s blood cleanse me. The Lord’s passion…”
“That damn whore.”
I stopped my prayer. I stared blankly at Priest Peter’s mouth.
“The insect-like woman who walked with you. The girl with the filthy, whorish smile. Do you know why she died?”
My lips trembled. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to ignore his words.
“…the Lord’s passion…”
“You had no idea how much of a nuisance you insects were.”
“The, passion…”
“Shall I tell you what she said before she died?”
“…….”
I could not continue my prayer. My hand holding the rosary trembled violently.
A hot drop of sweat, flung from my trembling cheek, landed on Priest Peter’s mouth. He licked it up and smacked his lips, opening his mouth.
“Priest Lucio! Save me~! I don’t want to die~!”
“…….”
“Shall I tell you one more thing? I killed her.”
Crack—!
In an instant, my vision went white.
“Head, Head Priest!”
Before I knew it, I was violently gripping Priest Peter’s neck with both hands.