The Unbelievers

Chapter 59

Eunseong’s runaway went more smoothly than he had planned. He gradually packed his belongings during his daily commutes to school, hiding them under a secluded wall, then transferred them to his bag and left school immediately. There were eyes watching him at school too.

He changed out of his school uniform in a subway station bathroom and threw it in the trash, as it would only be extra baggage. He knew that up to this point, he would probably be tracked by CCTV, and by this evening at the latest, Yoo Siwoon or Director Nam would see him entering the subway station bathroom.

After changing, Eunseong hid his suspiciously overstuffed backpack in a bathroom stall used for storing cleaning supplies. He planned to retrieve it in a few days. If it disappeared by then, he could check the lost and found. If it vanished completely, there was nothing he could do. If the bag became a clue for tracking him, it was better to be gone.

He packed only money and essential items lightly in a single crossbody bag. Pulling his hat low, he waited for a crowded moment when many people were exiting the train to move.

Following the noisy crowd, he left the bathroom and blended into the mass of people. Though there was no chance anyone was chasing him yet, his heart pounded and he felt anxious as if committing a crime.

As he walked mixed in with the crowd, his anxiety gradually faded. His hunched posture slowly straightened. Eunseong walked without being conscious of CCTV cameras. He acutely felt that he was now truly alone, an anonymous individual in the crowd.

Afraid Director Nam might suddenly ask to see his phone, he had used a friend’s phone to look up jobs on hiring apps before leaving home. He chose a busy area with high foot traffic. He found a job immediately at the first store he tried among several he had researched.

When Eunseong was about to look for a goshiwon (small single-room accommodation), the cafe owner who interviewed him recommended a motel next door. It seemed an employee had suddenly quit right before their busy season.

The lodging and job issues he had been worried about were resolved at once. The motel building had been recently renovated and was clean and pleasant. The owner took a liking to Eunseong, who said he had come to Seoul to earn money for college tuition. Moreover, since he would be an adult in just a month, his young age wasn’t a big problem.

“Most of these guys promise to show up and then don’t, so I’d rather have someone staying here – it gives me peace of mind. Why do kids these days ghost after making promises? If you’re going to do that, don’t make promises in the first place. They just ignore everything. Do they think ignoring solves problems?”

The owner grumbled to Eunseong about “kids these days.” He said he already liked Eunseong just for showing up on time as promised for the interview. Seeing Eunseong actively looking for work himself seemed to have impressed him.

“I’m sorry, but could I receive my wages in cash?”

“Of course it’s cash. Oh, you mean you want it handed to you directly instead of transferred to an account?”

“Yes, there’s a situation at home…”

“Alright, we can do that.”

Without further explanation, the owner readily agreed as if he understood all of Eunseong’s unspoken circumstances.

“Just because they gave birth doesn’t make them parents. Tsk tsk.”

He added this comment, though it wasn’t clear what he was imagining.

The ancestral rite started late due to snowfall. The chairman of Seongha Group and the apostle of the elder council bowed towards the altar. Beside them, executioners stood in line with their hoods pulled down to their eyebrows. Whether he had been converted or was there to convert those bringing offerings of money was unclear, but even Master Manpo was present, taking up a spot at Seongha Group’s ritual day.

The eyes of Yoo Siwoon and Master Manpo, standing silently with hands respectfully clasped in front, occasionally met in the air. Judging by the way he kept meeting Siwoon’s gaze, it seemed Master Manpo had some profitable information.

The snowfall made the air heavy, and the incense smell was especially strong today. Major shareholders of Seongha Group, outside directors, subsidiary company presidents, university presidents, the chairman of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission, newspaper company presidents, the Prosecutor General, and even the Deputy Commissioner General of the National Police Agency were present, becoming followers of this heretical faith and paying their respects.

Director Nam, who had briefly left to take a call, had silently returned to Yoo Siwoon’s side. Siwoon slightly turned back at the faint presence he felt, raising an eyebrow at Director Nam’s serious expression and hardened gaze.

When Siwoon silently asked what was wrong, Director Nam lowered his eyes to the floor as if avoiding Siwoon’s gaze. It meant something serious had happened, something that made him apologetic to Siwoon.

Siwoon turned his head forward. No chatting was allowed during the ceremony.

The ritual proceeded according to rank. Seo Jeong-gi’s father, who had been the eldest son, had passed away long ago, and the second son, Chairman Yoo, was performing the role of eldest son. Chairman Yoo and his son paid respects first, followed by the third and fourth sons in order, and finally Yoo Siwoon stepped forward to pay his respects. Today was not a day for sacrifice rituals. The tedious ceremony continued.

The apostle recited prayers in a solemn voice, igniting flames. Whatever trick he had used, the flames writhed like snakes, shooting up towards the sky and nearly reaching the rafters. The eyes of those seeing this for the first time widened in surprise, and small gasps of amazement escaped. Some even fell to their knees with a loud thud. They worshipped the same god that Seongha Group believed in.

Whatever trick this was, it could probably be figured out by entering the safe that only the apostle had access to.

The urge to uncover it quickly, the hasty desire to get rid of these people soon, kept surging up.

《Behold, the god who came by the side path rides the pale horse and travels that road, and their end shall be in the fires of destruction. When the end of the world draws near, a rider on a pale horse shall appear and roam all the earth with darkness, ruling mankind with death. His name shall be Death, and Hell follows him. The whole world shall tremble and fear before his might.

After paving the way of chaos and destruction, the god who came by the side path shall appear like light from the great rift in the darkness. This is the savior, the one to be worshipped, with lips sweet as honey and eyes as pure as lilies. The swarm of snakes lies in the abyss, visible only to those with opened spiritual eyes. The keys to the whole world shall be placed in his hands. Mark the forehead and hand with the rider’s sign. All power and glory are but fleeting. Behold, the god who came by the side path rides the pale horse and travels that road, and their end is in the fires of destruction, and only our righteousness shall abound in the world.》

As the ceremony ended, the executioners who had seemed like messengers from hell disappeared in a rush like a black cloud, without making a sound.

The group gathered here were heretical believers waiting for the Asura to be born from the ‘Great Rift’.

In the two thousand years of its existence, there were only two recorded instances of the ‘Great Rift’. The last record was from the early 19th century, so Eunseong’s discovery was after nearly 220 years.

They believed that the child born from the ‘Great Rift’ mating with those with opened spiritual eyes would rule and govern this world, and they searched the entire earth to find the ‘Great Rift’.

As the ceremony ended, the surroundings began to buzz quietly. The heretical believers exchanged ordinary greetings and caught up with each other.

The golden hall soon became noisy.

Yoo Siwoon, who had been kneeling to one side after bowing, also stood up. He and Director Nam moved towards the exit, exchanging hushed conversation.

“What’s the matter?”

“…Eunseong has disappeared.”

“…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Director Nam reported without delay, as if ready to take whatever punishment came. He couldn’t bring himself to look up, waiting for Siwoon’s response. When Siwoon didn’t answer, he finally raised his eyes.

Siwoon’s expression was ambiguous. He didn’t look surprised, disappointed, or angry at the employees responsible for protecting Eunseong. He looked like someone who had known this would happen. It was more like the vague worry he had been feeling had finally become reality.

“Because of the heavy snow blocking the roads, they let him off nearby without handing him over to the security guard planted at the school.”

“…”

“Apparently, he said he had something to do at school and couldn’t be late, so he wanted to get off early. The employee let him go since it was within walking distance.”

“…”

“Could it be a kidnapping? We confirmed he entered the subway station, but we can’t track him after that.”

Director Nam asked in a lowered voice, keenly scanning their surroundings. It was almost just lip movements. They were surrounded by enemies.

Siwoon didn’t answer. He was staring blankly into space with a thoughtful expression.

“CEO.”

Feeling frustrated by Siwoon’s lack of response, Director Nam called him as if urging him to say something. When Siwoon finally focused on him, Director Nam continued quietly.

“If it’s a kidnapping, wouldn’t the culprit be… among these people?”

“No. It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

“We’ll talk later.”

Siwoon quickly ended the conversation as someone approached them. An elder came up and offered his hand to Siwoon for a handshake.

Only Director Nam knew that Siwoon deliberately wore a thick gold ring and had tattoos on his hand, as if proudly displaying his lowly status as a mere henchman for disposing of trash. He lowered his posture as if trying to be inconspicuous in this place, disguising his true intentions.