Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – "While the Master was asleep, the believers began to leave. As a result, the income decreased, and the expenses of the sect also decreased because many believers left."

"Overall, the scale has shrunk. It looks like there are many problems. We need to hold a meeting."

"Yes. When should we set the next meeting?"

"Let's do it tomorrow evening."

"Yes!"

Charles felt the need to think about how to run the sect. The way the original Charles had run the cult was something he detested.

He wanted to run the sect in a different way, something like a corporate-style sect... Charles believed that modern large corporations and cults were not so different.

The only difference was money versus faith. When you look at how corporate executives are deified within their companies, money and faith are not so different.

'Both money and faith are important.'

To do that, there was a practical problem. Charles was currently a bastard of the Heksen family. All he had was a mansion and a vineyard.

Lack of money was one of the critical issues when starting to run an unknown sect. After Charles collapsed, the funding for the existing sect was cut off, and he needed to find a new way.

'There's a separate way to solve this. The problem is the current sect.'

The unknown sect was now a full-fledged cult. Moreover, the strong control he had while he was unconscious must have weakened.

He planned to dominate the sect and rewrite the new scriptures to improve its nature. Thanks to his characteristic as a 'Scripture Researcher,' there would be no problem in writing the scriptures.

After arduous writing, Charles completely reorganized the scriptures. This was called 'The Book of Dignity.'

Charles intended to use this Book of Dignity to completely replace the existing scriptures and make the sect less cult-like.

Charles detested cults intensely. A system that preys on people with mental illnesses or social weaknesses. Therefore, the tithes he had received so far would be toxic to the unknown sect.

In the long term, Charles planned to reduce and eventually eliminate tithes. He also thought that the system of mutual surveillance in a fanatical atmosphere, as it was now, was not good.

'Though it was poorly made from the beginning, my way is right.'

A few fanatical believers are enough. They don't need to be all. He needed to discover new disciples and divide the sect's work. There was a mountain of work to do.

* * *

In TV shows and dramas, cults are often depicted as villains that the protagonist must eliminate. They laugh sinisterly in dark places, wearing dark cloths that obscure their faces, chanting spells like 'Panglupan'...

Charles never dreamed he would become the leader of such villains. He certainly couldn't have imagined it a week ago.

-Huh? Are you shaking?

Pakinarecor asked. Charles replied internally.

-Of course. Wouldn't you be scared standing among these crazy fanatics?

-You're a strange person. You seem calm despite that.

Charles showed a contradictory side. Knowing that this was 'real,' his mind felt the burden, but his body, coated with traits like 'calmness' and 'charisma,' felt nothing.

Thud, thud.

The meeting of the unknown sect was held in the warehouse of the vineyard owned by Charles Heksen. A warehouse converted into a meeting hall. Inside, people were gathered.

Under the deep shadows of the hoods, masks covered the eyes. They all gathered and muttered the same words.

"Master, I have brought your clothes."

The Master's ceremonial robe was different from other clothes. It was baggy like the other believers' clothes but had gold trim on the sleeves and edges, and it was white, unlike the gray clothes of the believers.

Flona handed him the clothes and a mask. The mask was also different, more elaborate. It was connected with a string to securely cover the entire face.

'Sigh. I'm a cult leader.'

Although he lamented internally, Charles knew that such muttering was meaningless. What mattered was not showing it outwardly.

'There was an early event for the unknown sect.'

When the player starts as Charles, at the early meeting, he will face an unexpected threat. This is because Charles's influence weakened due to his long absence in a coma.

'A traitor will appear.'

To be precise, it won't be a traitor but someone who was originally a spy for another sect, inciting people.

Charles planned to turn him into a double agent, a spy for another sect. To do that, he needed to properly use the power of domination. Looking around, Charles thought about what to do.

Using the power of domination on living beings is difficult. Unlike inanimate objects, living beings have a weak spirituality, so domination is impossible unless they are mentally confused or physically weak.

Therefore, he needed to confuse the opponent's mind. He pulled back the curtain and entered the meeting. The platform he ascended was much higher than the others.

"It's the Master!"

"The Master has come."

"The Master is alive!"

The believers, who had been muttering, stopped praying and stared blankly at Charles. They looked as if they were seeing a corpse come back to life. When their eyes were filled with renewed faith and excitement, they cheered.

At least Charles had managed the sect well. For one person to exert such influence, there must have been twists and turns.

Charles created a fictional being called the 'Non-Being' and proclaimed him as a god. He had claimed to be an apostle who received revelations from the Non-Being—this was the sect's doctrine so far.

As the wave of cheers rose, Charles raised his hand. The noise naturally began to subside.

"I have traveled to the world where the gods live."

Murmurs.

"Gods?"

"Is it really...?"

The believers muttered, confused. Charles's voice penetrated their ears, addressing their confusion.

"There, I welcomed the Non-Being."

"Oh!"

"Oh!"

"And I realized. The Non-Being and I are not so different. In fact, I was the Non-Being, and the Non-Being was me. When I awoke from that sleep, I understood why I was born into this world. I was born to save the ignorant and pitiful beings."

In some ways, he believed it. Charles was worried about the world's people, who would be swept away by evil gods descending from another realm.

Many people, including him, would suffer simply for being alive. According to the game's scenario, the world's destruction was predetermined.

-What, you're doing well? You were scared of being a cult leader before.

-Shut up, I'm concentrating.

"The Non-Being will save us!"

"The Master will save us!"

The believers who heard Charles's story split into two groups. Those who had been strongly controlled by Charles believed his words and muttered in awe.

However, those who had escaped Charles's influence or were swayed by spies from other sects found it hard to believe him.

Sure enough, as expected, someone stood up. A large man pointed at Charles and shouted.

"He is a false prophet! The Non-Being is the Non-Being. He has committed a grave sin by impersonating the Non-Being! We must bring him down!"

"That's right! The Master is insulting the Non-Being!"

They were a minority but boldly shouted, causing confusion among the believers. Flona, standing next to Charles's platform, looked down at them calmly.

Her eyes seemed devoid of emotion, but Charles knew she was a killing machine that would move at his command.

"You, Lucien Epoch. Why do you call me a false prophet?"

Charles pointed at the man who spoke first. He flinched when Charles mentioned his name but continued.

"You just abandoned the sect! You say you met the Non-Being? Show us the proof!"

"Indeed, your faith in me is still lacking. Do you mean to say you don't believe in your prophet and me?"

"That's right! Show us the proof! You're just a fraud, dominating the unknown sect for your selfish desires!"

The crowd grew restless.

"How can you say such harsh words!"

"What insolence to the Master!"

As they said this, they looked at Charles, waiting to see how he would respond.

Most believers were not fools. However, crowds are foolish, and convincing fools is not difficult.

"I have seen everything while being with the Non-Being. I have gained the divine eye that can see all futures and pasts. And Lucien Epoch, I know why you are calling me a fraud. It's because of the secret orders you received from the leader of another sect, isn't it?"

"What, what!?"

Lucien showed a noticeable sign of panic. The face under the mask that covered his eyes twisted viciously.

"What are you talking about!"

"You are a spy who infiltrated our sect on the orders of the 'Fragment Salvation Society.' Don't you believe in your god, the 'Fragment Machine'?"

"I, I don't."

"Doesn't your elderly mother, your young cousin, and your entire family believe in the Fragment Salvation Society?"

As Charles smoothly recited the family relationships, Lucien felt something was wrong.

"I know nothing about such a sect."

"Search his waist. You will find a 'Fragment Knife,' a sacred object of the Fragment Salvation Society, there."

Lucien felt goosebumps. While family relationships could be investigated, how could Charles know what he had and where?

"I, I..."

The friendly believers looked at him suspiciously. A believer next to Lucien, who was sweating, tried to search his waist, but he quickly stepped back to avoid the touch.

"Look. He is afraid of his truth being exposed."

"No, no, I'm not."

"Search his waist!"

Several believers rushed forward and pulled out a Fragment Knife from Lucien's body. The knife had a strange symbol, clearly a symbol of another sect.

"Look. That is the symbol of heresy."

"This unbeliever!"

"This unbeliever has been deceiving us all along!"

Even the friendly believers of Lucien Epoch were shocked. Pakinarecor chuckled.

-This is fun. How did you know he had the Fragment Knife?

-Originally, spies from other sects keep their faith in their pockets.

He couldn't say that he had already known about Lucien from the previous game. While chatting with Pakinarecor, Charles glanced at him and nodded.

"This man needs to repent."

"No, no, I don't!"

"What do you mean, no! Drag him out immediately!"

The believers rushed to grab Lucien Epoch, but he struggled, twisting his body.

At that moment, Flona, who had received Charles's nod, stepped forward. Moving like a shadow, she flew like a butterfly. Her leg, smooth and long, extended from her baggy robe.

It was a moment that seemed to be from a painting. Her roundhouse kick hit Lucien's temple, and he flew three times in the air.

Subduing a grown man, who looked twice as big, with a single roundhouse kick was like David defeating Goliath. This was Flona's ability, inhuman strength obtained through a deal with an inhuman entity.