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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 3: Evil Spirit
Ray Anderson.
Pastor Kim in his previous life could be evaluated as exemplary and excellent as a believer.
He was Korea's exorcist and the successor to Senior Pastor Park.
His ability to see and touch spirits was very useful in exorcism.
Learning weapon techniques and martial arts naturally came with pastoral activities.
Hunting goblins or werewolves.
When exorcising demons or driving away ghosts, one's combat ability naturally increases.
Even after being reincarnated as Ray Anderson, he didn't neglect his training.
In this harsh medieval period.
One must at least keep a healthy body to avoid being eaten by evil spirits.
"Whew... I had a proper workout after a long time."
Ray wiped the sticky blood from his iron skewer.
It's a blunt weapon that could crack a head even with a casual swing.
He swung it strongly twice.
Poked once to check, then once more.
Just to be sure, he struck once more for confirmation.
After hitting the head a total of four times, even if it were an old warlock, he would have departed from this world.
"Good, the soul is separating too."
Ray grabbed the soul separating from Velik's body.
‘What should I do with this? Should I tear it apart to pay for his sins? But wouldn't that accumulate evil karma?’
At least in his previous life, Pastor Kim lost his gift after tearing apart and eliminating a villain he absolutely couldn't forgive.
After all, what Christ and Yahweh of Protestantism taught was love, mercy, and forgiveness.
Based on his previous life's experience, Ray thought this wouldn't help increase his holy power either, but...
"Hmm?"
There's a subtle change in his holy power.
Why? He should receive a penalty for tearing Charon's soul...
"Ah."
Could it be.
Does Sol Invictus approve of tearing and killing sinners?
But even the doctrine of the Solar Theocracy emphasized love and forgiveness...
Since they're not the same deity, their specific directions might be different.
'Should I tear it apart?'
Ray held Velik's soul and pondered, squeezing and stretching it like a jelly toy.
The soul's terrible pain had no particular effect on him.
What he's concerned about now is the possible existence of warlocks or witches in this area.
Having killed Velik, it would be troublesome if they sought revenge.
"Whatever."
Ray tore Velik's soul apart.
If it goes wrong, he can repent later.
***
Velik was the third son of Baron Pradel.
The first son who would inherit the title, the second son who became a knight and wandered.
Velik wanted to become a scholar, but his eldest brother, the first son, wouldn't allow it.
"Hmph! Does it make sense for an outsider who will eventually leave the family to squander family wealth? Go out and be a mercenary!"
Medieval nobles passed everything to the first son, and other children had to find their own way.
If the family was harmonious, they would support them, but the Pradel barony couldn't do that.
"Damn bastard! What's so great about him compared to me! All he did was be born as the first son!"
Velik cursed his father and the first son who didn't recognize his talent, and dabbled in magic.
Even just reading related forbidden books was heretical behavior that could lead to the stake, but he eventually succeeded in making a contract with Kalkarat, the Demon of Decay.
He took revenge on his family.
He spread a plague throughout the family, making his father and the first son die particularly painfully.
Since the second son who left the family wouldn't return, now the only heir was himself.
If he could inherit the title and become the new Baron Pradel, everything would be perfect, but...
"Velik Pradel, third son of Baron Pradel, hear this!"
When the whole family died from the plague but only the third son Velik survived, heresy inquisitors from the Solar Theocracy became suspicious and descended upon him.
In the end, Velik had no choice but to abandon everything and flee, resolving never to forget this day.
"Someday I'll return and reclaim the family that should have been mine!"
Thus he hid the baronial seal and treasures and fled, but even after 40 years, his wish had not been fulfilled.
***
"What a pathetic life."
Though he made a contract with a spirit, there wasn't much impressive about it.
Velik was a demon contractor, but with little talent, even after 40 years as a warlock, he had only learned three spells.
As for whether he had exchanges with other warlocks or witches, he didn't, so it seems there's no debt of gratitude to prompt revenge for Velik.
'By the way, Pradel... could it be the Pradel I'm thinking of?'
Even in this countryside, there are occasionally rumors and news.
Whether they're true or not, the location of the treasure that Velik 'hid' was good news.
Money is always good, after all.
"Well... at least I gained something."
Ray checked his holy power within, wondering how much evil karma he might have accumulated from the process of destroying the soul.
"Huh?"
It had increased.
And tremendously at that.
And with the increase in holy power, there was one thing he instinctively learned.
〈Protection of the Sun〉
It was the power of the priest.
"No way, just like that?!"
Ray was startled when this power appeared, which hadn't formed despite all his prayers and time spent at the church.
The powers of the priest are different from the spells that warlocks accumulate through understanding and knowledge.
They are mysteries of the Solar Theocracy that are instinctively learned as evidence of proven faith.
Therefore, only truly devout believers could learn these powers.
Ray, who had worshipped a different god in his previous life and pursued faith only for survival, didn't qualify.
But now, after killing two demon followers and a contractor, his previously negligible holy power increased, and he even gained a power?
Ray's mouth corners stretched to his ears as he immediately checked the power.
'Protection of the Sun. It's a protection that increases strength and recovery under sunlight.'
Priests who had learned this protection were strong and didn't get injured easily.
Ray's spiritual mentor, Father Johan, also had this protection, and he quickly recovered from most injuries under sunlight.
To check this ability, he would have to wait until daytime.
It's night now, and the sun hasn't risen.
'Wait, the moon doesn't emit light itself. The moon's surface just reflects sunlight.'
Then, isn't moonlight also sunlight?
Knowledge he could know thanks to experience accumulated in his previous life.
At that moment:
Tsssk!
The scratches on his skin exposed to light healed in real-time. The Protection of the Sun had activated!
'Holy law is the embodiment of faith! Then, I ,who knows that moonlight is sunlight, can receive protection even under the night sky!'
‘My goodness.’
Due to the slow development of astronomy and the spread of knowledge in this era, people couldn't use a protection they could have used.
Ray was newly grateful for his previous life.
And he concluded.
If Ray's holy power and abilities increase by destroying souls that have accumulated evil karma...
Then from now on, isn't it okay to tear apart those who deserve to be destroyed without any hesitation?
Should he find an execution nearby?
"But before that..."
Ray looked at the moon in the night sky.
Today is January 5th. The coldest period of winter.
It was also a day full of demonic power that demons love.
"Ah~ warlock bastard, why did you have to come today of all days."
‘Just my bad luck.’
***
In this world, abilities are divided into holy power full of the sun's energy and demonic power of demons.
Usually, the sun's holy power suppresses demonic power, but there are days when demonic power becomes particularly strong, which are called demonic power festivals.
Small Cold in midwinter.
The time when the sun rises the shortest and it's the coldest.
Summer Solstice, the tenth day among the 24 seasonal divisions. Between Grain in Ear and Slight Heat.
The Zhongyuan Festival is known as the day of lost souls, a day given to hungry ghosts possessed by beggar spirits.
The day of the first full moon of the year.
It's the most dangerous day when ghosts run wild, so the Sun Festival, a nationwide event to drive away misfortune, is held during this time.
There are several other dangerous days, but basically, those demonic power festivals are the most dangerous days for Ray.
For ordinary people, they could get through the day just by basking in the sun amid the festival's excitement, but for Ray, it's a festival day for evil spirits filled with demonic power.
Today was Small Cold.
The coldest day of winter, ranking third in terms of threat level.
The problem is that he had to kill a warlock, who is essentially a lump of demonic power, on a day like today.
The torn soul of the warlock screamed in agony, which would attract evil spirits drawn to the screams.
Ray poured salt into the holy water basin at the entrance of the church and mixed it until it overflowed.
Ghosts are corrupt beings, and salt prevents corruption and has sterilizing and disinfecting effects.
Therefore, salt played a role in driving away ghosts throughout both his previous and current lives.
After filling the container with salt-mixed water, he sprinkled the remaining salt around the entrance to create a barrier.
The broken window from the battle with the warlock was also a place that needed to be protected with salt.
Ray used up all the precious salt to create barriers and then met eyes with something outside the window.
"..."
"..."
They were crows.
Red eyes with black feathers stared at Ray from beyond the broken window.
“Whatchu lookin’ at”
- Caw! I’m looking at you shithead.
In a confrontation with ghosts, it's always important not to lose one's spirit.
Evil spirits dig into people's weaknesses, which is why people who are sick or tired are especially susceptible to being possessed by evil spirits.
Ray was a professional who knew well how to handle evil spirits from his previous life experience, and he knew exactly how to deal with this.
Cluck!
He brought a chicken raised in the church yard, tied it with rope, and opened the Bible on the platform.
"..."
Until now, he had been able to get through these days with Father Johan's help.
But Father Johan had passed away due to a warlock's curse, and Ray had to kill a warlock on a day like today.
It could be said without exaggeration that this was the unluckiest day since Ray was born into this world.
"..."
After making all preparations and as time passed, darkness fell thickly.
Shadows fell on the church along with moonlight.
The previously quiet air suddenly turned chilly, and ominous voices began to whisper.
Squeak! Squeak squeak!
First, rats appeared.
Red eyes blinked from every corner of the church.
Ray recognized that the spirits dwelling in them were not those of beasts and shouted:
"Evil spirits who disturb this hour, this prayer! In the name of Sol Invictus the Savior, I command you to leave!"
The rats scattered under the moonlight.
However, they only hid in the dark shadows, watching.
'Not good.'
Spirits dwelling in mere rats were boldly invading the church.
They must have been rats living in the church's basement, but the problem was that evil spirits had entered the church interior.
'Since Father Johan died, there hasn't been any proper replenishment of holy power.'
Holy power is the power of faith.
It's when believers gather to pray, and the auspicious energy from that is bound within the church as a medium.
That's why churches are sacred places, holy water is made here, and the brass stars, which are decorations, continuously collect holy power.
But Father Johan, the person in charge of the church, died, and the believers who should offer faith also died of plague.
In the midst of this, even an evil warlock invaded the church, so it was natural that this place couldn't function as a sacred ground.
Click, click!
While he couldn't completely drive away the rats, cockroaches crawled out from the crevices of the roof and walls beyond the flickering light.
Their gleaming shells shimmered in the moonlight, and their movements evoked a dreadful premonition.
That's not all.
Caw! Caw!
Crows descended from the sky and perched on the church's roof.
Amidst the eerie echoing cries, the closed entrance of the church began to pound.
Thump!
Thump!
Ray paid no attention and opened the Bible to recite a prayer.
"We shall be strengthened in the Lord and in the power of His might, and put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the demons."
Ray drew the star sign with his fingertip dipped in holy water.
As he drew the pentagram, he repeated the prayer in ancient language.
"De cetero confortamini in Dormino et in robore virtutis."
Originally, two people should alternate, but without lips, he had to endure with his teeth.
Scratch, scratch!
Nerve-wracking sounds come from the roof, pillars, and every corner.
Ray closed his eyes and continued to recite the prayer, ignoring them.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
“Induite vos armaturam Dei, ut possitis stare adversus insidias diaboli.”
Bang!
That's when it happened. The entrance of the church shattered and the door collapsed.
Beyond were several wild boars with bloodshot pupils, lying fallen with blood flowing from their foreheads, the result of ramming the locked entrance dozens of times.
Grunt!
A wild boar trying to enter over the dead wild boars hesitates and steps back.
It flinched at the salt sprinkled at the entrance.
Although the wild boar is alive, the evil spirit possessing it is a corrupt being.
Ray tried to drive them away while reciting the prayer, but the wild boars possessed by evil spirits didn't give up.
Squeal!
One wild boar rammed into the one at the front.
The wild boar that was afraid to go forward fell onto the salt path and began to roar.
Squeal! Squeeeeeal!
The wild boar, writhing in pain and struggling, began to burn.
However, due to the wild boar's struggle, the salt path that blocked the entrance was scattered in all directions.
"Tsk."
Ray clicked his tongue.
Sacrificing another evil spirit to make a path.
This wasn't the kind of idea that would normally come from the heads of evil spirits.
One by one.
Wild boars, rats, cockroaches, and crows enter, breaking through the path.
They begin to surround the platform, avoiding the torches lighting the church and staying in the darkness.
The church's tranquility, which had blocked the approach of evil spirits, was nowhere to be found, and the cries of beasts were so full that Ray's prayer was in danger of being drowned out.
In the midst of this.
Stepping on the excavated salt path and boldly walking into the center of the light was one wolf.
Ray immediately recognized the identity of that wolf.
"So you're the leader of the evil spirits."
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General Knowledge-
Small Cold→ It typically falls between the 5th and 19th of January.
Summer Solstice→ The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (21 June).
Grain in Ear → Around June 5th or 6th.
Slight Heat → Around July 6th or 7th.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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