## Chapter 205 – For Elise
As I started talking about smashing the heads of the cultists, my tension began to rise without limit. This cry would surely reach the gods we believe in.
Elise seemed happy, and I was happy too.
“Elise, I think anyone who has fallen into an evil path, regardless of whether they are children or the elderly, should be killed and punished. Their age shouldn’t be an excuse. Sin must be equal before everyone. If we forgive some and punish others, it’s no longer punishment. It’s just discrimination according to our tastes.”
Even on the way to the slums, the debate about divinity and evil continued.
“You are right. I think so too, but in the case of children, they lack experience and knowledge, so their ability to deal with evil is poor, so I think we should take that into consideration to some extent.”
When I threw out a topic, Elise expressed her opinion in a serious manner, adding religious doctrines and her personal thoughts.
“It is the orthodox theory of our Radiant Holy Cross that humans are born as blank slates and change into villains or good people depending on the influence of their surroundings as they live. Adults who have fallen into evil cannot be saved, but at least children should be given a chance once.”
“Oh, is that so? Born as a blank slate… that’s definitely possible.”
The idea that humans are born as blank slates is similar to the thoughts of a eunuch, if you think about it. Or it could be closer to Locke’s philosophy based on empiricism.
But I think humans are born with only malice and hatred. Born in love, but in the end, what is born is a monster that craves human blood.
That’s because this world is finite.
Because they have to divide and live within the confines of finiteness, humans are inevitably cruel.
Therefore, humans must walk the path of Buddhism to become Buddha (infinity). If they don’t, they will all die with their eyes open on the day of the end when finiteness ends.
If I say this, Elise might suddenly change and try to break my head, so let’s not say it out loud.
“If you join our Radiant Holy Cross, you will have the opportunity to receive a little more in-depth education.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t abandon my ethnic god.”
“Hehe, just kidding. You are pious as expected.”
As we talked about this and that, it became midday.
“Actually, I don’t think religion matters. In the end, it is people who live on this earth. Anyone who does what they believe is right will not fall into an evil path.”
“But usually bad guys think they are right, don’t they?”
“That’s the problem.”
Finally, we arrived in front of the slum alley. Like the footsteps of imperialists trying to exploit a colony, we crossed that gloomy space without hesitation.
“…When I talk to you, I feel more confident that I can move forward on a better path. It was helpful. Then I will start the investigation.”
I wandered around the slums with Elise. Of course, we went to a slightly different area, not the one we had investigated for the past few days. We can’t go to a place where our faces are known.
These guys are more sensitive to outsiders than you think.
Many of them will recognize us even if we change our clothes, and if that happens, rumors will spread that we are suspicious. Then there will be difficulties in finding out about the Eternal Life Society.
“Elise, what do you think is the best way to gather information?”
“Hmm… I’m a little worried… They won’t answer willingly…”
“Well, let’s think about it as we go.”
It’s investigation Kim Kat’s dispatch for everything.
I took Elise and just started talking to people. Since I was accompanied by a cute girl instead of just a barbarian warrior, wouldn’t that ease their vigilance to some extent?
“Do you know the truth?”
“Hmm?”
I picked out one old young man who seemed the easiest to talk to. His muscles were weak, and his wealth was truly that of a beggar. I tried to make a smiling face as much as possible and pretended to be a good person.
“The truth of this world has fallen to the ground. Therefore, the future destined for humans is only destruction. But at this moment, if you set foot in the Eternal Life Society, you too will be able to ascend to an infinite being.”
I just moved my mouth as I pleased and grabbed his shoulder tightly.
ㅡFlinch.
Then Elise looked back at me with wide eyes and a shocked face. I was embarrassed, but I showed my quick wit and gave her a wink.
Elise seemed to understand the wink and looked at the man.
Her eyes were shaking.
…What is it?
Was I almost killed just now?
“E, Eternal Life Society…”
“Oh? Do you know about us?”
“Ah, I know. But I’m not interested. I wish you would leave.”
I exchanged glances with Elise.
She seemed to feel something suspicious too.
“Not interested?”
I’ll have to be strong here.
“…Huh?”
“Not interested?”
“W, wait a minute.”
“Not interested?”
“Why, why are you doing this…”
“Not interested?”
“…”
ㅡFlee!
He ran away as soon as I scared him a little.
It’s something like this.
I scratched my head and said to Elise.
“See? They all feel like that. They seem to know what the Eternal Life Society is, but they’re afraid of it. It’s a bit too much… It doesn’t feel good.”
“That’s right. B, but what was that just now?”
“Asking if they know the truth?”
“Yes. I was honestly a little embarrassed.”
“You have to do it like this to approach the cultists. How was it? Did you get a sense of it just now?”
“I was so surprised that I doubted my ears.”
Elise put her hand on her chest and took a breath.
No, was it that shocking?
“Hehe, my acting skills are improving.”
It’s all thanks to coming from Korea, where all kinds of pseudo-religions are rampant.
I’ve been doing this for a while, so this is nothing. Anyway, Elise seemed to have gotten a sense of it too. This time, Elise decided to ask directly, and I assisted.
She wasn’t very good at it.
I felt like I was doing most of the assisting.
As we spent time like that, I started to get hungry because it was almost mealtime. We went into an alley where there were few people, leaned against the wall, and discussed how long we would investigate.
“You.”
An old man with hollow eyes approached and called me.
He was dressed in shabby clothes.
His appearance, hidden in the shadows of the alley, looked ominous. I stopped Elise, who was trying to put her hand in her sleeve, and stood in front of him.
“What’s wrong? Old man?”
“You. I’ve been seeing you proselytizing for the Eternal Life Society for the past few days.”
“…”
My heart was beating fast.
What is it?
What’s the purpose?
Could it be that we’ve been caught?
Did the Eternal Life Society notice my existence?
I don’t know who the old man is, but I calmed my surprised heart and pretended to be nonchalant. I don’t know what it is, but it’s an opportunity. They came to me directly, so I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
“Do you know me?”
“…What is your identity? Indiscriminate proselytizing is prohibited, isn’t it?”
Indiscriminate proselytizing is prohibited?
I felt a kind of conviction here.
This bastard is real.
“Prohibited… I’ve certainly heard that.”
“Heard it? But what on earth?”
“I can’t stop proselytizing just because it’s prohibited. Honestly, I don’t understand the prohibition either. If we gather more believers, we will definitely… Well, it’s true that we did something wrong, so I’ll accept the punishment if you give it to me.”
Based on my past experience and knowledge, I tried to be as nonchalant as possible and blurted out whatever came to mind. Prohibition of proselytizing… I don’t know what that means. But it was easy to combine the clues and lie.
The old man, who had been listening to me, looked suspicious.
I quickly added.
“So, do you know where the meeting place is? I’ll have to go there myself and talk about it. Honestly, I’m against the prohibition of proselytizing. Everything is for the Eternal Life Society. I’m practicing its teachings.”
“Hmm… Is that what you think… Then I’ll tell you the meeting place…”
Please, please take the bait.
Please tell me the meeting place…!
“Wait.”
The old man, who had been touching his chin and thinking seriously for a moment, looked at me with shining eyes. A sharp gaze. I had to suppress my murderous intent.
“You don’t know the meeting place?”
As expected, nothing is easy.
All that is needed for heretics is an iron fist.
“You are a follower of our Eternal Life Society…”
“Elise.”
ㅡFlash.
As I called her name in a low voice, Elise kicked off the ground. Before the old man could grasp the situation, Elise’s small fist was embedded in the old man’s abdomen with fierce momentum.
“ㅡQuehek!”
It was a small fist, and it was a girl’s fist.
But the power contained in it was truly transcendent, annihilating evil beings. The old man, whose back was bent in half, rolled his eyes and fell.
“We can get useful information by investigating this person.”
“As expected, Elise!”
No mercy and quick judgment!
Elise carried the unconscious old man on her back.
“But I don’t think we can interrogate him here.”
“Wait there for a moment. I have to see if there are any witnesses nearby.”
I quickly slipped out of the alley and looked around.
There were pedestrians, but it didn’t seem like there were any witnesses.
No suspicious gazes… I looked again, but there weren’t any.
It should be okay.
“It doesn’t seem like there are any witnesses. If we find a quieter place than here, it would be good, but if we try to move him, we’ll be noticed… Is there a good place nearby?”
“I will look for it now.”
With that, I took the old man from Elise.
Elise insisted on carrying him herself, but I just took him and carried him. Like secret agents, we rummaged through the alleys, being careful not to be detected as much as possible.
We were seen by a few people, but they were all homeless people who seemed to have lived their lives, so we ignored them.
“Saint. How about there?”
“What is it? A warehouse?”
As we went into a more secluded place, we found a building like a half-destroyed warehouse. Elise, who was pointing at it, went inside first to check and came back.
“There are some things thrown away, but it seems to be an empty facility. Let’s go inside for now.”
“Okay.”
We went inside and laid the old man on the floor.
“It’s not dark.”
Light was leaking in from the broken ceiling and windows, so it wasn’t very dark. It was literally a warehouse like a point where bad teenagers gather to smoke cigarettes.
“Saint. Then let’s start the interrogation.”
“Wait a minute. Shouldn’t we tie him up or something?”
“This person will not be able to escape.”
“Is that so.”
I picked up a wooden board that was lying around inside and propped it up to cover the door. It was my first time interrogating someone, so I was very excited. It seemed to be the same for Elise.
“First, wake him up.”
ㅡSlap!
I slapped the old man, who was rolling his eyes, on the cheek.
“Ugh!”
A sensation that felt good in my hand.
The old man raised his body with a start as the sound of slapping his butt rang out.
“Oh, you got up in one shot?”
“Y, you guys! What is this! What on earth are you doing!”
“Where are you making a fuss, you heretic bastard!”
ㅡSlap!
“Ugh!!!”
The most important thing in interrogation is to take the initiative and break the will to resist. If the other person is a heretic, I don’t care about violence, even if they are an old man. Everything is for justice. Villains who eat away at the world!
“Don’t tell me you guys aren’t followers of the Eternal Life Society!”
“That’s right, you heretic bastard! Tell me everything you know about the Eternal Life Society!”
“T, that can’t be…! This!”
The old man screamed as I raised my hand.
“Saint. That’s not how you do it. I’ll do it, so please keep watch. It would be troublesome if there was a commotion and witnesses appeared.”
“As expected, our Elise is a professional at this. I trust you.”
Elise, who had been looking at the old man with a blank face as if she was appraising him, took out a mace from her sleeve and said. “Heok!” The old man started to tremble as if he knew what it meant.
“Evil one, I have no mercy.”
ㅡWhack!
Elise swung her mace for the purpose of warning and smashed an old chair.
“Tell me everything you know about the Eternal Life Society. If you tell me, I will take it into consideration, but if you keep your mouth shut, it means you are serving the heresy, so I will never forgive you.”
“T, that’s not true! I don’t know anything!”
Now that everything has been revealed, what do you think the interrogator will think if you pretend you don’t know? If you want to continue your miserable life, it would be better to just tell the truth.
“Are you trying to lie!”
I looked out the window. The sunlight was coming in, and it felt very warm. A powerless street. A gloomy alley where the will to live is not felt. A space like Avici Hell, full of all kinds of wickedness and evil.
What on earth is happening there?
Elise’s angry shouts and the old man’s screams were heard alternately.
