Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 343

343. The Conditions of a True Believer

The world’s only Awakened Healer. However, as seen in the case of Woo Yeon-woo, this precious healing ability could disappear if pushed too hard.

Due to these two issues, Redrine experienced an unprecedented influx of visitors after announcing that Rembrary would provide free treatment primarily to affiliated Hunters and believers.

Among the Hunters seeking membership, many were retired due to incurable injuries or had family members suffering from difficult-to-treat illnesses. Many believers were also either sick themselves or had sick family members.

Of course, some, not currently ill, wanted to join as a form of insurance, reasoning, ‘If I join when I need it, the benefits might be delayed, so I’ll join in advance to prepare.’

Most Redrine employees were delighted by the favorable attention and large crowds they received.

However, opinions were divided, and some employees were unhappy with the situation.

“What’s the point of so many people wanting to join? Most are here to see Rembrary or that ‘Library’ guy. What’s so great about that?” one grumbled.

One of them was Hori-beom, the fanatical Hunter whom Maeng Woo-shin had subtly provoked when Rembrary first joined Redrine. Hori-beom spat out his chewing gum with a frustrated expression, and the employee sitting on the roof of a wrecked car across from him immediately agreed.

“Exactly. Is this a Hunter company or a Rembrary fan club?”

Hori-beom clicked his tongue and covered the gum stuck to the ground with a discarded milk carton.

In fact, most of those dissatisfied with Rembrary’s popularity were fanatical Redrine loyalists – those who had substantially helped Redrine grow its power.

They resented how a Healer who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere was overshadowing the reputation of the Grand Master, who had ordered Redrine to directly lead the believers, with just that quirky ability.

Hori-beom took out a new piece of gum from the container and asked the employee who agreed with him.

“Hey, do you think that guy came here as a true believer?”

“No way.”

“Right? I don’t think so either. He’s helpful, but I don’t think he’s a believer. Don’t you think? Does he come to gatherings, listen to the Grand Master’s sermons, or offer prayers? All he does is eat, eat, and eat!”

“Exactly.”

Hori-beom stopped talking, chewed the gum a few times, and then grinned at his colleague.

“I need to test him.”

“Test? What kind of test?”

“A test to see if he’s a true Redrine believer or not.”

* * *

“Really? They’re not bullying you these days? ……Okay. ……Okay. ……Yeah, you too.”

As Rembrary hung up the phone, the Lion Lord yawned beside him and asked.

“Who was that?”

Rembrary answered casually, “Just someone,” and sent texts to Shin Jo-woon and Jang Tae-ri simultaneously.

[Joo-kyung says everyone at the training center is treating him well these days.]

The reason was obvious. As Rembrary gained fame as a Healer, Joo-kyung’s treatment had changed accordingly.

[Oh, and he made two best friends.]

Fortunately, his two closest friends had become close before Rembrary became famous, so they didn’t seem to be children forced to hang out with Joo-kyung by their guardians.

‘Come to think of it, I need to visit Joo-kyung’s uncle’s house.’

He had temporarily forgotten due to a series of events.

‘When should I go?’

Before he could finish his thought, someone knocked on Rembrary’s door.

“Who is it?”

He asked casually, and before he could get an answer, the door opened slightly, and a familiar face appeared, revealing everything from the forehead to the nose through the opening. Rembrary immediately recognized the person and greeted him.

“Hey, aren’t you Hori-byeong?”

“It’s Hori-beom, Hori-beom!”

“Then shall we make Hori-byeong our pet name for each other?”

“The hell! Who decided that!”

Hori-beom, who had entered the room, was wearing the same large piercings and floral shirt as before.

Hori-beom, who had entered confidently, suddenly stopped and took a step back when the Lion Lord, who had been playing a game on his phone, looked up at him. He was a little creeped out by the sudden realistic lion mask.

“Should I leave?”

Fortunately, the Lion Lord asked Rembrary that and disappeared before he could even get an answer. Once they were alone, Hori-beom felt a little relieved and spoke to Rembrary.

“Hey, do you know about the test that all Redrine believers have to go through?”

“When did that start?”

“What’s with you asking like a senior when you haven’t even been a member for long? When did it start? It’s been there from the beginning!”

“……I don’t know.”

When Rembrary raised his eyebrows as if he didn’t believe him, Hori-beom raised his voice unnecessarily, afraid that his lie would be exposed.

“It’s real!”

“Assuming it exists. Why?”

“Why else? You joined Redrine fair and square, so you have to take the test.”

Rembrary crossed his arms and looked at Hori-beom, then chuckled and asked.

“Okay, what is this test you speak of?”

* * *

“Don’t evacuate when the black clouds gather?”

What Hori-beom presented as ‘a procedure that all Redrine believers must pass’ was nonsense.

Following Hori-beom, a warehouse attached to the Redrine headquarters came into view. Hori-beom stood at the warehouse door and pointed to the sky, telling him not to take shelter inside the building when the ‘black cloud’ phenomenon occurred.

The ‘black cloud’ phenomenon is, as the name suggests, a phenomenon where black clouds gather and turn day into night, during which all sorts of strange occurrences happen.

What’s unique is that this phenomenon doesn’t occur at night. Rembrary had experienced the phenomenon not long after returning to Earth, so he knew how dangerous it was. But they’re making all employees take this as a test?

“You should lie in moderation.”

Rembrary clicked his tongue, and Hori-beom flared up and repeated his lie.

“It’s real!”

Then, looking to the side, he asked an unnamed employee, “Right?” and that employee nodded without hesitation.

“Of course!”

Hori-beom saw Rembrary frowning even as he smiled, and thought he had finally suppressed this guy’s spirit, so he taunted him even more.

“How about it? Can you do it? If you can’t do this, you’re not a true Redrine believer.”

“What happens if I’m a fake believer?”

“What do you mean what happens? You have to admit that you lack learning and admit that you’re the lowest person here!”

At that answer, Rembrary took out his phone to check the time and asked.

“Then what if I do it?”

“Well……”

“If there’s no change, I’m at too much of a loss.”

Hori-beom initially tried to argue that a believer should naturally do it, so why make it conditional? But looking at the way he was talking, Rembrary was ready to ignore this test, real or fake, if there was no benefit to be gained from passing it. Even if it was an actual test.

He knew from several past encounters that Rembrary was capable of doing just that, so Hori-beom eventually guaranteed loudly.

“Then I’ll acknowledge that you’re a true Redrine believer and treat you with respect!”

“Weak.”

But when Rembrary was still lukewarm, Hori-beom asked irritably.

“Then what do you want me to do?”

“Don’t just treat me with respect, treat me with utmost respect.”

“Serve you? Why would I? Who are you?”

“Then what is this test? Why should I take a fake test that isn’t even a real test?”

“!”

Hori-beom looked at his accomplice employees and Hunters, and they silently mouthed, ‘Just do it. Just do it.’

Almost no one can withstand not evacuating when the ‘black cloud’ phenomenon occurs. Even people with defensive abilities couldn’t fully use their abilities when this phenomenon appeared.

Rumor has it that Rembrary has more than two abilities, but in the face of bizarre natural phenomena, he wouldn’t be able to use them anyway. The fanatics were convinced that even if Rembrary was acting nonchalant now, he would run into the building or car as soon as the black clouds appeared. So it didn’t matter what conditions they accepted.

Encouraged by his colleagues, Hori-beom eventually puffed out his chest.

“Okay. Okay. Let’s do it. I’ll serve you with utmost respect!”

“Good.”

Rembrary readily agreed, which made him feel uneasy for no reason, but Hori-beom quickly changed his mind.

However, since no one knew when the ‘black cloud’ phenomenon would begin, they had to wait for the sky to darken without being able to do anything after starting the bet.

After doing this for almost five hours, even other employees and fake believers who came to join Redrine for treatment knew about this bet and came to watch.

“Hey, Mr. Rembrary. I’m obsessed with viewership ratings, but even I think this is a bit much. Why are you making this bet? Do you really have to do this?”

Kim Mu-rok PD [Production Director], who had heard the story, came to the scene right away, but even though he usually went crazy for sensational stories, he unusually tried to dissuade Rembrary today.

“Some employees say they can’t recognize me as a true believer and are acting like that.”

“Ah, who cares? So what if you’re not recognized as a true cultist? You’re the only Healer in the world. You can pick and choose any company, why are you groveling?”

“I like it here.”

“No, Mr. Rembrary, you’re more precious than a thousand pieces of gold. Not just as a metaphor, but literally. You’re not someone to be used as entertainment.”

Kim Mu-rok PD seemed worried that Rembrary, the goose that lays golden eggs, would die while taking this absurd test.

In fact, even the fake believers who came to watch kept whispering among themselves, ‘Shouldn’t we stop him?’ No one wanted the only Healer to die or get seriously injured because of this kind of bet.

However, Rembrary didn’t budge, and those who thought this bet was absurd thought that all they could do was hope that the black cloud phenomenon wouldn’t appear today.

However, contrary to many people’s expectations, at 5 p.m., black clouds quickly gathered, covering the off-white clouds and the sky-blue space between them.

The onlookers were familiar with the situation and went inside the warehouse and cars. Without exception.

Anything that falls from the ‘black clouds’ doesn’t affect the interior, no matter how large it is. For this reason, hiding inside a car or building was the standard way to take shelter when ‘black clouds’ gathered.

However, as agreed, Rembrary stood still about ten steps away from the warehouse, not taking shelter at all. No, rather, he just stared calmly at Hori-beom, who was standing inside the warehouse entrance.

‘Isn’t he really going to come in?’

In the end, even Hori-beom and the fanatics were worried. They just wanted to break the spirit of the fake believer Rembrary, not kill the only Healer. They thought that Rembrary would give up and run in at this point.

At that moment. A sharp dagger fell quickly from the sky and was planted in the center between Rembrary and Hori-beom.

“!”

People looked up at the sky and gaped. Today, sharp daggers were falling.

“Hey, forget it, just come in!”