Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 479

◈ 479. So, what am I supposed to do with this?

Meanwhile, before visiting the Demon Church, Lumena went to her residence to check on the camellia’s well-being.

Thanks to her meticulous care, the camellia looked fresh and healthy.

Lumena checked the petals for dust, moistened a handkerchief to wipe each leaf, and then carefully watered the roots and surrounding soil.

“Taking care of you like this reminds me of when you were young.”

[…….]

“Not even a word. You little complainer.”

It would be nice if you could at least grumble a little. Lumena stared at the flower forlornly, then playfully tapped the air and smiled.

“I’ll resolve things quickly and come back, so you have to wait patiently. Got it?”

When the camellia swayed gently, Lumena felt a sense of reassurance and left.

* * *

Leaving her residence, Lumena went directly to the Demon Church, as Rembrandt had instructed, without any detours.

Upon reaching the entrance, she noticed various rudimentary magical traps [simple illusions and minor enchantments] set up to deter outsiders, but to Lumena, they were merely child’s play.

Rather than dismantling each formation individually, which seemed tedious, Lumena simply walked straight through them.

The gatekeepers guarding the entrance to the Demon Church watched her effortless entry from afar, their mouths agape in astonishment.

“What on earth was that?”

“Is that person insane? Just walking right into the formation?”

The gatekeepers were the first line of defense for the Demon Church, so they were all highly skilled.

Moreover, the formation designed to block intruders was no ordinary one. Recently, they had detected subtle attempts to breach it, so they had made the formation even more elaborate and potent.

Yet, someone was brazenly striding into it, leaving them utterly bewildered.

“How foolish.”

The gatekeeper clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Whoever it is, they’re incredibly foolish. Don’t they feel anything? Just waltzing in like that.”

“Definitely not a member of the Demon Church.”

“Even an intruder would be more cautious than that.”

They were certain that the intruder would soon be disoriented, walking in circles, gradually tiring, and eventually collapsing.

Even if they somehow managed to reach the middle, they would only suffer more, overwhelmed by terrifying illusions.

“?”

But as they continued to watch, their expectations were defied. The intruder continued to walk forward without faltering.

“W, what is that?”

The gatekeeper rubbed his eyes and stared intently at the intruder. The intruder wasn’t just walking.

The intruder was walking as if the path ahead was a straight, unobstructed road, showing no signs of confusion.

“Is that even possible?”

“I don’t know. It’s not like they’re breaking through the formation… because they would have to follow a specific path to do that.”

To bypass the formation without triggering it, one had to follow a precise, predetermined route.

The path was intricate, like a maze, and even Demon Church members struggled to memorize it initially.

Even after diligently memorizing the path, they often made mistakes when they were new recruits.

But this random intruder was walking straight through the complex path, leaving the gatekeepers utterly dumbfounded.

“But what’s the use? Beyond the middle point, it’s not a formation that confuses the path, but one that attacks the mind.”

One of the gatekeepers spoke more dismissively, as if embarrassed by his earlier surprise.

Even so, he subtly gripped his weapon, preparing for the possibility of the intruder actually breaking through the formation.

The other gatekeeper stared intently at the intruder, not daring to blink.

But far from being mentally assaulted, the intruder walked right up to them and politely inquired.

“I was wondering if I could take a look around inside.”

Is the Demon Church a tourist spot where you can pay an entrance fee? Absolutely not. The Demon Church is definitely not that kind of place.

The gatekeepers, momentarily stunned, menacingly drew their weapons.

At least, they attempted to. But when they reached for their waists, their weapons were gone.

The gatekeepers, fumbling in confusion, realized their weapons had vanished and looked at the intruder with bewildered expressions.

“Thank you.”

Interpreting their silence as permission, the intruder calmly stepped into the church.

“St, stop them!”

The flustered gatekeepers activated their lightness skills [a technique to enhance speed and agility] and lunged forward.

But was the intruder’s body made of smoke? Their hands passed right through them.

Those who stumbled on the ground realized they couldn’t stop the intruder on their own and were too afraid to even try.

Well, they might have persisted if their attacks had been effective. But they couldn’t even land a basic strike.

Perhaps feeling a bit sorry for them, the intruder paused for a moment and offered some advice.

“I’ll go slowly, so go inside and tell them I’m coming first.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the gatekeepers hurriedly ran inside, shouting.

“Intruder!”

“It’s an intruder!”

Lumena, hearing the commotion, strolled inside as if she were taking a leisurely walk in a park.

Before long, warriors defending the outermost area rushed towards her, followed by warriors from the inner area, and then even more warriors from deeper within the church.

The farther Lumena strolled, the more people converged, but no one could even scratch her.

Then, one of the elders recognized Lumena and shouted.

“Th, that person! It’s Lumena!”

At that proclamation, those who had been launching ineffective attacks on Lumena all froze in place.

Lumena hadn’t attacked anyone from the start, so there was nothing for her to stop.

As Lumena stood and surveyed the scene, the people surrounding her flinched and took a step back.

‘Shall I wait a bit?’

Lumena leisurely waited for a high-ranking official who could understand her intentions to come and listen.

As Lumena had anticipated, the news of her arrival quickly reached even the church leader.

Also, among those who heard this news was a subordinate of Lumena’s disciple.

‘Lumena-nim is appearing here?’

The subordinate was perplexed that Lumena, whom his lord and his lord’s fellow disciples were searching for, had suddenly appeared here.

But being puzzled was one thing. The task at hand was clear.

‘I need to confirm if it’s really Lumena-nim and inform them of this.’

While the hidden spy was contemplating this, the church leader had already arrived at the location where Lumena was standing.

The church leader, having rushed to the vicinity, paused to straighten his robes in order to maintain his dignity, and then walked towards Lumena with a composed demeanor.

Before long, Lumena, standing calmly amidst the Demon Church members, came into view. She was indeed the person of the rumors.

Even her composure in this situation was remarkable.

The church leader cleared his throat and approached Lumena, addressing her in a booming voice.

“I have heard that you wield black magic, but unlike your disciples, you help people and do not recklessly harm others.”

The church leader’s efforts to present himself well seemed to pay off. Lumena recognized him as the church leader at a glance.

Even if the church leader of a group is just another human to Lumena, it is more convenient to have a single representative to talk to.

Lumena gave the church leader a friendly smile, making it clear that she had not come to fight.

The church leader, seeing that Lumena was not hostile, approached a little closer and inquired.

“What brings you here?”

“I heard that the young master here has been suffering from insomnia since visiting a certain cave.”

The church leader was startled when Lumena mentioned his eldest disciple, who had followed a certain singer to listen to a lullaby, and asked.

“Did you meet my eldest disciple?”

“I didn’t meet him personally. I heard it from a child I care about.”

At Lumena’s answer, the church leader was puzzled again.

“A child you care about…?”

“The child said that everything started in that cave, so if you examine that place, you might be able to cure the young master’s insomnia.”

Just whose child is so concerned about my child’s insomnia…? The church leader asked in confusion.

“Who is that child?”

“I heard they stopped by here. Someone named Rembrandt.”

Hearing the unusual name, he immediately knew who it was. The singer that the young master had followed. The singer with golden hair and red eyes.

Was he someone related to Lumena! He didn’t know what the relationship was, but the church leader thought it was a positive development.

Lumena uses bizarre and strange magic, but she is a kind person who goes around helping people.

If you only consider her actions, she is actually far superior to most righteous people.

If such a Lumena were to investigate the young master’s mysterious insomnia… perhaps there might be a chance of finding a cure.

The church leader nodded and instructed his subordinate.

“Guide her to the location of the cave.”

“Yes.”

Guided to the cave, Lumena smiled even before taking a few steps from the entrance.

She could sense it. That there was a being similar to him but different inside. She had come to the right place.

* * *

At that time.

Rembrandt, who had just visited the young master to help him sleep, found the sweets that Shin Jo-un used to carry around on his way back.

Rembrandt hesitated, then bought several sweets. He was planning to give one to each of his companions. Including the anchovy [a nickname for one of his followers].

For the past few days, the anchovy had been shrinking in fear as punishment for deceiving him.

If it shrank any further, it would become anchovy crumbs, so it was necessary to show his generosity soon.

If he offered these sweets, the anchovy might be moved and say, “Please accept me as a believer, High Priest. I won’t call you a pig anymore.”

No, it would definitely say that. Pleased, Rembrandt carefully wrapped the sweets and returned to the palace.

But as Rembrandt was returning with light steps, someone called out to him.

“Councilor Rem!”

Well, that’s not what the original group calls him.

Looking towards the sound, he saw someone in more ornate eunuch attire than others approaching with hurried steps.

Rembrandt recognized him immediately. It was the chief eunuch who always accompanied the emperor, Shin Jo-un.

Since he hadn’t bought any sweets for the chief eunuch, Rembrandt felt a pang of guilt and hugged the sweets tightly, pretending they were all for him, and nodded.

“What is it?”

Fortunately, the chief eunuch didn’t seem interested in the sweets and smiled.

“I was just about to go look for Councilor Rem. It’s good to meet you along the way.”

“You came to find me? Does the emperor summon me?”

“Yes. Please come this way.”

“Wait a moment. Let me put down the sweets.”

Rembrandt returned to his room, hid the sweets in a drawer, and then went outside.

The emperor often summoned him from time to time to order him to treat someone, so he didn’t think much of it as he followed the chief eunuch.

“Your Majesty, I have brought Councilor Rem.”

Rembrandt, while anticipating a quick treatment and return to his quarters, entered the office with his usual gentle expression.

But as soon as he entered the office, something was thrust right in front of his face.

Rembrandt accepted it without thinking. It was burdock [a long, edible root vegetable].

“?”

Why burdock?

Rembrandt frowned and looked at the person who had handed him the burdock.

It was the emperor. The emperor was smiling as if he had handed him a gold nugget.

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Doesn’t it look familiar?”

“Did it come up as a side dish today?”

“Besides that.”

Burdocks are all the same. What am I supposed to say if you ask me where I’ve seen a burdock before?

Rembrandt looked at the emperor with a sullen expression.