CS Chapter 22

“Our Seowoo? Right now?”

Jinwoong feigned a troubled expression at the words of the Cheonsin Bosal. Impatient as he was, he wanted to bring Seowoo before the shaman immediately and pray for her long and healthy life.

 

“……Let’s postpone that for a little while.”

However, remembering that Seowoo’s exam was just around the corner, Jinwoong ended up shaking his head.

 

Although her family circumstances prevented her from pursuing her studies on time, Seowoo was a girl with a strong thirst for knowledge. Knowing how much she was staking on the upcoming exam, he didn’t want to clutter her mind with other things.

 

“She has an important exam coming up soon. I’ll call you as soon as it’s over.”

“Who could refuse our Chairman’s upright character?”

The Cheonsin Bosal clicked her tongue inwardly at the Chairman’s refusal. She was dumbfounded that the old man, who seemed to be on his last legs, was still worried about his future granddaughter-in-law.

Still not giving up, the Cheonshin Bosal quickly racked her brain. And what she managed to come up with was…

“Chairman, well then… how about I give you an amulet for your future granddaughter-in-law’s exam success?”

 

***

 

As the exam date approached, Seowoo became noticeably edgy. She shut herself in her room all day, barely coming out, and the blood vessels in the whites of her eyes stood out, perhaps due to lack of sleep.

Following Cha Jinwoong’s instructions, the house staff meticulously prepared Seowoo’s three meals a day, devising a menu said to be beneficial for students taking exams. From creating an environment conducive to concentration to managing the test-taker’s physical and mental condition, nothing was overlooked.

The actual owner of this large mansion, Cha Minjun, was left out in the cold. After coming home from work, he had to tiptoe around, mindful of the young resident.

“Anyone would think she’s preparing for medical school.”

He thought it was a bit much fuss over a GED exam. Wasn’t it always the less intelligent ones who blamed their surroundings? Of course, it was Cha Jinwoong who was making a big deal out of it, but he couldn’t help the irritation that bubbled up from time to time.

However, Cha Minjun kept quiet because he had seen Ji Seowoo’s room light on past midnight every night.

 

If he stood still outside her door and listened carefully, he could clearly hear the impassioned voice of the online lecturer and the scratching sound of her mechanical pencil. Ji Seowoo had a dogged determination, having gone through the workbooks that filled the study three times in a short period.

Sensitive, sentimental, prone to tears—a woman who fit all the criteria that Cha Minjun abhorred. Yet, a strangely compelling sympathy arose within him. He wanted to take care of her, feeling sorry for her, but then a sudden urge to make her cry, a flicker of sadism, would awaken within him.

 

“Honestly.”

 

Cha Minjun finally let out a short sigh and turned back.

 

***

 

Junseo bolted out of his house at the crack of dawn. The illness, which had cleared up like a ghost after receiving Elder Daniel’s blessing, had returned, tormenting him with excruciating pain that he could no longer bear. The place he sought, his face clearly marked by illness, was none other than the Sky Salvation Church. It happened to be the time for Elder Daniel’s dawn service, and the church was already packed with people.

 

“Ugh! What’s that smell?”

 

“Why does it smell like a homeless person peed in this sacred church?”

 

Because he hadn’t washed in a long time, people recoiled and covered their noses as Junseo passed by. However, Junseo paid them no mind, his eyes darting around as he searched for Elder Daniel.

 

“Excuse me. What brings you here?”

 

Just then, a large man in a church uniform blocked Junseo’s path.

 

“I, I came to see the Elder…”

 

At Junseo’s words, the man scanned him from head to toe, then curtly dismissed him.

 

“Regular members aren’t allowed to attend the dawn service.”

 

Although Sky Salvation Church was open to everyone, only those who made contributions above a certain amount could attend the dawn service. At the dawn service, Elder Daniel personally led the service and individually blessed each member by name, showering them with prayer. This was precisely why Junseo had come to the church at the crack of dawn.

 

Junseo knelt before the man blocking him and pleaded.

 

“Please, just let me meet the Elder once. Please, please! Spiders are crawling all over my body. Those damn spiders are gnawing at my insides!”

 

“I said no! If you want to attend the dawn service that badly, bring an offering, an offering. Our Elder isn’t someone you can just meet!”

 

“Sob… please, just once… Just one minute. Just let me see his face. Please.”

 

“Oh, for crying out loud. This is ridiculous. Get out now, quickly!”

 

Despite his desperate pleas, Junseo was met only with cold indifference.

 

Sure enough, the members gathered in the chapel, hearing the commotion, came out in groups to gawk at Junseo. Some covered their noses because of the stench, while others looked at him with pity.

 

Perhaps feeling pressured by the sudden attention, the man hurriedly pulled Junseo to his feet. He was about to drag Junseo away like a sack of potatoes when a voice suddenly boomed through the church, stopping him.

 

“What is the meaning of this?!”

 

“E-Elder!”

 

A man in a pristine white suit stood squarely in front of Junseo. Seeing Elder Daniel while being dragged away, Junseo saw him as nothing short of a savior.

 

The Elder looked down at Junseo’s wretched state and let out a sorrowful sigh.

 

“My goodness, isn’t this Brother Ji Junseo? What happened to you?”

 

“E-Elder… please pray for me. My body hurts so much, it hurts. Sob, sob. I’ll, I’ll somehow manage to get the offering… So please, just pray for me once…”

 

“How can I just pass by when my brother is weeping in such pain?”

 

Junseo’s body was a complete wreck. Because of his long-standing psoriasis, pus oozed from his body, emitting a foul odor. Yet, the Elder embraced Junseo tightly, like a saint embracing a leper.

 

“Almighty God, please save this young lamb who is writhing in pain.”

 

As the Elder prayed, the members watching closed their eyes and prayed along. As “Amen” echoed from here and there, the Elder took out a clear glass bottle from his pocket and offered it to Junseo. It contained the water of life, imbued with the Elder’s blessing.

 

“This is the water of life. Drink it all, with your sincerest wishes.”

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, Junseo gulped down the water of life the Elder gave him.

 

Immediately, something astonishing happened. Junseo’s face, contorted in pain just moments ago, became as calm as a clear sky. It was nothing short of a miracle.

 

“Brother, how is your body feeling?”

 

“…Elder… I… I… I don’t hurt anymore… Sob… Thank you for praying for a lowly person like me.”

 

The Elder smiled serenely, as if the miracle he had performed was nothing surprising.

 

Oh my God.
Hallelujah, Amen!
The Elder has saved our brother from the mire again today!
It’s a miracle, a tremendous miracle!

 

Meanwhile, the members, having witnessed the scene of salvation with their own eyes, were overwhelmed with emotion and wept. Some even fainted, repeatedly shouting Elder Daniel’s name.

 

The pillar of Sky Salvation Church.
The Messiah was sent to Earth to save the world stained with sin.

 

No one dared to doubt Elder Daniel’s spiritual power.