<h4>Chapter 218</h4>


    Yu-Hyun returned to the amodations. Initially, he had nned to call the girls and have fun, but they wouldn''te even if he called, and he didn''t feel like calling them in the first ce. He thought about the events at the museum: the men in ck who had appeared, the sudden rain and lightning, Han Dae-Ho, ck magic, and the blessing of purification.


    The Crossroads.


    He had a great memory. He had the talent to remember things as if he had taken a mental picture. Thanks to this talent, he achieved first ce in the exams and could store all the information about ‘ordinary’ people in his head.


    However, for some reason, he couldn''t remember the scenery at the Crossroads very well. That specific memory was hazy, like it was something he had experienced in a dream rather than reality.


    While he was lost in thought, Dae-Man, who hade in with him, called him. "Yu-Hyun."


    Yu-Hyun red at Dae-Man with sharp eyes for no reason. He was on edge as he was deep in thought. He sighed and rxed his expression btedly while rubbing his face.


    "...Yeah, why?"


    "There''s a training center on the basement floor. How about going for a workout?" Dae-Man asked.


    "You want to exercise at a time like this?" Yu-Hyun asked back.


    “Of course," Dae-Man said with a nod.


    Dae-Man had spoken in a confident and determined tone, but his eyes were trembling. He continued, "I realized that I''m still weak."


    Yu-Hyun guessed Dae-Man''s state of mind by looking at his eyes.


    Dae-Man still couldn’t escape from the shock at the museum. He had chosen exercise as a means to escape from that shock and fear.


    "...I''m going to rest for a bit. You go by yourself."


    "Yu-Hyun, you haven''t been exercising muchtely. You’ll ruin that body of yours that you’ve so carefully built.”


    "I''ll take care of it myself. But isn’t it time for you to stop exercising? How does your body keep on getting bigger and bigger?" Yu-Hyun replied yfully.


    Dae-Man rummaged through his suitcase, grabbed his straps and belt, and left the room. After some time passed since Dae-Man left, Yu-Hyun walked into his room, locked the door, and threw himself onto the bed. He was exhausted.


    Had he ever felt such a deep sense of exhaustion before? He hadn’t felt like this even when he stayed up all night and had fun for two days straight.


    "..."


    The museum incident could have been resolved with the sole power of the Romanican Church. Although it was unexpected that there would be ck magic users, even that could have been resolved if Ha-Yeon had used the Blessing of Purification.


    Considering Jin-Seo and Han Dae-Ho’sbat capabilities, taking down the enemies that had shown up wouldn’t have been a problem.


    However, the bomb vests had been an unexpected variable. Even so, if he had called forth the ''spear,'' or even summoned the owner of the ''spear,'' they could have somehow ovee the situation. Of course, some sacrifices would have had to be made. After all, bringing out the spear took quite some time.


    Yet, everything had been resolved with the appearance of the Voodoo Cult, or more precisely, Sun-Woo and his abilities. No sacrifice had been made.


    What would have happened if he had used his abilities without having to worry about exposing his identity? What would have happened if he had used his abilities to attack instead of defend?


    "Uncontroble danger," Yu-Hyun murmured, recalling the words he had heard from his grandfather.


    <i>‘Use the dangers that you can control, as the dangers you control mighte as an uncontroble danger for someone else. People fear danger that is out of their hands. However, there are dangers in the world that even you can''t control. When faced with such dangers, you have to choose either to bow down or eliminate them. But you can’t bow down to them. So eliminate them. Or gain the power needed to control the danger.’ </i>


    The Voodoo Cult was an uncontroble danger. A choice had to be made: bow down to them, eliminate them, or gain the power to control the Voodoo Cult.


    He had no intention to bow down to them. So, could he gain the power to control the Voodoo Cult?


    There was no guarantee that even after defeating all the ‘candidates,’ taking their power and ascending as Pope, he would be able to control the Voodoo Cult fully.


    Until now, he had underestimated the power of the Voodoo Cult. After all, no matter how strong their spells and the power of the Loa were, in the end, had they not emerged as the victors of the Holy War against the Romanican Church?


    But through experiencing the Crossroads, the Romanican Church had clearly defeated the Voodoo Cult in the Holy War through sheer luck.


    The different intentions of the Cult Leader and the Prophet, the internal conflicts that had created ‘fugitives’ and ‘exiles’ within the Cult, and the proper use of Sung Yu-Da had all coincidentally aligned for the Romanican Church to emerge victorious. However, victory wasn’t guaranteed if they engaged in a power struggle under the same conditions.


    That meant there was only one option left.


    <i>Crunch. </i>


    At that moment, the locked door suddenly opened.


    <i>Tink. </i>


    The broken door knob fell to the floor. Yu-Hyun jolted up from the bed. However, he was bound, unable to stand up fully. The cold and slippery texture of the scales felt unpleasant on his skin. A forked tongue stickily licked Yu-Hyun''s earlobe.


    [Kid.]


    It was a snake, the same one he had seen through the circle he had drawn with divine power that had swallowed the men in ck following Sun-Woo. It was slightly smaller than it had been in the museum, but its size was still threatening.


    Yu-Hyun wanted to scream but couldn''t let out a sound. The snake''s tail was choking his neck. He tried scratching the scales with his nails, but they were as hard as stone. His nails scraped, and blood flowed down.


    [Don''t be arrogant just because you can see more than others.]


    "...G-gasp...!"


    [Do you really think we don''t know what you''re seeing or thinking?]


    The snake''s voice pierced his ear. The tail tightened around his neck even more. It felt like his neck was about to snap. The voice was so sweet and charming that just listening to it made himugh. Yu-Hyun''s face, which had been burning red, quickly turned pale.


    He stared at the face of death, yet his trembling lips formed a smile. He knew he should resist, but he didn''t feel like resisting. The desire to embrace a blissful death while listening to that voice slowly crept up.


    [The only reason we didn’t say anything to the Prophet is because that’s the best path for both of us.]


    "..."


    [You all are now in the palm of our hands the moment you entered the Crossroads.]


    <i>Slither.</i>


    After saying those words, the snake released its grip on Yu-Hyun''s neck and left the room, hiding its appearance.


    "...Ugh...! <i>Cough</i>, ugh...!" He could breathe again.


    Blood finally rushed to his head. His eyesight that had turned pitch ck brightened to white. It almost felt as if he could see stars. Yu-Hyun coughed and dry heaved on the bed for a while. It was not easy to regain consciousness.


    Yu-Hyun finally caught his breath after coughing for a few more minutes.


    "Cough... phew."


    Uncontroble danger. To sumb to it, remove it, or obtain the power to control it. He thought that there was no other option but to remove them if he couldn’t sumb or control them. However, there were dangers in the world that couldn''t be removed.


    "Fucking hell."


    He finally understood why his grandfather had wanted to eliminate the Voodoo Cult so badly, and why he started a Holy War for something that could have been overlooked.


    It was time to meet the other candidates. Even if he didn’t want to, he had to meet them.


    <i> </i> *


    The next day, we went to the auditorium at the first basement level. Han Dae-Ho had gathered us there. He started talking about what happened yesterday. Although it would havee as a shock, Han Dae-Ho said that we shouldn''t hide what happened and that it was something that couldn''t be hidden if we tried.


    "The ones who attacked the museum are believed to be members of an Imic extremist organization. We are currently identifying them..."


    Han Dae-Ho bowed his head.


    "...Out of the 47 people who attacked us at the time, 46 died, and we were only able to capture one alive."


    Through Han Dae-Ho''s continued exnation, I learned the whole story of an incident I hadn’t known about. Although the cause of death for the 46 people appeared to be suicide, there was something suspicious about it, so the incident was still under investigation.


    Han Dae-Ho exined the spection as to why the captured person was showing extreme mental abnormalities was rted to sudden weather changes.


    I could tell that their deaths were rted to Legba.


    Legba''s voice echoed in my head. [I only gave them the choice. The decision was theirs.]


    "...Therefore, we will not proceed with the remaining schedule today. The Holy See has issued a recall order. This includes all other clergymen who are currently in this location."


    Afterward, Han Dae-Ho told us to pack up all our belongings and gather again in the auditorium. He also added that we, along with the clergymen here for missionary work, would safely go to the airport and return home.


    I packed my things. I reached under the bed to retrieve the staff I had hidden therest night, but all my hand grasped was thin air.


    Just as my heart sank, I heard Damba''s voice. [Here it is, little one.]


    Right then, I was able to grab the staff. The staff felt strangely softer than when I first held it. I could vaguely feel the smooth and snake-like scaly texture. I had a hunch that the Staff of Reversal had merged with Damba.


    I pulled out the staff, and as expected, the wood was faintly engraved with a pattern resembling snake scales.


    I stared at the pattern intently. The pattern had gradually darkened, bing more and more like actual snake scales. Finally, the staff transformed into Damba, taking the form of a snake.


    [Feels like I''ve regained a lost sanctuary. I feel much morefortable,] Damba said as she wrapped herself around my arm and rode up.


    This was only possible because the poteau mitan was not only a ritual staff that Legba used to invite people to Crossroads, but also a symbol of Damba and a Loa called Ayida-Weddo.


    In fact, rather than being a symbol of the two, the poteau mitan was essentially thebination of Damba and Ayida-Weddo.


    [Ah... I''m tired. I want to rest, little one.]


    "Yes, please do." As I nodded, Damba returned to the form of a staff. I put the staff in my carrier and sorted the rest of my misceneous belongings before leaving the amodation.


    With the staff, I could use the reverse spell technique. The reverse spell technique was the only way to heal Yoon-Ah, In-Ah''s sister. At the same time, it would also allow me to utilize other spells and the power of the Loa freely.


    Depending on the situation, I could make it move in the form of a snake or hold it in my hand as a staff, so it had versatile applications. Obtaining the staff alone was a huge yield of this mission trip. However, I couldn’t shed the unsettling and ominous feeling I was getting.


    It was because Han Dae-Ho, who was exining yesterday''s events, hadn’t talked at all about the Voodoo Cult.


    "...You''ve all worked hard. I''ll make sure you get until Monday off."


    I closely observed Han Dae-Ho''s expression and tone as he saw us students off to the van. I sensed a strange fear and wariness.


    He was wary of us, including me, Yu-Hyun, Su-Ryeon, and the clergymen apanying us. Just like Jin-Seo, he seemed to believe that there might be spies from the Satanists or the Voodoo Cult among us.


    We arrived at the airport and finally boarded the ne. None of us said a word, even until the moment of take-off. Everyone was either deep in their thoughts or simply had their eyes closed to relieve themselves from the fatigue of the journey.