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Unknown ritual.

Unknown performance.

Thomas stood again before William after finishing all of it.

He spoke.

“Congratulations, young master.”

Everything is going well.

“It doesn’t matter what sins you’ve committed or what taboos you’ve broken. Right now, you are purer and more innocent than anyone else in this world. You will shine brighter than a sheet of white and clean cloth, and you will be clearer than the bottom of a lake where everything is visible. Truly wonderful.”

Now you have temporarily gained the symbol of ‘purity’ and ‘innocence.’

“I’m glad I could make you pure far more easily than I expected.”

He could hardly contain his joy.

Thomas said this to William.

With only goodness.

With only a good heart.

With a heart that carries not a single speck of impurity.

He said so.

Then he went towards a flower swaying in the wind, reaching out his hand towards it. The flower bowed its head submissively and drooped its petals.

Thomas stroked the flower’s head as if it were cute, and then, he suddenly crushed the stem with his hand.

Thus, the flower that had entered Thomas’s hand began to take shape, like mercury flowing into a mold.

The flower melted away into a stick, which gradually elongated forward, becoming sharper than anything.

Thus, it transformed into the shape of a needle.

“The son of the great Creator sacrificed his body to bring forth the rise and fall of the sun and moon.”

Thomas used magic on the needle-like blood.

“Warmth and coldness, coziness and comfort. Activity and rest. All of this came about because of His sacrifice. How could one not marvel at such a holy sacrifice? And how could one not honor and look up to that sacrifice?”

It was magic that manipulated the powers of yang and yin.

The yin generated from Thomas’s hand rose up vaguely. It condensed like a mist, descending with the needle held in his hand, filling the inside. Slowly but surely, it began to move from one end to the other, solidifying the blood as if killing a living being.

It twisted and changed shape, and then, he fixed it with the sharp needle, compressing and weighing it down until the blood turned into an ice chunk.

Thus, the needle held by Thomas became a deadly weapon crafted from ice.

It was both cozy and cold, as if it were shaped by the chill of the moon, and it was filled with sinister qualities as if it contained the absence of light.

The warmth of the blood that was meant to help others, and the sacred symbol inherent in the blood, had completely disappeared.

He slowly lifted the gruesome weapon.

And then, he brought it down onto William’s palm.

Thwack!

“Uuuugh—–!”

The moment the needle pierced his palm, an unimaginable pain was felt.

It felt as if every nerve in his body was being electrified, and his vision flashed as if struck by lightning in his brain.

William screamed, his eyes wide open.

Though his muzzle was tied, and he could not scream freely, his cries filled the entire church with a mix of pain.

And in that terrible pain, William realized.

“This isn’t… this isn’t a dream!”

It was vivid pain.

More vivid than ever before.

It was the kind of pain he had never felt even once in reality, and it was all exceedingly horrific.

A storm of nerves seemingly roasting his brain.

The throb from the hole in his palm.

The strange warmth created by the blood gushing from the pierced hole.

The bizarre tickling sensation brought by the blood flowing out.

All of this could not possibly be a dream.

“Young master.”

William writhed in pain.

He grasped the truth amidst the suffering, and he was tormented even more by that truth.

“Damn it, damn it!”

If this wasn’t a dream.

If this was reality…!

Then right now, he was in the hands of a madman, who was smiling kindly while stabbing a needle into a person’s palm!

William gazed up at Thomas with bulging eyes.

Yet, in that gaze was a mix of not just anger, but also fear and betrayal.

His eyes swirled with a storm of feelings.

Questions from not understanding why this idiot was doing this to him.

Feelings of betrayal from having someone he got along with suddenly act like a psycho with a smiling face.

Fear from knowing he could do nothing.

Anger at not knowing why he had to bear such misfortune despite successfully fulfilling the prophecy.

…

…

…

William’s eyes swirled with emotions, and he could only shoot them at Thomas through his glare. Thomas, however, smiled as he met those eyes.

“Dear young master, you need to summon a bit more strength.”

He said.

“Because you need to be pierced three more times.”

“—-?!”

Clunk!

Clunk!

William instinctively twisted his body upon hearing those words.

He struggled with all his might to break free from his bonds, ignoring the pain from the wound in his palm, pouring all his strength into distancing himself from Thomas.

Yet his struggles ended up accomplishing nothing.

The bonds Thomas had tied him with were far too strong to be broken that easily.

“Please bear with me for a moment. It might be a bit painful and frightening, but it is utterly necessary for what lies ahead.”

“Uuugh–!”

“Hahaha. You were like this even as a child, young master William. Even though your molars were decayed and you couldn’t chew bread on one side, you still held back, terrified of the dentist. I miss those days.”

Thomas wore a reminiscing expression, as if recalling fond memories.

Then, like admonishing a child, he spoke to William.

“As I told you back then. Dental treatment is something that must be endured, even if it’s painful.”

“Ugh—!”

“Haha. This is the same; so please endure the pain for just a little longer. It won’t take long.”

Thomas spoke in a gentle tone, as if comforting a child reluctant to go to the dentist, before again lifting the needle to pierce his other hand.

“Grrrrk—-!”

“Understood, understood. You’ve always been overly dramatic, even when going through dental treatment, I recall how you clung to the hands of the nuns accompanying you. Hahaha.”

Thomas laughed as though he were conversing in everyday life.

There was no hint of any negative emotions in his tone.

It was as if Thomas moved with goodwill as if he thought, ‘Since William is in pain, I should wrap this up quickly,’ and he moved even faster to pierce holes through his feet.

“Grrk–!”

“Hahaha. It’s done.”

And so, with four holes made, Thomas placed the needle on an empty chair and spread his hands.

Now, I hold nothing, a gesture that promised there would be no more strange actions.

He gazed at William, whose face twisted in agony as tears streamed down.

“Oh dear. You must have been in a lot of pain. It’s okay now. It’s over. Four holes are sufficient.”

“…”

“Fortunately, there’s no need to pierce holes in your sides. That would be too much.”

Thomas patted William gently, as if he were proud that he had endured the pain well.

Then he looked straight into William’s tear-filled eyes and smiled gently.

His eyes drew curves, and his smile also reflected those curves.

“William, young master. I can guess what you’re about to say.”

“Ugh—!”

“Yes. You’re likely wondering why I brought you here so suddenly and why am I doing this. Such questions, right?”

Thomas spoke.

“William, young master. Everything has a reason. Just as the Creator created everything with His own reasons and intentions, there is undoubtedly a clear reason for my actions as well.”

In his eyes shone goodwill, mixed with a deep familiarity.

This was a sentiment that could not be seen in someone who meant to harm another, only between those who shared long and profound connections.

It was a feeling only seen among very familiar neighbors, as if he viewed a close friend’s child like his own nephew—

Thomas regarded the pained William like a loving relative, looking at him with kindly eyes.

Then slowly began to speak.

To present William with a shocking yet deeply joyous story.

But at that moment, a bizarre sound echoed.

Ssssssss—

Thud.

Thoom.

A very strange sound.

It was like the sound of dragging something and the sound of something bouncing off the floor.

Swoosh—

Thump.

Thoom.

Would such a sound occur if a ball were tied up with a rope and dragged behind?

The sound bounced off the floor, resonating like something heavy being dragged across the church floor. Then, the sound gradually approached the priest and William, finally reaching the doorway.

Creeeak.

Upon reaching the door, the sound abruptly stopped as if it were in place.

Then, slowly it began to open, as if pushed with a very gentle force.

And with a scream-like creaking noise, someone emerged.

“Oh, dear.”

Thomas stood up upon seeing the man who appeared before him.

Then, he came over and smiled brightly with large gestures, as if welcoming an old friend.

“Welcome, Jinseong Park!”

A warm greeting filled only with goodwill.

Jinseong looked at Thomas, who wore a thankful expression for his presence.

“I see. I’m glad to be here too.”

And just like Thomas, he also smiled.

Wearing a smile on his face.

 

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