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The shapeless being began to enthrall people, and those who became ensnared quickly lost their wits; such individuals are called Majnun (مجنون).

Majnun increases.

From three to five.

From five to ten.

From ten to twenty.

From twenty to thirty.

A single rule.

Only the rule of increasing numbers, and so it grows ever larger.

[Beside the traveler walking through the desolate desert was a camel. The frigid desert night was unbearable without the camel by his side, so he used the stiff fur of the camel as a blanket and fell asleep. Suddenly, a beautiful woman appeared, claiming to be Jinnia. The enchanting woman said that the night was so cold she longed for human warmth and wished to be held. On closer inspection, however, it seemed her footprints were swirling in the sand, casting doubt on whether she was truly human, prompting him to ask, “Do you believe in Allah? Do you acknowledge that there is no other great being besides Allah?”]

What?

It’s not that difficult.

Given that I witnessed firsthand the heinous acts committed by the evil spirits in North Korea and what the Great Evil Spirits did before the rewind, it’s easy to see that enchanting this many people is no great feat.

[Jinnia, being a non-human entity visiting me, I ask you again: do you believe in the existence of Allah? Do you know that there is no other great being besides Allah?]

The ingredients to create Majnun are ghosts.

And humans with weak minds.

The first ingredient is fulfilled by the ghosts and evil spirits smuggled into America hidden within the bodies of warriors, and the weak-minded humans are scattered throughout the slums. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s hard to find strong-minded people in the slum areas.

It may not be surprising.

How can those who have no future and suffer from poverty possess strong minds?

Even those with firm resolve find their spirits crushed after experiencing torture; reality has shown that those perpetually battered by harsh conditions cannot help but become defeated.

Moreover, many individuals sink into hedonism to forget their reality, living under the burden of their future while indulging in alcohol and drugs.

Having no hope is just that.

It allows one to enjoy the pleasures of the present at the expense of their future.

That is despair, and it is the struggle of those who wish to escape that despair.

And such humans are scattered here.

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[Jinnia, unable to hide her evil nature, could not utter a word acknowledging Him. Oh! Behold that evil being made of fire! O Lord, send down an angel shaped from light to grant me protection. Drive away that evil flame.]

The pitiful people who fell with the region’s collapse.

People dulled like rust, as the derogatory term “Rust Belt” suggests.

But if they could shed their rust and apply oil, they could move vigorously once again.

They have not perished.

They have merely lost the strength to rise for a moment; should hope return, they could once again claim their power.

Yes.

Most are individuals of value.

They are worth observing, worth extending a helping hand to, and worth offering blessings for their hope.

However, among them are also weeds that need to be culled.

Those who try to push the hopeless further down into the pit of despair, who turn even the remnants of bread into a mold that they won’t even touch, are precisely those people.

Individuals capable of causing real harm.

Those who are better off not existing at all.

They are the very beings who are better utilized as tools.

[He, the One deserving of glory alone, is the Lord of all that exists in the heavens and the earth. He alone deserves glory in the hereafter and is the wisest, the All-Knowing. He knows what enters the earth, what comes forth from it, what descends from the sky, and what ascends towards it. Oh, glorious one who exists solely, may the rain and angels sent by you descend. Grant me grace, so that while I dwell on this earth, all my good deeds, truthful worship, and prayers may be received, and grant me salvation.]

Someone could argue.

How can you be so sure they will commit harm?

The human heart is deep and profound, so much so that even prophets and saints cannot easily discern it; how can you, a mere shaman, declare judgment and use them as mere tools? Is that truly a good thing?

That statement rings remarkably true.

How can one strictly differentiate between the good and bad in a person and predetermine their future?

How could a person know what actions they will take and what consequences will arise from those actions?

It is impossible to do so, which is what makes one human and mortal.

Even should one transcend, is it truly possible to know it all completely?

Yet, yes.

It was not unfounded.

What he observed and heard was the very evidence.

He witnessed firsthand the atrocious deeds they would commit in the future, saw the traces left behind; thus, there exists a minimal justification for using them as tools.

『Detroit Cultists. 』

Before time twisted, Park Jinseong saw it.

As the internal structure of America descended into chaos and reliance on public authority became impossible, a strong atmosphere of self-preservation emerged. This climate also reached Detroit, where the gangs, which had always been overflowing, united to form a loose alliance to deal with external threats.

And to some extent, it bore fruit.

It would not be an exaggeration to say their arms or training were in disarray; however, thanks to the home advantage gained from operating in the area, they could effectively fend off certain threats. Even if they could not completely repel them, they utilized the twisted streets, dilapidated blocks, and sewage as strongholds, ambushing their foes like guerrillas.

But their defenses were not a favorable situation for Detroit’s citizens.

While it was good to block the external lunatics, the problem was that they extorted the citizens for their “taxes” in return.

Claiming to be the vigilantes and police that protected them, they took everything under the name of ‘taxes’ and strutted about flaunting their self-made titles, knowing that there was no police to keep them in check. The extent of their misconduct was far worse than in the past.

But there was no way for the citizens.

Outside, there are madmen.

Inside, there are gangs.

If they choose to drive out the gangs, the lunatics will come crashing in; if they choose to be under the gangs’ protection, they’ll be extorted—a maddening dilemma.

What can citizens do in such a grim choice?

Exerting pioneer spirit to fight off both the gangs and lunatics?

Easier said than done.

In reality, it is extremely difficult.

The strong and ambitious are on the side of the gangs, while most citizens are people who have never even shot a single animal. The few with combat experience or deployment experience are older, and their numbers are insufficient compared to the gangs.

And even if they defeat the gangs, there is no telling what lunatics might enter from outside, so even victory does not guarantee a brighter future.

In a situation like this.

What could one possibly do to escape this hell?

The citizens pondered.

But despite their contemplation, no answers emerged.

So they prayed.

That an answer might come.

And an answer did come.

『Mana Accumulation Method. 』

At the Michigan State University Museum.

They discovered a record called that.

A graduate student majoring in folklore translated the record into English and shared this ‘Mana Accumulation Method’ with those whose families had suffered at the hands of the gang’s tyranny.

Yes.

Not Qi, not magical power, not Æther.

But indeed, a way to accumulate Mana.

『…Every person has Mana and the quality to receive magical blessings. Mana is itself a blessed, divine power, yet it can only be awakened through struggle and bravery; thus, the true power of Mana can only be accumulated through intense struggle and the plunder gained at its conclusion….』

『…It is no different from catching a shark and making a dagger from its teeth. Gaining strength through struggle and obtaining sharp weapons to become stronger is a perfectly reasonable act that does not violate the order; hence, Mana itself symbolizes the force of warriors and can be seen as a blessing that aids their struggles….』

Perhaps it could be an answer to prayer.

A cruel and brutal answer.

 

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