Chapter 8

"Ah, I was already suffering from wrist pain. This is really an unfortunate turn of events, isn't it?"

"I have nothing to say. Our dBP company will take responsibility and cover your treatment. If you wish, we can even feed the fish with all the expenses."

"Excuse me? No... There's no need to go that far. Just covering the medical expenses will be fine."

Uncle scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and continued.

"Anyway, let's start by reviewing the contract content, shall we?"

Uncle, looking excited, took out the contract and handed it to Bae Jeong-hwan. Bae Jeong-hwan received it as if it were a precious treasure, making a big fuss over it.

"First, dBP company will sponsor three high-quality relics to the Voodoo Temple."

Uncle, standing in front of the debtor like a creditor, began to explain the contract terms with a smug look on his face. Just by his tone and expression, one might believe he was a loan shark.

"Second, the amount specified in the contract will be donated as an offering. Of course, we only accept cash. We don't want any records to be left."

"Yes, of course."

"By the way, you must not disclose any information about the Voodoo Temple. If anything happens to the High Priest, your wife's life could also be in danger."

"Of course. It's only natural. How could I stab my benefactors in the back?"

Bae Jeong-hwan was prepared to agree to anything we said. After all, it was us who saved his wife from a coma. To him, we were no less than gods.

"Well, that's enough. You can give the offering at the next worship service, and we'll set a schedule for the relic sponsorship next week."

Uncle said this and tried to get up. I stopped him and made him sit down again.

I had a few things to say about Bae Jeong-hwan's son, Bae Seong-hyun.

"Is your son a student at Florence?"

Bae Jeong-hwan's eyes widened in surprise at my words. Soon, his pupils began to dart around wildly, and his lips trembled.

He seemed to feel fear towards me.

"Yes, that's correct."

"Does your son come home late at night recently?"

"H-How do you know...!"

The fear on Bae Jeong-hwan's face deepened.

"Ha ha, the High Priest often sees into our hearts."

Uncle lied without changing his expression.

I don't have the ability to read minds. I just knew about Bae Seong-hyun's usual behavior because we go to the same school.

But that's not the important part.

"It would be better to reduce the money you spend on your son. For example, his allowance or the donations you make to Florence."

"Excuse me? Could I ask for the reason?"

"Money given without conditions is leading your son down the wrong path. For his future, it would be better to reduce the money you give him. It might also be good to give him a stern warning."

"The High Priest often sees into our future, ha ha ha."

As I spoke, Uncle chimed in. I don't know my own future, so how can I see others' futures? Why is Uncle Jin-sung lying like this?

But Bae Jeong-hwan seemed to believe Uncle's lies wholeheartedly. His eyes sparkled with faith and trust.

Well, people who are deeply religious tend to believe anything, I guess. Not that I, as the High Priest, should be saying this.

"This is just advice for your son's future, not a demand."

I glanced at Uncle Jin-sung, who was calmly lying, and said.

"Oh, thank you so much. You saved my wife and now you're even concerned about my son. I really, really can't express my gratitude."

"No, that's all. I'll take my leave now."

With that, I got up. After getting into the elevator and taking off my mask, Uncle Jin-sung spoke up.

"Hey, why did you bring up the son thing?"

"Just because. His personality is a bit strange."

"Why? Is he bothering you, or something?"

"Not me, but he's bullying other kids."

"Huh, really? He's the president's son, so he must have a lot of money. Why would he do that?"

Uncle Jin-sung frowned, not understanding. I also couldn't understand Bae Seong-hyun.

Why would a kid from a wealthy family, who has everything, bully other kids?

I mentioned this to Bae Jeong-hwan hoping that Bae Seong-hyun's behavior would improve.

With that, I left dBP Hospital, thinking it wasn't a big deal. I got into Uncle's car, which was parked in the parking lot.

As agreed with Bae Jeong-hwan, all the CCTV records from today at dBP Hospital would be deleted.

* * *

After completing Bae Jeong-hwan's request, the remaining weekend. I was alone in my dorm room, practicing divine power.

I successfully created a low-level blessing array, but I repeatedly failed to create a mid-level blessing array.

For reference, all Florence students except me can handle mid-level blessings. I was the only one lagging behind.

I spent an hour focusing on drawing mid-level blessing arrays.

"Got it!"

Finally, I succeeded in drawing a mid-level blessing array.

However, no light of blessing flowed from the array I drew. The blessing array drawn in the air soon lost its color and crumbled, and my hopeful heart also crumbled.

"Ah."

I sighed deeply and tried drawing a spell array with voodoo magic for no reason.

I easily drew not only mid-level but also high-level spell arrays. A luminous and mysterious purple mist spread from the drawn spell arrays.

Handling voodoo magic is so easy, but why is handling divine power so difficult? Do I lack talent for divine power? If I lack talent for divine power, how will I become a high-ranking cleric, and how will I graduate?

The anxiety and despair hidden in my heart began to surface.

While I was deeply despairing, Rekba spoke to me. As always, it didn't comfort me; it only made the emptiness grow.

I had to succeed in drawing a mid-level blessing array today, considering the class tomorrow.

However, no matter how many times I tried, I only accumulated failures, and there was no sign of success.

When my heart was about to collapse from repeated failures, I regained my composure by listening to Rekba's voice.

If I have the will and work hard, there's nothing I can't achieve, I believed.

* * *

Finally, the next day, morning came. My head was spinning from lack of sleep. My steps to school were as heavy as lead. I felt like my legs would give out at any moment if I lost my concentration.

The problem was that I had stayed up all night trying to draw a mid-level blessing array.

Still, I managed to arrive on time, and the morning assembly passed in a daze. Then, the class I had been waiting for began.

"Hello~ Since we already greeted during the assembly, let's skip that. Shall we start the class right away?"

Ha Ye-jin's energetic voice marked the start of the class. She picked up a piece of chalk and wrote something on the board.

It was the name of the current class. As the name suggests, it was a time to learn about divine power. It was also the reason I had stayed up all night drawing blessing arrays.

"This is the first time I'm teaching this class. Anyway, as you all know, in this class, we will learn three ways to use divine power, including blessings."

Ha Ye-jin said this and drew two blessing arrays using divine power. Her divine power was of a quality far superior to that of ordinary students.

More surprisingly, it took her less than three seconds to draw the two blessing arrays.

Indeed, Florence teachers are on a different level. I couldn't help but admire her.

"I just drew two blessing arrays. At first glance, they look the same. But they are clearly different types of blessing arrays. They are fundamentally different."

Ha Ye-jin continued her explanation.

"Then, here's a question. How can you distinguish between the two? Anyone who can explain?"

Ha Ye-jin smiled and looked around at the students. The students, one by one, lowered their heads to avoid her gaze. A cold silence filled the classroom for a few seconds.

Just as Ha Ye-jin's face was about to harden in disappointment at the lackluster class attitude,

"I think I know."

Someone raised their hand. Everyone looked at her in surprise. Jeong In-a smiled faintly and spoke.

"The center of the blessing, the 'core,' seems to have a slightly different shape."

"More precisely. Can you explain a bit more in detail?"

Ha Ye-jin's face, which had been hardening, lit up.

"First, the shape of the core: one is spherical, while the other is closer to an ellipsoid. Um, and... "

"Good, good. Can you explain more?"

Jeong In-a's face turned noticeably red as she spoke. She seemed to be aware of the students' gazes on her.

Ha Ye-jin, oblivious to Jeong In-a's feelings, encouraged her even more.

"The one with a spherical core is a blessing array, and the one with an ellipsoid core is a healing array... It's not entirely accurate, but that's how it seems."

"Perfect!"

Ha Ye-jin clapped and smiled broadly. The students hesitantly followed her lead. Jeong In-a sat down, blushing from the applause.

"These two blessing arrays look the same, but their cores have very slight differences. By paying attention to the shape of the core when drawing a blessing array, you can create a more precise and complete blessing array. Until now, you've probably been drawing blessing arrays by feel, but by focusing on the core, you can improve."

Ha Ye-jin explained enthusiastically. In short, paying attention to the core when drawing a blessing array makes it easier.

This was very useful information for me, who couldn't even draw a mid-level blessing array properly. I wrote down Ha Ye-jin's words in my notebook.

"Like this, divine power is used by drawing blessing arrays or healing arrays. Now, another question!"

Ha Ye-jin's question time came around again. The students had already lowered their heads before even hearing the question.

"Besides blessing arrays and healing arrays, are there any other ways to use divine power?"

"I'll answer."

This time, Bae Seong-hyun answered.

"Great. Please explain."

"Besides blessing arrays and healing arrays, divine power can also be used through a method called 'miracles.'"

"Yes, good."

Ha Ye-jin smiled in satisfaction. There was no applause like before. Bae Seong-hyun, seemingly displeased, scowled and sat down.

"You all can only handle blessing arrays and healing arrays for now, but as you advance, you can also handle 'miracles.' What 'miracles' are, it's easier to show you than to explain."

Ha Ye-jin placed her hands together on her chest. As she murmured a prayer, divine power began to flow from her body.

It soon formed a cloud. It was dark and heavy, as if it were full of rain.

A dark cloud.

The dark cloud soon filled the classroom ceiling.

Swish!

Soon, it started raining.

"Like this, recreating the miracles shown by saints and the great beings in the sky, albeit weakly. More precisely, it's called 'miracle recreation,' but we simply call it 'miracle.' Wow, the rain is heavier than I thought."

Ha Ye-jin said this and placed her hands together again. Divine power flowed from her body and soon became a small sun, illuminating us.

The sunlight dried us, who had been drenched by the rain, warmly.

"You probably can't use 'miracles' yet. Of course, there's no need to be discouraged. It's normal not to be able to use miracles at your age. With effort, you will be able to use 'miracles' someday."

Ha Ye-jin smiled and continued.

"Well, some people can't use them even after a long time if they lack talent. Anyway! How about we take a short break to dry our clothes? About a minute."

Ha Ye-jin, who had been enthusiastically teaching, suggested a break. Her class was so fast-paced that just listening was exhausting.

If listening to her was this tiring, teaching must be even more so.

I understood why Ha Ye-jin suggested a break.

"Since everyone's clothes seem dry, let's start the class again."

After a minute, Ha Ye-jin regained her energy and resumed the class. Her recovery was amazing.

She was a person who overflowed with energy when it came to teaching.

"From now on, I need two people who can handle divine power well. Hmm, hmm. Who should I choose?"

Ha Ye-jin looked around the students with eagle eyes. I looked out the window, pretending to be distracted.

Then, I accidentally made eye contact with Ha Ye-jin. Her eyes sparkled for a moment.

I had a bad feeling.

"Two people who scored high in the diagnostic test would be best."

And, bad feelings usually don't go wrong.

"Do Seon-woo, Bae Seong-hyun. Please come to the front."

(To be continued)