A Reason Hidden Behind Ownership

As soon as Dojinwan arrived, the secretary left as if handing things over.

While eating with Dojinwan after he had washed up, I suddenly remembered that he had bought my place.

The thought that he hid it from me made my lips pout on their own.

“Why?”

Sensing my displeasure, Dojinwan looked at me curiously and asked.

I didn’t want to answer, but staying sulky would make me look petty, so I blurted it out.

“You’re the new owner of my rental place, right?”

Seeing my pout, understanding dawned on his face, followed by a faint smile.

I still couldn’t understand why he bought my debt and my rental house.

“Why did you buy it?”

There was no reason for him to do that.

When I asked, he calmly scooped some soup and replied,

“So I can cancel the contract if you don’t listen.”

“What?”

“So behave.”

Cancel the contract?

But even if he did that, I was already living in his house anyway.

‘Does canceling the rental even mean anything?’

I wanted to ask, but it felt like I’d just be called stupid, so I swallowed the question.

The day after Dojinwan returned, the secretary came to his house.

Since Dojinwan had been working from home even while lying low due to the assassination attempt, the scene wasn’t unfamiliar.

“I’m sorry.

They cut all ties and disappeared.”

The secretary was reporting about the “Church of the Truth of the World.”

Looking regretful for not having better results, he handed over a tablet.

“But we didn’t find nothing.”

Curious, I quietly moved behind Dojinwan as he turned on the tablet.

Neither of them paid me any attention as they continued.

“This religion, commonly called Sejinri Church, does not engage in typical recruitment…

That is, they don’t preach on the streets.”

“Then how do they increase followers?”

“If you click the link, a video will play.”

As Dojinwan tapped the link, a video started.

The poor-quality footage showed something like a church interior.

The secretary continued explaining.

“This was recorded by a journalist investigating the group.

They only accept members through recommendations.

Existing members bring in new ones.”

“And?”

“But the number is limited.”

“Limited?”

“Yes.

Each member can only bring in two new members.”

That was far fewer than expected.

A cult would usually try to attract as many people as possible.

Even Dojinwan seemed puzzled.

“That’s surprisingly low…

I don’t understand.

The limit could be explained as ‘chosen people,’ but why would people follow just because someone recommends it?”

“Because… they perform miracles.”

“Miracles?”

Just then, the video grew noisy.

A strange figure wearing a mask and medieval-style robe placed a hand on someone’s head.

The person suddenly screamed.

Moments later, the screaming stopped, and when the figure removed their hand, the man stood up.

“According to the journalist’s notes, that man was completely paralyzed.”

The secretary opened a small notebook and showed it.

Inside were scribbled notes and investigation records.

“This is him.”

The man in the video was now jumping and crying.

It was impossible to believe he had been paralyzed.

Dojinwan’s expression hardened as he examined the notes.

“How is this possible?

Even with healing abilities, this shouldn’t be achievable…”

Abilities weren’t omnipotent.

They could heal wounds and stop bleeding, but they couldn’t reconnect severed nerves.

‘Unless it’s not an ability.’

If it was divine power… or demonic energy.

Divine power could reconnect nerves.

But demonic energy worked differently.

It filled the body and replaced the nerves themselves.

Once that happened, the person would inevitably become a demonized being.

Not human anymore.

That was the power of demonic energy.

The secretary hesitated after hearing Dojinwan’s words.

Soon, the reason became clear.

“The one in the video… isn’t the leader.”

“What?”

“He’s just a member.

Something like a disciple.”

He flipped to another page and showed it.

The leader was not seen at the gathering.

Where is the leader?

Is this not limited to just our country?

The one performing miracles is a regular member.

Structure of the religion:

Leader (name, age, gender, nationality unknown. Do they even exist?)

High-ranking members – disciples (those who received power and perform miracles)

Regular members (those seeking healing or power)

“It’s not just paralysis.

People who lost their vision regained it, and even those declared brain-dead came back to life.”

“…Ha.”

“Because of this power, wealthy individuals even pay to become one of the two recommended members.

Though we couldn’t identify who.”

“Why would such a group target me?”

“Perhaps they wanted to use you to expand their influence domestically.”

That was the only explanation they could come up with.

Only I knew the real reason.

‘They don’t care about influence.

They wanted to turn Dojinwan into a demon and awaken the Demon King’s seed.’

But I couldn’t say that out loud.

Instead, I stared at the “miracle” performer in the video with resentment.

Though the footage was dark and blurry, I could sense the faint demonic energy from their hands.

To others, it would look like nothing.

But I could see it clearly.

The amount used on patients was tiny compared to what Dojinwan once held.

Perhaps they compensated with precise control.

‘That’s strange…

Just like divine power, demonic energy shouldn’t fully recover in the human world.’

If someone could use that much energy, they would be among the strongest of the Demon King’s followers.

‘…Could that woman be the leader?’

It was frustrating.

And I was still worried about the demonic energy inside Dojinwan.

Even if it was small, their precise control made it dangerous.

‘If they come into contact with it, it could explode.’

And then Dojinwan would lose himself…

And destroy the world.

While I sank into those thoughts, the secretary continued.

“We captured a few suspected members, but they all deny any connection.”

They claimed ignorance.

Some even defended the group, saying such a religion should become the national faith.

“To think we now have to worry about cults too…”

Dojinwan laughed bitterly.

I almost asked to meet the captured people, but stopped.

‘Even if I use my power on them, it won’t lead to the real followers.’

They knew nothing.

That’s why they were alive.

If they knew anything, they’d be dead already.

‘If I approach them carelessly, I might become a target instead.’

Then what I needed to do was clear.

‘Removing that remaining demonic energy is the priority.’

I stared at the energy inside Dojinwan and made up my mind.

The secretary left, and now it was just the two of us.

After dinner, I brushed my teeth more thoroughly than usual, waiting for a chance.

‘But how do I even say it?’

To remove the energy, I needed to kiss him again.

But this time, he was fully conscious.

There was no way he’d agree.

As I sat beside him watching TV, staring intensely at his lips and thinking hard—

“What’s wrong?”

“…Huh?”

“What are you struggling over?”

Dojinwan frowned slightly.

I thought I was hiding it well.

Apparently not.