# 039. The King’s Arrival (10)
Jaehee couldn’t believe the absurd rhetoric coming from the Doomsday Cult leader.
If the end of the world was so great, why didn’t he just end his own life first? Why force it on people who didn’t want it?
The cult leader was still shaking his head at the woman prostrated at his feet, as if she were pathetic. Watching this, Jaehee felt something beyond disbelief—something boiling up inside him.
Kim Shin gestured toward the woman with an annoyed expression.
“I can’t understand how a woman like this even made it to the baptism ceremony. Who recommended her? Get her out of my sight. Sigh, and just to clarify for anyone who might misunderstand, we’re not the kind of people who force others against their will.”
This statement seemed directed at Jaehee and his group. Jaehee watched Kim Shin’s actions with the mindset of “let’s see how far you’ll go.”
“With fake kings running rampant in this world, where could you have found a king without my mercy? By entering this dungeon with me, you’ve been given an opportunity to be reborn. I showed mercy not only to those who could be useful to our church but even to useless ones like you, and I’m truly disappointed. If this is how it’s going to be, there’s no point in giving you new opportunities!”
“L-Leader! I have a son. If I make a n-new start, then my son’s family and my grandchild… please, take them in. Please, I beg you. Then this old woman will gratefully make a new start.”
Just then, an elderly woman from among the survivors stood up and called out. Kim Shin stared at the woman intently before smiling slyly.
“Very well, sister. You have the courage to go to a new world. Today is the final baptism, and after this, you may never again receive the baptism of the end. Everyone, learn from this wise and sensible old woman! Good. Today is the last day anyway. Among those remaining, anyone else who wishes to receive the baptism of the end, come forward. I’m giving you one last chance.”
“Leader, thank you for your grace. Please, my son and grandchild…”
The elderly woman, limping with her bad leg, kept wiping her eyes. When the cult leader gestured with his chin, the woman, with a pale face and trembling body, went before him and knelt.
“Of course, don’t worry. The end in our Doomsday Cult is not the true end. It’s merely a new beginning.”
“Thank you. Thank you…!”
Receiving the old woman’s bow, Kim Shin rose from his seat and sauntered over to where the survivors were. The survivors bowed their heads like slaves facing their master.
“Ah, don’t do this. Everyone, raise your heads, raise your heads. I’m not doing this to receive such treatment from you. After today, our Doomsday Cult won’t be accepting new members for a while. As you all know, these are suspicious times with ominous rumors circulating, so it’s burdensome to accept so many people.”
Kim Shin walked slowly among the survivors, examining each one. To Jaehee, it looked like he was selecting livestock for slaughter.
“I-I will convert to the Doomsday Cult! Leader, p-please… I have an elderly mother outside and young children. If you just take care of my family…! I’ll devote myself to you!”
A middle-aged man cried out. His face was a mess of tears and fear. Kim Shin looked at him and nodded half-heartedly. Cult followers pulled the man out and dragged him to the front where the old woman was sitting.
After that, several more people volunteered to become cult members, and they were all moved to the front.
“Hmm. How old are you, sister?”
“I-I’m t-twenty-two.”
“So you’re a college student?”
“What? Y-yes…”
Kim Shin stopped in front of a young woman. Despite her poor appearance, she had a pretty face that couldn’t be hidden. Kim Shin circled around her.
“Well, sister, have you thought about joining our Doomsday Cult? I sense good energy from you.”
Hearing Kim Shin’s words, Jaehee let out an involuntary snort. The woman looked around in confusion, but everyone around her kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact. Kim Shin now approached the woman from the front, lifting her chin and examining her face from side to side.
“L-leader… I… I don’t have any special abilities or ways to help…”
“Oh, dear sister. My eyes see things in you that aren’t visible. For example, your potential, your abilities. I’ll personally tell you what you need to do in our Doomsday Cult, so don’t worry. All you need to do is follow my words and be obedient. Do you understand?”
Kim Shin traced the woman’s lips with his thumb. The woman backed away with a pale face but couldn’t quite avoid him. As she looked around, her eyes met Jaehee’s. Clear terror filled her eyes.
“This woman will become part of our Doomsday Cult family. For now, take her there and clean her up. She’s so dirty I almost missed seeing such a valuable person. Now, let’s continue with the baptism ceremony.”
Kim Shin smirked as he watched the woman being dragged away by other cult members, then brought a branch and lit it. Smoky fumes began rising from the burning branch.
Jaehee felt something snap in his mind. He couldn’t bear it any longer.
“Stop it.”
