< 74. The Hell of Distrust (2) >
"Chairman, you almost caused a big problem!"
Min-jun said bluntly. Jenkins, who had approached, also looked down and rubbed his forehead.
"'Vallians,' I see."
His gaze shifted to the cleaning equipment. Blair explained.
"They're here for the cleaning of the exterior walls and windows of Jenkins Tower today."
The Vallians, with wings resembling those of birds, were employees of a cleaning company specializing in high-rise buildings.
They had been hit directly by the Dragon's Fury shot by Jenkins. Having experienced the great dragon's power for the first time, they had fainted and fallen.
Min-jun's intervention had prevented a terrible situation. If he hadn't acted, the cleaners might have ended up being torn to pieces and stuck to the sidewalk.
"I made a mistake. Min-jun, thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Jenkins, observing outside, frowned.
On the ground floor of the building, spectators had already gathered. Min-jun slowly lowered the unconscious Vallians to the ground. It seemed Blair had contacted the medical team, who rushed over.
Min-jun muttered.
"Those glass people must have suffered quite a bit from the dragon's mental attack, so the aftereffects might be pretty serious."
Though he said it as if it were someone else's problem, Jenkins knew he was meant to hear it.
Blair interjected.
"They're all subcontracted employees, so we don't need to handle industrial accident claims ourselves."
Min-jun, still disinterested, remarked.
"They're probably foreign workers from Thailand or Bangladesh, so they probably don't have proper medical insurance."
The seven races that migrated to Earth as a group didn't live evenly distributed around the world. Especially Vallians, who are naturally weak to cold, rarely settled in Korea, where temperatures can drop below Siberia's in midwinter.
Instead, they stayed in warmer countries with lower costs of living and, when the weather improved, came to countries like Korea to work intensively for a few months before returning to their home country. Their behavior was reminiscent of migratory birds adapting to the seasons.
Of course, while Vallians use budget airlines with one-way tickets costing around 100,000 won rather than flying in flocks across borders, they are highly sought after for certain jobs. Vallians are much cheaper than the wages paid to mages skilled in levitation magic, helicopter pilots, or the cost of high-tech drones.
Especially attractive was the fact that there was no need to pay a hazard allowance for work at high altitudes.
Min-jun continued muttering to himself.
"I wonder if people who earn 30,000 won a day can afford hospital bills."
After the ratification of Amendment 4 and the abolition of the Minimum Wage Act, wages for some social classes had become remarkably low.
Jenkins looked at Blair.
"Make sure the company takes care of them. They may not be part of our team, but spare no effort in providing all necessary support for their treatment."
"...Yes, understood."
In reality, Jenkins' actions were close to accidental harm. Blair, knowing this, accepted his orders readily.
"Wait a moment."
The dragon pondered deeply.
"All of them are subcontracted?"
"Yes, that's correct."
It was possible to control whether what happened was reported in the media, but not everyone's gossip could be controlled.
Furthermore, the public was relatively favorable toward Vallians. Slightly less intelligent than humans but considered more naïve rather than foolish, Vallians were seen more kindly compared to goblins.
Though goblins might find it unfair, most goblins were not smart enough to think that far.
"Then, how about this?"
The dragon gave an order.
"Ask if they would be willing to be employed as full-time employees of our company. This would be as compensation for the psychological damage they suffered. Of course, if they are unable to work, we will also take responsibility for their future living and rehabilitation."
"That's quite a remarkable offer."
"Yes, I will do it."
Jenkins' decision soon became a hot topic on the internet.
Although the media did not cover the reason why the winged cleaners suddenly fell, as it would not benefit the dragon, praise for the Elder Dragon's big-hearted decision overflowed on social media and various communities.
Some might have reacted negatively to hiring foreign workers as regular employees, but because the job was so specialized that "without wings" one could not be employed in the first place, there was little criticism.
And shortly thereafter, the red dragon experienced once again an unpleasant situation where his goodwill backfired.
Jenkins approved the final list of clerics to perform the exorcism of Cheongcheon and Ryuhyo.
A few days later, they presented the necessary preparations and various conditions for the exorcism ritual.
The Roman Catholic priest said he would bring everything himself, and the Zoroastrian Mobed only needed space to start a fire.
The problem was with the Dreamland cleric.
"What is this?"
Jenkins snorted in disbelief. If he had not transformed into a human form, flames would have surely erupted.
The document he was looking at contained a list of demands from the Dreamland side.
"Are you kidding me?"
The elf watched nervously, observing his superior's expression.
The dragon turned his gaze back to the document and read aloud as if to make a point.
"250 liters each of pig blood and dung, 3,000 live pinkies or fuzzies, fifty non-venomous snakes, thirty healthy sheep, 5 liters of liquid cannabis, 100 grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of LSD, twenty bottles of vodka brewed specifically for trolls, 1 kilogram of green eggs and ham mushrooms... And why the hell do you need a magic mirror and a whirlpool bath?!"
The dragon could no longer contain his rage.
"Moreover… They require sufficient space for four hundred pure-souled saints to freely 'move their bodies,' 'interact with each other,' and 'bless each other to become one'?"
Rarely did the dragon use such harsh language.
"What the hell are these damned charlatans planning to do in someone else's lair?!"
The place where the two spirits were sealed was naturally Jenkins' lair, and the exorcism ritual was to be conducted there.
The dragon said in a voice as cold as ice.
"Remove this person! Find another cleric."
However, the explanation from his secretary revealed that this was not an easy task.
The spirits to be exorcised were dragon spirits—two of them. Finding a cleric of sufficient skill was not easy. Moreover, contrary to the dragon's expectations, the Dreamland cleric was listed as a top-tier exorcist on the list.
Despite a three-year waiting list, the fact that this cleric had negotiated to take on the request first was the only thing that allowed Jenkins to barely suppress his anger.
"Do they really need all this crap for the purification ritual?"
"Yes. According to their doctrine, they cannot exert strong divine power without entering a trance state…"
"This is madness."
Ultimately, Jenkins had no choice but to sign the cost approval form.
A few days later, on the appointed day, the clerics arrived at Jenkins' headquarters one by one.
The first to arrive was the Roman Catholic priest. Though not a dragon, he was highly regarded worldwide. Jenkins personally greeted the priest in his office.
"Wow...!"
As the priest entered the chairman's office, he almost made the sign of the cross out of reflex.
His gaze was fixed in one place.
With a voice filled with awe, he exclaimed.
"Lord!"
Blair interrupted his admiration, whispering calmly.
"Priest, please look carefully. It's not what you think."
"Ah... Ah?!"
The elderly Catholic priest blinked in confusion.
The figure who had dragged him to the threshold of divine inspiration and then let him go was not the great dragon.
Behind the dragon, who looked at the priest with a bitter expression, outside the window on the 109th floor, "angels" had gathered and were flying in formation...
"?!"
No, it wasn't what the priest thought.
"Oh, oh! I'm sorry. I was just…."
Embarrassed to even say the word "misunderstanding," the priest swallowed his words.
Outside the window of Jenkins' office was a scene resembling a swarm of dragonflies flying over a summer breeding wetland. All of them were Vallians, spreading their pure white wings and flying in unison, singing beautiful songs.
When news spread that the foreign workers hit by the dragon's fury had been hired as regular employees, Vallians working in Korea flocked to the skies around Jenkins' headquarters. Those naïve individuals were hoping to experience a similar accident by chance.
Rather than explaining why the Vallians had been waiting for an opportunity for "grace," the dragon offered a seat.
"Please sit down. Once the rest of them arrive, we will move via teleportation."
Though not the first time seeing Vallians, the priest chastised himself for the misunderstanding and reddened.
"...Yes, understood."
Shortly afterward, Mobed arrived. Though he was also quite surprised, he did not mistake the situation like the priest.
Since they were both in the same industry, they spent their waiting time discussing industry affairs. The dragon also had to entertain the guests, so he moderately joined their conversation.
The peace was shattered the moment the final cleric arrived.
Min-jun, who had been standing by with Blair like an attendant, looked at the newcomer with surprise.
'They look more normal than I expected?'
The man with brown hair, dressed in a high-end custom suit, looked more like a businessman than a priest.
"Nice to meet you. I am Joachim Steinmeier from the Dreamland Church."
At that moment.
"Th-That!"
The Catholic priest jumped up, pointing his finger.
"That Satan has come all the way here!"
The Mobed also reacted with agitation, spitting with anger.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier that we have to be with this person? I cannot perform the sacred ritual with such a demon. I am withdrawing!"
"Same here!"
The atmosphere changed instantly. It seemed they were already familiar with Joachim.
Despite the outpouring of criticism, the Dreamland priest continued to smile cheerfully with a well-maintained expression.
As if anticipating this situation, Blair and Jenkinson exchanged glances.
Jenkinson had no intention of using force against them. Although it would go against his principles, it was also practically impossible. Such powerful individuals on Earth—more precisely, the church that controls them—had signed sponsorship agreements with various dragon factions around the world.
The church prioritizes requests for guardianship and, in return, guarantees the safety of dragons.
The two priests raising their voices in front of Jenkinson was not solely because they believed in the 'deity' behind them.
As if having received prior permission, the elf approached the excited priests and whispered something in their ears. It was clear their expressions changed after that.
After a few more exchanges.
"Hmm, one cannot ignore the suffering souls. I will make a special exception and lend a hand this time."
"Honestly, it's disconcerting that you didn't inform us beforehand. But as long as this wicked demon and his followers do not disrupt my ritual, I will make an exception this time…"
Then Blair also approached the Dreamland priest with some kind of proposal. It would be rude to exclude him from the 'additional negotiation,' after all.
But the priest shook his head and said something that made Blair's expression stiffen slightly.
He still maintained his bright, radiant face as he greeted Jenkinson politely. And when he heard about teleportation, he said:
"As I mentioned earlier, the four hundred saints I brought must also accompany us. They are waiting in the auditorium because they cannot all fit in here."
In the end, Jenkinson had to move them all to the lair.
While trying to hide his disgust on his face.
Observing over four hundred people dressed in what looked more like leather straps rather than actual clothing, with each person wearing a round gag, walking under the priest's direction, Min-jun whispered to Jenkinson. He made sure no one else could hear.
"Hey, Jenkinson. Do I really need to witness this? It might be good to check on how the talent extraction magic circle is progressing."
"…Just in case, stay and observe here with me."
Min-jun glanced at the Dreamland devotees, especially focusing on their attire, and unconsciously thought of someone.
'If that frying pan kid saw this scene, he'd be overjoyed and make a fuss…'
At that moment.
He suddenly remembered.
'Right, the frying pan!'
He had clearly intended to seal it but had forgotten again.
'Is it because my imprisonment is getting longer that I am developing forgetfulness? Why am I like this lately?'
Forgetting and postponing tasks repeatedly was unusual for Min-jun.
He was the type to get things done as soon as possible when he decided on something.
It was strange.
'Have I had similar experiences before for the same reason?'
As his gaze deepened, the ritual began.
To conclude, the exorcism performed by the three priests did not proceed smoothly.
The Catholic priest fainted three times during the ritual, not from exhausting his divine power or because the dragon's spirit resisted, but simply because he was overwhelmed by the bizarre antics of the Dreamland devotees nearby.
In contrast, Mobed, who tended the sacred fire and devoted himself to prayer, only vomited a few times due to the smell but remained mentally intact. This was because the nature of the ritual meant he did not need to keep his eyes open.
The exorcism, which lasted a grueling twelve hours, finally came to an end.
Min-jun watched as the spirit disintegrated into particles of light. The young dragon, entwined like a vine around the burning vine, fell apart along with it. After observing the scene where their souls were absorbed from the material world into the spiritual realm, Min-jun whispered to the dragon.
"It was properly purified."
The dragon, seemingly lost in thought, did not respond.
"Jenkinson, it's over, right?"
"Ah? Yes."
Did the Balien, who had been attacked by the Dragon's aura, make such faces after waking up?
Jenkinson, who stood trembling as if he had glimpsed an otherworldly terror, was shivering uncontrollably.
The crazy antics of the Dreamland devotees he had to observe for twelve hours swirled in his mind like vomit. A vivid nightmare he had to witness with full sobriety.
The dragon, shaking off the terrible images, cried out.
"Th-Thank you for your hard work!"
The priests and Mobed collapsed from exhaustion.
When the dragon signaled, the door opened. Jenkinson's hired staff came in to clean up, but they screamed and fainted from shock. The dragon's face had turned ashen for the same reason. Eventually, the golems summoned by Jenkinson took on the task of assisting the priests and Mobed outside.
Meanwhile, the Dreamland devotees all possessed the strength of trolls, regardless of their race. Even with the physical exertion Min-jun had calculated, which was likely over ten thousand kilocalories, those who had fainted during the ritual soon revived with a jolt.
Then, they all patted each other on the shoulder, encouraged one another, and shook hands before walking out towards the teleport gate. The madness they had emitted during the ritual vanished as if it were a lie. The floor they walked on was marked with mixed bodily fluids, making it difficult to distinguish the colors of their footprints.
The dragon's face grew more troubled as he saw this. He whispered to the elf.
"I don't think I can leave the cleaning to the housekeepers I hired. So, call in an external cleaning service…"
After a moment of thought, he shook his head.
"No, never mind. I'll disinfect the entire place myself."
He was resolved to burn away all the remaining traces with Hellfire once the guests had left.
"Um…"
Joachim was approaching.
His gaze was directed at Min-jun. Min-jun, who had left him unattended without introducing himself, was now facing him.
Joachim felt genuine fear for the first time in a long while.
'What's this? Why?! What's happening?!'
Their eyes met.
Joachim walked over, covering his disheveled body with a white bathrobe, wiping the sweat and other things off his forehead with a handkerchief.
The expensive suit he had worn when he first appeared was torn to shreds during the ritual. Some of it lay scattered on the floor, some inside the lamb, and some…
Min-jun, who had briefly envisioned the whereabouts of the remaining scraps and felt disgusted, quickly erased the image from his mind and said with a stern face.
"What's the matter?"
Though Joachim had been smiling with an air of calm as if nothing had happened, everyone present no longer trusted that smile.
"I briefly informed your elf secretary earlier, but I have another matter to discuss."
He had said he would explain the details after the ritual.
"Actually, my visit to Korea wasn't solely to request the exorcism ritual. At the same time, I also have a request to make."
What did he mean?
Min-jun asked with a look of suspicion, similar to what one might expect from a dragon's secretary.
"Is it such an important request that it needs to be made directly in the presence of the chairman?"
Joachim replied with a smile.
"Yes, it is a request I would like to make to the Korean immigration authorities. And so, I would like to 'quietly' speak with the esteemed dragon here…"
He then looked at Min-jun.
"With one of the world's most legendary operatives. Just like our church has 'quietly' received a request this time."
'He knew about me.'
Min-jun looked at the dragon, while Jenkinson wore a face that seemed to suggest he was interested in hearing what was to come.
There was one condition, however.
"Let's not do this here; let's move to another location. And you… should probably clean up first. Blair will guide you."
"I won't refuse."
Jenkinson thought that the shower used by the priest would be better off being melted away rather than just disinfected.
As he contemplated purifying the place where the servants of the deity had stayed with hellfire, the dragon prepared the teleportation spell.
< 74. The Inferno of Distrust (2) > End