The Saint Wants to Rest - Chapter 65.2
Ian stared at the two men with an expression of utter disbelief. He had every right to be angry, but seeing Choi Jae-heon walking on eggshells, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything heartless. He didn’t understand why his brother felt so sorry over such a trivial matter.
Ian let out a long sigh and lightly kicked the chair next to him.
“Fine. Since you’re already here, let’s just stay together. It’s not like you’d go back to Seoul even if I pushed you out the door.”
“Really? I can stay here, Ian?”
Color returned to Choi Jae-heon’s stiff face. Vermouth also puffed out his chest, regaining his usual arrogant demeanor.
“A wise decision, Lord Ian. My sword shall cut down anything that dares to disturb your rest.”
“There’s nothing disturbing my rest. More importantly, go get me some water. I’m thirsty.”
From that day on, Ian’s true ‘honey-sucking recuperation’ began.
If his vacation until now had been a solitary healing process, it had now become a recovery fit for an Emperor. Choi Jae-heon tossed aside his titles as an S-grade awakened person and the Guild Leader of Stigma to wait on Ian hand and foot, making sure Ian didn’t have to lift a single finger. When Ian wanted to eat cup ramen, he would set out every variety of kimchi; if Ian so much as tossed and turned, he would come running instantly.
Though Ian was burdened by the attention at first, after about two days, he had perfectly adapted to this lifestyle.
“Hyung, I want to eat those wild grapes. I heard they grow in the mountains around here.”
“Really? I’ll go get some right now. Vermouth, don’t you dare move a single step away from Ian!”
A life where Choi Jae-heon rushed off to climb mountains while Vermouth sat nearby in a reverent posture, peeling fruit to offer him. In the midst of such peaceful times, a miraculous change occurred.
A warm energy began to fill Ian’s core, which had been hollow and dried up. As expected of a Saint, power returned only when the mind, not just the body, was at ease. The amount of divine power grew day by day. Then, one evening, Ian called the two men together while chewing on an apple.
“I have something to say.”
Choi Jae-heon and Vermouth sat before him with tense expressions. Ian opened the notebook he had been writing in and showed it to them.
“I’m thinking of starting a religion.”
“A religion? What kind of religion?”
“A religion that serves Regnasia, the Goddess of War and Benevolence.”
At those words, Choi Jae-heon gasped for a moment before looking flustered.
“I thought you had already cut ties with that side?”
“No, it’s not completely severed. Besides, I think I need it for what’s coming.”
“You intend to increase the number of people who possess divine power.”
“Bingo!”
Ian nodded at Vermouth’s remark.
“But Ian, creating a religion like that suddenly won’t be easy.”
In the early days when the Gates first opened, all sorts of religions flourished. It was because people had nowhere else to lean in a harsh world.
“It was fine up to that point.”
Choi Jae-heon shook his head as he explained the past.
“The problem came afterward.”
From a certain point, pseudo-religions and cults began to prevail among the legitimate ones. Religions that worshipped the Gates as gods, religions that dismissed awakened people as demons, and religions that claimed one must offer up all their assets to survive. In a word, it was a mess.
“Because of those situations, the government has been keeping a very close watch on religious organizations lately.”
This meant the state had begun to block cults that went too far.
“The Order of Regnasia isn’t like that, though?”
“I know, I know. But to others, it might look like a cult.”
“Then I just have to show them my power.”
“Your power?”
“Yeah. I’ll engage in activities directly and make the existence of divine power known.”
“But, it might be dangerous for you.”
“Stop!”
Despite Choi Jae-heon’s worried words, Ian shook his head firmly.
“Hyung, I can’t save the world alone. And I want to rest, too. Only when priests who use divine power are spread across the globe with me can I even think about retiring.”
At those words, Vermouth clenched his fist and shouted as if deeply moved.
“Truly the Saint! To spread the Goddess’s mercy upon this primitive land! I, Vermouth, shall dedicate my soul and my sword to lead the way in establishing the foundation of the Order. I shall personally reform anyone who opposes us.”
Ian smirked and tapped his notebook.
“Then I’ll take it that you’re both in favor?”
“Mmm.”
“Yes, I shall always move as you wish, Lord Ian.”
And so, the two of them joined his plan.
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