At that moment, the woman seated beside me abruptly stood up.

As she made her way up to the podium, Yoo Sunmin continued speaking.

He wore a warm, gentle smile.

“I know that many of you have devoted yourselves to the Holy Grace Cult. And this week, I wish to bestow holy grace upon one individual who has shown exceptional dedication.”

So she was the one receiving holy grace this time.

As if she had been waiting for this very moment, the woman knelt and assumed a prayerful posture.

Yoo Sunmin placed his hand atop her head.

“You will now be able to see your own destiny.”

The instant he finished speaking, the woman’s eyes snapped open.

Just as Yoo Sunmin had promised, a Fortune Window floated before her.

She cried out in a trembling, excited voice.

“I-I can see it…! I can see the Fortune Window! B-But…”

The euphoria in her voice quickly evaporated.

Tears streaming down her face, the woman spoke.

“I-I… was Third Insect Grade…”

Sighs of disappointment rippled through the lecture hall.

To awaken only to be rated Third Insect Grade.

As the woman’s tears continued to fall, Yoo Sunmin gently patted her shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Even if our Eight Characters are harsh, when the god comes…”

He continued with a soft smile.

“We will rise higher than those born with Divine Grade fortunes.”

The woman appeared deeply moved by his words.

Tears still flowed, but they were no longer tears of sorrow.

Yoo Sunmin comforted her with gentle reassurance.

“How much you have suffered all this time. Born with the wrong Eight Characters, we have endured countless disadvantages—both before and after the Day of Awakening.”

His voice brimmed with indignation and desperate yearning, like a martyr rebelling against an unjust society.

He turned to face the crowd and cried out.

“But no more! When the god comes to us, we will reclaim everything that was taken from us! Believe in the Holy Grace Cult!”

“Believe in the Holy Grace Cult!”

The agitated crowd began shouting with fervent zeal.

They wept and laughed—it was absolute pandemonium.

Everyone was in a state of excessive frenzy.

Any ordinary person would have found it strange.

It was hardly a service powerful enough to stir people’s emotions to such a degree.

Just then, a notification window appeared before my eyes.

[A curse has been activated targeting ‘Seo Kangrim’!]

As expected, the curse had been activated.

Seeing that message didn’t make me anxious.

I had already finished my preparations.

[The curse has been nullified by the effect of ‘Curse Tracker’!]

[‘Curse Tracker’ is tracking the one who placed the curse!]

‘Curse Tracker’ had the effect of tracking whoever placed a curse on the wearer while simultaneously nullifying the curse itself.

A notification appeared, revealing who had cast the curse.

Not that I needed to be told—I already knew.

Yoo Sunmin truly had an ability befitting a religious charlatan.

═══════════════

[Special Ability] Voice of Brainwashing

[Rank] Third Dragon Grade

[Description] When this ability is activated and a command is issued, the target can be brainwashed. The higher the target’s magic power grade, the higher their resistance. Karma accumulates with each use.

═══════════════

The ability Yoo Sunmin possessed was ‘Voice of Brainwashing.’

It was a curse-type ability.

Between wearing the ‘Curse Tracker’ and my own high magic power grade, it had no effect on me.

However, it was a lethal ability against unawakened individuals or weak awakeners.

For an ordinary person, once they entered this place and listened to a service, there was no escaping.

No wonder the Holy Grace Cult kept growing larger.

Pretending to participate in the service, I carefully examined Yoo Sunmin’s Fortune Window.

Not only did he possess ‘Voice of Brainwashing,’ but his grades were fundamentally high across the board.

His Fate Rank was Third Dragon Grade, and his level exceeded 40 dan, marking him as a formidable expert.

He hadn’t received a Divine Descent, but he possessed another noteworthy ability.

═══════════════

[Special Ability] Physiognomy

[Rank] First Ghost Grade

[Description] By looking at a target’s face, the user can partially read the target’s Fortune Window.

═══════════════

He also possessed an ability to read destinies.

A power even greater than reading palms.

Just by looking at someone’s face, he could grasp a general outline of their information.

Confirming that ability raised a question in my mind.

I was currently borrowing Kim Jeneung’s face.

If he read my physiognomy in this state, what would my Fortune Window show?

If Kim Jeneung’s fortune was what got read, that would be fine.

But if my own fortune was read, or if the ability couldn’t be activated at all…

My identity could be exposed, so it seemed wise to be cautious on all fronts.

Fortunately, Yoo Sunmin didn’t spare me a single glance as he spoke in a commanding voice.

“For the Holy Grace Cult to grow further, your efforts are absolutely essential. I pray that more of you will receive holy grace at the next service. Believe!”

“We believe!”

“We believe!”

With those words, the service came to a close.

Even after Yoo Sunmin departed, the people remained steeped in emotion.

The person beside me turned tear-streaked cheeks toward me and spoke.

“How about it, Mr. Jeneung? Glad you came, right?”

“Yes. I’m glad I came.”

“Just bring in five more people soon, Mr. Jeneung. Then you can receive holy grace too.”

I offered a light smile and nodded.

The people around me helped me to my feet.

“Come on, let’s have a meal together. We’re family now, so we should break bread together.”

Their faces were radiant with joy.

But there was no telling how those bright eyes might change.

I nodded and moved along with them.

On the way to the dining hall, and even after entering and scanning the room, Yoo Harang was nowhere to be found.

She was probably locked away somewhere.

I rose from my seat before the food arrived.

“Hm? Where are you going, Mr. Jeneung?”

“Just going for a short walk… I think I got carsick on the ride up earlier.”

“Oh dear, that’s too bad. Go get some fresh air and come back.”

The people let me go without any real suspicion.

Even as I stepped outside the building, there was no sign of anyone watching.

Once outside, I sent a message to Kang Dohyun.

[I’ve infiltrated the Holy Grace Cult. Nothing’s happened so far.]

[So you went alone after all? What about Shin Sooa?]

[Going alone is safer.]

The objective this time was not to destroy the Holy Grace Cult but to rescue Yoo Harang.

Coming in alone was advantageous in multiple ways.

With ‘Thief Mouse’ and ‘Hidden One,’ I could move without drawing attention.

[I’m going to find Yoo Harang and get out right away. You handle the aftermath.]

[You’re making me do every errand under the sun. Contact me when you’re done.]

I decided to leave the troublesome work to Kang Dohyun.

Now I just needed to find Yoo Harang and get out.

Confirming that no one was around, I activated my ability.

[Special Ability ‘Hidden One’ has been activated!]

There was no better ability for searching than ‘Hidden One.’

The problem was that it only turned me invisible while holding my breath, meaning I couldn’t maintain it for more than a minute.

I searched the perimeter of the building as quickly as possible.

According to what Shin Sooa had told me in my past life, a secret door was hidden somewhere on the exterior.

It had to be somewhere around here.

As I circled around to the back of the building and continued my search—

“Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”

Yoo Sunmin’s voice drifted from nearby.

I spotted Yoo Sunmin and several others gathered near a door at the back of the building.

They opened the door and stepped inside.

I kept my distance and followed behind them.

The interior was dim, and a staircase leading underground came into view.

It was hard to believe such a place existed beneath what appeared to be a tidy building.

As I descended, voices began to reach my ears.

“Damn it, let me out!”

“Euheuk… Please, send me home!”

The anguished cries of people reached my ears.

I could see several people locked behind iron bars.

Yoo Sunmin regarded them and muttered under his breath.

“It seems the brainwashing still hasn’t taken hold.”

His characteristically gentle voice reached my ears.

His expression, however, was entirely different from when he had stood on the podium.

One of the imprisoned people erupted in fury and screamed.

“What did I do wrong to deserve being locked up in here!”

“Your mistake… was being born with too fine a set of Four Pillars of Destiny.”

Yoo Sunmin’s eyes gleamed coldly.

As the man stared back in disbelief, Yoo Sunmin continued quietly.

“The Holy Grace Cult has no need for strong humans born with fortunate Eight Characters.”

“What? Why? If I’m strong, that should help the Holy Grace Cult too!”

“The strong don’t feel desperation. Only the weak can truly become desperate.”

Yoo Sunmin’s voice seemed to reverberate through the air.

“Sleep.”

“Kkeuk…!”

The man seemed to resist for a moment before finally slumping to the ground.

Yoo Sunmin walked on, looking thoroughly annoyed.

“People with good fortunes are a pain. They don’t take to the brainwashing easily.”

The people locked up here appeared to be those who had been dragged in because the brainwashing didn’t work on them.

But if they were kept here, listening to Yoo Sunmin’s voice day after day, they would eventually break.

Having apparently finished his business, Yoo Sunmin headed back toward the stairs and asked the follower:

“How is Yoo Harang’s condition?”

The moment Yoo Harang’s name left his mouth.

I felt my lips go dry.

The follower answered meekly.

“Same as always. She’s in good condition with no issues.”

“That’s good to hear. Bring her meals as usual.”

“Yes, understood.”

With that, the follower departed.

Was this man heading to Yoo Harang now?

The follower re-entered the building and made his way toward the dining hall.

The dining hall—when I had seen it earlier, it had been teeming with people.

Even outside that room, there were plenty of people indoors.

Even if I used ‘Hidden One’ to tail him, there were too many watchful eyes and too few places to hide.

That left me with no choice but to resort to the second method.

I quietly trailed the follower while retrieving an item from my Storage Pouch.

* * *

“Is the food all ready?”

“Yes. Everything is prepared.”

At the follower’s words, the people in the kitchen hastily bowed their heads and answered.

The food had already been arranged on a tray.

With practiced ease, he picked up the tray and left the dining hall.

The follower was venturing deeper and deeper into the building.

Contrary to its outward appearance, the building’s interior was quite complex and expansive.

As he climbed the stairs, the follower frowned at something reflected in a mirror.

“Damn it, where did this rat come from?”

A single white mouse was reflected in the mirror.

The mouse scurried away the instant the follower turned to look.

Rather than chasing after it, the follower simply cursed under his breath.

“I should tell them to set some mouse traps. Tch.”

Grumbling, he continued on his way.

The white mouse that had fled poked its head out and watched the follower go.

‘He’s not chasing after me.’