Today, the cult leader's face was again filled with annoyance. She always failed to hide her irritation when things didn't go her way.

  The cult leader's hysterics were already well-known among the followers. Not all cult leaders are benevolent, but her case was severely problematic.

  If even the slightest thing displeased her, she would truly torment people to the point of death. No, she even killed them sometimes.

  Consequently, countless people shed tears. She was a tyrant among tyrants.

  How many things were meaninglessly consumed just to satisfy her mood? It was natural for those who checked the ledgers to sigh every time.

  Yet, the cult leader was a great leader.

  She skillfully wielded an unknown power and never forgave those who dared to defy her through that power.

  Fear.

  Through it, the cult leader led her cult perfectly.

  The cult leader's ability to perform miracles that humans could not handle compelled people to follow her.

  When she brought back a person whose heart had stopped using her power, everyone, without exception, bowed their heads to the cult leader.

  Her followers blindly followed the cult leader amidst miracles and fear. It was because they knew that was the only path to survival.

  Fear etched into their skin and soul always taught the followers.

  That approaching the cult leader recklessly when she wore that expression could truly lead to death.

  Some even went mad after witnessing her casually incinerate the corpses of followers she had killed.

  Naturally, some were shocked and reported it. However, no one knew the fate of the one who reported it afterward.

  Furthermore, the police had no way to intervene due to a lack of evidence. It was an absurd death to begin with. Without evidence, who could do what?

  In the end, all that remained was a single lesson.

  Betrayal is death.

  A defector faced the most terrifying end imaginable in the world. A destiny that no one dared to resist made people weak.

  Thus, the internal atmosphere was always heavy.

  Today, the cult leader seemed even more displeased than usual, so people were doubly cautious.

  Because at any moment, they could be killed just for being visible if she picked a fight unnecessarily.

  They knew that their timid appearance only fueled the cult leader's anger further, but they didn't know how much they would suffer the moment they drew attention.

  Thanks to this, the temple was quiet.

  No one even dared to breathe audibly. They merely watched the cult leader's mood.

  How much time passed? In the suffocating tension, the weak no longer had the strength to endure.

  It was then that a man carrying the news the cult leader desired provided salvation.

  Fortunately, the news he brought was enough to satisfy the cult leader.

  "We are bringing the woman you spoke of."

  That single sentence changed the cult leader's expression.

  However, her face was not filled with healthy joy, but with the cruel malice that was about to begin.

  Nevertheless, most of the followers were relieved to see the cult leader's expression change. They were saved, after all.

  Of course, those followers who retained some humanity pitied the fate of the woman being brought in.

  When the cult leader wore an expression like this, they always had to clean up ashes of an unknown nature. That tragedy would likely repeat this time.

  But if they didn't want to die, silence was the answer. The followers merely kept silent. The temple became quiet once again.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Kuk!"

  A sudden scream. It shattered the silence of the temple. The owner of the voice was none other than the cult leader.

  She slumped down, tormented by pain. Uncontrolled power spread around her, indicating that the cult leader's condition was not good.

  Recently, the cult leader often complained of pain. But no one knew what the symptoms were.

  No, the fear that they might die if they approached recklessly prevented the followers from getting near.

  The fact that a few unlucky individuals, who approached to show their loyalty, had become people who never returned was still fresh in everyone's memory.

  "It's alright. Someone support me."

  The cult leader caught her breath for a while and then called for someone. Only then did the followers rush to support the cult leader and take her to her room.

  "Phew... Everyone leave. And when she arrives, bring her to me."

  The cult leader said that and dismissed the people. She knew better than anyone that the time remaining for her was short.

  "Damn it. Just a little, just a little more... For that child..."

  A monologue no one could hear.

  The cult leader muttered with eyes full of madness. Unknown power kept flowing from the cult leader's hands as she mumbled words directed at an unknown person.

  On the way home.

  Mina hated the dark. Her fear had only grown since the last attempted kidnapping incident.

  She didn't even want to imagine being dragged away by people she didn't know. Mina had even experienced it directly.

  Fortunately, she was lucky and was helped by a passerby. Mina knew that the person didn't help her out of any particular affection.

  Still, she couldn't help her heart pounding when he protected her like a prince in a romance novel.

  However, he had said.

  That the best thing was for her not to have to call him. That was drawing a line. He likely saw her only as a victim of an attempted kidnapping, not as a woman.

  That was quite sad on one hand. But conversely, it made her feel more favorable towards him, as it showed he had no intention of doing anything bad to her.

  "Haa..."

  A sigh escaped her unintentionally. It felt a little melancholic that she couldn't even fully understand her own emotions.

  "I need to get home before it gets darker."

  At a time like this, the answer was to go home quickly and change her mood by doing something else.

  She didn't have any close friends anyway.

  There was nothing for her to do if she stayed at school. Although she was late today because she had to copy materials at the library for an assignment.

  Now, she just needed to go in, eat dinner, and rest a bit. Thinking that, Mina quickened her steps. Soon she would reach the slightly secluded alley leading home.

  With lighting installed and CCTVs present, it was no longer a high-crime area, unlike its past reputation. Still, she couldn't shake the unease.

  That couldn't be helped. A secluded place naturally evokes fear in people.

  With a slight sense of dread, Mina hurried home. It wouldn't take too long. Her rushed steps looked slightly urgent, but that was typical.

  "Excuse me, student. Can I ask you for directions?"

  The moment she stepped into the alley, a man she had never seen before spoke to her. He seemed like an ordinary person, but Mina was immediately seized by fear.

  "Yes?"

  Mina asked back and quickly pulled out her phone. It was a natural reaction, given her memory of almost being kidnapped.

  "Ah, I just need to ask for directions."

  The man said that and suddenly approached Mina. Flustered, she tried to call Jihyeon by pressing the call button.

  However, the situation ended when another person, who appeared from behind, snatched the phone from her hand.

  The person who took Mina's phone from behind immediately broke it. It seemed to be to prevent tracking. But they didn't know that the call had already gone through.

  What brought Jihyeon back to reality, where he had been lost in thought alone in his room, was none other than the phone ringing.

  Jihyeon had been contemplating how to deal with the cult leader and was browsing the internet.

  The call that came in while he was deeply searching annoyed Jihyeon. Anyone would feel that way when interrupted while concentrating.

  But the moment he saw that the number belonged to Mina, Jihyeon's expression changed.

  "Don't tell me they moved?"

  Jihyeon was startled and focused his mind. And a moment later, Jihyeon rushed out.

  "Oppa, where are you going?"

  Jisoo, who had just returned home, looked surprised and asked when she saw her brother rushing out.

  "Remember the student who almost got kidnapped last time? She's been kidnapped!"

  Jihyeon only said that and ran immediately. Jisoo looked stunned. What kind of nonsense was that?

  But her brother no longer had the immature demeanor of the past. Having matured at some point, he wouldn't do anything unnecessary.

  Therefore, Jisoo merely stared blankly at her brother's retreating figure.

  "Ah, he left without making dinner?"

  Of course, her anger about him not doing his chore was separate. Jisoo simply sighed, determined to make him pay the price when he returned.

  Jihyeon thought as he ran. He tried to coldly assess his chances of winning.

  But, to be frank, Jihyeon was far from achieving victory right now.

  Jihyeon knew best that it was almost impossible to achieve victory with the ability he possessed.

  Because his opponent was a cult consumed by madness. Even a one-on-one fight would be problematic, but this was a multi-person fight.

  Moreover, confronting the cult leader was impossible for him right now. With what tool would he fight her?

  However, he couldn't give up.

  Because if he didn't go now, Jihyeon would definitely regret it. There was no longer any choice. So, he ran. That was all there was to it.

  Fortunately, even though Mina's phone was broken, tracking her was not difficult.

  The kidnappers would definitely have the tool to neutralize CCTVs. But conversely, they wouldn't know the implications of hiding only themselves.

  Therefore, Jihyeon was able to find their location surprisingly quickly. He assumed their destination was obvious, and indeed, the kidnappers were heading to the cult's temple.

  In that case, it was rather simple.

  Jihyeon called the police and also contacted reporters. Things that were difficult to achieve with only the police would be different if reporters were involved.

  The excuse didn't matter. He focused only on fabricating a suitable story to ensure they came somehow.

  Meanwhile, the taxi he was in arrived at the cult's temple without delay. The driver, having good sense, dropped him off in a spot that the cult people wouldn't notice.

  But upon arrival, he was still stumped.

  "What do I do now..."

  Jihyeon was momentarily blank after getting out, unsure of how to proceed. Fortunately, the police arrived shortly after he did.

  And the reporters arrived almost simultaneously. Watching the scene, an idea for how to get inside came to Jihyeon.

  "I have to use whatever tool I can."

  Jihyeon thought that and began hacking. Simultaneously, a siren began to blare inside the cult's temple.