You Will Be Blessed If You Do Good Deeds¿

The body shrank, and my intelligence seemed to have been nerfed. Could it be that I've really become at the level of a cat?

And not only that, Leo was purring contentedly in Choi Mi-yeon's arms, so much that his neck was making a rumbling noise.

Well, I did tell him to explore the building on his own since there wasn't much to do for the time being… but I never expected to find him comfortably nestled in the arms of a cult follower.

Seeing my somewhat uncomfortable expression, Choi Mi-yeon seemed to have misunderstood and spoke again.

"Ah, did you feel bad because I knew in advance? Sorry. But these days, I don't think there’s anyone in Korea who doesn't know about Sister Da-on, right? Jung Da-on's videos have been the top trending videos for the entire month."

"...Ah, I see. But, that... cat..."

"Meow!"

Leo, who had been purring without noticing that his owner had arrived, lifted his head.

When Leo locked eyes with me, his eyes went wide.

It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!
Misunderstanding my foot. Should I just try switching bodies with him and see if he’ll regain his senses?

Getting found in someone else’s arms, that’s a no-go even as a mascot.

Meanwhile, Choi Mi-yeon, seemingly afraid someone might snatch Leo away, hugged him tighter.

"Ah, do you not like cats? Sorry. I found him in the garden of the building, and since my appointment time was almost up, I just brought him along."

"Ah, cats... I’m not particularly fond of them."

"Meow..."

It’s not my fault!
"Oh dear, little kitty, just stay still for a moment. I'll let you out soon."

"Haha, please understand. Actually, Sister Choi Mi-yeon is an awakened hunter too, and she has the Animal Affinity skill."

One of the executives who hadn't left yet interrupted the conversation.

I finally understood.

Animal Affinity skill, huh.

"Sometimes, unique skills manifest separately when hunters awaken."

Hunters are generally categorized into knights and wizards, but there are cases where unique skills, often called supernatural abilities, also manifest when they awaken. It’s like a special ability they’re born with.

Now, you'd think it would be advantageous to have a unique skill, but it’s not as simple as that.

"Animal Affinity... that's a somewhat useless ability."

What good would becoming friends with animals do in a dungeon, when you’re dealing with monsters?

Unless, of course, you treat monsters as animals and tame them. But if your affinity is strong enough to empathize with monsters, it might actually hinder you from taking them down, right?

Even in the system, they’re treated as 'enemies,' and even I sometimes get headaches understanding their speech.

"Since you're both hunters, I bet you'll get along well!"

What does it even mean that Animal Affinity hunters will get along well with each other?

While I was caught off guard, Choi Mi-yeon spoke with an awkward expression.

"Oh, come on. I just awakened, I can’t even compare to an S-rank hunter. I’m just here today because it's my day off."

"Don’t say that, Sister Mi-yeon. And you’re about the same age as her, so I’m sure you’ll get along well."

After the executive, who had been busy preparing for the event, disappeared, Choi Mi-yeon looked back at me.

"So, before we go to the doctrine class... have you eaten yet?"

"...No."

Now that I think about it, I was hungry.

I had skipped breakfast since Han Jae-young picked me up early in the morning, and we had a meeting with the executives.

"Then shall we go eat lunch first?"

It seemed like her method of evangelism was to build rapport first. Quite effective, it seemed.

But I was really hungry, so I nodded.

"By the way, Sister Da-on’s videos have been going viral on YouTube lately."

"Ah, yes. I guess you watch a lot of videos."

"Thanks to that, the idol group I like is coming back, but the buzz has been completely stolen, and the engagement has dropped."

"...Should I apologize for that?"

"Haha, I’ll just think of it as bad luck. Well, the first week of a comeback is important for initial charting, so it’s no big deal. But still, it would have been nice if their music video had made it onto the charts..."

I didn’t understand what she was saying at all, but it sounded like she had a lot to enjoy in life.

It turns out Choi Mi-yeon was 24 years old, 5 years older than me. It was the age when idol fandoms made sense.

Following Choi Mi-yeon’s guidance, we entered the building’s restaurant, and I felt the eyes of others on us.

By the way, she was still holding Leo in her arms inside the restaurant.

"Is it okay to bring an animal in?"

"Oh, it’s fine. Everyone knows I have Animal Affinity. And they all love animals here."

"Meow..."

Actually, Leo, who had tried to escape upon noticing my gaze but failed, let out a weak meow from Choi Mi-yeon’s lap.

Well, it’s his own fault for getting caught by a hunter with such a skill. He got what he deserved.

Anyway, the food was delicious.

Even though the stares I received while eating were still intense, well, that was to be expected.

‘There really are a lot of people here.’

Wasn’t there over a thousand people just in this branch alone?

With the New Year event coming up, it might be busier, but even though lunchtime had passed, the restaurant was still packed.

Judging by the way people were staring at me, it seemed that the rumor about Jung Da-on had already spread throughout the cult.

At this point, the internal informants must have caught wind of it.

"So, is the crowd because of the event?"@@novelbin@@

"Oh, you know well. Did one of the executives tell you? Yes, that's right. On January 1st, we’ll all do the countdown together. The leader of our cult will be coming too, so that’s why more people are gathering."

"...The, the leader?"

"Ah, yes. That’s right. They’re unfairly imprisoned..."

Unfairly, my foot.

She could pass for an ordinary 20-year-old idol fan, but it was obvious she was part of a cult in a place like this.

"January 1st is the biggest event of the True Light Church. If he applies for a temporary furlough while imprisoned, it’ll be possible for him to attend."

Is that supposed to be a prison? What a mess.

But since it's an actual system, I couldn't really comment. I wasn’t sure how someone like Im Man-bok ended up being the target, but maybe they have some connections with the authorities.

"Now that I’m full, should we take a walk?"

"Is there a place nearby to walk?"

I asked, even though I knew the answer. Choi Mi-yeon smiled brightly and answered.

"Yes, there’s a small garden inside the building. I’ll show it to you."

Thanks to that, I was finally able to step outside and see the garden.

There were quite a few people gathered there. Some were gathered in front of the statue of the leader, praying.

When I saw the statue in Leo’s line of sight, it looked even more grotesque in person.

While I was staring at the statue, Choi Mi-yeon spoke softly.

"Sister Da-on, honestly, you don’t care about the True Light Church, do you?"

I froze for a moment but immediately denied it.

"No, what makes you think that?"

"Oh, come on. You can tell me honestly. You’re only taking the doctrine class because you're interested, right? At this point, that’s enough."

I had no intention of joining the cult, but I couldn’t just say that.

So, I kept quiet and decided to listen to her quietly.

"I’ve been a member of the True Light Church since birth. My mom was a devout believer, and my dad was just an office worker who worked for a guild, but they met here. He joined the church after marrying my mom, so we joke about calling ourselves the 'Holy Blood.'"

Choi Mi-yeon seemed genuinely proud of that fact.

Being born into a cult, it sounded like a nightmare for anyone else to hear.

"Then, after completing your mandatory service, you came directly to the True Light Guild?"

Since Choi Mi-yeon was 24 now, that timing made sense if she started her mandatory service right after awakening.

She didn’t seem particularly strong on the outside, but with Animal Affinity, she might have learned summoning magic.

Choi Mi-yeon smiled and answered.

"Ah, no. I was discharged halfway through my service."

"Eh? How?"

"Haha, have you heard of the term 'water balloon'?"

There are sometimes cases like this.

After awakening, when a person reaches a certain level of their ability stats, they experience extreme pain.

Even after medical exams, there’s no clear diagnosis, just a general complaint from the patient.

In this case, if you don’t use your abilities, you don’t experience pain, but the moment you do, the pain becomes unbearable.

The body can’t handle the power of the soul inside.

"I heard there were hunters who used to inject morphine while using their abilities, but the result was..."

I nodded.

It’s not just a term for fun.

Literally, if you poke it with a needle, it bursts.

"...That must have been tough."

"At first, it was. My potential stats... were at least A rank, even if I wasn’t as strong as Da-on. I was expected to go far. I was, too."

Well, that would make sense. If you get an A-rank rating in the Ability Test, you’d be a promising talent.

It’s tragic, though, how someone with that potential ends up like this, stuck in rehab. The sense of loss and deprivation must be intense.

"Of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t go through a period of confusion... But now it’s fine. If I wasn’t a believer, it would have been harder."

Saying that, Choi Mi-yeon gently stroked Leo's back.

It seemed that even people bringing a cat into the restaurant was overlooked because of sympathy for Choi Mi-yeon.

Natural abilities like Animal Affinity are innately activated without needing to use them, so it must be one of the few powers she can still use right now.

She must have a pretty high affinity considering she managed to coax Leo like that.

"Did you get through the crisis with a religious mindset?"

"Huh? Haha, I’m no saint. But, you know, a hunter with a water balloon... it’s hard to find a way to live, but the True Light Guild took me in when no one else would."

"Ah, so you’re a member of the guild now?"

"Yes. I can’t participate in actual combat, but I’m in training while looking for ways to recover. The True Light Guild actively accepts people like me."

"Why actively...?"

When I asked in confusion, Choi Mi-yeon laughed.

"Jung Da-on, you’re really direct."

"...Sorry if I upset you."

But it was a valid question.

Guilds are primarily organizations for dungeon raids.

If they’re recruiting cult members, I’d understand, but actively taking in people who can’t even participate in combat? What are they planning to do with them?

"Well, for now, they might not be useful. But it aligns with our doctrine. Everyone has a purpose. If someone can’t use their power after awakening, it’s because their soul’s energy is too strong for their body to handle. But once the gods respond, even a body like this will surely be able to fulfill its purpose."

"...Is that the True Light Guild's policy?"

"Yes, exactly. It’s the era of myth reborn. They say, if a person can be born human and become a legend... if someone like me, a flawed product, can become that, wouldn’t it be the most fulfilling and beautiful life as a human?"

Her eyes were sparkling.

Her lips spoke of hope.

But considering where I was, all of that felt absurd.

"Isn’t it a place filled with good people?"

"...Ah, yes."

But even if I pointed that out, I couldn’t just turn this cult member back into reality.

I decided to let it slide.

Then, it happened.

Just as I was about to head back inside after finishing the walk, someone called out to us.

"Hey, Mi-yeon!"

Choi Mi-yeon smiled at the familiar voice and responded.

"Dad!"

...If there is really a God, this scene would surely make one question their intentions.

The man who had been beaten mercilessly by the executive appeared, waving his hand as he ran toward Choi Mi-yeon.