"There will be a sacrament, so the seven freshman representatives please come up to the platform."
Someone's voice holding a microphone echoed throughout the auditorium.
Seven freshman representatives who had been waiting their turn at the edge climbed up to the platform and lined up in formation.
Though there were only seven of them, each one's presence was so immense that the platform seemed completely filled.
"Now there will be a holy communion sacrament by Archbishop Kim Chang-won, the chairman of Florence Academy. Students are requested to remain quiet."
The voice requested silence from the students. However, it was merely a formality. There was no need to request silence in the first place.
When the sacrament began, the students fell silent as if they had planned it.
Florence Academy. Commonly called Florence.
A school that trains clergy to eliminate the demon races, Satan worshippers, and other heretical followers that plague the world. Among the numerous clerical academies, this place boasts the highest reputation.
As it was a school where only elites selected from across the nation gathered, all students faithfully followed the liturgical practices of the Romanica Church.
Splash.
Soon, a clear sound flowed like a water droplet falling into a quiet lake.
Along with the sound, a pure white light poured out from the archbishop's hands without any impurity. The light soon enveloped the bodies of the seven freshman representatives.
Humility, charity, kindness, patience, purity, temperance, diligence.
Seven freshman representatives selected according to the names of the seven cardinal virtues. The sacrament to bestow blessings upon them had just begun.
Watching them accept the light of blessing with noble faces, most ordinary students like myself thought this:
'How wonderful it would have been if I were among them.'
Students who bear the holy names of the seven cardinal virtues are qualified to become high-ranking clergy. High-ranking clergy wield wealth, honor, and power incomparable to ordinary clergy.
Therefore, all students who entered Florence dream of becoming high-ranking clergy. The reason students cast looks of admiration, longing, and jealousy toward the seven freshman representatives is all for this reason.
And I too want to become a high-ranking cleric.
If only I could become a high-ranking cleric, I would even cut off my right arm and offer it to the Vatican. That's how desperately I desire it.
Someone for honor.
Someone for money.
Someone for power.
Everyone has their own reasons, but my reason for dreaming of becoming a high-ranking cleric was a little different from others.
"How much do you know about the Holy War?"
After the sacrament ended, a lecture suddenly began for the students gathered in the auditorium.
At the instructor's sudden question, the students just stared blankly into space without answering. For several seconds, silence flowed through the auditorium.
The instructor smiled awkwardly at the students' cold reaction.
"The proud students of Florence couldn't possibly not know. The Holy War refers to the war that occurred seven years ago between the Voodoo sect and the Romanica Church."
Snap!
When the instructor snapped her fingers, the beam projector screen changed. Beyond the screen was a chronology that briefly organized the development process of the Holy War.
The instructor moved her laser pointer here and there as she continued her explanation.
"The beginning of the Holy War was a demonstration by Voodoo followers. The rally that started under the pretext of eliminating discrimination against Voodoo followers became heated and eventually turned into violent terrorism. The Vatican sent holy knights to suppress them, but..."
What comes next is obvious.
One holy knight who went to the scene for suppression died. The Voodoo followers continued their terrorism regardless of the holy knight's death. The Vatican had no choice but to summon the papal army and inquisitors to suppress them by force.
Thus the 'Holy War' broke out.
"...Countless casualties occurred due to the Holy War that broke out in this way. It was all because of the Voodoo sect's leader and prophet. They used the power of evil spirits called 'Loa'."
The instructor's voice grew louder.
"The power wielded by the demon called 'Loa' was strong enough to be called a devil's plague. The Voodoo sect's leader and prophet used that power to drive countless people to their deaths. However, our Romanica resisted them to the end."
The instructor's face turned bright red. She sweated profusely as she passionately spoke about the Voodoo sect's wickedness and evil deeds.
I fell asleep around that time. Since it was a story I had heard many times, I judged it was no longer worth listening to. I happened to not get proper sleep yesterday either, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to make up for the lack of sleep.
When I briefly closed my eyes and opened them again.
The instructor who had been diligently lecturing on the platform was now down below the platform. To be precise, she was right in front of me, smiling brightly and looking at me intently.
"Student, what's your name?"
The instructor brought the microphone to my mouth. The gazes of all the students in the auditorium were directed at me. My stomach felt a little queasy.
I somehow cleared my locked throat and barely opened my mouth.
"Do Seon-woo."
"Yes, student Do Seon-woo! You were sleeping so well, could you explain the results of the Holy War?"
The instructor said with a bright smile. Giggling laughter leaked out from among the students.
Ah, if I had known this would happen, I should have just endured it even if I was sleepy. What's a little sleep...
A brief regret passed through my mind.
"After countless sacrifices, Romanica was victorious in the Holy War, and the second-generation Voodoo leader and prophet were executed. Voodoo became an official heretical religion, and since then the Vatican has been searching for the third-generation Voodoo leader who is hiding somewhere. Is that correct?"
Fortunately, I was able to answer the instructor's question.
The instructor showed a surprised expression as if it was unexpected, and brief admiration flowed from among the giggling students.
"Student Do Seon-woo explained it accurately! There was a reason you were sleeping!"
The instructor said this sarcastically and then went back up to the platform.
"The third-generation leader of the Voodoo sect who must be hiding somewhere. He is still making evil plans in the background. Therefore, the Vatican..."
The instructor rambled on with various trivial remarks. Something about the third-generation leader, something about the Vatican.
And not long after, the lecture ended. The students yawned and got up from their seats, flooding out of the auditorium. With the 'Holy War Lecture for Cultivating Proper Historical Consciousness' as the last event, the entrance ceremony was over.
An alley on the way home.
Under the electric pole, torn garbage bags are scattered about, and the walls are covered with red graffiti. Wherever I look, it's a desolate scene that naturally disturbs my mind. I was trudging along, carefully observing this familiar sight. I had to go through this path to get home.
When the blue sky was dyed red like being painted with sunset, I saw a man prostrated under an electric pole full of garbage. There was a can placed in front. It was a disabled old man who always begged in the same spot.
I silently took out a ten thousand won bill from my wallet and put it in the can.
"Th-thank you..."
The disabled old man bowed his head as if his forehead would touch the ground and gave his thanks. I waved my hands dismissively and quickly left the spot.
[You spend money quite freely.]
I could see two well-built men walking toward me from a distance. Both were wearing clothes with yellow cross patterns on a white background. From their attire, they seemed to be holy knights responsible for local security.
The two of them spotted me and hurried their steps to approach me.
"Student, do you often pass through this road?"
The one with a large build and fierce appearance spoke to me.
"Ah, yes."
"Really? Have you ever seen anyone putting up flyers like this?"
The holy knight took out a piece of paper from his chest. A rainbow gradient background with bizarre lettering that was hard to make out.
It seemed to be a Voodoo sect promotional flyer, with phrases like 'Tablet PC gift upon joining Voodoo sect' written on it.
"No, I'm not sure."
"Really? Then have you seen flyers like this before?"
"This is the first time I've seen it today. Is there still Voodoo around these days?"
I put on an innocent expression. The holy knight smiled kindly.
"You could say there isn't any nowadays. But seeing flyers like this circulating, it's hard to say there's absolutely none."
"I see."
I nodded lightly. The holy knight looked at me intently with narrowed eyes.
"Are you a Florence student?"
"Yes. I'm a freshman this year."
"I see. We might meet again later, haha. Work hard."
"Thank you!"
I bowed politely to the holy knight. The holy knight waved at me while still wearing a kind smile.
When the holy knight who had turned his back completely disappeared from view, I took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat that had formed on my temples.
[Perfect acting as always. Blood can't be deceived, I suppose.]
I lightly ignored the voice echoing in my head.
However, the more I ignored it, the louder the voice became.
[How long do you plan to ignore me?]
[By the way, there were many problems with the lecture you heard at the entrance ceremony just now. Romanica's fabrication skills are truly something I'd like to emulate. I have a lot to say about this.]
"..."
I walked on without a word.
Eventually I arrived home. Stairs so deep and dark that just looking at them made my spine tingle, with no visible end. If I go down these stairs, our house appears.
I slowly descended the stairs, cutting through the darkness. At the same time, I rummaged through my bag.
It should be somewhere around here.
[There are four things that aren't true among what the instructor said in the lecture.]
"Ah, I know that too."
Found it. I took out a mask from my bag and dusted it off.
A faded skull mask.
The mask had the distinctive fishy smell of bones.
[First. Loa is not an evil spirit. We are the noble spirits of Voodoo.]
I put on the mask and checked if it was properly fixed to my face.
[Second. Neither the Voodoo leader nor the prophet killed anyone.]
[Third.]
"The Voodoo leader died, but the prophet did not die. The prophet is imprisoned in the Vatican's underground prison."
I spoke his words for him. After that, I took off my school uniform, put it in my bag, and changed into clothes I had prepared in advance.
And I walked down the stairs again. After walking down through the darkness for a while, I could finally see the end of the stairs.
At the end was a door. A strand of light was leaking through the gap.
[And lastly, fourth.]
I opened the door and stepped beyond it.
"Waaaaaah!!"
At the same time, cheers like screams erupted. Those cheers were, of course, all directed at me.
"The leader of the Voodoo sect has just finished his schedule and is proceeding for worship!"
I received the microphone from the priest. I cleared my throat lightly.
[The third-generation Voodoo leader is not plotting any sinister plans, nor is he as bad as people think. Rather, he's a soft-hearted person who gives alms to disabled old men he sees on the street.]
I held the microphone and opened my mouth.
"Fellow believers, have you been well? This is your leader."
"Waaaaaah!!!"
Cheers erupted again. They were enormous cheers that could shake the earth's axis.
[However, he's also a madman who does the audacious thing of being the Voodoo leader while entering Florence.]
Eventually the voice in my head stopped.
The owner of this voice is 'Loa'. Sometimes called a god, a spirit of Voodoo with power rivaling that of gods.
My father was the second-generation leader of Voodoo, and my mother was the prophet who commanded Loa.
However, my father has passed away, and my mother is now imprisoned in an underground prison.
"Today's Voodoo worship service will now begin."
I am the third-generation leader of Voodoo and simultaneously the prophet of Loa.
I am the leader of those called heretics in this world.