Shadow Dragon: The Fallen Angel Is My Teacher

Yuna stared at me.

Her stunned face made me laugh a little.

"Why are you so surprised?" I asked.

"These System Church people… what are they even trying to do? They can't bring the System here. And why would a God even support something like this?"

"It's not an official church. They don't have a God," I said.

"Ah. So it's a cult," Yuna replied. "Still, what's their plan? Even if they believe the System should be for everyone, they can't bring it out of Wageah. Only people who have lived there or entered Wageah can access it."

"They can give System access to others," I said.

"What? How? Oh wait—are they using that method?" Yuna muttered. "The only other way is if a God of Wageah or their Angel gives access. But you said they have no God, so an Angel? Why would an Angel act here on Earth—"

"It's not like that. They don't have an Angel or a God," I said and waved my hand.

"Then how are they giving System access?" Yuna asked.

"You'll see when you meet them," I said and yawned.

"Lord of Shadows! Don't leave me hanging after making me curious!" Yuna complained.

I chuckled and stood up.

I walked to the door.

"At least tell me why they kidnapped Carlotta's brother," she said.

"To give him access to the System," I said.

"What? That makes no sense!" she shouted.

Her reaction made me chuckle again.

Then I said to empty air, "I want to leave."

I inserted the key into the door.

When I opened it, I didn't step into the corridor.

I stepped onto the riverside where I had drowned and been dragged into Bermuda Triangle's domain earlier.

The door closed behind me.

Notifications appeared in front of my eyes.

[You have entered and returned safely from the domain of the Rank 5 Cursed Spirit, Bermuda Triangle.]

[Your World has granted you rewards.]

[Reward: +1 Soul Shard.]

[You have resisted a powerful mind corruption. +Spirit 10]

"One Soul Shard for entering its domain," I muttered.

Normally, entering a Rank 5 Cursed Spirit's domain should give ten million Soul Shards.

Exorcising one would give one billion.

But I got only one.

There were millions of people inside Bermuda Triangle's domain.

The reward was divided among all of them.

My portion was less than one Soul Shard.

But since the World rounds off the numbers, I got one Soul Shard instead of 0.3 or 0.6.

"Let's go home," I said to Yuna, still yawning.

"Why are we returning so quickly?" she asked.

"Mom is starting to get suspicious. I'm sleeping during the day because I'm training all night. I bet she's going to sneak into my room soon to check what I'm doing."

I put Dante back into my Inventory Rune.

Then I headed home.

…

Exorcist Union.

A meeting was underway.

The atmosphere was tense as elders sat around the long table.

"An Exorcist Team has reported big news. The Silent Lantern Squad encountered the Rune Sage inside the Bermuda Triangle's domain."

"They said the Rune Sage told them to inform us about him."

"He is taunting us."

"So who is going to meet him?"

"We should send our strongest Exorcist. If he refuses to come, we bring him by force."

"Are you insane? Why would we send a Rank 5 Exorcist into the domain of a Rank 5 Cursed Spirit? Will you take responsibility if something happens to them?"

"This smells like a trap. We should send someone of lower rank instead."

"Bah. So it's fine if we lose a lower-ranked Exorcist? Stop acting like one life is worth less than another."

"You know that's not what I meant. We can't afford to lose a Rank 5 Exorcist. It's not about valuing their life more. It's basic truth."

"How many should we send then?"

"What if the Rune Sage has prepared a trap? He stole a God. We can't—"

"I will go!"

A booming voice shook the meeting room as a figure appeared in the sky above them.

Everyone looked up.

It was an eldritch horror with the body of the Alps mountain range, twisted into the form of a massive beetle with the head of a stag.

Its body shifted with contradictory features that defied sense.

It was the God Thalwen, the strongest God under House Daelthorn.

As soon as he appeared, projections of more Gods formed in the air around him.

They began to speak.

"Hah! Look at this old boomer acting arrogant after getting insulted by a brat."

"We should send a powerful Exorcist to capture the Rune Sage."

"I do not like Thalwen. But I agree. We should use our full power before this dangerous person grows stronger."

With the Gods joining, the meeting became even more chaotic.

Normally, Gods did not join Exorcist Union meetings.

But today's matter demanded their presence.

Still, only the peaceful Gods who could give useful advice were allowed to attend.

Aggressive ones were barred.

Thalwen should not have been present because of his temper.

But after being directly insulted by the Rune Sage, he had gone berserk.

So they allowed him in to soothe his ego before he caused more trouble.

The meeting room's doors burst open.

A middle-aged Exorcist rushed in.

He froze the moment he saw the Gods floating above.

Even though they were only projections, the sight overwhelmed him.

His body trembled.

Foam spilled from his mouth as his knees shook.

He couldn't move.

"Tsk. Younglings these days can't even handle a small mental shock. Back in our day, we used to fight Gods with bare fists," a Rank 5 Exorcist from the Asgardian Clan muttered.

"Haha, give him some slack. Seeing so many Gods at once would shock anyone," another said, from the Great Circle Clan.

He lifted his weapon, a long wooden stick with bands of colorful paper tied to its end.

A spell shot out and wrapped around the shaking Exorcist.

Slowly, the man's body calmed down and he caught his breath again.

"Don't look up. If you see the Gods again, you'll go into shock," the healer warned.

"Tsk. Why is someone who doesn't know basic things allowed in this area?" a Rank 5 Exorcist from the Pharaoh Clan muttered.

"Speak. Why have you come here?" another Rank 5 Exorcist said.

This one was from the Celestial Court.

"S-Sires," the middle-aged Exorcist stammered. "A letter from four of the Prime Five has arrived. It's… related to the Rune Sage."