How a Former Pastor Lives in Another World

6

Indoctrination

“The indoctrination test?”

One of the remaining people in the examination hall asked.

It wasn’t because they didn’t understand the meaning.

“It’s exactly as it says. You will indoctrinate the prisoners. They are all heinous criminals.”

Why would that be an entrance test?

Curiosity prompted someone to raise their hand.

“Are there any death row inmates?”

“They are all heretics.”

The examiner’s indifferent response stirred the applicants.

Being labeled a heretic essentially means being condemned to death.

To think that the armed institution’s initiation test involves the reformation of a death row inmate?

“Under the watchful eyes of the examiners, attempt to reform the prisoner. Line them up from number 1 to 10.”

The test began immediately.

“Brother Ben of the Roden Monastery. The prisoner before you is called Gallahan.”

“What has he done to be deemed a heretic?”

“He tried to kill a child and offer the body to the devil, all to cure his wife’s illness.”

“Sigh…”

Brother Ben of the Roden Monastery was appalled by the prisoner’s heinous crime, yet he felt pity for his story.

Hoping for the salvation of the prisoner’s soul, Ben recited counseling and prayers for him.

It’s quite common for clergy to take on the reformation of criminals.

From the moment one is ordained, it’s almost an obligation.

Ben, who had studied for his ordination, conducted the reformation counseling quite admirably.

“Thank you. I’m not sure if my sins will be washed away, but I will pray to Soltera nonetheless.”

“You’ve made a wise decision, Brother Ben.”

With a kind smile of a compassionate priest, Ben patted the repentant prisoner’s shoulder and left the room.

“Brother Ben.”

“Ah, Examiner. You were watching, as expected.”

Ben had heard that the examiners were observing through a one-way mirror in the room with the prisoner.

Confident that he had performed his role well, Ben awaited the examiner’s response.

“You’ve failed. You may leave.”

“What?”

The examiner indifferently called for the next candidate.

***

Most religions speak of love and reformation.

It’s necessary to do so, even before considering the inherent goodness or philosophy of the religion itself.

Indiscriminately executing sinners and imposing harsh punishments doesn’t really help the social system.

Think about it.

You send workers to do a job, and one turns around and beats up another worker.

Now you’re left with one worker. If you impose a severe sentence on this remaining worker, you lose the labor of two.

Such a loss is unheard of.

Then, I must make good use of the remaining one.

The concept of reformation spoken of in correctional theory is, in fact, more practical than one might think.

“Next. Brother Ray Anderson, the subdeacon from Ovello Village.”

Ray was led to the room where the prisoner was held.

The first thing he checked for was the presence of the examiners.

There was no one else in the room except for the prisoner, but Ray, with his spiritual eyes open, saw the ‘karma’ beyond.

All four were those who had accumulated good deeds.

The place beyond what seemed like a wall was where the examiners were.

‘Is there a magic mirror? Mixing fantasy with the medieval era sure brings about all sorts of things.’

Ray’s spiritual vision wasn’t strong enough to see through walls. However, he could see through illusionary spaces like a magic mirror.

The examiners, true to their clergy status, mostly had an aura of good deeds in sky blue or blue.

The prisoner, on the other hand, was different.

‘Red.’

A villain of extreme wickedness.

“What’s your name?”

“What’s it to you, you b*stard.”

The villain, as red as his accumulated evil deeds, was far from cooperative.

“I heard you not only raped and murdered women but also killed their families, including a nun. Is that correct?”

“Heh, those women were quite substantial and tasty. I even wanted to keep a few of them.”

“I see. Have you been tried?”

As Ray mentioned the trial, the prisoner scowled and cursed.

“That judge b*stard, he passed the sentence without even listening to me! What did I do wrong? Those women seduced me!”

“Hmm, I see. Did you file an appeal?”

“Appeal? What’s that?”

“Oh dear. Didn’t you know? As a free citizen, you can file an appeal at least once against the verdict. It means you get a retrial.”

“There was such a thing?!”

Ray poured a glass of water and handed it to the prisoner. Thirsty, the prisoner gulped down the water.

“By the way, did you drink alcohol at the time of the crime?”

“Isn’t that obvious? A man should always be drunk.”

“I see, I see. So, you could claim you weren’t in your right mind due to being drunk.”

“Who would’ve thought! You, more talented as a lawyer than a priest?”

“Ha-ha, if that were the case, I would have accumulated not merit but sin.”

“Sin?”

In the next moment, Ray had seized the prisoner’s face.

Before a sound of confusion could fully form, there was a snap, the sound of something breaking.

He had twisted the face back, breaking it.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

Urgent footsteps approached, then bang! The door flew open.

It was the supervisor.

“Ah, Supervisor.”

The supervisor checked the prisoner’s condition. His neck was broken; he was dead.

“What have you done!”

“Well… I merely gave a villain what he deserved.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A vile sinner. An irredeemable evil-doer. Soltera does not wish for the reformation of such individuals. Only the realization of justice.”

“Huff… Come with me.”

The supervisor took Ray beyond the room to where the other supervisors were waiting.

Three middle-aged men and an elderly man awaited Ray.

“Come in, Brother Ray. The elder is Dunwell, the Archbishop in charge of Eclipse.”

The head of the heresy inquisition. A bigger fish than expected.

“An honor to meet you, Your Grace.”

A high-ranking clergyman, above deacons, priests, and bishops.

A giant among giants, overseeing an entire diocese or district.

“So, why did you kill the prisoner?”

“Because the prisoner was a heretic.”

“You were informed beforehand. We told you to reform them.”

“I simply followed my faith and the truth of Soltera.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Archbishop Dunwell sent a sharp glance his way.

But even in his past life, Pastor Kim had battled with evil spirits.

Ray Anderson, inheriting that experience, did not waver even before the Archbishop.

“Follow only justice. Be resolute against injustice and do not hesitate to bring down the hammer. Soltera has said not to compromise with injustice.”

And so, he killed.

Of course, the decision was based on the prisoner having accumulated ‘red’ sins.

While ordinary murderers stop at crimson, red signifies those who are extremely wicked among humans.

According to correctionalism, even such individuals are subjects for reformation.

Pastor Kim from his previous life also participated in the reformation rites for such vile death row inmates.

Death row inmates, knowing they would rot in prison for life, often turn to religion.

The diocese tried to lead such inmates onto the path of faith.

According to religious doctrine, repentance could save the soul.

“Crocodile tears.”

They were criminals sentenced to death.

Does reformation really happen?

I won’t say that people can’t change.

But what’s the point of reforming already vile sinners?

The victims have already shed their tears.

This is why there are insane people who say that killing an entire family is fine as long as you repent.

“But Brother Ray. Perhaps you have forsaken a soul that could have been saved.”

“A soul…”

Of course, Ray had torn the prisoner’s soul to shreds.

Absorbing the evil deeds and assimilating the memories, Ray’s conclusion was steeped in even greater conviction.

“Is the salvation of their souls really that important?”

At Ray’s words, the priests who had stepped in as examiners murmured among themselves.

The salvation of the soul is the truth of the Bible. How could this young subdeacon dare to challenge it?

“Evil is just evil. If saving their souls means abandoning doctrine, then my choice is clear.”

He would simply execute evil.

That was Ray’s declaration, leaving no room for other choices, causing the examiners to murmur.

A brief hesitation. The examiners exchanged opinions.

Soon, the verdict was delivered.

The entrance examination for the Papal Armed Forces isn’t really about reforming prisoners.

Armed pilgrims often have to fight all sorts of heretics and villains.

In such moments, if one hopes for sympathy and reform for the wicked, how can they survive?

The purpose of the reform test was to filter out those who were too exemplary for the path of priesthood.

But today.

The results of Ray Anderson’s test at the third examination site caused quite a controversy.

“His hand is too heavy. No matter the heresy, such resolute quickness.”

The clergy of the Solar Order fulfill their priestly duties in a good sense.

Receiving the grace of the Sun God and thus power is the proof of priesthood.

Naturally, it means they are faithful and good people.

To them, Ray’s merciless killing and the arguments defending it were quite shocking.

“Evil is just evil…”

“Archbishop Dunwell?”

The examiners paid attention to the old man’s words.

They did not realize that Archbishop Dunwell’s lips were faintly smiling.

“Brother Ray Anderson precisely aligns with the purpose of our test. He simply lacks compromise.”

“But…”

“Rather, that’s why Brother Anderson fits not a regular parish but the Armed Forces.”

What the Eclipse Agency needs now is a decisive judge like Ray Anderson.

Archbishop Dunwell smiled contentedly, reminiscing over Ray’s words.

“Evil is just evil.”

Isn’t that a clear standard?

A talent that inquisitors would favor.

***

“Ha, I passed! Brother Ray!”

“Well done.”

At the inn of the Solaryon Theocracy. Henry, who received the first-round pass notification from the Papacy, was overjoyed.

It had been a week since the day of the exam.

“When you passed so quickly, I thought I had failed, but the contact was just delayed!”

“You seemed quite anxious, what did you do to feel that way?”

Henry had been fretting about being eliminated all this time.

As I comforted Henry by my side, we naturally became close.

“Um… I beat up a prisoner who was supposed to be reformed.”

“Hm?”

“No, he wasn’t just any trash. He was boasting about the heinous crimes he committed as if he was proud of them…!”

“Well done.”

“What?”

Henry tilted his head in confusion.

“The test and its content were completely contradictory, weren’t they?”

“Solving the problem is important, but what’s more important is the intention of the person who set it.”

“The intention of the person who set it?”

Ray suddenly discussed the overarching premise of this exam.

“We’re trying to join an armed institution. We’ll likely be assigned to the Order of Knights, the Inquisition, and such.”

“Right.”

“Does it make sense to reform heretics in such places? They’d kill on sight or hang them at the stake.”

“Ah…!”

Ray had guessed the purpose of this reformation test.

The armed institution we were trying to join was similar to the medieval Catholic Inquisition.

The inquisitors were known for their resolute faith and cruel hands.

A recruitment test for such an institution, and they ask to reform a prisoner?

It must have been a test to see how resolute we could be in punishing people.

So, I did what the higher-ups would like.

You’re a heretic? Then die!

Isn’t that the basic principle of an inquisition?

“Beating someone up actually gave you extra points! Did you beat up a prisoner too, Ray?”

“……Similar.”

I killed him right there.

It was partly to collect his bad karma, but also a kind of self-promotion.

Considering the prisoner’s memories, he was no ordinary scum, so those who would mourn his death were not the soft-hearted ones.

“But Ray, have you heard about the second test? I heard it’s scheduled for this evening?”

“Well, from what I’ve overheard, there’s a rumor that it’s a ‘test of faith’.”

“A test of faith?”

It’s a test whose nature can’t be discerned just from the name.

Faith is subjective, and one cannot truly know another’s inner beliefs without drawing them out.

“Even for an armed institution, the power of the clergy ultimately stems from faith, so it makes sense.”

‘I’m getting nervous.’

Ray may have obtained his powers, but his own faith is rather weak.

After all, he only took the path of the clergy to avoid being tormented by ghosts, so his motives are no purer than Father Anderson’s or Pastor Kim’s.

And so, another week passed.

On the day of the test, the prepared venue turned out to be a cathedral deep in the mountains within the religious state.

A place for the clergy of the state to hold prayer meetings.

It seemed to be a location cut off from the visits of the faithful, boasting rugged mountain terrain reserved solely for the prayers of the clergy.

“Phew…! The mountains are quite treacherous.”

“Henry, didn’t you receive the ‘Blessing of the Sun’?”

Ray looked puzzled at Henry, who was struggling with the unexpected hike.

It was naturally understood during their introductions that they both had received the ‘Blessing of the Sun.’

If one has the ‘Blessing of the Sun,’ such a hiking trail shouldn’t be so difficult.

“What are you talking about, brother? The sun hasn’t even risen; how could we receive its blessing?”

“Ah…”

Of course.

Ray realized that under this night sky, he was the only one receiving the ‘Blessing of the Sun.’

He believed that even moonlight was sunlight.

“Ray, you really have great stamina.”

“I’m used to climbing mountains.”

Ray couldn’t reveal that he alone received blessings even from the moonlight, so he casually deflected.

Then he noticed someone among those climbing the mountain who seemed particularly at ease.

“That brother over there seems quite relaxed too?”

It was a young man with striking golden hair.

While Ray had a face that would be considered handsome in the countryside, this young man climbing the rugged terrain without a drop of sweat looked every bit the ‘noble’ at first glance.

“Aron, the brother! The son of that infamous Cardinal!”

“Ah~ the silver-spoon brother, you mean.”

“Silver-spoon?”

As Henry looked puzzled by the Earth term, Ray casually explained.

“It’s a thing.”

“Anyway, he’s the son of the famous Amanda, known for her extraordinary strength.”

“The mighty Amanda?”

Henry, realizing anew that Ray was from a rural backwater, was surprised.

“The Sun’s Blessing enhances one’s strength and regenerative abilities in proportion to their inherent power. The stronger the innate dragon power, the more pronounced the effects.”

That’s why priests like himself, who possess the Sun’s Blessing, train their bodies rigorously.

“However, despite being a woman, Amanda was renowned for her natural monstrous strength.”

And Aron, being of her lineage, naturally surpassed the normal range of physical fitness.

‘A prodigy by bloodline?’

In a world where knights wielding aura and demon contractors run amok.

It wasn’t strange to have abilities passed down through bloodlines.

“We’ve arrived!”

The prayer meeting at the mountain’s summit.

A breathtaking view of the nation’s capital unfolded before them.

“It’s incredible. To think there are so many lights at this hour of the night. Solarien’s splendor rivals that of any royal city, and it’s not just a rumor.”

Unlike modern Earth, the medieval era lacked things like electric lights.

There were gas lamps, an early form of street lighting, but they were expensive to maintain and not commonly installed outside of major cities.

The number of gas lamps illuminating the nightscape signified the wealth of the Solarien nation.

‘Indeed, in the Middle Ages, religion had money.’

Historically, few organizations were as wealthy as religious ones.

Before the advent of the global economy and conglomerate groups, religious institutions possessed most of the wealth.

Donations flowed in from all directions, tax-free,

The power that even emperors dared not challenge, and even banking was conducted on the back of religious credit – they never lacked for money.

In this world, the power of the Sun’s Church was equal to, if not greater than, that of the medieval Catholic Church, so their financial resources were seemingly endless.

Anyway, as they entered the prayer meeting, the abundant lights greeted the attendees.

“All of this, just for······.”

“Candles, right.”

The prayer hall was filled with pillar-shaped candles, known as pillars.

Even the candles were of high-quality beeswax. There were hundreds of such pillars.

“I’ve heard the Church-State is wealthy, but…”

“It’s truly staggering.”

Examinees from all over the continent marveled at the Church-State’s endless wealth.

“Brother Ray doesn’t seem too surprised.”

“Well, what’s important is faith, isn’t it?”

“Oh… as expected!”

Henry exclaimed in admiration.

To Ray, who remembered the advanced civilization of modern Earth, it was merely impressive for this era.

“We will now announce the content of the second test.”

The examiner was an elderly nun.

Sister Isabella, the head of the Central Diocese Convent.

An aged woman, but also the leader of the Solarien Choir, known for invoking miracles through prayer.

Sister Isabella announced the test content in a gentle voice.

“This test will be about prayer.”

“Prayer, you say?”

Despite someone’s question, Examiner Isabella kindly answered.

“Yes, here you will be tested on the depth of your faith.”

The content was simple.

“Just offer your prayers here.”

“Is that all?”

“You must pray without repeating any prayer, maintain your posture without faltering, and you must not open your eyes.”

Just pray.

The first to fall will be eliminated.

A supremely simple, unlimited-class prayer marathon.

Simple, yet so vague was the content of the test.

“This won’t be easy, Brother Ray.”

“……”

Ray burst into an exclamation as he recalled the test content.

“Is this my area of expertise?”

In Seoul’s Gangnam District, the prime land of a mega-church, star pastor Kim Kwang-oh.

A pro.