By Zephyria 
For starters, access to this place was very free. There were no restrictions on speech, no absurd rules; there were simply people who worked diligently and earned their living. In fact, a significant number of them didn’t even seriously believe in the doctrine. After talking with them, it was surprising to find that quite a few had come to work simply for the salary, regardless of religion. Realizing this led to a certain thought.
It felt as if the Hwamyeong Cult was the only relatively normal part that had broken away from the Heavenly Truth Ming Cult.
The tendency to worship the cult leader, a flower name bearer, as a living god seemed to be diluting as job seekers continuously flowed in from the outside. Quite a few people viewed the ritual where Yeom Cheon-ho slaughtered animals and distributed the meat as nothing more than an event with theatrical elements.
In truth, Yeon-rok thought he might be interpreting things too naively for his own convenience. No matter how normal the people here seemed, the usual Yeon-rok would never have gone near a pseudo-religious group. He simply trusted Yeom Cheon-ho.
Despite Yeon-rok’s explanations, Moon Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan looked completely displeased. They glanced at each other, exchanged a silent look, and stood up.
“Just let us come along. I’m feeling a bit suffocated after staying in the confession room for so long.”
Moon Gyeon-woo told a lie that anyone could see through. Choi Hwan quickly chimed in.
“I like parties. I can make sure we have a fun time.”
Was it really okay to bring Moon Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan? There was a reason Yeon-rok had been trying to dissuade them. It was because he had heard that Yeom Cheon-ho was presiding over this event.
Lately, the relationship between Yeon-rok’s name partners had gone beyond deteriorating; it was racing toward the absolute worst. Yeon-rok still hadn’t recovered from the shock of the last time Moon Gyeon-woo had rushed at Yeom Cheon-ho with a candlestick, trying to kill him. Meanwhile, Choi Hwan had just watched from the sidelines, hoping one of them would end up badly. It had been such an intense sight that it had appeared in his dreams several times.
Just imagining a similar incident happening again made his stomach churn. Yeon-rok looked at the two with a gaze of distrust and tried to stop them.
“Why don’t you just stay here? CEO Yeom Cheon-ho is over there.”
“That’s exactly why I want to go.”
“I’m going because you’re going, Yeon-rok-ah.”
Choi Hwan and Moon Gyeon-woo insisted stubbornly. When the two became this headstrong, there was no way to stop them. Yeon-rok had no choice but to nod. However, he didn’t forget to give them a warning.
“Please, just enjoy yourselves quietly. Got it?”
Even after getting a promise from them, he didn’t know why he felt so anxious. To prepare for any eventuality, Yeon-rok decided to bring a swarm of bodyguards. Combining the bodyguards of the three of them, there were eight in total. The reason there were eight was that every time Moon Gyeon-woo or Choi Hwan caused trouble, another bodyguard was added to their detail.
The event was held in an open lot in the center of the village. As he approached, leading a crowd of eight sturdy bodyguards, people’s attention shifted sharply toward them. Yeon-rok intentionally gave a bright smile and greeted them.
“I’m here! Hyung Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan came along too, is that okay?”
“Of course. The more flower name bearers who attend, the better it is for us.”
Thankfully, the believers welcomed them warmly. Yeon-rok looked around.
In the center of the lot, artificial turf had been spread wide, perhaps to prevent dust from flying. Above it, a large white tent was pitched to block the sunlight. In the center, food was laid out buffet-style, and there were plenty of tables and chairs so people could sit comfortably, eat, and play. A banner hanging at the entrance caught his eye.
The 5th Seoul Eastern Hwamyeong Cult First-Half Workshop
“…?”
Before entering, he heard Moon Gyeon-woo mutter with a suspicious expression, “A workshop?” Yeon-rok felt similarly. The more he looked at it, the more he wondered if this was just a company that happened to be named Hwamyeong Cult rather than a pseudo-religious sect. And a company with truly great welfare at that…
Only Choi Hwan, who had never experienced corporate life, stepped inside without a second thought upon seeing the word ‘workshop.’ Just then, Yeom Cheon-ho arrived to the cheers of the crowd.
As soon as their cult leader began to speak, everyone became as silent as a grave. Perhaps that was why his voice carried clearly even without a microphone.
“Thank you all for attending once again. It is even more meaningful today as my partners are joining us.”
A snort was heard from behind. It was likely either Moon Gyeon-woo or Choi Hwan.
“Please welcome them with a big round of applause. This is Mr. Lee Yeon-rok, Mr. Moon Gyeon-woo, and Mr. Choi Hwan.”
Everyone applauded enthusiastically and focused their attention on the three. Given the atmosphere, it seemed they had to go to Yeom Cheon-ho. Yeon-rok walked toward Yeom Cheon-ho with a bit of hesitation. Then, he stealthily hid his body behind Moon Gyeon-woo and Choi Hwan. The glittering gazes of the people were quite burdensome.
“Then, before we begin the workshop, there will be a brief performance report. First, this month’s sales have increased by 56% compared to last month. This is all thanks to your hard work. Thank you.”
Waaaaah! The believers all cheered with joy. When Yeom Cheon-ho announced that he would reward them with bonuses this month, the shouting and applause grew even louder. Do these people really worship the flower name bearer? Contrary to the name Hwamyeong Cult, aren’t they just worshipping money? If this is the case, the religion should be called the Cult of Capitalism.
After explaining the goals for the next quarter, there was a segment that actually felt like religious activity.
“Now, let us briefly recite the doctrines of our Hwamyeong Cult.”
With a beaming smile, Yeom Cheon-ho began to recite the doctrine.
“The most precious thing in the world is a human life. Nothing is more precious than that. Therefore, you must always prioritize safety when working. Failing to properly follow safety regulations simply because it is tedious or time-consuming is an act that threatens your own safety and the safety of everyone. Do you all understand?”
At Yeom Cheon-ho’s words, the believers shouted in unison.
“We will always put safety first!”
The words that followed were very familiar to Yeon-rok’s ears. Tidying up after work, being careful with fire, not running, checking for leaks, wearing safety helmets, and so on.
No matter how he listened to it, this wasn’t a doctrine; it was a workplace safety manual. Even Choi Hwan, who had been listening indifferently, looked at Yeom Cheon-ho with a face that asked, What on earth is this? Then, a doctrine that actually suited a religion like the Hwamyeong Cult finally appeared.
“Furthermore, we must always aim for the special love known as Hwamyeong.”
Did he just say special love? Not a special person?
“The reason a flower name bearer is special is precisely because of that love. Therefore, we must all strive to practice a love as beautiful as that of a flower name bearer. To practice such a special love, one must behave uprightly and constantly reflect upon oneself.”
Listening closely, it was a clever modification and twist of the Heavenly Truth Ming Cult’s doctrines, which worshipped and prioritized the flower name bearer. Yeon-rok could glimpse Yeom Cheon-ho’s efforts to somehow turn a pseudo-religion into a sensible place. Especially through the power of money and capitalism, as seen in the following…
“Now, we will select the couple with the best harmony. Believer Kim Bo-bae, Believer Choi Young-won. By faithfully following the doctrine, you have once again taken first place in the believer vote.”
While the believers applauded fervently, a couple came forward with bright smiles and received a prize. It was a small gold bar. Yeom Cheon-ho really loved gold.
“And this month, Believer Lee Jeong-soon, who followed the doctrine most diligently in the workplace. Truly wonderful. Please come forward and receive your prize money.”
Yeom Cheon-ho was truly and faithfully satisfying the believers’ desire for recognition and monetary gain.
After lifting the mood in such a friendly way, a time for eating and enjoying themselves followed. There were no specific seats of honor. Everyone mingled freely, drank, and played excitedly. Yeom Cheon-ho guided the three of them to a table in the corner and asked.
“Yeon-rok-ssi, were you bored?”
“No, it was actually very fascinating.”
It really was. If Yeom Cheon-ho completely removed Yeom Cheon-ryul and took control of the Heavenly Truth Ming Cult, it seemed this religion would soon become a gathering of workers who follow safety regulations well, are faithful to their spouses and lovers, and are diligent employees of the company.
“Don’t the believers have any complaints about this doctrine?”
“The reason people usually believe in pseudo-religions is that they feel a deficiency in their daily lives.”
Yeom Cheon-ho, perhaps feeling thirsty from the speech, took a slow sip of water before answering.
“That’s why people who struggle to make a living, or those who are lonely and isolated, easily become targets. For these people, the doctrine isn’t what’s important. They want to belong somewhere and have something to lean on, so most of them have no complaints in such an affluent and generous community.”
Most of them… As Yeom Cheon-ho murmured, trailing off, his gaze briefly brushed over a few believers. They seemed to be people who truly believed that the flower name bearer was superior. In other words, they were discriminators. That gaze finally stopped on Choi Hwan, who was swallowing his saliva while looking at the buffet-style food.