Exorcist of the American Nightmares

"Back to you, Archbishop," Brother Jesus spoke respectfully, "It's been one month since you entered the rift."

"One month?" York was somewhat surprised.

It seemed that the time flow between the real world and the other world wasn't balanced, likely indicative of two distinct universal spaces.

He had mentally counted four months passing while inside the rift.

"A four-to-one time ratio, then," York mused as he moved forward. "Clean up the site, and also check why Sister Eileen had to leave."

"Yes, Archbishop!" The group kneeled on one knee, reverently watching as Archbishop York slowly walked away.

Soon after, as York arrived at the now empty cathedral, Brother Jesus appeared before him with all the gathered information. York glanced at the notebook in his hand and casually took it.

Strangely, before this, he had tried calling both the little nun and Xili, but neither answered; it wasn't that they weren't picking up, but rather their phones were in an area without any signal.

Clearly, the two were somewhere specific, possibly a place with supernatural interference.

"What's this?" York asked calmly.

"This is the video Sister Eileen received before," Brother Jesus answered cautiously, "It's also the video sent by Father Jin Shanyu before he applied for an exorcism permit. Since you weren't here, Sister Eileen and the others…"

"Father Jin Shanyu?"

York calmly took the notebook, looking at the screen icon and clicked it open.

Brother Jesus nodded, respectfully adding, "Jin Shanyu is a priest at Kwanghwa Gate Church, and he once came here seeking a period of tranquility."

Kwanghwa Gate Church? That sounded like a central spot in Seoul.

A Korean national? York's expression remained neutral as his gaze stayed on the screen.

In fact, all churches in the Korean district were under his jurisdiction, and Myeong-dong Cathedral, where he was stationed, was the central hub for all Korean churches.

However, in reality, since arriving in Korea, he had stayed behind the scenes focused on the rift and did not interfere with administrative matters.

He knew that once the Korean rift was resolved, he would need to move on to the next rift in another country.

"Why?" York continued to inquire.

Brother Jesus thought for a moment, then spoke softly, "As far as I know, Father Jin Shanyu lost control during an exorcism."

York stared at Brother Jesus.

Brother Jesus continued, "The demon exploited the pain of the victim and used the victim's family. Unable to bear it, the family forcibly stopped the exorcism, causing what should have been a successful ritual to fall through."

Brother Jesus paused, "The failure of the exorcism allowed the demon's plan to succeed. The victim committed suicide by jumping off a building right in front of Father Jin Shanyu, and during the attempt to save him, Father Jin Shanyu was also cursed by the demon. The demon cursed not only to drag the victim to hell but also made Father Jin Shanyu's family pay a price."

York was silent for a few seconds, understanding the priest's need for tranquility.

Regardless, the failure of the exorcism, the powerlessness of witnessing the victim's death, and the demon's curse combined would be a significant blow to any exorcist priest, enough to make them despondent in an instant.

York had been a priest and could empathize with that feeling, having experienced it himself, though his approach and Father Jin Shanyu's were different.

He chose vengeance, seizing an opportunity to go to hell and kill the demon that had plagued his mood all day.

"Has this been discussed with Bishop Lerrick?"

York asked, looking at the video now playing on the screen.

Bishop Lerrick was the bishop stationed in Korea before his arrival.

"Yes!" Brother Jesus replied.

"Bishop Lerrick should still be on a plane right now."

"Oh..." York responded indifferently, watching the video begin to play, not speaking further.

Brother Jesus, seeing this, stood by like a guardian knight, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

The sound from the video began to play.

It was just the sound of someone breathing in sleep.

On the screen, a family was sleeping in the living room.

Parents and three children.

The oldest daughter and the youngest slept together, while the smallest boy slept with the parents.

Importantly, there was another man sleeping on one of the beds.

York touched his chin, considering the information displayed in the video.

This man was likely Father Jin Shanyu.

Brother Jesus confirmed softly, "Archbishop York, this is Father Jin Shanyu."

York nodded, continuing to watch the video.

When it comes to paranormal events, video evidence is always more compelling, clear at first glance.

It appeared that Father Jin Shanyu stood up to face the paranormal events occurring with

 his family.

But where was the evidence of the paranormal?

Soon, York found it.

In the video, the entire family was sleeping on the floor.

Before long, the youngest boy got up, rubbing his eyes as if he wanted to use the restroom.

When this boy disappeared from view, the next second, he reappeared in the video, this time holding a fruit knife.

His eyes were vacant, his expression numb, his steps stiff.

York narrowed his eyes.

The boy in the video holding the knife looked exactly like the one who had gone to the restroom—same clothes, same build, same face.

But York knew that this boy holding the knife was something else in disguise.

Because he came from a different direction than the boy who went to the restroom.

It was as if the restroom boy had disappeared to the left, and the boy with the knife appeared from the right.

It was impossible for it to be a simple movement.

Because in terms of timing, the boy who just disappeared to the restroom could not appear from the right with a knife immediately after, unless he could teleport.

But was that possible in reality?

York squinted, watching as the boy with the knife walked step by step toward Father Jin Shanyu, raising the knife and stabbing down vigorously.

He even made a breathing sound effect as he stabbed towards Father Jin Shanyu's forehead, stopping just at the skin of the forehead.

Again and again.

On the video, the boy's face showed a very sinister and chilling smile.

York watched expressionlessly.

Just this action of raising the knife high and stabbing down, stopping just at the skin, so precisely performed, was not something a normal person could do.

Not even adults could manage it, much less a child of four or five.

Seeing this, York closed the notebook and handed it back to Brother Jesus.

In the video, the boy with the knife stepped away and disappeared to the right.

As he vanished, the boy who had gone to the restroom reappeared from the left and lay back down to sleep.

"Check, find out where this family in the video is located."

Looking at Brother Jesus who obediently took the notebook, York said flatly:

"I suspect this is a corporeal demon."

Only a corporeal demon could explain why Sister Eileen and Xili's phones had no signal.

His people were in danger.

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