Chapter 158: CH 154

July 22nd, 2023

This world was not a place where symbolic gods like Jesus, Buddha, or Allah exist, but a place where literal gods exist. If believers prayed to the gods or offered sacrifices, the gods would grant them a power called “divine power.” With this divine power, believers could display various abilities.

Furthermore, through “divine guidance,” the gods encouraged believers to follow a better path. However, even they could only provide advice at the level of guidance, as they couldn’t casually reveal someone’s future. 

Moreover, perhaps due to constraints, even the divine guidance was often vague. For example, let’s say a devout believer was to tragically die in an accident shortly after. The god couldn’t provide detailed explanations to that believer. At most, they might suggest to be cautious or that it would be good to rest at home today. They didn’t offer detailed explanations.

As a result, believers often suffered as they tried to interpret the divine guidance given by the gods, and frequently encountered situations where their interpretations turned out to be incorrect. 

Of course, if one offers high-quality sacrifices or an enormous amount of divine power, the gods might provide more detailed divine guidance. Seeing this, one might wonder if gods were subtly greedy by nature.

Anyway, the trust bestowed by the gods could also be considered a kind of prophecy. It is believed that there are no results without a price, so followers of each sect prayed with deep faith and offer exceptional sacrifices for a better future.

[Why haven’t the gods informed us about the contamination of the World Tree roots and the summoning of devils? Was it because the offerings were insufficient, or were the qualities of the followers lacking?]

[The Holy Kingdom Xavier. The Pope and the high priests offered sacrifices and prayers to the gods, but the gods remained silent. Could it be that the gods are disappointed with mortals?]

[The gods have already revealed the future through a prophet named Xenon. Therefore, they did not need to provide further answers.]

However, recently, the actions of the gods have been somewhat strange. Signs of contamination of the World Tree roots and the summoning of devils—just these two alone could have caused a major catastrophe, endangering the world. 

Yet, the gods have not issued any warnings or even provided a response after these incidents came to light.

Even though people have been talking about me being a prophet or a regressor from the future, the gods remained silent and did not react. However, they continued to bestow people with divine power, even though we heard nothing from them. 

Based on this, it seems that the gods were taking a passive stance and observing the current situation. It was almost certain, judging by the lack of response when the Pope and the high priests offered prayers.

In that case, if I were to directly ask as the center of these events, what would happen? Would they respond like usual, or would they remain silent and watch? If it’s the former, then there must be something wrong with the gods. If it’s the latter, I would question why they were just observing.

However, when we look at history, even gods themselves are beings with human aspects. They were not omnipotent beings in the literal sense of the word ‘god,’ but rather beings that can be described as transcendent entities.

‘But I’ve never had any divine power or even prayed. Will it be okay?’

The weekend had arrived as time passed. I stepped outside the academy and headed towards the temple.

Obtaining permission to leave the academy from Professor Elena was not difficult, and I had already informed Nicole and others in advance.

Initially, they were surprised when they heard I was going to the temple, but soon they seemed to understand. It seemed that given the circumstances, it was natural for me to visit the temple.

‘It’s my first time visiting the temple as well…’

Due to the existence of gods, most people tend to believe in them. Among them, humans followed the god Luminous, the deity of light and hope.

My parents were also followers of Luminous, and even Bryce and Nicole were the same. However, they weren’t devout to the extent of praying every day, they only prayed occasionally.

I, too, “for now,” believed in Luminous, but it’s more out of interest. I don’t even pray regularly. I just acknowledged its existence, to some extent.

Not only Luminous, but Mora and Hart were the same to me. I haven’t paid much attention to them, as I thought they had little relevance to me, except when studying theology.

However, due to the attention my book has attracted in a strange direction, I had no choice but to go to the temple. It may be a bit awkward, but it’s something I have to do to tie up loose ends.

‘The temple… It should be nearby.’

I wandered around, following the map that Marie had drawn for me, trying to find the temple. It was my first time exploring the capital city alone, so it felt a bit awkward.

When I visited the mansion of the Requilis family, located in the capital, I couldn’t afford to explore the city due to the circumstances. Nevertheless, the capital, especially being the capital of the Minerva Empire, was both splendid and bustling. Buildings lined up on both sides of the streets, with people walking along the roads.

If Alvenheim gave off an ancient Greek vibe, the capital of the Minerva Empire resembled the landscapes of medieval Europe.

‘It’s said even the slums are nearly non-existent here. Thanks to that, the public security is excellent.’

One of the reasons why the Minerva Empire could prosper was precisely because there were very few slums. As the number of slums increased, crime rates naturally escalated, but the Minerva Empire had a remarkably low percentage of slum dwellers.

However, it was not the Minerva Empire’s own efforts but rather the neighboring rival kingdom, the Ters Kingdom, that played a part. The Ters Kingdom had a highly developed culture but an alarmingly high proportion of slums.

Culture thrived, yet poverty-stricken people grew in numbers. This ironic phenomenon escalated to the point of triggering the Jairos Revolution, which prompted the Minerva Empire, witnessing this situation, to quickly implement policies.

‘Just by looking at this, they seem to be good at governing.’

I momentarily set aside that thought and focused on finding the temple. Whenever I got confused, I would ask passers-by for directions and continue my search.

I wonder how much time has passed since I started wandering around the capital.

“Oh…”

I was able to reach the Luminous Church that I had been searching for so long. I stood in awe at the magnificence of the temple, which I had never seen before in my life.

True to its name, the structure was supported by towering pillars, reminiscent of ancient Greek architecture that everyone was familiar with. It seemed that since Alvenheim, which could be considered the cradle of civilization, had a culture similar to ancient Greece, which is why the temple was constructed in this manner.

It felt strange to have a grand structure like an ancient Greek temple in a medieval European-style street, but it blended in surprisingly well. Considering that European culture has been heavily influenced by ancient Greece, it’s only natural. I walked around the temple, feeling the overwhelming presence it exuded, before making my way toward the entrance.

Due to its size, the temple was situated away from the street, but there were many people coming and going.

“Hello! Welcome to the Luminous Temple. May I ask your name?”

As I climbed the stairs and reached the entrance, a graceful priestess warmly greeted me. She had long, flowing golden hair that resembled waves and a sunny smile that left an impression.

Usually, nun’s habits were often a mix of white and black, but the attire of the priestess in front of me was the opposite. The majority of her clothes were white.

Slightly taken aback by her lively greeting, I nodded my head and greeted her politely.

“I am Isaac Ducker Michelle.”

“Ah, you indeed were a noble. My name is Anna Schalke. I am a devotee serving the Luminous One.”

Anna, the nun, greeted me warmly, placing her hand on her chest. Then, with a smile as radiant as sunlight, she spoke to me.

“Is this your first visit to the temple?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“I’ve never seen a redhead worshiper before.”

“… …”

This red hair was truly unique. I chuckled to myself, showing a hint of affirmation. Anna maintained her smile and began to guide me.

“Then let me show you around. The Path of Light, as revealed by Luminous, is open anytime, anywhere, so feel free to come as you please.”

“Thank you. But today, I only plan to pray…”

“Do you prefer a communal worship hall or a private worship room? The communal worship hall is free, but there is a separate fee for a private worship room.”

“How much is the private worship room? Is it expensive?”

“It’s only 5 silver coins.”

Surprisingly, the price was quite affordable. Come to think of it, I heard that the government directly supported temples like this. Supporting the temple was only natural since it makes it easier to establish a connection with the Holy Kingdom of Xavier, cultivate clergy, and prepare for famines and various crises.

There’s no need to worry about embezzlement or corruption, like in some places in my previous life. If there were any big shots committing such acts in the temple, they would have been exposed as fraudsters long ago.

If you really did such a thing, then a God would personally bring ‘divine punishment,’ so there was no place as pure as the temple.

“You said it’s your first time at the temple, right? Then do you also not know much about Luminous?” 

“I have studied theology, so I know about mythology. Luminous and Mora are twin siblings, and Hart is their mother.” 

I don’t know who ‘Father’ is. Even in mythological texts, there was no mention, so people thought he simply didn’t exist. Perhaps the records have been completely lost, and even his existence has vanished. 

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For example, let’s say the father of the twin siblings was the ‘supreme deity’ of this world, but he committed a grave sin and even the records were lost.

“You know well. So, do you also know what Luminous prefers?” 

“Yes. Luminous symbolizes light and hope. I’ve heard that they particularly love devotees who walk the righteous path with a resolute heart.”

While conversing with Anna, I carefully looked around the inside of the temple. Even from the outside, it felt majestic, and the interior was similar. The ceiling was so high that I had to crane my neck to look up, and I felt a dizzying sensation. 

The scenery inside also exuded sacredness, becoming more solemn. If one were to pray here, would Luminous truly come? I swallowed nervously, feeling a sense of tension for some reason, and clenched and unclenched my hands before finally speaking softly. 

“Um… Anna?” 

“Yes, devotee. Please speak.” 

“As I mentioned earlier, this is my first visit to the temple. It’s also my first time praying, so could you roughly guide me on how to do it?”

When I mustered up the courage and asked, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. However, it was essential to have a basic understanding to avoid making mistakes.

Anna listened to my question, her expression subtly changing before she eventually displayed her characteristic sunny smile.

“Don’t worry about that. Luminous is forgiving. If you pray as the Holy One desires, Luminous will grant you divine power accordingly. The content isn’t important, it’s the ‘sincerity’ that matters.”

“Sincerity… I understand.”

“Good. However, please refrain from using rude language. Luminous is forgiving, but at the same time, strict.”

In other words, don’t cross the line. I wouldn’t go so far as to insult a god.

“This is the private chapel. After you finish your prayers, let me know and leave.”

“Thank you.”

Click

As the door to the private chapel closed, I carefully examined the room’s layout. The private chapel was small, as expected, but it wasn’t made haphazardly.

In front of me stood a small statue presumed to be Luminous, and considerately, there were cushions on the floor. It was literally a room prepared for one person to worship.

“Hmm…”

Being alone made me feel restless. I scratched my head and fidgeted before looking at the statue.

The sculpture bore the mark of the artisan’s devoted craftsmanship. Luminous, whom I saw in the mythological book, was a beautiful man with a radiant smile, and that smile has been well captured in the sculpture.

I wonder if Luminous will respond to my prayers or remain silent like to others. I stared intently at the sculpture, and slowly knelt on the cushion.

To think that I, who was not religious in my past life, am now offering prayers. It’s truly a mysterious world, full of things I can’t fully understand.

“…Luminous, can you hear me?”

With my eyes closed and hands neatly folded, I murmured in my mind. I’m not sure if this is the appropriate way to pray, but I decided to follow my heart for now.

“If you can hear me, please respond…”

I hadn’t even finished speaking.

[Finally, you’ve come! Child from another dimension!]

“…Huh?”

It wasn’t a sound I heard from my ears, but a voice resonating in my head. Startled, I opened my eyes wide and looked up at the sculpture.

Despite being in a private sanctuary with no apparent openings, the sculpture’s golden eyes were shimmering. No, it was more like swirling smoke. It was definitely not an ordinary occurrence.

If that voice from earlier was real…

[Close your eyes… come… hey…]

While lost in thought, the voice echoed in my mind. It was difficult to hear clearly, as if it were muffled by noise, but I could make out the instructions to close my eyes.

Quietly closing my eyes and focusing, the result of my concentration was that the voice started to sound vividly, just like before.

During the previous encounter, amidst my confusion, I didn’t know, but Luminous was a deity with a soft and kind voice, often referred to as a honeyed vocal range.

[Yes. Now you will hear well. To have a smoother conversation with me, you need to close your eyes and concentrate. You have to eliminate all distractions.]

‘Um… by any chance…’

[Your thoughts are correct. I am Luminous, the deity of light and hope. I truly wanted to meet you.] 

Luminous responded to my words. It was such an unfamiliar experience for me that I momentarily doubted if it really was Luminous.

[Well, if you really don’t believe it, I can strike you with a weak lightning bolt if you wish.]

‘No, thank you. I’m sorry, ‘

I immediately apologized. Judging by the fact that it was a weak lightning bolt and not a real one, it seemed like Luminous was playing a prank.

Without delay, I pushed aside the bewildered feeling and decided to ask the questions I had been curious about. After all, it wasn’t about my rebirth, but about the current situation in this world.

‘Luminous, I believe you also know what the current situation in this world is like.’

[Of course. I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to you.]

‘…To me? Are you talking about me?’

What does this mean? I almost opened my eyes but managed to keep them closed with great difficulty.

Continuing, Luminous spoke, rendering me speechless.

[The neutralization of the World Tree and the second invasion of devils was a colossal future even we struggled to prevent. I wanted to at least give you a sign, but if that happened, the future would change completely, so it was a perplexing situation. Changing such a future so massively comes at a great cost.]

‘No way. Was that a future that was going to happen?’

[Yes. Exactly 147 years later, there was supposed to be the second invasion of devils. The World Tree would have been severely contaminated and practically neutralized by then. The ongoing summoning ritual of devils was a kind of operation. It created small holes that we ourselves were not aware of, and during the second invasion, those holes would be forcibly expanded, enabling dimensional travel. The more holes there are, the easier it is to forcibly tear them apart.]

‘…Why is this real?’

I was speechless with astonishment. However, the problem was that it didn’t end there.

[Fortunately, thanks to the book you wrote, that future has changed completely. The devil invasion has been postponed for a whopping 2000 years, and even if it were to happen, the World Tree would be strong, and civilization would have developed, making it easier to prevent. ]

‘…There is no disadvantage to me, right?’

[Why would you be at a disadvantage? In fact, you are also a victim.]

‘Me?’

It was around that time that I began to question it. Luminous calmly explained with their unique, clean voice.

[Just a moment ago, I explained that summoning devils requires creating a small rift in dimensions. However, due to a mistake made by a worshiper of a certain devil, the coordinates were incorrectly set, and it ended up connecting to the world you live in, Earth. Although Earth is devoid of mana, it is a planet far more advanced in civilization than this world.]

‘Unbelievable.’

[That’s right. Devils, by their nature, are powerful beings, so traveling between dimensions was not an issue for them. However, Earth is a place without mana, and you are nothing more than an ordinary human. The movement between dimensions is an impossible task for you. Your body has been burdened by that immense power, and eventually, your heart stopped functioning. Although your soul made it here, the ‘order’ has been disrupted in a damaged Earth where gods are causing chaos. In the end, we, too, went against the order to preserve your memories.]

“… …”

So, devils were just a bunch of bastards.

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