Chapter 38: CH 36

The next day, Olivia, Alan, along with Cyrus headed to the ruins again.

They were informed that Princess Florencia was sick and she will not be accompanying them today.

Once the group arrived at the ruins, Dr. Wybal offered to guide them to the underground ruins that are being excavated himself.

The place that they were guided to was just outside of the ruin of the White Rose Palace. It seems to be the site of an old underground temple.

The underground ruins are liable to collapse but the area around the underground temple has already collapsed completely and is now looking like a hollow hole so they will not have to worry about the ceiling caving in on them.

“The central part of the White Rose Palace, namely the basement area of the royal quarter is quite fragile and dangerous so I’m currently suspending the excavation work there at the moment.”

It seems that they are trying to find the safest method to excavate that area so once they can come up with one, the work there will continue.

“Here is the altar, we also managed to excavate a part of the mural here, Your Highnesses.”

Dr. Wybal guided them to a wall that seems to have a part of a faded mural painting on it.

“Do you know what it’s depicting?”

Alan asked. The mural depicts a cat-like animal with the head and wings of a bird.

“It’s the image of heaven, Your Highness.”

“The image of heaven?”

Alan tilted his head.

“During the ancient dynasty, I heard that there was the worship of the Sun God named Cestia. Is it related to that?”

Olivia asked while looking at the mural. There are multiple religions that worship the Sun God, each religion has a different name for their god but Cestia was the one who was worshiped during the ancient dynasty. This god was linked with the two opposite concepts of Prosperity and Destruction. Among all the Sun Gods Olivia knows of, only Cestia has the authority over Destruction.

Hearing her question, Dr. Wybal nodded.

“Yes. I believe that this mural depicts a human being chosen by Cestia to ascend to heaven. I can’t say for sure because there were many damaged parts but this cat-like creature with the head and wings of a bird is said to be the gatekeeper who guarded the door to heaven called Fischlbaia. That’s why I believe that the mural is depicting the human who has been deemed worthy by Cestia being guided to heaven.”

“Deemed worthy? What happened to the people that weren’t deemed worthy then?

“If I recall correctly, I’ve read that they will fall into the abyss of the underworld filled only with darkness and wait for the time for them to be regenerated into the world again.”

Cyrus answers Alan’s question.

Hearing that, Alan was stunned for a moment.

“You, why did you read something like that?”

“I read it from a book recently added to the castle’s library you know.”

“Eh, I want to read that too!”

Olivia didn’t know about that book. Seeing her eyes sparkling when she heard of a new book, Cyrus can only smile at her.

“I will tell you which one it is once we get back okay.”

“Thank you very much!”

“So, what does this regeneration mean?”

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“It’s something like being reborn into a new person or animal I think.”

Dr. Wybal nodded at Cyrus’s answer.

“Yes. Those deemed worthy by Cestia shall live happily forever in heaven while those who were not chosen will be dropped into the underworld where they will be reborn as new beings and returned to our world.”

“What kind of criteria are there for a person to be deemed worthy?”

Is it how many good deeds a person performed while they were alive? When Olivia asked that while tilting her head, Dr. Wybal replied with a smile.

“It’s the loyalty to their King, My Lady.”

“Eh?”

Olivia was surprised at the unexpected answer.

“So, the belief of the Sun God during the ancient dynasty was one that was made at the convenience of the king huh.”

Alan reached that conclusion and nodded to himself.

“It’s probably a belief made up by the king at the time to help control their vassals. It’s not that rare of a story after all.”

“Certainly, I also heard a familiar story from somewhere else before. Some countries even have the belief that their king’s bloodline has descended from divinity after all.”

It’s just like what Alan and Cyrus said, that is certainly often the case. However, when she heard that, the mural in front of her seemed to fade even more. In the olden days, natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, and thunder were all interpreted as the wrath of god so it is understandable that some might make use of people’s gullibility and make up a faith that suits their convenience. Still, it’s a little boring.

“Then, if a coup happened and the king changed to someone else, will all those who pledged their allegiance to the former king be sent to the underworld?”

Thinking that it’s too cruel, Olivia asked that question. And as though it was a surprise, Dr. Wybal snapped his face up and looked at her.

“I see, that would be the case isn’t it! This is interesting! It is said that the time to judge whether the human is to ascend to heaven or to be plunged down into the underworld is when they were given a burial rite. If we compare the time of their death and the political change of the time, it might lead to new discoveries in our history, My Lady!”

Apparently, her question triggered his researcher’s instinct. He looked so excited that he might end up digging up the graves. Perhaps she said something unnecessary earlier.

“Look Olivia, there’s this big incense-burner-like thing over here.”

When she headed over to Cyrus, there was an unglazed incense pot that was as tall as an adult’s knee. Although it’s slightly chipped, it remains in almost perfect condition.

“Actually, they used incense when they wanted to pray to the god.”

Said Dr. Wybal.

“Do you know what kind of incense they used, Doctor?”

Olivia asked while looking inside the incense burner.

“It was said that they mostly used the one that provides hallucinogenic effects. They also used ones that have the effect of clouding or dulling people’s minds, My Lady.”

Hearing his answer, Olivia stiffened.

“T, they used such dangerous things?”

“They were probably used to deify the king and priest here. I believe that using a mild hallucination effect on the people should be able to make people in awe of the god and subsequently the king. These dangerous scents are currently banned in Brior but it seems that they are quite common as medicinal incense in Karzol though.”

Afraid that such ancient dangerous incense might drift from the incense burner, Olivia unconsciously stepped away from it.

TLN: I guess some kind of ruins exploration is coming then.

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