Chapter 14

Hey, am I being neglected or what? Like, I’m just eating, sleeping, and taking care of business here. And because I’ve been living so regularly, Joanna’s been getting some free time. Seriously, I’m like a wild animal—just give me food and I handle the rest.

Fortunately, it hasn’t been boring. There are three more people I can see now: Wide, Isla, and Tisah.

As soon as Hieronymus parted ways with me, he took the kids to a training area used for people. We went through long corridors and spacious areas, all the way there.

The reason I call it an “area” is because it’s not just some open field—it’s part of a much larger place where Future Hope Church resides, divided into various sections. Based on memories from six people, we’ve mapped out about a third of it.

First off, there’s the space where I was summoned, deep underground. From there, rooms and tunnels branch out like an ant colony. Plus, the paths twist strangely, almost like they’re designed to confuse anyone unfamiliar.

There’s also a massive chapel and residential zones in case people need to live inside. Joanna’s explored almost every section down here, but she knows little about the areas above ground. Before this, her only experience outside was going to a nearby village for supplies, and before that, she lived in another village entirely.

But here’s the thing—this underground complex is *huge*. Even in a world with magic, how could they build something this massive in just ten years? It’s weird.

Maybe they didn’t. Maybe they occupied an existing site instead. Think about places like catacombs or Petra from our old world. If you think about it, having an underground city isn’t so strange.

It’s just… too fast. Unless someone repurposed an older structure, right?

Still, finding traces of its origins might be tough. When one group seizes a temple from another, they usually destroy all evidence of the previous deity. Sometimes, though, they’ll modify giant statues by shaving off noses or covering them with soot from fires.

Why am I thinking about this? Simple: there’s a chance parts of this place are unknown even to Joanna—or Hieronymus.

We should always consider possibilities. If we don’t, we might end up with no options when things go south. Time gives us room to think.

While pondering, I observed how Future Hope Church moves their kids around. They walked far—far enough to leave the underground labyrinth behind. After navigating winding paths, they emerged at a cave entrance disguised like an animal den.

This is my first time seeing the outside world with my own eyes—not through someone else’s memories. It’s midday, so everything’s clear. Through the eyes of three people, I noticed the landscape looks harsher than I imagined. Sparse trees dot the area, most resembling cacti.

It’s like those desolate scenes from Western movies set in America. Wide and Isla marvel at the scenery, but Tisah slouches, scanning his surroundings.

Huh… Does he think he can escape? He’s had a lot of resentment lately—an innate trait. He rejects anything he deems wrong. People’s personalities vary widely, sure, but most can be “adjusted” through what’s called education—basically physical abuse.

Not everyone submits, though. Those who resist often get killed. But Tisah has survived this long because he’s wise enough to adapt to his environment. That’s why he’s still alive.

This situation is kinda interesting.

Anyway, Hieronymus brought the kids into a nearby village. As soon as they arrived, a man named Witga greeted them—he’s the highest-ranking instructor.

He told the kids they were blessed, calling them chosen ones to boost their self-esteem. Here’s the funny part: neither Witga nor Hieronymus actually believe that nonsense. The kids, however, seem clueless. Especially Tisha—he clearly dislikes being chosen, but he doesn’t understand the coldness coming from others. Do they see him as a person or an object? Or maybe he’s never seen anything else?

With that gaze, Witga led them somewhere. There, several burly men waited—one of whom once brought a boy named Istur to La Planza.

They’re warriors.

Witga placed the kids in front of the warriors and declared loudly, “The power was bestowed upon one of you first. Your blessings may have come later, but there’s a reason for everything.”

Sounds convincing, right? Except it seems more like these well-trained warriors forced the kids into combat under false pretenses.

Lies are bad. They should’ve warned me beforehand. This kind of deception will eventually be exposed. Of course, they could try isolating regular followers from me completely—but how long can such control last within a cult like this?

Let’s plant seeds for later and focus on watching the experiment with the three kids.

They claim it’s about showing the strength of the blessing, but it’s really just an experiment. I’m curious too.

And the results?

Surprising!

Tisah got beaten badly and collapsed, but Isla and Wide performed differently. Isla took down over five opponents alone. Two attacked her simultaneously, and she finally fell, but still impressive.

Wide, though, underwent the biggest change. His hands ignited with purple flames. Everyone’s attention shifted instantly. One warrior tried to fight him but was quickly consumed by fire. Another followed suit, then a mage appeared, wrapping his sword in light and summoning ice chunks.

None of it touched Wide. His entire body was covered in protective purple flames, which extinguished once the threat ended.

That flame burns others without harming him. Wide proudly declares it’s a gift from Rebecca—given only to him, not the others.

Hold up, though—I didn’t intentionally differentiate between them. The process felt identical.

If anything, both Isla and Wide emitted large amounts of light and warmth. Tisah, however, had significantly less warmth despite similar levels of light.

Regardless, Wide uses the purple flame as proof of his legitimacy, especially regarding faith. He claims his dedication earned him this divine reward.

Two people watch this display with furrowed brows: Hieronymus and Witga.

Everyone else seems convinced, praying while chanting something that sounds suspiciously like profanity—“Cruxshibal.” Doesn’t exactly fit the name “Future Hope Church,” does it?

Meanwhile, Isla watches Wide jealously. She’s in pain after fighting two-on-one, her body sore, but her anger outweighs the physical discomfort. There’s also a faint sense of despair—why wasn’t she chosen?

She muttered this while clutching dirt on the ground.

But Isla isn’t the most intriguing one here. That title goes to Tisah.

Unlike the others, he didn’t grow taller or change skin tone—only his hair color altered. Yet, he gained an ability. Despite being battered during the fight, he feels absolutely no pain. Not a single ache.

After being knocked back, he lay still but remained conscious, observing quietly.

Right before Wide finished his speech, Tisah suddenly stood and knelt behind Isla.

Why there?

Turns out, Wide started comparing everyone. First, he mocked Tisah for receiving the blessing yet gaining no powers. Then, he turned to Isla, insisting he ranked above her.

Hmm. My predictions were slightly off. I thought if all three had similar strengths, Wide would target Tisah based on the order of blessings received. Now that seems unlikely.

Instead, Isla developed resentment toward Wide. She probably feels defeated too, since she was originally stronger than him.

Personally, I like Wide. He radiated enough warmth for five people! Isla didn’t kill anyone, and Tisah lost his first fight.

The Harvesting System works!

Hehe.

Warmth flows into me. Even though I’m shivering in the cold, a gentle breeze of warmth brushes across my body.

By observing those who received blessings, I managed to gain some warmth.

Today’s a good day.