Chapter 21

It’s been 44 days since I moved to a room with a great view.

These days, I receive warmth from three people at a time.

Of course, the amount of warmth each person has varies. So sometimes, even after gathering warmth from three people, it ends up being less than what I’d get from just one person.

But you know how when they serve meals, there are days when the food tastes bad for a day or two?

That’s something we can overlook.

After all, having even a little warmth is better than having none, right?

You wouldn’t understand unless you’ve ever shivered from the cold. When the chill seeps through your skin and into your bones, then deeper still…

Even just a tiny bit of warmth feels like such a blessing.

That’s why I’m content now.

Of course, I’ve been stuck in this room. Except for when I go out to bestow blessings, my job is to sit quietly here.

But I don’t get bored.

I can keep an eye on everyone—more than 100 people.

If it’s been over 40 days and you’re wondering why I haven’t blessed 120 people yet…

Some have died.

Some fought each other and died, while others were killed during raids on nearby cities.

Are we losing out by having those who received blessings fight and die?

No.

Even if they die fighting, their warmth returns to me. And it doesn’t weaken me in any way.

So every day, I gain warmth, and even more warmth flows in. For example, Wide and Isla are out there killing people on the front lines.

They send me lots of warmth—it’s wonderful!

As the number of people grew, we were able to gather information and assess our surroundings.

Right now, the Future Hope Church is located in the Scard Rock Desert, at the center of three countries.

To the west lies the Kingdom of Lasve, to the northeast is the Kingdom of Cogni, and to the southeast is the Ansellus Kingdom.

There are other smaller nations too, but these three have the most influence in this area, and the Future Hope Church is actively operating within these three countries.

Each person comes to the church with their own grudges, searching for a place to unleash them.

First, let’s talk about these three countries.

The three countries where the most resentment accumulates.

For some reason, within less than 50 days, the missions of those leaving the church after receiving blessings have changed.

At first, they focused on spreading the word and persuading others.

But soon, they started getting bloodied.

What was the trigger?

I’m not sure exactly, but maybe it’s because the growing influence of the Future Hope Church drew opposition. Or perhaps, instead of backing down as usual, this time we had the strength to stand our ground.

Initially, it was self-defense.

Then, it became protecting someone from the Future Hope Church.

Once you start swinging a weapon to protect someone, it gets easier.

After doing it once, it becomes a method you can rely on.

Someone who receives my blessings leads an attack on a tyrannical lord’s territory.

When they liberate the people, those people happily join the Future Hope Church. Of course, not everyone rejoices, but what choice do they have?

Because the ones who survive are those who’ve already toppled a tyrant and tried to create a better world. Who would welcome someone like that into their domain?

From the outside, they’re seen as enemies.

Enemies with dangerous ideologies.

So even wise individuals have no choice but to throw in their lot with the Future Hope Church.

A famous novel features a group similar to the Future Hope Church.

The Yellow Turbans.

Yeah, they also rose up against tyranny under the guise of a cult. The oppressed masses joined them, but instead of creating a better world, they simply became localized oppressors.

It’s like replacing the government with gangsters—like in parts of Mexico, right?

But for now, the atmosphere is hopeful.

Their tormentors are dead, and the Future Hope Church has given them so much. Those who dislike the church end up in strange situations.

Critics labeling it a cult or heresy gradually fall silent. After all, traditional religions don’t provide immediate food or safety.

Religion is more about spiritual connections.

So they reject anyone who doesn’t align with their beliefs.

Simple materialistic ties depend on mutual interests—if they don’t align, the relationship stops deepening.

But religion is different.

Without forming a deep bond, you become a heretic. And if you never join in the first place, well, you need the right environment. Can you really choose not to join when joining the Future Hope Church is the only way to survive?

Our power grows slowly.

This is the scene I’ve witnessed.

What’s especially interesting is how we’ve started killing more people to expand our influence. Soon, if the Future Hope Church grows into a massive organization like the Yellow Turbans, chaos will begin.

More killing, more death.

More fields to harvest warmth from.

And the harvesters will seek more power from me.

More harvesters!

Already, the harvesters are fighting soldiers and generals. They possess superhuman abilities far beyond normal humans, and many have special powers.

Fire, water, ice, electricity—the basic elements, as well as mind control and sleep-inducing techniques.

Though predominantly purple,

there are slight variations depending on the individual, but overall, it’s purple.

They send me their warmth.

While increasing the number of harvesters would be ideal, I don’t plan to bless more than three people a day for now.

Scarcity is important.

Back in the day, I wouldn’t have thought about it, but now, some of those receiving blessings have risen to relatively high positions.

Especially when an old elder receives a blessing and transforms into a youthful youth—it happens more frequently now.

Heheh.

Everyone desires youth.

But whether they can truly live long remains to be seen. The light has turned dark.

I still don’t know what it means for the light to turn dark.

No matter how terrible a life someone has led, the light always shines brightly white.

Not even patricide, cannibalism, or mass murder can stain the light.

The light that fell into the cold ocean sent me warmth before vanishing. I am the ocean, so when the light falls, I can lick it and gain both warmth and memories.

Below the surface, there was only me.

No bottom, just an endless upward direction.

The light always shone.

One day, I’ll need to understand this, but not yet.

So, shifting my gaze from observing countless people afar, I focused on Rebecca Rolfe. Even while concentrating on her, I could still keep an eye on others.

How deeply I immerse myself affects how much I might miss.

I stood up from my seat.

Maybe because I hadn’t walked much, Rebecca Rolfe’s body felt weaker. Probably because I’ve been sitting or lying down except for brief moments when I go to bestow blessings.

“What’s wrong? Where are you going?”

Hunkeschny, who had claimed a corner of the room as her own space, lifted her head from the sofa where she had been lounging. There was a long sofa, a table, and a small bookshelf.

Joanna initially disliked her intensely, but after Hunkeschny gave her various things, they quickly became close.

Was Hunkeschny cunning, or was Joanna forgiving?

Anyway, I pointed to my body.

“If you don’t move, your body gets weak.”

As usual, I spoke through the perspective of a non-human entity using human-like expressions. Just facts.

So everyone accepts it as normal.

“True. If you stay still, you gain weight and your body weakens. Are you thinking of taking a walk around here?”

“Yes.”

At that, Hunkeschny looked around. Joanna wasn’t there; she had gone out earlier to do laundry, taking the bed covers with her.

Then, scratching her grayish-white hair, she stood up.

“What should I wear? Where did Joanna put my clothes?”

Hunkeschny approached the wardrobe in the corner of the room.

“Won’t mine work?”

The clothes I wear are akin to pajamas. Obviously, they wouldn’t do, but I asked anyway.

Concepts matter, right?

“No way. You’re an important apostle of God in this Future Hope Church. Clothes define a person half the time. Your attire reflects your status, so even I wear rags. Wearing something like that outside would make people think you’re an escaped heretic.”

Heretic.

A term encompassing all religions outside the Future Hope Church.

From the perspective of other religions, we’d probably be the heretics.

Hunkeschny provided a somewhat reasonable explanation.

So I pushed my presence into my body, kneaded the dark-purple mist that flowed out, and pulled out the pristine white dress I used to wear. Only the hem was slightly shorter.

For ease of movement.

“I’ve changed.”

“You can do that too?”

She asked casually, but the faint smile on her lips betrayed her lingering fear.

During our time living together in this room, I remained as still as a pet. At first, even minor movements triggered strong reactions, but after two weeks, those reactions disappeared.

Now, four weeks later, I thought her vigilance had completely faded, but apparently not.

Complicated.

I’d like to bestow a blessing and obtain her knowledge, but there’s plenty of time. Rushing would only ruin things. So I’ll take it slow and make her want my blessings.

“Surprised?”

“Changing clothes like that suddenly is surprising. Did you do that? How?”

As Hunkeschny asked naturally, I pondered how to respond. Explaining would shift the initiative to her, so I’ll cut it off here.

“Can’t I?”

Needless to say,

my question made Hunkeschny’s expression slightly darken.

Ah, got her. Heheh.

“Normal people can’t do that.”

“I’m not a normal person.”

Swallowing the unspoken “once,” I opened the door and stepped outside.

My first outing by my own will.

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