Chapter 28

Andrew, after parting ways with Rebecca, saw two individuals Hieronymus had assigned to keep an eye on her approach him. Normally, one might think they’d intervene to stop anyone getting too close to their surveillance target. However, these two bowed respectfully to Andrew and, after a light tap on their shoulders from him, he simply walked off. That’s because these two were more loyal to Andrew than Hieronymus.

Though they were all warriors of the same faith, some of Andrew’s subordinates had infiltrated the ranks. Of course, this didn’t mean they didn’t believe in the Future Hope Church; they believed in the same god, lived for the church, and would do anything for it. The only difference was who they were loyal to. Like having an A-line or B-line within a company, their allegiance just leaned toward different people.

A real cult that breaks people doesn’t usually allow such divisions. But Hieronymus had been so focused on expanding the Future Hope Church that internal management slipped through the cracks, creating gaps. Ideally, you’d crush dissent early and unify everyone under one voice, but Hieronymus lacked time. To him, the Future Hope Church was merely a tool to be used and discarded, so trust was nonexistent.

And the person who exploited this gap was Andrew. Originally, he was someone who gathered believers in a god of despair using his innate wisdom and charisma, eventually forming his own religion. Even after merging into the Future Hope Church, those who followed him didn’t switch loyalties instantly. Andrew joined the larger church out of ambition, planning to slowly take control as it grew.

But then Rebecca, a monster, suddenly appeared, threatening to disrupt everything. If she were just a powerful monster, it wouldn’t have been so dangerous. But this monster granted something called “blessing” to those who followed her—a tangible proof of loyalty that made her incredibly dangerous.

If Rebecca only responded to Hieronymus, his position would’ve been severely shaken. Between Andrew, who offered nothing, and Hieronymus, who bestowed blessings, the choice was obvious. So Andrew rushed to meet Rebecca.

He learned something satisfying: if offerings were provided, she would grant blessings, and she would side with whoever supplied more offerings. Terrifying though she was, Andrew realized he could replace Hieronymus and maintain control—or even eliminate her if necessary. Upon hearing that Rebecca wasn’t truly transcendent and was bound by her physical form, he understood she could be killed if needed.

Weighing whether to control Rebecca or destroy her, Andrew decided the scales tipped in favor of gaining her power. Her blessings were too tempting. Moreover, he discovered another way to receive blessings without directly seizing Rebecca from Hieronymus. Over time, tracking everyone who received blessings would become impossible, allowing Andrew to secretly bless his own followers.

But Andrew himself refused to receive any blessing. Why become a monster like her? Fundamentally, he didn’t see Rebecca as connected to his god, thinking she was just some strange creature conjured by Hieronymus’ dark arts. Unfortunately, while technically true, Andrew misjudged the situation. But no one was really at fault here—except perhaps for some malicious meddling influencing events behind the scenes. Yet even that manipulator would claim they only told the truth, despite knowing full well how it would be interpreted. As lies and truths intertwined, the Future Hope Church began its slow descent into chaos… until it inevitably crashed.

—

Meanwhile, Tisah fled south-west from Cogni Kingdom’s jungle after escaping the Future Hope Church, heading southeast. He wanted to get as far away as possible, running nonstop until he reached a small village. For three days and nights, his regenerative body healed every wound faster than insects could devour him. Blood-sucking bugs couldn’t pierce his skin, and even if they did, his body turned black-purple and dissolved the bite almost instantly. With such abilities, traversing the dense jungle was effortless for him.

The never-ending forest eventually gave way to a drier climate with harder ground and fewer trees. Exiting Cogni Kingdom’s southern jungle, he entered the northern forest of Ansellus Kingdom. There, he faced a crossroads.

Ahead, nine men laden with goods dragged an unhappy-looking girl. Clearly, she’d been captured by bandits. Any rational person would’ve fled, but not Tisah. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle bandits—his violet hair marked him unmistakably as someone blessed by outsiders, making him an easy target—but his nature wouldn’t allow him to ignore injustice.

This was his curse. Had he lacked this trait, he might’ve stayed within the Future Hope Church, exploiting it for his benefit. His disillusionment stemmed from witnessing someone close die in the name of their god. Thus, Tisah moved to rescue the girl.

Bandits were no match for Tisah’s unparalleled regeneration. Trained in combat since childhood and battle-hardened, he dispatched them easily. Driven by innate kindness, he spared their lives, reclaiming both stolen goods and the girl’s belongings. Together, they returned to her village.

Instead of mere gratitude, Tisah became a local hero when he returned all the stolen items. For a week, he experienced ordinary life—a wooden house, adult men and women, and the girl he saved. For the first time, he felt what it was like to belong to a family.

But tragedy struck. His purple hair revealed his connection to the Future Hope Church. Word spread: “There’s someone blessed here. We’ve come to help!” By now, purple hair symbolized membership in the church—not just belief, but power. Unlike regular followers who hid under masks and hoods, those with blessings flaunted their abilities openly, wearing extravagant clothes. This distinction was reinforced by one influential boy.

People craved recognition, and this desire merged with authority, creating titles for the powerful. Hieronymus encouraged this system to simplify management—if he directed the blessed, others would follow automatically. Consequently, the church now revolved around those with purple hair, turning it into a symbol of power.

Appearance and authority combined, inspiring fervent devotion. Followers believed following these blessed ones brought prosperity. Once, the church liberated oppressed villages, but now, every non-believing settlement became a target for “liberation”—forcing conversion and destroying all else. Like the Yellow Turbans in ancient China, they plundered indiscriminately.

Of course, the bandits Tisah chased away led the church to the village. Despite his efforts, the villagers suffered. If not for his telltale hair color, disaster might’ve been delayed, but his escape from the church also sealed the village’s fate. Fortune came with a price, and misfortune followed closely behind.

Tisah fought valiantly but couldn’t protect the village against overwhelming numbers. Realizing his failure, he stared at the dead girl’s hand, vowing revenge against the Future Hope Church. What started as mere escape now became a mission for vengeance. After burying the fallen, he resumed his journey eastward, driven not by freedom but by rage.

Heading toward the heart of Ansellus Kingdom, Tisah’s path intersected with destiny.

—

Hehe.

This is fun!

It feels like watching a classic hero’s origin story unfold! Gaining special powers in perilous circumstances and becoming a hero—it’s a common trope, but experiencing it firsthand makes it thrilling!

Stories often diverge from reality, so witnessing it directly was exhilarating. Through Tisah’s perspective, I could sense his emotions, even if limited to physical details like facial expressions, heartbeat, or pain. Still, guessing his thoughts isn’t hard.

Yes, I know he seeks vengeance. And conveniently, he heads toward Ansellus Kingdom—Hieronymus’ target and enemy. Now, an adversary of the Future Hope Church walks straight into its domain.

I’ll wait patiently in a corner of this chaotic church, observing how everything unfolds. But if Andrew seizes power and reshapes the Future Hope Church before things escalate, that could change the game.

Regardless of how it plays out, I’ll focus on finding the technology that brought me here, living carefree like a pet while the world burns around me.

Hi hi.