Chapter 32

It’s been since yesterday evening that Thungkeshni hasn’t entered her space.

Joanna’s gaze is piercing.

I do admit I was pretty provocative at the end.

But at least something happened, right?

Because as soon as Thungkeshni’s black veil disappeared, Joanna woke up hearing both my voice and Thungkeshni’s.

But it’s also true that Thungkeshni is being overly cautious.

Hieronymus barely pays attention to me anymore these days.

Now, it seems he considers taking my warmth as an offering and blessing me just another task.

Surely Thungkeshni warned him about me, but there’s a high chance he isn’t listening. Or maybe he doesn’t care what happens to the Future Hope Church as long as the Ansellus Kingdom falls before everything collapses.

Almost half a year has passed.

The seasons have changed twice.

In that time, I’ve learned so much.

For instance, about Hieronymus, who summoned me.

His real name is Yasle. He used to hold a high position in the Yeongyang Church Nation.

Yeongyang Church Nation was the name of a country that fell 15 years ago. It was located in the northern A-rim Jungle near where I am now—a theocratic society.

But it collapsed due to religious wars. Many eastern countries believed in the Seongsin Church, while the Yeongyang Church Nation didn’t follow their god. So especially devout Ansellus Kingdom sent soldiers to start a war.

Like a crusade, they passed through the Cogni Kingdom and completely wiped out the Yeongyang Church Nation.

And Yasle is one of the survivors.

A survivor filled with the single-minded desire for revenge against the Ansellus Kingdom.

Afterward, he built a primitive religion for the poor and failed, creating a new god and setting its commandments.

He did it surprisingly fast. There were already several people willing to offer themselves as sacrifices even before the Future Hope Church had its name.

To them, becoming an offering to me was salvation.

Well, technically, it wasn’t real salvation—they were killed by the religion—but they truly believed until their last breath.

Their lives were always miserable, so sacrificing themselves for the god felt like a plus in the end.

So, I investigated how Yasle built the Future Hope Church from various angles.

Andrew is one of the newer members. By the time he joined, the church had already grown into a massive cult.

Still, Andrew bowed his head and joined Yasle. I don’t know what he was thinking back then.

But you remember, right?

There’s someone among those receiving blessings who is Andrew’s subordinate.

Yeah.

Andrew plans to get rid of Yasle and absorb the Future Hope Church under his control. He explained this secretly to his followers.

That’s how I found out.

Whether Yasle knows about it or not, I’m unsure.

But I do know he’s not doing anything about it.

All I see is that he keeps pushing more blessed individuals toward the Ansellus Kingdom.

Wait… Isn’t that too concentrated in one place?

One more place needs blessed individuals—right?

The Lasve-Cogni Kingdom front has almost stopped fighting. They’ve set up bases far from the border and are systematically searching nearby villages for members of the Future Hope Church.

This is because blessed individuals hiding in nearby villages have been captured and executed multiple times.

You’d think they’d push more people onto the front line, but ever since winter began, no one’s been sent north.

Instead, the Future Hope Church is becoming public enemy number one. Witga is descending with his favorite subordinates.

By the way, his subordinate is someone who received my blessing—Isla. Though she’s young, her body transformed into an adult’s, and she’s learning well by following Witga.

Meanwhile, Wide leads many blessed individuals from the Ansellus Kingdom.

On his side, he wants to gather the blessed into a separate society entirely.

When blessed, people gain enhanced physical abilities. Some even develop special powers.

It’s like upgrading humans to version 2.0.

It’s not strange for upgraded humans to climb higher ranks. The Future Hope Church moves accordingly.

As more blessed individuals become capable commanders instead of mere soldiers, my understanding expands.

So, I can see things happening.

The Future Hope Church is starting to creak under the weight of everyone’s personal desires, and Yasle shows no intention of strong control.

Probably because he believes if the Ansellus Kingdom falls, everything else doesn’t matter.

The disposable tools’ lifespan is nearing its end.

Of course, destroying the Ansellus Kingdom seems quite difficult.

Because Tisah is there.

Initially, the Ansellus Kingdom ignored dangerous converts as a potential threat.

But Tisah’s virtue shone brightly.

Not only does he do his job, but he also moves for the sake of the unfortunate. Good people stand out in such terrible times of war.

Besides, he converted to the Seongsin Church.

From being a dangerous convert to becoming a person of Ansellus and gradually a hero—all in less than half a year.

But as Yasle’s attacks intensified, Tisah fought many battles.

Though he lost many people, he saved many as well.

Classic.

The result of Yasle’s actions lies there.

Do they call it karma or retribution?

Beyond simply stopping Yasle’s attacks, they’re planning something here.

They aim to attack the underground temple beneath the Skad Stone Desert. Surprisingly, their main target isn’t the leader Yasle—it’s me.

Because the cost-effectiveness of blessed individuals is just too good. One offering gives random superhumans capable of fighting ten to a thousand enemies.

Who wouldn’t want to destroy such a production factory?

Especially when the entity’s nature is unknown.

I might die, sure.

But considering the devices Yasle prepared to fight me, it’s unlikely he alone developed the technology. There must be devices capable of killing me too.

Of course, I considered defecting to their side, but given the point where I’ve already accepted offerings, I’d likely be rejected.

Religions tend to make people more conservative.

Otherwise, too much change makes them dangerous. Too many mutations quickly distance them from their original form.

Being too conservative means they can’t adapt to changes and may vanish if they meet the wrong era.

Yet maintaining a large religion suggests some level of conservatism. Plus, in a world where gods exist and their words are heard…

Yeah.

Some people remember hearing divine messages from Seongsin Church priests when I took their offerings—not under drugs or trances but through an unknown power called divine energy.

At first, I thought it was magic power. But after observing many wizards and priests, I noticed differences.

For example, when doing something with their hands, wizards channel something from their hearts to their hands. Priests, however, generate something in their heads that flows through their hands.

The mechanisms of their abilities differ minimally.

Meaning gods exist.

And they probably don’t view me favorably.

A monster that taints light and steals warmth—that’s me.

Or as they say, an outsider. But compared to the outsiders in those stories, I’m just a plain monster.

Thus, surviving by joining the Seongsin Church seems unlikely.

But I’m looking forward to Tisah bringing the Ansellus Kingdom here.

Many will die.

Which means I’ll gain a lot of warmth.

Hi hi.

Judging by timing, many people will gather around this underground temple in the Skad Stone Desert at about the same moment.

Although, if luck holds and the Ansellus Kingdom falls and invades other kingdoms, it’s not impossible.

Given the situation, though, it’s tough.

Most importantly, there aren’t enough people.

Sure, the Future Hope Church has many followers, but fanatics are rare. Most believe superficially. Recently, many newcomers dislike the church despite pretending otherwise.

Because it takes so much from the villages.

Promising liberation from cruel lords, they end up stealing even more. Some villages actually had kind rulers.

But the warriors of the Future Hope Church killed them all and declared liberation.

Yeah. Resentment grows. Brutal violence can’t solve everything; usually, it worsens situations.

Basically, those receiving blessings are loyal to the Future Hope Church. Though I can’t see it directly, I imagine many will surrender to the Ansellus Kingdom when they arrive.

And quite a few will even raise weapons against the church.

Alright, it’s bedtime, so let me summarize briefly.

First, the Future Hope Church. Villages around the underground temple are thriving, witnessing blessed individuals using psychic abilities firsthand. But beyond that, conditions deteriorate.

The Lasve Kingdom and Cogni Kingdom.

They’ve ceased hostilities and now focus on hunting down Future Hope Church members. Official letters haven’t been exchanged due to Witga’s schemes—or maybe through channels Witga hasn’t detected.

Anyway, the north is gradually being sealed off. That’s why Witga is heading to the Skad Stone Desert to request reinforcements.

Ansellus Kingdom.

Currently, the main battlefield sees the Future Hope Church winning continuously. Blessed individuals led by Wide are incredibly powerful—like superheroes wreaking havoc in medieval battlefields.

But elsewhere, the church is losing ground. Tactically victorious, but strategically failing.

Above all, they’re preparing a decisive blow centered around Tisah.

Directly attacking this point in the Skad Stone Desert.

Traps are closing in from all sides.

What will Yasle choose?

What will Thungkeshni do?

What tricks will Andrew pull in this situation?

I’m curious.

Time will answer everything. So, all we need to do is wait.

“Goodnight, Joanna.”

“Yes, Lady Rebecca. Sweet dreams.”

I lay down quietly on the bed.

Of course, instead of dreaming, I’ll be watching various people in real-time!

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