Chapter 19

Hieronymus and Joanna have returned.

Hmm?

If we consider the bold attitude of Tsume Keshini and Hieronymus’ response, it seems likely that Tsume Keshini and I had pre-arranged her role in caring for me.

Surveillance? Sure, let’s call it that. Anyway, I’ve been under constant watch since the start, but I haven’t given them any reason to nitpick.

Thinking about witchcraft as a profession, are they trying to study me?

If so, there’s no way I’d let them examine me willingly.

Because if I let my guard down and end up sealed, I wouldn’t be able to gain warmth, right?

Whether sealing actually exists or not is still unknown, but in a world with magic, its existence is more probable than not.

Isn’t it common for people to put off dealing with difficult issues by kicking the can down the road?

Of course, most of the time, those outcomes aren’t good.

Anyway, Hieronymus told me he had prepared some warmth for me.

Finally!

I’m so excited!

He said something else during that time, but it wasn’t important, so whatever!

After saying he’d come pick me up after lunch, Hieronymus called Tsume Keshini and they both left together.

And Joanna and I stayed behind.

Back to everyday life.

Since we’d arrived at our new nest, I got up from my seat and looked around the room. It was smaller than the last one, but with lots of windows giving it a much more open feel.

The surprising thing was the clean glass windows.

According to my memory, weren’t glass windows supposed to be a much later invention? Or does the existence of stained glass mean they’ve been around since medieval times?

Not sure.

At least this world has developed somewhat.

While I was estimating this world’s technological level by looking at the windows, Joanna came over and opened them wide.

Did she think I was just admiring the view because I didn’t know how to open windows? With the windows open, I took a look outside.

Mostly wasteland. There were patches of grass here and there, but mostly rocks and sand. The plants looked like they’d evolved to resemble cacti.

Definitely not an ideal place for human habitation.

In other words, it’s a hard-to-reach area. Perfect environment for a large cult to set up shop.

Religious groups usually retreat to these remote areas.

Hard to get in, hard to get out.

Ideal location for a cult to thrive.

Even if you tried to escape, most of the nearby villages belong to the Future Hope Church, meaning you’d only encounter enemies.

And these kinds of cults fanatically hunt down apostates to publicly execute them. They need to keep people bound through fear.

In short, escaping from this cult would be quite the ordeal.

Or maybe I should make it so there’s no need to escape.

I slowly reversed Joanna’s actions, closing the windows and sitting on my bed.

There’s no particularly ominous energy here.

Strictly speaking, it’s not inside this room, but outside. It’s less intense than the four underground, but there are about five times as many sources.

Seems like I’m pretty scary to them.

I wish they’d relax a bit.

Especially since I’m currently disguised as a young girl. Well, maybe calling me a girl is a stretch considering my rather large chest, but my short stature makes me appear childlike.

Aren’t girls supposed to be non-threatening?

With that thought in mind, I rested in the room just like when I was underground, and Joanna started doing her chores as usual.

She cleaned the area, then went out to prepare food when it was time. Unlike underground, her movements between locations were very quick.

There’s a nearby cafeteria.

As the Future Hope Church has many believers, they have a large kitchen.

But Joanna doesn’t go there. This building has multiple kitchens. Not the ones focused on cheap, quantity-over-quality ingredients, but exclusive kitchens using fresh and rare ingredients.

Even while wearing the guise of a religion, they have separate facilities for VIPs. Honestly, it’s quite amusing.

I ate the meal Joanna brought, returned the dishes to her, and she took them back to wash and dry.

When Joanna was still at the cafeteria…

Hieronymus came looking for me.

“I have prepared the place for bestowing blessings. Please come with me.”

Finally, I’ll be able to obtain warmth!

I happily followed Hieronymus.

Does he not care that Joanna isn’t here?

Is she just another follower to him?

It’s disappointing. If he valued her more, he’d keep her close, allowing me to see more interactions. Whether as an enemy or subordinate, it would be interesting to see his responses.

You can’t cry over what you don’t have.

I continued following him.

Instead of going outside, he led me underground.

After walking for a while, I realized where we were headed.

The altar.

The place where I was first summoned.

We arrived at the altar.

Upon entering the room containing the altar, it was already filled with believers. Even more crowded than when I was first summoned, meaning even more people had gathered.

Whatever they plan to do, I obediently followed along.

Together with Hieronymus, I climbed the steps on one side of the pyramid-shaped structure.

Reaching the stone chair at the top of the altar, Hieronymus seated me there and began preaching in a manner befitting the leader of a cult.

Though his speech was long-winded, the gist was simple:

“You are unfortunate.

But God has chosen you.

Believe and you will find happiness.

The more you pray, the greater your happiness will be.”

Underlying all this is the desire for someone to save them.

Additionally, he introduced me as the messenger of their god, announcing that I would now perform a miracle.

He explained that offering sacrifices would bring down blessings.

Ah, so they truly believe giving me warmth requires sacrifices. That’s why it took so long.

It was my mistake for not speaking up earlier, but I have no intention of correcting them.

I won’t answer unless asked directly.

If they ask later why sacrifices were necessary, I’ll simply say they never asked.

There are hints though.

When I blessed Joanna, I didn’t receive any offerings.

So it’s Hieronymus’ fault for not asking.

I waited seated on the stone chair as instructed. Whose warmth will I take and bless in return?

After finishing his sermon, Hieronymus called forward two people.

A man and a woman.

No, wait.

That’s not right.

The couple carried one baby each in their arms.

According to Hieronymus’ explanation, they are a family – parents and twins.

To the couple who ascended, Hieronymus spoke politely, telling them they had been chosen. To receive blessings, they must offer sacrifices, he said.

Overjoyed, without a hint of doubt, they extended their babies toward me.

The light emitted was normal enough, but the amount of warmth was lacking. In fact, the parents, whose light was slightly dimmer than the babies’, radiated much more warmth.

Judging by appearance, they truly are newborns.

Their eyes haven’t fully opened yet. Bright red infants.

A faint memory from a man cries out, questioning if I really intend to take the warmth from these babies.

Shouting that doing so would reduce me to less than human.

Well…

It’s not that I want the babies’ warmth specifically. I’d prefer the parents’ warmth, which is far greater.

But that’s not what Hieronymus wants, is it?

Hmm…

Perhaps I should leave at least one scar. Seated on the stone chair, I pointed at the babies.

“The warmth is too little. I desire more warmth.”

Then I stood up.

“But since Hieronymus wishes it, I shall take the warmth.”

Yes. Everything that happens next is entirely what you wanted. Using the baby as a sacrifice and creating a system of blessings – all your design.

I pushed myself further into Rebecca Rolfe’s body.

As usual, deep cracks formed on the skin, and dark purple smoke seeped out from the gaps.

Approaching the group of four, I addressed the parents.

“I will give myself to you. In return, once you complete everything, you will receive all that I possess. Do you understand?”

After delivering this familiar line, the couple joyfully replied in the affirmative.

To obtain warmth, I focused on the babies. Dark smoke flowed out from my body, slowly advancing until it reached the infants.

Two streams of warmth.

The babies’ skin gradually turned blue. With a squelching sound, their bodies twisted and faces changed. Eye sockets protruded and multiple eyes appeared. Sharp horns and spines erupted from their entire bodies, splitting the skin and revealing bulging muscles.

The two babies, now monsters, screamed.

Meanwhile, the dark purple smoke passed over the monsters and reached the parents. I channeled myself into them.

Both underwent transformations. Their skin turned white, eyes and hair dyed purple. The man grew taller and more muscular, while the woman became more beautiful with an ideal figure.

Almost simultaneously, both transformations completed.

The two newly created monsters charged at their respective parents. However, the man sliced the monster approaching him in half with a palm strike, and the woman extended tentacles from her arms to impale the other monster.

Having dispatched the monsters, they curiously inspected their own bodies.

Both grinned widely as they knelt before me. Originally, they were ordinary people. The man had gone bankrupt after being swindled by a close friend, and the woman had been ostracized by a group of women in her village due to bad luck.

They fled and joined the Future Hope Church.

There, they met and fell in love. However, their damaged hearts didn’t heal. Instead, they believed the Future Hope Church gave them happiness and became fervent believers.

This is the result.

Having received blessings, they became happy. Sacrificing their own child meant nothing compared to the Future Hope Church.

Standing before the two, Hieronymus shouted.

“This is the blessing of our god!”

The enthusiastic cheers of the cult members filled the altar.

In the pale memories, a man laments, but really…

Isn’t pursuing warmth more important?

I desire warmth.

For warmth, I’ll do anything.

Anything.

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