Chapter 85: Divine Contribution (3)
Church headquarters.
In the midst of the rain that continued to pour from the gloomy sky, Archbishop Roan Hebris was on his way to attend an event outside.
Behind Roan, his fervent follower James was following him.
Roan looked briefly at the sight of the believers outside the window.
In the rain, countless believers were standing and waiting for Roan.
He checked the sight of the believers outside and then asked James a question.
“James. How many believers who have awakened miracles have you confirmed?”
“The total number of those who have been found regardless of their rank is 143.”
After Roan awakened miracles in the city, many believers began to awaken miracles as well.
That’s how 143 believers who could use miracles were found so far.
Considering the total number of people affiliated with the church headquarters, it was not a very large number.
Was it because of the lack of faith of the believers?
Or was it because of their lack of devotion to the great being?
It was a rather regrettable part for Roan.
Roan frowned as he recalled the miracle he had faced a while ago and continued his question.
“143… Is there still no one classified as a first-class believer?”
First-Rank Believer.
That was the term used to refer to those believers who could use high-level miracles among those who had awakened to miracles.
More precisely, they called the believers who could summon the ‘Rain of Lightning’ as first-rank believers.
It had been quite some time since Roan had announced that he would grant a high position to the first-rank believer.
However, so far, there was no believer who had reached that level except for the apostles.
James, who had heard Roan’s story, spoke to him with a dark face.
“It seems that Elliot, the believer you recommended so much, might be able to reach the first-rank soon.”
“Elliot. The believer you praised so highly.”
“He is a very devout believer. He worships with his whole body every day without fail.”
“He might be able to reach the first-rank… We have to keep an eye on him.”
The believers who could perform miracles were important assets for the church.
Roan himself could bring forth the rain of lightning from his hands and sweep away his enemies.
But not all believers could perform high-level miracles.
Most of the believers could barely summon a single bolt of lightning.
Of course, there were some believers who could create a spear of lightning among them.
In such a situation, someone who had the potential to reach the first-rank was nothing less than a blessing for the church.
Roan gave an order about Elliot, and James followed him with a bow.
“I will follow your command, Archbishop.”
Before long, they came out of the building and saw the believers who greeted them one by one.
In front of the believers, there was a large stage prepared for Roan to show his miracle today.
Roan walked towards the stage, watching the believers who greeted him.
The sound of his feet squelching on the rain-soaked ground echoed.
Roan passed by the believers and approached the stage, climbing up the stairs to the top.
As Roan stepped onto the stage as announced beforehand, one of the church officials who was standing on the stage shouted loudly to the believers.
“Everyone, be quiet. The Archbishop is here.”
Roan, who had climbed onto the stage, looked at the believers who were lined up below.
The number of people who had gathered in the church was incomparable to before.
The appearance of the church, which used to look like a bandit’s den, had also changed to a refined one.
In the church that now looked like a place to worship God, the believers were looking at Roan while being soaked by the rain.
Their faith towards their master was something that even the fierce rainstorm could not stop.
Roan, who faced the believers who were looking at him, pulled back his hood and opened his mouth to them.
“Praise the Great One.”
“For the Great One!”
At Roan’s voice, the believers began to chant words of praise in unison.
The voices of countless believers mixed in the air and resonated loudly.
In front of such believers, Roan lifted up his dagger.
Ednos. It was the first thing that Roan had received from his master, and now it was regarded as a sacred object of the church.
Roan, who held up Ednos, which had gained a symbolic value, spoke to the believers.
“We have gathered under the grace of the Great One, and we are the ones who move to serve the true master on earth.”
The goal of the church was one.
To summon the Great Being here and create a world for him.
The believers who heard the will of the church clenched their mouths and shed tears of emotion.
In front of the sobbing believers, Roan cut through the swirling wind with Ednos.
“All kinds of storms will cease under the Great One, and the flags of those who stand in his way will also be mercilessly broken.”
Under the wind that was split by Ednos, Roan, who held the sword, declared with a serious face.
The reason why Roan, the Archbishop, came to this place today.
It was to demonstrate the greatest miracle to the believers.
Today was the day that had to be a symbolic moment for all the believers.
And it was the day that had to be a turning point for them to crave miracles.
Roan, who lifted up his sword, proclaimed to the believers in a majestic voice.
“Behold. The miracle will cut through the clouds.”
“…”
“Here today, witness the moment of glory.”
The moment Roan’s sword, which was stirring the sky, stopped.
Miracles began to happen around Roan.
The bright sun rose and tore apart the dark clouds, and the fierce storm subsided.
As the rain stopped, warm sunlight began to shine down on Roan and the believers.
All the believers looked up at the sun that appeared through the dark sky.
Under the burning sun, a huge presence was facing them.
“Ooh… The Great One!”
“Even the storm was pitiful in front of the Great One!”
The believers who were standing up knelt down one by one at the sight of the miracle they faced.
They knelt and shed tears of joy, praying.
Roan looked at them and put the dagger he was holding in his chest.
Was it because he had shown the believers a scene that dominated even the sky?
He felt that the grace of the Great Being in him had increased.
He felt a thrill that made his hands tremble at the sight of the admiring believers.
The more he devoted himself to the Great Being, the more miracles his master gave him.
He spread his arms wide to the believers who were crying tears of joy and praying.
“Worship. Praise. Obey.”
“The Greatest One will return!”
He saw one person who was far away from the believers who shouted at him.
There, a painter was holding a brush and drawing Roan and the church.
There were tears in the eyes of the painter who was drawing Roan.
***
After finishing Eutenia’s spec-up, I moved the screen to Evan right away.
It was because I heard from Eutenia that there was not enough information about [Philosopher’s Stone].
I didn’t think Evan would know anything about [Philosopher’s Stone], so it was to give him a new order.
I moved the screen and looked at where Evan was, and he was feeding Soil to [Floating Soil] as always.
[Floating Soil] was eating the Soil that Evan gave him while being soaked.
It was already hundreds of times bigger than before.
He seemed to be feeding him diligently.
I was proud of Evan’s appearance and told him about this quest.
-“Is your mission to bring back the Philosopher’s Stone this time?”
Evan quickly understood my words and nodded.
He didn’t seem to know much about the Philosopher’s Stone, but if I instructed him like this, he would somehow find a way to get it.
That was why I spent money to train his character.
Of course, Evan was not the only apostle I sent for this quest.
I also planned to send Eutenia with him.
I also told Evan that Eutenia would accompany him.
“Yeah. You go with Eutenia and get it.”
Of course, my words were not delivered directly, but through a high-end translator.
A new dialogue was printed on the chat window with archaic vocabulary.
-“Fulfill your mission. The wise apostle will help your feat.”
-“I see. I’ll move with Eutenia then. Understood.”
Evan understood me even though I spoke like that.
Rather, it would be easier for them to understand each other when they talked among themselves.
Evan nodded his head and agreed to my suggestion that he go with Eutenia.
And then he told me his plan through the chat window.
-“I have heard some rumors about it. It seems like something that high-level magicians or alchemists would be interested in, so I’ll try to find out more from them myself.”
He said he would look for high-level magicians or alchemists himself.
Indeed, it looked like an item that only those NPCs would know by name.
Evan’s idea of meeting other magician characters was reasonable enough.
As he did in the last quest, Evan was very smart in this direction.
-“Great One. What should I do with the earth spirit while I’m gone?”
That’s right.
I had also entrusted Evan with the training of [Floating Soil].
The lump of Soil had grown to the size of a hut while in Evan’s care.
I looked at [Floating Soil], who had grown fat and plump, and thought about it.
Pluto, the vampire, didn’t seem suitable for this quest that involved going into the city.
So it seemed better to leave [Floating Soil]’s care to Pluto instead of Evan.
I moved my finger and told Evan about the plan for the spirit training.
“Just leave it to Pluto. How hard can it be to feed Soil?”
-“A new apostle will take over your role.
-“I understand. Thank you.”
-“Sniffle.”
The lump of Soil that had been watching Evan and me talk raised a speech bubble above its head and sobbed.
I couldn’t tell if it was crying or laughing, but there was something called the mood, right?
To me, it seemed like a situation where it was crying, judging by the circumstances.
Evan, who had accepted my order, stuck the shovel he had been using to scoop up Soil back into the ground.
He seemed ready to leave this place as soon as he received the order.
Then he tapped the [Floating Soil] next to him with his palm and said,
-“I’ll see you again when the mission is over. Until then, grow into a splendid being.”
-“Soil.”
Did it understand what Evan said?
It responded to Evan’s words by slowly rotating in its place.
It was a heartwarming sight of the two characters.
After saying goodbye to the [Floating Soil], Evan packed his belongings and started to descend the mountain.
The place where Evan had been standing was a mountain right behind the church.
He would probably need to stop by the church to prepare for the quest.
As I watched Evan go down the mountain, the [Floating Soil] that was left alone in its place raised speech bubbles one after another.
-“Soil.”
-“Sniffle.”
-“Soil.”
-“Sniffle sniffle sniffle sniffle.”
I had no idea what it was saying.
However, I could tell that it was feeling down after Evan left.
As soon as Evan moved out of sight, the [Floating Soil] spun furiously in its place.
It was a completely different speed from when it was seeing Evan off.
The [Floating Soil] scattered some Soil around as it spun fast.
Then, at some point, it lifted its body into the air and shot up towards the distant sky.
-“Sniffle sniffle sniffle sniffle sniffle sniffle sniffle sniffle.”
I watched the [Floating Soil] disappear with a speech bubble for a moment.
I was startled, but I quickly moved the screen to chase after it.
The [Floating Soil] was not the kind of character that could communicate normally with others.
It was not the kind of character that could find its way back on its own if it left by itself.
There was a high chance that I wouldn’t be able to find its trace for a long time if I lost it here.
“What is that? Where is it going?”
Swish. Swish.
I pushed the screen quickly with my index finger to keep following the [Floating Soil].
That’s how the chase between the [Floating Soil] and me had to continue for a while.
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