Chapter 30
Hmm…
I’m going through my memories again in the room.
Recently, half of the offerings are from the Ansellus Kingdom, and the other half are from believers. Maybe that’s why very few people know about the Yeongyang Church Nation.
Decades ago, the Ansellus Kingdom destroyed the Yeongyang Church Nation. I thought there would be many who knew about Yeongyang if the offerings came from Ansellus.
But checking the memories, ordinary people knew nothing about Yeongyang. Even if they did, they only remembered that there was some weird religion.
It’s quite similar to how Americans don’t even know if another country really exists.
I want to know more, but lucky for me, not all information gets through.
Currently, half of the blessed people are on the front line of the Cogni-Rasbe Kingdom commanded by Witga, and the other half are under direct orders from Hieronymus in the Ansellus Kingdom.
It’s becoming evident that things aren’t flowing according to plan.
The front lines between the two kingdoms commanded by Witga are moving towards a peace treaty. Witga is trying hard to sabotage it, though.
The situation is the same on Hieronymus’s side.
They must have moved in a remarkably sinister way. The blessed ones are being captured and killed. However, most of them have the ability to escape, so they’ve managed to get away, but likely, many without blessings have died.
The situation is worsening day by day.
Of course, it’s also because the Ansellus Kingdom is handling it well, but there are other reasons too.
Tisah.
Yes. That boy who escaped back then.
He’s the one who headed towards the Ansellus Kingdom seeking revenge.
But he couldn’t abandon his nature. Along the way, he saves someone, ends up misunderstood, or has some issues that force him to flee.
He’s repeated that several times.
Until now, the good deeds he’s done may have helped others, but they didn’t benefit him.
At least, not at that time.
But those seemingly unhelpful good deeds piled up and became a stepping stone for the Ansellus Kingdom to trust him.
He’s been recognized as an ally in the Ansellus Kingdom. Of course, he’s being monitored separately.
Still, it was enough, allowing Tisah to freely talk about the Future Hope Church.
This included stories about the leader, Hieronymus, and also about me.
Yes.
The Future Hope Church is the girl they call the Apostle of God.
The one who gives blessings.
And when someone receives a blessing from me, their hair turns purple, and they gain special abilities, I explained.
After that explanation, the Ansellus Kingdom started capturing people from the Future Hope Church with purple hair and dragging them straight to their labs.
In the labs, they undergo torturous experiments until death.
They witness all the pain, despair, and screams.
But ultimately, all I feel is that warmth is coming soon.
After all, warmth comes when someone dies.
Though it’s unfortunate if they can’t go wild enough to gain the warmth, it still feels nice when it comes.
And I was able to understand the blessed people. I conducted experiments on how long they could endure, and how their abilities varied from person to person.
When the workers dissect the blessed ones and talk amongst themselves, they learned a lot.
For example, about magic.
Indeed, I’ve licked many who use magic multiple times. The light was no different from an ordinary person, and the warmth varied just like everyone else, with some having a lot and others very little.
The problem is that I have no idea about magic power.
When a wizard uses magic, they have memories of manipulating magic. While there’s some difference in sensitivity to magic power, it’s merely a difference where some are sensitive and others are dull; otherwise, it’s similar.
However, no matter what I try, magic just doesn’t come out.
I chanted spells while running outside. But I couldn’t feel any magic power at all. Even trying to mimic the moment I first learned magic, I felt nothing.
It’s as if there’s absolutely no talent for that power.
Am I completely devoid of talent in magic?
Or is it because I’m already full, hence not feeling it?
I don’t know.
But I’ve also discovered something.
When a wizard receives a blessing from me, they might harness even greater power.
But it’s fortunate that a wizard will never join the Future Hope Church.
Because, fundamentally, wizards are from the higher class.
Special powers give authority the more violent the world becomes.
Magic is no different.
If everyone could use magic through sheer effort, it would be one thing, but magic heavily relies on talent.
So the only wizards I’ve tasted were all offerings.
Thinking back, there was a time when only wizards were present for two days; could that have been Hieronymus or Hyungkesuni’s experiment?
But there was no difference.
An offering is an offering.
A blessing is a blessing.
In fact, between Hieronymus and me, offerings and blessings have no connection at all.
It’s just an unspoken rule that one offering equals one blessing.
Perhaps, Hieronymus fears that if he confirms one offering and one blessing, it would become a stumbling block in future negotiations.
Like what I did with Andrew, two offerings for one blessing.
That could work, but being greedy is not good.
Especially when powerless, couldn’t one pour warm soup over themselves and claim one offering per hundred blessings?
It’s essential to create a situation where we can respect each other.
So, when I truly feel powerless, I’ve been gradually working on how to enhance my likability.
Anyway, let’s head back to the Ansellus Kingdom.
The Ansellus Kingdom has created a way to label the blessed as the corrupted. Of course, it’s not the old witch distinction.
If you throw someone onto the water and they float, they are a bad witch; if they sink, they are an ordinary person.
The Ansellus Kingdom has developed a special device for that. It looks somewhat like a fan. They inspect people by sweeping with it.
If it’s someone who received my blessing, it seems to become heavy to the point where they can’t fan it.
I appear to be a significant resistance.
So when they conduct experiments on blessed people, the fan suddenly stops in mid-air as if it collided with a boulder. Even when force is applied and pressed down, it descends very slowly.
In other words, it’s a device that can detect even if someone dyes their hair using hair dye.
How fascinating.
That’s how the Ansellus Kingdom is gradually handling the Future Hope Church.
Before that, could Hieronymus collapse the Ansellus Kingdom?
I’m fine with whatever happens. No, I hope to delay it a bit. I haven’t yet befriended Hieronymus.
Hehe.
The Future Hope Church is, after all, a cult formed by the lowest of lives. They could never easily rise to the top.
There are rules and laws.
But the desires are stronger.
Having lost so far, can they take a little now?
As a result, everyone has been classified into two groups: those of the Future Hope Church and those not part of it, and they’ve begun robbing those who aren’t.
Of course, not everyone has found salvation here.
To outsiders, it may simply look like they’re being exploited, yet for them, it could be different.
But that’s not acceptable.
They’ve already crossed the line.
From the start, it was created in a place that has crossed the line.
This place is destined for downfall. So, before that happens, I need to scrape everything up.
Yes. The most crucial goal.
The method to summon me.
Ah, no.
There’s something I need to experiment with for future reference. I need to do it while blessed individuals are coming in three at a time.
If not now, when will I have this kind of steady stream?
I’ve set up a secondary goal for the experiment.
What kind of experiment, you ask?
It’s an experiment involving me inserting information.
Let’s see, where to start…
Let’s keep it simple.
First, let’s insert the title of “Outsider.” The only one who calls me that is Hyungkesuni. I will expand from here.
I’ll impart specific information while bestowing blessings.
Will I succeed?
No, I must strive for success.
Because only then can I carry out tasks that will lead to greater happiness later on.
“Hello, Hyungkesuni.”
So, I greeted Hyungkesuni, who returned to the room. She now accepts my greetings as if it’s a given.
“Yeah, Rebecca. Ugh, what is Yasle trying to do? If he’s going for revenge, I wish he would take better care of himself.”
Just as she entered, to the left.
There’s a space set for Hyungkesuni. She threw a draped cloth onto the sofa and placed the skull staff beside her before sitting in her chair.
“Joanna. Always prepare something to eat.”
“Yes, Hyungkesuni.”
Drooping in her chair, she orders Joanna to get her a drink.
That means she’s become comfortable in this spot.
But there’s a bothersome question.
“Who is Yasle?”
Hyungkesuni answered lazily, burying herself in her chair and waving her hand.
“Hieronymus’s real name. A stupid man. He chose revenge and is now overworking himself before even finding a way to get it.”
Ah, so that’s his real name?
Yasle.
Yes. I remember. I need to dig into people’s memories again. I wonder if new information will emerge. But I must not make a mistake here.
Feign ignorance.
Act as if I have no interest, even knowing the name.
“Is Hyungkesuni having a tough time? Do you want a blessing?”
If possible, I tossed out a question that might distract her with a small wish behind it.
“I don’t need it. No matter what happens, I won’t accept help from the likes of you.”
Yes. I know. Even though Hyungkesuni’s defenses have loosened considerably, they haven’t extinguished at all.
She may be dull about others, but she reacts quite paranoidly about herself.
So…
“Got it? Rebecca. I will never contract with someone like you again.”
She responds while glaring at me, sitting there.
A witch who has lived for over a hundred years. Hyungkesuni.
Is that because she made a contract with someone? In other words, is Hyungkesuni someone else’s meal ticket?
But I could seize another’s meal ticket for the sake of warmth. Although there’s a time limit, I still have time. So I say this.
“If it’s tough, call for me. Hyungkesuni. I’ll come find you.”
If you have knowledge to summon me to this world, I won’t let it slip away.
“Dream on.”
At my words, Hyungkesuni made a face of disgust and answered curtly before throwing herself back on the sofa.
Hehe.
See? That ‘Yasle’ has flown out of her mind.