Chapter: 800
It seems Enen rejected my prayer.
‘It’s not budging at all.’
I was trying to carefully preserve the earth stamped with Enen’s footprints like a precious dinosaur fossil, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get my hands on it, let alone keep it safe.
Trying to dig it up with my hands or cut it out with my sword yielded no results. I even unleashed a vertical slash at the footprint, but it didn’t budge an inch.
It was as if Enen was putting all his might into blocking me, desperately pleading for me not to take the footprint.
‘…Is Enen actually blocking me?’
– Yeah. If you can’t get through even with your strength, then it’s definitely the will of a god. Looks like it’s a pretty embarrassing past.
The Eternal Blue Sky chuckled as if it found this amusing, but I couldn’t muster a smile as I suddenly lost the best gift right before my eyes.
How infuriating. There’s a diamond right there in front of me, within reach, the very best gem. And now I have to walk away from this beautiful jewel?
‘What should I do about this?’
I was seriously contemplating my options. If it’s Enen blocking me, then neither mine nor the Eternal Blue Sky’s power would be able to break through.
Even if I did manage to break through, that would lead to another problem. Enen could have physically thrown me out for witnessing his embarrassing past instead of countering me with a desperate defense tactic. From his perspective, it’d be justified to rain down celestial punishment, yet he showed a surprisingly merciful reaction.
In such a situation, going ahead and ripping the footprint away could earn me a taste of the fiery hell that Enen created during the religious wars.
‘But it’s a shame to give up.’
After all, this is proof of a god’s presence. It’s the evidence of when the god first set foot in this world. It’s akin to saying that the stable where Jesus was born still exists in the old world.
If I casually mentioned it to the Dawn Sect, I could easily pay back with all sorts of treasures and interests… As Tannian’s acquaintance, it’d also be a splendid gift to show off…
“Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do.”
Finally, with a sigh, I sheathed my sword.
– Giving up, huh? If Enen is serious, then there’s really nothing we can do—
“I will build a temple right here!”
– Huh?
As I shouted this while looking up toward the sky, the Eternal Blue Sky responded with a somewhat taken aback voice.
“This is the place where you first set foot on this continent and vowed to embrace all life! Your followers will hold your history in high regard and follow you with joy!”
And I continued to shout even louder, regardless of his skepticism.
If Enen had decided to block me, even with the Eternal Blue Sky beside me, I wouldn’t have been able to reach that footprint anyway. However, Enen may be preventing me from taking the footprint, but he didn’t stop me from coming here.
So perhaps there’s room for negotiation. Instead of taking the footprint, how about I compromise by designating this place as a holy site?
“Your followers will follow and believe in you even more as they gaze upon this footprint! A single step of the divine is the lifetime of your devotees, and their life will change the continent!”
– Wow.
As I spat out whatever came to mind, the previously quiet Eternal Blue Sky let out a low gasp.
It seems he was surprised that a fool blinded by gift ideas like me was daring to mention the continent. Honestly, I felt a bit embarrassed about such an ugly change of stance myself.
Still, if it meant securing a holy site, I would gladly endure the shame. The disgrace might be fleeting, but the glory is eternal.
“Thus, I shall construct your temple upon this footprint, allowing your followers to send their prayers! It will be for those who wish to walk in your path, not just for all life under your warm light!”
This meant I would only reveal it to the clergy and not to everyone. It was a proposal that could save just a bit of Enen’s pride.
And indeed, it seemed that Enen was intrigued by this proposal, as I felt the fiercely blazing flames begin to simmer down a bit.
– Is this really working…?
It had to work. The priests regarded Enen as their parent, emperor, teacher, and master.
While there might have been embarrassing moments to show ordinary believers, surely it would be okay for the clergy—who loyally follow him no matter what—to look at a footprint.
To be honest, the regular believers would likely go wild upon seeing it, too. The fact that the footprint represents a dark history is known only to Enen, the Eternal Blue Sky, and myself. To any outsider, it would simply appear to be the mark of a great deity.
But what can I say? The owner of the footprint might be filled with embarrassment. I should show my consideration since I’m the one trying to borrow it.
“The first footprint of the sun! Bestow that glory upon your followers!”
With those final words, I bowed my head deeply.
The flame, which had notably diminished since I first saw it, looked even less intimidating now.
‘Good.’
When I lightly nudged it with my sword, it smoothly sank into the ground without resistance.
I could sneakily carve out the footprint right now, but doing so could awaken Enen’s genuine fury. I sure don’t want to be the ‘human who struck the back of a god and suffered consequences’ from mythology.
While I was declaring my intention to build a temple, it felt wrong to do it at my own expense.
The northern region is the Empire’s territory, and the Empire is the one that made a friendship pact with the Dawn Sect. If I build Enen’s temple upon that footprint, it’s ultimately an advantage for the Empire. The higher-ups of the Dawn Sect and the clergy would surely flock there, shedding tears of joy.
“Minister. What did you just say?”
“Enen’s footprint is located in the northern region, where he first descended upon this continent. How about we build a temple there in the name of the Empire?”
And so I reported it to the emperor. If this is handled well—or rather, just by announcing it, we’ve discovered a place that could be designated as a significant holy site, so let’s put up a temple there.
“The wedding of the next saint and the cardinal is right around the corner. If we present that temple as a gift to the Dawn Sect, they should be overjoyed.”
I suggested giving it as a gift to the Dawn Sect at the same time.
“A temple as a gift?”
The emperor’s brow furrowed slightly at my proposal. Even amidst the surprise of discovering Enen’s iconic footprint, he instinctively reacted negatively to the idea of giving away part of the Empire’s territory.
What a sharp instinct. If this were an ordinary person, they surely wouldn’t be able to think straight in front of a fossilized god’s footprint. The emperor truly is something else.
“Of course, I’m not suggesting we hand over the ownership of the temple and the land to the Dawn Sect. The secular matters belong entirely to the emperor. No matter who the sect may be, they can’t claim what belongs to the emperor.”
However, calming the emperor was my first priority before he flips the switch and goes berserk.
The priests managing the temple would be appointed by the Dawn Sect, and all resources generated nearby would fall into that congregation’s coffers. In return, the ownership of the temple and its adjacent land would still reside with the Empire.
So, suggesting a temple as a gift could easily be misconstrued as giving away ownership, but we had abundant ways to save face while retaining actual control.
“Let’s name the temple after the next saint. This should be sufficient as a gift, right?”
“Hooh.”
We’ll be calling the new temple the ‘Tannian Cathedral.’
Typically, the nation where the temple is built names it. Although there are restrictions that it must be named after a saint or blessed one from the Dawn Sect who has performed outstanding achievements, as long as we adhere to that, the sect will have no involvement in what’s named.
But for the Empire to name the temple after the next saint? They definitely didn’t request it, and it’s the Empire that found this holy place out of their own effort!
‘They will definitely be moved.’
Even the stern, serious elder cardinals would shed tears of emotion. I can bet my life on that.
“That’s certainly true. There’s no law saying we must name it after the deceased.”
Fortunately, the emperor seemed to approve of my suggestion, and his furrowed brows smoothed out once more.
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Go with Cardinal Lisciuko to where Enen’s footprint is located. The church will not believe it unless a cardinal corroborates our claim rather than us just stating it.”
“Truly wise words.”
Cardinal Lisciuko is the highest-ranking priest in the Empire, directly appointed by the Pope and the archbishop of the Ausen Archdiocese, so if he bears witness alongside the Empire, the sect will surely trust it.
Even if they don’t believe it, that’s okay. I can just teleport them there for a personal look.
“And Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If you’re going to report something like this, show some signs beforehand. I nearly had a heart attack upon hearing that a god’s footprint was discovered.”
“I humbly apologize.”
Since it was a sincere complaint, I nodded along without offense.
I understand. I was also shocked when I first heard about Enen’s footprint from the Eternal Blue Sky. Had I not undergone various experiences related to gods, I might have fainted on my feet.
“Hmmm.”
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s about the name for the temple. He’s not a saint yet, but he is a saint, so can we call it Saint Tannian Cathedral?”
That made me slightly furrow my brow.
Hmm, it’s true. Even though he hasn’t been canonized, he is still regarded as a saint. He should be treated like one without any issues.
Or is it? I’m not well-versed in the church doctrines, so I can’t be completely sure.
*
An unbelievable report came up from the Ausen Archdiocese.
[ The footstep of the Lord was discovered in the northern territory of the Empire. Given the divine presence embedded in the footprint and the unquenchable flame, it is undoubtedly a trace of the Lord. ]
A report indicating that the Lord’s presence was discovered in the far north, which had been a land of nomads until a few years ago.
[ According to testimony from the eternal god, the Eternal Blue Sky, this is the footprint left by the Lord during his first descent onto the continent. ]
And not just any ordinary footprint, but the very first step of the Lord.
[ The Empire plans to set a temple over the Lord’s footprint and name it the St. Tannian Cathedral. It has been emphasized that it is a gift for the upcoming wedding of the Tannian brothers and the Dawn Sect. ]
By the last sentence, I could not help but close my eyes.
‘Oh Lord.’
This shocking and joyous news was simply too much for this old body to bear.
Though I’ve led the Synod and listened to the bells ring five times, I can’t contain the joy upon discovering the Lord’s presence.
‘St. Tannian Cathedral.’
Especially if that trace was received as a wedding gift.
“How on earth can I repay such grace?”
I murmured while gazing toward the direction of the system.
How could I possibly repay such a grand gift?
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