Chapter: 614
Before coming to this world, I vaguely remember a rule about the existence or state of objects.
You can’t be sure about something’s state before you check it. Before I head to the office, I can’t tell if the Information Department has any work to do, and until I visit the Imperial Palace, I can’t know whether the Emperor is a jerk or a total jerk. It’s the phenomenon known as Schrödinger’s cat, or the prince of Duj, or the ancestor of Hanyang. You have no idea if something exists until you confirm it.
Right now, my situation is similar. I didn’t know anything about Tannian until I heard he went to the interspecies protection area. Not knowing kept my vacation blissfully relaxed.
But thanks to the kind explanation from Eternal Blue Sky, I’ve now got a view of Tannian.
‘Crap.’
My head was pounding. Before observing, I didn’t have to worry about it. But now that I’ve observed, I can’t just ignore it.
After all, it’s a big deal that the next saint of the Dawn Sect visited a holy place of another faith, and the Wise Duke, being the head honcho of the protection area, is involved too. If I don’t feel a little anxious about what’s happening—or could happen—then I have no business working in the Information Department.
‘I’d rather not know.’
In an instant, a useless happy thought flickered. If I ignore this and the Emperor decides to seize the position of the minister? It’d be a national disgrace if an unqualified guy like me were to stay in that position.
Of course, that’s not going to happen. Knowing my Emperor, he’d probably just toss more work my way, saying, “Ministers must take responsibility.”
‘…This is going to be a hassle.’
I bit my lip and sorted through my thoughts.
Naturally, if I go to the interspecies protection area, it’s clear I’ll have a pesky future ahead. If it were a simple matter, that bizarre pairing of the next saint and the Wise Duke wouldn’t have been born in the first place.
‘If I put it off, it feels like a mess will erupt later.’
But turning my back on the scene fills me with dread for possible future consequences. There’s a huge difference between directly getting involved and cleaning up a mess made by someone else. If I had to choose, the first option is definitely easier.
So there I was, holding Rizie and Friedrich, deep in thought—
“Big brother?”
“Whoa! Chuka! Long time no see!”
And before I knew it, I was walking into the interspecies protection area.
Damn it, these people.
The culprits who ruined my vacation…!
My head pounded again, just in a different sense.
“Did you receive divine guidance?”
“Yes, big brother. Not only the warmth of the sun, but also the vast sky and lush greenery embrace our path. How could one not express gratitude when pursuing the long pilgrimage and path of service?”
This sudden detour by Tannian, who was already trying to escape the Empire…
Hearing that it was Enen’s direct involvement almost made me let out a snicker. No, since Constantina went to chat with Enen, you could say it’s the involvement of two gods.
‘I didn’t expect it to get this close.’
And the sight behind Tannian made me forget even my snicker.
A simple platform being erected in front of the World Tree. The cross, a symbol of the Dawn Sect, was set up alongside candles. No matter how you slice it, it looked like a prayer was about to be offered to the World Tree.
Unbelievable. It’s true that the Dawn Sect recognized the existence of the Eternal Blue Sky and Constantina through councils. Among them, the World Tree, granted by Constantina, was respected by the Dawn Sect even before the council.
But there’s a world of difference between subtle respect and formal reverence. Respecting ‘the being who granted the World Tree to the continent’ isn’t the same as praying to ‘another god you don’t serve.’
“Your mercy and tolerance are truly as warm as the sun. It’s admirable.”
I wanted to question if they were insane, but I held my tongue. This wasn’t Tannian’s unilateral decision; it was Enen’s orders, after all.
Honestly, that makes it even less understandable. If it were Tannian’s unilateral decision, I’d see it as a disastrous misinterpretation of the council’s outcome. But if it’s Enen’s orders, then Enen himself has allowed the other god’s authority to rise. Is that even possible?
“If a mortal wishes to gaze upon the sun in its totality, one’s eyes will surely be harmed. We merely seek to follow the warmth of the sun.”
Maybe sensing my confusion, Tannian smiled widely and began to speak. For a human to try and comprehend a god’s will is a blasphemous and impossible task.
“Majestic! To even dare to understand the divine is impossible! Even a dog couldn’t comprehend the wisdom of our ancestors! It’s all absurd!”
Tannian’s words made the Wise Duke chuckle and nod his head.
Yeah, that makes sense. Gods are beings that live for unfathomable ages and accumulate experiences and knowledge that humans can’t compare to. Attempting to understand such beings with human reasoning is foolhardy.
‘This guy gets it.’
What surprised me more was that those deeply religious words came from the Wise Duke’s mouth.
Heavenly Lord, are you watching? Although your daughter drinks like it’s air, she still holds onto her faith and belief.
And that seems to be one of the few elements of sanity and conscience that the Wise Duke possesses… not that I’m complaining, but your daughter is doing big things in your absence.
“By the way, I didn’t expect you to come here, big brother. It was a last-minute decision, so the rumors probably haven’t spread yet.”
“Really? I just finished preparing to report in!”
‘Oh.’
I was left speechless by a perfectly reasonable observation.
I learned about this situation through the Eternal Blue Sky, not a normal method at all. Naturally, I had no choice but to arrive quicker than Tannian or the Wise Duke expected.
“My children received the blessing of the Spirit King, didn’t they? The spirits whispered to me about the oddities occurring in front of the World Tree.”
Since I couldn’t reveal the truth, I made a vague excuse. Am I going to expose that a human communicates with gods in front of the next saint and the Duke? I’d probably have to endure all sorts of experiments until I marry Penelia if I did.
‘Sorry.’
At the same time, I silently apologized to the triplets who were likely crawling around the mansion.
Sorry for having a dad who might sell off his daughters.
*
Constantina.
Unlike other faiths that were subdued through force during the religious wars, she’s a being that voluntarily acknowledges our Lord.
She grants the blessing of the World Tree as well as spirits and fairies, reigning as the mother of the elves.
“The Son of the Sun pays his respects to the mother trees.”
Now our Dawn Sect must also show respect and gratitude to this god.
For her, I offered a prayer. Before the symbol of the god, the World Tree, I sang praises to the trees.
It’s what our Lord desires. Constantina will surely watch over us like our Lord does. It’s something that never happened before, but it’s something we’ll have to grow accustomed to from now on.
‘Thank goodness everyone is following along.’
I smiled as I saw my brothers and sisters praying alongside me.
No matter how necessary this was, it was a behavior that had never occurred before. I thought I’d have to calm my brothers and sisters down before being able to pray, but surprisingly, they accepted the Lord’s will with calmness.
“If the Lord desires it, we must act upon it swiftly. Our common sense and customs were formed under the Lord’s words.”
Especially sister Alexandriana, who fervently supported me.
“Haha, it looks like as we spend time in the interspecies protection area, the day we pray to Constantina draws nearer. Perhaps we’ll become good friends with our elven neighbors.”
The bishop brother, who did his best to lighten the mood, also played a huge role.
Thanks to those two, others probably would’ve been still panicking had it not been for them.
“Just as the sun and trees are friends, our respect for you runs deep.”
With those words, I knelt and closed my eyes. This impromptu prayer might lack splendor, but true prayer is filled with sincerity. Our prayers will surely reach Constantina’s heart.
“Please cover our path with beautiful greenery…”
– Constantina isn’t here.
“…please bless us.”
At the sudden, unexpected voice, I cracked my eyes open a bit.
It was an unfamiliar voice. In contrast to the lofty prayer that had been invaded, it was too calm and light.
– The World Tree is my home. Constantina is off gallivanting around. I’ll let her know that the children of Enen offered their prayers when she returns.
‘…Excuse me, but who are you?’
Since it was a voice I heard not through my ears but through my mind, I asked internally.
Constantina and even our Lord are beings that can speak calmly. I had a general idea who it could be, but I couldn’t understand why this presence was claiming the World Tree as their home.
– The Eternal Blue Sky. You know, right?
‘Gazing upon the vast sky.’
But trying to comprehend a god’s will is an act of arrogance. I offered my respect without hesitation to the being that called itself the god of the sky.
Then, I quickly recalled a memory. Three years ago, during our school trip, Brother Advisor had a chance to come into contact with the faith of the nomads in the north.
This brother, imbued with the power of their belief, transferred that power to a tree, and it became the World Tree. The faith of the nomads is, after all, the Eternal Blue Sky. The justification for the sky god to reside in the World Tree is more than sufficient.
…Though it was still an unexpected outcome.
– I don’t know why the child of Enen would pray to the god of trees, but anyway, I’ll pass it on. You and I will pretend I received something too. So if you’re going to the north, don’t go.
‘Thank you for your… consideration.’
– Don’t mention it. I’m the one who should be grateful.
The Eternal Blue Sky let out a chuckle before falling silent.
‘A priest of the Lord prayed before the World Tree to the god of the skies.’
And as soon as my head processed the current situation, laughter bubbled out uncontrollably.
What a peculiar and fascinating prayer.
*
It’s something only a nomad god can do, ensuring their looting skills are artful.
“The trees are away, and the sky has responded instead.”
I can’t believe someone would steal the prayer meant for another.
‘Is this even allowed?’
– What’s it to you? If it weren’t for me, no one would’ve received that prayer.
With such a brazen response, I found myself speechless.
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