episode_0239

While I was happily eating bread, the standoff between the uncle who appeared to be a missionary and the Armored Knights quickly came to an end.

The priest, though struggling, didn’t stop protesting. As the Armored Knights growled, a Federal officer who had followed them stepped forward and managed to calm the knights down before attempting a conversation.

“So, how long have you been here?”

“Decades! Decades! I myself have been serving God, only holding worship for half a century. But suddenly you call us a cult?”

“Ah, my apologies. We’ve received related reports and are currently investigating all gatherings and religious facilities. We ask for your understanding.”

Listening to the priest-uncle’s voice, full of injustice, he seemed like a genuine religious person.

[Of course, someone giving away free delicious bread on the street can’t be bad!]

I felt relieved. If I ever pass by this place again, I’ll definitely stop by to get some bread.

Though the commotion had settled, the atmosphere remained tense as the Armored Knights continued to inspect the inside of the temple with threatening postures.

Due to their overbearing attitude, most people, terrified, began to exit the temple one by one.

“Violet.”

As Daphne tugged on my sleeve, I reluctantly put down my bread and followed her out.

[Aw, what a waste.]

A person from the monastery standing near the entrance handed something to those leaving, wearing a bitter expression.

When it was my turn, he held out his hand.

“Um…”

“What is this?”

“You don’t have to believe. I just hope you’ll keep it…”

A cold object was felt in my palm.

“What are you doing? Let’s go!”

At Kalia’s urging, I stuffed it into my pocket and hastened my steps.

[But why did those people come here?]

The Restraid Clan was known for its arrogant attitude even towards commoners.

But now, they were allowing the Federal Army to operate within their jurisdiction.

No, rather, it seemed they were cooperating with them.

[Could they possibly be launching a religion extermination operation?]

However, seeing that they left the priests who brought us there alone, it seemed they were only targeting specific individuals.

There were no other peculiarities, aside from the fact that some of the Armored Knights and Federal Army personnel carried unusual weapons instead of swords.

[That thing earlier looked like a camera?]

[Perhaps it’s a newly developed magic weapon. Something like an Aether Laser Cannon!]

Although their main force consisted of armored knights, I had heard that the Restraid Clan was not averse to magic.

As I was lost in various imaginings, Sophieel Unnie’s voice called me back to reality.

“Violet, what are you thinking so hard about?”

“I was just thinking about those knights. How did you follow us, Unnie?”

“Well, I saw Violet suddenly following suspicious people and got worried, so I called my friends and we came together. But thankfully, nothing happened.”

“Wow, so Unnie really came to help us!”

I was happy for a moment, then suddenly felt awkward.

[Wait, did they come to help us, or to monitor us?]

From the gazes of the people around us and Sophieel Unnie’s eyes, it seemed they weren’t just worried about me, but rather about the repercussions of any incidents I might get involved in.

[I see… They still don’t trust me.]

“Violet, from now on, don’t follow anyone just because they give you food, especially strangers.”

Daphne spoke reproachfully, and I drooped.

“But it was free…”

“I’ll buy it for you!”

“Really?”

As we walked, following Sophieel Unnie, my friends whispered about what had just happened.

“The Armored Knights have been seen near school often lately, but I didn’t expect to see them here. By the way, the Holy Heart Monastery? I’ve never heard of it. Does anyone know about it?”

“That? From what I remember, it was one of the largest religious organizations before the Great War. But its main sanctuary was swallowed by a different dimension, and it vanished without a trace after that. It couldn’t even become a dungeon.”

“So it’s not a cult then. Though I’ve never seen priests like that before.”

Listening to my friends’ conversation, the setting came to mind.

There were hardly any officially recognized religious organizations in the academy city.

This wasn’t because the Federation or the clans disliked religion, but because the influence of religion was minimal across the entire Trist region to begin with.

Aside from the mission schools in the northern district managed by Arsit, there were almost no places that spoke of religion.

Out of curiosity, I took out the object I had received earlier from my pocket and looked at it.

Inside a golden ring, three small circles overlapped to form a triangle, and in the center was a flame-shaped ornament.

“Violet, that’s what you got from those people earlier, right? Have you suddenly become interested in religion?”

Sophieel Unnie asked.

“No, not really.”

Now that religion had been brought up, I felt a surge of curiosity.

“Hey, does everyone here have a religion they believe in?”

“Religion? No.”

I was slightly surprised by Irene’s immediate answer.

Though I knew atheism was prevalent in this world.

“Oh, really?”

“There’s no such thing as gods. Those are things people in the old days used to believe in. Irrational comfort blankets appealing to ignorance and emotion.”

“What about others? What about you, Unnie?”

“That’s an interesting question. An omnipotent being watching over us… Should I ask Seijis about it? He might know something.”

“Ah, it’s fine. What about you, Daphne?”

“Well… there might be, or there might not. It’s unknown.”

No one seemed to believe in any particular religion; now that I thought about it, I’d never seen anyone around me believing in anything.

Daphne, a major supporting character in Part 1, did have the nickname ‘Saintess of Salvation’. However, that merely meant she saved many people with her abilities, not that she was a devout religious person.

[There’s no democracy, no communism, and not even religion…]

Our Violet was a devout materialist, but I felt an inexplicable barrenness. The word “god” seemed to have no use beyond an exclamation.

“Kalia, is that how you feel too?”

“Yeah, a god…”

She opened her mouth, pondering something.

“Gods are extraordinary, aren’t they? They create the world and are omnipotent, they say? Such a being would be too perfect to approach. Wouldn’t they need to be a little foolish to be endearing?”

At the unexpected serious answer, Irene’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“You’re right. That’s why some gods in ancient myths were said to be jealous, greedy, and angry, just like humans. Perhaps they were intentionally created that way? Wouldn’t they feel more approachable if they weren’t perfect?”

“As expected, Irene knows a lot. I just said whatever came to mind.”

Kalia shrugged.

“Anyway, what’s so special about a god? If you can control your own life, then that’s being a god.”

Listening to Kalia’s words, an amusing thought came to mind.

[If you can control your own life, then you become a god!]

[If we just have enough power, we could become gods too!]

Countless words flashed through my mind.

Zeus, Odin.

God-Emperor, Transcendent!

[Goddess of Immeasurable Power!]

[Oh, that’s a good word!]

The Violets nodded without realizing it.

Because ‘goddess’ sounds more elegant and beautiful than ‘witch,’ it suits our beautiful girls well.

[According to Kalia, we could definitely become gods.]

[What are you talking about? Ah, wait… That’s right!]

The Violets had always held a small dream: to forge their own destiny.

To establish a Violet nation and enjoy complete freedom and peace.

[Wow, that sounds amazing!]

If they had power that no one could interfere with, they could establish a nation and declare themselves goddesses.

[Let’s gather power and become strong enough to be gods! Then people will worship us.]

Within the network, a colossal golden Violet statue appeared.

Everyone was kneeling before it, and a magnificent scene unfolded as Saintess Daphne healed the sick while the Violets spread messages of freedom and peace.

As I giggled, lost in my imagination, my friends asked,

“What are you imagining now?”

“Nothing!”

“Are you sure?”

I don’t know why they look at me strangely whenever I just smile.

**

After the Armored Knights and Federal Army soldiers had thoroughly swept the area and left, the priest remained with a few people who helped him, cleaning up.

It was work someone had to do. As he wiped the floor with a rag, he sank into deep thought.

The gentle afternoon sunlight pouring through the stained-glass window enveloped the triangular emblem placed on the altar.

The three overlapping circles, the symbol of the Holy Heart Monastery, sparkled with a golden light, but to him now, it was merely empty.

‘To try and buy faith with bread. I really am a pathetic man.’

The priest felt ashamed. Drawing in believers with solicitation? What kind of act was this?

That was not what a righteous shepherd of the monastery should do.

The choice to attract people with the cooking skills given by the Goddess now seemed truly childish.

‘Well, I’m not the only one…’

Even amidst his embarrassment, the priest felt relieved. He wasn’t the only religious person in a miserable plight in this world.

Except for a few mission schools in the northern district, there were almost no places still maintaining the lineage of faith.

It was unavoidable.

Amidst the ravages of the Great War, the Lutheran Grand Cathedral turned to ashes, and the Alivs Grand Monastery was sucked into a different dimension.

All the long-standing holy sites of various religions were ravaged by demonic beasts, and even the surviving religious leaders suffered deep wounds to their bodies and minds.

Most of the survivors turned their backs on God.

They cried out that there was no such thing as divine protection.

In the face of supernatural disaster, all faith crumbled, and religion couldn’t even explain the threat of other dimensions.

The plight of religious people across Trist, including Rustrum, was devastating.

Only a few denominations miraculously survived and continued their lineage.

To make matters worse, only swindlers who lured believers with false prophecies and extorted money thrived.

With a heavy sigh, the priest recalled the question the Federal Army officer had asked.

“Have you seen anyone teaching suspicious doctrines lately?”

He had heard that a group called the “One Heart Society” was engaged in illicit proselytizing recently, but they soon disappeared without a trace.

‘The age of believing in gods is over. It’s just a world where only science, reason, and military might rule.’

Even the religious influence that had been absent for decades continued to wane.

Now, no one sought the Three Goddesses.

‘What should I do? I’m so exhausted.’

As the priest sighed, a habit now, and stared at the empty temple, someone strode in from behind him.

“Teacher-nim, do you wish for the revival of your order?”

The stranger’s voice echoed resonantly in the temple.

The priest flinched at the peculiar presence of the stranger who emerged from the shadows. The temple doors were closed.

“Y-you… How did you get in?”

“Do you wish to sow the seeds of faith once more in this barren world?”

He picked up the Holy Heart Monastery’s scripture that was hanging on the wall.

The priest swallowed dryly and stared at him.

“Have you never once dreamed of the old era of prosperity, when the Holy Heart Monastery and the gospel of the Three Goddesses spread widely across the world?”

Pointing to the relief of the Three Goddesses carved on the wall near the entrance, the stranger whispered to the priest.

“You, what are you…”

“Now is the opportunity.”

The being’s demeanor changed instantly. He tapped his forehead as if pressing a doorbell.

At that moment, something was gently drawn into his mind.

“I felt a presence and came… You’re suitable. Good. Your mindset is excellent.”

The priest didn’t care what the man was saying.

He couldn’t care. It felt as if someone was digging into his mind.

“Is there a way?”

The words burst out of his mouth without his conscious control, as if he had been waiting for that very moment.

The stranger nodded and opened the Holy Heart Monastery’s scripture.

“‘Hope belongs to those who act; nothing changes through waiting alone.’ Is this not your teaching?”

He gazed deeply into the priest’s eyes and continued speaking. The priest’s eyes had become clouded.

“A new era is coming. Follow us, and we will give you glory.”

**

After the midterm exams in March concluded, true spring arrived.

[Joy!]

Excited by the spring breeze, our Violets were just about to enjoy themselves.

But then, unexpected news arrived.

“Everyone, now that exams are over, let’s talk about the schedule for a moment. As you all know, the Rustrum Academy Unified Expo will be held in the Southern District soon.”

Oh, right, there’s an academy expo. They say they’ll sell all sorts of delicious things and hold various events.

“As you all know, this is one of the biggest events in the academy city.”

“Field trip! It’s a field trip, right?”

As one student raised a hand and asked, the professor nodded.

“That’s right. According to the syllabus, all first-year students are scheduled for a group field trip to the expo soon.”

The students were filled with excitement, then the professor dropped a bombshell.

“Therefore, I’m giving you an assignment. Your task for this month is to visit the booths of each academy and submit a report.”

At the professor’s sudden words, I was stunned.

[Ugh, how annoying.]

My trembling excitement for spring instantly crumbled. Other students asked questions.

“How do we set the topic?”

“When’s the deadline?”

My friends began to chatter loudly.

“Wow, didn’t they say they’d be displaying new artifacts there?”

“We’ll get to see the kids from Vesperia Academy. I heard they’re pretty…”

“They said other clans and corporations are coming too? Let’s check them out while we’re there.”

“Didn’t they say academies from other districts are coming too?”

Everyone around was excited. But I wasn’t really keen.

[I just wanted to have fun at the expo.]

Unlike my friends who were full of anticipation, boredom already washed over me.

A report, ugh. I could finish it quickly, but it felt dull and bothersome.

Still, there was nothing to be done.

Yet, my heart beat a little faster. Thinking about what I would do, the fading excitement of a thrilling spring day blossomed once more.

[Sounds fun!]

What should I do there?