Chapter 91: The Lights Spread Through the Capital (3)

I looked upon the Capital through the eyes of God.

The Baren choir marching forward singing their hymns, and behind them, the people following as if enchanted.

[At the heat of the sun, wild beasts retreat]

[At the warmth of the sun, your cold will also fade away]

The majestic lyrics resounded through the streets of the Capital.

Just like at the end of the last century, the gloomy atmosphere slowly began to transform.

On faces once filled with sorrow and anxiety, hope began to bloom.

A small child, tightly clutching their mother’s hand, beamed a bright smile.

It was a beautiful sight.

So I decided to bestow a small gift.

Goooo—

I lifted the darkness and shone light.

Upon the land illuminated by the eyes of God, I bestowed a blessing.

Fifty thousand, at most.

Far too little to cover the whole Capital.

But it was just enough to nurture the spark that had already caught.

“A miracle!”

“Ho—Hor…”

The people, overcome with emotion, shed tears at the sight of the new blue sky and the pure white radiance.

Even the King, who had clasped his hands together, put them down and looked up at the sky.

I quietly watched that scene for a moment, then withdrew the divine vision.

“Saint!”

The voices of the believers, suddenly uplifted, struck the air.

“Look at that!”

“Hor has bestowed a miracle!”

I lazily nodded, basking in the gentle light.

The warmth caressing my cheeks lifted my spirits.

The Capital, which had once been as cold as winter, was now blossoming with the radiance of a warm spring day.

“It seems Baren’s faith has called forth Lord Hor!”

I had done it to give the people hope, but, oddly, the believers of the Hor Church were also moved to tears.

Whether Evangelists or Temple Knights, there was no distinction.

“Why are you all acting like some country bumpkins? Haven’t you seen things like this a few times before?”

At my words, Aaron awkwardly scratched his cheek with a bewildered face.

According to him, it was the first time they’d ever witnessed a miracle of Hor.

Then what were all those lights you’d seen until now?

It was beyond absurd.

“Hey! Do you know how much I’ve done all this time!”

It was Hor’s Light that played the greatest role in averting the nightmare of Rio Castle.

It was Hor’s Light that revealed the demonic energy in Bartenberg, and whenever danger struck, it was always that light that shone and kept us safe.

And now, those fellows who became believers thanks to that, are saying they’re witnessing their first miracle.

I glared at them with narrowed eyes, and soon realized something odd.

For some reason, the evangelist believers had their eyes wide open.

It was as if they’d heard something they shouldn’t have.

A heavy silence descended upon our bright, open space.

Everyone was exchanging glances, and it almost felt like I was being excluded.

“What is it, if what I bring forth isn’t a miracle of Hor, then what is it?”

“Ah, ah, ah… Right!”

Finally, the believers gave awkward laughs and bowed their heads.

“Well, that’s true, but… How should I put it, until now, it just felt like it was the Saint’s power, I guess?”

“It was more like—Saint performed it!—rather than, Oh! A miracle of God!”

I didn’t get it at first, but it made sense.

It was something I’d never thought about before.

I raised my head to look at the sky.

The midday sun declaring it was day, surrounded by a curtain of Faith’s Light shining like an aurora.

Indeed, it was a different scene from what I’d shown the believers before.

Whenever I shone the light, it was always through these hands.

“I suppose I should do things like this more often.”

Seeing the passionate reaction from the believers, I thought this was a rather effective method.

A miracle of God is, after all, supposed to conjure images of supernatural phenomena.

“That’s right. This is a miracle created by Baren’s Hor.”

Only belatedly did I nod to myself and present my theory.

Adele, suddenly hugging me tightly, whispered into my ear.

“Wow, you’re making up strange doctrines. Dad, you’re just Dad, you’re not some hope or anything like that.”

“Hmph. Strange or not, I like it.”

“Um, Saint?”

Mary, who had been gazing up at the sky the whole time, approached me.

Her clear eyes were full of curiosity.

“Why did they choose to take such a long, roundabout way?”

“Are you talking about the royal family?”

“Yes.”

Mary wasn’t the only one with questions.

“I’m curious as well.”

“If you had come forward from the start…”

The Evangelists who had come over all looked like they simply couldn’t understand.

It was understandable.

In truth, there was no need for the Evangelists to step up. If I had just stood in the middle of the street, used Faith, and cried out to believe in Hor, followers would have flocked in like bamboo shoots after rain.

And yet, so many people had gone through the trouble and hardship. Why was that?

What reason could there be?

“It’s their own country, after all.”

That alone is enough.

“We’re just using Baren as a foothold, not settling down here for good. They have to learn to walk on their own strength.”

I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath.

The air was fairly refreshing.

“The Hor Church is a lantern.”

I opened my eyes again.

Before I knew it, everyone was looking at me.

I raised a finger and pointed to the Capital.

“And Baren will now become the sun.”

A torch hanging on the wall of a dark cave.

It had already been lit once before, but the cold draft had snuffed out the flame.

We simply helped Baren, that sun, ignite again with a small spark.

How that flame will spread depends on the nature of the sun.

“A flame unique to Baren, different yet similar to ours, will ignite.”

Already, some uniquely Baren doctrines have started to arise.

Going forward, I wonder what new flames other suns will light through their lanterns.

The more flames gather, the more colorful the Hor Church will become.

I looked forward to it immensely.

“Hey! Evangelists! Let us pray for Baren’s Hor!”

Mary, sniffling a little, raised her voice before the Evangelists.

Tears of emotion were welling up in her eyes.

“Let us add our Hor to Baren’s Hor.”

“Ooo, Hor!”

A sudden time of prayer swept over us.

Amusingly, even the Temple Knights prayed with utmost seriousness.

“Phew…”

Just then, a red orc caught my eye.

With a determined snort, he strode over and knelt before Mary.

“Missionary Mary, the Hor within me is crying out to confess to you.”

The orc’s rough hand was reverently extended before her.

“If you take this hand, it means we’re officially courting.”

“Huger, I’m sorry, but we’re in the middle of a prayer for Baren right now.”

What a pity.

Of all times, he had to confess in the middle of prayer.

“Sigh…”

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh at the foolish orc’s antics.

***

The next day.

The sun still rose and set as usual, but the scene beneath it had changed quite a bit.

Karr—!

The laughter of children running through the streets.

Merchants greeting one another, and, before anyone noticed, the chirping of sparrows that hadn’t been seen in a while.

It felt as if everything had returned to the days before the calamity.

If there was one difference—

“Ho—r”

“Ho—r”

It was that people’s greetings had changed.

“This is still a little awkward, but I like it.”

“Heh heh! Indeed, you’re right.”

Having finished a round of the Capital, the choir returned to the gates of the royal palace, preaching the doctrines of the Hor Church to the people.

Those who had longed for miracles finally received true Salvation that day.

Not from something external, but Salvation through the God within their own hearts.

The greeting “Hor” was the idea of Trantis Marquess, meaning: “Don’t forget the God who dwells within your heart.”

The cold wind ceases, and the spring breeze begins to blow.

The sudden arrival of a new season in just one day wasn’t entirely welcome.

“A tree with deep roots does not fear drought.”

Richard sought out the King.

“We will soon need educational institutions for the rapidly increasing believers of the Hor Church.”

“I know. The nobles, led by Trantis Marquess, have already convened a meeting.”

Richard nodded.

If it was the Baren Royal Family, they would produce satisfactory results.

And it wasn’t just the Baren Royal Family he trusted.

“Our Evangelists also wish to offer their strength.”

Truly, this is where Evangelists are needed.

Places with little Faith, or where Faith has only just begun to take root.

Just in time, the believers deeply moved by my theory of hope wanted to remain here.

At Richard’s words, the King nodded as well.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, Baren has regained the strength to stand again.”

“It is all thanks to Baren’s strength.”

“If not for you, Richard, it’s a strength I would never have witnessed in my lifetime. I am eternally grateful.”

No matter what, he would have it, someday, no matter what.

The King gave Richard a burning look.

Before he knew it, the old and withered look the King had worn in the secret passage had vanished without a trace.

He had found conviction in yesterday’s miracle.

To doubt the Hor Church after witnessing such an impossible miracle with one’s own eyes would be like being a blind man with open eyes.

“Once Faith takes hold in the Capital, it will spread to other territories as well.”

“That’s a fine idea.”

Baren would change.

No one knows what form that change would take.

Sometimes, the Hor Church would bring benefit; sometimes, it would bring loss.

But one thing was certain: the people longed for hope.

And for the King, that was the most important thing.

“We will soon depart for Riot Castle.”

While Richard was discussing Baren’s revival, the King’s eyes widened at his words.

Richard recalled what he had seen with the eyes of God.

The ruins of Polin Castle, devoured and towering, transformed into the fortress of Plague.

It was a truly horrific sight, with masses of blood-red flesh tangled together.

Now, the ‘Mother Body’ was complete.

Before long, monsters born from the remains of the Plague Giant Kalgos would run rampant.

“…Please, take care of Riot Castle.”

“Your Majesty, please spread the doctrine of the Hor Church far and wide. Hor is Baren’s only hope.”

“Leave that to me.”

The King thumped his chest.

As if Hor already resided there, his expression was one of absolute confidence.

***

Richard and his party left the Capital two days later, as quietly as if they’d never been there.

Surprisingly quiet, considering they had delivered a spark to the Capital.

“Hehehe…”

Moritz let out a sinister chuckle atop his horse.

His hands, which made onlookers feel uneasy, fumbled around his waist.

“What’s up with him?”

Richard, feeling queasy at the sight, asked a nearby knight.

According to him, Moritz was delighted because he finally had a chance to use the gift he’d received from Ludwig Bartenberg.

Only then did Richard realize Moritz wasn’t groping his waist, but rather a pair of daggers.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you also receive something, Saint? That dreadful Cursed Sword and the some Ornament, right?”

The knight who had answered Richard’s question asked him back.

Recalling the White Ghost and the bracelet, Richard broke into a broad smile.

“Yeah. I’m looking forward to it, too.”

His face, full of anticipation, was no different from Moritz’s.