Fortress City Rivera.
With rugged mountains at its back, Rivera boasts dense forests to the east and vast plains stretching out to the west.
And to the south of the Castle lies an enormous Lake.
Some geographers have this to say about the terrain of Fortress City Rivera.
“When the Creator made Rivera, He pondered for days and nights, finally deciding to gather mountains and fields, rivers and forests—all of them into one place.”
Rivera’s geography is not only grand and beautiful, but it has also served as a natural fortress, fending off invaders for countless years.
Perhaps as a testament to such peace, the Guard at the East Barracks of the Castle was dozing off, snoring loudly.
“Zzz! Puu~”
“Hey, you! Wake up!”
“Huh?! All is well on duty, sir!”
Startled by the sudden shout, the Guard sprang to his feet—only to find it was just the comrade coming to switch shifts.
“It’s time for the shift change. No matter how peaceful it is, you shouldn’t be sleeping on duty, you know?”
“Yawn, nothing’s happened all morning. Just flocks of migratory birds passing by and merchants coming and going, that’s all.”
Then, the Guard who came to switch shifts pointed toward the forest and asked,
“But what’s that? Something seems to be falling from the woods.”
The sleepy Guard rubbed his eyes and looked out at the forest.
“Isn’t it just a rain shower?”
“No, it looks like something with shape is falling, not just rain. Could it be the work of a monster…?”
The suggestion was rather serious, but it was met only with a mocking snort.
“What, pffft! Monsters? In Fortress City Rivera?!”
“…Ahem, you never know.”
“In all my forty years, I’ve never heard of monsters appearing around here.”
Once he’d finished preparing for the shift change, the previous Guard trudged down the stairs.
“Oh right, what’s for lunch today?”
“Same as yesterday. Black bread and grilled sardines.”
“Ugh, damn it! They’ve been feeding us the same thing for a week straight!”
“Don’t complain. Down in the Slums, they say people are dying because they can’t even get bread crumbs.”
“Ahem, who said I wouldn’t eat? Come on, don’t embarrass me…”
The relieved Guard kept smacking his lips awkwardly as he disappeared down the stairs.
Left alone, the Guard gazed absentmindedly at the rain falling on the forest.
“Huh, no matter how you look at it, that’s not just an ordinary shower…”
Plop! Plop… Plunk!
At last, the unending Rain of Bread and Fish stopped pouring down.
People from the Slums, who had been hiding beneath the trees, began to emerge one by one.
「My goodness…」
「I-Is all of this really food?」
「Am I dreaming, or is this real?!」
Flat, thin pieces of Bread and freshly caught, lively Fish were scattered everywhere.
“Hm, this should be enough, right?”
I pushed aside the empty Dried Anchovy pouch and the cereal box.
[Optimized Transmission List]
- Cereal …… 20P
- Dried Anchovy …… 20P
[Divine Power of 40 points will be consumed.]
[Divine Power: 50/50 10/50]
What I’d poured out were some old Dried Anchovies from the freezer and tiger-strength-boosting cereal.
Since I’d sent quite a lot, more Divine Power was used up than when I sent salt and pepper.
‘…Still, thanks to the Blessing of the Creator, I never expected Dried Anchovies to become living creatures.’
Anchovies flapped busily all over the grass.
The scene was enough to make you think this place was a green sea.
「What kind of Fish is this?」
「It looks different from the freshwater fish that live by the river…」
「…That’s an anchovy, a sea fish!」
The one who answered the young men was an elderly man.
Carefully, the old man picked up an anchovy.
「But anchovies are supposed to be tiny fish. There’s nowhere in the world where you’ll find anchovies this big! Truly, it must be a miracle of the Creator!」
The Blessing of the Creator didn’t just turn the anchovies into living things; it made each one as big as a mackerel.
Naturally, the cereal became enormous as well.
「How did this Bread get so big, too?」
“Seriously! It’s bigger than my face!”
「Goodness, I’ve never seen Bread this thin and crispy before.」
The Slums’ residents murmured as they eyed the huge cereal and fresh Fish.
In front of them, Jeanne d’Arc stood tall with a solemn expression.
Soon, Jan spoke in a clear, bright voice.
「Everyone! Because you showed the kindness of helping your neighbors before yourselves, God has showered this blessing upon us!」
At Jan’s words, the Believers looked at each other and nodded.
Jeanne d’Arc raised the Bread and Fish high with a grave face.
「God said that all who have gathered here will eat their fill. Let us accept this food with grateful hearts.」
The hundred Believers prayed in silence and each took up some Fish and Bread.
However—
「If only my older sister at home could eat this with us…」
「I should have brought Father with me, even if by force…」
「My grandmother must still be starving right now…」
Those who had left family behind in the Slums hesitated to eat.
Watching them, Jan prayed quietly.
「God, those who stayed behind in the Slums did so because they doubted Your existence and chose not to follow You—」
“Yes, I know.”
If they had followed Jeanne d’Arc, like the Believers here, they would have received food in abundance.
But I didn’t have the sense of duty to care for those who chose not to follow me.
‘…It’s only right to take responsibility for your own choices.’
As if reading my thoughts, Jeanne d’Arc shook her head fiercely.
「Even so, God, those people are also the precious families of the Believers here. Please, with Your warm mercy, let them receive this food as well!」
Honestly, I didn’t like it.
But the earnest gazes of Jeanne d’Arc and the other Believers tugged at my heart.
If the abandoned Slums’ residents ended up starving to death, I’d have trouble sleeping.
“…Send someone to the Slums and bring the others here. New Believers are always welcome.”
If the ones remaining in the Slums also became Believers, in the end, it was a gain.
Jeanne d’Arc smiled happily, and a few Slums people hurried off to bring the others.
「Whoa, what’s going on…」
「Fish and Bread, everywhere you look?!」
「Has God truly come to save us…?」
The earlier arrivals quickly explained the mysterious events to the new ones.
And the strange scene before their eyes—
Those who had doubted and hesitated could do nothing but bow their heads in reverence.
But then—
「…Is it really certain that these are miracles from God?」
One of the latecomers stepped forward.
「What nonsense is that?」
「Can’t you hear God’s voice?」
Despite the crowd’s protests, the man stayed calm.
I was curious to see what he’d say next, so I decided to watch quietly.
“Go on, go on. Keep talking.”
At my words, the man nodded quietly.
「Indeed! God’s voice, I can hear it clearly… But!」
He pointed energetically at the flopping anchovies.
Are you saying these Fish fell from the sky? Couldn’t they have been blown here from the Lake by a typhoon?
「…There wasn’t a single gust of wind today.」
「Besides, those are anchovies—a sea fish. They don’t even live in the Lake!」
「Might as well say the Bread flew in from a bakery by the Lake!」
Despite the criticism, the man insisted on one last word.
“In truth, perhaps the Bread came from the Lake…”
Under the glare of the crowd, he finally stopped.
「Ahem, God’s voice isn’t a hallucination. The Fish didn’t come on the wind. And Bread fell, too. Which means…」
He kept nodding, then suddenly prostrated himself on the ground.
He shouted to those around him in rebuke.
「What are you all doing?! Kneel and offer thanks to God at once!」
[…….]
God! We have waited, yearned, longed, and prayed for Your arrival until this very day! Oh, how we have yearned and desired!」
The man was now groveling so low his nose was nearly touching the ground.
‘…What a quick change of heart, huh?’
Still—
—Ding!
[Number of Believers: 100 → 300]
At a time when every Believer is precious, I let it slide as a cute gesture.
Soon, the new Slums residents each picked up Bread and Fish.
Jeanne d’Arc began to pray, representing everyone.
「We give heartfelt thanks to God for the Bread and Fish that allow us all to eat our fill.」
After finishing her prayer, Jan called out to the Slums’ residents.
「Attention, please! I will now tell you the first doctrine spoken by God. Before eating, everyone, repeat after me! If You Eat Deliciously, Zero Calories! Everyone, enjoy your meal!」
「If You Eat Deliciously, Zero Calories!」
「If You Eat Deliciously, Zero Calories!」 「If You Eat Deliciously, Zero Calories!」
「If You Eat Deliciously, Zero Calories!」
「If You Eat Deliciously, Zero Calories!」
Hundreds of Believers shouted the first doctrine in unison.
The word “Calorie” resounded loudly through the woods.
“But, Ca-Calorie? What’s that supposed to mean?”
「Maybe it’s a heavenly word that God uses?」
「Well, isn’t it just telling us to eat with gratitude?」
Watching all this, I could only hide my face in my hands.
The clever joke I’d tossed out was now destined to be immortalized as a public execution.
‘Well… it’s not a bad doctrine. Just… really embarrassing… maybe a lot…’
Jeanne d’Arc then took a big, showy bite of Bread with a beaming face.
That was the signal for the Slums’ people to start eating the food in their hands.
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
On campfires all around, huge anchovies were being skewered and grilled over branches.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The sound of people biting into giant cereal echoed in harmony through the forest.
‘…It’s like a village festival.’
Every Slums’ resident chewed Bread and Fish with happy faces, mouths full.
「I can’t believe Bread this thin and crispy exists! It melts right in your mouth!」
「…It’s sweet! With Bread like this, I could eat it three times a day and never get tired of it~」
“Everyone, try the grilled anchovy, too! It’s perfectly cooked!”
「So this is the sea fish called anchovy? The flavor is fantastic!」
After long years of hunger, the Slums’ residents ate to their hearts’ content, and when there was no room left in their stomachs, the feast in the woods finally ended.
Even so, the leftover Bread and Fish still filled twenty large baskets.
Ding!
[Quest]
Five loaves of Bread and two Fish
-Feed the Believers gathered in front of the hut until they are full. …… [Complete(V)]
[System] ・Quest Complete!
・Experience +300, Divine Power +10P
As soon as the request Jeanne d’Arc had asked was fulfilled, a pure white radiance burst forth.
[Level Up!]
[Divine Power: 10/50 60/60]
Upon completing the Quest, the Creator’s level rose to 6.
‘…When it comes to Quests requested by faithful Believers, completing them is pretty much guaranteed Level Up.’
At that moment, another notification appeared before my eyes.
[Achievement]
- 300 Believers reached
……
[Complete(V)]
Achievement?”
So there’s things like that, too.
It really feels just like a game.
“I cleared an Achievement, but is there no reward?”
Just then, as if it had been waiting, a new System window appeared.
[System]
- Achievement accomplished!
Skill: Bond of Faith is now activated!
Flash!
In that instant, pure white light burst out from the System window.