NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29
It’s getting chilly even during the day.
Brrr!
To what extent, you ask? Well, the robes of the wandering disciples have gotten longer and thicker!
Whoosh!
Time has gone by, and there have been many changes in this world too.
Tick-tock!
First off, over 200 people have received blessings. In other words, that means I’ve got 200 channels to watch!
Channel surf!
Of course, I’m keeping an eye on all of them.
I once wondered if it would become overwhelming after a hundred, but nope—no limits at all!
Ding!
Even while watching them all at once, I don’t get a headache or lose focus. And my power doesn’t feel like it’s decreasing either.
Zap!
Honestly speaking, I’m giving out power for free!
Ka-ching!
It’s strange.
I did mention at one point that I’d take all the power back. Until then, it means I should be sharing my stock, right? But no matter how much I share, there’s no sign of my power diminishing.
Whoa!
So, I’ve come up with a new theory.
Maybe I’m not using power but just making connections. The power itself might actually be drawn from their strengths!
Link activated!
I’m just awakening the power they already possess.
If that’s the case, it makes sense why each person’s power manifests differently.
Eureka!
However, in such cases, I’ve seen stories where lifespan is cut short or something important is lost, but luckily, I don’t see any of those symptoms.
Ding-ding!
But it’s been less than a year since I came to this world, so it’s hard to check if my lifespan has decreased.
Growl…
At this point, I still can’t figure it out.
Was I like a massive ocean below the surface? So I can share without feeling drained?
Splash!
One day, I guess I’ll find out.
And the second change:
Andrew’s subordinates have started to weave their way in.
Sneaky-sneak!
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been an additional warmth event yet.
Three newcomers per day + one extra. They implied an additional person, but thinking 200 was still too little, they didn’t prepare a separate offering for me yet.
Hmmmm…
One of those three was Andrew’s subordinate, though.
When I bestow a blessing and taint the light with darkness, I copy that person’s memories. So no matter their intentions, once they receive my blessing, I can see right through them!
Peek-a-boo!
Of course, if their memories are manipulated, hypnotized, or muddied by some means, I can’t say for sure how that’d look!
Yikes!
This could be my weakness, so I should remember that and check it out later.
Now onto the third change.
The Rasbe Kingdom, located to the west of where I am, attacked the Future Hope Church.
Boom!
But Hieronymus was one step ahead!
Whoosh!
He redirected the army towards the villages of the Cognis Kingdom in the east. Half of those villages have been swallowed up by the Future Hope Church.
Nom nom nom!
Converting people, forcing those who refuse to be killed by their neighbors, and making them spy on each other—that’s the village life for them!
And the other half? Just ordinary villages from the Cognis Kingdom—the ones that just started missionary work or haven’t with a single hint.
Yawn!
The Rasbe Kingdom’s military raided indiscriminately!
Rumble!
Why?
Because if a few terror incidents happen in a village, wouldn’t you lose trust in all the villages?
Uh-oh!
So, the Rasbe Kingdom wiped out everyone in every village. They ended up clashing with the Cognis Kingdom as a result.
Smash!
If they had any sense, they would have united to deal with the cult called Future Hope Church first.
Ding-ding!
But among those with my blessings, there are those who can use mind control-like techniques.
Hypnotize!
If there’s even one person in charge, guiding them is simple.
Chime!
Once a fight starts, though, there’s no stopping!
So much blood has been spilled. Whether it’s been smeared on someone’s body or flows out after death.
Drip, drip!
Yep.
The Rasbe Kingdom and Cognis Kingdom are on the brink of war!
Ding-dong!
The reason I know this is simple. More than half of those blessed by me are active in this operation.
Go team!
However, the one commanding them isn’t Hieronymus.
The one commanding my blessed is none other than Witga. I thought he was just an instructor—like a Minister of Education in a nation?
Lesson time!
He was teaching martial arts, tactics, and strategies.
But it seems like someone who can teach that also runs it pretty well in real life.
Bravo!
So he leads my blessed as if he’s a general, giving orders.
Looking at each of those orders would be tough to understand, but I can see and hear most of them. Once I confirm their actions, I understand what Witga is doing.
Spy alert!
Hieronymus has great subordinates!
Whoot whoot!
Among the four who were right below Hieronymus, one was Andrew. At first, I wondered whether he was dreaming of betrayal, but no!
Oops!
He’s diligently doing his job. Hieronymus has outstanding subordinates, after all.
Gold star!
So far, it’s been smooth sailing, and the Rasbe and Cognis Kingdoms will likely be off to war.
Boom, boom!
If war breaks out, both will be too busy dealing with each other.
Then it’ll be time to focus on the Ansellus Kingdom, which is presumed to be Hieronymus’s nemesis.
Time for war!
That’s the three major changes.
There are also some smaller changes.
For example, this one.
Drumroll!
“Wow! It’s the Apostle!”
Ding!
“Please bless me too! A blessing!”
Hooray!
“Apostle is the best!”
Cheers!
Right now, about 3 meters in front of me, children under 10 are waving at me from beyond a barrier.
Woop woop!
Behind them, adults who appear to be their parents are clasping their hands in prayer.
Amen!
Yep.
I’ve debuted as a zoo animal!
Roar!
About 15 minutes of showcasing my face.
Shine!
Hieronymus suddenly set this up last week.
He told me to just go and show my face to the disciples—it was a simple thing, but honestly, I felt like a trapped animal in a zoo.
Hee-haw!
The caution people had about me has significantly waned, which is nice.
Whew!
Thanks to that, I’ve been more comfortable.
Ahhh!
But leaving me in such a warm-filled place like this is just too much, don’t you think? Compared to the baby who was offered last time, the light is much bigger, and with it, the warmth is plentiful.
Wow!
No, well, there are many examples, so it’s visible, but if they’re too young, their warmth pales compared to the light.
Hmm…
Around 7 years old? 8 years? They’d need to be around that age to have warmth matching the size of the light in their chest.
Logic check!
So, does warmth increase with intelligence?
Brain tickle!
I wish it were a lot, but I still don’t know the truth of it.
Facepalm!
But warmth is fantastic. I can brighten up the endlessly chilling frost just a little without thinking about it.
Yay!
As I was passing the time like that, one kid climbed over the barrier.
Clamber!
The adults who had been praying screamed.
Gasp!
Why are they reacting like they’re witnessing a kid actually crossing a zoo fence?
What?!
The kid vaulted over the barrier in an instant.
Whoosh!
And while shouting “Apostle!” they rushed towards me.
Run, run!
But I didn’t move. Because Joanna, who was quite a distance away, was charging towards me at full speed.
Zoom!
And before she reached me, Joanna scooped up the kid. The child struggled to escape Joanna’s embrace.
Wiggle wiggle!
Is that how badly they want to meet me?
Aw!
Hmm.
I think about Hieronymus’s intentions.
Hmm…
He’s showcasing me as the god’s apostle, right?
Ta-da!
He probably meant for me to do something akin to a holy maiden roleplay.
Roleplay!
He said it was enough to just wave and make eye contact, but honestly, I think going in every day is a bit much for the mystique concept.
Uh-oh!
Or maybe this is some sort of test.
Hmm…
If that’s the case, I must pass the test.
Challenge accepted!
I stood up and approached the child. As the kid struggled to get free from Joanna’s hold, they looked at me and grinned.
Smile!
Joanna tightened her hold as she saw the child’s expression, raising her head to look at me. A girl devoid of expression was walking over.
Waddle!
Joanna’s grip tightened again.
Grrr!
And she tried to retreat, hiding the child from me.
Nope!
So I pointed at the kid.
Hey!
No, of course, Joanna’s response was proper. But I thought she felt like I was a child; with the way she was trying to hide the kid, it seems that’s not truly the case?
Question mark…
Well, I am a beast that devours people.
Nom!
Joanna stopped.
Halt!
But her arms were still tense, tightly holding the child. She was rejecting my approach.
No touch!
Does she think I shouldn’t get close?
Shake shake!
But I pointed it out. Poor Joanna is stuck and can’t move. In the meantime, I stepped right up to her.
Step step!
And I placed my hand on the child’s cheek. It’s all soft! Just a little more reaching out, and I’d get the warmth. A considerable size of light, yet the warmth is relatively smaller.
Warmth check!
I just want to snatch it!
Gimme!
But I held back.
Control!
“Don’t cross the barrier carelessly, it’s dangerous, you know?”
Warning!
The child looked at their cheek where my hand lay, shivering with wide eyes. Huh? Do they feel the danger?
Dun dun dun!
And the kid gave a slight nod.
Okay!
I ruffled the child’s hair and spoke to Joanna, who was alternating glances between us.
Looking!
“Please return the child to the barrier.”
Thank you!
“Yes, Rebecca.”
Yes, ma’am!
Joanna took the child back and went to the barrier. She then handed the kid back to the woman, who appeared to be the mother, who immediately gave the child a love tap on the head and pulled them in for a hug. The kid then started wailing.
Waaah!
The gazes around them were split between envy and jealousy.
Hissssss!
But no one looks at me with fear.
Phew!
Hehe.
Chuckles!
Is this what Hieronymus wanted?
Ding-dong!
I waved at the disciples looking at me and stepped back inside. The warmth I could feel at my fingertips was lingering.
Flicker!
Ah, it truly feels wasted.
Sad sigh!
But this is one step closer.
Progress!
My caution in their minds should weaken.
I hope Hieronymus thinks of me as harmless like this. And I hope they accept my blessings!
Accept, accept!
I want to possess the knowledge that called me to this world.
Quest accepted!