Chapter : 51

The heretic temple was not on the surface. It was an underground temple, built deep in the valley where two of the Arhen Mountains met.

It must have flourished considerably during the era of the Ancient Empire, as despite being inside a rock cave, it was filled with wide hallways and various carved sculptures.

“Hmm….”

Feeling the strange energy enveloping my body, I scanned my surroundings.

Considering the Pixie priests who used blood magic, the atmosphere of this temple was unexpected. It felt somewhat solemn and calm.

It seemed I wasn't the only one who thought so.

“It's a more normal temple than I expected.”

“Isn't it? Magician Agpiel.”

“It seems to be a temple that served a forgotten god from the era of the Ancient Empire.”

“Oh-!”

How did he know that? The system notification window had told me, but Agpiel wouldn't have something like that, would he?

“Do you know which god it is?”

“Well…. I'll have to check.”

With that, Magician Agpiel looked around. His expression as he scanned the temple was full of the curiosity of a seeker of truth.

Relics of the Ancient Empire were always objects of envy in the world of [Pangea Universalise].

So much so that they called themselves, living in the current era, the children of the dark ages.

Much like the people of medieval Europe who longed for ancient Rome, the people of [Pangea Universalise] also yearned for the prosperous culture of the Ancient Empire.

“Hmm, hmmm.”

Having discovered something, Magician Agpiel began to examine it excitedly.

It was unbecoming, considering we came here to lift the curse placed on the members of the Canton Council.

But I could afford this much time for the old magician who had worked so hard until now.

Especially since Agpiel had just protected me with magic a moment ago.

After a short while.

“Hmm. There! I’ve got it.”

Magician Agpiel exclaimed in satisfaction as he straightened his back.

“Did you find anything out?”

“Yes. This temple was a place that honored the Goddess of Life during the Ancient Empire. She must have been a perfect goddess for the Pixie tribe, who use blood magic.”

-Tiriring!

[You have learned of a forgotten god.]

[The temple awakens.]

[The forgotten god, the Goddess of Life, takes an interest in you.]

‘????’

‘Interest?’

At that moment.

-Ruuuumble!

“Whoa?”

“Aah! It's an earthquake.”

“Oh, my god.”

The temple suddenly began to shake violently. The soldiers inside the temple made a fuss and trembled.

We were inside a cave.

If it collapsed from the earthquake, we would be dead for sure.

It wouldn't be so bad to die fighting in a battle—! To die like this was truly a dog's death—!

“Tsk, tsk.”

Then, Magician Agpiel clicked his tongue and tapped the floor with his staff.

-Wooooong!

With a bluish aura, a mass of wood shot up along the temple walls to the ceiling. A moment later, the earthquake stopped as if it had never happened.

“The temple has awakened. Did we not just awaken the name of the forgotten god?”

“Oh?”

It was the same as what the notification window had said a moment ago. I asked, intrigued.

“What does it mean for the temple to awaken? It's not like something bad is going to happen, right? Magician Agpiel.”

“Hmm. I'm not sure myself. Whether this goddess will be friendly or hostile to us. However….”

Magician Agpiel trailed off and glanced behind him. There was the cart filled with the various sacred artifacts plundered from this place.

“At the very least, since we came to return the sacred artifacts, she probably won't kill us. Hoho.”

“The way you say that makes me even more anxious, Agpiel.”

“Hmph. Surely a goddess wouldn't harm us. Besides, isn't she the benevolent Goddess of Life! Hmm? Come to think of it, the Canton council members growing weaker and weaker, could it be a curse that drains their life force? If we're lucky, we might get the same curse. This is not good.”

“……”

I stared at Agpiel with a sour expression as he nonchalantly said such horrible things.

“But don't you worry. I'll make sure to get you out of here safely, at least.”

“That is some very gracious friendship.”

“Hahaha! You're as cheerful as ever.”

* * *

Clank, clank.

The inner part of the temple was a bit narrow. We each carried a sacred artifact and carefully began to walk deeper into the temple.

According to the dwarf guide, these sacred artifacts had been plundered from a hidden place deep inside the temple.

“Hmm.”

As I walked, I cautiously observed my surroundings. The strange energy I had first felt grew stronger the closer we got to the place the dwarf guide had mentioned.

‘Is it something like a blessing of vitality?’

I felt a surge of energy in my body, and my fatigue vanished. My stamina was so high it was hard to believe I had just been in a battle.

‘Hmm, thankfully, it seems the goddess isn't hostile to us.’

It was a great relief.

Having experienced the unrealistic event of being transmigrated into a game, I couldn't doubt the existence of divine beings.

If I've experienced such a trans-cognitive event, then surely gods must exist in this world, right?

That's why I moved my body all the more cautiously.

There was no need to provoke the wrath of a god who had been quietly slumbering.

“Thankfully, it seems this will end without any particular issues.”

“Don't you think? Magician Agpiel?”

“The fact that we've come this far without major problems must mean the goddess looks upon us favorably. This place seems to be the most important altar of offering in the temple.”

“That's a relief.”

At Agpiel's words, I let out a sigh of relief and slowly entered the altar area.

Traces of the plunder were indeed visible everywhere.

Broken and scattered about.

I clicked my tongue and ordered the soldiers to tidy this place. Then, with a reverent heart, I placed the sacred artifacts on the altar one by one.

One.

Two.

Three. Four.

With each sacred artifact placed upon the altar, the strange, holy mystery felt within the temple grew more intense.

So much so that even I, a layman when it came to mysteries, could identify it as ‘this is a mystery.’

‘Ugh.’

It certainly didn't feel hostile, but something was strange. It just kept getting stronger. But first, I had to do what I came to do.

-Clatter.

‘I apologize for the damage. But it was not of my own will. I hope for your forgiveness.’

I placed the last sacred artifact on the altar and, feeling guilty, prayed as such.

The artifact I had just placed was the statue of the goddess herself.

The very same broken artifact that had caused the fight with the Pixie tribe earlier.

“Hmm, Magician Agpiel. This should be enough, right? Let's go back now.”

I said, turning my head.

But in that instant.

Everyone inside the altar had vanished.

“Huh?”

* * *

‘What in the world is going on?’

I was startled and looked around. But nowhere could I find Agpiel and the soldiers who had come with me.

It was enough to make a ghost wail.

Just a moment ago, I thought this temple was friendly towards me, but now that it had suddenly turned, goosebumps rose all over my body.

‘Wh-what do I do?’

I sweated profusely and thought slowly. But no matter how much I thought, I couldn't find an answer.

Such a mystery.

It was something I had never experienced while playing [Pangea Universalise].

“Hoo, hoo.”

I let out a ragged breath and turned my body again. I was trying to slowly repeat my previous actions.

But then.

-Wooooooong!

When I turned back, there was a being before my eyes that hadn't been there a moment ago.

“Gasp-!”

The statue of the goddess I had placed on the altar earlier.

It was emitting a pure white light and floating in mid-air.

I didn't know what it was, but I could tell.

It wasn't a matter of perception.

I just knew the moment I saw it.

That is the ‘Goddess of Life’.

-Gulp.

I swallowed hard and slowly looked at the Goddess of Life.

Friendly?

Hostile?

I couldn't read her intentions.

Then, as if reading my confused heart, the Goddess of Life spread her arms with a benevolent smile.

‘Is she telling me to come to her?’

As soon as I tried to grasp her true intention, my body moved. Into the bountiful embrace of the Goddess of Life.

“?!”

It was truly a startling event!

But strangely, my mind was calm. So much so that I felt no turmoil whatsoever.

I knew instinctively. That the goddess was not trying to do anything bad to me right now.

‘It’s… so cozy.’

The embrace of the Goddess of Life was incredibly comfortable. So much so that I wanted to just fall asleep like this.

All this time, hadn't I been living a blood-drying life, transmigrated into this game? I couldn't even sleep properly and was always living on edge.

But surprisingly, right now, at this moment, I was resting more comfortably than ever before.

‘Hmm….’

As if reading my mind, the Goddess of Life smiled and looked at me.

Although I couldn't see her exact expression because of the white light, I knew instinctively. This was definitely a smile.

Then, the Goddess of Life placed me back on the ground and kissed my forehead.

-Jjok.

Simultaneously, a clear energy flowed down from my head. I could feel a vitality I had never experienced before and a primal, wild power stirring in every muscle.

The moment this energy circled my body once, I could realize.

This was the goddess's blessing.

-Tiriring!

As expected.

The familiar notification window rang in my ear, and the status window shot up.

[You have received the blessing of the Goddess of Life. The forgotten goddess feels gratitude toward you for purifying her temple. Although she can no longer directly exert her power in this world, the goddess intends to leave her will in the world by blessing you.]

[Notification: You have obtained the trait ‘Blessing of the Goddess of Life’.]

[Blessing of the Goddess of Life: Exerts endless vitality and transcendent power.]

[Notification: Your favorability with the Order of the Goddess of Life increases. Although they live in seclusion, they will willingly follow you if they happen to meet you.]

* * *

“…Your Excellency.”

“…Please wake up.”

“Magician…! Quickly….”

A loud noise was coming from somewhere. It seemed someone was gravely injured, as everyone was in a commotion.

‘Hmm?’

Then I suddenly realized that this voice was very familiar. And also where I was, and what I had been through.

“Enough, stop being so noisy.”

I opened my eyes and slowly got up. As expected, this was the temple's altar where I had been just moments ago.

“Oh my goodness!”

“My God! Ah.”

“Your Excellency. You are safe.”

The soldiers then knelt and piously made the sign of the cross.

“Of course. Am I not perfectly fine? What is wrong with all of you?”

I shrugged at their fuss. Then, Magician Agpiel, who had been watching quietly, spoke.

“You suddenly disappeared.”

“Pardon?”

“Just as I said. A light suddenly flashed from the altar, and you vanished.”

“Ah-!”

At Agpiel's words, I understood the situation. It seemed that space had been separated when I came into contact with the goddess.

“Everyone was looking for you. Hoho. I've never seen soldiers search for their employer like that. It's a relief.”

“No wonder. So that's why everyone was so surprised, Magician Agpiel.”

“Indeed. By the way….”

Agpiel cautiously looked around and then opened his mouth.

“Did you perhaps meet ‘her’?”

I was famous in the world as a performer of miracles. If it became known that I had met a heretical god, my reputation could be tarnished. That's why Magician Agpiel was being so cautious.

“Yes. I met her.”

“Oh-! Indeed. Then you must have received a blessing, right? Am I wrong?”

“Hmm. That's right.”

“That is very good news. Do not speak of this to any priest or to Bishop Marco. They may not look upon it favorably.”

I felt grateful for Agpiel's consideration. Who else would show this much friendship in such a short acquaintance!

Praising this precious connection, I rose from my spot.

Now that everything was resolved, it was time to go back. I immediately ordered the soldiers to exit the temple and return to Canton.

‘Whew, still, this trip to Canton wasn't so bad.’

I thought to myself as I watched the soldiers returning to Canton.

Although there were many twists and turns, wasn't it a profitable venture?

Of course, I still had to go back to Canton and squeeze more money out of the council members.

“Meeeeh~ Rich~ Let's get rich. Mer! Rip off the gold. Mehehehet.”

Just like that goat beastman's song.