Chapter 9
Believer Santiago (2)
Even when he had seen Santiago’s past in the dream world, Lee Shin had felt it: unlike Eve and the other believers, Santiago was an astonishingly capable fighter.
“Santiago... You’ve come back?”
“Looks like it.”
“You did well. You really did. And I’m sorry. If only we’d helped you a little back then, you might never have gone down that path.”
It seemed Santiago was acquainted with the residents of the Red City, Gepetto. Well, Santiago himself had once been one of Gepetto’s residents, so that was only natural.
Most of the residents apologizing to Santiago now were the same people who had turned away when he had asked them for help.
But Lee Shin, who had seen Santiago’s past, knew something.
The old man understood their hardships too well to hate them. He knew that every dwarf living in this ruined world was merely struggling to endure their own particular brand of misery.
And so Santiago held no grudge.
“...”
“That was just the kind of world we lived in back then.”
With that brief sentence, Santiago dismissed the matter entirely. He walked to the center of the gathered residents and began explaining in detail how they should train in preparation for the enemies to come.
The residents listened attentively, not letting a single word go in one ear and out the other, committing their respective roles to memory.
All so they could survive against those who would soon arrive.
「TIP: Before the battle begins, use the new [Religion] function to found a new religion.」
Religion.
A word referring to a community of believers who share practices, morals, convictions, and beliefs concerning transcendent or spiritual beings or a supernatural order, as well as the system of faith and culture possessed by that community.
Lee Shin’s ability description read as follows.
「Religion: Manage your community of believers.」
「There is currently no religion founded under your name.」
「Founding a new religion.」
「Choose a doctrine.」
「1. Love」
「2. Obedience」
「3. Self-Reliance」
Lee Shin began by reading through them one by one.
「Love: “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, offer them the left as well.”」
「A doctrine of forgiveness, sacrifice, and love.」
「Benefits: Increased [Productivity], reduced chance of [Discrimination and Hatred], reduced chance of [War], extremely low chance of a [Hero] appearing.」
「Penalty: Major decrease in [Combat Power], [Distrust] among residents of the [Ruined World].」
「Overall Evaluation: A doctrine suited to a prosperous and peaceful world. It can attract many believers even without extraordinary miracles. However, it will not be persuasive to the residents of the [Ruined World].」
Prosperity and peace.
Not a single one of those words suited the Small but Deadly World.
Besides, if Lee Shin was going to create his own religion, he hoped there would be a better way than unconditional love and forgiveness.
「Obedience: “Power to those who follow.”」
「A doctrine of absolute obedience.」
「Benefits: [Faith] increases rapidly, high chance of a [Hero] appearing.」
「Penalty: Increased chance of [Fanatics], greatly increased chance of [Discrimination and Hatred], greatly increased chance of [War].」
「Overall Evaluation: A doctrine suited to a powerful and violent god. The god actively interferes with the world and periodically performs miracles to maintain faith in their existence. This doctrine is suited to an evil god who believes that faith is born from fear. When this doctrine is adopted, believers will not follow a god weaker than themselves.」
This doctrine clearly didn’t suit Lee Shin’s disposition.
Lee Shin hated fighting with others, so he frowned without even needing to examine it closely.
「Self-Reliance: “You shall be rewarded according to your efforts.”」
「A doctrine of self-reliance.」
「Benefits: None.」
「Penalty: None.」
「Overall Evaluation: Under a doctrine in which believers are rewarded according to their efforts, they act independently and proactively. The more actively the believers act, the faster the religion and the world will develop. However, the lazier the believers are, the less the religion and the world will develop.」
You shall be rewarded according to your efforts.
Lee Shin liked that sentence.
He looked at the residents of the Red City, Gepetto.
Until recently, they had lived with dead eyes, their spirits completely crushed. Now, however, they were tirelessly working to survive.
New buildings were going up.
New roads were being laid.
Everyone lived with energy in their faces.
Whether Lee Shin was there or not, they were always working hard and moving forward.
Could there possibly be a doctrine better suited to people like them?
「The doctrine of this religion is [Self-Reliance].」
「The religion has taken shape.」
「The religion [Church of Lee Shin] is born.」
「[Church of Lee Shin] is a new religion.」
「Develop its faith and spread it throughout the world.」
The moment the religion was completed, pure white light descended upon the residents gathered in the center of the city.
Everyone looked around in confusion, until several residents suddenly shouted.
“I can feel God watching over us!”
“I can feel His grace!”
Their pupils turned into stars.
Just like Eve’s.
「The power of the clergy manifests within certain gifted souls among the believers belonging to the religion.」
「22 believers have become ‘Clergy.’」
「According to their individual aptitudes, they will walk either the path of a Holy Knight or the path of a Priest, dedicating their entire lives to drawing closer to God.」
「In accordance with the doctrine of Self-Reliance, believers of the [Church of Lee Shin] are rewarded according to their efforts. The efficiency of all work greatly increases depending on their determination.」
All Lee Shin had done was found a single religion, yet so much had changed.
Twenty-two members of the clergy had appeared, and the speed at which the residents followed Santiago’s training increased dramatically.
The status window’s advice had been right on the mark.
「TIP: You can do it! You can do it!」
「TIP: 9(00()1~9(009),」
「TIP: Use the Low-Grade Believer Ticket.」
He was putting every reward he had just received to immediate use without wasting a single one.
And he had already decided who would receive this ticket.
“W-Wowww...”
Eve was staring in amazement at all the people who had changed after the religion’s creation.
Blinking her star-shaped pupils, she looked up at the sky.
「Using Low-Grade Enhancement Ticket.」
「Intermediate Believer [Eve]’s status has been updated.」
The next instant, dazzling light descended upon Eve’s head.
As everyone’s attention focused on her, Eve’s flowing hair suddenly grew until it reached below her waist.
Now two stars sparkled in each of her eyes, and even a faint halo shimmered behind her head.
She also seemed a little more mature than before.
「The Small and Adorable Saintess Closest to Lee Shin」
「Name: Eve」
「Class: Saintess (First Apostle)」
「Believer Rank: Intermediate」
「Soul Rank: Hero」
「Overall Evaluation: The first believer to receive God’s love. As the Saintess who symbolizes the Church of Lee Shin, she can now perform countless miracles and has gained a halo capable of driving away any darkness. It sparkles even at night, so she’ll probably have trouble sleeping.」
Eve closed her eyes and opened them again.
She looked down at herself, curiously touching various parts of her body.
Then she glanced around at everyone, puffed herself up proudly, raised her chin, and shouted,
“THE SAINTESS HAS ARRIVED!”
Everyone around her erupted into cheers.
Meanwhile, Lee Shin became convinced that raising one’s Soul Rank apparently did nothing to cure clumsiness...
She’s doing somersaults again. Again.
Leaving behind Eve, who could now effortlessly perform thirty consecutive somersaults, Lee Shin could only hope that no one would be injured or killed in the battle that was about to begin.
Time passed.
Eventually, a hazy cloud of dust appeared beyond the horizon.
The people who had been taking turns keeping watch for approaching enemies began waving a large red flag.
The battle was truly about to begin.
「A party has been formed.」
「Apostles included: 1」
「Intermediate Believer [Eve]」
「Core Forces: Santiago, Eve」
「Synergy activated.」
As Lee Shin watched nervously, the status window appeared with a chime.
Syn...ergy?
「Synergy: Old Man and Girl [Tier 5]」
「Category: Lifestyle Support」
「Condition: An old man and a girl must belong to the same party.」
「Effect: They do not tire easily.」
「Overall Evaluation: Old men and young girls—the guaranteed recipe for a hit apocalypse story!」
「Synergy: Heroes [Tier 3]」
「Category: Combat」
「Condition: Two or more [Hero-Rank] souls must belong to the same party.」
「Beneficial effects activate for every 2, 4, and 6 members.」
「(2) Effect: Slight increase to stats.」
「Overall Evaluation: It takes a hero to recognize a hero!」
Apparently, these effects occurred when believers united under the same religion.
In the distance, the enemies gradually began appearing over the horizon.
This time they weren’t bikers riding motorcycles.
They were riding in large vehicles.
There seemed to be quite a few of the sunglasses-wearing bastards, and every last one of them was holding the exact same thing.
For a moment, Lee Shin doubted his own eyes.
But those bastards really had brought guns.
I already thought their technology was suspiciously advanced when I saw the motorcycles, but guns too...
As far as Lee Shin knew, despite preparing for this attack, Santiago and the residents of Gepetto had neither managed to make guns nor obtain any particularly impressive weapons.
Could they really deal with such terrifying modern firearms?
His heart tightened with anxiety.
“Everyone, just as we practiced.”
The moment Santiago gave the command, the residents of Gepetto began setting up the barricades they had prepared beforehand.
They were meticulously constructed. As expected of dwarves capable of throwing up an entire building in a single day, the craftsmanship was exceptionally high.
They placed a ladder against the barricade.
Eve climbed all the way to the top, her halo shining brightly, and screamed toward the approaching enemies at the top of her lungs.
“PEEEAAACE!”
At the same moment, light exploded from Eve and swept across the surrounding land.
Every speck of dust and sand was blown away.
The enemies immediately aimed at Eve standing high above them and pulled their triggers.
Lee Shin instinctively squeezed his eyes shut.
But there was no sound.
When Lee Shin belatedly opened his eyes, he saw the enemies staring at their weapons in bewilderment.
Their expressions seemed to say, This can’t be happening.
They repeatedly pulled their triggers, but all that came out were useless clicking sounds.
「Intermediate Believer Eve activates the skill ‘Declaration of Peace.’」
「A form of ‘peace’ suited to this believer’s soul is declared across the surrounding land.」
「The bait has been taken.」
「Low-Grade Believer Santiago prepares to set the hook.」
Santiago sharply yanked the fishing line.
At that instant, every vehicle racing toward them was suddenly lifted into the air and flipped over.
It was as though fish caught on hooks had been yanked straight out of the water before being slammed into the ground.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The airborne vehicles crashed into the earth one after another, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.