Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Materialistic Cleric Erik (3)
“Isn’t it too much to say that one should live poor in body but rich in spirit?”
“God said He saves those who believe in and seek Him.”
“That’s right. You’re quite eloquent, Father.”
The entrance of the chapel became noisy at the words of a massive man who brought to mind a Paladin.
“This Jang Du-sik also started living an honest life after believing in God. Originally, I was a thug from the Peran region outside the border, but now I’ve become a proper imperial citizen and even run a shop.”
“Oh my, Peran? You lived in that conflict zone?”
“That terrible place where people supposedly ate each other because there was nothing to eat…”
“If you don’t want to abandon monastery life and live like beggars, don’t be stingy with your small change.”
At that point, even the poor began pulling out what money they had and putting it into the collection box placed at the chapel entrance.
The believers started glancing at each other.
Even if they might starve tomorrow, they willingly opened their wallets to feel the free medical treatment benefits of the Astia Religious Order and the pious sanctity that came from prayer.
‘I didn’t realize the lack of education was this severe.’
Erik felt complex emotions at the sight.
It was good that money was accumulating.
But he felt sorry for the believers who opened their wallets at just a few words without needing to use any of the preparations he had made.
‘I need to raise our kids well.’
Even a middle school graduate from modern times would surely be considered quite intelligent in this world.
As Erik was lost in such thoughts.
“If you consider yourself poor, you cannot escape poverty.”
Like the parting of the Red Sea, a path formed between the people.
A knight walked steadily down the created path. As the knight removed her helmet and tucked it under her arm, she asked:
“Did God truly give such teachings?”
Long red hair flowed down from beneath the removed helmet.
A cat-like beauty with sharp eyes appeared.
“It means one’s situation can change depending on how one thinks. I quite like those words. Though they’re definitely not something you would have come up with…”
Her name was Erica Fernasia, the second daughter of a ducal family and vice-captain of the 2nd Knight Order of the Security Bureau.
To such a person, Erik asked:
“Are you visiting as a knight?”
Are you here as nobility?
Or as a Security Bureau knight?
That was the question.
“Both, I suppose. Since that’s what you would want…”
Erica said this while taking out a small pouch.
The collection box Erik had prepared had a hole that perfectly matched the size of a standard Subspace Pouch.
“Isn’t that what you made it for?”
Erica asked as she put in the money pouch.
“Both the ducal family and the Security Bureau will be blessed with Lady Astia’s grace.”
Erik’s lips curved into an arc.
Soon it bloomed into a full smile.
“I’ll seat you in the front row’s place of honor.”
Erik guided Erica.
Her seat was at the very front of the chapel.
The believers’ prayer seats were arranged based on rank and status.
‘Successful.’
A great noble’s child and active knight had paid tithes, and the middle-class commoners he’d brought as decoys had also opened their wallets.
Moreover, even the poor living at the edge of District 4 or in District 5 had paid money, so it was undoubtedly a successful start.
Erik looked with satisfaction at the believers seated comfortably.
“Erik, you’ve crossed the line.”
Behind him, Ruelle pinched his elbow and whispered.
“Did you have to make even the poor pay money?”
Erik hadn’t wanted to go that far either.
But he had good reason.
“This is done in God’s name. There can be no exceptions to that.”
“Well, I know you wouldn’t really exploit the truly weak, Erik… but still, give me some hint. I was genuinely surprised.”
It seemed she had been pretending to be angry.
‘Since Ruelle let it slide too, I’ve achieved all my goals.’
Erik, who had been inwardly tense, let out a sigh.
***
While Ruelle went up to the podium to read from the scriptures, Erik entered the confession room behind the chapel.
“May God take…”
Ruelle’s clear voice came through the wall, and as the congregation followed her prayer, sanctity began to descend upon the church.
“When the black dragon darkened the sky, God…”
Woooom.
Erik watched God’s miracle and thought.
‘Will I really hear a voice?’
Though Erik could skillfully wrap himself in and handle Divine Power, he had never once heard God’s voice.
To begin with, Erik couldn’t even accept the fact that God existed.
However.
‘It is indeed an incomprehensible phenomenon.’
He had reached some compromise.
Toward the possibility that something God-like might exist.
“Genesis, as heaven and earth split apart, erasing the darkness…”
And for good reason.
That’s what the scene looked like.
As the prayer led by the Priestess resonated with the believers’ earnestness, the chapel filled with Divine Power.
How else could this phenomenon be explained other than as a ‘miracle’?
‘Besides, real clerics claim to hear God’s voice.’
Wooooom.
Erik also wrapped Divine Power around his hand.
Unlike the pale golden waves created by prayer, Erik’s appeared like high-purity gold.
But no voice reached Erik.
“Power is power.”
Erik spread the Divine Power gathered in his hand throughout the entire chapel.
With a keening resonance, the golden light enveloping the believers became even more brilliant.
‘The visible effect of tithes.’
It was an inappropriate intention in a pious place where earnest prayers could be heard.
Since the purpose was the stable establishment of tithes.
Just from his actions, he was no different from a heretic.
“Oh my, goodness. Was what you said really true, brother? You truly are someone who receives God’s favor.”
From Jang Du-sik’s reaction after the prayer ended, it seemed successful.
Erik had subtly spread well-refined Divine Power.
Since Jang Du-sik hadn’t noticed, others would surely consider it the effect of tithes.
“Ho, just as you said. It’s effective. Certain indeed.”
As evidence, knight Erica also showed such a reaction.
Erica entered the confession room where Erik was with leisurely steps.
“Priestess Ruelle… provides free healing every time.”
Her gaze turned toward the chapel entrance.
“She’s certainly someone to look up to.”
Erica admired as she watched Ruelle treating the believers.
To her, Erik tilted his head askew and asked:
“How long will you keep up the noble act? We all obviously know you’re being careful.”
Jang Du-sik tactfully closed the confession room door and stood guard in front of it.
Only then.
“Hahaha, you crazy bastard.”
Showing rough laughter, Erica’s demeanor became disheveled.
Rather than a composed knight, she felt like some wild girl.
She sat in the confession room chair, crossed her legs, and put them up on the desk.
“Still, I have to be mindful in front of people.”
“Well, if you’re a noble and a knight, that’s how it is.”
Erik’s speech also became casual.
“Since you did the tithe thing, are you slowly thinking of officially joining the Religious Order, Erik?”
“I’m planning to delay it as much as possible, but…”
Erik was the successor designated by a Religious Order pilgrim.
His identity was that of a possessor of profound, vigorous Divine Power of a purity that a fifteen-year-old could never possess.
“Tsk, you’ll obviously just be burdened with all sorts of duties… How about becoming a wandering knight with me instead?”
The moment such a person officially joined the Astia Religious Order, it was obvious he’d be burdened with all kinds of duties.
Erik knew this fact too.
He had no intention of avoiding it.
“There’s even a carriage waiting outside, so let’s call it a day and go back.”
“Right. Being a noble is really bothersome.”
Watching Erica’s departing carriage, Erik thought of an NPC character from the game.
‘How does she become the Imperial Guard Captain?’
***
After the guests left.
“Sort the gold, silver, and copper coins, and bring any platinum coins or bills to me separately.”
The orphanage children were mobilized to organize the money from the collection box.
Ruelle’s church, with 200 seats, was very popular.
It was packed full with people lined up all the way to the back.
Pious prayers recited by a beautiful Priestess.
Wouldn’t faith naturally bloom?
“Erik… I’ve submitted the report to the Religious Order headquarters, but I’m really worried.”
Looking at the pile of money, Ruelle’s eyes wavered.
“Soon everyone will try to follow Priestess Ruelle’s example.”
“…M-me?”
“Aren’t you the person in charge of this church, Priestess?”
“Huh?”
Ruelle’s head throbbed.
What on earth was this situation because of that money-obsessed guy?
It seemed like rumors would spread that Ruelle had created the tithe.
Well, it wasn’t someone else.
Since it was Erik’s doing, whom she’d raised like her own, Ruelle meekly accepted it.
“So, did you achieve your target?”
“Yes. Lady Erica graciously donated 2 million Gold.”
The Subspace Pouch Erica gave contained 20 platinum coins.
‘The money gathered perfectly.’
The condition for opening 3rd Tier Divine Power that the system demanded was ‘200 million Gold.’
200 million in this world’s money was equivalent to 20 billion won in Korean currency.
‘If I’d started with tithes from the beginning, I could have gathered 200 million Gold quickly…’
Before leaving, his master had told him to refrain from directly interfering with the church until he turned fifteen.
Erik had kept this.
Having passed fifteen this month, there was no longer a need to refrain.
“Kids, shall we go to bed soon?”
When the money sorting was roughly finished, Ruelle tactfully sent the children back to the orphanage.
“Me, me too! Divine Power!”
“Older brother Erik, keep your promise!”
The children didn’t leave quietly.
They each added a word to ensure the stoic Erik wouldn’t forget his promise as they returned to their rooms.
In the empty chapel, Ruelle looked at Erik and raised an eyebrow.
“What promise did you make this time?”
When Erik was doing business and short on help, he would often bring children from the orphanage to work.
The payment was a single word of promise.
The first promise was to move them from District 4 to District 3.
The second promise was to make individual rooms for each of them.
The third promise was to provide classes suited to their desired career directions.
All those promises had been fulfilled.
Actually, if Erik hadn’t spent money on the orphanage, he would have already gathered 200 million Gold and more.
“It’s something that doesn’t cost money but takes time.”
“What is it?”
“A promise to teach Divine Power and let them try swordsmanship or magical tools.”
Ruelle let out a deep sigh.
“Erik, you’re really two-faced.”
Vivid blue-green eyes looked at Erik through long blonde hair.
“Who raised me? Isn’t it natural to ask such an obvious thing?”
Woooom!
Erik spoke while raising his Divine Power. Following his gesture, fierce golden waves surged.
Like the miracle that occurred during worship time, the Divine Power spread out to envelop the entire space.
However, the weight felt different from that time.
“Ugh, really! Tell me in advance!”
Supporting Ruelle, who staggered from the vigorous Divine Power, Erik whispered:
“Where else could you find someone as two-faced as Priestess Ruelle, who took in and raised a possessor like me?”
“Haa, sometimes I regret it.”
Lowering his massive frame, Erik met Ruelle’s eyes.
“So you won’t watch the 3rd Tier?”
“…I have to watch! I have to!”
It was Ruelle who had watched Erik since he was very young.
When he opened his 2nd Tier Divine Power, Ruelle, who was a lower Priestess, received tremendous power from the god Astia.
【Protect the child.】
She even heard the voice of revelation together.
Erik himself had joked about not listening to fraudsters, but Ruelle felt God’s will.
The reason she could overcome her sad past and live.
That was the miracle Erik had shown her.
Kuwoong.
Kuwoong.
Kuwoong.
Erik’s Divine Power enveloping all sides made the chapel a perfectly isolated space.
“I’m starting.”
As soon as Erik spoke, his [Inventory] opened.
A cross sculpture wrapped in six wings representing the god Astia.
In front of it, an overwhelming number of gold coins began to pile up.
Sharrrrrr.
A man of massive build kneeling in the flood of gold coins.
Erik clasped his hands together.
Then he prayed.
“I offer this-.”
A tone devoid of any discernible faithfulness, completely dry.
However, what happened was not like that.
Passssssss.
Gold coins scattering and disappearing like dust.
And in proportion to that, enormous waves of sanctity was being created.
The chapel was completely filled with golden light.
“Aaaaah!!”
Ruelle was the first to react, and a little later, changes occurred in Erik.
Whoooooo.
The surging waves of sanctity rushed into his body like a whirlwind.
Thump thump. His heart beat and blood circulated, making his body even more pious.
His golden, brilliant eyes deepened further.
When all the light spectacle was ending.
[3rd Tier Divine Power has been opened.]
A status window appeared before Erik’s eyes. Though he couldn’t know any specific numbers, it meant he had gained even stronger Divine Power.
That’s indeed how it felt.
Kuwoong.
Feeling the condensed power, Erik thought.
‘What changed?’
When he gained 1st Tier Divine Power, he could strengthen his body.
When he opened 2nd Tier, he became able to enhance weapons using Divine Power or heal others.
So what about 3rd Tier?
He felt a newly acquired, alien sensation.
When Erik clenched his fist wrapped in sanctity.
Baaaaang.
A chair at the far end of the chapel shattered into pieces.
‘This works?’
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