Dream Life

December 9.

The day after we arrive at the village of Natalis, where the Temple of Claretore is located, we are supposed to head to the temple in the morning.

From what Connally, the village chief, told me that there was a temple about five hundred meters north of the village, and when I left with his guidance, I immediately went into the woods.

A path made of earthly attributes magic similar to the path into the village extends as it serpents through the woods.

The sacred atmosphere that I also felt yesterday becomes even stronger. The forest here has more large trees than the surrounding area, and the mossy tree roots remind me of the Japanese forest.

(Don't feel like you're crazy. It feels close to the town guard forest... and it also resembles the atmosphere I felt at that time...)

After defeating Ashtal the Demon General (Archdemon), I thought it resembled the atmosphere I felt when I was in the cave where the enemy was based.

Walking about enough, the forest suddenly ran out. Beyond that there was a stone building, but I opened my eyes unexpectedly to a different appearance than I had imagined.

"Is that the temple?" and Liddy speaks for us in questioning.

The building in front of us was a two-story building about ten meters wide and twenty meters deep, with no decorations whatsoever, plain covered in gray stone.

Though once stone built, it has such a qualitative appearance that it does not seem to be the main mountain of the temple dedicated to the creative god Claretore.

"This is the temple. Please wait while we speak to Atro."

That's how Connally went inside the temple.

"You're smaller than I thought," Mel says, "is it really here," Beatrice is also surprised.

Talking about that, Connally came back with Atro Kayan, a cleric.

"Come inside," Atro leads the way.

I went into the temple, but it was also as qualitative inside as outside.

Although there was an altar just moments after entering the entrance, it is only about five meters square.

Through the door on the right side of the room where the altar was located, towards the back, but the hallway was just narrow with several doors lined up.

"I'm sorry for the narrow spot," he opens one of the doors.

It was like a conference room with just a table and chairs ahead of it.

"Aren't you surprised by how small it is?," he said with a laugh.

When I'm not sure how to answer it, Atro keeps talking.

"The temple is underground. The ground part is only the place of life for our priests. So even this size is enough."

"Is it a temple in the basement," Mr. Kitley is surprised.

Civil engineering technology in this world is progressing more than I thought thanks to magic. Especially in empires, there are many infrastructures made of earthly attribute magic, and it is not strange to have a temple underground.

But I can say that there is no underground temple in the temple of the eleven pillars of God, and it is a peculiar creation.

"We need the clergyman's permission to enter the temple, so I can't show it to you right now, but I think permission will go down, especially since it's not even something we keep secret"

Then I talked to Atro for about thirty minutes.

What surprises me about the information I get is that I live a life that doesn't rely on magic.

"... there is not even magical treatment here. Because it is the teachings of the Creator to live but not to rely on the power of the Spirit."

"Is there healing magic too," I raised my voice unexpectedly.

"Yeah, I'm not going to deny the power of God of Light (Lucidus) or God of Trees (Albor) or God of Water (Fonce), but I believe that magic, which is a miracle of God, is contrary to the original natural management. But I'm not going to force you to do that."

It feels close to a religion that denies science, but I felt heterogeneous in this world where God exists.

"Is the Three Lord God, the Eight Class God, not a part of nature? That's what I understood?

"Eleven pillars of God can also be said to be part of nature in terms of shaping nature. But it is our belief that using that power according to one's wishes is against nature."

"That reasoning, though, seems to me that making crops is also against nature?

"If you're going to use magic for agriculture, you're right. But if you don't use the power of the gods, there's no problem. Because people's efforts are nature itself."

"Does that mean that magic, the power of the gods, is involved or not? And when I do, I'm going to be someone who goes against the teachings of Creator."

"I'm not going to impose it on those who believe in other gods. Unless you want to be a cleric here."

That's how I smile softly. The last word sounds like his own joke.

During my conversation with Atro, Mr. Kitley didn't speak a word and was taking notes. I think she's more interested, but you don't want to hear a word out of her.

Today's talks ended when he said he had duties at the temple.

Break up with Atro and leave the temple.

At that time, I felt a slight glance.

"I just felt my gaze, but you noticed," he confirms to Beatrice in a whisper.

"Oh, I'm still weak, but I feel it. Well, it doesn't kill you, it just feels like you're watching."

Explore the signs as you walk back to the village of Natalis, but although you feel what is being seen, you don't even know from which direction.

(I don't feel malicious, as Beatrice put it. It doesn't even seem like the spirits are watching... I've never been over cautious, but I feel the excessive reaction is counterproductive...)

Liddy seems to feel something, too, but Mel, Sharon and Mr. Kitley don't seem to feel anything.

By the time I entered the village, my gaze stopped feeling and I pulled out my shoulder strength.

"Is something wrong?" Mel asked. You knew we were nervous.

"It's gone now, but I felt my gaze from the area where I left the temple. I didn't feel anything like hostility, but I didn't even know where it was coming from."

"Right. I didn't even know what direction it was coming from."

Beatrice was nervous, too, wiping her forehead sweat.

"At first I thought it was a spirit, but it was a little different. Because I felt more like intelligence than spirits. But I wonder who it was."

"It looks like you should be careful. From what I've heard, it seems incompatible with a magician who can use all attributes like Zach."

of what snorts at Sharon's words. I don't care that much.

"Be careful but don't overreact. Building trust with the Kayan priests is a top priority now."

Mr. Kitley wasn't listening to us or he's whining, "Temple to deny magic......"

Then Mr. Kitley came home to wrap up today's story, and we had nothing more to do. I couldn't help but play, so I decided to listen to the villagers as they looked around the village.

The villagers are engaged in farming and listen for breaks. I've heard from about five people, but a lot of people are simple and they answered my questions without being alarmed.

What I found out as a result was that this village was richer than I had heard and that the villagers were full of devout followers.

When we gathered information in the city of Gilsall, we were told that the island was covered with volcanic ash and therefore the land was lean and that cereals such as wheat were poorly grown. There is also a small number of livestock, as there were few horses. I hear that there are few cattle and they just keep a few sheep and goats.

However, the geology of this village, unlike the others, is enlarged with wheat fields.

He also grew leafy vegetables and root vegetables, as well as citrus fields. Livestock is also kept not only sheep and goats, but also cattle.

Not only that, but there seems to be a lot of fish in the creek that flows through the village, and at the garden tip, do you stock it or the little fish were dried. He was also taught that on the south side of the village is a pond, where there is a large mass.

There are kilns that make ceramics, and there are also blacksmiths where easy blacksmithing jobs can be done. In other words, self-sufficiency is possible in this village.

Does that have anything to do with it, all the people here are calm. He also says that he is proud to have the Temple of the Creating God and that it is viable to give food and other supplies of subsistence to the priests.

In the afternoon, the village chief, Connally, brought a large bowl of wheat, fresh vegetables, freshly removed rock fish, etc.

"You're just young, so I thought you'd be around for this. If it's not enough, say it. Fish is difficult, but vegetables are still there."

And the housewives in the neighborhood said, "It will be difficult to cook with an unfamiliar jar," and brought me the dish I put in the pan.

I'm talking to some people in one day today, but so much so that I suspect there's something the other way around when they're so kind to me.

That night, at dinner time, Mr. Kitley tells me I need to talk to you.

"The idea is to deny the magic, but I want you to know what you think."

Though I say, "Is that my idea," I've been thinking a lot since I heard that story, so my thoughts come together for once.

But I was not willing to answer because I did not want to leave the realm of reasoning and draw conclusions until I heard from the clergyman.

"Honestly, you're not sure."

"How are things with ancient civilizations? The story you heard from the souls of ancient researchers was that you used the power of the Spirit to crumble civilization. I think it has something to do with that."

"There may be, but I think you should listen to the Chief Cleric before you judge him"

"Right. I heard a story I didn't even think I'd hear, so I was kind of up. I'll sort out what I want to hear."

The story of ancient civilization is what I was thinking too.

The soul of the researchers, who met at the ruins at the foot of the Saeum Mountains, said that ancient civilization had been destroyed by “mana", or information contamination mediated by the power of the Spirit. I mean, using magic was a doomed cause. Given that, I don't know that magic will be repelled in the Temple of Claretore, which seems to last from antiquity.

December 10th the following day.

I also head to the temple this morning. The village chief showed me yesterday, but today we were supposed to go alone.

The sacred atmosphere remains the same, but there was no gaze I felt yesterday.

"You don't feel it today. How's Beatrice?

"Oh, so am I. I don't feel anything."

I walk towards the temple talking about that.

Atro was already waiting at the entrance.

"I've been waiting for you," he said after a meeting.

"The chief cleric has returned from meditation. He wants to talk to you."

They said it would take nearly a month, but I'm curious that it ended in just one day. But I wasn't willing to ask because there could be no reason for religious conduct.

Once inside the temple, a beautiful woman in her late thirties or so stood with a soft grin.

It has blue-eyed, silver hair wrapped around its fair skin behind it, and has an atmosphere that gives the viewer peace of mind.

"I've been waiting for you. My name is Raia Gyneth," sounds the calm and beautiful voice of Maisosoprano.

Keep going, head to the same meeting room like yesterday. Everyone got to their seats and introduced themselves, the clergyman began to speak.

"Atro has asked for you."

In that word, Mr. Kitley says, "So are you going to tell me that I can give you a tour of the temple?" I froze.

"I'm sorry, but it is forbidden for anyone other than a cleric to enter the back of the temple"

Mr. Kitley gives a discouraged look, but he can't seem to give up.

"Under what conditions can you let me in? Shall I be a follower of Claretor?"

The chief clergyman shook his head sideways small, saying, "There is only one condition. It's just that we need God's forgiveness," he replied.

"Is it God's forgiveness… in what way is it gained"

"I'm not sure either. But only those who have trained long as clerics are allowed to go into the back. Sorry, sir."

Mr. Kitley can't hide his discouraged expression and drops his shoulders. On behalf of Mr. Kitley, who is depressed, I ask the question.

"May I speak to you from the Chief Cleric?"

Nicole laughs at my question and answers, "Of course I do."

Did Mr. Kitley recover slightly there, face up?

"So will you give me some time? Of course, you can do your job on an unhindered basis."

The chief cleric smiled, saying "joyfully,"

"I have no problem letting you talk, as all is available this morning"

Mr. Kitley took out the note form he had in his bag and started talking.

Firstly, he asks questions from general matters such as the doctrine of the Temple of Creatore and gradually tells us that his hypothesis, the island of Girsole and the Temple of Creatore, has existed since the time of ancient civilization.

"... to the extent that I have examined, the books of ancient civilization describe the existence of the island of Gilsall and the Temple of Claretore. Instead, only here seems unaffected before and after the collapse of civilization..."

The Chief Cleric listens quietly to Mr. Kitley.

And plug into the part of this investigation that bothers me the most.

"... about the light divinity of the Holy Kingdom of Lukes, do you know who the founder Lucio Brillare will be?

"I don't remember, what's better?

The expression hasn't changed at all and you don't look like you're lying.

"It's that brillare, but I have a record that I'm visiting the island of Gilsall, and it's decided that there wasn't that fact in light theism at the time. The doctrine has further changed since the visit to Gilsol. Until then, the Dark God (Noctis) was not a hostile God, but he was recognized as an evil god at the border."

The chief cleric replies, "Really..." but says nothing more.

"That's not all. Until before visiting Gilsall, he referred to the god of nothingness (Vanitas) as a god that would bring an end. But you lose any description of Vanitas from using Noctis as an evil god. There has to be some reason."

Nor did the chief cleric say anything against the word.

"If there seems to be a record, could you please find out if you visited this temple"

"I don't mind that. Because it's easy to find out if you just tell me when."

They have something like a business log, and if you look into it, they'll know.

"It's the last thing I want to confirm," Mr. Kitley cuts out with a serious look.

The chief cleric nods small with a constant grin.

"Who the hell is Vanitas? We know that it is a god that pairs with the Creator (Creators) and brings an end to the world. Weren't ancient civilizations destroyed by Vanitas? This is only a hypothesis… this temple has survived since the time of ancient civilization. I'm wondering if there's an answer to that here. This is a researcher's account, but it's unfounded."

The chief cleric did not open his mouth for a while. Still, the grin that's floating doesn't change, and I don't feel confused.

After about thirty seconds of silence, he slowly opened his mouth.

"That's a difficult question. Certainly this temple has been going on since BC......"

Mr. Kitley opens his eyes to that fact.

"... Professor Erbain's hypothesis about Vanitas is not significantly different from our perception. Sure, they say it's a god against Creators, but we don't really know that either."

"Is there no literature or anything left? If you have any material from the time of the demise of ancient civilization, I'd like to show you."

Mr. Kitley begs you with a glance. But the chief clergyman shook his head sideways small.

"It was over four thousand years ago, so we have no materials or literature. The oldest material here is about two thousand years old. Before that, we couldn't stand the degradation, and it seemed to have been discarded."

The paper in this world is made by wooden attribute magic, and high-quality objects have a quality close to that of Japanese paper. In addition, the paper of ancient civilization is excavated with even higher quality and little deterioration when buried in every institution.

So I was uncomfortable with the explanation that it was more than four thousand years ago so it was highly degraded and discarded.

But I didn't say that. Somehow, because I felt like the Chief Cleric was hiding something. I decided I should pretend to be deceived until I found out what that was.