36 – Sanctuary of Hybras (3)
While Sirien went to return the ceremonial sword, I also decided to be baptized.
It wasn’t a decision I made out of any particular sense of faith.
In the end, it is true that this church saved my life, but the person who did it was Sirien.
This church has become a tool of Sirien. Just as a doctor doesn’t thank the scalpel for a good surgery, I didn’t feel that much gratitude to Hybras.
So, the decision to enter the church was purely my own will.
If this church worships Sirien as a saint, this church was also our strength.
I will get what I can.
In any case, Rajen in the original work would not have been a deeply religious believer.
My personality isn’t the best, but Rajen’s personality in the original was even worse.
He was not a man who would take God seriously.
What was important to me was the strength I received from Hybras.
Now that Sirien has become a saint of this church, I have no intention of turning a blind eye. Since I will be sincere in protecting the saint, Hibras will bestow authority on me as well.
Because we have mutual interests. The gods of this world had quite a bit of a commercial aspect.
“With this, you too have become a believer of rest. In the past, there was a custom of giving a baptismal name. It was quite a long time ago. “If you want, I’ll build it for you.”
“It’s done. “I like my name.”
“It’s a wise choice. “They say I’m not good at naming things.”
“I thought so.”
Baptism was not that difficult.
Perhaps due to the original author’s poor imagination, there was no change in the use of water.
A dark room that blocks all light. All it took was immersing in holy water three times under lamplight.
Like the heroine, I wondered if God would personally say something, but the baptism ended without incident from beginning to end.
Hebras doesn’t seem to be that light on his butt.
When the God of Light reincarnated the female lead, he threw quite a few harsh words at her.
The person who conducted my baptism was the green-haired man from before.
Sirien says he is the guardian who protects the sanctuary of Hybras. Starting from the border we entered, the entire inside was said to be a sanctuary.
Now, perhaps because my position has changed from an ‘outsider’ or an ‘uninvited guest’ to a believer, my attitude has become quite negative.
“Before the saint enters the ceremony, give her a lot of encouragement. There is no dangerous ritual, but it is not an easy ritual either. “It will be hard work.”
“Yes. “Thank you for your words.”
But that didn’t change the fact that he was a blunt person.
While I was drying myself with a towel, he was already getting ready to leave.
I don’t know what’s so busy in this small place, but I felt like if I let him go like this, it’ll be hard to see him again in the future.
“Like I said, I will take good care of the saint, so she should spar with me from now on.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Shouldn’t I take over that position as guardian?”
“I haven’t said anything like that yet. “I am not weak enough to have to hand over the position of guardian.”
The man chuckled.
Her smile was looking down as if she were being arrogant.
But I looked straight into his eyes.
In the original work, Rajen clearly held the position of guardian in the Church of Hybras.
I have never heard anywhere that there was friction with this green-haired man in the process.
In the first place, this man was an unknown person who was never even mentioned in the original work.
“Are you just unlucky, or are you trying to test yourself? “You can’t even go out there.”
“Who heard that from?”
“It’s not because I heard it, but because it’s obvious. There is no reason for the entire church to be confined to a place like this when there are sword masters like you. Do you know how successful the cults that have sword masters as their guardians are?”
“Hmm. “You’re not so stupid that you can’t use anything.”
His eyes searched me.
“Now that I think about it, you didn’t let go of your sword until right before you died. “It was quite good.”
“In front of a giant?”
“Yes. “It was a bit disappointing that I closed my eyes, but if I got it done, I would give it a passing grade.”
His eyes were mainly focused on my right hand.
I was the hand that held the sword.
“I heard you also started using sword techniques. Have you gained confidence? “You can beat me.”
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“I don’t think we can win, so let’s fight. Why fight if you think I’ll win? “It’s a waste of time.”
“Good. I liked the attitude. “I’ll take a look at the sword later.”
I cried out in joy.
She was about to stand up, but her man held out his hand and stopped her.
“But not today. “The poison remains in your body, so let’s meet again at noon in two days.”
“Is this what you promised?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t break anything. “I just have a job to do.”
* * *
Even after returning from the baptism, Sirien did not return for a long time.
I thought about going to look for it, but I remembered that he told me to stay in the room until he came, so I stopped.
If our paths diverged, I would have to listen to your complaints all day long.
‘I also received some homework.’
There was a thick book in my hands.
It was a Bible containing the doctrines of Hybras. I was told that it’s okay if you’re going to remain a regular believer, but if you’re aiming to become a guardian, you should definitely memorize it.
I can’t believe I have to study the doctrines of a god I have no interest in.
I hated it terribly, but the problem was that it wasn’t wrong.
If the guardian of the religious order does not even know his own doctrine, what will he hear?
Even if you can’t sound as convincing as the priests who go out to evangelize, you should at least be able to recite what’s written.
The problem was that I felt a bit achy after trying to study for the first time in a long time.
‘If you read it carefully, there are no major problems.’
God of rest.
Or Hybras, the god of death.
Hybras preferred to refer to his divinity as rest rather than death.
His karma did not end with bringing death to life, but only when the wandering soul fell asleep in a resting place.
Therefore, the symbol of the church was not a sickle symbolizing the harvest, but a lamp to guide the soul.
Dark night. It could be said that the significance of the existence of the Church of Hybras was to be the light that guided the lost dead.
Most of the doctrines contained the same content.
No matter how sinful the soul is, it has the right to rest after death. All sins committed by the living are washed away through death.
And… ….
‘Human. And although all life has a soul and a body, the only one that Hybras respects is the soul.’
The reason why believers in Hybras must respect the living is because he has a soul.
The reason for guiding the dead is also because all souls have the right to rest.
Therefore, a body without a soul…… For example, there is no need to respect something like a corpse.
Although such content was not necessarily written down, it was a sufficiently possible interpretation based on doctrine alone.
No. It was not a matter of ‘it can be interpreted that way’.
The moment Hybras was called an evil god, Sirien in the original work raised an army of the dead without hesitation.
Until now, I’ve only been reluctant because of the outside world’s gaze. It means that if you have nothing to worry about, you can do anything you want.
In addition to simply raising corpses, there were many other hideous powers.
‘This is why I will hear evil spirits in the future.’
Well, it’s not like other gods don’t have that aspect.
God of light. God of War. God of faith. God of lovingkindness. They all had aspects that were difficult to understand from modern notions.
Most of it was packaged as a result of mortal humans not being able to properly accept God’s will.
In the end, I couldn’t finish reading the Bible and closed it. I felt like my head was hurting.
Shortly after lying down on the bed, Sirien came back.
“I’m here! “What were you doing?”
“I’m just going to lie down after reading the book. It looks like you washed it all up? “It smells like flowers.”
“Yes. Now you can do it every day. If you tell me in advance, please heat the water. “And sprinkle flower petals.”
I had smelled the petals that were supposed to be included a few times somewhere, but I didn’t know what kind of flower it was because I didn’t know anything about flowers.
Since they lived so luxuriously in the castle, I didn’t know they would have mixed several flowers together.
Anyway, it was a very different scent from what I used before. Because the body odor was so light, it seemed like a different scent was quickly absorbed.
“Thank goodness. “You liked taking baths.”
“When I got into the water, my body felt like it was relaxing. “It feels a little narrow and old, but it’s okay.”
“No matter what, can it be compared to what was used in the castle?”
The white face smiled.
Perhaps because I came back feeling refreshed, my skin looked smoother than before.
I may have suffered a lot recently and may have been damaged, but could it be that I was born good?
“What are you holding in your hand?”
“The fruit we received to eat together. There are strawberries too. “Try it quickly.”
As soon as Sirien put down her basket, her two fingers picked up the fruit.
Her hand, which picked up the fruit, rushed straight towards her mouth.
Sirien’s finger briefly touched her lips and then fell. She only touched me briefly, but her warmth lingered for quite a while.
“Hmm.”
“What do you think? Is it sweet? “I think the fruit tastes better here than at the castle.”
“Oh, it’s true. It’s delicious. “I’ll try asking for some fruit tomorrow too.”
“Then. “Would you like to have another one?”
“I’ll eat it.”
The basket that Sirien brought contained small amounts of apples, grapes, and strawberries.
We sat on the bed, eating a bite of fruit each.
“I heard today that it takes about three days to prepare for the ceremony.”
“What are you going to do in the meantime?”
“I’m going to walk around with you tomorrow. Let me introduce you to some people. We became quite close during the week you were asleep. “This building is just for you and me, so there will be people we haven’t met.”
“Is that next to your room?”
“Yes. Would you like to go in together? “There’s nothing special.”
“…… In your room? It’s okay.”
She had never entered Sirien’s room even in Reheim.
Except for when she was a baby, she is a place where not even the Grand Duke of Ilencia has ever set foot. There’s no way I could have gone in.
That said, I didn’t even want to go in now. For some reason, she felt a strange sense of guilt.
Sirien twitched her eyebrows as if she didn’t like something about her.
“Then feed me those grapes.”
“Eat it yourself.”
“Feed me! “I fed you earlier too!”
“It’s not like feeding a child, why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“Oh, I don’t know! “Feed me!”
I couldn’t get over his tantrums so I fed him.