615 – The Saint Is Busy – 5

An incident of prayer plunder that will remain forever in the religious history of the continent.

“It is a pity that I was not able to hear the response from the plants and trees directly, but prayer is essentially something you pray with your own faith and sincerity, without expecting an answer from the Lord. It is unique that heaven responded personally.”

However, despite the rare looting incident, Tanian opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

It’s not wrong. If God unconditionally answers prayers, it would not be enough for Enen to operate a 24-hour call center. There will be hundreds of millions of believers praying from all over the continent, so how do you respond to them all? Automatic ARS will also break down if it runs tens or hundreds of millions of times a day.

So, although Tanian did not hear Constantina’s response, he had the significance of offering a prayer in front of the World Tree ─

“Now I have to go north.”

“Hmm?”

– Huh?

He declared that he was going to the north, the home of eternal blue skies.

“Didn’t you say that heaven answered you? There would be no need to go all the way to the north to pray.”

– I know. Besides, it would be a bit cold if we went north now, right?

As the name suggests, the North is located in the northern part of the continent. Even in summer, it is a place where a cool breeze blows, so the cold in winter is no different from a sharp wind. It’s warmer than the harsh cold in which the evil spirits were sealed, but that’s because it’s compared to the harsh cold.

“I’m telling you this because I’ve spent winter in the north, but the winter in the north is so cold that even the natives there can herd their cranes. There’s no need to go out of your way.”

It would be embarrassing if the next saint caught a cold in the empire’s territory. That’s why I tried to dissuade Tanian with all my sincerity.

“It’s okay. I’ve already been to the Three Kingdoms in winter. Would it be any different to go to the North?”

However, I was convinced by Tanian’s answer.

That’s right. I’ve already been to the northeast corner of the continent, and there’s nothing I can’t go to just because I’m in the north.

“Furthermore, no matter how much heaven answers, prayer must proceed as scheduled. Even though it may be somewhat profane, prayer is not an action only for God.”

It was such a profanity that I kept my mouth shut for a moment.

Prayer is an act of worship and praise only for God. The fact that such prayers are not just for God is something that even the next saint cannot say without permission.

“Prayer is also an act for believers. It is proof that our faith is strong and that our Lord is always watching over us.”

At my silence, Tanian smiled even brighter and continued speaking.

“Prayers for the Lord can be prayed alone in a quiet place. However, for the psychological comfort of believers and residents, they must be conducted on a large scale.”

“Religion is no different from public sentiment.”

I nodded because I heard that the important thing is performance.

Understood. Secular countries also often hold large-scale festivals to show off the solidity of royal power and national authority. In terms of denomination, isn’t that display called prayer?

“I will speak well to the great lords of the North.”

“Haha, thank you. Actually, I was a little nervous because it was an area that none of us had ever been to.”

I laughed at Tanian’s joke.

Tanian is a distinguished guest from the Holy Church and a benefactor who bestowed blessings on my children. Although I may feel a little resentful for coming to a protected area for a different race, I can accommodate Tanian’s convenience.

Besides, isn’t Tanian going to the north an act for the sake of the believers and residents?

‘If we had passed the North, there would have been all kinds of rumors.’

If Tanian had not gone to the north, the people on the continent would have thought that the Church of Dawn took Heaven lightly. Then, the northern nomads who were influenced by the sky would have misunderstood that they were still being ostracized.

Tanian declared that he would personally move to prevent that anxiety and nervousness. As a noble of the empire and a manager of the north, I am thankful for this.

…

‘Why did you say there was no need to go?’

Soon, a fundamental question arises. Why did the Northern God neglect a problem that even the next saint of another religion is worried about?

– Don’t try to understand nomads from the perspective of settled residents. They are not kids who should be anxious no matter what others say.

And the answer he received was firm trust in his believers.

– …Why is it that a priest doesn’t have any faith to begin with? There are few people who believe so passionately that they feel anxious that they have passed by the North.

No, it wasn’t trust, it was distrust?

I didn’t ask any more questions because those words brought tears to my eyes.

They did not follow Tanian all the way to the north. There is already a big man called the Marquis of Barandiga holding his ground in the north, so he can welcome Tanian and the pilgrims without me having to step forward.

The Marquis of Barandiga is one of only thirteen marquis in the empire and a priest of the faith of the eternal blue sky. Could there be such good conditions for welcoming pilgrims?

Of course, as the eternal blue sky says, our priests’ faith is weak, but their political power and insight are outstanding. That’s enough.

“Jjonka! Let’s play while it’s warm!”

Even if I had planned to follow Tanian anyway, I would not have been able to go because I was caught by Duke Hyeonjang.

After seeing off the pilgrimage group, saying they had prayed well and slowly disappeared, I was captured by Duke Hyeonjeong and taken to the castle.

I protested that the VIP had left safely and that I would just go and that I was on vacation so I didn’t need to work any more, but it didn’t work. Rather, it was refuted by logic such as ‘I’m on vacation so I’m hanging out with my aunt!?’.

‘It’s not wrong.’

I sighed as I drank the special alcohol (whiskey mixed with brandy) that Hyeong Hyeong-gong made.

Yes, it’s not unusual for a nephew on vacation to hang out with his aunt. If you’re at work, you can’t catch them, but if you’re unemployed on vacation, you can catch them as much as you like. I forgot about that for a moment.

“Hehe, what do you think? Masitchi!?”

“The tingling sensation in my esophagus is exhilarating.”

“Hehe! I like it so bye!”

Weird. Did you just say that you liked what I said? It was a protest that the poor esophagus and stomach were screaming?

‘My stomach was like this.’

I massaged my stomach, feeling the location of my hot esophagus and stomach.

To be able to determine the location of the stomach in a world without X-rays. Hyeongyeonggong’s abilities are truly amazing.

“Then one more!”

Lord Hyeonhyeon, who continued to grin, poured the whiskey bottle and brandy bottle in his hands into my glass.

I’ll be amazed. I just finished drinking it, so I wonder if it would be too much to make him drink it again. If you drink water at this rate, you will die.

“It’s okay. I can stop drinking now—”

“Are you scared?”

“Please give me more.”

The answer came out of nowhere in a clear and clear word that did not seem to indicate that I was drunk.

But I have no regrets. Even if I can tolerate everything else, I can’t tolerate people treating me like a loser who is addicted to alcohol.

“Joooooa! As expected, Ury Joka! The continent’s best sword!”

Duke Hyeonjae seemed to be satisfied with my answer and poured himself more alcohol without hesitation.

Hyeon Myeong-gong’s atrocities stopped when my glass reached surface tension.

“Maternal aunt.”

“Ugh? Why?”

“I will contact the mansion tomorrow saying I will return.”

At those words, Lord Hyeonjae widened his eyes, patted my shoulder and burst into laughter.

“Oh my gosh! Let’s go see what’s going on with my aunt!”

With the intense tapping, the alcohol that had achieved surface tension overflowed and wet my hand.

‘Damn.’

This overflowing alcohol seemed to symbolize the gastric juice that would regurgitate the next day.

***

The quiet Marquis was shaken up by the contact from Count Tyglehen.

– The next saint will soon head to the north. We are going to pray for the eternal blue sky, so please guide us to the largest temple.

It is said that the leader of the Dawn Church, which has taken over the continent, is coming to the North. It was enough to raise my limp body from the cold winter wind.

An unexpected visit is an opportunity. I heard that the next saint has been attending the Academy for the past three years and is also friendly with my prospective son-in-law, the Marquis of Idrafen. However, the Marquis of Idrafen is in the north.

“I am also someone who will live with the nomads, so I need to get used to winter in advance. How can I be called Barandiga’s son-in-law if I go down to the islands every time it gets cold?”

The tip of his nose wrinkled as he remembered what his future son-in-law had said.

A close friend of the next saint is visiting the North as my prospective son-in-law. If so, you can make a good impression on the next saint and on the continent’s big names, regardless of nationality.

So it is an opportunity. An opportunity to make connections that others can never have.

“Is heaven protecting me?”

I looked up at the sky and muttered.

In the empire, Khagan, known as Yeokcheonja, died at the hands of the empire, and ever since his father, who was a priest, passed away, he stopped believing in the existence of heaven. No, I didn’t think it would have any effect on my life whether it was there or not.

If heaven were to interfere with us, there would be no way that the strongest warrior in history would die. As a successor to my father’s position as priest, I have never had to worry about what others think. All of those things happened because there was no divine protection from heaven. So they did not fear heaven. Because it doesn’t help me.

‘Now your blessings follow.’

But what about these days? I, a mere tribal leader, became a marquis who could look down on countless nobles. My daughter is planning to marry a member of the royal family. The eternal blue sky, which was the belief of the nomads, was recognized by the Dawn Church.

This can only be called a blessing. If it’s not God’s protection, that’s even a stranger.

‘Is this the will of heaven…’

Suddenly a thought occurred to me. Could it be that the reason Heaven has been silent so far is because he does not want a conflict between the settled residents and the nomads? If Yeokcheonja had won, the empire and the Gaar Khaganate would still have maintained a hostile relationship.

And now that the settled people and the nomads are within one fence, the nomads are developing by receiving the wealth and culture of the settled people. If heaven wanted peaceful coexistence rather than war, he would be happy to see this.

Of course, this is just my guess. It is impossible for humans to understand God’s will.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

It’s okay though. It doesn’t matter if it’s a guess.

Because it is true that this is beneficial to us.