Chapter 88 – The Emergence of the Mysterious Church

Unconsciously, three months had passed since Punk arrived in Doleiz City. The Tender Green Season had ended, and the people of the Faerûn Plane were about to welcome the next season symbolizing growth and anticipation—the Evergreen Season, one of the six seasons in a year.

For most farmers whose primary occupation was cultivation, the Evergreen Season could be considered the most leisurely of the six seasons. During this time, they didn’t need to busy themselves transplanting seedlings in the fields, nor did they have to worry about excessively hot or cold weather. After tending to the young plants early and clearing away some weeds, they could enjoy a fair amount of time for rare entertainment. For the majority of ordinary people living at the bottom of the Faerûn Plane, any leisure time was hard-won.

Bards’ recitals were always the most popular among the townsfolk of Nielan Town. In such a remote town, most people would never have the opportunity to leave the confines of Doleiz City in their lifetime. From the time they could walk, they had to toil for a few copper coins that Nobles and professionals would disdain, enduring poverty and oppression by the Nobles until the end of their lives.

In this era where communication largely relied on shouting, the bards’ poems were almost their only means of learning about the “outside world.” Even the weathered Old Man still held a longing for legendary heroes and epics in his heart. So, whenever they had a little time, the townsfolk of Nielan Town would choose to gather at the Plaza or Tavern to listen to the bards’ recitals.

When particularly delighted, the generous among them would often not hesitate to give a copper coin or two to the bards.

Today, on the first day of the Evergreen Season, a scattered circle of idle townsfolk gathered in the Plaza illuminated by the light of Mila and Chikasa, all intently listening to the young bard on the stage recite the stories of the “heroes”!

In truth, the current number of “spectators” was somewhat abnormal—it was too small.

The reason for this unusual decrease was the recent emergence of a religious organization in the town called the “Tisha Xia’er Church.” They had been extensively proselytizing and organizing gatherings lately, and many young townsfolk had joined out of curiosity!

This sect, which seemed to have appeared overnight, possessed an incredibly rapid spread. Most people, after being “invited” to their mysterious church and drinking a cup of mysterious “Holy Water,” would become devout followers of the so-called “Goddess Tisha Xia’er.”

Although most ordinary people in the Faerûn Plane would believe in one or two deities for psychological comfort, and from time to time, churches of weaker deities would proselytize around, this peculiarly behaving and obscure religion still made many townsfolk uneasy.

Unfortunately, no matter how uneasy they felt, aside from bolting their doors and windows tighter, there wasn’t much else they could do!

Today—the third day of the Tisha Xia’er Church’s large-scale proselytizing campaign—Bilan, who was eagerly rushing to the Plaza to find Dichiduo, was also accosted by a missionary from this church.

“Sorry, I have some urgent matters and can’t listen to your sermon right now. Moreover, standing directly in the middle of the road like this will inconvenience the passage of carriages and horses!”A strangely dressed missionary stopped Bilan, who was walking briskly. Although she disliked his behavior, the kind-hearted girl still politely admonished him for blocking the middle of the road.

However, this dull-eyed middle-aged missionary completely ignored Bilan’s opinion. He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper on his own and began loudly praising the “supreme power” of the “True God Tisha Xia’er” before Bilan.

“Lost and pitiful soul, why haven’t you awakened from the deep darkness? The one true god has descended, and being able to offer devout faith to this great deity is the honor of your lifetime…”

“I’m sorry, I’m really in a hurry. Could you please move aside?”

Seeing that this abnormal missionary, both in demeanor and speech, was completely blocking her path, Bilan couldn’t help but frown deeply. The morning was already mostly gone, and Dichiduo’s choir would soon be ending. Without any divination spells, Bilan would have no way to find Dichiduo then.

“Lost lamb, this is the blessing our Lord has given you. Why not open your arms and embrace true salvation?”

“That’s right, believe in the one true god Tisha Xia’er! I can guarantee you’ll truly receive salvation. I myself was saved by Tisha Xia’er’s grace!”

At some point, another follower of the “Tisha Xia’er Church” wearing the same robe had approached Bilan. This young man didn’t have the same eerie and rigid eyes as the first missionary, but his eyes were filled with a frenzied fanaticism, his pupils constantly trembling and shifting. The muscles on his face were twisted and ferocious, completely lacking any sense of the supposed “salvation” holiness!

Bilan took a frightened step back. As a mage, she naturally had no fondness for gods or similar concepts. From the beginning, she had only wanted to deal with these missionaries as she had with previous ones who came to her door – by making some excuse to brush them off. Usually in such situations, most missionaries wouldn’t be too persistent, but these two strange missionaries clearly weren’t willing to give up so easily!

“You dare to scorn the grace of Goddess Tisha Xia’er? Evil creature! Don’t you know you’re abandoning the only salvation before you? Terrible disaster is coming – aren’t you afraid of falling into eternal darkness?”

“That’s right! The great goddess has descended, and we humble lambs must offer our faith to the one and only goddess!”

Seeming to realize Bilan’s reluctance to join their religion, the two missionaries began to grow angry. They both moved closer to Bilan, with the young missionary even clenching his fists and shouting loudly at Bilan’s pale face.

“Alright, alright, I’ll join, okay?”

Facing these two fanatical missionaries, Bilan felt it would be better to temporarily compromise. Otherwise, these two probably wouldn’t let her leave. She didn’t have time to continue arguing with two people whose brains had been fried by faith!

“Take this!”

Hearing Bilan agree to join the church, the older missionary finally calmed down. He took out a badge carved with a spider pattern and forcibly shoved it into Bilan’s hand.”Take this gift from the Goddess, and remember to come to the plaza for prayer tonight. This is your only chance for salvation. Let us offer our faith for the descent of Goddess Tisha Xia’er…”

Bilan stopped listening to the rest. She casually stuffed the badge into her mage robe pocket and hurriedly bypassed the young missionary who kept staring at her with bloodshot eyes.

“Dichiduo’s hymn singing is about to end…”

Thinking this, Bilan anxiously broke into a jog!

Meanwhile, in various towns near Doleiz City, the same scene was brazenly unfolding on many streets. Fanatical missionaries in gray-red robes stopped pedestrians one after another. Unless people clearly agreed to join the “Tisha Xia’er” Church and accept the badge, these missionaries would block their path and loudly proclaim the pedestrians’ “unforgivable” sins.

An eerie atmosphere gradually enveloped all of Doleiz City, with even the weather turning overcast as if responding to the mood.

Within Doleiz City, many professionals unwilling to get involved in religious matters were leaving the city.

Most nobles were still indulging in revelry to celebrate the first day of the Evergreen Season, while townsfolk merely regarded these missionaries as “chance encounters” with fanatical believers!

Bahanger, the Formal-Level dwarf warrior of Doleiz City, was meticulously forging the precious metal materials he had “coincidentally” obtained. He had no patience for what he considered “child’s play” missionary games.

Punk had already entered the Lush Forest to explore the Spider Cave. Although he had some suspicions about this “Tisha Xia’er Church,” a turbulent Doleiz City posed no disadvantage to his “collection” of low-level professionals as “experimental materials.”

Moreover… no matter how big the trouble became, no matter how many people died in Doleiz City, it was ultimately Dillon Kingdom’s affair. Punk couldn’t be bothered to care…

Thus, the plans of the Tisha Xia’er Church were deliberately or inadvertently ignored by everyone!

(End of Chapter)