Chapter Twenty-One: A Visitor from Afar

After the day of the miracle, the religious landscape in Kinkor Town became dominated by the Church of the Father God; the other congregations were left with almost no room to survive. No matter how eloquently the other churches' members argued their case, no one believed in their gods anymore. It was inevitable—the Church of the Father God demonstrated wonders, and the tangible benefits brought by the Cathedral of Holy Light spoke for themselves. Even those who had never held faith, after a stroll through the Cathedral, would become resolute followers of Link, let alone everyone else.

Now, whether rich or poor, commoner or official, all who entered the church became devout believers. No one dared rely on their status or position to look down on others, for upon entering the church, they felt the great Father God watching over them. In the eyes of the divine, there was no hierarchy among the faithful; all that was required was sincere prayer.

Moreover, this transformation in mindset was not confined to the Cathedral of Holy Light. What transpired within its walls was merely a microcosm; under the influence of the miracle, the entire populace of Kinkor Town underwent a change of heart. In this world, there is a god, and the god is watching us—such was the near-universal thought among the townsfolk, forming an invisible yoke of morality deep within their hearts.

No longer did anyone comfort themselves with, “If no one finds out, then it doesn’t matter what I do.” The divine watched from above. When a person truly believed in the existence of a god, even if they could act with impunity, awe for the divine forged an intense self-discipline.

In this atmosphere, the once-chaotic Kinkor Town seemed overnight to become a harmonious world where everyone was polite and full of goodwill. Even when encountering strangers, people would smile, nod, and sometimes offer help. Outsiders who arrived unaware might well think they had stumbled into a paradise on earth.

Indeed, many outsiders were now gradually moving to Kinkor Town. Most were those who had personally witnessed the miracle. Wishing to be closer to their god, they uprooted their families and settled in the town.

In the days following the miracle, a significant number of outsiders arrived each day, greatly increasing Mayor Tony’s workload. Yet Tony was overjoyed. Kinkor Town, a sparsely populated settlement surrounded by vast tracts of wasteland, had been struggling to attract settlers to cultivate the land. Tony had tried countless ways to encourage outsiders to settle, but with little success. Now, with a mass influx of new residents, he could barely contain his delight—even in his sleep, he smiled.

Overcome with gratitude for Link and the Church of the Father God, who had brought about these changes, Tony’s faith deepened. Furthermore, with his own son, Jack Sparrow, now serving as the chief priest in the Church of the Father God, Tony wanted to compensate this long-neglected illegitimate child. After careful deliberation, he decided to grant the land surrounding the monastery to the Church of the Father God, free of charge.

Seeing Tony’s enthusiasm, Link accepted the gift with a smile. Since the miracle, many had sought to live near the monastery. While this would increase the area’s popularity, Link was not keen on the idea. His vision for the Church’s headquarters was as a sacred, approachable yet transcendent place. Too many residents would inevitably bring trouble. With the true-god system at his disposal, he would later construct many buildings; if the area was crowded with dwellings, where would he put them?

Now, with Tony gifting such a large tract of land, the problem was solved. Link then politely declined requests from outsiders wishing to settle near the monastery, citing the need for quiet spiritual space. The townspeople, understanding that the Church of the Father God was unlike any other, did not hold it against him.

Indeed, Link’s actions, keeping a measured distance from worldly concerns, only enhanced the Church’s aura of holiness, making it even more attractive. Many people volunteered themselves, hoping to join the Church.

As the Church of the Father God grew, Link began considering expanding its ranks, but he was selective. Among the many volunteers, after a rigorous assessment, he chose only about twenty from several hundred.

Those selected were all deeply faithful, of good character, and possessed some useful abilities—ideal additions to the Church. Those not chosen fell short either in faith, ability, or integrity; some were clearly infiltrators from other religions, their faith rating at zero.

Confronted with these interlopers, Link felt a new sense of crisis. It was well known that the Cathedral of Holy Light could expose those with ulterior motives, yet other churches still dared send agents, which meant the miracle had not intimidated them enough. They might still be plotting in secret, perhaps even planning to destroy the Church of the Father God by force.

Such things were not uncommon. When a religion could not defeat another by other means, many resorted to the most direct violence: destroy the enemy’s holy sites, kill their leaders, and the rival faith would collapse, no matter how large. Once the heartland was overthrown, the faith crumbled.

Link had no intention of letting such a tragedy befall himself or the Church of the Father God. This sense of urgency dispelled any complacency he’d begun to feel. If he was to enjoy his success, he would first have to deal with the other religions in Kinkor Town.

Thus, with a mind full of schemes, Link began plotting how best to break his adversaries.

Unnoticed, ten days had passed since the miracle, and April—the harbinger of early summer—had arrived.

On the first of April, a carriage entered Kinkor Town from the outskirts. The vehicle was unadorned and plain, but its build was solid and dignified. The driver was none other than Brand, whom Link had met briefly the previous month.

Surveying the orderly, peaceful streets, Brand could not hide his astonishment. “Is this really Kinkor Town?”

His voice was loud enough for the carriage’s occupant to hear. A voice, aged yet commanding, responded, “What is it, Brand? What surprises you?”

Brand replied at once, “Father, when I came here last month, Kinkor Town was filthy and chaotic. But now…”

He did not finish his sentence, for the person inside could already see the transformation through the carriage window. After a moment, the occupant mused, “A month ago it was a squalid mess, and now it’s like this? Strange indeed. Brand, perhaps the mayor learned of our visit and had the townsfolk prepare in advance?”

After a thoughtful pause, Brand answered, “I doubt it. I know this mayor—Tony Sparrow. He’s a small-timer, unacquainted even with the local lord, let alone you, Father.”

“That is odd, then…” The speaker sounded genuinely curious.

Understanding, Brand pulled the carriage to the side and called over a passerby. The local, perceiving Brand’s distinguished demeanor and his possession of a carriage, was very obliging and explained the situation.

Upon learning the truth, Brand was astonished. He had heard nothing of the miracle—he had come from afar, traveling discreetly, and news in the world of Solakon was slow to spread. The miracle in Kinkor Town had only made it as far as the nearby settlements, and even there, few paid it any heed. It was no wonder that Brand had not heard of it.

When Brand relayed the story to the person in the carriage, the latter pondered aloud, “So it took a miracle to change the entire town. This Church of the Father God is apparently quite capable.”

Brand immediately replied, “Father, the founder of the Church, Neil Night, is a remarkable man. Though not strong in combat, his bearing is unmatched, and I’ve personally seen him cure many difficult ailments. I’m sure he can cure your illness as well.”

After a long silence, the man in the carriage sighed, “Let us hope so…”

The carriage continued on its way toward the Church of the Father God. Before long, Brand caught sight of the grand Cathedral of Holy Light and was stunned. He had seen hundreds, if not thousands, of churches, but never one that rivaled this cathedral in its sanctity and majesty.

“What a magnificent church, Father—look!” Brand called as he drove.

His father peered through the window and was equally astonished. “A truly splendid cathedral! Even the Star God Cathedral in Bath City cannot compare. For a town like this to have such a church—how much time and wealth did it cost to build?”

His tone betrayed a hint of displeasure, as if considering the construction of such a cathedral a wasteful extravagance.

Brand nodded in agreement, but then frowned as a thought occurred to him. “Wait, that can’t be right. Last month, before I left, this cathedral wasn’t here. The townsfolk say the Father God descended in a miracle and granted them this holy cathedral. Could it be this very one?”

“A miracle? Hmph. Just another trick. You didn’t see it last month—they must have used some sleight of hand. This Church of the Father God is just another charlatan sect. Come, Brand, let’s leave. There’s nothing to discuss with frauds like these.” Brand’s father had already dismissed the church as a den of swindlers.

Unlike his father, Brand was not so sure. Even if it was all trickery, the scale was astonishing—and for such an enterprise in a small town, it hardly made sense as a profitable venture.

With this in mind, Brand persuaded his father not to leave just yet. Since they had come this far, there was no harm in meeting with the Church.

His father, seeing Brand’s determination, relented. He, too, was curious to meet the people behind such a grand deception.

Thus, Brand drove the carriage swiftly to the Church of the Father God. As he was about to tie up the horses nearby, a man in the plain garb of a church member approached and courteously said, “Honored guests, I’m sorry, but please take your carriage to the parking area. No vehicles may be left in front of the church.”