Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Habitual Worship (5)
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The newly opened cathedral was a total madhouse, swarming with people inside and out.
Word must have spread like wildfire—who knew from where—because an endless stream of folks kept pouring in, turning the building into a buzzing hive all day long.
At the entrance, a devotee handling crowd control was yelling her throat raw.
"Okay, please hold on just a moment! It's packed inside right now! We'll get you in as soon as the first group comes out!"
Her voice was practically a scream. That was how overwhelming the sudden influx was.
"Is this that cathedral?"
"Whoa, they've really decked out the inside nice. Kids, no running!"
Scattered among the crowd were surely a few with genuine intent to join the church formally, or others driven by desperate need to seek out God.
But most of the masses? They were just there out of plain curiosity, not true faith.
They looked like nosy neighbors who'd shown up to gawk at this weird new group that popped out of nowhere, handing out free food on the streets—what the hell were they even doing here?
I watched the chaos unfold from the upstairs office window in the cathedral.
Then I turned to the church executives.
"From now on, we need to officially pause new believer registrations."
Yoanna was the first to pipe up, as expected.
"What? But Eve, this could be our golden chance to expand the church! Imagine if all those people became devout followers of our Radiance Church...!"
Her jade-green eyes sparkled with that familiar fanatic gleam as she spoke.
But I just shook my head.
"Yoanna, we can't forget the real reason we founded this group."
Helping the needy or spreading God's word... those weren't the end goal. They were just the means.
'The true purpose of the church is to prepare defenses against threats from outside forces.'
We'd only fronted religion to win over local hearts and turn them into willing allies. Big congregation or small, if it didn't help in a real crisis, it was pointless.
So scooping up masses without a solid foundation—like we were now—was a terrible idea.
Taking time and care to nurture one true believer at a time, someone who genuinely embraced our cause? That was the smarter long-term play.
"So for now, focus on caring for those who've already committed to us and finishing our internal setup, instead of onboarding new people."
That's the directive I gave the executives.
Truth be told, at that point, I figured the fuss would fizzle out quick.
Even curiosity seekers would lose steam after a few turnaways at the door.
We'd quietly solidify our base and carve our path, hitting our targets without much noise.
That's what I believed back then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It's a term plenty of folks have heard at least once.
The Streisand effect.
Back in the early 2000s, California's government uploaded over 12,000 coastal photos from a shoreline mapping project to a website. One batch accidentally included shots of singer Barbra Streisand's Malibu mansion.
She sued the photographer and site for privacy invasion, demanding removal, and when they refused, slapped them with a $50 million lawsuit.
But the news coverage backfired spectacularly on her intent.
The photos blew up with public interest. Within a month, they racked up hundreds of thousands of views.
Funny part? Pre-lawsuit, those pics had just six views total—two from her own lawyers checking them out.
In the end, her bid to bury the info turned into massive free publicity.
Cases like this show it plain: the more you forbid something, the more you stoke curiosity.
Reverse psychology. Or that contrary streak in all of us.
Tell people not to do something, and they want to all the more. Might just be human nature.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Against my predictions, raising the entry bar and halting new recruits only made people swarm harder.
Slamming the doors before curiosity got scratched? That just layered on the mystique.
I'd overlooked how curiosity is the ultimate marketing hook.
Inquiry calls flooded the church office every morning. Lines snaked around the cathedral as folks craned for peeks through the windows. We'd lit their insatiable itch perfectly.
'Ahh, headache...'
Our core plan was to dominate this district and grow influence, so more devotees should've been great. Just not now. Too premature—we had zero prep to house and handle that horde.
At least the buzz stayed positive. Small mercies.
Sensing my tangled mood, Yoanna asked carefully.
"Should we pause the charity drives too?"
"No... Keep those rolling."
People hate feeling deprived. Even as givers, yanking the rug out right after starting screams bad vibes—worse than skipping it entirely.
So charity stayed steady.
"Just dial back the religious vibe even more than before."
Our street efforts went beyond food handouts, anyway.
We eyed the gangs' slush funds and seized properties for flips: cheap renos into housing for the homeless.
We were lining up legit jobs too, at partner businesses, for earnest newbies hungry to work.
Slower burn, less flash, but real, lasting impact on lives. Way better for weaving our influence into the community long-haul.
So until those seeds fruited, we had to rein in this over-the-top frenzy.
After hashing it out and seeing Yoanna off, I sank deep into my chair.
"Hoo..."
Alone now, worries crowded my skull again.
Back-to-back surprises left my mouth cotton-dry.
Habit kicked in—I grabbed the water glass on the desk.
Gulped the rest down, then choked hard.
"Pfft—cough—hack!"
Pounding my chest, I finally quit coughing. But the liquid's aftertaste was weird.
'Ah, come on. What the—it's wine again...!'
The devotee boom stressing me out?
Or just bone-tired from nonstop drama?
Lately, powers leaked without my say-so, way more often.
Focused? Fine. Slip even a second? Every liquid I touched turned wine pronto.
"..."
I eyed the ruby glow in the glass, debating.
Lips still parched. Trekking downstairs for fresh water? Meh, too much hassle.
'Screw it!'
Downed the rest in one go.
Frustration from stalled plans made it half impulse too.
"Ahh—"
Glass empty, dizziness crashed in like waves.
'Kinda... no, pretty damn strong stuff?'
Sipped here and there before, but a full glass? First time.
Buzz hit way quicker than expected. Threw me off—I wasn't a lightweight usually. Really hammered home the new body reality.
Vision spinning already, dizzy thrill loosening every muscle into lazy bliss.
'Recovery skill would nuke this buzz clean...'
But today? Nah, didn't feel like it.
Truth? Since crashing in this world, zero chill moments. Always blindsided by crap, nerves jacked 24/7. This calm? Nostalgic. Way overdue.
Warmth flooding veins, pure satisfaction.
World looked softer, prettier by a shade.
Cupping my warm cheeks, I grinned like an idiot, no clue.
"Ehehe..."
That's when it hit—mood all loose, beaming like a fool.
Knock knock.
Esty slipped in.
"Pardon the intrusion. Eve, report on that morning task..."
Hazy gaze locked up at her.
Neat ponytail. Flawless suit. Steady voice as ever.
Her usual cool, by-the-book vibe.
But today? It sparked something... off-script.
Tried reeling it in. No dice—booze had my brain reins snapped.
Unthinkable normally, but autopilot: hand to her cheek.
"Estyyy... Face all stiff again. People get scared, y'know?"
Finger-traced a fake smile on her cheek, then copied it.
"Eve...?"
Esty froze solid, eyes locked.
We stared awhile. Head swam; I slumped against her shoulder.
Clean, classy scent teased my nose.
'Smells nice...'
Limp voice whispered out unbidden.
"...So cold usually, but sweet just to me... Love it... Esty's so... precious..."
Then—her support went statue-stiff.
Breath by my ear? Faint tremble.
'Huh?'
Esty this thrown? Never seen it.
Amusing as hell—I burst giggling.
"Hehe..."
Head up: her shaky gold eyes mirrored a stranger.
Softened eyes from booze. Rosy cheeks.
Girl there, all vulnerable mess.
Naughty vibe, somehow.
'Whoa...'
Esty still propped my wobble, locked up.
Breath wisped past ear; gold eyes swirled with shock.
And—something else. Unnameable, never-shown emotion rippling too.