The Network Faith Structure

In any case, it was innovative. I thought to myself as I watched a scene that somehow brought to mind a dark legion. What I had wanted all along was a kingdom with God—to create a framework of light for the Elium Kingdom.

However, I shifted my gaze forward. Their eyes were filled with madness and conviction. Their movements carried the precision of military drills. With one hand raised high, they shouted passionately:

"Salute Lord Kaimu Doyunes!"

"Glory to the Elium Kingdom!"

"Long live the Ifrit Church!"

No matter how you looked at it, this was the birth of an "evil empire." And for some reason, I felt like I should start growing a mustache. I should have just stuck to the performance of the rope snapping. I got too carried away in the heat of the moment.

My class, "Cult Leader," already had a passive effect from the Fanaticism skill that instilled belief in those who watched me. On top of that, I had layered Joseph Hitler's demagoguery, plus the miracle of returning from the dead, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even made rain fall from the heavens. I had no idea it would work this well.

Trying to escape reality, I looked at the window that popped up in front of my eyes. More importantly, when is this going to stop?

The system alerts chimed continuously like a firing machine gun. The scroll was moving up so fast I could barely read it. What was even scarier was that the numbers were rising in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠real-time.

In a denomination with a total of 1,951 members, the number of fanatics was 989. I couldn't help but wonder how on earth the number of fanatics could outnumber regular believers. This wasn't a normal religion. It was, without a doubt, a cult. But still, becoming a cult leader felt a bit much.

...Is being a cult really that bad?

That day, I officially founded the "Ifrit Church."

Official Name: 『Ifrit』

Since I held the highest authority regarding religious matters among my titles, the [Religious Approval Evaluation]—which would normally take months—was approved in less than a day the moment my name was attached to it.

***

The internal dissidents (revolutionaries) who had blended into the crowd in the plaza were all captured and thrown into prison. No matter how hard they tried to hide, it was useless.

"H-how?"

"I can see everything."

Seriously, I really could see everything. When the tags floating above everyone's heads were plastered in bright red with [Fanatic], it was harder not to see them. If someone didn't have a tag floating above them, that person was a revolutionary.

For some reason, every time I acted like this, the people's eyes filled with even more adoration. Still, I couldn't just leave the obvious rebels alone, so I couldn't stop. It felt like the misunderstanding was only growing deeper.

At least the danger of getting stabbed in the back by the revolutionaries was gone. Now, the only remaining threat was external: the Franz Kingdom.

But the problem was that there was no one to deal with that threat.

In this puppet kingdom, the moment you patched up one hole, another one burst open. Currently, the Elium Kingdom was suffering from a severe shortage of talent. Whether it was war, administration, or diplomacy—anyone who knew how to do anything had already fled. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Thanks to that, there were no workers to pull all-nighters and do the work for me.

So, I created a new system. Since I had ended up in another world, I might as well use modern knowledge like other reincarnators.

There was no resistance to the proposal I drafted. After all, the intellectuals and nobles who would have opposed me had already left.

"Prophet, what is this?"

As I handed over a sheet of paper, Chris, who now bore the grand title of High Priest, approached me.

"Ah, you do not know, Chris?"

On the paper, a single triangle was drawn. Doubt grew in Chris's eyes.

"This is what is called the Multi-level Faith Dividend System."

"Multi-level, you say?"

"Indeed. The method is simple. A believer recruits a subordinate believer, who then recruits another subordinate believer, who in turn recruits yet another subordinate believer... It is a very healthy and revolutionary method."

Its name: the 『Sponsored Faith Dividend System』.

"Using this method, we will reward those who gather a certain number of believers. First, we bestow the rank of 'Apprentice Priest.' Among those priests, those with outstanding performance will be promoted to 'Regular Priest,' then 'Chief Priest,' and then 'Senior Priest.' By granting titles based on ability and performance, we will inspire a desire for self-improvement among the people."

Doubt welled up in Chris's eyes. "Prophet... Since this is a method I have never seen before, I do not know if the people will adapt to it well."

I lightly tapped the triangle drawn on the paper once more with my finger.

"...Chris."

"Yes."

"You see, the essence of faith is ultimately 'propagation.'"

"...Pardon?"

"Light moves forward, water flows, and a revelation only has meaning when it is passed on."

I deliberately paused for a beat, narrowing my eyes slightly as I added in a low whisper:

"The structure of such propagation... where I come from, they call it this."

"...What... do they call it?"

Placing my hand over the triangle, I murmured, "The Network Faith Structure."

"...!!"

"And the triangle is the most perfect shape."

Though he couldn't put it into words, something went click in Chris's eyes.

"A new method to accelerate the gospel... that is precisely what this structure is."

A system he had never heard of before, yet somehow sounded incredibly profound and mysterious. Chris could no longer raise any objections. A pyramid of faith that continuously expanded step-by-step. The 『Sponsored Faith Dividend System』. In any case, it was innovative.

***

The commoners of this era had no way to relieve stress. There were no games, no entertainment to enjoy, and it was a world where they couldn't even drink alcohol to their heart's content. Even religion was a luxury denied to them.

Temples were places only nobles and the upper class frequented; commoners didn't dare approach them. Therefore, people relieved stress in their own ways. They accumulated stress bit by bit, like collecting points, and once it crossed the limit... they picked up bamboo spears and started a rebellion.

Of course, if they failed, they all died. It was literally a world where you either died or rose up. Those were the only two options.

But in such a world, a way to relax both body and mind had suddenly appeared. This didn't just offer peace of mind in words. In truth, the countless people in the plaza felt a refreshing sense of liberation for the very first time.

"Long live the Ifrit Church!"

"Salute Lord Doyunes!"

The louder they shouted, the more the physical pain strangely vanished, and their minds grew peaceful. At first, everyone thought it was just their imagination. But it wasn't. It was a mechanism where the pain disappeared only when they thought of the Ifrit Church, and rushed back when they didn't. In their frustrating, stifling medieval lives, a bottle of ice-cold soda had suddenly appeared.

The deeper their faith grew, and the higher their rank rose, the more this effect multiplied. The pain vanished, and their minds became even calmer. However, it wasn't quite the same level of intense refreshment they had felt in the plaza, which was like ice-cold soda. Now, it was more like plain water. Even so, it was enough to quench their thirst.

The problem was that once you've tasted that ultimate refreshment, plain water just doesn't cut it anymore. In the midst of this, the Ifrit Church began distributing flyers. The contents were shocking: regardless of status, age, or gender, ranks would be granted based on performance and ability. They were already highly motivated, and now they were being offered rewards? Once they realized this, their next course of action was simple.

***

Elium Capital ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Main Gate.

"Excuse me, could I ask for directions?"

"Of course. Where are you heading?"

"Well, the name of the place slips my mind..."

"Do you happen to know any familiar buildings or landmarks nearby?"

"I think I went this way—from here, this way—and then just around that alleyway. Ah! Here it is. Thank you so much."

"I'm glad you found it. Well then, I'll be on my way."

"Ah! Wait a moment! I'm so grateful for your help. It's not much, but I'd like to express my gratitude."

"...Gratitude?"

"I'd like to offer you the privilege of paying tithes together with me at the Ifrit Church over there. Let's go have a quick chat."

"Excuse me?"

Shopping District.

"Do you know the Way?"

"Me?"

"Yes, indeed. The virtue of your ancestors is shining brightly on your face. That good karma is what has guided you here today."

"I don't really know about that, but thank you for the kind words."

"But, oh dear..."

"Is something wrong?"

"Have you been feeling stiffness in your shoulders lately, or perhaps tossing and turning at night? Finding it hard to wake up in the morning?"

"!!!"

"Do you happen to have some time?"

"Well... how long?"

"Just five minutes is all I need."

"If it's only five minutes..."

"Then come this way! There's a wonderful place called the Ifrit Church just over there where we can sit down and chat."

"Pardon?"

Elium Plaza.

"Excuse me..."

"M-me?"

"Yes, you. Honestly, I don't usually say things like this, but... I've been watching you from over there, and I finally gathered the courage to come speak to you."

"Ahem, cough. Is... is that so?"

"Are you busy right now?"

"No! Not at all! I'm completely free!"

"Really? In that case, if you have a moment, would you like to grab a cup of tea at that lovely Ifrit Church over there?"

"Huh?"

And just like that, yet another lost sheep added their name to the Ifrit Church's performance ledger. Over the next few days, Chris felt the sheer, terrifying power of the "Network Structure" the Prophet had introduced right down to his bones.

"Apprentice Priest William?"

"High Priest Chris! The sheep were wandering lost, so I have brought them to the Ifrit Church."

"Oh dear. Welcome."

"Um... in that case..."

"Yes. I will credit this to your performance."

Not long after he left, another knock echoed at the door. Knock, knock.

"Come in."

"Amen. High Priest Chris."

"Apprentice Priest James, what brings you here?"

"This young lamb wished to take some time to learn about our faith, so I have brought them to the Ifrit Church."

"...Huh? M-me?"

Just as they were about to sit down, another knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

"High Priest!"

"Apprentice Priest Anna. I believe you just left fifteen minutes ago."

"High Priest Chris, I wanted to stay away! But oh my! A young lamb approached me of their own accord and practically begged to receive baptism. What was I supposed to do?"

"199... with this one, you have reached exactly 200."

"T-then?"

"Yes. Lady Anna, you are now a Regular Priest (Candidate)."