The Merciful Archisus Church
"If I drag people who are asking for the locations of other churches to the Archisus temple, and then hold onto them saying, 'Ah! Don't go, listen to some good words!'..."
"Even though I thought of it myself, it's so plausible it gives me goosebumps."
Tae-hyun apologized to Carbanog.
"I'm sorry, Carbanog. It's not exactly my fault, but I'll apologize on behalf of the church."
[Carbanog wonders why you are apologizing.]
"?"
Indeed. What was happening before his eyes was slightly different from what Tae-hyun had imagined.
"Just how long are you planning to stay here?"
"We are truly sorry."
An Archisus priest came out and spoke sternly to a priest of the Carbanog Church. The Carbanog priest bowed his head with an incredibly apologetic expression.
"..."
Tae-hyun lowered his head even further. What on earth was this...?
These crazy bastards stole their temple!
It was obvious. The Archisus cultists must have seized the Carbanog Church's temple and were now telling them, "This is our land, so get lost!" Otherwise, this scene made absolutely no sense.
"I'm even more sorry than before, Carbanog."
[Carbanog says you should listen to the end of the conversation.]
"Didn't we say we would build you a new temple? If you stay in this tiny building, other people will mock you."
"But our God would not rejoice in a temple that was not built by our own hands."
"Oh dear... Lord Carbanog must be happy to have such devout priests. Still, if you ever change your mind, please let us know. We will provide you with a new temple. It is a pleasure to provide a new temple for a friend."
"No, we are already grateful enough just to temporarily borrow this building from the Archisus Church."
"..."
?????
What???
Tae-hyun doubted his eyes. What did I just see?
"Ah... is that really the Archisus Church? Not the Argi-sus or Arki-ssus Church?"
"What blasphemy are you speaking, man!"
The guide who had led him here flared up in anger. How dare he speak such blasphemy right in front of the Archisus temple!
"No... if my eyes and ears aren't playing tricks on me, it looks like the Archisus Church is helping the Carbanog Church. Is that correct?"
Taking pity on the ruined Carbanog Church, which had no temple of its own, they had lent them one of their own temple buildings. Did that make any sense?!
"The Archisus Church is a merciful and generous order. My friend, if you wish to stay here long, you had better watch your mouth. There are many who believe in the Archisus Church."
"..."
"Hmph. No matter how I look at it, you seem to belong to the Phytos Church..."
The guide grumbled and walked away.
Carbanog. Did I travel to a different past?
[Carbanog says no.]
By its very nature, the Carbanog Church had collapsed many times throughout history. After all, the number of people who would worship a rabbit god was bound to be limited. Furthermore, since Carbanog itself was asleep in its sanctuary, the believers had no choice but to go through difficult times. It wasn't strange at all for them to seek help like this.
That might be true, but it makes no sense for the Archisus Church to help them.
[Carbanog says that in a hundred years, even a dragon's lair can disappear, so this much change is entirely possible in the distant past.]
...Is that so?
Tae-hyun tilted his head. Well, the Archisus Church must have been highly successful during the Ancient Empire, so things might have been different back then. Come to think of it, a church's operation was bound to be influenced by its Pope at the time. He had unconsciously assumed they would have run it just like he did, but in reality, the ancient Archisus Church might have been operated differently. In the first place, the modern Archisus Church had been completely ruined once, wiping out all its traditions...
This is making me feel strangely sad. I thought everyone ran it the way I did...
Tae-hyun felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Did the other Popes of the Archisus Church run it as a kind, beloved organization?
While Tae-hyun and Carbanog were conversing, the priests of the two churches were also wrapping up their conversation.
"You really don't need to feel burdened."
"No. How could we accept such a thing so easily?"
It was the very picture of heartwarming warmth!
"Well, we took that Phytos Church temple building for free anyway. Please, feel free to use it."
"But isn't that a building the Archisus Church went to great lengths to seize? We wouldn't dare use it."
"..."
Ah...!
It was the Archisus Church, alright!
Save the Carbanog Church
Through the power of the Carbanog Statue, you have entered the past where the Carbanog Church once existed!
The Carbanog Church once boasted great power, but due to past events, it collapsed and was forgotten.
Help the Carbanog Church escape the crisis they are about to face. If you do, you will be able to find more traces of the Carbanog Church in the future.
🎁 Reward: ?, ??
"...!"
Tae-hyun was startled. A quest where you travel to the past and interfere with the present!
Of course, such quests weren't nonexistent in Pan-On, but they were extremely rare. Above all, traveling back in time to interfere with the past required an immense amount of power.
"Argh! Great hero! At this rate, the continent will be destroyed! All the Archbishops of our Phytos Church will sacrifice themselves to send you to the past, so please go back and stop the Hungry Chaos!"
"Understood. I will stop the Hungry Chaos and make the Archisus Church the greatest!"
"Leave out the last part...!"
Unless it was a solemn, desperate situation like that, such quests rarely appeared. Yet, a single statue of the Carbanog Church had triggered this. Incredible.
[Carbanog puffs its chest out proudly.]
If they had enough power left to send a future believer back to the past, wouldn't it have been better to just use that power for themselves?
[Carbanog feels depressed and asks you not to stab it with the truth.]
Tae-hyun's words were correct. Honestly, this was a waste. It seemed the priests of the Carbanog Church had prepared this, thinking, 'If someone from the future finds us and our church has fallen, let's use this power to help them!'...
But honestly, wouldn't it have been better to just use that power to save the Carbanog Church back then?
Well, it turned out well in the end, so isn't that what matters?
[Carbanog thanks you for the comfort.]
Hmm. A crisis that the Carbanog Church will face...
Tae-hyun fell into thought in front of the temple.
The Ancient Empire was a nation that had endured for a very long time. Naturally, it had faced many crises and enemies. Just off the top of his head...
There was the Orc rampage, the Dragon rampage, the Hungry Chaos rampage of course, Nevuchadnezzar acting up to become a god, the Demon Dukes descending and causing trouble, the loss of contact with the Sky Island above, the beastmen tribes swarming from the sea...
There were too many to count!
But it's probably the Hungry Chaos, right?
Tae-hyun suspected the Hungry Chaos the most. Out of all the enemies, it was the most threatening foe to any religious order.
[Carbanog agrees. Carbanog believes that the Carbanog Church must have fought back heroically and tragically.]
...No. Hearing you say that suddenly makes me anxious.
Did they really fight? If they went extinct for some bizarre or pathetic reason, it would be awkward to stop it...
[Carbanog gets angry!]
Let's go in and ask first.
Knock, knock, knock—
Tae-hyun knocked on the main gate of the temple.
"What brings you here?"
"I am a believer of the Archisus Church. I have come to pray."
"Oh! Please, come in."
The paladin guarding the gate of the Archisus temple opened the door with a smile.
Flash!
• You have witnessed the Holy Land of Archisus!
• The beautiful sight dazzles your eyes!
• Divine permanently increases!
• Wisdom permanently increases!
• Luck permanently increases!
• The buff [Blessing of the Holy Land] has been temporarily granted.
• You can now construct the Archisus Holy Land Temple in your territory!
⚠️ You have not fully understood the blueprint. A penalty is applied. You will need outstanding architects to complete it.
"!!"
Tae-hyun was stunned by the sight that greeted him inside.
A beautiful scene where a stream flowed and fruit-bearing trees quietly cast their shade. It was so well-maintained that it was hard to believe this was the front courtyard of an Archisus temple.
And in that peaceful place, believers were lying down, taking bites of fruit and relaxing leisurely.
Is this the Archisus Church or a palace of decadence?
[Carbanog is flustered, asking how taking a break can be called decadence.]
Honestly, they were just resting, so it wasn't decadence. But compared to the Valley, it was incredibly shocking.
The Archisus temple in the Valley was the epitome of extreme practicality. Everything was strictly arranged in designated areas! Useless decorations or luxurious extravagances were absolutely forbidden!
In the temple's front courtyard... No, in the first place, there barely was a front courtyard. He didn't bother allocating such useless, empty space. If there was room for that, he would rather place another trap to trigger when demons invaded.
Honestly, it was closer to a fortress than a temple.
Perhaps misunderstanding Tae-hyun's reaction, the Archisus priest smiled and said,
"My apologies. Our temple is quite humble, isn't it? We recently made a large donation for an honorable expedition, which is why it's like this."
"Humble? Honorable? Donation?"
Hearing words that absolutely did not fit the subject of the "Archisus Church," Tae-hyun felt as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer. Were those words even supposed to go together?
[Carbanog screams at you to get a grip!]
"I... I see. Because the temple was too humble, you received many donations from others in the name of honor?"
"That... sounds like a completely different story?"
The priest looked at Tae-hyun with concern. No matter how he looked at him, the man seemed to have some issues.
"Hey there. This believer here doesn't seem to be in a good state. Could you bring some holy water so we can perform a blessing?"
"Yes, High Priest Pelmas."
"...Who-mas?"
[Carbanog screams that something is wrong here!]
Even Carbanog, who usually kept its composure as a god, shrieked at this horrifying situation!
To think the name of the kind priest standing before them was Pelmas.
Flowing golden hair and a dazzling, kind smile.
The priest standing before him was a handsome man who wouldn't look out of place anywhere.
In contrast, the Pelmas of his own era...
Haggard eyes, looking like a trashy gambling addict...
No, I should stop thinking about it. It's making me sad.
Tae-hyun calmed down. Couldn't this person just share the same name?
"Do you hold the position of High Priest?"
"Yes. Though I am unworthy, I am doing my absolute best. I only pray that Lord Archisus is pleased."
"...Passed!! Passed!!!"
"?!?!"
"Ah, no. My apologies. I've fought so many enemies that I've developed a condition where I occasionally spout crazy nonsense. Please understand."
"Ah, yes."
Pelmas told Tae-hyun about the expeditions the Archisus Church had undertaken, the enemies they had to face in the future, and the threats looming over the continent and the kingdom.
And he declared that against all of them, the Archisus Church would stand as a reliable shield!
"Our order will become the empire's strongest, sharpest, most pointed shield that leaves the most devastating wounds."
...That's not even a shield anymore, is it?
Well, it did fit the Archisus Church...
In any case, Tae-hyun was finally able to cast aside his doubts.
It really must be someone who just happened to share the same name.
"By any chance, you don't happen to like gambling, do you?"
"Ah. How did you know? I do enjoy a bit of dice gambling."
"...Stop it immediately!!!"