A Silent God
The crowds atop the Temple Square were growing denser by the second. The upcoming award ceremony for the Academic & Martial Arts Competition was the final and most prestigious event of the tournament. Since the city administration hadn't designated specific viewing areas or sold tickets, citizens were free to flock to the square to witness the glory firsthand.
The young priestesses of the temple were dressed in snow-white, ornate robes. Clad in garments without a single blemish, they resembled a field of perfect white flowers in full bloom. Standing beneath the great statue in the center of the square, they sang hymns of praise to the Sword Lord. Their voices, amplified by a profound Mystic Array, echoed beautifully both inside and outside the temple walls.
Given the sacred nature of the venue, the citizens maintained a solemn and orderly atmosphere. Some closed their eyes in prayer, while most stood in respectful silence, gazing up at the divine statue. It was a stark contrast to the boisterous, heated energy seen during the earlier matches of the competition. This scene was a testament to the sublime position the Temple of the Sword Lord held in the hearts of the North Sea Empire’s people. It was more than just respect; it was a profound faith. In a world where true deities existed, the power of faith was something breathtakingly majestic.
Sitting upon the dais, Bukjin scanned his surroundings. Amidst the sea of people in the square, he spotted Cho Heun and several others. Moments later, his teammates—Han Bul-bu, Ak Hong-hyang, Baek Geum-un, and Mi Yeo-yeon—arrived one by one. Guided by officials from the Board of Education, they took their seats beside Bukjin. Other students who had placed in the top ten of the competition continued to filter in as well.
"I feel like I'm dreaming," Baek Geum-un whispered, clutching her hands together and breathing shallowly from nerves.
"It feels even more surreal than a dream," Ak Hong-hyang added softly.
Being part of the winning team was the highest honor imaginable. Regardless of where they went or what they did after graduation, they would receive special treatment for the rest of their lives. Ak Hong-hyang had never imagined such a moment would ever come to her. She hadn't been able to sleep a wink the night before from the sheer excitement.
"By the way, Senior Han, have you really decided on enlisting?" Bukjin asked, turning toward Han Bul-bu. "You're a member of the championship team now. Any of the Five Great Academies would give you an incredible offer. You're still young; joining the military so soon seems like a waste."
Han Bul-bu chuckled. "It’s too late for regrets. I already went to the Unmong-wi garrison last night and submitted all my paperwork. The military administrator already stamped my approval. As soon as this ceremony is over, I’ll be heading out with the army."
Many nearby students who knew him turned their heads in surprise. Though Han Bul-bu claimed it was too late for regrets, his expression showed none. If anything, he looked like he could hardly wait. People wondered just what the military had promised him to lure him in so decisively.
Seeing his resolve, Bukjin didn't press the matter further. Every man had his own path to walk. Even for a friend who had braved the storms by his side, he couldn't force his own will upon them.
Sitting quietly on the dais, Bukjin felt a strange sense of enchantment. Back on Earth, he had been a shut-in who couldn't get anything right, spending his days glued to video games. He’d had grand dreams as a child, but they had withered away under the weight of a bloated body, a meager income, and chronic laziness. He never imagined that in another world—one he had been transmigrated into—he would reach the absolute peak of his life.
Lost in thought for a moment, Bukjin pulled out his smartphone. He began snapping photos of the gathered crowd, his friends, the floral wreaths, and the beautiful priestesses singing their hymns. He even took a quick selfie.
It’s a shame I don’t have a filter app, he thought. I hope the system update I get for winning this thing includes a beauty filter or something. Well, not that I need it with a face this handsome...
Feeling a bit sentimental, Bukjin opened the Messenger app and posted the photos he had just taken to his timeline.
However, no one 'liked' the post, and no one left a comment.
Sigh, it really is lonely at the top!
It felt a bit hollow that even as a champion, he had no one to react to his timeline. Bukjin opened his friend list and tapped the profile picture of his one and only contact. The profile name was Geomseol Mumeong, and the picture was still that same shot of long, slender white legs. After a moment of hesitation, he sent a message.
「What are you up to?」
Bukjin just wanted to exchange a few words with the only person he could talk to on the app. But the moment he hit send, a notification window popped up.
The message was sent, but the recipient has blocked all incoming communications from you.
"..."
What the hell? Did that damn goddess block me?
A surge of irritation washed over him. Fuming, Bukjin switched to the Shopping app and navigated to Geomseol Mumeong's General Store. He tapped the inquiry tab and fired off several consecutive complaints. However, even after a long wait, the messages remained marked as 'Unread.'
Is she logged out? Or is she just playing dead?
Bukjin looked at the store's stats. The transaction count was still at one—the single item he had purchased via cash-on-delivery. It had been over two weeks since that transaction, and the store hadn't been updated once since then.
That damn goddess is really something! Did she shut down the shop entirely?
Bukjin was speechless. Just then, a massive roar of cheers erupted in his ears. He looked up to see that the award ceremony had finally officially begun. The City Lord, Im Gun-hyeon, was already on the dais, delivering his speech.
Bukjin turned his head to scan the area, but he couldn't find Im Jin anywhere. Im Jin, hailed as the top genius of Unmong City, had vanished from the public eye after voluntarily withdrawing from the competition. She hadn't shown her face since, and Bukjin had no way of knowing what had happened to her. A sudden pang of worry for her struck him.
Looking around again, he noticed Ya Mi-ang was also missing. Ya Mi-ang had taken third place in the team matches. As an award recipient, it was only logical for her to attend the ceremony, yet she was nowhere to be seen.
Was she seriously injured?
Doubts swirled in his mind. Since Bukjin hadn't yet watched the Recording Stone of yesterday's team battle, he didn't know exactly what had transpired during the fight. While Ya Mi-ang was absent, the strikingly beautiful Jin Ju-je stood quietly beneath the divine statue.
The award ceremony, the final act of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition, proceeded in an atmosphere of extreme rigor and solemnity. As the ritual that concluded the entire event, it was a grand and sacred affair. Every step of the process was being broadcast in real-time via the massive crystal screens, just as the matches had been.
The first order of business was a sacrifice to the Sword Lord. Offering sacrifices and prayers came first. Naturally, the one presiding over this ritual was Jin Ju-je, who held the highest priestly rank in the Unmong City Temple.
Regarded as the most sacred woman in Unmong City, Jin Ju-je possessed a voice as beautiful as her appearance. She sang hymns and recited prayers in a clear, resonant tone. Behind her, wings of sword-light slowly unfurled, and her entire body began to radiate the brilliant light of Divine Power, tinting the surroundings in a pure white glow.
Everyone watching felt a sense of holiness that no one dared to violate. In the face of such a majestic sight, their souls trembled. Even the First Administrator, Dam Gogeum, didn't dare act out of line; he stood straight with a solemn expression. Bukjin and the other students also showed their respect toward the deity.
But Bukjin felt something strange. It was as if a blurry, unfamiliar image was flickering before his eyes, like a scene from some distant, hazy dimension. As Jin Ju-je's hymns rang out, an intangible, invisible power began to leak from the bodies of everyone in the square, gathering toward her. Yet, the people seemed completely unaware of it.
Is this... the power of faith?Bukjin wondered instinctively. Is faith really that important to a god?
His mind wandered through various idle thoughts. He had no real interest in the ritual itself. He just wanted it to end so he could get his prizes and then take Jo Pacheon's life.
Wait, that bastard Jo Pacheon is here today, right? Or did he already kick the bucket because he couldn't handle his injuries?
Malice naturally bubbled up at the thought of his rival. It would be a real shame if he died from the poison! I need to finish that scrub with my own two hands to feel truly satisfied!
Whenever Bukjin took a life, he made it a habit to confirm the kill. I wonder if the Board of Education would let me cut off his head first and then stab him in the heart just to be sure? Would Baek Hae-geum go absolutely berserk?
As Bukjin entertained these dark thoughts, a single drop of cold sweat rolled down Jin Ju-je's forehead.
Why is this happening?
A massive wave of panic was surging within Jin Ju-je's heart. For about fifteen days now, she had stopped receiving the revelations that usually came from the Sword Lord. While it wasn't uncommon for the connection to be severed briefly, it usually only lasted a day or two. This was the first time in her life that the link to her deity had been broken for such an extended period.
I cannot feel the Divine Presence. What does this mean? Has the Lord abandoned my faith? Or...
A terrifying thought crossed her mind. For any temple that claimed legitimacy, the death of the god they worshipped was nothing short of a cataclysm.
Has the Lord... passed away?