Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Orazen's Yacheon Temple
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Orazen's Yacheon Temple.
The highest priest of the Yacheon Faith was the king of Heukrin, but since no king had been chosen across generations, it was regarded as merely nominal.
Even so, the Yacheon Faith shared inextricable ties with Heukrin's monarchy, and there was no clear conflict between the two.
'That must be because of the Chosen Ones.'
Shun Rak Orazen thought as he walked through the temple's corridor.
The Chosen Ones.
Among those who believed in Yacheon, individuals with exceptionally strong faith worthy of receiving its power were granted Yacheon's might.
The power of lightning.
Every spring, to pray for bountiful harvests, this power was unleashed around the farmlands near Orazen. Not only Heukrin's devout rural folk but also foreign envoys and travelers who didn't believe in Yacheon came to witness it.
The priests knew it as a mere display of the Yacheon Faith's power and authority, but Heukrin's people simply didn't understand the principle yet. In truth, the struck earth had nitrogen reduced into it, enriching the soil and improving yields.
Of course, after years of this annual event, there was now a joke that as spring festival season approached, the merchants were busier than the priests preparing the rites or the farmers starting their work.
In any case, though these Chosen Ones wielded such mighty power, there had never been a single instance in the Yacheon Faith's century-long history of them misusing it or intimidating others with it.
'Because they are chosen directly by Lord Yacheon.'
Chosen Ones appeared without limit to origin or even race—not just Lizardmen—from all corners of Heukrin where they were discovered, and occasionally from overseas as well.
They were treated with utmost reverence, essentially as saints of the Yacheon Faith.
Of course, the fact that every one of them used their power selflessly in proportion to their esteemed status only strengthened faith in Yacheon further.
'Of course, priests can wield power too, though not to the level of the Chosen Ones...'
In Lost World, once a specific subdomain reached level 11 or higher, priests could use its power as well.
Before that, priests or shamans were merely objects of the god's attention, but as the player's subdomain level rose, they could channel the god's power.
Priests consumed faith to borrow divine power, but displaying miracles to the people generally reinforced belief, so players allowed priests to use such powers.
'But compared to the Chosen Ones' power, it's insignificant.'
The miracles currently available to Heukrin's priests were limited to just a few.
Even those electrical miracles were minor sparks to startle people, repelling or summoning insect swarms, or calming flocks of birds and livestock.
Of course, even these powers were astonishing to ordinary eyes.
'Still, they're not truly vital powers. Is this irreverent? Forgive me, Lord Yacheon. But I don't think I'm entirely wrong.'
Deep in thought, Shun stopped before a door.
It was the Revelation Hall, the temple's innermost sanctum.
'The pinnacle of Yacheon Faith authority: the Revelation Priests.'
Yacheon priests each had their roles.
Acolyte priests without assigned duties yet, astronomical priests versed in calendars and celestial matters, preachers who oversaw events or conveyed Yacheon's words to the people—such were their roles.
But the ones seen as holding true power were the Revelation Priests.
They recorded Yacheon's miracles, interpreted them, and decided who should hear the interpretations and how.
Due to its importance, even Chosen Ones couldn't become Revelation Priests immediately. Only in their later years, when most priests were treated as 'elders,' could they ascend to that role.
Shun had little interest in power itself but was intrigued by being the first to see Yacheon's words. Since Chosen status couldn't be earned through effort alone, he harbored a desire to one day become a Revelation Priest.
"Acolyte Priest Shun Rak Orazen here. May I enter?"
After a brief silence, a voice came from within.
"Enter."
As Shun stepped inside, he saw elderly men seated in a small garden on the veranda. The Revelation Priests.
With their backs to Shun, they gazed intently at something—the words of Yacheon, Shun could easily guess.
Following Revelation Hall protocol, Shun bowed deeply upon entering. One priest spoke.
"Shun... the name rings a bell. So it's the second prince."
"A title I've already forsaken."
"Yet you still hold your birth name. How is it forsaken?"
"Because I'm still just an acolyte priest..."
"Then you're still the prince as well."
Shun flushed awkwardly.
"I hurried here upon hearing of Yacheon's revelation to be delivered. Is the interpretation complete?"
"Just now. Perfect timing."
One Revelation Priest stepped from the veranda into the garden toward Shun.
In his hand were the revelation text—Yacheon's words—and the interpretive commentary.
"Deliver this to His Majesty."
"To the inner palace, not the royal quarters?"
"Indeed."
"But I was sent on an errand from the inner hall."
"Heh, young folk and their rigidity. It's urgent—take it to the palace. They'll send another if word doesn't reach the inner hall."
Though dazed, Shun obeyed the Revelation Priests' will.
Bowing farewell and exiting, he checked the corridor for others.
'It's not sealed anyway, so anyone seeing it is fine.'
An acolyte priest was still a priest.
Temple chores like cleaning, stocking supplies, or tending plants fell to acolytes not yet ordained, but revelation texts were rare errands for acolytes due to their gravity.
'So I can enjoy being second after the Revelation Priests to see Yacheon's words. Let's see...'
Unfolding the text, Shun was startled.
He rushed toward his younger brother in the palace.
—┼
"A new Demon King."
Kyle Rak Orazen was glad to see Shun after so long but couldn't hide his shock at the revelation text and its contents.
"I knew war would come, but not like this."
Kyle summoned the new Chief Administrator right there with Shun present.
The new Chief Administrator was Rabun, once Kyle's tutor.
Though a renowned scholar, Rabun seemed awkward in the role like ill-fitting clothes, yet his exceptional abilities earned him respect.
"What brings the summons?"
"Yacheon has sent a revelation."
"From Yacheon itself?"
"It will be proclaimed later, but first, urgent action is needed. By royal decree."
"Command me."
Kyle pondered briefly, organized his thoughts, then spoke.
"Notify all coastal governors immediately. Any villages, groups, or individuals engaging with pirates or fish-like races in any way must be quarantined or detained. Governors have full discretion; if insufficient, request aid from others or the palace."
Heukrin had maintained outward peace for over a century despite incidents, making this a monumental event.
But Rabun recalled Kyle's words: 'urgent action.'
Questions could wait until after execution.
"It shall be done."
Rabun hurried from the grand hall.
But this was only part of Yacheon's words.
Shun said worriedly,
"War, though! I thought we lived in peaceful times. I'm deeply concerned, Your Majesty."
Yacheon's revelation didn't merely announce the Demon King.
It warned that nations like Danyeom might挑衅 Heukrin, using the conflict as pretext.
Seeing Shun's concern, Kyle softened.
"It's worth worrying over, but no need to panic, little brother."
"Even alone, mind your words, Your Majesty."
Kyle coughed awkwardly.
"...Understood."
"And Heukrin's soldiers today aren't the warriors who fought with Lord Rakrak a century ago. They merely view Heukrin as a great power and underestimate others. Prolonged peace may have been poison."
"But not everyone has drunk the poison."
"You mean...?"
Kyle said calmly,
"Even without the Demon King, signs of war were everywhere. Yacheon announcing it is a boon—other gods will inform their nations too. Without this, we'd be blind to where or what to guard against."
This cheered Shun.
Kyle continued,
"The issue is preparing for southern battles from now on."
"Aren't Heukrin's ships superior to Danyeom's or Amgul's?"
"Not to Danri's level. Danri likely won't meddle, but if all six other nations compete with Heukrin, it's unsettling."
Shun nodded.
Heukrin was mighty, but not the entire continent.
Yet Kyle didn't seem as shocked as Shun had been initially.
"You have a plan?"
"Of course."
Kyle said,
"By now, Hwi, Ravina, and Muel should have reached Sashian."
"Sashian?"
To Shun's knowledge, just a small port village.
But rumors persisted.
Agents on Kyle's secret orders visited Sashian and returned.
Something was there, though ministers once opposed to Kyle inspected covertly and found nothing.
Thus, Sashian was dismissed as a ministers' distraction.
"And by Hwi, Ravina, and Muel, you mean that alchemist?"
Ravina's entry to the palace was top secret.
Yet the Yacheon Faith had many ears; high priests or royals like Shun inevitably learned.
Rumors of a Hwi outcast returning as an alchemist, now unseen in the palace—that was Shun's extent of knowledge.
"Ravina isn't an ordinary alchemist."
"I've never thought alchemists ordinary, but... you believe her unique knowledge will save us?"
"Hm, as a priest, you view alchemists dimly?"
Shun interjected,
"Not at all."
"Then?"
"All proceeds by Yacheon's will; if an alchemist is part of it, so be it."
Shun added worriedly,
"But you sent Ravina alone to Sashian? If so vital, wouldn't other nations notice?"
"No. I sent Chief Engineer Lump and escorts."
"Ah, indeed."
"Even alone, it wouldn't matter."
"Pardon?"
"Ravina traveled solo from Seokmyeon to Orazen over months."
Kyle gazed south.
"Ravina is one of the people closest to a true mage on this continent."