Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Festival of Receiving Flesh
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I didn't have much to do with the major churches.
Our areas of operation were fundamentally different.
What I mainly did was provide services to those who couldn't secure specialized supporters on their own, getting fair compensation based on market principles.
But the major churches could already procure their own specialized supporters internally, so they rarely needed to outsource to someone like me.
After all, wouldn't it be far better to run fixed parties with reliable people than to suffer with some wild human who'd rolled around in the wilderness?
Still, it wasn't a bad thing if you looked at it closely.
It meant that most of the promising priests nurtured within the vast talent pools of those major churches were tied up internally and never hit the market.
So I didn't pay much attention to it.
They could potentially become threatening competitors down the line, but nothing to worry about right now.
That was pretty much my take on the major churches.
Which is why.
"What might be the reason for suddenly inviting me?"
This invitation from the Church of the Goddess of War and Victory felt a bit abrupt.
Aside from our goddess sending one-way complaints toward theirs, we had no real connection.
And it wasn't just any invitation—it was a direct summons from the goddess herself.
Even though it must be peak season with all the visitors.
-No idea. But it's probably not worth overthinking.
"Still, it's a goddess's doing, isn't it? There must be some reason."
-Believing that every act of a god carries some profound meaning is just an illusion born of authority. If gods were beings who thought that deeply, we wouldn't have fought among ourselves back in the distant past.
She mentioned an era when everyone was divided and clashing, not the age of unity when all had banded together against the otherworld eroding this one.
-We're not as omnipotent or wise as you mortals imagine. In fact, without you, we're existentially fragile—we might not even be able to sustain our own existence.
And with that, a snort.
-So there's no need to exalt those fools on your own. It was probably just her usual impulsive decision. Frankly, it irks me that she dares order me around like this!
The goddess's emotions shifted into a gradient of anger as she spoke.
What on earth had happened between the goddesses in the past?
With only 21 years in this world, I had no way of knowing about events from thousands of years ago, so I just soothed the fuming goddess.
I had no intention of picking a fight with the most powerful church in this dungeon city, whatever the relationships were like up in the heavens...
So, calming her as we went, I walked the eastern streets.
The eastern district had been all about festivals and parades on the first day, but today—the third day—it seemed busy receiving pilgrims from all over the world.
The street's vibe was generally bright, but calmer than a typical festival.
Maybe because of the anticipation that they might actually behold a god if they were lucky?
Tension and excitement mingled on people's faces.
One notable difference from usual in the dungeon city: elders were rare normally, but common now.
People in this world typically lived and died in their birthplaces, but the faithful usually made at least one pilgrimage in their lifetime.
If you saw an elderly couple laden with baggage, it was safe to assume 100% they were pilgrims.
Those bags probably held offerings from home to present to the god.
Many came on pilgrimage to wrap up their lives, donating a huge chunk of a lifetime's earnings—sometimes an entire family's.
They flocked from across the world just to fervently offer money without doing anything else.
I couldn't help envying that auto-hunt system of theirs.
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Finding the temple of the Goddess of War and Victory wasn't hard.
Not many temples had lines of visitors stretching endlessly out front.
"Impressive."
-Hmph.
If you named the most popular religions in this world, it'd be the Church of the God of Gold and Scales and the Church of the Goddess of Hearth and Embers.
They were the most tied to everyday life, after all.
But in this dungeon city, the Church of the Goddess of War and Victory held the greatest sway.
Unlike the outside world where wars between humans were ancient history, people here needed strength to survive.
In dungeons where the gods' eyes didn't reach and even earthly laws didn't apply, a culture revering power had taken deep root.
And thanks to that faith, the church had built the city's largest temple in the prime spot of the eastern street's temple district.
One so massive even first-time visitors would spot it instantly.
"Hmm. Tricky."
I stroked my chin, frowning at the line in front of the temple that seemed endless at a glance.
Even eyeballing it, this wouldn't clear in a day.
And they'd surely taken in crowds yesterday, yet this many remained.
-It's not like the meeting will be that valuable. No need to go through the hassle—just head back and enjoy the festival.
"Even so, that's a bit much."
I balked at her irreverent, outrageous idea of blowing off a god's invitation, but I didn't have any better options either.
Join that line and wait my turn?
Eh.
If there was a back entrance or something, but the crowd made it hard to spot.
"Lady Arjen."
A clear voice pierced my thoughts, calling my name.
Turning toward it, I saw a priestess from the Church of the Goddess of War and Victory looking our way—she'd approached unnoticed.
"You seemed to be having trouble, so I came to escort you. This way."
Luckily, I didn't end up snubbing a god or waiting in line for over a day.
Following the priestess's steady steps, I entered the temple not through the main visitor gate, but a side path for priests and temple warriors.
The first thing inside was a massive statue lining the passage.
A goddess in golden armor, sword raised high in one hand, gazing imperiously downward.
Given how stunningly beautiful the real thing was, this symbolic piece held considerable artistic value too.
Anyone stepping into the temple for the first time would be awestruck by its grandeur.
Indeed, people froze staring at it, only snapping out of it at the urging of priests or warriors to head deeper in.
'Not marble.'
The texture looked different from marble, so I asked the guiding priestess. She said it was a wooden frame overlaid with ivory and gold.
"The goddess is currently granting personal audiences to the pilgrims. It may take some time, so would Lady Arjen please purify yourself and wait?"
She led me to a humid room and spoke.
"This is one personally summoned by the goddess's divine will. Serve without negligence."
"Yes."
Two women—presumably priestesses—in the room bowed slightly as the priestess departed.
Confirming she'd left fully, they turned to me and said softly,
"We'll attend to you."
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The priestesses' touch was frighteningly pleasant.
They started by having me soak in moderately warm water, then brought silver trays of oils, mixing scents and gently applying them from my shoulders.
Their circular massages let the oils sink deep into my skin—expertly done.
"Please relax in the hot bath for a moment."
Once in the hot bath.
"...Haaah."
The enveloping heat melted away tension from my whole body, drawing a lazy sigh from my throat.
It felt like every pore was opening, my body dissolving.
'Come to think of it, have I ever had a proper bath in this life?'
Not during my street days, and even after starting crawler life, I'd never properly washed.
A rough cleanse with purification blessings handled hygiene fine.
Purely for efficiency, this kind of bath was borderline luxury.
After sufficiently steaming in the hot bath, they used bronze scrapers to exfoliate the oil and dead skin.
"Haa..."
Then they dunked me briefly in a cold tub, dried me with cloth, and pulled out thread.
"O."
She moved her hands like threading a needle, swiftly plucking stray hairs with precise stings.
After, to soothe the skin, they applied a soft, baby-powder-scented oil.
"Frankincense and agarwood."
Finally, they burned amber chunks and dark wood logs in a small brazier, thick smoke rising.
Wrapping me in large linen sheets, they let the smoke infuse my entire body.
'This really feels like a religious rite.'
Unlike our church with just a single prayer room in the slums, this was befitting a denomination thriving for over a millennium.
"We've prepared robes."
The priestesses offered a dress-style tunic.
I glanced down at it, then back at them.
"Where are the clothes I came in?"
Their eyebrows twitched faintly.
"They're pretty and I'm grateful, but I prefer my originals."
-Ahem.
The goddess let out a satisfied hum.
Separately, the priestesses' expressions soured subtly, though not overtly.
I wasn't sure why... but maybe they didn't like a priestess of another faith appearing before their goddess?
Whatever the prior priestess had said kept them from forcing it, though.
They quietly fetched my priestess robes and helped me dress.
Finally, dabbing what seemed like rosewater on my nape and wrists wrapped things up.
"Please wait just a moment."
With that, they glided silently from the room.
Confirming they'd gone, I tilted my head to my shoulder—layers of subtle scents wafted out.
My skin was baby-smooth, hairless; muscles fully relaxed, moving fluidly.
Considering the oils used and facilities, it couldn't have been cheap.
If this service were available outside, it'd be worth paying for occasionally.
I sipped the provided lemon water and sank into the rocking chair.
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"The goddess awaits."
After some time.
I was led to the temple's deepest sanctum.
"Pay respects to the great being manifested upon the earth."
Entering the room, I bowed my head and knelt.
Beyond my lowered gaze, the overwhelming presence from that night a couple days ago pressed vividly upon me.
"Raise your head."