Chapter 27

■ Chapter 26. Gathering (1) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

What kind of being is a 'god' really?

On Earth, many people believe in gods simply through faith, and many others consider gods to be creations of human imagination. With the freedom of religion, believing or not believing in a god was a matter of personal choice. For the record, I am an atheist.

However, in this world, denying the existence of a god is not just troublesome but can lead to serious consequences. This is because, unlike on Earth, gods clearly exist here. In fact, there have been several instances where some mentally ill individuals caused disturbances by claiming that gods do not exist, only to receive 'divine punishment' in the form of a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.

Instead of being omnipotent beings in the literal sense, they are more akin to supreme or transcendent beings who oversee this world. They derive sustenance from the faith of their followers and grant them power, or mete out divine punishment for violations of the rules. Additionally, they can perform miracles or issue divine revelations through their 'incarnations.'

In short, the relationship between a god and their followers can be likened to that of a parent and child, and perhaps even deeper.

'Gods...'

Currently, I am listening to a theology lecture while my mind wanders.

In my previous life, there were numerous debates about whether theology should be considered a proper academic discipline, but in this world, it is one of the most important fields of study. It seems strange that theology would not develop when the existence of gods is so clear.

For this reason, the professor currently lecturing on theology is a high-ranking figure, equivalent to a bishop. In terms of noble status, he holds power similar to that of a count.

"The God of Light, Luminous, said this: 'It does not matter if you do not believe in me. However, strive to always walk the right path. I will help you stay on the right path. And...'"

In this world, there are a total of three gods.

First, the God of Light 'Luminous,' who is primarily worshipped by humans. With an enormous number of followers, Luminous has a significant influence on the world.

The symbols associated with Luminous include 'sun' and 'hope.' For this reason, many soldiers who face life and death in wars are followers of Luminous. I know that my father was also a follower of Luminous.

Second, the God of Darkness 'Mora.' Mora is uniquely worshipped by demons, as she symbolizes darkness, 'moon,' and 'rest.' The bleak reality of the demons reveals what kind of rest they desire.

Lastly, the God of Nature 'Hirt.' This god is primarily worshipped by merfolk and dwarves.

Hirt is symbolized by 'nature' itself. For merfolk who lived in the wild, there was no more comforting god than Hirt. Dwarves also worship Hirt because they know that the materials for their creations come from nature.

One might ask which god the elves worship. The elves worship all three gods. Perhaps because they are descendants of 'angels,' they can use divine power more easily than other races.

I was reminded of the gap between elves and other races, and a question came to mind.

'If the gods know everything, do they know why I was reincarnated here?'

However, I have no intention of going to the temple to ask. I am living a good life now, and I detest complicating things.

Moreover, they are gods, so they likely noticed my existence long ago. Yet, there has been no divine revelation or appearance of an incarnation. Thus, I have been living comfortably so far.

If I get the chance, I might visit the temple, but until then, I will live a normal life. After all, I do not have the power to change the world like a protagonist in a manga or novel, so why would they care...

'...Does the novel I write count?'

Anyway, let's move on. Right now, focusing on the lecture is more important. I shook off the thoughts in my head.

When I looked forward again, I saw the professor lecturing in a gentle tone.

The professor, who is tall and slender, is named Holard. He holds a high-ranking position as a bishop in the Luminous sect and is known for his reputation.

I listened to the professor's explanation and looked around. Theology is as boring as history, so there were not many students in the lecture hall. These students are likely devout followers of the gods they worship.

How do I know? Many students who joined out of curiosity fled due to the unimaginable boredom. I personally attend the lectures consistently because I am interested. The problem is...

Nod... Nod...

The student sitting next to me, Mari, is nodding off. I observed her with half-closed eyes.

Every time she nodded, she scribbled on her notebook, and her white, silky hair gradually covered her face.

Eventually, Mari's eyelids closed completely, and her head drooped. She had fallen into a deep sleep.

'I remember she was listening well until last week...'

For reference, the theology lecture starts at 9 AM. So, what did Mari do last night to start nodding off in the first class?

I was a bit curious but decided to wake her up first. I couldn't touch her, so I placed my hand in front of her ear.

Snap!

"...Hmm?"

When I snapped my fingers, Mari flinched and slowly lifted her head. As she raised her head, her hair, which had fallen like a curtain, partially lifted. Looking at her side profile, she had a dazed expression.

I was sure she was still half-asleep and spoke.

"Are you awake?"

"...Huh?"

In response to my question, Mari turned to me in a half-awake state. Her appearance, which exuded a unique charm despite her drowsiness, caught my eye. Usually, she only shows a lively side, so this was a new experience.

While she was still trying to grasp the situation, she blinked and looked ahead. Seeing the professor lecturing, she seemed to understand the situation and turned back to me with a disbelieving voice.

"...You mean I fell asleep?"

"Yeah. You were nodding off."

"Ugh..."

In response to my answer, Mari rubbed her eyes and groaned. While she was waking up, I asked the question that had been on my mind.

"What did you do last night to fall asleep in the first class?"

"...The Xenon Chronicles."

"What?"

"Yawn..."

Mari yawned widely and answered in a sleepy voice.

"I stayed up all night reading from the first volume to the latest one. I originally planned to read only up to the third volume, but I ended up reading all of them..."

"... ..."

"You know, Professor Virius assigned us a group project to predict the plot of the Xenon Chronicles."

I was speechless. The group project starts in a week. So, she must have been working hard on her research.

However, it's not good to be so enthusiastic that it disrupts your sleep pattern. If you're not careful, you might end up losing both the project and your health.

"Still, try to be moderate. Otherwise, you won't be able to focus on the lectures like today."

"But it's just so interesting. I'm already looking forward to the next volume..."

I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at Mari's complaint. As a writer, I am pleased, but the next volume won't be out for at least two months.

Before entering the academy, I had enough stock to release the eighth volume earlier. But now, I hardly have time to write, and it becomes even harder during exam periods.

Moreover, I teach writing to Cindy and history to Mari and Cecil. I write whenever I have free time, but I also need some rest.

'Thanks to this, I can meticulously develop the setting...'

The papers and books in the lab are helping me a lot. Additionally, Cindy, though her writing skills are lacking, is well-versed in history and can clearly explain points I am curious about.

With this, the ninth volume of the Xenon Chronicles is set to be an interesting episode. The demon side leaders, who have been subtly revealed so far, will start to take center stage, providing many fresh shocks.

This is because the demon side leaders include humans, merfolk, demons, and even elves. The background setting is based on the 'Seven Deadly Sins' commonly used in subculture from my previous life, and each leader has a special ability.

While I was briefly recalling these settings in my mind, Mari looked at her notebook and muttered.

"...I guess I did fall asleep. What did I write here?"

"You didn't write anything; you just drew lines."

"Tsk. Sorry, do you have any notes? If you show me, I'll buy you something tasty."

"Hmm... just this once?"

"Thank you~"

When I showed her my notes, Mari smiled brightly and started copying them. However, I overlooked one thing.

"Mmm..."

"... ..."

Sleep is not something that easily goes away.

I was flabbergasted to see Mari nodding off again while copying the notes. Why did she ask to see them if she was going to fall asleep again?

Just as I was about to sigh and wake her up, Lina, who was sitting to my right, spoke.

"Just let her sleep. Mari tends to be sleepy if she stays up late."

Lina was looking at the nodding Mari with a resigned expression.

I asked if it was really okay.

"Is it really alright? She might get a penalty..."

"It's fine. Mari has learned enough to get a good grade in theology. I can vouch for her since we were educated together at the royal palace."

From Lina's words, it seemed that she and Mari had undergone advanced courses together. As a princess and a noble's daughter, they must have received different education from other nobles.

I asked a question that had been on my mind.

"By the way, when did you and Mari get to know each other?"

"Probably... around 10 years old? I think we met around that time."

"I see."

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious."

Usually, Mari finds Lina annoying. I can tell from the way she frowns when looking at Lina.

However, I can't ask them directly, so I'll keep it to myself.

Lina seemed to find my answer a bit bland and chuckled before calling my name.

"Isaac."

"Yes."

"Are you interested in a gathering?"

"A gathering?"

"Yes. A gathering."

While I looked at her with a puzzled expression, Lina smiled and said:

"There's a gathering coming up, but it's only for freshmen. However, it will be well-attended, regardless of literary or martial arts."

"...I've never heard of this before."

"I was told by my brother in advance. The academy will also announce it soon. What do you think?"

Lina looked me in the eye and asked with a face full of expectation and interest.

"Will you attend, Isaac?"

It's called a suggestion or a request, but...

"Attendance is a personal choice, but I personally want Isaac to 'definitely' come."

To me, it was as good as a command from a 'princess.'

'...This is so unfair.'

If the ninth volume of the Xenon Chronicles is delayed, it's Lina's fault.