Chapter 580

After reporting to the 17th guard, Rudbeck was put in charge of guarding Rowen. They confirmed that the progress of the epidemic in the 17th district had completely stopped before heading to the 15th district. Rowen was not the type to flaunt her high position and behaved without much formality. During their four-day guard duty, they talked about various things and Rudbeck learned that Rowen was appointed as a bishop in a place called Cielan in the Lucifenian Kingdom. After the Gate Incident, she became a bishop due to the shortage of people and many casualties. Rudbeck realized that calling her a priest was a dangerous action and apologized. Rowen was already a bishop of a lost country and city and survived to reach the Huangdo. She filled someone's empty position and was appointed as a bishop after the Gate Incident. Translation:

Summary of previous part of chapter only for context: In this chapter, we learn that Rudbeck has been put in charge of guarding Rowen after reporting to the 17th guard. They head to the 15th district and during their four-day guard duty, Rudbeck learns that Rowen was appointed as a bishop in a place called Cielan in the Lucifenian Kingdom. She became a bishop due to the shortage of people and many casualties after the Gate Incident. Rudbeck realizes that calling her a priest is dangerous and apologizes. Rowen survived to reach the Huangdo and filled someone's empty position to become a bishop of a lost country and city.

Translation:

There were still many streets to be cleaned up in the Huangdo refugee village, and more were being created little by little. And slowly, snowflakes were falling from the sky.

* * *

During my first year at Temple, around the time of the second semester group mission. The day I was waiting after being eliminated from the group mission. When I went to the outdoor hot spring and sat between Ellen and the wall, who were eliminated on the first night. Ellen asked me if I liked snow. Honestly, I had no thoughts about snow. To be precise, I didn't have time to think about such things. But I went into the hot spring with snow falling for no reason. So at that time, I answered that I liked snow. Yes. I had no thoughts about snow, but ultimately, I thought I liked it. In the A-class dormitory where Ellen and Heinrich were absent, only I was in Ellen's room. I looked out the window at the snow falling outside while sitting on the windowsill. There are many types of snow. There is also sleet, snowflakes, and even a snowstorm that Liana can summon. Clearly, I liked snow. I liked the snow that I met with Ellen, and the memory of making a snowman with Harry and Ellen remained a good memory. If it was snow, it was a snowstorm. I liked snow that would cover the world. I looked at the snow falling outside the window from inside the window. It became painful just to imagine the snow swallowing up my life. The snow falling now is sleet. I didn't like it much because it didn't look like snow, but rather like a type of wind. If snow doesn't pile up, it's not snow. I thought that way. But I think I'm lucky that the snow falling now is sleet. If it was snow that piled up, or if it was pouring snow, many people would suffer as much as the amount of snow that fell. I hope this snow doesn't pile up. I hope it doesn't become a snowstorm. I stare blankly at the sky outside the window where snow is falling. Should I call Liana? Should I ask her to stop the snow in the Huangdo? Not to kill monsters, but to save people. But if I have to use my strength all the time, the guy who is getting sick will not be able to handle it until the winter in the Huangdo is over. Liana's power is for war. It must be saved. It's a war to save someone, but we must not ignore the fact that someone is dying for the war. Snow is falling. The snowflakes were getting thicker and thicker. Now, I don't like snow. * * * Sleet soon began to fall throughout the Huangdo. The only good thing was that it wasn't accompanied by a fierce winter wind. "It's snowing quite a bit." "This is a big problem." Summary of previous part of chapter only for context: In this chapter, Rudbeck and Rowen are on guard duty in the 15th district of Huangdo. As they watch the snow fall, Rudbeck reflects on his past experiences with snow and how his feelings towards it have changed. He also contemplates whether or not to ask Liana to stop the snowfall in order to save people, but ultimately decides against it as her powers are meant for war. The sleet soon turns into a heavier snowfall, causing concern for the people in Huangdo.

Rudbeck and Rowen sighed in relief after confirming that the progress of the epidemic in the 38th district, which they had purified just yesterday, was completely over. As the snow fell, both Rudbeck and Rowen's robes, shoulders, and hoods were covered in white snow. Most of the people on the street were huddled up, shivering in the cold. Rowen's complexion worsened as she looked at the shabby houses that couldn't even properly block the wind. Rudbeck worriedly asked if the snowfall would stop soon, but Rowen replied that the cold was not the problem, but rather the danger of the houses collapsing due to the heavy snow. Rudbeck and Rowen walked towards their next destination, while refugees looked up at the sky with hidden resentment, and some children simply enjoyed playing in the snow. Rudbeck couldn't remember if he had liked snow before or not, as all of his past memories seemed meaningless after the Gate incident. Rowen, on the other hand, reminisced about her hometown, which was a country where half of the year was winter and where snow was common. She didn't see any reason to dislike snow just because it was common. "In my childhood, I used to have snowball fights and make snowmen until my hands froze and I got frostbite. I even got scolded by the priests and had to receive healing for it. After I became a priest, I still got into trouble with the monastery children for snowball fights. I even got scolded by the bishop for making a snow goddess statue. But after I became a bishop, those things didn't happen anymore. Well... that's how it was. Lucifenia was a cold country, but the cold wasn't a problem. Cielle was especially cold, but it wasn't a problem either. The Empire was huge, and thanks to the Warp Gate, there were many tourists coming to the snowy country of Cielle. The scenery was quite beautiful. Those were the days. Just three years ago. Even in the coldest places, humans could survive. But now, everything has been destroyed, and the past has become a lie. Humanity now fears even the slightest cold, and many people have to stay up all night when it snows just a little. The golden age has passed, and humanity has become more fearful. Rudbeck, do you hate snow?" Translation: We need to be careful of robbers rather than attacks due to hatred towards priests, especially in the refugee camp where people don't even know that Rowen is a priest. Rudbeck looked around to prepare for any possible situation, but there was nothing unusual. Instead, people were hiding inside the huts because of the snow. After about three hours, the snow had piled up to ankle height. There was a commotion in one corner of the refugee camp. Rowen and Rudbeck looked over there. People were being dragged out of the huts, and strange objects were hanging from their necks and arms. Although different from what they had seen before, wooden idols were being dragged through the streets and trampled underfoot by guards. Rowen approached the guards who seemed to want to kill the believers with their spears. The guards pointed their spears at Rowen and Rudbeck, but lowered them when Rowen showed her holy symbol. Rowen asked if they were believers, and the guards allowed them to enter the hut where the refugees were. There were five people praying inside. "There was one adult man, two elderly men, and two women inside the cramped hut. Rowen looked around the hut and seemed to be searching for something. After a while, she picked up a small wooden idol that was shaped like a human. She asked the people who were trembling if they were praying and what the wooden idol was for. The elderly man replied that they were praying for the end of the epidemic and for everything to be resolved. Rowen asked what the wooden idol was for, and the man couldn't answer. Rowen then showed a miracle with her holy symbol and asked why they believed in the wooden idol. The young woman then spoke up and said that the wooden idol was a representation of the hero Ellen Artorius who would save them all. Rowen looked at the wooden idol and slowly put it down in the center of the room. Although there were many heresies, the hero religion could not be treated as a heresy." "However, in the future, how about carving it beautifully so as not to cause misunderstandings? It's a sculpture that embodies a great hero."

Rowen looks at the trembling heretics and smiles.

"I heard that the hero is incredibly beautiful."

Rowen quietly left the pawnshop.