Disciple Santiago (2)
Even back when he saw Santiago's past in the dream world, Lee Shin had felt it—unlike Eve or the other disciples, Santiago was someone whose combat ability alone was truly outstanding.
"Santiago… you've returned, then?""That's how it turned out.""Well done. Truly well done. And… I'm sorry. If we had helped you even a little back then, you wouldn't have ended up going down that path…"
It seemed the residents of the Red City of Jepet and Santiago were already acquainted. Naturally so—after all, Santiago himself had once been one of the city's residents.
Most of the residents apologizing to Santiago were the very people who had turned away when he had asked for help. But Lee Shin, having seen Santiago's past, knew the truth.
The old man understood their hardships too well to hate them. He knew that all the dwarves living in this ruined world were merely barely enduring, each trapped in their own different forms of misery.
That was why Santiago held no resentment.
"Back then, that was just how the world was."
With that short sentence, Santiago dismissed his own feelings. He then stepped into the center of the gathered residents and laid out, in detail, how they should train in preparation for the enemies that would soon arrive.
The residents listened without interrupting, paying close attention as they learned the roles each of them needed to fulfill—to survive against those who would soon come.
TIP: Before the battle begins, use the new function [Religion] to found a new religion.
Religion.A term referring to a faith community composed of people who share practices, morals, beliefs, and faith centered on a transcendent or spiritual being, or a supernatural order, as well as the belief system or cultural system they possess. This was how it was written in Lee Shin's ability description.
"Religion: Manages a faith community.""Currently, there is no religion founded under your name. Found a new religion."
Select a doctrine.
Love
Obedience
Self-Reliance
Lee Shin began by reading through them one by one.
"Love: 'If someone strikes your right cheek, offer them your left as well.'"
"A doctrine of forgiveness, sacrifice, and love."
Benefits:
Increase in [Productivity], decreased probability of [Discrimination and Hatred], decreased probability of [War], and a very low chance for a [Hero] to appear.
Penalties:
Significant decrease in [Combat Power], [Distrust] occurs among the residents of the [Ruined World].
Overall Evaluation:
A doctrine suited to a prosperous and peaceful world. Even without performing special miracles, it can gather many believers. However, it will lack persuasiveness for the residents of the [Ruined World].
Prosperity and peace—there wasn't a single word among those that fit the Small but Deadly World. Moreover, if Lee Shin were to create his own religion, he hoped for something better than unconditional love and forgiveness.
"Obedience: 'Power to those who follow.'"
"A doctrine of absolute obedience."
Benefits:
[Faith] increases at a rapid rate, high probability of [Hero] appearance.
Penalties:
Increased probability of [Fanatics], greatly increased probability of [Discrimination and Hatred], greatly increased probability of [War].
Overall Evaluation:
A doctrine suited to a powerful and violent god. By actively interfering with the world and performing miracles regularly, faith is maintained through proof of existence. A doctrine befitting gods with an evil-divine inclination who believe that faith is born from fear. Under this doctrine, believers will not follow gods weaker than themselves.
This doctrine clearly did not match Lee Shin's disposition. Disliking conflict, he frowned without even needing to read further.
"Self-Reliance: 'You will be rewarded according to your effort.'"
"A doctrine of self-reliance."
Benefits: None.
Penalties: None.
Overall Evaluation:
Under a doctrine where rewards match effort, believers act autonomously. The more actively believers move, the faster the religion and the world develop. However, the lazier the believers, the less the religion and the world will progress.
Rewarded according to effort.
Lee Shin liked that sentence.
He looked at the residents of the Red City of Jepet. Not long ago, they had lived with lifeless eyes, their motivation crushed—but now, they were striving relentlessly just to survive.
New buildings were rising, new roads were being laid, and everyone lived with faces full of vitality. Whether Lee Shin was present or not, they always worked hard and kept moving forward. Was there any doctrine more fitting for people like them?
The doctrine of this religion is [Self-Reliance].
The religion has taken form.
The religion [Lee Shinism] is born.
[Lee Shinism] is a new religion.
"Develop faith and spread it throughout the world."
At the moment the religion was completed, a pure white light descended upon the residents gathered at the center of the city. They all looked around in confusion, when some of them suddenly cried out.
"I can feel the god watching us!"
"I feel His grace!"
Their pupils turned into the shape of stars.
Just like Eve's.
"Among the souls belonging to this religion, some who were born with talent have awakened the power of the clergy."
"22 believers have become 'Clergy.'"
"They will walk the path of paladins or priests according to their aptitudes, devoting their entire lives to drawing closer to the god's side."
"In accordance with the doctrine of Self-Reliance, the believers of Lee Shinism receive rewards equal to their efforts. Depending on their will, the efficiency of all work is greatly increased."
All this had changed just from founding a single religion. Twenty-two clergy had appeared, and the speed at which the residents followed Santiago's training increased dramatically. The status window's advice had been spot-on.
TIP: Go, go!
TIP: 9(0om)9~5(m·o*m);
TIP: Use the Low-grade Disciple Ticket.
He was using every reward he had obtained this time immediately, without wasting a single one. The person to use this ticket on had already been decided.
"W–wow…"
Eve stared around in awe at the changes happening everywhere as the religion took shape. Blinking her star-shaped pupils, she looked up at the sky.
"Using Low-grade Enhancement Ticket."
"The status of Mid-grade Disciple [Eve] has been updated."
The next moment, a dazzling light fell over Eve's head. As everyone's attention focused on her, her swaying hair suddenly grew past her waist.
Now, two stars sparkled in each of her pupils, and a faint halo shimmered behind her head.
She gave off the impression of having grown just a little more mature than before.
[The small and adorable saint closest to Lee Shin]
[Name: Eve]
Lineage: Saint (First Apostle)
Disciple Rank: Mid-grade
Soul Rank: Hero
Overall Evaluation:
The first disciple to receive the god's love. As the saint who symbolizes Lee Shinism, she can now wield numerous miracles and has gained a halo capable of driving away any darkness. It sparkles even at night, so it might be hard to fall asleep.
Eve closed her eyes, then opened them again.
She looked down at her own body, touching herself here and there as if fascinated, then glanced around at the people nearby. Puffing out her chest proudly, she lifted her chin and shouted,
"The saint has arrived!"
As cheers erupted all around, Lee Shin became firmly convinced that even if a soul rank increased, clumsiness didn't simply disappear...
'There she goes doing somersaults again. Again.'
Leaving behind Eve—who could now easily do thirty consecutive midair flips—Lee Shin silently hoped that in the battle about to unfold, no one would be hurt or killed.
As time passed, a hazy cloud of dust appeared beyond the horizon.
Those who had been standing guard in shifts against the enemy's approach waved large red flags. It was the moment the battle truly began.
[A party has been formed.]
[Included Apostles: 1]
[Mid-grade Disciple [Eve]]
[Core Combat Power: Santiago, Eve]
[Synergy has been activated.]
As Lee Shin watched nervously, a ding sounded and a status window appeared.
Synergy: Old Man and Girl [Tier 5]
Category: Life Support
Condition: Old man and girl belong to the same party
Effect: They do not tire easily.
Overall Evaluation: Old man and girl—an apocalypse survival guarantee!
Synergy: Heroes [Tier 3]
Category: Combat
Condition: Two or more [Hero-rank] souls in the same party
Additional beneficial effects occur at 2, 4, and 6 members.
"(2) Effect: Slight increase in stats."
"Overall Evaluation: Heroes recognize heroes!"
It seemed to be an effect that occurred when believers gathered under a single religion. Far off at the horizon, the enemies' silhouettes slowly began to come into view.
This time, they weren't bikers riding motorcycles, but figures riding in large vehicles. There seemed to be quite a number of them, all wearing sunglasses—and every single one of them was holding the same object in their hands.
Guns…?
For a moment, Lee Shin doubted his own eyes. But those bastards had really come carrying guns.
"I thought their technology was suspicious just from the motorcycles, but now guns too…"
As far as Lee Shin knew, while preparing for this attack, Santiago and the residents of Jepet hadn't been able to make firearms or secure any extraordinary weapons. Could they really deal with such terrifying modern weaponry? His chest tightened with anxiety.
"Everyone, just like we trained."
The moment Santiago spoke, the residents of Jepet began setting up the barricades they had prepared in advance. They were carefully crafted, and true to dwarves who could throw up buildings in a single day, the workmanship was remarkably solid.
At the same time, ladders were placed against the barricades. Climbing up high, Eve stood atop them, her halo glittering as she shouted at the top of her lungs toward the enemies.
"Pe—ace!"
At that instant, light burst explosively from Eve and swept across the surrounding land. All the sand and dust were blown away, and the enemies, aiming at Eve standing high above, pulled their triggers. Lee Shin instinctively squeezed his eyes shut.
But there was no sound.
Opening his eyes a moment later, Lee Shin saw the enemies with bewildered expressions. Faces that clearly said, This can't be happening. They pulled their triggers again and again, but only dry clicking sounds followed.
"Mid-grade Disciple Eve activates the skill 'Declaration of Peace.'"
"A form of 'peace' suited to this disciple's soul is proclaimed across the area."
"In accordance with the souls of the dwarves, children of flame and steel, all acts of combat involving 'steel' and 'fire' are strictly prohibited."
As the enemies stood dumbfounded, unable to grasp the situation, Santiago kicked off the ground and began sprinting through the opening in the barricade. Though running with his bare body, Santiago's speed far surpassed that of the vehicles. It was almost like teleportation.
"Low-grade Disciple [Santiago] activates [Hunting Time]."
Santiago, who had been running in front of the barricade, appeared the very next moment near the vehicles some distance away. Standing calmly among them, a gleaming fishing line was wrapped around his hand.
"The bait has been hooked."
Low-grade Disciple Santiago prepares to set the hook.
The instant Santiago yanked the fishing line, the vehicles that had been charging toward them all lifted up into the air at once and flipped over—
like fish caught on a hook, suddenly jerked upward before being slammed back into the ground.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The airborne vehicles crashed down onto the earth one after another, thick black smoke billowing up as they hit the ground.