During the winter, the Church of Knowledge and Books regularly organized charitable relief efforts. The church would clear out so of its spare rooms, allowing holess orphans to find shelter from the cold. The Church provided them with food and lodging, and in return, they were expected to perform simple chores like sweeping floors or helping with the scrubbing.
Only a large diocese like the one in Nolan City had the ti, gold pounds, and manpower for such an undertaking. And even then, compared to the sheer number of destitute souls hidden throughout Nolan's sprawling streets, this help was little more than a drop in the ocean.
Naturally, the orphans who received the Church's aid were required to declare their lifelong faith in the Sage, spread the divine teachings, and uphold the interests of the Church. This was no empty vow; it involved signing a formal agreent.
It might sound harsh, but for these bleak tis, it was an act of profound rcy. Compared to toiling away in a steam factory, trading flesh and blood for a ager al, or risking dismbernt for stealing, this was truly the best choice available. There were always trade-offs, but surviving the winter was what mattered most to these children.
Furthermore, working as a winter helper for the Church involved more than just cleaning. So of the more diligent individuals could even learn a useful trade over the winter. With the Church's assistance, they might find a way to support themselves before the next cold season arrived.
Of course, only a fortunate few ever managed to achieve this.
In the mories Jenkins had inherited, people froze and starved to death in Nolan City every winter. If this was the reality in the prosperous city of Nolan, he could only imagine the fate of those in other cities across the continent.
"It's winter again..."
He sighed softly.
"Yes, it is."
Miss Bevanna and Jenkins watched the orphans together. From their vantage point, they could see the children, but the children couldn't see them.
But these somber realities couldn't compare to the predicant Jenkins currently faced. His rational mind told him to wait until midnight to truly understand what was happening, but his gut scread that he had gone completely insane.
"Perhaps I never really ca to this world at all," he thought. "Maybe this is just a hallucination after witnessing sothing indescribable, or so 'brain in a vat' experint run by a higher being..."
The thought was profoundly depressing, and he could only ground himself by stroking his cat, forcing himself to stop the spiral of wild speculation. Chocolate seed to possess a wondrous power, one that helped Jenkins cling to his sanity.
"Will these seeds make it through the winter?"
Jenkins asked, his gaze dropping to the seedbeds under the covered walkway. They were almost completely blanketed by a thin, gauzy layer of snow, the erald green of the seedlings barely visible beneath.
"The growth cycle is incredibly long, but the seeds of B-01-5-0718, the Fantasy Flower, are not so easily killed."
"It has a designation number?"
He had assud it was just a simple material.
"Yes. But so far, no one has succeeded in artificially cultivating them. The plant's growth cycle is exceptionally long—it could potentially span an entire Epoch."
She gestured toward the seedbed, and with a soft puff, a black, peanut-sized seed shot up through the layer of snow.
"Besides its growth cycle, the Fantasy Flower requires other, still unknown conditions to mature. It's practically impossible to cultivate."
She placed the seed in Jenkins's hand. "Keep it as a nto. Perhaps you could mount it as a specin to hang in your living room."
Chocolate clung to Jenkins's shoulder, its eyes fixed on his hand, practically drooling with desire.
Jenkins had expected the rest of the afternoon to pass uneventfully. Not daring to leave the church, he found a few books to read in the public library, which was open to all believers.
But things rarely go as planned. Around four in the afternoon, Jenkins saw Captain Bincy and several similarly dressed squad mbers hurrying past the window.
"What's going on now?"
After a mont's thought, he hurried after them.
Chocolate remained sprawled on a long table between the bookshelves. Not far away, three little girls with red ribbons in their hair and matching little dresses were watching it shyly.
The cat maintained its lazy deanor and didn't follow, for it already knew what was about to happen.
"Gentlen, what's happened? Do you need any help?"
The mont the words left his mouth, Jenkins regretted them.
"Soone's trying to break into the Replica Shop of Mr. Prank," Bincy explained. "We're on our way to provide support. Since you're here, you might as well co along. We may need a healer."
Since the captain had put it that way, Jenkins couldn't refuse.
"Why do I always go looking for trouble?"
With that thought, he fell in line with the squad.
The nine n split into two teams, leaving the building and stepping out into the swirling snow. Jenkins had been unconscious during the previous thirty-first, so he had no idea how long this snowfall would last.
The n's boots left a trail of footprints in the fresh powder as the two teams boarded a pair of carriages and sped toward the rendezvous point.
In the distance, they could hear the sporadic crack of gunfire.
According to Captain Bincy, the location of A-01-1-0034 was closer to the Church of the Myriad Phenona of the Starry Sky, so the Astrologer Squad was primarily responsible for guarding it.
However, the two Enchanters attempting to break into the replica shop this ti were apparently quite powerful, forcing the Astrologers to call for reinforcents.
The surrounding area had already been cordoned off. The squad hurried from their carriage, trudging through the snow-filled alley to a small, three-story house with a red roof. Their mission was to hold this position and wait for anyone trying to pass.
A piercing shriek echoed from the eastern district, followed by a series of explosions. The sounds were muffled, however, and the still-falling snow prevented them from traveling very far.
The building had once served as an office for so agency, but its occupants had long since been evacuated. The nine n held their breath, scanning their surroundings. Two of them possessed perception-based abilities, which simplified their task considerably.
"Heads up."
A lean, dark-skinned man raised his right hand. Everyone present was an Enchanter, their hearing far sharper than an ordinary person's. Soon enough, the soft crunch of footsteps drifted from the alley ahead.
One by one, they vaulted out the window, leaving Jenkins to wait, huddled inside. This had been the plan all along. Even a Level 2 Enchanter was too weak, and as a healer, there was no reason for him to set foot on the battlefield.
The fighting was taking place beyond the range of his Eye of Reality. Unable to observe the battle, Jenkins could only wait for soone to co and get him.
The roar of a beast, the clang of chanical gears, the boom of mysterious explosions, the crack of thunder... a cacophony of strange sounds drifted from the distance. Jenkins figured the two intruders didn't stand a chance. He could see points of light, representing other Enchanters, constantly entering his field of vision only to vanish monts later. He even spotted the distinct auras of Extraordinary items on several of them.
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