Episode 11.8
"Lecan."
"Hm?"
"I'm convinced, dealing with children really is your life calling."
"Yeah nah. More importantly, we need to deal with this."
"Ah, indeed we do."
"If Eda were to refuse the temple's invitation at this town, what would happen if she went to other towns?"
"Nothing in particular. users are one thing, but they won't share information regarding users even if those users went soplace else. They would likely hide it from other temples even. But as a precaution, you should avoid towns where Ceres Temples are erected."
"Ceres Temple?"
"You, don't tell you have no idea what temple this town has?"
"Don't care."
"Oh dear. Didn't you even work at the orphanage once."
Nike had already explained to Lecan why temples would go into frenzy trying to recruit users before, and she would give additional explanation now.
Nine gods are revered as great gods in this country, each having a temple.
The capital has all temples for all nine gods. The temple of God of Judgnt who's also God of Heavens, Erekus only exists at the capital.
Each town can only have one temple built. In other words, which one of the eight gods will have a temple in a town is set. There are towns without temples as well. Those towns are regarded as having lesser values.
Erecting a temple needs permission from the capital, but the decision which town gets which temple is made in conferences attended by Temple Heads. Influences and ranks of those temples depend on how many and mid-class and above users they have. In short, the temples that have more users who can use mid-class and above are permitted to erect more temples, they also have higher right to speak in the conferences.
Ordinarily, the number of temple buildings won't increase unless a new town is built. Nike has no clue where and when a new town is gonna be built, but the right to build a temple in that new town is a source of competition among these temples, as such they're desperate to add even one more mid-class user to their rank.
"What kind of god is Ceres?"
"We're starting from there? She's dark god of pestilence."
"Dark god?"
"God who rules over the world of the dead you see."
"Hou. Is it among the more influential one?"
"Who knows. Think they're about mid ranked though I'm not sure myself. Charms to ward off sickness sell in any town, so they should be solid monetary wise at least."
"Hum? Any town, can they even sell those charms in towns with other temples."
"No no. That's not how it works. Even if a temple is say, dedicated to god Fiifii, that doesn't an people can only worship Fiifii in that temple. You're free to worship god Raikores, or god Gyaban there. But with Fiifii temple, the doctrines taught will be mostly about god Fiifii, and rituals are carried out in Fiifii's thods. Charms to ward off sickness issued by Ceres Temple are surely an important source of inco for all temples."
"Do other gods besides the great nine not get worshiped?"
"Oh they do, Shrines and Wayside Shrines dedicated to other gods exist in every town. However, only organizations for the great nine gods determined by this country are recognized in this country."
"Are there particular doctrine or manners I need to be aware of for marching into Ceres Temple?"
"It's way too late for that. Head there without minding about those stuff. Ah right. You can tell them that the three of us are in the sa party, but it's a good idea to emphasize on Eda-chan being your pupil and that it's you who taught Eda-chan all the magic she knows."
"Hou? Let's go with that then."
"I need to tell you so things. First, I told you the fate of users, though it's all true, I also exaggerated it a bit. They do get to be kept on leash by nobles and temples, but they also get to live safe fulfilling lives."
"No surprise there."
"And well, temples are ultimately necessary components in this world, you see. No one knows what's gonna happen if gods aren't worshiped right. And those temples also act as spiritual supports for people, without them, many things beco inconvenient. And the temples are the ones that provided for the poor and the weak."
"Yea."
Lecan understands that well.
He was greeted by a huge shock when he visited the temple-managed orphanage.
He never knew there existed such a warm wholeso orphanage.
If the orphanage Lecan grew up at was at least half as comfortable as that place, perhaps his life would have taken a completely different turn.
He has no intention to demolish that orphanage.
"But the bigger an organization, the severer the corruption within. And ironically, the good priests are also those who are indifferent to position and power. As such, so of the avaricious bunch managed to climb up the rank."
"Guess that's just how it works."
"Vouka's Ceres Temple is on the more decent side. It's just that I've been hearing about weird rumblings within for the past decade."
"Hum? Is it because of this Casis guy?"
"The third-rank priest Casis is a symptom of these weird rumblings. The town lord doesn't think well of him, but he can't exactly ddle with temples."
"What should we do then?"
"You're going to head straight to the temple, hear them out while also fully intending to refuse if they try to take Eda in, right?"
"Yeah."
"That should suffice then. I have nothing to worry about if you're with her. You can simply say that the temple summoned you. Make sure you keep that silver ring on you."
"What? We're up against those kinds?"
"You're up against those kinds. You're probably going to be judged by several priests, when that cos to pass, say this. In accordance to Article 35 of Ceres Temple Law, I demand the attendance of two or more third-rank priests in the hearing."
"Article 35 of Ceres Temple Law huh. Duly noted."
"Oh and, showing any weakness during the negotiation will put you in disadvantage. Be prepared to depart this town depending on the end results."
"Of course, that's the plan."
"I'm planning to also leave myself if you two get driven out of the town by the temple."
"Hou."
"They do say . I've secured several bases of operation at a few towns in this country, see."
Nike going with them would an she would teach him dicine making, that'd be nice. Nike is also capable of casting magic. All the equipnt and dicine piled up in her house can be instantly transported away to other town, affording large-scale moving inconspicuously.
"Oh and also. You may antagonize the corrupted priests, but you must not make enemy out of the temple. And you absolutely can't kill a priest. At least not where the public eyes can see you."
Lecan squinted his eyes, digesting her roundabout way of telling him to restrain acting in a way that antagonize the entire temple organization, yet it's ok for him to be hostile to priests, just not the temple.
"The vice temple head herself is quite an open-minded woman."
"The vice temple head is a woman?"
"Cause won are not allowed to hold the Temple Head position. She's more than qualified to be one though in reality."
"What's third-rank priests?"
"First-rank, second-rank and third-rank priests are what they call senior priests, those who are allowed to speak in temple's administrative conferences. I believe they also have the right command temple soldiers. By being a temple head, you'd be a second-rank priest. There's only a handful of first-rank priests in the whole country, each has the suffrage for all temple heads."
"Any tough guy around?"
"You an in battle? I don't think there's any. Not in this town's temple."
"Any user in this town's temple?"
"How many and users each temple possess is absolute confidential information. That said, none I'm aware of."
"Eda."
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