Woon, Ron, and Eric navigated the bustling crowd, their destination a towering white building. As they approached the entrance, a man in white attire stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Do you have a prior appointment?" the man inquired, his voice firm.
"Oh, my friend here wishes to become a follower!" Eric replied cheerfully.
"I apologize, but now isn't the right time," the guard stated. "There's something ongoing inside, so we can't allow just anyone to enter."
Hmm, it seems that old man hasn't informed everyone yet, Eric thought to himself. "If I show you this, will you let us inside?" He produced a token, and the guard's demeanor instantly shifted.
"Doyl Darm of the Cathedral Guard Force, Squad 3, sir!" The man saluted smartly. "Please, enter!"
"See? Let's go!" Eric grinned, nudging Woon and Ron. "I'm quite famous here, you know?"
What just happened? Is he some big shot here? Woon wondered, turning to Ron. "Why did that man suddenly salute him?"
"Oh, it's probably because he's a former member of the Hellsing organization," Ron explained. "They work closely with the nation and contributed a lot during the war."
"The Hellsing organization?" Woon asked, intrigued.
"It's originally a clan, but also an organization. And that very organization is ruled by his family!"
"Wait, I thought Eric's full name was Eric Fall?"
"No, that's just a made-up name. It's confidential to reveal their true names."
"So, you know his name?"
"No, I don't!" Ron admitted.
"Hey, guys! What are you talking about? Let's go, hurry!" Eric called back, already moving toward the entrance.
The trio stepped inside the cathedral, and a spectacular sight unfolded before them. Gorgeous decorations adorned every surface. People in pristine white robes, emblazoned with beautifully embroidered suns of different colors on their backs, moved about. They passed through an extravagant wooden door and found themselves in a magnificent garden. Six statues stood in a circle around a golden grail, resting on a marble platform.
'Whoa, are those the gods you were talking about, Ron?' Woon whispered, his eyes wide.
'Yeah, just follow the instructions of the priest who'll be coming soon' Ron whispered back.
A moment later, a priest approached, also in white robes with the sun embroidered on his back, and wearing a green scarf that indicated his high rank within the cathedral.
"Sirs, who among you wishes to be baptized?" the priest asked.
"My friend here, sir!" Eric answered.
"Child, what is your name?" the priest inquired, turning to Woon.
"Gyeom Ryu-woon, Father."
"Son, please step onto the platform, hold the grail, and kneel."
"Yes, Father!"
Woon knelt before the grail and took hold of it. Suddenly, the empty grail shimmered and filled with water from seemingly nowhere.
"Now, son, stand up."
Woon rose, still clutching the water-filled grail.
"Son, hold the grail up and pray for the gods to answer your call!"
Woon lifted the grail, closed his eyes, and began to pray.
'Oh mighty gods, please answer my call. I, a lost lamb, have come here to receive your teachings and become your follower. Oh mighty gods, who are in the holy banquet, please answer my call! I, Gyeom Ryu-woon, wish to receive your teachings!'
As Woon prayed, a ray of light struck his forehead, causing him to lose consciousness and collapse to the ground, still kneeling. Eric and Ron gasped, surprised by what had just happened.
"Priest, why is Woon unconscious, and what was that light that hit him?" Ron demanded.
"This must be a test from the gods!" the priest replied, his voice calm.
"A test?" Ron echoed.
"Yes. Sometimes, when people are being baptized, they lose consciousness and their souls are teleported to the realm of the gods." The priest's expression turned somber. "So, let us pray that he returns safely."
Suddenly, Woon found himself in a dream-like space, the same one where he had previously encountered the mysterious woman and the Monarch of Machinery and Corruption.
I'm here again? I'm sure I was in the cathedral being baptized!
Just then, the same woman from his first dream reappeared, sitting on an extravagant throne. As she appeared, the space shifted into a dark void, barely visible, but the silhouette of the woman remained clear.
"You... you're the woman I saw last time!" Woon exclaimed.
"How bold of you to say that to me," the woman chuckled. "Well, that's what I like about you!"
"Are you perhaps one of the six gods?" Woon ventured.
"Well, yes. I am the one who rules over darkness and dreams!"
'She's a god all along!' Woon's mind raced. "Forgive my insolence, oh mighty Goddess of Darkness and Dreams! I, a lost lamb, merely wish to receive your divine teachings and become your follower!" Woon bowed low, his face nearly touching the floor, his desire to continue as a mercenary with Eric fueling his exaggerated reverence.
"Hoooh, an outsider wishes to receive my teachings? How interesting!" the goddess mused.
'Damn it, I might die of shock! Just what is this goddess's business with me?' "Oh, Goddess of Darkness and Dreams, please forgive me for not recognizing you from our first interaction!"
"Don't think about it," she waved dismissively.
"Oh, Goddess of Darkness and Dreams, may I ask what great reason you have for calling me to your sanctuary?"
"You're questioning my divine purpose?" The goddess smiled faintly.
"Ohh, I have committed a great sin! Oh Goddess of Darkness and Dreams, please forgive this lost lamb! I only seek your divine teachings and nothing else!" 'I might actually die here if I say the wrong word. I might just go to heaven!'
"Lost lamb, you say?" The goddess grinned.
"Ohh, Goddess of Darkness and Dreams, please forgive me for coming here to your sanctuary without being your follower! Please forgive me!"
"Alright, since you wish to receive my divine teachings, I shall grant it to you." 'Considering the Calamity has already tried to persuade him into becoming his vessel, and he still refused without being tempted by power, he's a perfect candidate!' "Now, come here. A lost lamb like you should be guided, right?"
"Ohh, almighty Goddess of Darkness and Dreams, I sincerely appreciate that you've given me permission to receive your divine teachings!"
Woon approached the goddess, still bowing, trying not to look directly at her.
'Although I know the purpose of his baptism is just for his selfish purposes, it's enough for him to receive my divine protection!' "Here, lost lamb!"
The goddess rose from her throne and placed her hand on Woon's head. Slowly, the dark space began to dissipate as the goddess concluded her teaching.
"Now, you are one of my children who has personally received teaching from me!" Now it's time for you to come back!
"Ohh, Goddess of Darkness and Dreams, I, one of your sons, sincerely thank you for bestowing your divine teachings upon me!" 'I thought I was going to die there!'
Suddenly, Woon returned to reality, waking up on the ground, still holding the grail. The water inside it, however, had turned a dark, murky color.
"Son, how are you?" the priest asked, his voice laced with concern.
"I'm okay, Father!" Woon replied, a bit dazed but feeling an unfamiliar lightness in his limbs.
"Since you're okay, please drink the water in the grail and bow to the gods."
Woon, without hesitation, brought the grail to his lips. The water tasted oddly earthy, yet invigorating. He drained it, returned the grail to its original position, and bowed deeply to the statues of the gods, a silent acknowledgment of the profound experience he'd just undergone.
Afterward, Woon, Eric, and Ron exited the cathedral. The cool night air brushed against Woon's face, and he blinked, surprised. The vibrant sunset hues he'd seen before entering were long gone, replaced by the soft glow of street lamps and a sky dotted with stars. The priest's parting words echoed in his mind: his meeting with the gods must not be revealed to anyone.
"It's already night?" Woon murmured, still processing the surreal journey.
"Yeah, didn't you notice?" Eric asked, surprised. "You were in there for ages, man!"
"Well, yeah, things are still visible for me in the dark!" Woon said, realizing he could see with unusual clarity, the faint outlines of distant buildings sharp against the gloom.
"That must be one of the powers of your divinity!" Ron said, a hint of awe in his voice as he looked at his friend.
"Sounds good. Let's meet up tomorrow!" Ron added, already walking away, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Eric stretched, a loud yawn escaping him. "Well, yeah, let's just go back to the inn and sleep. I'm tired of waiting for Woon to finish!" He clapped Woon on the back. "Divinity, huh? Must be feeling pretty good!"
"Well, yeah, my body feels so light!" Woon agreed, flexing his fingers and testing the new sensation. It was as if an invisible burden had been lifted.
"You still have your weights on, don't you know?" Eric teased, pointing at Woon's belt.
"Wait, really?" Woon exclaimed, looking down. The familiar pouches were still there, yet they felt like feathers. "I must have become strong!" A grin spread across his face, a mix of exhaustion and newfound excitement.
Woon and Eric exchanged a tired but knowing glance, then headed straight for the inn. The thought of a warm meal and a soft bed was alluring, but beneath the weariness, a current of wonder hummed within Woon. Tonight had changed everything.