0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 29: The Village of the Sun God (1) (Part 1)
In the end, the key ingredient for the dish was the Double-Headed Fish. Unlike previous meals, which were more about pain than flavor, this one was quite enjoyable. The fact that the two heads had different flavors and textures was a refreshingly new experience.
As night fell, Sinclair crawled into the sleeping bag, poking her head out slightly.
“Come on in.”
“Understood.”
Karos obediently slid into the sleeping bag. Initially, he had resisted a few times, but after being forcefully pulled in, he had given up.
“Huhuhu.”
Feeling the pain on his back, Karos bit his lip slightly. Sinclair hugged Karos tightly, chuckling with delight.
“The warmth of a person is quite comforting. It’s a warmth that seems to stabilize the mind.”
“Miss Sinclair, you must have a family, right?”
Karos ventured a question he hadn’t dared to ask before, thinking it might arouse suspicion. But now was the time to take a risk. There was nothing to lose.
“I do have a family, but I’ve never shared such warmth with them.”
Sinclair spoke in a calm voice.
“I have no blood relatives.”
“…Were you an orphan?”
“Yes. I was abandoned at the church’s doorstep when I was born. If the Pope had not shown mercy and taken me into the holy land, I would have died there.”
“The Pope’s mercy, I see.”
Karos lightly scoffed, his laughter hidden from Sinclair.
“If the Pope is so merciful, there must be quite a few orphans within the holy land.”
“Not really. While I was specially taken in by the Pope and raised within the holy land, I heard other children were taken in by the church. So, I never met children my age.”
“I see.”
A child specially chosen and raised in the holy land becomes a hero. Could this be leveraged? As Karos pondered this, Sinclair spoke up.
“I forgot to mention, we’ll arrive at a village in two days.”
“A village…? Really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, ohh.”
At that moment, all the information he had been organizing vanished from his mind. A village. A human village.
This meant he could rest. He wouldn’t have to eat food soaked in holy power. He wouldn’t have to suffer in his sleep. Overwhelmed with emotion, Karos trembled. Sinclair commented, slightly perplexed.
“…You seem quite pleased.”
“The journey without rest was quite tiring.”
“Hmm. Despite sprinkling ample holy power, it’s strange that you’re not receptive to it.”
“I think so too. But why have you decided to visit this village now, after passing all others?”
Sinclair had an extreme aversion to contact with others. It seemed less like her own will and more like someone had ordered her to avoid it. She cheerfully responded.
“Because it’s the land of the Sun God.”
Karos flinched at the answer but soon regained his composure.
“The land of the Sun God, you mean the basin?”
“Hooh.”
Sinclair was impressed.
“Common people don’t usually know that. Yes, you’re right.”
“I have a hobby of collecting random knowledge.”
Karos let down his guard.
The Basin of the Sun God. Though it sounds grand, it’s just a simple village without knights, priests, or anything of the sort.
Runaways. Farmers who couldn’t bear their debts, criminals, those who gathered to form villages were not uncommon.
However, such villages, not paying taxes, did not receive the lord’s protection. Exposed to all kinds of dangers like thieves and bandits, these were not safe places.
Priests of the Sun God subtly infiltrated these areas. By lending the name of the Sun God, they took a portion of the profits and provided protection. On one hand, they protected those who couldn’t receive protection elsewhere, and the world praised the Sun God even more.
‘A scam, but.’
Karos knew the truth. The taxes imposed on them were anything but light. Heavier than a typical domain. But these villages couldn’t exercise legitimate rights, so they reluctantly paid up in what was essentially extortion.
Moreover, they didn’t send soldiers. The church used a method that didn’t cost them a dime by issuing symbols of the Sun God.
Did Sinclair know this? Karos glanced at her face and quickly turned away. There was no need to check.
‘Let’s just sleep.’
Karos’s consciousness gradually faded.
**** ****
“We’ve arrived.”
The forest ended, and a small village came into view in front of Sinclair.
“Oh, ohh.”
Karos cried out in amazement. A village. A chance to rest. That alone made all the hardships worthwhile.
“Huhu. You seem very pleased.”
Sinclair laughed, patting Karos’s shoulder.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
They arrived at the village entrance. The gate opened, and a man who appeared to be the village chief bowed deeply as they approached.
“Welcome, hero!”
“Hmm, Baruk, you’ve aged since I last saw you.”
“Unlike you, hero, we can’t all receive immortality.”
Baruk, the old man, chuckled and brought his hands together in prayer.
“All is as the Sun God wills.”
“All is as the Sun God wills.”
Sinclair returned the prayer. After a moment of prayer, the village chief subtly glanced at Sinclair’s companion.
“May I ask about the person with you?”
“I’m currently accompanying this man. I will take him to the holy land as is.”
“Ne, yes?”
The village chief’s face lost its smile, replaced by confusion.
“Does that mean he’s not affiliated with the church?”
“Hmm. Is there a problem?”
“No, no, not at all.”
The village chief quickly bowed again. Karos noticed a fleeting look of anxiety cross his face.
“Please, come in.”
“Excuse us.”
Sinclair led the way, and Karos followed. The village chief discreetly followed them.
“Welcome, hero!”
“Thank you for coming!”
“We’ve been waiting for you!”