NOVEL FROG Chapter 60
A massive crowd gathered in the capital square of the Ansellus Kingdom.
Whoosh!
It was so crowded that the streets were packed with people lined up all the way to the city walls.
Bump!
They were all kneeling, facing one direction, praying.
Whisper…
The direction was the square in front of the Royal Castle.
Dramatic pause…
In the middle of it all stood Dakota, now an adult woman, dressed in an incredibly flowing outfit. She took out an old cloth, inscribed with the phrase from when she made her contract.
Rustle…
It looked like a very old document. But there’s no way that could exist!
Gasp!
Dakota read it aloud: “The Outsider asks you.”
Echo…
‘Will you give yourself to me? In return, once you finish everything later, I will take all that you possess. What do you say?’
Cheer!
The followers of the Outsider joyfully prayed in response.
Hallelujah!
In other words, they accepted. Their skin turned pale, and their hair changed to purple. A select few, who had been gravely injured or ill, had their skin turn blue.
Gulp!
Yes. That’s right.
Splash!
I’m currently submerged beneath the surface, making contracts with the people.
Bubble!
I never expected to make contracts with over ten thousand people at once, but here I am.
Blink!
And those doubts I had about whether I could handle too many people, it vanished.
Poof!
Over ten thousand, and yet I don’t feel any lack.
Whew!
It’s like I could take in even more, or there’s not the slightest feeling of shortage.
Yay!
That’s good.
Pat!
I’ll test it with even more later.
Excited!
Having so many subjects allowed me to grasp the criteria for gaining abilities.
Hmm…
If there’s something strongly desired, and it’s a problem that can’t be solved physically, the likelihood of obtaining an ability is higher.
Think, think!
However, I can’t figure out how it interprets that desire to grant abilities.
Scratch, scratch!
Wide is easy to understand.
Ding!
He wanted to be different from others, mixed with a desire to sit at the highest position. Perhaps that’s why he obtained a power of a fierce flame, linked to a massive force!
Woosh!
Then what about Tisah?
Hmm?
He felt strange about his group and wanted to run away.
Zoom!
Usually, that would result in gaining a speed unlike anything. So why did he end up with regeneration? His arms could be blown off, legs could be severed, arrows lodged in his eyes, and he could heal immediately!
Zap!
There’s an inexplicable gap between desire and ability.
Pondering…
But there’s no rush, so I’ll think it through slowly.
Take your time!
The important thing is that the Harvesting Period has become immense.
Harvest time!
And now, I can map out a mass production plan.
Plans, plans!
The path for humans with power leads to one thing.
Heart set!
Yes.
Yup!
As expected, the Outsider Church has exploded in growth. Meanwhile, Rebecca has been acting strangely.
Curious!
The Sacred Place.
Dramatic music!
When we mention a Sacred Place in the Outsider Church, there’s only one place it can be.
Glimmer!
It means the very place I was executed.
Gulp!
Rebecca came to the Sacred Place, giving a sort of message book to those who received blessings and had them write their names. Then she provided a piece of cloth as proof.
Signature!
At first, I didn’t understand what it meant.
Confusion…
But after a few months, it became clear. The effects were right before my eyes.
Realization!
Every follower of the Outsider Church aims to come to the Sacred Place, receive blessings, and leave their names in the message book there. Then they return home with that proof.
Joyful return!
Right.
Correct!
Rebecca intentionally made the pilgrimages to the Sacred Place happen.
Goals!
So a massive number of people flooded to the headquarters of the Outsider Church.
Rush!
Traveling long distances is a hardship, especially in these medieval times when roads are poorly maintained and transportation is scarce. It’s truly risking one’s life!
Dangerous!
Yet when they arrive, they can instantly heal all injuries and even receive the blessing of gaining strength?
Wow!
Indeed, everyone from all corners gritted their teeth and came here.
Chomp!
Movement of people is essentially movement of wealth.
Cash flow!
As people and goods surged into the headquarters of the Outsider Church, a massive market sprang up in the capital of the Ansellus Kingdom.
Booming economy!
This means the Ansellus Kingdom is starting to become wealthy.
Cash money!
As purple-haired folks began to spread like locusts, the Seongsin Church desperately criticized the Outsider Church.
Boo!
They said even if one lives a good life now, those who sold their souls will have no next life after death.
Scary!
From beneath the surface, I made my rebuttal.
Counter!
I’m letting the light presumed to be the soul remain, right?
Shimmer!
Of course, when I make contact, it turns black, and if I steal warmth, it crumples like a balloon!
Pop!
But it’s still here, so won’t it revive someday?
Curious!
To be honest, whether it comes back to life or not, I’m happy to gain warmth.
Warm fuzzy feelings!
Anyways, the Seongsin Church chose war, saying they would do it for humanity.
Charge!
Though the number of followers of the Outsider Church surpassed that of the Seongsin Church, the ratio was still barely 5:5.
Close match!
However, the royalty from each nation fundamentally believes in the Seongsin Church.
Allegiance!
Nobles alone made it closer to a ratio of 1:9.
Power dynamics!
In other words, for me, it seemed like this was the last chance for the Seongsin Church to defeat the Outsider Church.
Last hurrah!
The Seongsin Church gathered the kingdoms that followed them and invaded the Ansellus Kingdom.
Onward!
But they began to creak and crack before they even reached the Ansellus Kingdom.
Uh-oh!
The saying that the upper echelons are mostly Seongsin Church means the lower levels are predominantly Outsider Church. Even if there was a knight capable of slaying a thousand opponents or a mage that could obliterate armies, if they lose their supporting soldiers, their strength diminishes instantly.
Folly!
Seongsin Church believers who also believe in the Outsider Church.
Split loyalty!
Especially those with purple hair, who possessed superior abilities compared to common folks, found themselves at the bottom in the Seongsin Society.
Low status!
They had abilities but were poorly treated.
Discontent!
At first, they made great efforts to persuade their superiors.
Talk it out!
But when they wouldn’t listen until the end, they began to leave one by one.
Flee!
When they were forcibly held back with violence, this time they fiercely attacked their superiors.
Rebel!
When someone with a special power goes wild, there’s no knight who can easily kill an Outsider Church member, even if they could defeat them one-on-one. Especially in a chaotic situation, it’s nearly impossible to deal with multiple powered individuals without getting hurt.
Impossible!
The military began to diminish even before reaching the Ansellus Kingdom.
Dwindling numbers!
Of course, they didn’t vanish completely. Just a mere 0.5?
Exactly!
Even after all that, plenty of elite soldiers were filled with faith in the Seongsin.
Loyalty!
I felt good about harvesting infinite warmth in this war, but it was clear that the Outsider Church could be in a bit of danger if it continued like this.
Alert!
Even those with abilities don’t necessarily have powerful skills to kill.
Weak links!
Some came from mines and gained the ability to see in total darkness.
Eureka!
Some came from tending sheep and got the power to speak their language.
Woolly power!
The Future Hope Church gathered many with particularly aggressive abilities due to the environment.
Fight first!
And the roots of the Outsider Church came from those living at the bottom. They know nothing of strategy or tactics, having only ever participated in street brawls.
Rumble!
Even with numbers, they’re greatly lacking for a proper war.
Pitiful!
I know that if someone runs away in a panic, everyone will flee together.
Mass panic!
No matter how many there are, they can lose.
Oh no!
So I gave up on victory and hoped to gain a lot of warmth while watching the war unfold.
Chill vibes!
And as expected, immense warmth came to me.
Heat wave!
Blood flowed like a river as people fell.
Thud!
But there’s something strange. Even in a battlefield that would usually send even a trained individual screaming and fleeing, hardly anyone was running away.
Eerie…
I never told anyone to fight to the death.
Calm down!
The only thing I mess with their minds about is sending memories of Yasle, nothing more.
Mind games!
I kept watching through their eyes, yet I couldn’t tell what they were thinking.
Pondering…
For me to gain memories, it happens the moment I touch the light. When it’s the Harvesting Period, I gain warmth and memories from the light of those who are killed.
Collecting!
If a person is killed during the Harvesting Period, the moment they die, I make contact with the light of the deceased. That’s when I receive warmth and memories.
Memory bank!
If the Harvesting Period dies for some reason, I only gain warmth the moment they die. I received memories from the light long ago. I can’t receive them again.
One shot only!
But that doesn’t mean I don’t know the life of the Harvesting Period.
Tracking!
From the moment I make contact, I see the world through their perspective.
Third eye!
So it’s fine, even if I don’t have the memories.
Knowledge gained!
Because I’m watching.
Peeking!
However, memories and observation are different.
Distinction!
Memories are a bit more neatly organized, though they often lack detail. For example, the warmth of sunlight felt at special moments or a unique smell. That touch at the tips of the fingers.
Sensory!
In terms of information, the Harvesting Period knows more. But I can’t clearly discern what they’re thinking. I have to guess from their bodily reactions.
Guessing game!
So I don’t know why they’re resolutely facing the Seongsin Church, ready to embrace death. They seem scared, yet they choose to fight and die without needing to say anything.
Defiant!
I don’t get why they choose death, but I’m glad to gain warmth even if the Harvesting Period dies.
Hot take!
Now that I can replicate Harvesting Periods, it’s okay if the Outsider Church loses.
Plan B!
No.
Regroup!
I can’t lose until I land a solid hit on Hyungkesuni.
Battle plans!
What do I do?
Desperation!
Is there any way?
Searching!
Should I edit the memories of someone skilled in martial arts and send it?
Think, think!
No, that takes time.
No time!
While the war raged on, I carefully watched the Harvesting Periods to find a way.
Focus!
But unlike when I realized I could create Harvesting Periods even when I wasn’t there, this time it didn’t seem possible.
Frustration!
In the midst of despair,
Hope waning…
the army of the Seongsin Church arrived at the headquarters of the Outsider Church.
Boom!
And they fought fiercely. Many Harvesting Periods died. Simultaneously, a lot of Seongsin Church members also perished.
Bloodbath!
The most surprising thing during the battle was none other than Rebecca.
Surprise!
I was curious how she had survived, and she turned out to be quite strong. At least enough to not die wherever she went.
Strong girl!
In the midst of the battlefield,
Chaos!
suddenly Rebecca stepped forward alone, and I wondered what was happening as a discharge of light sparked from her chest, forming a sphere of light.
Booming light!
Before I was summoned, I had created the heart of the creature that stole warmth through an explosion. But that? It was likely the heart of an incredibly evolved creature.
Evolution!
As the sphere glowed, the armors and weapons around her lifted up. They revolved around her and turned to dust before disappearing.
Dust to dust!
People? If metal is swirling around and flesh and bones are mixed in, what do you think will happen?
Crush!
It turned into a living grinder, literally grinding people down!
Bam!
But human force has its limits.
Oh no!
After a while, a force that crushed individual power stopped her. It wasn’t magic. If she was hit by magic, I felt she would die, but she nimbly jumped around and avoided it.
Dodge!
A massive beam of light fell from the sky.
Boom!
At that moment, all Harvesting Periods present melted away and disappeared.
Vaporize!
Yes. Every last one of them. Even those fighting on the side of the Seongsin Church evaporated.
Vanished!
But everyone present understood what this meant.
Shock!
The Divine Spirit utilized its power.
Divine intervention!
I thought from this point that the Outsider Church would lose.
Defeated?
Honestly, how do you win against that? No matter how strong a Harvesting Period might be compared to a normal person, they couldn’t stand against a god with orbital bombardment capabilities.
Hopeless!
Yet, in the place where that pillar of light vanished,
Strange…
Rebecca was left unharmed.
Survived!
In fact, she was smiling.
Grin!
She turned around and returned to the gathering place of the Outsider Church followers.
Homecoming!
As I pondered why she was smiling, Rebecca stood before the followers of the Outsider Church and shouted.
Trumpets!
The Divine Spirit has burned the Blessed One who was on its side.
Gasp!
Hearing that from the opposing side, the Seongsin Church cheered. I too thought the Seongsin Church was doing something good.
Support!
While I speculated what Rebecca thought of the Outsider Church, the situation shifted strangely.
Twist!
Didn’t she just burn Harvesting Periods indiscriminately, both enemy and ally?
Disaster!
It became proof that the Divine Spirit’s embrace was false, and the narrative changed.
Confusion!
And the story was completed like this.
Plot twist!
‘From the beginning, the Seongsin Church was a religion for the established powerful.’
Revelation!
That statement spread rapidly. And anyone who strayed even slightly from the elite quickly started to attack them.
Uprisings!
The Divine Spirit never accepted them in the first place, and friends who had just fought together stabbed the royal family and nobles in the back, having melted away as Seongsin Church soldiers.
Betrayal!
Chaos spread.
Total pandemonium!
The army assembled by the Seongsin Church was left mere steps from the headquarters of the Outsider Church.
Almost there!
Before them, the Divine Spirit demonstrated its power, and because of that, the Seongsin Church collapsed.
Crashing down!
And not just the Outsider Church, but other religions and even non-believers began to move. The Seongsin Church became the religion of a narrow-minded god, unworthy of belief.
Fall from grace!
In other words, in this war, the Seongsin Church was thoroughly crushed.
Game over!
By a single person’s word, the Outsider Church not only achieved victory in battle but also gained the status of a universal religion.
Universal acclaim!
On this day, the Seongsin Church essentially came to an end.
Finale!
The surviving members of the Seongsin Church fled, while the Outsider Church celebrated its victory.
Cheers!
And right after the war ended, at a time when post-war recovery was not yet complete,
Rebuilding!
Rebecca, treated as an avatar of the Divine, declared a witch hunt.
Hunt starts!
And thus, a festival was held.
Festivities begin!
The content of the festival?
Drumroll!
Hounding the joyful witch, Hyungkesuni.
Chaos!
Everyone joyfully participated.
Yay!