Faith Life of a Former Scammer

054. Ding Dong

For three days, the sound of hammers did not cease in the forge.

earth-! earth-! earth!

The sound of a hammer echoing every day, morning and evening.

Of course, it wasn’t just the sound of the hammer.

“Grow up, faith!”

“I miss you! Faith in replenishing stamina!”

Occasionally, screams erupted from the smithy along with light.

dang~!

“This is not it! It doesn’t contain a soul!”

“No, I’m fine! You crazy blacksmith!”

“There is no compromise, my saint!”

Along with the sound of metal ringing, screams erupted.

A completely different sound resonated from the blacksmith’s place, where only such grotesque sounds could be heard.

Whoops-! Doo Woo-!

The soft, solemn low-pitched sound penetrated deep into the heart.

“This is what it is.”

“Did you just hear?”

“My stomach was tingling.”

Residents around the smithy came out of their homes as if they were being led by the sound.

Whoops-! Doo Woo-!

Once again ‘that sound’ echoes.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I don’t know.”

“Be quiet, I can’t hear you.”

It was a moment of buzzing.

Residents listened quietly.

Whoops-!

the sound of your heart beating.

Unlike the outside, the inside of the smithy was a mess.

Round pieces of metal were lined up on the floor, and blacksmith Carltheon’s eyes were wide open.

“ha. ha. It is complete.”

Contrary to the stark eyes, his expression was alive. The expression as if he had created a masterpiece.

“great job. I couldn’t have imagined it look like this.”

“Hehe. It is the result of the combination of the Holy Son’s divine power and my faith.”

Contrary to what he said, his expression was too smirk, but he couldn’t be blamed.

“Is this really your first time making it? I never thought I would create such a masterpiece.”

“Hehe. This is Caltheon. It’s going to be a city-class relic, but you can’t just make it.”

The thing he made while doping with divine power for three days was none other than a ‘bell’.

However, this species is a bit peculiar.

The ‘giant’ size was also large, but the method of ringing was completely different.

“Can I really not put a stick with an iron ball in the middle?”

“Did you hear that? This is not hitting the inside, but hitting the bell body from the outside.”

Ordinary bells make sounds by moving iron beads inside. Metal colliding with metal produces a sharp high-pitched sound.

However, what Caltheon made was completely different.

“To hit the torso from the outside.”

“As expected.”

“As I thought, he came up with the idea while swinging a tree to break the bell.”

“Hmm! Hmm!”

It was an unusual bell that made a sound by tapping the outside of the bell with wood. As the method of ringing the bell changed, it was not a sharp high-pitched tone, but a low and soft low-pitched tone.

“Anyway, that’s good. It has character, and the sound is not annoying.”

“Holy Son, what should I prepare for the next step?”

Carltheon smiled and tried to prepare for the next step.

“done. It’s my job from now on.”

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Just make sure the new item is properly inserted into the groove.”

“Yep!”

He checked the sinuses inserted into the groove and replied.

“it’s okay!”

“okay. Then we will begin.”

With Leon’s words, a dazzling light burst from the forge.

* * *

the next morning.

Whoops-!

Whoops!

What woke the residents in the morning was a strange sound that resonated in their hearts.

“ah… … !”

Even though I woke up to the loud sound, I didn’t feel bad. Rather, it was refreshing and energizing.

“Where are you sounding from?”

“Isn’t that the noise from the blacksmith yesterday?”

People headed for the sound as if possessed.

As we got closer to the center of the city, the number of people increased.

Whoops-!

Whoops!

I heard my heart pounding again.

“Ahhh… … .”

“This is a replacement.”

The people gathered expressed various emotions.

Tears, laughter, happiness, collapse, reflection… … .

Like the reverberation of sound, various emotions swirled around the people.

At that time, a small but clear voice was heard in the ears of the residents.

“God of Dawn, who opens the dawn, thank you for opening the dawn and sending the morning to this city.”

The voice was coming from above.

People raised their heads and looked up.

“Can you hear it from above?”

“uh? Priest?”

“It’s on the terrace on the second floor of the salon!”

“What is that and how big is it?”

It’s called Salon, but in Killika, this was the lord’s castle.

“God of Dawn, who opened the morning, bless the city and its residents like this morning.”

This was a morning prayer for the city and its residents.

“God of the Dawn!”

With Leon’s earnest voice.

Whoops-!

Whoops!

A soft light like the morning sun emanated from it. like a dawn

“Oh my gosh!”

Hearing it from afar and hearing it right below were completely different.

Along with the lights, the sound of the bells spread throughout the city.

“God’s bell… … .”

It was as if the sound of a bell and light were piercing my heart. My whole body trembled at the sound of the bell, and the light warmly enveloped me.

As the praying priest said, it was as if God was giving a blessing.

The residents knelt one by one at the miraculous sight.

“… … Oh God.”

“Dawning… … Oh God.”

They called to the god of dawn.

“How’s Siri?”

[The divine power penetrated deep into the heart through the sound.]

‘no way… … Have the seeds been planted already?’

This species is a registered object.

Of course you can plant seeds.

[It was planted, but it is not a perfect seed. It will take some more time.]

‘Are you saying you can plant seeds in everyone if you have time?’

[That’s right.]

The city-level sacred object ‘Dawn Bell’ that spreads divine power and faith with sound.

Now each time the bell rings, the villagers fall more and more into their faith.

‘This is a city-class relic!’

If you just wait, the imperfect seed in your heart will become a perfect seed and ‘flower’ will bloom.

* * *

After praying, come inside.

“Good work, Leon.”

Grandmother was waiting.

“Were you watching?”

“How can I not wake up to this bell?”

“Are you okay?”

At Leon’s words, she burst into laughter.

“It’s a city-class relic, of course. It’s hard to believe you made this in three days.”

City-level relic.

Strictly speaking, it’s something between a holy thing and a holy thing, but that wasn’t the point.

“I was lucky.”

“It’s an item that will spread the holy power throughout the city, but it’s not just about luck.”

She saw right through the power of the relic.

It was natural. She had ‘eyes’ that could see even spirits.

“Then she must have sensed the danger of this species.”

The sound of the bell instills faith in everyone who lives in the city.

It was a dangerously large force.

However, Grandma had a different idea.

“Leon. This is Killika.”

Killika, the city of criminals and fugitives.

“Is it wrong to force people here to repent? Or is this the last chance given to them?”

It was a very difficult question.

“I think it’s okay because the owner of the bell is Leon. Do you intend to enslave them and rule them?”

“no.”

control? That’s too much of a hassle.

I didn’t become a priest for nothing.

However, the grandmother took Leon’s answer in a different way.

“Rion has no intention of ruling. But I don’t think I’ll treat them like slaves.”

Not like a slave, but I’m going to pamper you a little.

‘Well, if you look at it in a big way, it’s more like let’s all eat well and live well.’

Slavery and exploitation is the old way.

When the residents live well and become wealthy, that will come back to Leone.

“Isn’t that what happened? I think it’s enough that you consider this dangerous.”

The trust she had built up so far won her grandmother’s trust.

‘Well. Well, it pricks my conscience, but it’s not a particularly wrong story.’

Leon could only say thank you.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“You are a companion. If I don’t believe it, who will believe it?”

Grandma smiled brightly.

The moment when such a warm atmosphere is about to continue.

An agent emerged from the shadows.

“sorry. I showed up because there was something I needed to report urgently.”

“Say, my child.”

Grandma was in a completely different atmosphere from when she was talking to Leon.

Aura of charisma and ruler.

This was the true face of Grandma.

“The high priest of the Church of Dawn has been summoned to the Vatican.”

What the agent brought was news from the old man.

“Why is the Vatican summoned?”

“It seems that the letter of protest against indulgences sent by the Church of Dawn was a problem.”

“Notify Rect, who is out at the Vatican, that the time has come.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The masked man disappeared into the shadows with the answer.

“Is it really what Leone said?”

The grandmother looked at Leon in surprise.

“If you see the indulgences and put up with it, then you are not our high priest.”

“Are you going to move right away?”

“yes. The high priest laid the board, but isn’t it the priest’s duty to participate?”

“Come back safely. We will make the bell ring.”

“Please, Grandma.”

After transforming into Oren, Leone headed for the Vatican.

* * *

In front of the Vatican Teleport Gate.

Rect was waiting.

“Are you here?”

Rect politely greeted Oren.

“Are you ready?”

“I’ve been working on a policy priest so you can enter right away.”

Interfering in the dialogue between the pope and the high priest is impossible without preliminary work.

Rect was working on that here.

“What about the materials?”

“Here it is. A few have expressed their intention not to attend, but all influential ones have participated.”

I received a wad of paper from Rect.

“Good job. to go back.”

“insect! I will go back first and wait for your return!”

Rect entered the teleport gate.

The priest, who had been watching from afar, approached Oren.

“Heir, this way.”

“Thank you for waiting.”

“Haha, no. Did you hear the contents?”

“Yes. I heard that the priest has prepared a place to enter.”

At that, the priest in charge of policy smiled.

“Isn’t it all God’s will? If you have a good opinion, it is natural to share it.”

Rather than good opinions, they ate gold and moved, but they were able to intervene because there was such a corrupt priest.

I headed inside the Vatican with the priest in charge of policy.

The place where the conversation between the High Priest and the Pope was going on was none other than the Pope’s office.

“High Priestess, I brought Mr. Oren, who sold indulgences.”

“Come in.”

With the pope’s words, the door to the office opened. After bowing to the priest, Oren went inside.

The interior of the office was the same as the last time I came. However, only those who were inside at that time were added.

The old man and the pope. The two stopped talking and looked at Oren.

“hello. I am Oren, the successor of Killika. I’m sorry for coming so suddenly.”

Oren bowed his head and bowed politely.

“Hmm. Please sit down.”

“Yes, Pope.”

Neither the pope nor the high priest were in a welcoming mood for Leon. In particular, the old man had a hostile atmosphere.

As soon as Leone sat down, the old man opened his mouth.

“Is it true that the Heir came up with the terrible thing called indulgences?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“her. I didn’t believe it because Leon was there.”

The old man let out a sigh as if he was greatly disappointed.

“The reason you came at this point must be to convince me.”

“you’re right.”

“okay. Try persuading me.”

The Pope saw through to the reason for Oren’s visit. However, he misunderstood the target of persuasion.

“I saw the notice. You seem to be trying to sell indulgences, is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Are you really going to sell that hideous thing? We are priests. How can we substitute the power of God?”

The Pope who wants to sell and the old man who wants to stop. This conversation would have continued.

“I also agree with the high priest.”

“Are you saying you sold it and then don’t sell it?”

“Of course, the reason is completely different from that of the high priest.”

Silence lingered, probably not knowing that Oren would come out like this.

“Is selling indulgences really profitable for the Cult of the Sun?”

Not for moral or conscientious reasons.

What Oren brought was a ‘benefit’.

“Tell me more.”

“Hmm.”

The High Priest and the Pope fell in love with Oren’s words.

“The main purchasers of indulgences are the powerful, the nobility and the wealthy upper class. What the Church benefits from is its relationship with them, not just Gold.”

The pope nodded, and the high priest frowned.

“It creates too many variables. Can the Holy See control how the relationship with the nobility works?”

It is the same whether it is the top or the church.

Those who are in first place hate this ‘variable’ terribly.

Variables create change, and change creates a force that threatens the No. 1 position.

“That’s why you don’t let anyone sell it.”

It’s dangerous, don’t sell it. This was a sound that would not even be eaten.

So, another benefit is needed.

Leon placed the bundle of papers he had brought on the desk.

“This is a local newsletter. It included a ban on the sale of indulgences.”

The pope and the high priest checked the papers.

[The Holy See banned the sale of indulgences!]

[Cult of the Sun! The reason they are in the Vatican!]

[The Church of the Sun did the highest will in the highest place!]

.

.

.

.

“How are you? Isn’t gold and relationships with nobles what the Church of the Sun needs?”

The Pope stared at Oren and opened his mouth.

“Are you selling indulgences for 1 million gold and requesting a ban on the sale?”

“If the cost to remove the variable is 1 million gold, isn’t it very expensive?”

The pope burst into laughter at Oren’s brazen reply.

‘The Church of Dawn can’t sell it, but you guys sell it? There’s no way!’

The conversation continued for a long time after that, and as soon as the conversation was over, an official letter was sent from the Holy See.

It was an official document [prohibiting the sale of indulgences].

* * *

The office of the high priest of the Church of the Earth.

“What do you mean by this? Doesn’t anyone have a solution!”

The high priest of the Church of the Earth was bursting with rage.

It was only natural that the indulgences were taken away by the Church of the Sun. It was difficult to defeat the Church of the Sun with gold and riches.

So, the choice was the second best.

“I have prepared so much for the sale of indulgences, what are you going to do with this!”

Buy the rights and aim after that. This was the lane prepared by the Church of Earth.

“Preparations to print thousands of copies have been in vain! We didn’t even take out the knife we prepared!”

With the mass production of indulgences, all early plans to engulf the market collapsed.

Then a child raised his hand.

“I have a way, High Priestess.”

“Five! Arthur again, you save us! Come on, tell me.”

“Arthur”, a child who did not exist in the Church of Earth before returning.

“The ban on sales is only ‘indulgences’. We are creating something new.”

The Earth Church’s counterattack has begun.