Chapter 159: Collapsing Faith ( Part-1)

The city of the Radiant Empire, Joisin. The city of eternal brightness and joy, where light illuminates in every part of the city. It is the gathering and the holiest place for believers of the Radiant Sun God religion.

The city has one of the longest histories in the continent. From the time when the Radiant Empire was just a small kingdom till today. The mighty Radiant Empire of the current era is the place of religious gathering in the continent.

It was late evening, but the city was so bright as if it was still day. Magic lamps with golden shining light illuminated the whole city. Some citizens moved around, others talked with each other and enjoyed the atmosphere. Sounds of the ringing bells and prayers could be heard coming from the living areas where people gathered to eat and pray before starting their dinner.

Meanwhile, somewhere inside the secret room of the church.

A group of three men and women were engaged in sexual intercourse with each other. Sound of moaning and intoxicated binding and clashing of flesh was resonating in the room.

After some time the men stopped and looked at the body of the women who were covered in sweat breathing heavenly lying on the ground.

One by one, they started putting on clothes and left the room without looking back and entered a huge bathroom with a pool of moderately hot water. They undid the knots of their dresses and kept them aside as they dipped into the pool.

"Ah! So relaxing and enjoyable"

Looking at the joyful expression of the man others smiled.

"It seems that lord Garfield is enjoying the bath"

Garfield nodded with a lewdly smile "I must thank lord Vardi for inviting me to such a pleasurable experience"

"Hahahahaha, don't mention it lord Garfield. Didn't you invite me with other lords before? I just got news yesterday about these girls. I have heard they have been recently transferred to the Joisin city and these girls were the best of all in the new bunch, the red light district had to offer"

"That's thoughtful of you. Lord Vardi, I was just thinking about it and you just completed our wish" said Archbishop Garfield with a tired expression.

"I really want to know who this Dai Yusa is?

Did he think just because he had said that Radiant Sun God doesn't exist the believers will believe his words? He must be a fool! One must know how many faithful believers are following the Radiant Sun God Religion for years. Did he believe that a statement can break their belief?"

Looking at the arrogant smile on Archbishop Garfield's face. Nobody opposed his words.

"You said it right. Who does he think he is? Just how arrogant is he to call himself 'lord of universe'. Just babbling out some words and he believes that people will start losing their faith in our Radian Sun God" said Archbishop Tabran. He was a young man with a thin and tall body.

Hearing that Grafield and Vardi agree with his statement.

After thinking for some time and organizing his thoughts Grafield nodded and replied

"But it's still amazing how he was about to broadcast his voice throughout the continent. As far as I can see that pillar of light did appear around the place where Chronos Magic Academy is located. So it's more likely that they have created a device for mass broadcasting and that Dai Yusa guy somehow had accessed that device and broadcasted his voice throughout the continent. But we can't neglect the fact about the power and strength behind that voice. One thing struck me though if that guy has been observing us for millions of years, he cannot be a human after all human beings cannot live for such a long time. Second, why did he just show up for the first time before everyone? If he had existed for so many years. We can't neglect the fact about the weird phenomenons which are occurring so frequently now and the seal he had mentioned"

"That is weird? Lord Grafield, are you saying that it's all made up and the culprit is backed by Chronos Magic Academy?" asked Archbishop Tabran with a concerned voice.

Both Chronos Magic Academy and Radiant sun church greatly influence the life of the people of the continent. But never had there been a time that their interests clashed with each other. Nor have they ever targeted each other. So why now?

Seeing that discussion is not going to bring out any results, Grafield said

"Let's put that aside for now. We will discuss this topic with other Archbishops from neutral and Dandula faction"

"Right, speaking of which; Valdi, did you receive any news about Saintess and radiant sun staff from our informant within Archbishop Fardin faction recently?"

Archbishop Valdi shook his head.

"That guy likes to keep his mouth shut about the topic related to Saintess. But it's a fact that without his help, she could not have escaped from the trap set up by us. Interestingly, there have recently been disputes going on between Archbishop Marib and Archbishop Fardin. It seems like the Archbishop wants Fardin to tell them about the current location where Saintess is hiding. From the looks, even the loyal followers of Saintess are now starting to become impatient and want some evidence that she is still alive. But I think it's a good chance for us to break them down"

"No, we can't," said Grafield with a serious expression.

Hearing that both Valdi and Tabran were surprised.

"Lord Grafield, do you want to say it's just an act so that we may take some rash decision and expose ourselves, causing the neutral friction to side with them?" said Tabran

"Yes, those two guys are not simple. I can't believe that they will start fighting over such a small matter. Specially Fardin, he also has connections with the imperial family and you must remember Saintess Maya's relationship with current Emperor Josif vermilion that old monster. Archbishop Fardin is just looking for evidence against us for already three years. That's the only reason why we are still alive and have not been killed. No one in the radiant empire has the power to oppose the Holy Emperor Josif Vermillion"

Hearing that both Valdi and Tabran lowered their heads.

"Let's, we should wait. Wait when Emperor Josif will die. At the maximum, he can live till the end of next year. We will make our move after that. Also, keep a lookout for the change in the political scenario of the empire. Those useless princes may prove useful"

They agreed and stopped the discussion further, enjoying the hot bath.

But they are not aware that someone is looking at them and hearing all of their talks.

In the prayer room, the statue of Radiant Sun God glowed within a dim golden hue before it disappeared like it was never there.

Left unnoticed from the eyes of anyone in the church.

[Next Day, Front of Radiant Sun Church]

Being the oldest church and religion on the continent. The main church is suited in the middle of the city with a ten kilometers radius around is owned by the church. No one is allowed to trespass into this land from another place aside from the four entrances that are tightly guarded by the Holy Knights. Making sure that everything is ok and nobody is causing any trouble.

Daily thousands of devotees and followers of Radiant Church Religion will gather here and pray in the prayer room before the statue of Radiant God. While the priest and nuns are moving around the church helping the people and maintaining the discipline.

The other reason for gathering for such a large number of people is for the process of healing.

As a religion that revolves around the ideology of light and healing. The Radiant Sun God religion has the largest amount of light attribute magic users. The only attributes that are needed are with the ability to heal wounds and cure diseases. It's also one of the reasons that radiant sun Religion is so influential but even they can't work for free.

Compared to other spells of the light attribute, the healing type spells have larger requirements for magic power and mental strength.

To cast a normal healing spell one must at least have the cultivation of Magic Grandmaster. These simple healing spells can only cure the same or minor wound and infection.

To cure higher level wounds like a fracture, broken bone, or shattered bone. One must at least have the cultivation of a Magic Knight and all magic knight stage experts have the rank of Bishop.

The total number of bishops in the religion is only 58 and most of them are spread around the continent leaving only 20 bishops in the head church.

Most of the time they can manage with the help of ten archbishops whose cultivation is that of a Magic Champion.

But not today, due to the incident of the earthquake many people have received major wounds, and the number of patients has increased to a large amount that is getting bigger with each day. The bishops are not able to handle it.

They are already mental and physically exhausted from continued spell casting.

Seeing that, the council decided to increase the price of healing to reduce the number of patients.

The council of the Archbishops didn't know that at this moment the ugly side of the people will start to show up and the words of Dai Yusa will turn into sharp weapons against the Radiant Sun God religion.