Chapter 677: Pilgrimage

Chapter 677: Pilgrimage

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.

From the moment Duncan first saw the massive ships known as the Arks, which looked like self-sustaining floating city-states, and learned of their constant travels across the ocean—a journey often called a “pilgrimage”—he began to doubt the true purpose of these impressive structures.

What did these Arks really signify, and what was the deeper significance behind their ongoing “pilgrimage”? Could it simply be a form of “patrolling”?

The city-states’ inhabitants commonly believed that the Arks symbolized the immense power of the four gods. They were viewed as the ultimate representation of the church’s military might and revered as the “traveling palaces” of these four deities in the human world. According to the Church of the Four Gods, the Arks’ mission was to patrol the Boundless Seas, serving both to deter heresy and protect the city-states from evil forces emerging from subspace. Initially, Duncan accepted this explanation without question. However, as he delved deeper into the church’s secrets through figures like Vanna, Morris, and Agatha, he noticed major discrepancies in this account.

The primary responsibility for dealing with heretical threats lay with the spiritual leaders assigned to each city-state, such as inquisitors and guardians. The routine tasks of intercepting heretics at sea and rescuing distressed sailors were carried out by the church’s regular naval forces. The crucial job of defending against subspace corruption and strengthening the city-states’ defenses was entrusted to the fervent prayers of bishops and a strategically organized network of church bell towers. In contrast, the four grand Arks appeared to have no real role in these worldly matters.

Most of the year, about three-quarters of it, the Arks conducted secretive patrols along hidden routes, traversing a liminal space between dimensions, far from any city. For the rest of the time, they patrolled near the “Eternal Veil” at the world’s edge. There, their interactions with the church’s border fleets were minimal, and they avoided any direct involvement with the city-states. In fact, they deliberately stayed away from the patrol fleets of the border city-states.

The Arks rarely appeared in the city-states, only showing up on exceptional occasions, like after significant events such as the Black Sun event at Pland. It was only during these rare appearances that they became visible to the public.

Apart from these special circumstances, the Arks remained isolated from the ordinary world. Even within the church’s four major sects, the Arks were shrouded in mystery, with most clergy never having the chance to board an Ark in their lifetimes. Only a select few, designated as “saints,” were allowed onto the Arks as part of their training. However, their access was limited to specific areas, and after completing their training, they were promptly sent back to their original cities. These “saints” were thus prevented from delving deeper into the mysterious secrets of the Arks.

The accumulating evidence pointed to a profound uncertainty about the existence of these vessels. It was at this point that Duncan reached a revelation.

“...The current four Arks that we know of were built several decades ago. Before these ‘giant ships’ were commissioned, the four major churches had an earlier generation of ‘Arks’, but those were nothing like the cathedral-like ships we see today...”

Frem’s voice was deep and authoritative, flowing smoothly like a river over stones, imbued with a tranquility that naturally soothed and persuaded his audience.

“The first generation of the church’s ‘Arks’ were just sizable vessels, integral to the church’s naval patrol force, part of its military armament. Unlike their successors, they weren’t shrouded in mystery, nor were they detached from the daily life of the mortal world.”

“Today’s ‘cathedral ships,’ however, represent a paradigm shift. It would be misleading to simply call them four ‘large ships’. More accurately, they serve as four ‘anchor points’, tethering the gods’ presence to a ‘balance point’ existing outside the mortal realm.”T/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

“It did work, at least in the beginning,” Helena responded, nodding in agreement. “The Arks serve as anchors for the gods, and the ‘death’ of the gods is an intricate and drawn-out process. In truth, this process is essentially unstoppable, akin to the inexorable operation of the universe’s laws. Yet, the presence of these ‘anchor points’ has managed to maintain the gods in a somewhat stable condition until their complete ‘disappearance’. Our initial predictions were that this approach would be effective for several centuries, possibly even a millennium. We believed that with such an extended ‘buffer period’, we might discover alternative methods to further delay the gods’ decay, or perhaps even find... find...”

Helena’s voice trailed off, her words faltering as she seemed to struggle with expressing certain thoughts. It was as if she, along with the other popes, despite their decisive actions, were still grappling with the acceptance of some harsh realities.

In the wake of these revelations, Lune, Banster, and Frem lapsed into a contemplative silence, each wearing expressions that betrayed a mix of emotions – concern, resignation, and perhaps a hint of despair.

Beside Duncan, Lucretia’s brow was creased with confusion, reflecting her struggle to grasp the enormity of the situation. Nina and Shirley, on the other hand, were unable to conceal their curiosity, their faces etched with a blend of intrigue and apprehension. Morris seemed on the verge of speaking, his mouth opening slightly, but then he appeared to reconsider, opting for silence instead.

Amidst this heavy atmosphere, Duncan’s senses picked up a soft, almost ethereal sound of waves. It was as if faint whispers were reaching out to him from beyond a dense veil. He blinked, momentarily shifting his focus to the table in front of him.

There, he noticed a small, transient trace of water that appeared mysteriously on the table’s surface, only to vanish just as quickly.

Duncan, observing the fleeting trace of water, raised his eyes to meet Helena’s. There was a certain knowing look in his gaze.

“A substitute, right?”

Helena’s reaction was one of surprise; her eyes widened as she stared at Duncan, clearly not expecting this insight from him.

Duncan, however, simply shook his head slightly, choosing not to elaborate further. After a brief pause, he voiced his thoughts in a reflective tone, “...But now, only decades have elapsed, which is far short of the ‘several centuries’ you were hoping for.”

“Yes, the deterioration has accelerated beyond our initial projections,” Banster replied, his voice laden with a somber, hoarse quality. “We had believed that the current ‘balanced state’ of the gods could be sustained for up to a thousand years. But now, the forces of decay are rapidly spreading throughout the world. The original purpose of the Arks ‘pilgrimage’ was to fortify the link between the gods and the mortal realm. However, at this stage, we find ourselves devoting much of our efforts to mitigating the contamination emanating from their decaying presence... This reality weighs heavily on us.” Banster’s statement ended with a heavy sigh.

After a moment of silent reflection, Duncan addressed the room again: “So, you’ve initiated new measures. Are those related to the fleets assembling in the border seas?”