For those undergoing Divine Summoning, the entire process might feel like just three or five minutes—but in the real world, a whole hour had passed.
Viloti and Zervanie leaned against the railing, overlooking the god statues outside the cathedral.
The plaza was huge—so huge it could hold statues of every god in existence. So huge you couldn’t even see where it ended.
“Why is it taking so long?”
The weather was a little warm. Zervanie took off her hat, letting her long silver-white hair cascade down.
This was, after all, a sacred site in the eyes of believers. Even if someone saw her, it wouldn’t cause any trouble.
She laid on the railing, puffing her cheeks in boredom, humming idly to herself.
Viloti, by contrast, still stood properly. Even when no one was watching, she didn’t let herself relax like Zervanie did.
“Viloti, do you think Felyn might be one of those one-in-a-million geniuses?”
Zervanie turned to glance at Viloti,nand saw a subtle shift in her expression the moment Felyn’s name came up.
Knew it. Only when it’s about Felyn do you react!
“I don’t know.”
“Really? I hope he is. A genius who stuns the whole world.”
Zervanie lifted her manicured fingers into the sunlight, admiring the way the jewels caught the light.
It wasn’t that she wanted her future husband to be the strongest man in the world.
She just understood Felyn’s heart better than any other girl. The biggest wall between them, between becoming true husband and wife was status.
If Felyn turned out to be a genius, or managed to join one of the Churches, then maybe… just maybe… they could really be together.
And not just as a couple.
“I hope so too.”
Viloti responded simply, her eyes drifting toward the horizon.
But that wasn’t what she really hoped for.
In truth, Viloti secretly wished Felyn would remain a normal person.
That way, he’d have more time to be with her.
If he joined a Church, it would be dangerous. He’d constantly be busy with missions—sometimes gone for days at a time.
More importantly, being in a Church meant fighting.
He could get hurt. He could be in danger. He could even…
Even thinking about it made her heart hurt.
Viloti quietly lowered her eyes. Her hands wrung together so tightly they turned white.
She shut her eyes.
Stopped thinking.
If Felyn knew what Viloti was thinking, he’d probably laugh and say—
“What? Join a Church just to go fight? Nah. Not interested.”
What’s the point? I’ll just make a little money, hire a few maids, and live my peaceful little manor life.
I’m not some chosen Hero who needs to go battle monsters.
But Felyn didn’t have the mental energy for any of that right now.
He stepped out of the Divine Summoning Room with only one thing in mind:
His Divine Affinity was negative.
The gods hated him.
Now what?
Felyn pushed open the doors and walked outside the cathedral, letting the early autumn wind slap him across the face.
He had come to the Royal Capital hoping to study Divine Arts and join a Church.
Even if his affinity was low—even if it was zero—he could still be that hardworking underdog student. He had his gacha system, after all. With his seals and tools, he could make it work.
But now?
Affinity -1.
No Church would ever accept him.
Who would allow a boy hated by the gods to join their ranks?
Without a Church, there would be no peaceful life. No way to change his fate.
Then what’s even the point of coming here?
“So tough…”
Felyn leaned against the cold stone pillar, staring up at the divine statues on the plaza, feeling impossibly small.
He remembered the being that appeared during the summoning—the one with the red twin-tails who may or may not have been a god.
Because of her, the Gods of Truth, Order, and Reincarnation… ran away.
He had a vague suspicion: She was the reason his affinity dropped to negative.
Was she some evil god? A Demon Lord?
He had no clue.
Maybe Daiyi would know. She had always been researching divine relationships.
Maybe there was still hope.
Felyn looked down from the high balcony and spotted Zervanie and Viloti standing below. Their long hair danced in the breeze like flowers swaying in the wind.
He suddenly felt like a sinner.
How was he supposed to tell them?
He sighed and headed down the stairs, feelings tangled in his chest.
He didn’t notice the scene unfolding far across the plaza.
There, imperial guards stood in formation, awaiting the arrival of the Imperial Princess.
It was tradition for the royal family to visit the cathedral every Monday to show respect to all major Churches.
This week, the task fell to Princess Dorothy.
Today, Dorothy wasn’t wearing her usual frilly princess dress. She had on a white and platinum knight-style gown, with a light golden cloak draped over her shoulders.
Her pink-purple ombre hair was braided over one shoulder, with a few loose strands framing her sweet face.
“Your Highness, our schedule today begins with the Divine Summoning Room.”
Dorothy nodded, one hand raised as she waved to passing citizens and accepted their bows.
They rounded a corner.
The Divine Summoning Room was just ahead.
She chatted lightly with the bishops around her, asking about recent cathedral maintenance needs.
Then they reached the entrance.
The Summoning Room’s outer terrace was an open-air platform perched high on the cathedral’s southern wing. It offered a panoramic view of the entire Royal Capital.
For a brief moment, Dorothy thought she saw someone standing there.
She walked to the railing and gently rested her hand on it, as if it still held Felyn’s warmth.
No one was there.
It had just been her imagination.
She stared into the distance, Felyn’s face surfacing in her mind.
Brother Felyn, if only you could come to the Royal Capital.
I would’ve brought you here myself for your Divine Summoning.
“…Let’s go.”
Dorothy turned her head one last time, hoping—just maybe—to catch a glimpse of him.
But there was no one.
Just then, the guards on both sides opened the doors—only for a flustered nun to burst out from within.
She didn’t expect the princess to be standing right there.
Panicked, she tripped over her own foot and dropped the folder in her arms. Papers scattered at Dorothy’s feet.
The young nun’s face turned pale. She quickly stood up, struggling to stay calm in front of royalty.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Dorothy knelt beside her, gently brushing the dust off her skirt. When she saw the bruised knee, she pulled out a High-Grade Healing Seal and personally placed it on the injury.
“Y-Your Highness! You don’t have to trouble yourself—!”
“It’s no trouble at all. Please be more careful next time. Don’t hurt yourself like this.”
Dorothy’s soft voice and gentle smile made the nun feel like she was standing in front of an actual goddess.
“Let me help you pick up your documents.”
Dorothy crouched down and gathered the papers from the ground.
Then her hand froze.
Her fingers stopped on one particular document:
[Felyn Sorester – Divine Affinity Test Result: -1. Recommend close monitoring of his behavior.]
“…Brother Felyn came to the capital?”
“When… when was this summoning?”
The nun blinked, rubbing her eyes. For a split second, she thought she saw something terrifying behind the princess’s sweet smile—like a glimpse of some ancient, evil god.
“Just now. That boy walked out not long ago.”
Dorothy clenched her skirt tightly, forcing down the grin forming at the corners of her mouth.
Brother Felyn you really came to the Royal Capital.
I found you.
(End of Chapter)