The Evil God Summoned by the Saintess-Chapter 51 - 49: Preparing to Take Action

"Up ahead is the cult’s base. Let me warn you about a few taboos first."

After walking for a long time, Eric finally stopped, turned back, and cautioned:

"First, ’Shark’ has a strange temper and doesn’t like hearing the name Evil God Ross. Don’t mention it inside, even though ’Shark’ isn’t at the base right now."

"Second, don’t go near the Deep Red Spring. That’s Holy Court territory—get close and you’ll be arrested."

"Third, keep your mouth shut, don’t say a word no matter what you see, and don’t panic. In the base, you might see frogs singing, cats using magic, crows healing people... that’s all normal. Don’t freak out, or I won’t be able to save you."

"Remember these three rules. Once you have them down, follow me to see Sardine and report in."

"Got it." Hilia nodded.

She already knew what to expect for the second and third points, but the first one made her curious.

Why would the base leader hate hearing Ross’s name—is it fear?

Eric glanced at Hilia, then moved on.

Not long after, the two arrived at the foot of a small mountain.

This mountain was fairly steep, lush with greenery, and had a single rock jutting straight out from the earth.

Eric stopped before the rock and placed his hand on it.

Hilia felt a surge of powerful polluted magic flow out from his palm and into the stone.

She watched as an area beneath the giant rock slowly faded, revealing an entrance just big enough for two people.

"Another damn cave," Hilia couldn’t help but mutter inwardly.

"Follow me."

Eric motioned, entering first.

They walked deep into the cave for a long time, and ahead, light gradually appeared. Voices could be heard in the distance. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

A sharp wave of polluted magic poured from inside the cave, making Hilia frown instinctively.

"This pollution concentration... It’s at least ten times thicker than all the pollutants added together in Beia Village."

In Beia Village, all the pollutants together would make the average person feel severely unwell, with hallucinations beginning.

If you don’t leave or get help quickly, you’ll fall deeper and deeper until the pollution invades every cell of your body, turning you into part of the pollution.

Of course, most people don’t make it that far—the pollution consumes your brain, and you’re dead.

The intensity here? A normal person would drop dead just by getting close.

Even Mages can’t linger long.

Is this the fucking pollution standard for a heretic base?

Are they planning to sacrifice all the believers or what?!

"Lord Ross, to summon the Sea Successor—the white whale—do you have to sacrifice believers?"

"Of course. When the bodies here become polluted, their souls are slowly absorbed by the white whale. Even if the whale doesn’t show up, they won’t last more than five years."

Upon hearing that, Hilia immediately activated all her magic power to resist the flooding pollution magic.

"Stop. Don’t use magic to resist, you’ll blow your cover. Relax, you won’t be polluted."

Hilia paused, chose to trust Ross, and stopped circulating her magic power.

She found the pollution trying to invade her body somehow vanished as soon as it touched her skin.

"What’s going on?" Hilia had never seen pollution mysteriously disappear like this.

"I’m the Evil God," Ross said blandly.

"Oh." She didn’t really get it, but Hilia understood enough.

Ross never had the legendary Evil God arrogance, and with his views and manners, he was nothing like an Evil God—sometimes she even forgot that he was officially recognized as the one and only Evil God by the Gods.

So it wasn’t strange after all.

In Holy Court records, isn’t pollution said to be Ross’s doing?

Whether that’s true or not, if the Evil God can erase pollution, it makes sense.

Hilia felt reassured, following Eric inside.

Soon the space opened up. Ahead was a door, a table set in front of it, with two people seated behind. There was also a platter and an account book—like peasants at a country wedding collecting gift money.

Seeing Eric approach, one of them said, "Pay before you enter—huh? Who’s that behind you? Haven’t seen them before."

He’d noticed Hilia behind Eric, and both men immediately became wary.

"This is my brother, Duke. He felt the call of God and wants to join our family," Eric said.

The two ’Sardines’ exchanged glances and smiled.

"No problem, but you know, the Holy Court’s been cracking down lately. We’re careful with newcomers; technically, no new recruits until that matter is settled."

Eric said nothing, simply placed a small cloth bag on the table.

One of the men opened the bag and grinned. "Then again, there aren’t many who feel God’s call. We can’t let a good brother slip by."

The other picked up a feather quill. "Duke, right?"

"Mm." Eric nodded.

The man scribbled in the account book: Duke (new), received 1 silver coin for joining the church.

Hilia glanced over; Eric had given them a whole 5 silver coins, but they pocketed 4 for themselves.

And the entrance fee? Only 20 copper coins, extra, not counted among the 5 silver. Maybe they didn’t want to give change—hell, these 20 copper coins were only logged as 10 copper coins in their account.

They couldn’t help but skim 10 copper coins. Hilia was a bit disgusted.

"These two are shameless!"

"They won’t make it two years."

"Two years is too long. I wish I could cripple them right now."

Hilia muttered to herself.

She still wasn’t brave enough to kill, but she took inspiration from Ross’s past actions.

Killing villains is too easy for them. Better to cripple—no mental block, and it actually punishes them.

After paying, the door opened. They went inside, and even thicker pollution swept over them.

Eric inhaled deep like a junkie getting his fix, bliss plastered across his face.

He looked left and greeted, "Mr. Frog, your tune today is excellent. I bet the princess will soon be enchanted by your singing."

Hilia looked over too; no frogs there, just a bloated, rotting toad, pus oozing nonstop, polluting everything around it.

She whispered, "Eric, after joining the cult, what do I have to do?"

"Follow me, and I’ll fill you in on how things work here."

Eric continued deeper into the cave.

He explained as he walked: "You don’t have to do much, just pray in the ritual hall at the deepest part. Every day ’Sardines’ provide lunch and dinner—not free though, each meal costs 120 copper coins or 1 silver coin. You get one piece of bread, one cup of milk, and one potato. Meat costs extra."

"That’s expensive!"

"Yeah, but you get paid 50 copper coins per prayer each day, and like I said, collecting white whales can earn you extra."

That barely covers a day’s food, doesn’t it?

If she remembered right, outside, bread, milk, and potatoes only cost 20 copper coins total.

The nobles aren’t even charging peasants 50 copper for bread, but you guys are ahead of the curve.

Hilia clenched her fist.

Just then, Ross’s voice rang in her mind:

"The base leader isn’t here. Once you get to the ritual hall, get ready to make your move."

"Got it!"