novelraw Chapter 6 : Chapter 6
Chapter 6 : Chapter 6
Chapter 6. The Village Chapel
The two of them did not enter through the main gate but instead through the small side door.
Because the front entrance was not one they were allowed to use. Only when the Priest preached could the congregation enter through the main door; otherwise, only important figures could go in that way.
Outside the side door stood an old man dressed as a villager. When he saw the two children, he nodded expressionlessly: “Go in quickly. Priest is praying and will see you soon.”
“Oh, okay, Uncle!”
Laila gave the old man a bright smile and answered loudly.
As for Leticia, she bowed politely and said softly, “Yes, Assistant Cleric.”
Though this old man looked ordinary, Leticia knew very well: in a place where the Church’s power was so overwhelming, someone allowed to work in the chapel could never be just an ordinary person.
Leticia had long since figured out a rough outline of the staff and positions inside the chapel, through probing questions and by “lurking” in crowded places to “eavesdrop.”
Incomplete as her knowledge was, it was still better than knowing nothing.
At least now Leticia knew: aside from the guards recruited from Innsmouth itself, the chapel’s staff had all come here with Priest Jemray Marshall.
They had lived in Innsmouth as long as Priest Marshall had, only too obscure to be known by the villagers.
One Priest, two assistant clerics, and one cantor—that was the entire staff of the Innsmouth Chapel.
Everyone knew who the Priest was; the cantor, whose sole duty was to sing hymns praising the Lord, would never come out to greet children like them. And this old man, who knew Priest Marshall’s whereabouts, could only be an assistant cleric.
Seeing the timid little girl in front of him, the old man’s eyes flickered slightly.
“Alright, go on in. But remember—don’t wander once you’re inside. Wait quietly for Priest.”
Normally, upon seeing children arrive, this assistant cleric would have just said, “Go in.” But Leticia’s words had clearly pleased him, enough that he added a reminder out of kindness.
“Thank you, Assistant Cleric.”
Pleased with the outcome, Leticia laughed inwardly. She bowed again, then grabbed Laila’s wrist. “Laila, let’s go.”
“Ah? Ah, oh, mm!”
Who knew what Laila’s jumble of syllables was supposed to mean.
Taking quick steps, they passed through the corridor and entered the chapel’s interior.
The chapel was quite dim. Many places could not be reached by the afternoon sun, so many candles were lit.
The candle flames wavered as the two entered, shifting the light and shadow, robbing the place of some of its sacred stillness and adding an eerie quiet.
“That’s why I hate this layout...... What kind of messed-up idea did the designer have to build something like this......”
Muttering softly so only she could hear, Leticia looked around. Aside from herself and Laila, there were three other children, apparently also waiting for Priest Marshall.
They had not received the assistant cleric’s warning. Bored with waiting, they had started little games even inside the chapel.
Out of reverence for the Lord, they did nothing outrageous, but their giggles still echoed through the small space.
“So Priest Marshall called five children in total......”
Leticia stayed quiet, watching them, pondering what might happen next.
If she imagined this as a galgame, then she felt all her choices so far were the right ones for a happy ending.
But if romance options were involved, she would probably unlock the “breakup” achievement......
Glancing at Laila, whose mouth she had covered a moment ago, Leticia sighed softly and let go. “Laila, you heard the assistant cleric too. Remember to keep quiet, alright?”
“Mm, mm......”
After a deep breath, Laila looked at the three children playing and hesitantly asked, “Um, Leticia, can I at least go say hi to them? That should be fine, right?”
For some reason, since arriving here, Laila felt Leticia seemed a little different.
Not a complete change of personality, but more mature—more like an adult.
It gave her the strange feeling she wasn’t facing a peer, but someone like her parents......
She had said before that Leticia seemed mature, but this was different. She didn’t know what Leticia had gone through, but she was curious.
“Mm, go ahead. I never said you couldn’t.”
If Leticia had known what Laila was thinking, she would have been shocked by her sharpness. But she had no such awareness. Hearing Laila’s hesitant voice, she winked and whispered, “Go if you want. Just keep your voice down.”
“Mm!”
Her mood immediately lifted, Laila happily agreed and ran over to join the others. From the look of it, she would soon forget Leticia’s reminder, along with her earlier thoughts.
What a child......
Shaking her head helplessly, Leticia was left in peace. She chose a corner and quietly observed the chapel’s decorations.
The chapel was small, perhaps only a few dozen square meters. From the shut main door inward, four rows of wooden benches were set side by side, enough to hold about a third of the villagers.
The ceiling was high, with two large chandeliers hanging down. Each held eleven small candles, three medium candles, and one central candle.
These symbolized, she’d heard, the highest Lord in Church mythology, the three holy deities, and the eleven-winged angels.
One, three, eleven—all numbers heavy with meaning.
Innsmouth was not too far from the nearest city, so the chapel could resupply. The Church had special routes for sending supplies, so consuming candles was no issue.
But the villagers could only afford the smallest, cheapest candles, even smaller than the ones on the chandeliers, and used them only on important days.
Truly ironic......
Naturally, she kept such thoughts to herself. Who knew what ears might be listening.
The three chandeliers gave enough light that the chapel wasn’t plunged into darkness, as if abandoned by God.
But the play of light and shadow also created many dark corners. The place Leticia stood now was one of those, hidden by layers of shadow.
Here, she could see plenty of light—but even more darkness.
Just as her mind was about to wander further, Leticia suddenly noticed movement beside her.
She turned her head—and saw an old woman in black clerical robes cleaning the chapel.
Her motions were smooth and practiced, even beautiful to watch. But what mattered to Leticia was how this old woman had approached without her noticing.
Leticia prided herself on her sharp senses since her transmigration. Except when resting, her mind was always alert......
Could this old woman be a member of some Assassin’s Church?!
Noticing the girl’s surprised gaze, the old woman paused and nodded. With her right hand, she traced a gesture in the air.
It was like a cross, similar to the sign people in her old world made over their chests—about as casual as greeting someone with “nice weather.”
“Sorry, I didn’t notice you......”
Awkwardly imitating the motion, Leticia copied the gesture. Bowing her head, she said nervously, “If I disturbed your work, I’ll leave right away.”
“It’s fine, child.”
The old woman’s voice was raspy, as if her throat had once been badly damaged. “I am just an ordinary believer here. Don’t worry about disturbing anyone. Here, under the Lord’s gaze, we are all bathed in His warmth.”
Granny, why does what you’re saying feel so contradictory......
Unsure how to reply, Leticia could only maintain a graceful smile and bow again.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
The old woman did not leave, nor continue cleaning, but spoke with her.
Beautiful?
Looking at the solemn, old-fashioned decorations, the painted murals, the altar, Leticia nodded earnestly. “Yes, beautiful. But......”
Hiss—she had said too much.
Startled, she saw the old woman’s questioning look and wanted to slap herself.
“But what?”
The old woman asked. “Child, speak boldly. The Lord is patient with His faithful.”
“Uh...... Granny,”
Leticia hesitated, then spoke softly. “I haven’t read the Lord’s teachings. But I feel that for such a great being, His sanctuaries should be brighter, more filled with light......”
“Ah, so that’s it.”
A trace of amusement flickered in the old woman’s eyes. “Child, you say you haven’t read the teachings, and I believe you. For they say the Lord is the all-knowing, almighty God who created the world. Light and dark alike are under His dominion.”
Wow, this world’s deity sure was something—controlling a lot!
Leticia grumbled inwardly but kept her face innocent, harmless, obediently listening.
“Indeed, darkness was once a tool of the devil to tempt hearts. But soulless, faithless devils—how could they compare to the Lord?”
The old woman’s voice never rose above the quiet of the chapel. “The Lord crushed those devils, turning dangerous darkness into peaceful night. Now, those filthy things can only cling to corruption, struggling to survive.”
Oh, plenty of useful info to dig up here?
It really felt like she was listening to a Western mythological epic (which, in fact, she was).
But just as Leticia was about to carefully ask another question, the old woman suddenly said, “Oh dear, I haven’t finished my work. Getting old is no good......”
Calmly (and a bit stiffly) watching her leave, Leticia muttered toward her retreating back, “Until we meet again, Granny......”
They had waited for quite some time now.
At first, the children had been uneasy. But as more gathered, they grew lively.
The mighty Church might one day leave unshakable faith—or terror—in their hearts. But for now, they were still children. Whatever their looks or temperament, there was still innocence left in them.
Yawning, Leticia leaned against a pillar, watching the playful children.
Why did this suddenly feel like when the class bell rang but the teacher didn’t show up?......
Just as she was about to yawn again, the Priest arrived.