I was tired of eating stale bread.

Sitting in the garden, I tossed the bread into the air. Hmm. Honestly, it's ridiculous.

Having to survive on just a few pieces of this bread each day—it’s bound to negatively affect not only my growing body but my mind as well!

“Hey.”

“Oh, oh. Boss. What’s up?”

Hector, who had been slowly fixing the wall, came running over. I nodded toward him.

“What are they doing?”

“T-they’re working, aren’t they?”

“Does that look like work to you?”

Hector's group was sluggishly moving through the garden, fiddling with broken railings, leaning on brooms and yawning, or repeatedly picking up and dropping leaves.

I understand it’s work that shouldn't fall to the hands of children. But still, they should at least pretend to show some effort.

“Maybe I’ve been too lenient…”

“B-boss…but there's nothing more we can do.”

He wasn’t wrong, the children have been doing all the labor originally meant for me.

Every morning, they do the cleaning for me, and Hector is always the first to volunteer for small errands. They also handle the meal distributions and even cover for me when I skip evening prayers by saying I was in the bathroom.

Looking at this, they’re practically subordinates, aren't they? Quite convenient.

I stared at him quietly. Seeing the big guy scratching the back of his head and laughing was slightly amusing.

Have I developed some sort of affection for them?

Now that I think of it, what will happen to these guys once I leave for the Cult Headquarters? Once they're old enough to leave the Church, will they end up as back-alley thugs?

"Hey."

"Huh?"

"What are your plans for the future? What will you do for a living after you leave this place?"

"Uh, well..."

Hector awkwardly scratched his head.

"I was thinking about joining a place called Black Steel..."

"What kind of place is that?"

"...A band of righteous thieves?"

"So, just a gang of thugs."

I casually gathered Hector's crew. From the left was Pavel, Linden, Marie, and...

"...Lotasha?"

"It's Natasha?!"

"Close enough."

"'Close enough'?!"

I pushed aside the angry one and scanned the group... There were five in total. They’d probably become gangsters in the future. The girls might end up even selling their bodies in order to survive.Truth be told, there weren't many opportunities for an orphan in this city.

Becoming servants for merchants, being sold into slavery, getting recruited by other gangs to run errands...

Most of them ended up bankrupting and hitting rock bottom early on into their lives.

"Hey, Hector."

"Yeah?"

"Aren't you tempted by my power?"

I subtly conjured a small Ember. Their eyes were wide with curiosity, sparkling with fascination—it seemed they were still very much children.

"But that's the power of a god, isn't it? Damn Sun God Religion..."

"D-damn?"

"...Sun God Religion. But even if it's you saying it, I don't really want to join there."

"What if I told you that you didn’t have to join the Cult?"

"...Huh?"

Priests had a means of inducting believers into the faith.

The unique ability of a C-rank Stigmata. The power to engrave Stigmata onto others.

However, there were limits to how many followers a priest could gather, and anyone who was granted a Stigmata began at F rank. They also wouldn’t gain the ‘blessing’ or ‘healing’ skills that were possessed by the ones that were born with a Stigmata.

Moreover, any other skills they originally had would be erased. It was as if they were reset to a blank slate, reduced to a fool with only Divine F and Stigmata F and no other skills at the same level.

The skills come with such a heavy penalty, it was actually quite strange.

However, weren’t these kids practically blank slates to begin with?

"Don't trust in the Cult."

I'll create a path for you.

And maybe we can move past the stale bread, too.

"Trust in me."

The skeptical children gathered offerings. They skipped meals, earned money by running errands for adults, and bought all the bread they could.

"Chief. What if we pickpocket..."

"And end up getting caught and killed? Don’t even think about it. There's no one to get you out if you're imprisoned."

"C-Chief..."

"Me? Why should I?"

After two weeks, they gathered a decent amount of bread. Enough to fill a sack, and then some.

I thought we'd have at least double the amount.

I clicked my tongue. The kids sitting on their knees flinched and shivered. After making sure that no one was watching, I looked down at them.

"Once we start, there's no turning back."

"Th-then we shouldn't..."

"What was that? You're so eager to swear allegiance to me?! I guess there's no choice. You kids are quite commendable."

"S-something seems off..."

"I understand your intentions well."

I grabbed Hector's shoulder and wiped away the tears that threatened to fall.

"Once a leader, always a leader... I'm touched."

"I never said anything like that..."

"Alright. Let's begin."

[Crown of Ashes activates.]

[You can choose a skill to enhance.]

With the Stigmata.

[Ra sighs deeply.]

[Ra commands to clear away the offerings, claiming she can't do it.]

[She demands as to what purpose stale bread could serve..]

Ah.

It was really hard to get.Ra, please just eat a bit.

I turned my back slightly on the kids and whispered in a low voice.

"Please raise it just a little. It's just one rank!"

[You crazy idiot!]

A voice suddenly cut through.

[Be reasonable! Do you think the divine radiance is a joke? It wasn’t enough that you used my name, and now you call these crumbs of bread offerings?! There's a limit to how much indulgence I can show!]

"You were the one talking about some doomed world scenario! You're the one who brought me here! Honestly, it seems like you want me to do something for you... If you're going to use me, this is the least you can do!"

[So you're telling me to take responsibility?! I've pampered you too much! This is a matter of causality! Even I have limits! I can only grant requests when the balance is right… the offerings are no better than trash, don’t you think?]

"Ah, take responsibility! I don't care! Just do it already!I've never heard of a god refusing to increase their followers! Oh, come on!"

[You... damn brat!]

Ra's voice let out a sigh. All the dried-up bread disappeared, and a 'snap' sound was heard.

[...Just this once. Seriously, just this once. There's nothing more. Even if you whine, I won't indulge you again, and if you pull this kind of nonsense one more time, I'll shove all of these into your mouth.]

"Thank you. God!"

[Show some reverence! You damned fool!]

[Stigmata have been greatly enhanced.]

['Stigmata' skill grade (D) -> (C)]

[Holy laws related to Stigmata are strengthened.]

[Divinity is enhanced, allowing you to sing miracles.]

Status Window!

[Jahad Balton] [Level: 7]

[Race: Human] [Occupation: Apostle of the Sun God]

[Job-Specific Skills]

Love of the Sun God: Skills related to the Sun God develop rapidly.

Grace of the Sun God: Divine power is restored quickly.

Blessing of the Sun God: Sun God relics can be used without risk.

Prayer of the Sun God: Immune to mental contamination.

[Possessed Skills]

Stigmata (C): Grants resistance to all curses. Can bestow stigmata upon others. (5/5)

Divinity (D): Can elevate the divinity of the Sun God to some extent.

Healing (F): Slowly heals scratches.

Blessing (F): Slightly improves mood.

Ember (E): Creates a sharp, stinging flame upon contact.

Prayer of Fire (D): Praying will warm the body to some extent.Physical abilities increase slightly.

Holy Water Creation (F): Purifies water.

Sacred Barrier (F): Creates a small wall about the size of a fingernail.

Weapon Blessing (F): Makes a sword slightly sharper.

Purification (F): Makes embedded curses uncomfortable.

Song of Fire (F): Basic swordsmanship of the Sun God Religion. Allows limited control of the body.

Crown of Ashes (EX): By offering tribute, raises the grade of skills related to the Sun God.

"Everyone, put your hands out!"

I clenched my fist tightly and struck the hands of the children as if stamping a mark.

"Ouch!"

"Ah, that hurts!"

"What is this?!"

Each hand was engraved with half a mark. Five perfect followers… this should do.

Now, there was only one step left. Getting their consent.

"All of you."

I stared at them seriously. In the end, I will give them the choice they desire.

"Do you want to spend your life just following orders and get caught up in gambling and turf wars, dying without leaving a name? Or do you want to live properly, even though it might be a little tough?"

"If... properly..."

"Living like a human. You know? Eating what you want, sleeping when you want to, and doing things you like."

Hector stared at me blankly. I gave them a wide grin.

"You weren't born just to eat dried-up bread all your life. The choice is yours."

Hector looked down at the back of his hand.

"...I don't like the Sun God Religion. But..."

Tears dripped down, mixing with the sorrow of becoming an orphan and the bitterness of living a life of servitude.

"...I want to live like a human being."

"Then, let's give it a try."

I extended my hand to him.

"Like a human being."

"...Yes, boss."

"Alright."

Suddenly, my expression changed to a wicked smile.

"Now, I'm your boss for life."

Hector seemed momentarily taken aback, but it was too late.

The stigmata was already clearly engraved onto his hand.

"Let's go, slaves."

"Sl... slaves?"

"Ahem. My dear subordinates."

Now that we have workers, it's time to get to work.

"You only live once, so why not make the most out of it?"

"Y-yeah."

"There’s no point in resisting now."

"Boss, what do you want us to do?"

"First..."

I cracked my knuckles.

"Let's start some ‘light’ training."

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