The sound of mud squelched under the wheels. Inside the carriage, an elderly gentleman wiped his glasses. As the city drew nearer, whatever sleep he had vanished.

Reaching out, the old man lifted the edges of the stagecoach’s canopy. The warmth that had been kept by people's body heat dispersed in an instant. The fellow passengers began to complain.

"It's freezing, we'll die out here!"

"Old man! Close the door!"

"Sorry about that. I was curious about how far we've come."

The elderly gentleman leaned his face out beyond the canopy and quickly glanced in the direction they were heading.

There it was—the City of Iron.

The freshly risen morning air was cold. White smoke misted around the city in abundance.

The City of Iron, nestled within a snowy plain. Thanks to its proximity to the mines, the place barely retained the form of a 'city.'

The northern border town, Benelda.

Having been here several times, he could gauge the distance just by the sound of the mud underneath.

‘Is this what experience is?’, he thought to himself with amusement, chuckling softly.

The man closed the canopy's door and resumed his seat among the people.

With nothing to do, he casually glanced at the other travelers. Typically, those heading to the northern border city were miners looking for work or individuals drawn to the remote location for their own reasons.

Occasionally, a criminal might sneak in too.

The elderly gentleman examined the faces of those sleeping, as was his habit. As a merchant, he'd grown accustomed to assessing the appearance of potential customers.

He looked around, scanning diligently, before suddenly pausing. His eyes stared at a boy wrapped in a thick, almost quilt-like blanket.

"...Hmm."

Seemingly chilled to the bone, the face inside the hood was still youthful. It wasn't perfectly clean, but it had distinct features. It was clear he would grow into a handsome man.

However, that face was oddly filled with discontent. It seemed as though the boy was upset.Intrigued, the elderly gentleman subtly shifted his position, moving to the empty seat beside the boy and started a conversation.

"Hello?"

The boy's gaze briefly met his before immediately dropping. A sullen voice gradually emerged.

"I'm not well."

"What’s upset you, young man?"

"I almost wish I were so angry I could explode. Then, I would at least feel a bit warmer."

‘Doesn't he speak in an interesting manner?’

The elderly gentleman chuckled quietly. He pulled out a thermos from his coat and poured some warm water into the cap.

The steam dissipated into the air, and the boy's eyes sparkled.

"You are kind, sir!"

"This is no big deal. Be careful, it's hot. By the way... what’s your reason for coming to this border city, young man?"

"What else? I'm just here to survive."

"People don't usually seek the north just to survive. Are you here to look into mining work?"

"Perhaps... What brings you to that cold city, sir?"

The boy subtly changed the subject. The intent was obvious, but the elderly gentleman was happy to oblige.

"I'm here to inspect the quality of steel produced in Benelda."

"Couldn't you send someone for that?"

"I could, but it eases my mind to see it for myself."

"That's also true. No creature loves backstabbing more than humans do."

‘Bold and cheeky.’

The elderly man gently stroked his mustache, smiling softly.

"You have quite the way with words, young man."

"...Did I speak rudely?"

"Not at all. Isn't conversation during a journey like a snack with coffee? It doesn't seem like the right place for formalities."

The boy poured some tea, blowing softly to disperse the steam.

"...Sir, you seem to be a wealthy businessman?"

"Just a wandering merchant. Barely keeping food in my mouth."

"Your accessories seem too expensive for that."

‘Look at that. Quite the perceptive eye.’

The elderly gentleman subtly showed his watch, but the boy only glanced at it briefly before looking away.

‘Not interested in wealth?’

His curiosity grew deeper.

"Sometimes, who sells the goods matters more than what goods are being sold."

"That's true. It's much more pleasant to buy from a rich person than a beggar."

"If you start working at the mines, I may see you again."

"I'm afraid that won't happen. The mines aren't my goal."

"If you’re not here for mining, is there another reason you came to Benelda?"

"Should I be answering for free?"

"Hasn't something already passed those lips?"

"Oh, come on. You look like you have plenty of money; can't you give a little more?"

The elderly gentleman chuckled softly.

‘Not aiming for the vast, but seeking the small’.

Pulling out a wallet, the old man slowly dropped a few coins into the young hand.

"Is this enough?"

"Imperial silver coin… Five thousand Dalant. Hmm. That's reasonable. This should cover a meal."

The boy casually rolled up his sleeve. The elderly gentleman frowned at the distinctive pattern revealed from beneath the blanket.

Strange markings, akin to tattoos. At a glance, they appeared like dark red scribbles.

‘I've seen this somewhere…’

"...Oh, could it be... you came in search of the Cult of Ra?"

"That's right."

“Oh dear.”

Goodness.

What a pitiful fate for such a young soul.

The elderly gentleman clicked his tongue in disapproval. He considered offering a few words of sympathy but held back. It wouldn’t do to shatter the dreams of such a young one at such a pivotal moment in his life.

The Cult of Ra, also known as the Sun God Religion.

A religious group devoted to worshipping the Sun God, 'Ra'.

However, unlike the past, the influence of various 'cults' has significantly diminished over time. Decades ago, these cults had dominated the continent, but now they have completely fallen.

Magic advanced, and in turn, resulted in the decline of the ‘gods’.

What were once considered miracles could now be created with a single spell. There is no need to seek out cults as most injuries could be treated with magic or medicine.

The enhancement of physical abilities through blessings have also been overshadowed by magic, and the so-called purification of the undead have been replaced by sacred magic that mimics divine laws.

Priests, once symbols of holiness, lost their voices, and paladins, known for unyielding determination, have been outmatched by knights equipped with artifacts.

An meaningless concept, similar to chicken ribs in a steakhouse.

The Empire had reason to abandon the cults. It is now the age of humans.

There is essentially no place for gods anymore. Human faith persists, but...

It wasn't significant enough to warrant the use of money for religious devotion. Humans with magical abilities could achieve more than what the gods were capable of granting them.

"...Are you intending to join the Cult of Ra, young man?"

"As you can see, I've received a stigma, so I have no choice."

"I won't stop you... but I'd like to offer a few pieces of advice. I will refrain if you're not interested."

"I'm curious.”

“Ra's Cult is more lackingthan you might think. Once you join, you'll probably have to get used to going hungry."

"Don't the followers offer donations?"

"As you know... the atmosphere in the Empire is rather grim, isn't it? We’re in an era where people choose to grasp a sword instead of clinging to faith. If they have money to donate, it’ll be better to hire a mercenary instead. The cult operates off a few donations, but even those are not very plentiful, from what I've heard."

"Why is that?"

"When humans placed themselves above the gods, the gods lost interest in the earthly realm. The divine light that once naturally shone upon us has disappeared. With the withdrawal of divinity, the power of the priests have weakened as well. I've heard they are even less effective at healing than swindlers."

"Well... I know, but still, that's a bit much..."

"I wish I could say that I’m joking, but unfortunately, I can't. The cult is a setting sun. People will always believe more strongly in what they can see than in what they cannot. Magic and swords. It's an age of violence.You could say there's no place left for gods anymore."

There's a reason why young people are desperately trying to join the 'Academy.' It's become normal to gain power through education and scoff at those below them.

It's an era where those with power have it all.

With the wars occurring on the Empire's borders, an era where fists are quicker than words has arrived.

And within that, there was no place for 'religion.'

"It's good that you were chosen by the divine... but if you want to put food on the table and do what you love, becoming a miner might be a better choice. As for the Sun God Religion in Benelda... it's something you should see for yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you even want to join the cult? If it's just because of a single sacred sign, I advise against it."

"It seems like the only way to live 'like a person.'"

The young man let out a sigh, with a face that looked like he was caught between laughing and crying.

‘It wasn't my will but someone else's. I didn't know things would come to this.’

'Glory Fantasia.'

One of the many roguelike RPG games.

True to its generic name, it was one of those failed games. Everything else in the game was fine, except for one thing.

Due to its notoriously difficult level of play, it was considered a piece of trash. Very few people played it till the end, and none managed to achieve the game’s milestones, it was just that challenging.

However, I, too, damningly, claimed to be a collector of failed games.

Day and night, I collected the game's achievements. Every time I played, the story would change, and I often lamented that if the difficulty had been lower, the game wouldn’t have been labeled as a 'failed game.'

It has been said that what laid at the end of effort was victory.

In the end, I got what I wanted. I managed to overcome all the achievements of a game that no one else had reached.

Yet, I was oblivious.

It was a one-way street to the gates of hell.

[Jahad Balton] [Level: 1]

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

[Job Unique Skills]

Love of the Sun God: Skills related to the Sun God grow quickly.

Grace of the Sun God: Holy power replenishes quickly.

Blessing of the Sun God: You are able to handle sacred artifacts of the Sun God without penalties.

Prayer to the Sun God: You are not affected by mental contamination.[Possessed Skills]

Stigma (F): Provides a slight resistance to all magic. It is a vessel that can contain divinity.

Divinity (F): Can slightly draw upon the divinity of the Sun God.

Healing (F): Can slowly erase scratches.

Blessing (F): Slightly improves mood.

Crown of Ashes (EX): By offering tributes, you are able to dramatically increase the efficiency of all skills related to the Sun God.The character I created myself. The priest of the Sun God, the most challenging job among all.

The one saving grace... is that one of the perks has been fully transferred.

"...Ha."

I've been brought into this…

Into this damned game! Without even knowing why!

"Why of all things...this character?"

Even if there is a perk, of all the numerous jobs, it had to be the Apostle of the Sun God.

It was as if a thorny path was laid out before me. Had it been any other combat role, it wouldn't have felt this hopeless.

The world of Glory Fantasia wasn’t all that different from other fantasy settings. It was an enchanting place, teeming with magic, swordsmen, and brimming with monsters and magical beasts.

However, one thing that Glory Fantasia consistently insisted on was a world where the clergy is persecuted. A place where those who lost the power of the gods pretend to be ‘priests’.

A world where, overshadowed by magic, the gods' influence has plummeted.

True priests were exceedingly rare, able to be counted on one hand, and even they were absent in the heart of the Empire. Theology had been reduced to a simple academic study, and the church was a nominal power, existing in name only.

Even at the Empire-centric Academy, where Hidden Pieces were scattered, the Theology Department barely maintained its nominal existence. It was set up so that a few genuine priests from various organizations studied under discriminatory conditions.

In short, I had stepped on a landmine.

Being born with one of the worst job classes of all.

"......."

The Sun God Ra’s Order isn't much different. You can tell just from the fact that at the start, it's situated in the northern city of Benelda.

A ruined order.A group so impoverished that some of its priests resorted to begging under the guise of pilgrimage.

The old man’s words were true.

It's the kind of place where the moment you enter, you need to figure out a way to keep from starving.

But, what can I do?

With my profession as the Apostle of the Sun God, in this harsh world, this is my only means of survival…

For now, let's focus on getting there. Once I arrive, I’ll figure out how to make a living. Fortunately, the big picture of the information I know hasn’t changed.

If my predictions are right, I might live even better than before.

I adjusted my collar and staggered into the cold winter.

I could have gone to another branch for admission. But there was a reason I specifically struggled to come all the way to Benelda.

It was to find the Hidden Piece concealed in Benelda, and to enroll directly at the Order's headquarters to receive proper training and build my strength.

Besides, the headquarters would be better than any branch. It should be an environment where I won't be as starved in.

My stomach growled audibly.

I gritted my teeth and endured.

I had spent all my initial funds while making my way to the Cult of Ra's headquarters. The only thing left was the Five Thousand Dalant I received from the old gentleman.

It seemed wise to save this money for unexpected situations. I began asking people for directions to the headquarters, but their responses were extremely cold.

"The Cult of the Sun God?"

"...Why are you looking for those damned folks?"

"If it's that beggar group, it's over there."

"Turn around the corner of that building. It's probably on the outskirts of the city."

"So you're actually going to find that trash... Did they cheat some money off you?"

I already knew about their lack of recognition. I was aware that they were treated as mere extras.

But!

Even so!

There should be some limit, damn it!

I stood in front of a rundown, abandoned building. It was a large structure disguised as a church. I stood in front of the creaking door, beyond the iron bars that wouldn't close. The bottom part of the door was missing altogether.

Even though the wind seeped in, there was just a singular piece of cloth attached.There was no warmth emanating, only an abundance of cold air. If nothing else, one thing was clear.

It would be cold inside too. Damn it.

"...Excuse me?"

I knocked lightly. I was taking the first step into my turbulent fantasy life.

The door opened, and a pale face slowly emerged. Upon seeing my face, he rummaged through his pockets.

"...I'm sorry."

The old man offered me a single piece of candy.

"This is all I have right now."

"No, it's just that..."

I accepted the candy for now.

"I came to join."

"...What?"

I showed the mark of the Sun God imprinted on the back of my hand. Proof of being chosen by the Sun God. The old man blinked in surprise.

"The mark... of the Sun God… A person certified by Ra... but..."

The old man's sigh was deep. It seemed to reflect my own feelings.

"Why did you come to this branch in a remote city with nothing, instead of the main headquarters of the order?"

...Wait a minute.

This isn't the headquarters of the order?

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