Yeah, that's exactly what it felt like.
From the servants wearing robes that resembled formal attire to the atmosphere emanating from inside the building, this place definitely resembled a temple.
‘What the heck is this...’
The Crown Prince was confused by the completely unexpected atmosphere, but this was only the beginning.
“Yes, come in.”
The man who had been leading the way suddenly stopped walking and pushed the Crown Prince into a door. It was a bathroom.
It was a luxurious bathroom that looked like it belonged in a nobleman's mansion, not a public bathhouse for commoners.
Even inside the white porcelain bathtub, warm water was rising and steaming.
The Crown Prince looked up at the man with puzzled eyes.
'No matter how you look at it, this isn't a bathroom that an orphan who was brought here under the pretense of adoption would use.'
He thought the man was going to order him to clean, but he said something unexpected.
But the words that came out of the man's mouth were truly unexpected.
“Wash.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you don’t seem that young, so you should be able to wash by yourself, right?”
The Crown Prince nodded absentmindedly, and the man who had been saying “Okay” rummaged through the shelves and took something out.
“Then wash up and change into this. It should fit roughly.”
And then he quickly ran out of the bathroom.
When the Crown Prince went to see what it was, he saw that the man had given him clothes. They were pure white clothes, just like the ones worn by the servants here.
'Are you going to use me as a servant?'
But that guess didn't make sense either.
If they're going to do chores, it would be better to bring in an older child, but this group was asking for a child who was exactly six or seven years old.
'I don't know what the purpose is for now.'
However, since the person who was supposed to be asking the question had already left the bathroom, the Crown Prince had no choice but to follow the man's instructions.
After enjoying such unexpected luxury, he left the bathroom and the man waiting in front of him took him somewhere else.
“This is where you will stay. It will be lunchtime soon, so wait inside.”
And then he just disappeared again.
He was a man who didn't give him any time to ask questions.
The Crown Prince sighed briefly as he watched the man walk away and soon opened the door.
Inside, there was a crowd of children who looked to be around his age.
Among them, some children had been staying at the same orphanage but had left a few days ago under the pretext of adoption.
'Why on earth did they gather so many children together?'
Judging from the fact that they gave him nice clothes and a nice hot bath, it certainly didn't seem like he was brought in as a worker.
It was at that very moment that the Crown Prince was completely at a loss.
“Huh? You... right?”
Suddenly, a child appeared in front of the Crown Prince.
He looked familiar, so he took a closer look and saw that it was the same child he had given up his meal to the first day he entered the orphanage.
'Yes, this child was also adopted.'
He had left the orphanage three days before that and was adopted.
'You've gained some weight since then.'
Until a few days ago, the child had thin cheeks and a face full of pimples, but now he had gained some weight and his face was clearer.
Seeing how much has changed in just three days, it seems like he's been living a pretty good life here.
As the Crown Prince was quietly observing the child, the child smiled brightly and hugged him.
“Wow, that’s right! I didn’t know you’d be here too!”
Even though they had only talked to each other once, the child was so happy that he jumped up and down, but then he looked worried and caressed the Crown Prince's cheek.
“But why have you lost so much weight? You look thinner than when I first saw you.”
"I?"
At the child's words, the Crown Prince absentmindedly brought the back of his hand to his face.
A rough sensation he had never felt before was transmitted to the back of his hand.
'Well, I haven't been able to eat or sleep properly for about a week.'
It was natural for him to lose weight and have damaged skin.
Just as the Crown Prince was about to say that it was nothing serious, the child hit his forehead as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, that’s right. They don’t serve much food there. I’ve only been here for a few days and I’ve already forgotten everything.”
Hehe, the laughing child suddenly grabbed the Crown Prince's hand and comforted him.
“It’s okay! This place is completely different from that orphanage! They provide three meals a day, and they even provide meat and fish! You don’t have to do laundry or dishes? Isn’t that amazing?”
The Crown Prince was momentarily speechless at the sight of the child happily reciting the things he was entitled to as a child belonging to a state-supported institution.
But it was definitely interesting.
Why is it that the group that sends water to the Saintess brings in children and takes such good care of them?
“What is this place? Why do you bring us here, feed us, and look after us?”
When the Crown Prince asked casually, the child muttered, “Oh, that?” and soon opened his mouth with a big smile.
“It is Ibis’s will.”
“Ibis?”
The Crown Prince furrowed his brow at the word he heard for the first time.
'Looking at the name attached to the end, it's definitely a person's name, but is he perhaps a nobleman?'
It was then that the Crown Prince searched his memory to recall a nobleman with the surname 'Ibis'.
Shocking words came out of the child's mouth.
“Yes, Ibis is our goddess’s name!”
“Goddess? What does that mean...”
He shook his head, his brow furrowed at the child's unexpected remark.
“The name of Catalonia’s guardian deity is Hethel. Didn’t they teach you that in an orphanage?”
Even if it is a daycare center that neglects children, it is impossible for it not to teach about the nation's one and only god...
He couldn't hide his embarrassment, but the child hurriedly covered his mouth.
“Shh, you shouldn’t say things like that!”
The child looked around to see if anyone was listening and quietly whispered something.
But those words were extremely embarrassing.
“Hethel is a goddess of the old days. From now on, Ibis will rule this world.”
“Goddess of the old days?”
“Yes, Hethel has abandoned us. She has brought down strange disasters and caused us suffering, and she has not cared for us even as people are dying.”
The eyes of the child who spoke like that were filled with hatred for the goddess Hethel.
It was at that moment that the Crown Prince was embarrassed by the childish gaze.
The anger that had covered the child's eyes disappeared as if washed away, and an unknown awe covered them.
“But our Ibis is different. She loves us, even lowly orphans. She feeds us, bathes us in warm water, and takes care of us so that we can grow up well! So that we can become workers of the new era!”
“What the heck is that...”
The Crown Prince's eyebrows furrowed.
There were more than a few things he wanted to ask: who on earth had told him such a thing, and who the goddess Ibis was referring to.
But he missed the opportunity because of the servants who showed up at that moment.
“Okay, kids. It’s happy lunchtime. Everyone gathers in the dining room.”
"Yes!"
The children lined up and headed somewhere. The Crown Prince also joined the line, held by a child's hand.
“Come on, let’s go too. If we go to a restaurant, we can eat delicious food until we burst. I think you’ll be surprised.”
It was just as the child said.
The restaurant they finally arrived at was piled high with delicious food.
White wheat bread, pork steak, salad made with fresh vegetables, and even precious milk.
For children whose only meal was a slice of dry whole-grain bread, this was a rather luxurious meal that was bound to make their eyes roll back.
But contrary to his expectations, the children seemed quite calm.
Of course, he couldn't take his eyes off the food and swallowed hard, but he didn't touch it rashly and just looked at the servant. It was as if he was waiting for something more important than the food.
The servant nodded, seemingly satisfied with the sight, and opened his mouth.
“Well done. No matter how hungry you are, you must not forget to pray before meals. Now, our children. Who gave you this precious food?”
“It’s Ibis!”
“That’s right. This is food that Lord Ibis gave us out of pity for those of us who are starving. So what should we do?”
“We have to pray to Ibis for a good meal!”
“That’s right. Then let’s all pray together. Loudly so that Ibis can hear it.”
"Yes!"
The children who answered with one voice closed their eyes and clasped their hands together.
Then he shouted loudly.
“Thank you, Goddess Ibis, for giving us our daily bread!”
At that moment, the Crown Prince finally realized the truth of this place.
Yes, this place was a den of heresy.
From the servants wearing robes that resembled formal attire to the atmosphere emanating from inside the building, this place definitely resembled a temple.
‘What the heck is this...’
The Crown Prince was confused by the completely unexpected atmosphere, but this was only the beginning.
“Yes, come in.”
The man who had been leading the way suddenly stopped walking and pushed the Crown Prince into a door. It was a bathroom.
It was a luxurious bathroom that looked like it belonged in a nobleman's mansion, not a public bathhouse for commoners.
Even inside the white porcelain bathtub, warm water was rising and steaming.
The Crown Prince looked up at the man with puzzled eyes.
'No matter how you look at it, this isn't a bathroom that an orphan who was brought here under the pretense of adoption would use.'
He thought the man was going to order him to clean, but he said something unexpected.
But the words that came out of the man's mouth were truly unexpected.
“Wash.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you don’t seem that young, so you should be able to wash by yourself, right?”
The Crown Prince nodded absentmindedly, and the man who had been saying “Okay” rummaged through the shelves and took something out.
“Then wash up and change into this. It should fit roughly.”
And then he quickly ran out of the bathroom.
When the Crown Prince went to see what it was, he saw that the man had given him clothes. They were pure white clothes, just like the ones worn by the servants here.
'Are you going to use me as a servant?'
But that guess didn't make sense either.
If they're going to do chores, it would be better to bring in an older child, but this group was asking for a child who was exactly six or seven years old.
'I don't know what the purpose is for now.'
However, since the person who was supposed to be asking the question had already left the bathroom, the Crown Prince had no choice but to follow the man's instructions.
After enjoying such unexpected luxury, he left the bathroom and the man waiting in front of him took him somewhere else.
“This is where you will stay. It will be lunchtime soon, so wait inside.”
And then he just disappeared again.
He was a man who didn't give him any time to ask questions.
The Crown Prince sighed briefly as he watched the man walk away and soon opened the door.
Inside, there was a crowd of children who looked to be around his age.
Among them, some children had been staying at the same orphanage but had left a few days ago under the pretext of adoption.
'Why on earth did they gather so many children together?'
Judging from the fact that they gave him nice clothes and a nice hot bath, it certainly didn't seem like he was brought in as a worker.
It was at that very moment that the Crown Prince was completely at a loss.
“Huh? You... right?”
Suddenly, a child appeared in front of the Crown Prince.
He looked familiar, so he took a closer look and saw that it was the same child he had given up his meal to the first day he entered the orphanage.
'Yes, this child was also adopted.'
He had left the orphanage three days before that and was adopted.
'You've gained some weight since then.'
Until a few days ago, the child had thin cheeks and a face full of pimples, but now he had gained some weight and his face was clearer.
Seeing how much has changed in just three days, it seems like he's been living a pretty good life here.
As the Crown Prince was quietly observing the child, the child smiled brightly and hugged him.
“Wow, that’s right! I didn’t know you’d be here too!”
Even though they had only talked to each other once, the child was so happy that he jumped up and down, but then he looked worried and caressed the Crown Prince's cheek.
“But why have you lost so much weight? You look thinner than when I first saw you.”
"I?"
At the child's words, the Crown Prince absentmindedly brought the back of his hand to his face.
A rough sensation he had never felt before was transmitted to the back of his hand.
'Well, I haven't been able to eat or sleep properly for about a week.'
It was natural for him to lose weight and have damaged skin.
Just as the Crown Prince was about to say that it was nothing serious, the child hit his forehead as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, that’s right. They don’t serve much food there. I’ve only been here for a few days and I’ve already forgotten everything.”
Hehe, the laughing child suddenly grabbed the Crown Prince's hand and comforted him.
“It’s okay! This place is completely different from that orphanage! They provide three meals a day, and they even provide meat and fish! You don’t have to do laundry or dishes? Isn’t that amazing?”
The Crown Prince was momentarily speechless at the sight of the child happily reciting the things he was entitled to as a child belonging to a state-supported institution.
But it was definitely interesting.
Why is it that the group that sends water to the Saintess brings in children and takes such good care of them?
“What is this place? Why do you bring us here, feed us, and look after us?”
When the Crown Prince asked casually, the child muttered, “Oh, that?” and soon opened his mouth with a big smile.
“It is Ibis’s will.”
“Ibis?”
The Crown Prince furrowed his brow at the word he heard for the first time.
'Looking at the name attached to the end, it's definitely a person's name, but is he perhaps a nobleman?'
It was then that the Crown Prince searched his memory to recall a nobleman with the surname 'Ibis'.
Shocking words came out of the child's mouth.
“Yes, Ibis is our goddess’s name!”
“Goddess? What does that mean...”
He shook his head, his brow furrowed at the child's unexpected remark.
“The name of Catalonia’s guardian deity is Hethel. Didn’t they teach you that in an orphanage?”
Even if it is a daycare center that neglects children, it is impossible for it not to teach about the nation's one and only god...
He couldn't hide his embarrassment, but the child hurriedly covered his mouth.
“Shh, you shouldn’t say things like that!”
The child looked around to see if anyone was listening and quietly whispered something.
But those words were extremely embarrassing.
“Hethel is a goddess of the old days. From now on, Ibis will rule this world.”
“Goddess of the old days?”
“Yes, Hethel has abandoned us. She has brought down strange disasters and caused us suffering, and she has not cared for us even as people are dying.”
The eyes of the child who spoke like that were filled with hatred for the goddess Hethel.
It was at that moment that the Crown Prince was embarrassed by the childish gaze.
The anger that had covered the child's eyes disappeared as if washed away, and an unknown awe covered them.
“But our Ibis is different. She loves us, even lowly orphans. She feeds us, bathes us in warm water, and takes care of us so that we can grow up well! So that we can become workers of the new era!”
“What the heck is that...”
The Crown Prince's eyebrows furrowed.
There were more than a few things he wanted to ask: who on earth had told him such a thing, and who the goddess Ibis was referring to.
But he missed the opportunity because of the servants who showed up at that moment.
“Okay, kids. It’s happy lunchtime. Everyone gathers in the dining room.”
"Yes!"
The children lined up and headed somewhere. The Crown Prince also joined the line, held by a child's hand.
“Come on, let’s go too. If we go to a restaurant, we can eat delicious food until we burst. I think you’ll be surprised.”
It was just as the child said.
The restaurant they finally arrived at was piled high with delicious food.
White wheat bread, pork steak, salad made with fresh vegetables, and even precious milk.
For children whose only meal was a slice of dry whole-grain bread, this was a rather luxurious meal that was bound to make their eyes roll back.
But contrary to his expectations, the children seemed quite calm.
Of course, he couldn't take his eyes off the food and swallowed hard, but he didn't touch it rashly and just looked at the servant. It was as if he was waiting for something more important than the food.
The servant nodded, seemingly satisfied with the sight, and opened his mouth.
“Well done. No matter how hungry you are, you must not forget to pray before meals. Now, our children. Who gave you this precious food?”
“It’s Ibis!”
“That’s right. This is food that Lord Ibis gave us out of pity for those of us who are starving. So what should we do?”
“We have to pray to Ibis for a good meal!”
“That’s right. Then let’s all pray together. Loudly so that Ibis can hear it.”
"Yes!"
The children who answered with one voice closed their eyes and clasped their hands together.
Then he shouted loudly.
“Thank you, Goddess Ibis, for giving us our daily bread!”
At that moment, the Crown Prince finally realized the truth of this place.
Yes, this place was a den of heresy.
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