Aboard the Platinum.

On the bottom floor of the cabin, in the corner where cargo is piled.

The "little man" was playing the harmonica unique to the western region of Suinhall. It was the only place on the ship that was quiet enough, and as the second officer, he was qualified to enter and exit freely.

He leaned in the corner and blew hard, trying to piece together a perfect song.

But the swinging of the boat always interrupted his rhythm and breath.

When the waves bumped the boat again, the harmonica suddenly came out of his mouth and even scratched the corner of his mouth.

The "dwarf" didn't say anything, but calmly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and then put the harmonica to his mouth again.

However, when I put it on, I found that blood had flowed out again, and the harmonica was stained with blood.

He wiped the harmonica hard with his fingers, but couldn't get it clean.

The harder you push, the dirtier it gets.

He had no choice but to wipe it with his clothes. As a result, the harmonica was not wiped clean and even his clothes were stained.

The "dwarf" looked at the harmonica that could not be cleaned no matter how hard it was, and the embarrassed face reflected on the metal mirror with its wooden shell.

all of these.

It's like saying.

Once some dirt is stained, it can never be wiped off.

A moment.

The second officer of the Platinum went from expressionless to upset and scared.

It was not a sudden change, it was just at this moment that the true emotions in my heart were revealed.

"Damn it!"

His body suddenly bounced up and hit the bulkhead on one side.

His face, which always looked optimistic and full of smiles, became extremely ferocious, and his eyes were so wide that they seemed to bulge out.

He grabbed the heavy wine barrel hard and slammed his head against the edge.

"Why!"

He exerted so much force that he broke his forehead, but he ignored it and continued to hit it one after another.

It was as if this collision of flesh and hard wood did not make him feel pain, but could relieve the anger, depression and uneasiness in his heart.

"Why is there no place for me in this world?"

"Why does everything always have to be against me?"

He wanted to shout at the top of his lungs, but in the end he could only hold back his voice and let out an indistinct growl.

"Why, every time I find a new place to live, I have to become a homeless beggar again."

"Why can't I get everything I want?"

"Why are you forcing me? I don't want much, I just want to find a place that belongs to me."

"A small... place that belongs to us..."

"It's just..."

Between the violent collision and venting, the "little man"'s mind gradually resurfaced with scenes from the past.

He comes from the Red Soil Province of Suinhall.

A place that was deeply imprinted by both the Abyss Order and the Silver Church is also a place with confusing and complex beliefs.

Whether it is the righteous god or the evil god, whether it is the god of wisdom or the god of life, and even those who falsely claim to be gods, they all spread their faith in this land.

Not only that, there are also old nobles who are unwilling to take away their power and those who try to disintegrate the kingdom are active here.

In addition, because it is close to the Ewell Route, countless sea adventurers flock here.

And in that intertwined area of ​​all chaos, Red Earth City.

A little beggar who was only a few years old stood in front of a temple. He was wearing clothes full of dirt and one sleeve was missing.

The beggar's hair was in clumps, but his eyes were extraordinarily bright, and the skin beneath the dirt revealed the elasticity and smoothness of a child.

“How gorgeous!”

"Is this the temple of God?"

"It seems that what they said is true. Everything is in the Kingdom of God."

The first time he came to Red Earth City, he couldn't recognize which god's temple it was. He only came here because he heard people say that after death, people will go to the kingdom of gods.

There, mortals will get everything they want.

The man leaned on his side and told himself.

"dwarf."

"Don't be afraid of death, because we are born into this world to suffer."

"But it doesn't matter, because all our suffering will eventually be rewarded."

"Is there a kingdom of God waiting for us?"

The other party described to him what the Kingdom of God should be like, but he didn't understand anything and could only make sounds of admiration and longing.

But at this moment, the little beggar looked at the gorgeous temples and palaces.

It turned out to be very similar to part of the Kingdom of God that the man described to him. It was also at this moment that he suddenly felt that death might not be terrible after all.

because.

It doesn't matter if this world is imperfect, there is another perfect world waiting for them.

The divine attendants in the temple came and went, and finally someone paid attention to him and asked him.

"Where do you want to go?"

Little beggar: "Let me see in advance where we will go after we die. It belongs to the kingdom of God."

The god's servant smiled, but still asked: "Do you have any gods that you believe in? Which god's country do you want to go to?"

The little beggar said: "Any god will do."

But the god's attendant said: "Then you are destined to be unable to enter the kingdom of any god."

Little beggar: “Why, doesn’t God love the world?”

The divine attendant said: "But the premise is that you offer enough piety and receive God's blessing."

Little beggar: "So if you are not pious, God will not give gifts and will not love the world?"

The divine servant shook his head, turned and left.

But the little beggar chased after him: "Have you not said that without God's blessing, you will not be able to go to the Kingdom of God after death?"

The god's servant turned around and told the little beggar: "Only God's servants can enter the kingdom of God."

After the little beggar went back in despair.

“Can only servants of God enter the Kingdom of God?”

"Then what do we do?"

In the darkness, he walked through a secret passage that was accidentally discovered and only known to the underground world, and came to a shanty town outside the city where poor people lived.

But here there was actually a large group of the same beggars waiting for him. When they saw his return, they immediately gathered around and shouted to him excitedly.

"faster."

"Where did you run to?"

"Dwarf, a big shot is looking for you."

"Really, big shot."

The little beggar has seen it.

Because the man was standing far away, wearing bright clothes, and was incompatible with the dirty and smelly streets.

He stood hesitantly and did not dare to step forward, watching the man in silver-white robes walking towards him.

The man held his shoulders and showed an evil smile: "Congratulations, you have been selected to become God's apprentice."

The little beggar raised his head and his eyes lit up: "Which god is it?"

The man spread his hands and said in a longing voice: "The Silver God."

The little beggar asked: "Why?"

The other party replied: "Because you have been chosen by the will of death."

The little beggar looked at the man longingly, and asked him: "In this case, will I be able to enter the kingdom of God after I die?"

The other party replied: "Of course."
To be continued...