Chapter 25 : Missionary Work (3)

People often had fantasies about big cities.

Every day, something new would happen, and names that no one had ever heard of would appear like a rising star, making their mark.

They thought that every day would be filled with interesting events, with no time for boredom.

However, in big cities, it wasn’t like every day was full of new happenings.

If such things happened every day without fail, how could the city function with all that noise and chaos?

“I’m so bored.”

A man mumbled as he stared at the ceiling, just like any other day.

He thought that as he got older, he would get used to boredom, but it didn’t seem to work that way.

At that moment, a man carrying a box full of luggage spoke to him.

“Tom, if you’ve got the energy to grumble, just move the luggage. 

My big brother brought in a pretty big load.”

“Hasn’t work been slow lately? I heard Mr. Avaro complaining about it while drinking a few days ago.”

Tom spoke as if confused, and then shared the load of boxes. 

Even if he was bored, he couldn’t slack off at work.

To take care of his family, he had to bear at least a little effort.

As the weight of the box was reduced, the man became more talkative and said to Tom:

“Do you know Mr. Victor?”

“Yeah. He’s a real estate agent close to Mr. Avaro. He even worked on building his house.”

“Well, that guy personally took on a job. He said a friend of his bought a church on the outskirts of the city and asked for repairs.”

“There was a church in such a place?”

Churches were usually built in clean and secure areas. 

This way, the congregation could visit with peace of mind.

The higher-ups in the church also preferred to establish grand buildings in prime locations to assert their authority.

So, Tom never imagined there would be a church in some corner of the city…

“It’s a really old building. It’s been around since my grandfather’s grandfather.”

“At that age, it’s surprising it hasn’t collapsed.”

“It was managed by the church, but some rich noble bought it and used it like a house. 

Then, Mr. Victor’s friend bought it from him.”

“The previous owner sounds interesting.”

Was the previous owner someone quite devout?

Tom felt a bit envious. 

If only he had money, he could make regular donations and reserve his place in heaven.

It felt sad that without money, even knocking on heaven’s door was hard.

But in times of sadness, he had to earn money to put at least a little bread in his family’s mouths.

With his coworkers, Tom packed up the luggage and headed for the church on the outskirts.

However…

“What’s this? Wasn’t Mr. Victor’s friend a priest? Why are there so many people?”

“Uh… I haven’t heard anything like that.”

The forgotten church, lost to time, was now bustling with people as if time had reversed.

Most of them looked like shabby folks, being in such a secluded area, but still, it was strange to see so many people in an abandoned church.

Tom and his coworkers looked around, confused.

“Hey, isn’t Mr. Avaro talking to someone?”

“Look at that guy’s face. Did he eat some bad mushrooms?”

The usually stoic leader was laughing as he spoke with a woman.

But when Tom saw her face, he unconsciously nodded.

“Talking to a beauty like that, he’s bound to either cry or laugh.”

If people were made of gold, would they not turn into such a beautiful woman?

The sun in the sky seemed to be shining just for her. 

How could someone’s hair be so beautiful, as if it were spun from gold?

At that moment, Mr. Avaro, noticing them, bowed his head to the woman and approached them.

“Brother, who is that lady? She looks like the most beautiful woman in the city.”

“What is she, you ask? She’s our employer, Mr. Victor’s benefactor, and also my benefactor.”

“Benefactor? Mr. Avaro, did you borrow money or something?”

Slap!

Avaro gave Tom a light flick on the forehead for speaking foolishly.

Tom held his forehead, feeling like it had been hit with a rock.

“Ow! You could’ve just said it!”

“This fool, talking nonsense… It’s not like that. She helped my daughter. 

If you offend her, you’ll be dead by my hands.”

Avaro, who didn’t normally show such warmth, was fiercely protective of his daughter.

Upon hearing that it was related to his daughter, Tom and his coworkers nodded quietly.

They all knew that Avaro’s daughter had lost her husband in a recent unfortunate event.

‘So that’s why her face has been looking better lately.’

Tom couldn’t help but stare at the woman in amazement. 

What kind of magic did this young lady have to ease the sorrow of losing her husband?

Curiosity stirred inside him, but he couldn’t focus on that now. 

He was there to work.

He shoved his curiosity back down and began the repair work with Avaro.

They tore down the old fence, rebuilt it with bright bricks, replaced the worn-out pillars, window frames, and floors with sturdier ones.

Obviously, it wasn’t something that could be finished in a day. 

Simply bringing in more workers didn’t speed up progress.

“Miss Joanna is providing lunch! Everyone, stop what you’re doing and eat!”

“Wow… As expected, it’s best to work for the rich.”

The lunch provided was a stew with lots of meat, bread, and apples.

The rich, greasy smell made Tom’s mouth water as he looked around for a place to sit.

‘Eating at the worksite doesn’t feel right…’

At that moment, he heard the woman’s voice from behind the church.

Thinking about it, they hadn’t worked at the back of the church today. 

Of course, there was no dust or clutter, so there should be plenty of room.

Tom, thinking it would be simple, headed toward the back of the church…

“Today, we will talk about love for others. What is love, really?”

Under the tree where the sun shone brightly, Joanna was talking to the people.

Old chairs brought from inside, and wild weeds growing everywhere. 

The neglected backyard wasn’t in good shape.

However, the people didn’t seem to mind at all, as if those things were insignificant.

Tom, amazed by the scene, sat in a suitable spot and started watching the people.

What could be such an important story that people were staring blankly, so absorbed in listening to it? 

“Honor your neighbors, and be a source of strength to those who are suffering. The hand of salvation you extend will ripple out like a stone thrown into a lake.” 

It was the kind of old-fashioned story you’d commonly hear in church. 

However, Tom forgot about his meal and, with a dazed expression, focused on Joanna’s voice.

The right words that anyone could say strangely resonated with him every time they left her mouth, almost echoing in his heart. 

Joanna’s story continued until lunch ended, and as the afternoon work began, Tom returned to his tasks with an unfamiliar feeling.

‘This feels… strange.’ 

He had simply been working hard to provide for his family. 

But when a noble young lady told him that what he was doing was right and good, his shoulders straightened, and he felt light and happy. 

Thanks to that, he could keep working hard even on the boring tasks. 

Hearing that everything he did had meaning made him feel energized. 

As he worked tirelessly, the sky grew darker, signaling the approach of evening. 

“Let’s start wrapping up and head home!” 

“Yes!” 

At Avaro’s command, the workers began to pack up their tools and prepare to leave. 

At that moment, Emily, who had been watching carefully, appeared outside the building.

“Everyone! Take a book with you on your way out!” 

At the church’s main entrance, Emily shouted to those leaving the church. 

Fortunately, it seemed her bold shout paid off. 

“Wow, isn’t that the one she mentioned last time?” 

“Is that… the Bible?” 

People expressed interest and moved closer to Emily. 

Tom picked up the Bible with a somewhat reluctant expression. 

The Bible was usually full of praise for God’s majesty and authority, so it was hard for him to get excited. 

Honestly, why would he respect a god he had no interest in? 

“Still, for Joanna’s sake.” 

“Isn’t it okay to at least read it? The god she serves must be different in some way.” 

“God’s all the same, what’s the big deal… 

“We’re already getting lunch, so reading a book is nothing.” 

In a world with nothing to do, reading the Bible for fun seemed like something people would do.

After seeing people pick up the Bible, Emily gestured for them to follow her. 

“Thank you for listening to the Saint’s words. While reading, would you like some sandwiches to satisfy your hunger?” 

“Oh my, you didn’t have to do this!” 

“No… If I give it all away, what will I have left?” 

The sandwiches were made with ham, lettuce, and eggs. 

The smell of freshly baked bread and fresh ham filled the air, and Tom couldn’t resist. 

People, almost in a daze, picked up the sandwiches with one hand and began reading the Bible. 

One bite of sandwich for every page of the Bible. 

One bite of sandwich for every three pages of the Bible… 

Soon, one corner of the church was filled with people deeply immersed in reading the Bible. The sound of pages flipping quietly echoed in the air as the warm spring breeze blew. 

Among them was Tom, who had visited the church for the first time today. 

He didn’t understand the difficult words and, being uneducated, didn’t know what the Bible’s contents fully meant. 

But the respect and consideration contained within it felt different from the passages the priests usually recited in church. 

This Bible was filled with praise for human effort and good deeds, not the grandeur of God.

[Dantalion said that a good person, who lives rightly, should be respected and honored accordingly.] 

‘Who is this god Dantalion? What does he do?’ 

The question became curiosity, and curiosity became the driving force to read and explore. 

Tom, the next day and the day after, after work, chose to stay at the church to read the book and listen to Joanna’s words instead of heading home. 

And on the day the church’s repairs and expansion were completed, Tom stayed behind at the church instead of going home. 

“From today, we will pray to Lord Dantalion. If anyone feels uncomfortable…” 

“No! How could we feel uncomfortable praying for someone who truly cares about us?” 

“Before we knew Lord Dantalion, we were living aimlessly, without any purpose!” 

He had become a passionate believer, shouting the name of the great one. 

How could he not praise the only god who told him his life had meaning? 

Tom had no regrets in choosing to serve this god. And he was not the only one. 

Thus, in the outskirts of a city that no one cared about, an unknown presence began to take root in faith.

To be continued…