“…Yes. Maybe?”
In truth, it had only been a day since Yuda came into this world. All he knew about this Kaseun that he mentioned came from some basic settings, a 3D model, and a 2D image. So, confidently claiming he knew him would’ve been odd. Thankfully, he didn’t ask further. Seron just looked at Yuda with a pitying expression before offering a gentle smile.
“Alright. That man said he will come to take you this afternoon. Even if it’s stuffy, wait here a bit longer. If you would like, feel free to explore the temple.”
Seron stood and left the room after gathering the stacked dishes. He didn’t close the door behind him, likely a silent permission to roam as he pleased.
“He’s a considerate one.”
Yuda took a deep breath and glanced around the room. Maybe because it was part of a temple, this small space felt strangely beautiful. The walls and ceiling blended white and brown in perfect harmony, and the simple yet well-maintained furniture was neatly arranged. The room didn’t feel dirty at all—probably cleaned daily.
There wasn’t much to gain from looking around, so he let go of any lingering interest and stepped out through the open door. Thinking back to his arrival at the temple that morning, he couldn’t hide his awe.
From the outside, it looked like a modest building, but inside, it was far grander than he had imagined. He vaguely remembered setting it as one of Serenia’s standout structures. The fact that even these details had come to life made him chuckle as he slowly explored, taking in things he'd missed in his morning daze.
No priests stopped him as he wandered the temple. When he gave a slight bow, they smiled, returned the greeting, and went on their way. It let him take his time, and the more he saw, the more he thought what a stunning place this was.
In the central hall, pillars rose every 3-4 meters, supporting a triangular roof. With nothing else up to the 3-4 story-high ceiling, it felt incredibly majestic.
Maybe it seemed even more so through a child’s eyes. The pillars and walls were intricately carved with elaborate patterns down to the smallest detail.
The central hall connected to several areas, and he especially liked the spiral staircase leading to the second floor. No one stopped him, making him wonder if there were even any restricted zones. It felt so free that he began to question, Is it really okay to wander like this?
The temple wasn’t as vast as its grandeur suggested, nor was it divided into many sections like it appeared from the outside. There was just the chapel, a lounge, a dining hall, an administrative office, restrooms, and living quarters. Of these, the chapel, which could be reached by going a bit further from the central hall, stood out the most.
Long benches, spacious enough for six people, lined both sides, leading to a goddess statue and a massive organ at the far end. Since it wasn’t prayer time, the huge chapel was empty, letting him walk down the central aisle alone. A plush red carpet with golden patterns cushioned the floor, and he stepped carefully across it.
“…Incredible.”
As he walked further in, his eyes went first to the pipe organ dominating the chapel’s end, even before the goddess statue. A massive instrument filling the wall, it was the stuff of legends. Hundreds of pipes stretched toward the ceiling, overwhelming him with their sheer presence.
It’s no lie that they call it the king of instruments.
Or maybe it felt so grand because this was his first time seeing one in person.
Did anyone in this temple know how to play it?
If so, he'd love to see it performed live.
But as he got closer, he realized that while the organ was impressive, the goddess statue in front of it was the true masterpiece.
Four pairs of wide-spreading wings, long hair cascading to her thighs, and a face that anyone would call beautiful. Her delicate figure, with arms crossed and eyes closed, was absolutely breathtaking.
If his guess was right, this exquisitely crafted statue depicted the 〈Second Holy King - Yophiel〉.
Holy kings in this world served as stand-ins for gods.
Just as lords ruled the demon realm, holy kings led the angels in the heavens, wielding divine authority. In their cosmic rivalry, the demon realm and the heavens opposed each other. However, angels weren’t inherently good, so it was easier to view it as a racial conflict.
Humans and other races called these clashes the wars of the gods, revering and worshiping them as deities. Yophiel, one such holy king, was honored as the goddess of peace and protection.
Staring up at her statue, he felt a warm energy wash over him.
[You have gazed upon the meticulously crafted statue of the 〈Second Holy King - Yophiel〉, where countless people offer morning prayers for peace.]
[You feel the warm energy emanating from the statue. This energy calms your mind and brings you luck.]
[Luck stat increases by 2.]
[For one week, your growth rate accelerates, and fatigue recovery speeds up.]
It wasn’t his imagination. A holographic message appeared in the corner of his vision, unobtrusive but clear. Just looking at the statue boosted his luck stat by 2 in one go.
“This is out of my expectations.”
Seeing his stat rise, it seemed there were ways to increase them beyond leveling up or using item points. In the game, eating rare items could grant bonus stats, but he didn’t recall setting this up. To think merely witnessing something precious could raise his abilities.
This meant he could boost his stats without leveling. Maybe even training his body through repetition could work. He would need to test it later to be sure, but if it panned out, it’d be solid motivation. At just seven years old, raising his stats before heading out on adventures could significantly lower the difficulty of this game.
“Come to think of it, Sian didn’t assign any helper.”
He was grateful enough for the system he provided, but it would have be easier if there was something to explain whether this world matched his original setting or how the system differed. No such luck.
This was an unkind game with no trace of a guide. Sian’s words that it was a game yet not a game struck hard, grounding him in harsh reality.
He needed to leave this place soon to dig into the system and gather more info.
When would this Kaseun Sabnak, my supposed guardian, show up?
He had been exploring the temple for over two hours already.
Lost in thought while staring at the goddess statue, he heard footsteps from behind.
The carpet muffled them so much he didn’t notice until they were close.
“Here you are.”
Speaking of the devil.
Turning at the voice, he saw Paladin Seron standing there. He wasn’t alone—he’d brought an old man who seemed to be his guardian, Kaseun Sabnak.
“No doubt, that should be him.”
One look confirmed it. Kaseun Sabnak matched his 2D game image almost perfectly. His hair was swept back, exposing his forehead, and his bushy white beard gave off a bandit-leader vibe.
…No, scratch that. He resembled Jean Valjean from Les Misérables—a rugged, strong impression. Seeing a character he had created with his own eyes was a fresh experience. For a moment, he wondered if this was why people collected figurines. A random thought.
Seron noticed him staring at the man behind him, stepped aside, and introduced him.
“This gentleman here is Kaseun Sabnak.”
Calling him a grandfather seemed off given how fit he looked, but Seron added with a hearty laugh, “Though he’s too spry for that title.” True enough, Kaseun was remarkably vigorous.
It seemed “grandfather” here didn’t mean a frail old man but someone with the solid muscle of youth.
At a glance, the towering figure strode lightly toward him, surprisingly graceful for his size, and crouched down in front of him. Even in a crouch, his bulk was reassuring. If first impressions were being judged, he had already passed with flying colors.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kaseun Sabnak.”
He gave a warm, disarming smile and extended his hand.
“Yuda… Arshe.”
Shaking his hand, Kaseun smiled with satisfaction.
“I know. You can call me Grandfather. Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll be your guardian, taking care of everything until you’re an adult. Whatever you want to do or achieve, I’ll pave the way, so you’ve got nothing to fear.”
Trust me. It’s the least I can do to repay the kindness your father showed me.
He reached out a big hand and ruffled Yuda’s hair. Under that warm touch, Yuda felt tension melt away for the first time since arriving in this world and grinned broadly. In the end, Kaseun Sabnak was far kinder than Yud had expected—beyond what his appearance suggested.
* * *
──────────────────────────────
「Status Window」
[Name: Yuda Arshe]
[Title: None]
[Level: 4]
[Class: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden_A)]
[Revival Count: 1]
[Strength: 20(D) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 15(F) / Potential S]
[Agility: 15(F) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 30(D) / Potential B]
[Mana Resistance: 50(C) / Potential S]
[Luck: 77(B) / Potential A] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 3]
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
***Author’s Note***
That feeling when you first meet~
If you’re chasing that thrill~
The author isn’t on drugs. Probably not. Right?
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