1 Pilgrimage

[I've published chapter 0, please check it out.]

"Hello, everyone, my name is Nesta Venos, and I welcome you all to God News." A human-like voice emanated from the eagle-headed woman on the television. She sat down in front of a large screen, presenting the news with the professionalism of any regular newscaster.

If it weren't for her ample chest, it would have been impossible for Leon or anyone else to guess her gender, given her dark brown, pointed, sleek head with a beak.

She was a hawk-type Tayirian, the race that Earthlings used to call as Bird People.

"We will start with news more blessed than the ones before," even though it was nearly impossible to discern it from her expression, the tone of her voice echoed her joy in presenting the news, "Our mighty Gods have blessed a new intelligent race with their saving light!"

Maybe because of her sudden exclamation or the surprising news. Leon, the golden-haired boy with glistening stars in his cat-like gray eyes, almost jumped up in intrigue.

"What!?"

"What's up, son?"

He didn't even bother to turn his head to look at the gorgeous woman behind in the kitchen, preparing the breakfast.

Even if she was irked by the unexpected raise of volume, she still kept her calm, as if nothing can terrify her anymore.

Such a beautiful woman was she, as though gold mines all across the Earth melted in the presence of her breathtakingly pale oval face, then streamed through the entire world to create her night-cleaving hair.

"Seems like they've found a new race! Come here!"

Even in the face of such fascinating news, she kept her composure, slowly wiped her hands, and sat beside her son, Leon. Her eyes remained locked onto the blue screen before them, emanating from the hologram television.

Unlike traditional projectors, hologram televisions didn't require an entire system to start. Just a gray metal-like cylindrical device with a circle composed of black metal inside it was enough, which is what people call hologram television.

The news station transitioned the scene to a different, alien being. However, this being's shape wasn't foreign to the Earthlings since it was a delicacy from the seas, an octopus.

Yet, there was one more reason for them to take it casually.

"He looks like one of those Merpeople."

"How do you know he is a he though?" Giggled his mother, Mary.

After a short glance at her, slipped a sigh, "True enough…"

On the screen was a humanoid black octopus, standing on their own tentacles similar to three legs, looking at the cameras. The ocean blue scenery behind spreads to the horizon, without even a single land, revealing they live on a planet like Neptune.

As the cameras approached the octopus person, all the tentacles suddenly raised into the air, along with arms resembling a human's. A deep voice, as if from the depths of the ocean, found its way to the microphones.

**Death to usurpers! They stole our planet and shamed us with slavery! We shall never obey you, never forgive you!**

This was both the start and end of the video.

"I wonder what he said?" Innocently looked at his mother's eyes; unlike his, matching the color of the humanoid octopus's planet.

"Maybe the newscaster will tell us." Her precious, motherly smile resembled an angel's heartwarming blessing.

Which is what exactly has happened.

The newscaster's tone remained joyful, almost about to jump up. "Our dear Gods granted us the knowledge of translation!" She stood up for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

"Excuse me, as it's my first time conveying the words of Gods, I've allowed myself to embrace my delight. I hope you won't mind this unprofessional side of mine."

Her respect was at its finest, "As you already aware of, our Gods have transcended the language barrier thanks to their divine energy. Translating something is as easy as breathing for them, like any and everything else."

Since she was about to relay the words of Gods, she tidied her as tidily as they could be clothes once again. Seated right in front of the camera, making sure she is entirely in the middle of the news station.

Took her hands off the table and let out a short cough, "Long live the Gods! We earned our freedom thanks to our benevolent Gods! We shall follow you until the end of times!"

"I feel like he didn't say something like that, though…"

Leon's mother, Mary, also shared the same sentiment.

Despite being from entirely different races and cultures, they both felt the rage of that person. A wrath akin to holding onto the knife of vengeance against those who stole their most precious one.

Gave a quick glance at her jacket's button, being absolutely sure she was at her best looks, the newscaster, Nesta slowly got up from her seat. She didn't even turn her eyes off the camera for a second while getting up, then slowly bowed to it.

"I, Nesta Venos, give my utmost gratitude to our Gods and Goddesses on behalf of the newly saved race. I also share the joy of having one another free race to join us. Thank you to all of our Gods and Goddesses for watching over any and every being."

Excessive. That was the thought that crossed the minds of both Leon and Mary, as well as some other viewers. Yet, it couldn't be said for everyone, as some people got up from their seats and bowed to their televisions.

"After sharing this blessing of news, I kindly remind those who live on the Earth not to forget today is Saturday."

"We still have lots of time, right?"

Despite saying so, Leon turned his eyes to the black wristwatch on his left arm, the God Watch. It was ten o'clock, and they still had around three and a half hours to join the pilgrimage.

"Ye- Cough!"

Leon turned his eyes to his mother's pale face. It wasn't the first time she had coughed like that, so he remained calm. However, worry lingered on Leon's face, dispelled only by a gentle pat on the head, though it still remained in the deepest dungeons of his heart.

"I'm yet to take my pills, that's all. There's absolutely nothing to worry about." Send out her gentle smile once again.

Her face was the manifestation of roses about to wither away by the autumn's fierce breeze.

"Let's eat." Without further ado, Leon took his mother's hand and accompanied her to the already set table, not wanting to delay taking the pills even for a second more.

The entire mealtime passed with Leon keeping one eye on his mother, checking the time. When the moment came, he immediately dashed to the desk next to the fridge, opened the first drawer, and took out a pill about the size of a grape, along with a glass of water.

"There you go."

"Thank you."

"Are you really okay, though?"

"As I've said before, there is nothing to worry about. I'm getting better and better."

"Are you sure?"

"When did you see me lying?"

"Well…"

"Right?"

"I've nothing to say about that."

"I bet. Now, we still have around three hours or something. So, go do your thing."

"Alright." After glancing at his mother, Leon took his way upstairs to play the game he had recently been playing, Gods Online.

Although Gods had changed many things in people's lives compared to a century ago, they had refrained from meddling entirely to avoid wiping them out. Among the untouched aspects, games and novels were Leon's favorites.

Yet, none of them had a story about going against the gods, which was something that even the thought of is forbidden. In fact, the stories these days were all about being either a helper of Gods or a soldier, serving in one way or another to them.

Time flies as quickly as thunder while playing games.

"Leon, we have one hour left!"

"Alright!"

The sound of his mother from behind the door prompted him to rush to the bathroom. He, like everyone else, had to abide by the rules of prayer. He was on his way to follow the second rule: Be presentable in front of God.

One of the introduced aspects to Earthlings' lives was prayer. Every city on the Earth had at least one prayer site, while Leon's Harbinger City had two of them, even though it wasn't much of a city, marking the places where only one prayer site could be found as villages.

If you are a citizen, you have to show yourself at the prayer site, no matter what. That is why, every Monday and Wednesday, people begin their working life in the afternoon since the prayer time is decided at 11 a.m.

For today, Saturday, people had decided on 2 p.m. for the prayer time. This decision was made by people a century ago, voting with their free will. At least, deciding the prayer time was an act of free will.

"Come on, Leon, we have to leave."

Hearing his mother's urgency, Leon quickly checked his God Watch. It was 1:25 p.m. The time had come to meet their neighbor, more like a family friend, and head to the prayer site.