Landing craft, at the hatch.
The pilgrims were both expectant and slightly uneasy.
They had already discovered that this beautiful planet was not Holy Terra, but rather an unfamiliar place unrecorded in the Imperial Cult's pilgrimage manual.
Yet the reception staff at the spaceport inford them that there was a grand holy site here.
Given the friendly attitude of this planet, the pilgrims ultimately decided to proceed to the holy site on this world for worship.
Truthfully, they had no better options.
All supplies aboard the Devout were exhausted.
The pilgrims had to make contact with the local nobility to obtain so donated provisions.
Moreover, so of the pilgrims needed to find temporary work in the area to earn the food they required.
For pilgrims, no matter whether a holy planet is barren or prosperous,
Pilgrimage is always a difficult undertaking.
It can even be a form of ordeal—many die along the way.
On a barren holy planet, most local shrines receive little managent and have no facilities.
Pilgrims might have to endure searing sun and traverse perilous cliffside paths on foot for dozens of kiloters before finally reaching the shrine set atop a mountain.
With no supplies available along the way.
Most of the ti, the so-called holy site at the end of the journey is just a stone temple or a simple stone seat once used by so great figure.
On richer holy planets, the locals build vast and magnificent cathedrals at the holy sites to attract multitudes of pilgrims.
Because so many pilgrims arrive, the locals often charge a "redemption fee" to those who co to worship.
aning that pilgrims must purchase a redemption ticket to cleanse their souls before they are permitted into the immaculate core of the holy site.
However, around eighty percent of the pilgrims live in utter poverty and cannot afford to pay this fee.
They can only remain in the outer areas, gazing from dozens of kiloters away at that sacred land.
Because nurous pilgrimages last for months or even years,
Those who cannot enter the holy site linger on its outskirts, setting up clusters of filthy, sprawling shanties one after another.
To prevent these shantytowns from expanding too chaotically, the locals bring in construction machinery regularly to clear them out.
During the process, casualties can occur, sotis by accident.
All in all, pilgrimage is a journey of suffering.
Even so, the pilgrims persevere in their devotion, with neither complaint nor regret, traveling their entire lives upon this road of hardship.
To them, these trials are tests from the Emperor upon His faithful; only by enduring to the very end can they receive final salvation.
Before disembarking from the Devout, the pilgrims had ntally prepared themselves to face further ordeals.
They consud what was left of their ager food, ensuring they could at least make it to whatever food distribution point the local holy site provided.
After all, they had asked the spaceport reception staff, and were told that the holy site would offer so free food.
For that, the pilgrims were grateful—at least they would have corpse-starch rations to eat.
This planet, nad Urth, appeared to be very prosperous.
If they were fortunate, perhaps they might even taste a small bowl of not-so-moldy porridge.
Once, on a certain major shrine world of the Imperial Cult, they had enjoyed such treatnt.
Jose covered his face with his hand, shrinking back as he followed the crowd disembarking the landing craft.
His brow was knit tight, worry evident in his eyes.
Before getting off the ship, he had asked the personnel of this planet if they could grant him a job.
But the other party seed surprised, telling him,
"There is no suitable work here for visitors from afar, and certainly no arrangent for them to work. You can just focus on worship."
That staff mber then added, excitedly, that in half a year it would be his own turn to go on pilgrimage to the holy site.
Jose was astonished.
After all, pilgrimage was anything but easy.
He disliked pilgrimages, but had no power to choose otherwise.
From the mont his parents gave birth to him among the stars, his fate as a pilgrim had been sealed.
He also suffered constant bullying due to his status as a voidborn.
Now, Jose faced an even larger problem.
If this planet did not allow him to work, he would not survive until the next planet on the ager food distributed by the Devout.
Suddenly, Jose collided with sothing and snapped out of his thoughts.
It turned out the pilgrims in front had halted.
Boom!
A collective cry of surprise rose from the crowd.
They gazed upon the sight before them, scarcely able to believe their eyes.
A grand hall stood ahead, radiating a soft golden light, with solemn and sacred relief carvings upon its surrounding walls.
On either side of the road were lush lawns and trees, with small streams flowing gently, sotis revealing birds and beasts roosting among them.
Like a vision of Eden.
That building was so immaculate and holy that not even the slightest stain could be seen.
In other places, such a thing was unimaginable.
Even on the wealthiest worlds, one rarely saw such abundant greenery.
After all, most planets had beco hive worlds by now.
Perhaps only certain paradise worlds could exhibit a scene like this.
For a mont, the pilgrims stood still, afraid to advance, lest they defile anything.
The captain, hardly able to believe it, muttered: "Could this be the shrine where the holy relic is kept?"
Truly a wealthy planet!
This shrine rivaled the sanctuaries of the major sites of the Imperial Cult!
Of course, none of these pilgrims had actually set foot inside those grand shrines before—they had only gazed from afar.
"Praise the Emperor…"
The pilgrims wore expressions of joy. They straightened their attire, began to pray, and even dropped to their knees right where they stood.
...
Pilgrim Reception Hall (Outer District).
Aleman's face was still flushed, her head dizzy.
Because she had just t the great Savior in person!
He had co in person to remind them to handle the reception well and to embody the spirit of Urth.
He also told them that once the pilgrims arrived at the Holy Grand Cathedral, they should send word to him.
Then he would go to the cathedral to et with the faithful.
But none of that was what truly mattered—what mattered was that the Savior himself…really was so handso and charming!
If only she could see him more often…
Aleman clasped her cheeks in her hands, imagining working diligently and becoming an outstanding representative of the citizenry, earning a private audience with the Savior.
Then…
"Aleman, mind your professional deanor!" The reception official, unable to watch any longer, interrupted the girl's fantasy.
"I understand, for the sake of the Savior!"
Startled by the official, Aleman scrambled to stand at attention.
Then, vigorously rubbing her tingling cheeks with her hands, she restored her usual bright smile.
The official craned his neck to look outside, perplexed. "They said the pilgrims were at the entrance—why haven't they co in? Did they take a wrong turn?"
"That's unlikely, right?"
Aleman frowned. "There's only one road to this reception hall. They would see it as soon as they disembarked…"
Based on the original plan, out-of-system and local pilgrims were to register and enter the holy site at separate reception halls.
The landing craft would deliver visiting pilgrims directly to the entrance of the hall.
"Go see what's going on," the official instructed.
"Understood!"
Summoning a small hover vehicle, Aleman sped off toward the entrance of the hall.
This place was designed to accommodate registration for forty or fifty thousand people at a ti; going on foot the entire way would be exhausting.
To handle pilgrim arrivals from both within and outside the sector, they had built about a thousand or so halls like this.
At the mont, the holy site's pilgrimage area was not at full capacity—most here were from within the sector.
That amounted to around five hundred million pilgrims.
Under maximum load, the site could accommodate two billion pilgrims. It was a supermassive holy site.
Even so, it still paled compared to Holy Terra, which, rumor had it, received tens of billions of pilgrims from across the galaxy at any given mont.
When Aleman arrived outside the hall, she saw from a distance that the pilgrims were kneeling on the ground, worshiping sothing.
She was taken aback. "What's going on?"
Aleman glanced back at the reception hall sign, mostly hidden behind large trees, and quickly surmised the likely misunderstanding.
She instantly recognized the gray-haired captain ntioned in the files—the pilgrims' leader.
She hurried forward to talk with him.
The captain, absorbed in his prayers, was startled by the gentle voice of a young woman.
After learning the truth of the situation, he felt sowhat embarrassed, and also deeply shocked by this planet's abundance.
He promptly urged the pilgrims to rise and hustled them into the reception hall.
Jose, kneeling on the ground, struggled to his feet to follow the group.
Yet because of his long-term hunger, dizziness overwheld him.
The life-saving rations bestowed by that angelic figure were sothing he had never dared to eat, hoping instead to hold out until the holy site distributed free local provisions.
After only a few steps, Jose tripped over the tattered robe he wore, crashing to the ground.
His pallid face and thin fra were exposed in the sunlight.
"Oh no!"
He frantically grabbed at the scraps of cloth, trying to hide himself. But in the next mont, he felt soone gently helping him up.
"Are you all right?"
Aleman's face was filled with concern.
Jose floundered, at a loss.
He noticed that this young woman looking at him showed no trace of discomfort or disgust.
After a few seconds of silence,
He could not help but blurt: "Aren't you afraid of ? Don't you think I'm hideous?"
"Not at all…"
Aleman examined him, then glanced at her own hands. "Your skin is so fair—I'm actually envious!"
She had learned in school what it ant to be voidborn, so she understood his situation.
Her smile was gentle. "Besides, from the ti we were young, the Savior has taught us never to discriminate against others!"
Aleman was born after Urth's integration.
Children of her generation had grown up watching all kinds of educational ads by the Savior ever since preschool:
Things like: loyalty to the Savior is a citizen's greatest duty; study well and improve every day; good kids don't look down on others; the Savior is the best in the world, and so forth.
In short, nearly all children of that generation had grown into model citizens.
They harbored no ignorant prejudices.
On top of that, in Eden's domain, there were various xenos like the kroot, orks, and so on—people's mindsets were relatively open.
Of course, that acceptance only extended to themselves and their allies.
Due to certain propaganda, their attitudes toward enemies were steadfastly uncompromising.
"You must be hungry. Here, drink so of this for a quick pick--up!"
Aleman pulled out a small tube of an energy drink, handing it to Jose. It helped restore energy.
She had relied on it quite often during her academy days.
After he drank it, Jose felt much better.
Aleman then brought him onto her hover vehicle, ferrying him into the reception hall.
Inside, the arrival of nearly ten thousand pilgrims made the place bustle.
After dropping Jose off, Aleman hurried to find the captain and handle the requisite registration procedures.
Her responsibility was only to negotiate with the leader.
As for the many pilgrims, specialized servo skulls equipped with intelligence subroutines would oversee their reception.
Following a set protocol, they would guide the pilgrims step by step:
Scanning their body shapes and faces into the system, conducting thorough registration—
Recording their nas, identities, ho worlds, and other pertinent details.
From the mont the pilgrims entered the hall, they were monitored closely.
Naturally, this was done covertly so as not to cause alarm or disturb their worship.
Jose glanced at Aleman in the distance. Then, following the hall's automated voice prompts, he quietly sat down on a chair.
Soon, hundreds of servo skulls flew over.
One of them approached him, listing so guidelines while conducting identity registration.
The reception hall operated efficiently—before long, everyone had been registered.
Upon completing the process, Jose assud they could now begin the pilgrimage in the holy site.
Unexpectedly, this was only the first step.
They were inford that they would need to rest for one night in the accommodations arranged by the holy site and begin the pilgrimage the following day.
From the servo skull, Jose received a black card—his form of identification within the pilgrimage zone.
He would need it for accommodation and als in the holy site area.
The black card even included two hundred credit points for purchasing local specialties or souvenirs.
A holy site that actually handed out currency?
Jose and the pilgrims stood there in confusion, pleasantly surprised.
Then, guided by the servo skulls, Jose and the others left the reception hall.
The mont they walked out, their view opened up.
All around them lay scenery like a paradisiacal garden, bathed in gentle sunlight, tinged with a subtle sense of sanctity.
Both the magnificent scenery and the crisp air were intoxicating.
They did not know that this was the light from the Holy Sun, emanating from the sacred spire tower.
Jose and the other pilgrims saw more people, presumably fellow worshipers.
These pilgrims wore finely tailored white robes, smiling and healthy, clearly well-nourished.
Jose's group, on the other hand, looked pale and malnourished.
They cast glances at the others' pristine white robes, then at their own ragged ones.
They felt deeply self-conscious.
Surely they must be nobles, Jose thought, for only nobles can afford such quality fabric.
He and the other pilgrims followed the servo skull, step by step, encountering more and more worshipers in spotless white robes.
Their little band looked like outcasts.
They tried to conceal themselves, but felt utterly lost.
Eventually, Jose's group reached a structure towering several kiloters in height.
A servo skull announced that this was the holy site's hotel tower; they could use their black cards to check into the designated rooms.
Then the skull departed.
Next, the hotel's own servo skulls erged to guide Jose's group to their rooms.
They were told that in accordance with regulations, the next day they must bathe, burn incense, and don holy robes approved by the holy site before being allowed to enter the shrine for worship.
...
Inside the hotel.
Jose and five other pilgrims gazed at the room's luxurious furnishings and the soft bedding, utterly stunned.
These conditions were incredible!
So pilgrims gingerly stroked the finely crafted white robes, anxious about soiling them.
Those robes were given by the holy site to every worshiper, and they would be allowed to take them away after the pilgrimage.
"Savior…"
Jose murmured as he looked at the mark on the inner lining of the robe.
Everything here bore the imprint of the Savior; that figure had been etched into the hearts of every pilgrim from the Devout.
Surely only a great person could have created all this.
"Pure water!"
From the bathroom, a pilgrim cried out, half in excitent and half pained: "They actually use pure water for bathing!"
They all knew only foul, putrid recyc water—if they could get even that.
Little did they realize that this was also recycled water, only purified using far more advanced Golden Age technology.
Regardless, the pilgrims were overwheld by the shock of these facilities.
Following the rules, they bathed one after another, scrubbing off layers of gri with great care, all the while bemoaning the extravagance.
After bathing, Jose lay down on the soft bed, surrounded by the gentle scent of aromatic oils, and fell into a deep sleep.
It was the most secure, comfortable sleep he had ever experienced.
The next day, after burning incense and putting on their spotless white robes, Jose and the pilgrims headed out.
He stood taller, seeing himself in white robes, because he discovered that, here, no one looked upon him with the sort of prejudice he had known before.
At most, a few people glanced curiously at his unusual appearance, then offered a kind smile.
Following the crowds, Jose and the other pilgrims made their way to one of the holy site's restaurants.
They had learned by then that throughout their pilgrimage, the holy site would provide lodging and three daily als for the faithful.
There in the restaurant, Jose and the pilgrims from the Devout ate the most delicious al of their entire lives.
So of them were so overwheld, they wept openly.
Even though it was rely simple bread and dairy.
After the al, Jose and his group boarded a sightseeing vehicle, beginning a dream-like pilgrimage journey.
They saw the newly erected Emperor's statue, towering several kiloters tall and studded with gold and gems.
Jose and his group stood on lush grass, bathed in holy light.
They gazed up at the giant statue of the Emperor piercing the clouds, at the spotless, winged seraphs hovering in the sky,
And felt an indescribable awe.
They continued witnessing more and more miraculous marvels, gradually learning about the Savior's deeds and greatness.
They even experienced the soul-cleansing Holy Hot Springs and Sauna.
It was all so srizing that they lost themselves in it.
Of course, this entire atmosphere was sothing Eden had deliberately crafted.
Besides functioning as a center of religious dissemination, this place was also designed as a large-scale rest and recreation site.
Sowhere that would let people enjoy the process of pilgrimage and make a lasting impression.
It was, in truth, Eden's gift to the citizens of his domain.
According to the citizen system's calculations, each tier of citizen had at least one or more opportunities in a lifeti to co here on pilgrimage.
The higher one's rank, the more often they could co.
It effectively served as a two-week, fully paid vacation—"just bring yourself," in modern terms.
The holy site provided every pilgrim citizen with the best possible resources, allowing them to fully savor the holiday.
In this way, not only were their beliefs in the Savior deepened, but they also left feeling sowhat more motivated to work hard.
If they wanted to co back again, they would simply have to strive harder and contribute more.
As for the off-world pilgrims, they were rely an extra feature. The main goal was to let them acknowledge the holy site and spread its fa.
So Eden could receive ever more untainted faith.
After all, pilgrims pass through dozens, sotis countless, worlds in a lifeti, encountering innurable other pilgrims.
They would easily spread the news.
…
Amidst it all, Jose quietly took everything in, feeling a seed sprouting in his heart.
Ti flew swiftly; before long, Jose and his companions found themselves at the end of their pilgrimage journey: the Holy Grand Cathedral of the Imperial Cult.
There, they were granted an audience with the Savior.
He guided them so that they beheld the most awe-inspiring miracle of their lives—a Holy Fingerprint left by the Emperor.
The pilgrims from the Devout were utterly enraptured; never had they been this close to the Emperor.
They firmly believed that the Savior was a living saint blessed by the Emperor, and that this place was second only to Holy Terra among the galaxy's holy sites!
Soon after, the pilgrims of the Devout spent two blissful, dreamlike weeks on this paradise-like holy world.
They departed reluctantly, carrying large bags of local specialties and Savior morabilia.
Then they returned to the spaceport to board the Devout once more.
Following the guidance of the relevant departnts, the Devout stealthily traversed the warp route.
They would be taken directly to a location sowhere in the Sol System.
Spire Mansion.
Savior's Office.
Eden sat behind his desk, feeling quite moved.
The faith of those pilgrims was so pure.
Upon seeing the Emperor's bloody fingerprint, their fervor beca frightening—many fainted on the spot from excitent, while others prostrated themselves so obsessively that it was hard to pull them away.
Next, the holy site would welco ever more incoming pilgrim ships.
Surely, those devout pilgrims would soon spread word of this place far and wide.
The only small surprise was that the voidborn nad Jose wished to stay.
Eden made an exception to grant him the chance.
Ultimately, the young man called Jose passed the entrance exam for the Academy and successfully enrolled in the Naval Academy.
Ding—
A notification chid.
Eden opened the ssage, thrilled. "Shahim is back…"
That ant they could finally set out for Holy Terra!
(End of Chapter)
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