Unexpected

From the name "Firstborn Sacrifice System" alone, Gilan easily associated it with the "Firstborn Offering System."

Both were customs born of Old God worship, part of the religious culture unique to Scar Father, the First Year Steward.

The two were quite similar, yet fundamentally different.

The "Firstborn Offering System" required the living firstborn to be carved up and eaten during a Shared Feast Ritual, at a specific time and place. Through this cruel act that defied human morality, worshippers pleased the Old God in exchange for blessings of power, physical enhancement, or longevity.

This evil doctrine had evolved from the "Firstborn Sacrifice System," only to be drastically altered and twisted.

Ironically, this extreme practice was more likely to draw Scar Father's attention and receive his blessings.

As the original doctrine, the "Firstborn Sacrifice System" seemed somewhat more "normal."

Under this religious system, if a family's firstborn was found at birth to have congenital illnesses or obvious defects, a Glory Ritual would be held, allowing the infant to die without pain.

In exchange, the family's future children would be healthy and safe.

Although Gilan still found it grotesque, it was somewhat less abhorrent than the "Firstborn Offering System."

No matter how he looked at it, though, Gilan felt there was something inherently wrong with Scar Father's Old God faith.

It seemed like an invisible hand was wantonly toying with humanity's desires and emotions.

That sense of familiarity disgusted Gilan.

Yet this faith had existed for a long time and was deeply rooted in the western regions, especially within the Stuttgart Empire.

To the people of Stuttgart, sacrificing a visibly defective firstborn newborn in exchange for the health and safety of future children was a very worthwhile "trade."

At the same time, for the firstborn himself, his "sacrifice" allowed his younger brothers