At sunset, in a frontier town.
The fiery clouds on the distant horizon faded away, and the empty plains sank into darkness. The temperature in the ruined town plummeted, the difference between one second and the next like the shift from midsummer to bitter winter.
Saint Fanganza Town!
A remote little town with "Saint" as part of its name was bound to have close ties to the Church.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Saint Fanganza Town had enjoyed a glorious history. It was prosperous and powerful, its residents lived in peace and contentment, and their faith was devout.
To express their reverence for their faith, the townspeople had petitioned voluntarily. Everyone took part, laying brick after brick to build the tallest and most magnificent church in the surrounding region.
On the day the church was completed, the Cross atop its roof shone brilliantly, commending the believers for their achievements.
The townspeople became even more devout, and once word spread, Fanganza Town gained "Saint" as a prefix.
This information had come from Caretaker's account. No one knew it now, but at the time, everyone in the western region knew of it, and the Church had even recorded it in its archives.
Believers from many towns had imitated Saint Fanganza, organizing their townspeople to build churches. But since not all the participants were devout believers, no miracles appeared when those churches were completed.
Rarity made it valuable, and Saint Fanganza Town's fame soared!
Unfortunately, devout faith could not ultimately overcome the Devil's temptation—or rather, the desires within human hearts.
Mephisto had drawn out the desires buried in the townspeople's hearts. They abandoned their faith and fell step by step into the abyss, selling their souls to the Devil in exchange for wealth, power, or other things to fill the hollow shells