Valley Town, just another ordinary morning.
Because the eastern cliff is much higher than the western cliff, the Valley Town, located at the fork of the Y-shaped canyon, can see the sunlight squeezing in from the gap in the opposite canyon every day.
The Pazu family home is located on a small hill at the southern end of the residential area, and was converted from an abandoned brick kiln that was clinging to the cliff.
Because of its high elevation, this place is always the first to be blessed by the morning sun.
Sunlight streamed in obliquely through the wooden-framed window, falling on the boy's face.
Pazu opened his eyes and sat up from his futon.
He has been sleeping on the floor for two days in a row to make room for Sheeta.
The hardboard and thin blanket setup made his back a little sore. He moved his shoulders, and his bones made a slight cracking sound.
Turning to look at the bed, Sheeta was still fast asleep, her two braids spread out on the pillow, her breathing even and long.
Pazu moved quietly, putting on the patched brown vest and blue overalls, then took the brass bugle from behind the door.
One of his jobs was to sound the morning bugle for the townspeople every morning.
Just as he was about to climb onto the roof to blow his horn, he heard a commotion outside the door.
Pazu cautiously approached the door and peered through the crack.
On a small hillside, three men were arguing heatedly.
"Let me speak first! This concerns the health of millions of workers across the country; there's no time to lose!"
The speaker was Wilson, the town's only middle-aged doctor.
"What's the rush? There are proper ways to express gratitude. You can ask after we've expressed our feelings!"
The second person was his mentor, Duffi. This mechanic, who always projected a tough image, surprisingly showed a look of anxiety on his face. "Get out of my way! I need to find that little bastard and get to the bottom of this!"
The third person's voice was somewhat grating; it was the town church priest, a fat man with big ears.
His long black robe bulged from his belly, and the portly priest's face was ashen. "I've only been gone for half a day, and someone dares to claim to be a god here? This is blasphemy!"
"Get out!" ×2
The doctor and Duffi turned around at the same time, each kicking the priest in the stomach.
The priest screamed and tumbled down the hillside, finally getting stuck in the bushes at the bottom, with only his legs sticking out and kicking wildly.
This guy was transferred from another place a few years ago. All he cares about is squeezing a few more copper coins out of the miners' already empty pockets. He even goes through the motions when it comes to worship.
If it weren't for the fact that this was the only church in town, the people of Valley Town would have driven him away long ago.
Moreover, such tall Erdtree stand right on the edge of the town, their roots, thicker than a train, winding through the bottom of the canyon.
Now, someone is jumping out and calling such a powerful being a heretic. This guy is utterly hopeless!
After dealing with the troublesome fellow, the two finally noticed Pazu standing in the doorway.
The anger on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by smiles as they stepped forward to speak.
" Pazu, you're awake," Master Duffi strode forward, his voice slightly hesitant. "Um—Lord Erdtree, does he have any other instructions?"
Dr. Wilson also joined in. "I have a few questions about yesterday's treatment; it might save countless lives—"
Pazu, caught between the two, sighed.
He raised his hand to stop further questioning, and first looked at Duffi: "Master, didn't I make everything clear at the miners' meeting yesterday?"
Yesterday evening, Pazu recounted to everyone in that abandoned factory the story of Mu En's arrival in this world, as well as the purpose of the Erdtree.
At that moment, someone raised their hand and asked, "What do the gods need us to do?"
Pazu turned to ask Mu En, and the answer he received was simple: just organize some steam engine blueprints and basic knowledge and hand them over to Erdtree; nothing else was needed for the time being.
Mu En's plans have changed. He no longer needs the people of Valley Town to preach to him or become his soldiers, and even if there is a need, it's not now.
Pazu relayed these words verbatim, which only sparked an even louder discussion.
"That's all?"
"You don't need our donations to build a church?"
"Or perhaps you should attend church or Incantations weekly?"
In an era where dozens of bishops sit in the Kingdom's upper house, such a "relaxed" relationship of faith, almost without any requirements, makes people feel lost and even uneasy.
Duffi's current reaction is a manifestation of this unease.
"How can that be? Over a thousand people in the town have all been healed; that's an immense favor! At the very least, we should contribute money and effort to build a church, shouldn't we?"
Duffi was getting agitated. How could his foolish apprentice not understand?
Pazu then turned to Wilson and explained, "One must first become a child of the Erdtree to master that power; ordinary people cannot acquire it through learning."
"Then how can one become a citizen of the Erdtree?" the doctor persisted.
Seeing the hesitation on Pazu's face, he advised, " Pazu, do you know how many miners die from occupational diseases every year?"
The Northern Kingdom alone has tens of thousands of people!
"If that treatment method could be widely adopted, how many people like those workers in the town would be saved!"
"This----"
Pazu was somewhat embarrassed; this was not a matter he could decide.
"How about this, Master? Haven't you already compiled quite a few steam engine blueprints and instructional books? We'll send the blueprints over, and you can explain your ideas to Lord Erdtree yourselves, how about that?"
Their eyes lit up; these were exactly the words they had been waiting for.
The oppressive feeling emanating from the 300-meter-tall Erdtree on the south side of the town is very real.
With Mu En's healing of all the town's injuries and illnesses yesterday, his image in the hearts of the town's residents has been elevated to an almost sacred level.
Even the most powerful and influential figures in town, such as Duffi and Wilson, dared not approach them directly.
The fact that Pazu and Sheeta were chosen by the Erdtree makes them almost like "messengers" from a myth, making it more appropriate to have them deliver the message.
"I'll go get it right now!" Duffi turned and rushed down the slope.
"I'll help too." Wilson hurriedly followed.
The bushes below the hillside shook violently, and the priest, covered in grass clippings, finally pulled himself out.
He pointed at the two men who were quickly leaving, trembling with rage. "You blasphemers! I'm reporting this to the church! I'm going to!"
A stone flew out of a second-floor window of a house and landed precisely at his feet.
"What are you yelling about, you fatso? Don't you even know what time it is!"
Although there are quite a few believers in Valley Town, there are always a few individuals who don't accept the church's teachings.
The priest's face flushed red, and he stumbled away, clutching the hem of his robe.
Pazu shook his head, ignoring the farce.
Following the steps to the abandoned chimney, we first opened the pigeon coop, and a dozen or so white pigeons filed out.
Then he raised his bugle, and its resounding sound pierced the dawn.
Just like a scene from a movie, the sound of horns accompanied the flight of pigeons, and the sunlight shone on the entire town.
When the music ended, the town had fully awakened.
Smoke rose from the chimneys, people appeared on the streets, miners carried lunch boxes out of their homes, and women began to hang out laundry to dry.
Pazu put down his bugle and saw Sheeta, who had appeared behind him unnoticed. "Let's go, let's deliver the blueprints with Master and the others first. I'll make you breakfast when we get back."
"Good."
The girl nodded, and the two walked down the hillside side by side.