Chapter 71 Within Faith
“The smell of this place is really weird.”
Armin’s complaint sounded from the communicator.
"Soldier, concentrate, you are performing a mission."
Soshiyan interrupted the other party's chatter immediately, but what Armin said was indeed right, the smell of this place It's really not good, even the helmet's filter is difficult to remove.
It was the smell of mud mixed with rotting plants, and a lot of sweat and siltation. Even when Soshyan was a mortal, he rarely experienced this smell.
When he became a Space Marine, what he smelled most every day was the holy oil used to maintain equipment.
In daily life, servants will also keep the space of the Astartes spotless, not to mention the appearance of corrupt garbage.
But now, they seem to be walking in a huge garbage dump.
On their way to the church from the square, they had to pass through a residential area, which is where ordinary residents of the city live, including craftsmen and various people who serve the landowners.
But even for this group of people, their living conditions are terrible.
The hardened road surface disappears at these points, replaced by soft mud roads.
It might not be a problem for ordinary people to step on it, but if a heavy Astartes steps on it, there is a high probability that the entire foot will sink.
But West was very thoughtful. He had already asked the guards to demolish the nearby houses and lay the huge wooden beams on the ground to form a man-made path. The Astartes to be able to pass smoothly.
As they passed by, they also noticed demolished houses and overwhelmed residents.
Soshyan heard a gentle sigh, but he didn't know who made it.
"The Emperor!"
When the Astartes passed by, the city residents knelt down on both sides of the road, some lit candles, and some took out the Collected religious badges, and some even took out all their property. If the guards had not separated them on the roadside, they would even hang those precious metals and jewelry on the noble angels.
This is a relatively backward world, and the residents of this world are mostly pious and simple, and they are willing to give everything for a miracle.
Using their own property as offerings is the most common form of expression of their faith.
"I'm sorry to make you laugh. They are all country people and don't know etiquette."
Besides the Astartes team, there were smiles on their faces. , and West jumped up and down on the crossbar.
The angels walked a very steady path, but it was not so easy under his feet, but this did not prevent him from following along.
From beginning to end, Soshyan didn't say a word to him.
Walking through the residential area, the church can already be seen.
Bang Dang~Bang Dang~
Suddenly, the bronze bell on the spire rang to welcome the arrival of the Emperor's Angel.
The road leading to the church is still a very neat rocky road, with green trees and flower beds on both sides. In the gaps between these landscapes, many thin and haggard people can be seen gathering.
They are refugees who were kicked out of the church and completely homeless.
"Ah! The angels are coming!"
"Your Majesty! May I kiss their boots..."
The sight of the tall warriors made these people gasp or scream. , most of them looked slovenly, with layers of sweat and mud staining their pieces of cloth that could hardly be called clothes. Some even had no piece of cloth at all, and their exposed bodies were stained with dirt.
The temperature here was less than ten degrees late at night. Many people were shivering in the cold wind, but they did not move a step.
Similarly, when Astartes passed in front of them, these poor people also knelt down and worshiped. Some even took out the last humble possessions on their bodies and tried hard to move towards Asstarts. Throw it wherever the Tarts walk.
Considering their condition, this was most likely their last possession.
The sufferings of this life have led many people to regard religion as their only spiritual comfort, and for this they are willing to sacrifice everything.
Suddenly, Soshiyang stopped suddenly. All the sounds disappeared at the same time, and the mortals stared wide-eyed at the giants who were as motionless as sculptures.
Then, Soshyan bent down and gently picked up a gray thing from his feet with his fingers.
He didn't know what it was, but he noticed the frightened expression of a poor woman with disheveled hair and thin clothes on the right, and hugged a six or seven-year-old boy hard.
The boy was so thin, with almost no flesh on his body, and his dirty skin clung to his bones.
Soshyan turned his head again and looked at the landowners and city councilors who were following him all the way on the road to the left, with oily faces, gorgeous clothes, and jewels all over them.
Both really belong to the same species?
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!”
West immediately nodded crazily at Soshyan like a frightened chicken, then waved vigorously at the guards and shouted:
"Let you drive all this garbage away!" Are you blind?"
The guards who knew they were in trouble immediately turned around and yelled at the refugees. Although they were reluctant, they all stood up and planned to immediately. The same was true for the woman, but the child in her arms was still there. Staring at the thing in Soshyan's hand.
"Mom, I'm still hungry..."
Bang!
There was a loud noise, and everyone stopped moving, as if an image was frozen.
Soshyan then hung the raised bolt pistol back on his thigh, turned and walked towards the woman.
The approach of a demigod made the woman panic, but she did not dare to move. The child in her arms also suppressed the urge to cry. Fear enveloped the group of mothers and children.
Many people closed their eyes, afraid to look at the bloody scene that happened next.
But then, everyone was stunned.
The demigod bent down and spread out his palms, and the gray thing lay quietly on it.
The woman was so frightened that she did not dare to move. She was short and thin, only reaching Astarte's waist. When the demigod leaned over, she felt as if a mountain was collapsing towards her.
But the boy in her arms seemed to let hunger overcome his fear. He leaned out very quickly, snatched the thing from Soshiyang's hand, and then bit it with relish.
“Is this food?”
The demigod spoke, like rolling thunder that passed through the eardrums of the people around him.
"Yes..."
"Honored Sir, this is the relief ration we distributed to them."
Before the woman could say the second word, West intervened. .
“It’s noisy outside, and they have lost their livelihood. The Emperor taught us to care for our kind, so we provide them with the minimum living allowance for free. This thing is called good food, which includes grains and some plants. We I often eat this staple food. It doesn’t taste bad, it’s very special...”
“I didn’t ask you”
Soshyan finished the other party's words in a low voice, and then turned to the woman.
She stuttered for a long time and finally said something.
“Thanks to the Emperor’s blessing, it’s okay...”
She thought about it again and said in a low voice:
“I can eat anything. We are used to everything, and we can eat well, but some people still make trouble, and their hearts are broken..."
West immediately laughed, but Soshyan's next words made his expression freeze.
The demigod pointed at the thing in the boy's arms and said in a low voice:
"Most of that thing is obviously soil."
(End of this chapter)