"WELCOME, benefactor."
Wren couldn't help but stare at these bald guys who welcomed him the moment he entered the temple. That familiar orange robe with an outer dark maroon robe—isn't that robe worn by monks?
After staring at those bald guys, Wren once again looked at the so-called temple in front of him. The outside was surely the same as those temples from Asian countries that Wren had visited once or twice.
From the outside, you would first notice the tall and firm stone walls surrounding the temple inside. The only gate that was facing to the south, according to the popular feng shui of his era. Then that tall, elegant, and colorful gate—everything shouts Asian culture—and Wren was mesmerized and amazed as he slowly walked in.
But that mesmerized and amazed expression completely broke when Wren saw the temple that was hidden behind that tall wall and gate. Rather than calling it a temple, it was more preferable to call it a small palace.
"What scam is this?" Wren asked with his jaw almost falling to the ground.
And it didn't help that what welcomed him were these Asian monks rather than those priests he once also saw in an anime that his colleague's daughter was watching. If not for the fact that he himself only transmigrated into this world full of magic and powers, he might think he's going crazy for mistakenly mixing different cultures and religions.
"This benefactor, would you like to come with me? The holy priest had been waiting for you in the offering room," a monk who was wearing a white inner robe and a black outer robe said to him.
Just because he was too shocked and dumbfounded by all the views and knowledge he had been proud of before and now, they were overturned in just a snap the moment he came to this place—he didn't notice when and how long the monk had been standing in front of him.
He wasn't even sure if it was only one time that this young monk had told him that or if it had already happened a few times because of his stupor. But after he heard the contents of his words, Wren was quick to come back from the confusion.
"Did you just—I mean, this master? Did the master say it was the holy priest who was waiting for me? Wait, how many holy priests do you have here?" Wren bombarded the monk with questions.
"Answering the benefactor, the capital's temple had more than three holy priests. But the one this poor monk was talking about is the venerable one of another country's temple who purposely came to meet with the benefactor."
Wren put a small frown on his face when he heard the suspicious mystery in the young monk's words. But thinking that it might be deemed bad luck or unauspicious by the monk, he quickly turned it into a small smile.
He wasn't born late, so Wren wouldn't be a fool and not find something in the monk's words. There seems to be something going on with that holy priest and Wren would be a real fool if he couldn't take a guess as to what it would be.
It seems like it was his right choice to come to the temple first before he could visit the hunter association. And honestly, with everything becoming more mysterious, he was getting more curious about who this holy priest was and what mythological being was hiding behind him.
Questions after questions appeared in his head but he could only find the answers once he met the person in question.
"Then this master, please lead the way."
The young monk only nodded his head with a smile before turning his back. He started walking in a certain direction and Wren quickly followed without forgetting to take a look at the surroundings.
This place sure is magical in a different sense. You know that magic with a hint of holiness? That's what Wren was feeling as he took in the view of the place.
It could be because the temple gives off a magical feeling while the touch of Asian temples is harmoniously mixed within the temple, such as the vintage paintings of landscapes, florals, and mythical creatures. There were also Asian sculptures and murals, porcelains and figurines of Asian guardians and such.
But the design was so harmonious that none of the two mixed motifs would overlap each other. Wren feels like he is walking in an exhibition showcasing these two cultural motifs.
"This way, benefactor. Just open the door and the master is waiting inside. This poor monk was told to remain outside to look out," the monk said, pointing at the tall double door where they had stopped.
Wren nodded but he didn't immediately do as he was told. Instead, he took his time to calm himself and his expression. It took only a few minutes before he gathered himself and opened the door.
He didn't widely open the door and only opened up a space large enough for him to enter the hall. What welcomed him was an almost empty hall without any chairs or tables. Not even carpet can be used as chairs, as it was all on a cold floor.
As for the source of lights, Wren didn't find any lamps or chandeliers like he expected. But only a small circle on top of the hall's ceiling creates a bright beam of light at the very center of the hall, where a small altar and a circular mat were in place.
Despite the light was centralized in one area, it still brought enough light to the whole hall, creating a sacred halo of light around the hall. And this not-too-dim and not-too-bright light was enough to show the figures of different sculptures standing on all sides of the hall.
Because the hall was not small but not too big either, there were a dozen sculptures scattered around. And these figures were different in size; some were figures of women, and a lot were figures of men. There were also figures of familiar animals and creatures that Wren could identify.
Every sculpture was so familiar to Wren that he could name each and one by one.
"The benefactor finally came."
Because Wren didn't expect someone to speak at that moment, he was so surprised that when he subconsciously turned to look at where the other person was speaking, he didn't properly step his foot, giving him a sprain.
But when Wren was about to shout in pain, he didn't feel any, which left him in an awkward position. Not only does he look ugly because of the slight contortment of his face, but the awkward bending of his body in action to help the sprained foot was really funny.
"What is the benefactor doing?"
Wren sharply glares at the owner of the voice. What made him more annoyed was how this guy was obviously not a monk but he was still trying hard to speak and act like a venerable monk.
Look at that handsome face! That handsome face was obviously suppressing a laugh! Wren feels a deep itch to do something brutal, like beating this guy to a pulp for both looking more handsome and laughing at him!
He's never been a petty guy but he could start training to be one with this guy!
"Don't keep it to yourself. Please, venerable master, you can let it out or you might suffocate to death. This lowly one couldn't handle the title of murdering someone because of that someone's foolishness, weren't we?" Wren slowly enunciated word by word without removing a smile, like he was mincing some hard meat in his mouth.
The guy, who was none other than the venerable master, holy priest, that everyone was talking about. When Wren didn't know this guy, he already felt bad vibes from this unknown person. And now that he really met the other personally? He was already regretting his curiosity about this insufferable guy.
"Please don't be mad at this lowly one, the benefactor. Forgive this lowly one's actions. As for the thing about not feeling the pain, the benefactor didn't need to worry about it because when inside the hall, the temple will always put up a barrier that automatically prevents any pain from appearing."
Wren can only grit his teeth to prevent him from shouting back. He can only do it in his head and at the moment, he has already made the holy priest's face his portable punching bag.
"No worries. Just quickly help me with my offering so I can leave immediately," Wren ordered, completely forgetting about his respect.
He can only do it because he also knows that this holy priest isn't the same as those monks outside. So he no longer minds how he addresses the person before him as well as how he acts towards them.
"This lowly one was so abrupt in calling the benefactor here that the benefactor might have forgotten to bring something to offer for the gods. Fortunately, while this lowly one was watching the benefactor, this lowly one was told by the gods that the benefactor didn't need to worry. The fact that you accepted the summons of the almighty and came here then was enough of an offering for these venerable gods."
Wren felt another twitch on his brows and lips when he heard that the other had been watching him since he entered yet he didn't immediately approach him. He not only surprised him but he also allowed him to embarrass himself.
Maybe because he really did not like the guy, he had totally ignored the holy priest's words. What he wanted at this moment was to leave the place and go to the association to remove the bad mood caused by this insufferable holy priest.
"Whatever you say, let's just do what we need to do." Then Wren looked at the only place that had a table and mat to sit on and walked towards it. "Do I need to sit in here? How can I offer my—"
Wren stopped his words when he realized what he was about to say. Even if he ignored him, Wren was listening to his words so when he was about to ask him how he could offer himself, he was reminded again of the last words that the holy priest had spoken.