Chereads / Just Some Dumb Isekai / Chapter 12 - The Church of the Gods

Chapter 12 - The Church of the Gods

For the first time since arriving in this chaotic fantasy world, Joseph was able to afford something better than dirt to sleep on.

After their glorious first real meal, he counted their remaining silver—they still had seven left after food expenses. Not bad.

And with that, they headed to the cheapest inn in town.

The innkeeper at The Rusty Rooster gave them an unimpressed look but took their money without question.

"Three beds, shared room, one night," he grumbled, sliding them a rusty key.

It wasn't much—just a small, stuffy room with three creaky beds and a single window that barely opened—but to Joseph?

It was luxury. At least compared to sleeping outside in the cold.

He fell onto the bed with a deep, relieved sigh.

"I am never sleeping outside again," he muttered.

Kara stretched, yawning. "Eh, I've slept in worse."

Lily, meanwhile, bounced happily onto her bed. "It's so soft!"

Joseph grinned. Finally, progress.

With that, the trio settled in for the night—their first proper rest since forming their party.

 

Joseph wasn't much of a morning person.

But when he woke up early to the sounds of Kara snoring like a dying bear and Lily mumbling in her sleep about "more bread, Boss… just one more slice…", he decided it was better to step out for some air.

He wandered the streets, enjoying the quiet morning buzz of the city. Merchants were setting up their stalls, bakers were pulling fresh loaves from their ovens, and the cool morning air felt surprisingly nice.

Eventually, his aimless walk led him somewhere unexpected.

Before he even realized it, Joseph stood in front of a massive stone building.

The Church of the Gods.

A towering structure with tall stained-glass windows, marble pillars, and an air of overwhelming holiness. Even someone as utterly unholy as him could tell this was a place of serious worship.

"…Huh," Joseph muttered.

He hadn't exactly planned to come here, but something about the place felt familiar.

And then—

"Oh! It's you!"

Joseph turned toward the voice and immediately recognized the young nun who had helped him on his first day in this world.

Sister Amelia.

The same kind, soft-spoken girl with light brown hair, bright green eyes, and the same warm smile as before.

"Oh, hey," Joseph said, rubbing the back of his head. "Didn't think I'd run into you again."

She smiled, clasping her hands together. "I'm glad to see you're doing well! You seemed… um, lost when we first met."

Joseph chuckled. "Yeah, understatement of the century."

Emilia looked him up and down. "Are you… an adventurer now?"

Joseph puffed out his chest. "Yep. Fully registered, just completed my first quest with my new party."

She giggled. "That's wonderful! I had been worried about you."

Joseph blinked. Worried? About him?

"Why?" he asked. "I mean, I appreciate it, but… we barely know each other."

Amelia hesitated for a moment, then smiled softly. "Because you seemed alone when you first arrived. And… I believe that everyone deserves a little kindness."

Joseph scratched his cheek awkwardly. Kindness wasn't something he was used to.

"Well… thanks," he said. "For, you know, covering my registration fee. I actually made some money, so I could probably pay you back now."

She shook her head. "It was never about the money, Joseph."

Joseph frowned. That was twice now she had said something weirdly profound.

Before he could ask her what she meant, she motioned toward the church.

"Would you like to come inside?" she asked.

Joseph hesitated. A place of worship? Him?

But… something about this place, about her, made him curious.

"…Yeah," he said. "Sure. Why not?"

 And with that, Joseph stepped inside the Church of the Gods.

Joseph had never been the religious type.

Even back on Earth, he had never really thought about gods outside of fantasy games, where they were either handing out cool powers or destroying everything for no reason.

 So stepping into an actual church in another world?

 Yeah, this was new territory.

 Inside, the Church of the Gods was exactly as grand as Joseph expected.

 Tall stone pillars, intricate stained-glass windows, and rows of wooden pews stretched across the vast hall. Holy light filtered through the windows, illuminating the space in a way that was way too dramatic for Joseph's comfort.

 At the front stood a massive mural depicting several divine figures.

 Joseph squinted at them, recognizing none of them—except for one.

 Before he could say anything, Sister Amelia spoke up.

 "There are many gods worshipped in this world," she began, folding her hands in front of her. "Each one governs different aspects of existence."

 She gestured toward the mural, where several divine figures were carved into the stone.

 The Known Gods:

 Alzidar, God of War & Strength – Depicted as a towering warrior clad in armor, sword raised high. Worshiped by warriors and soldiers.

 

 Veyna, Goddess of the Harvest & Life – A gentle woman with a wreath of flowers, holding a basket of grain. Worshiped by farmers and healers.

 

 Oryn, God of Knowledge & Magic – A hooded figure holding an open book, arcane symbols glowing around him. Worshiped by scholars and mages.

 

 Mirella, Goddess of the Sea & Travel – A woman standing atop waves, her arms outstretched. Worshiped by sailors and merchants.

 

 Alexandra, Goddess of Fate & the Unknown – A mysterious, serene woman, her hands outstretched over a swirling cosmic void.

 

 

 Joseph's heart skipped a beat.

 Alexandra.

 The same goddess from his dream.

 Sister Amelia continued, unaware of his reaction. "Alexandra is one of the more mysterious deities. She governs fate, chance, and the unknown. Unlike the others, she does not dictate a strict path—rather, she oversees the paths people choose for themselves."

 Joseph stared at the mural, his mind racing.

 She was real.

 This wasn't just some random dream. The goddess he had spoken to actually existed and was actively worshipped in this world.

 Which meant…

 That cryptic blessing she gave him? It was real, too.

 Joseph tried to act casual. "So, uh… do people actually get blessings from these gods?"

 Sister Amelia nodded. "Yes. Some adventurers are blessed by deities, though it is rare. Some are chosen from birth, while others… simply cross paths with divine will."

 Joseph's stomach twisted.

 He hadn't been chosen. Alexandra had made that very clear.

 But he had still been given something.

 Something he still didn't understand.

 Sister Amelia noticed his thoughtful expression. "Why do you ask?"

 Joseph hesitated. He couldn't exactly say, "Oh yeah, your goddess spoke to me in a dream and gave me a cryptic warning."

 So he just shrugged. "Just curious."

 Sister Amelia smiled warmly. "Curiosity is a good thing. The gods work in ways we may never fully understand."

 Joseph exhaled slowly. Yeah, no kidding.

 Joseph glanced back at Alexandra's depiction, her outstretched hands over the swirling void.

 He still didn't know what her blessing actually did.

 

But he was determined to find out.