Magical Journey: The Other Shore Blooms on the Other Shore

Do you believe in the existence of gods?

This question seems to have always been one that philosophers have had to ponder. To this day, there is no conclusive evidence to prove the existence of gods.

But as of now, whether gods exist depends entirely on whether you believe in them or not.

Some people worship devoutly, and many scholars attribute the origin of magic to divine grace, and they try their best to please the high and mighty gods.

Some people might dismiss it, preferring to trust their own hands rather than some ethereal god, and preferring the tangible reality they can firmly grasp rather than something unattainable.

But in Santiago, the holy city in the heart of the Tacoma Desert, atheists are virtually nonexistent. Whether they are elderly people with one foot in the grave or young children with pockmarked teeth, everyone devoutly believes in the god of the desert.

He is known locally as Santiago.

This is also the name of the kingdom. It should be said that this tiny kingdom was named after the gods worshipped by the locals.

When faced with insurmountable suffering, people tend to place their hopes on fate, hoping that heaven will save them from their misery.

That meteorite from the horizon was something that humanity was powerless to change. Because of that extraterrestrial object, a terrifying sandstorm was unleashed—within just a few weeks, most of the residents of this area had fallen ill and died from various diseases.

Those who survived could only watch helplessly as their loved ones left them one by one.

Then he hid alone in the house, feeling anxious and afraid, wondering if he would be the next one to be taken by death.

The uproar caused by the meteorite gradually subsided a year later.

Only a very small number of people survived, and those who did were all grateful for their good fortune and hysterically thankful for the meteorite that had brought mass death to the region—thankful that it hadn't killed them.

Among the survivors was a sorceress named Allah.

She called the meteorite a divine gift from Santiago, the god of the desert, and truly revered it as a sacred object.

Under her influence and call, more and more survivors gathered around this meteorite. They devoutly settled around the meteorite and gradually developed it over time, forming the desert holy city of Santiago that we know today.

Although it is a small country, in this sparsely populated desert, it is known as the holy city of the desert.

Allah, who called upon people to gather and worship, was later known as the Great Prophet.

In Santiago's time, no one doubted Santiago's greatness; it was His great mercy that gave them the chance to live. As for those who died, the survivors generally believed it was divine punishment from the desert god, a reminder of His majesty.

That is why the living need to always remember the authority of the desert god.

……

"You say you're a lost traveler?" A man with a white turban leading a camel looked at the gray-haired girl with some doubt. "How could a normal traveler possibly come here?"

You're indirectly insulting me, aren't you? I'll remember this grudge.

Elena looked at the man with some displeasure: "Excuse me, are you a businessman?"

"Anyone with eyes can tell." The other person looked at Elena as if she were an idiot.

Hey, what's wrong with this person? With that attitude, how are you going to sell anything?

Just now, while flying high in the sky, Elena saw a caravan traveling in the desert and had the idea of ​​asking them for directions.

It won't take much time anyway. If we can find out where Santiago is, that would be a huge win.

But the negotiation process didn't seem to be very pleasant. However, we can't just give up because of this level of unpleasantness.

“Do you know where Santiago is?” Elena asked.

"Of course, my Lord is watching over us mortals from the highest heaven," the other party said, leaving Elena completely bewildered.

ha?

I asked you for directions, and this is your answer.

“You don’t seem to be very devout to my Lord,” the merchant said. “The women here wear white veils to express their devotion to the Lord.”

"May I ask who your master is?"

"You rude fool! You don't even know your lord."

Hey hey?

These people seem to be different from those who incite others to believe in the Dog God cult; they are genuine fanatics.

But I really don't know who your sovereign is.

After all, all that was known about this desert was some rumors about the meteorite, and the rest was unknown. Given the sparse population, it was difficult to even encounter someone asking for information.

The people I'm encountering now are still these strange and oddballs.

No—Santiago…

Did that diary mention a desert god named Santiago?

“I apologize for my rudeness. But I really want to know where the kingdom of Santiago is located so I can witness Santiago’s greatness firsthand.” Elena changed her words.

Because of Elena's explanation, the merchant seemed less angry: "I see. Follow my caravan, and I'll take you to Santiago to properly and devoutly worship my Lord."

Luckily, I reacted quickly and resolved the crisis perfectly before he could retaliate.

He really knew where Santiago was—he was very lucky.

Even more fortunately, he didn't seem to intend to charge for the journey, which showed he was a good person.

The caravan's final destination was that holy city.

Although compared to many places Elena had visited, this was at most a small inhabited country, it was still quite remarkable that there was such a large human settlement in such a desert place.

“While our Lord welcomes anyone to pay homage to His legacy,” said the soldier guarding the city gate, “we will not welcome those who are not devout. Miss, please put on your white veil.”

Seeing the white veils worn by those women walking around... the veils basically covered their faces, and I was really worried that they might fall while walking.

And... well, it's really ugly. Elena really hates wearing it.

Never mind. Let's just consider it as adapting to local customs.

Elena took off her magic hat and spent a few copper coins to buy a white veil to put on her head.

The customs here don't seem to impose many special restrictions on men, at least the procedures are much simpler than for women, so Qin was allowed to enter the country without much questioning.

Elena, on the other hand, had to wear a white veil and perform all sorts of inexplicable sacrificial rituals.

This included, but was not limited to, drinking boundless water (ordinary water), chewing divine leaves (ordinary leaves), and performing a religious dance (an ugly dance), until finally it was confirmed that Elena's devout heart allowed her to pass.

Incidentally, all these items, meant to express his piety, were sold by that merchant, so there's reason to suspect that's why he brought him here.

He's a bad person.

Also, why is it so easy for men to enter the country? I'm going to sue you for gender discrimination.