Many imported goods from beyond the Mountains of the Gods are transported up the Cerno River to the Imperial City, indicating the importance of the Yurisein territory.
The carriage soon left the river, and large stores began to line both sides of the street. This area became a district where not only aristocrats but also wealthy commoners lived and did business. It is a place where high-class stores gather, like Ginza and Nihonbashi in Tokyo. The atmosphere is more glamorous than before.
“There’s a sense of unity throughout the entire cityscape, isn’t there?” (Ekaterina)
“This is the face of the Commercial Guild, you know. Stores that don’t fit the atmosphere aren’t allowed to open.” (Alexei)
That part was also very Ginza.
“We’re about to reach our first destination, the Sun Temple… I’m sorry, it’s a place where business is involved.” (Alexei)
“I am also a daughter of Yurinova. It would be a pleasure to work with you on this.” (Ekaterina)
There are many temples of powerful gods in this area with many believers as well as stores. Although these are religious facilities, they are also tourist attractions.
The most popular are the temples of the Sun God, the God of Commerce, and the God of Thunder, who have been built with ample funds. This is a spot not to be missed if you want to see the Imperial Capital.
In the setting of the Otome game, I don’t think there was any mention of the religion of the Imperial Kingdom. Most people in the Imperial Kingdom believe in gods yet have a rather loose relationship with them.
Some people are devout believers in a particular god. Whenever they are in trouble, they turn to the gods. Regardless of which god’s temple it is, they visit it just to enjoy the splendor and origin of the temple, and pray with all their heart. Basically, it is similar to Japan.
But in this world, gods do exist…or so it seems.
Well, God is not an omniscient and omnipotent being, as is believed in monotheistic religions. The gods of mythology are various. Some have human feelings, some are closer to animals, and there are even peoples who worship certain demons as gods. There is a fine line between gods and demons. It is said that the gods of the conquered people are often subverted to be treated as demons.
This is why so many gods are worshipped in the Imperial Kingdom. In the Imperial Capital, people from various parts of the empire build temples for the gods of their hometowns, so there are gods enshrined everywhere, even to the smallest of temples. This is the place with the highest density of deities in the Imperial Kingdom.
Speaking of which, there is also a God of Learning quietly enshrined in the school, isn’t there? It is said that the density of people coming there was so high that when they built a new temple and invited the god to come, the god only stood and sighed in a dream and said, “I can’t enter the temple, it’s too full.”
The temple of the Sun God, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions, is visited by many people today.
3rd POV
The carriage passes through the temple gates—which the visitors pass on foot—and heads for another, less crowded gate. The gatekeeper, seeing the ducal coat of arms, ran out and opened the gate wide. The carriage arrived at the temple without a hitch.
Alexei took Ekaterina’s hand and she got out of the carriage being met with a pleasant greeting by someone. It was an elderly man dressed in a priest’s uniform, a rather glamorous priest’s uniform at that.
“Your Excellency, Duke of Yurinova, welcome. The High Priest is waiting for you.” (Priest)
“The High Priest is waiting for me?” (Alexei)
