As for God creating death and hanging it high in the sky, this refers to the sun.
Indeed, this world truly believes the sun is the cause of biological death. Whether it's "The Bible," "Eden," or "Baptism," all texts describe this in detail.
Even the various garments of the Church are fully enclosed designs with hoods, meant to reduce sun exposure.
The reason the Church doesn't allow acolytes like them to look upward is to prevent them from gazing directly at the sun and exposing their faces to sunlight.
As for whether lifespan has increased, it actually has somewhat.
The previous old priest died at 193 years old - an age that would be unheard of even in the modern era before his transmigration. He originally thought it was an exception, but while repeatedly following cleanup crews in the church cemetery, he observed the epitaphs and found the ages recorded were all absurdly high. People generally didn't die until over a hundred years old, with the previous priest being the longest-lived so far. The shortest lifespan he found was still 126 years. He even noticed a pattern - human lifespans seemed to be growing progressively longer.
The earlier deaths were mostly around 120-130 years, then gradually became 140-150 years, and as years passed, reached 170-180 years, until the previous old priest lived to 193.
However, based on Norton's observations and understanding, medical standards in this place hadn't developed at all over the years. Living standards remained placid as still water, sanitation showed no improvement, and even wiping after defecation required leaves or sticks. Thus, this lifespan increase seemed quite suspicious.
How could these people keep living longer and longer? Were they still evolving?
Ah, such a difficult decision!
Wait, were there any stunningly beautiful, cold vampire young mistresses? Or perhaps voluptuous, enchanting vampire mothers-in-law?
Damn it, I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow to the knee?
Norton habitually sank into his fantasies.
Twenty years of isolation had given him this flaw - he always enjoyed fantasizing to enrich his spirit and prevent complete madness.
After a long while, he finally snapped out of it and picked up the third book.
The content recorded in the third book was even stranger, filled entirely with rules and regulations, or rather church taboos and outdoor prohibitions. But more noticeably, it highlighted the existence of vampires.
For example: 1. No missionary or prospective missionary may make physical contact with outside civilians, as vampires excel at hiding among crowds.
- Dead corpses must be purified with holy water, have wooden stakes driven through their hearts, and be dismembered before burial in separate, distant locations to prevent them from turning into vampires. (Wood fires cannot reach temperatures sufficient for cremation, and the process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly - in this era, wood itself represents wealth)
- Those who died from vampire feeding must undergo holy water immersion...
The third book contained over a dozen rules, all revolving around the term 'vampire.'
Considering all the content together, it became completely certain that this world indeed had so-called vampires, though their creation wasn't particularly easy yet remained common enough to warrant such detailed rules and descriptions.
According to the book's content, vampire creation in this world didn't involve transformation rituals, nor were there rankings like vampire princes or counts. They didn't possess mind-controlling magic powers or instantly invincible strength either.
The vampires described in this book leaned more toward monsters created when dead people revived. Upon initial creation, they appeared pale and bloodless, with possible livor mortis on their skin from coagulated blood. Quite fragile initially, without any recovery abilities, their teeth and nails showed basically no changes, and combat ability was weak. This was also the optimal period for hiding among human populations.
As time progressed, generally after one year or after consuming sufficient blood, vampires' teeth would gradually change toward serrated forms, their body blood would disappear, skin would grow paler, and they would display light-avoidance characteristics, though sunlight caused no significant harm. They typically dwelled in caves, avoiding sunlight entirely, only capturing animals for consumption. Their bodies would gain some recovery ability, with noticeably improved agility and strength, and eyes turning reddish-brown.
As time progressed, generally after one year or after consuming sufficient blood, vampires' teeth would gradually change toward serrated forms, their body blood would disappear, skin would grow paler, and they would display light-avoidance characteristics, though sunlight caused no significant harm. They typically dwelled in caves, avoiding sunlight entirely, only capturing animals for consumption. Their bodies would gain some recovery ability, with clearly improved agility and strength, and eyes turning reddish-brown.
But judging by the Church's intense precautions against vampires, they likely underwent further evolution, possibly even developing strange abilities. Otherwise, such creatures couldn't withstand armored soldiers' coordinated attacks, nor warrant such high alertness.
Norton felt somewhat excited, his skin tingling with numbness.
Although these books revealed the existence of vampires, they clearly only skimmed the surface, with descriptions remaining superficial. The Church's legacy spanning so many years couldn't possibly yield only this much research. Given their defensive measures, the vampire species was likely far more threatening than he imagined.
Although these books revealed the existence of vampires, they clearly only skimmed the surface, with descriptions remaining superficial. The Church's legacy spanning so many years couldn't possibly yield only this much research. Given their defensive measures, the vampire species was likely far more threatening than he imagined.
Norton set the book down and looked at the fourth one.
The fourth and fifth books resembled more of supernatural bestiaries, describing various monsters.
Like the previously mentioned 'Indan' and 'Jiyuan' from "The Holy Covenant," along with various species he'd heard of in his previous life.
'Werewolves,' 'sirens,' 'human-faced birds,' etc.
However, such creatures probably weren't numerous or had limitations, as they didn't receive extensive coverage.
Yet these magical creatures shared one common point - they were all living beings, all living creatures, all entities possessing life.
From this perspective, only vampires were most special. Because vampires were neither living nor dead.
Living beings fell under Divine Cause's jurisdiction, while dead things were under Jonah's control. Only vampires, existing between life and death, resembled Sun Wukong-like figures who leaped beyond the three realms and outside the five elements, becoming ungoverned entities.
This might be why vampires received special targeting from the Church.
Norton spread all five books open on the wooden desk and sighed deeply.
He originally thought this world was a normal medieval setting, where his missionary identity would at least guarantee a decent life. But now it appeared this was a fantasy medieval world, making him feel like sitting on pins and needles.
He originally thought this world was a normal medieval setting, where his missionary identity would at least guarantee a decent life. But now it appeared this was a fantasy medieval world, making him feel like sitting on pins and needles.
"Dong... dong... dong..."
Norton snapped out of his thoughts, then blew out the oil lamp on his desk and went to bed.