That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: The Dark Truth of the Western Holy Church, Explained

Summary

Luminism & Holy Western Church’s secret purpose is to ensure vampire survival by using humans for blood.
The Church’s Growth: Utilized as a cover for the vampires, gaining trust through beneficial service and alliances.
Symbiotic Relationship: Vampires secure blood supply while humans receive protection, magic, and influence unknowingly.

In a land of enchantment, I find myself deeply immersed within the heart of Luminist faith – the grandest religion that graces this mystical realm. As an ardent believer, I dedicate my days to serving and venerating our divine deity, Luminus, the one true God of Luminism. The strength to live, love, and persevere in this fantastical world flows through me, thanks to the unwavering principles of Luminism that guide countless souls like myself. Some seek solace, while others find purpose so profound they choose to devote their lives entirely to the service of our cherished faith. The Western Holy Church stands as the beacon of hope and wisdom for us all in this wondrous world.

In the anime “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,” it’s crucial to understand that the Western Holy Church and Luminism, which many people take for granted, were founded on falsehoods and deceptions. Moreover, there is a hidden agenda behind it, far more malevolent than most would assume. This sums up the nature of the Western Holy Church in the series.

Veldora and the Nation of Vampires

To grasp the essence of Luminism and the Holy Western Church, let’s journey back 2000 years to a time when under the guidance of a powerful and captivating figure named Luminous Valentine, the vampire community flourished. This was indeed the vampires’ golden era. However, their prosperity was shattered when their land was struck by the fury of the Storm Dragon Veldora. In a swift series of events, the mysterious vampire nation that had stood for millennia was laid to waste. It goes without saying that many vampires perished on that tragic day.

“That annoying wicked dragon has been a constant nuisance to me.”

—Luminous Valentine, Chapter 87

A Rebuilding Effort That Looked Toward the Future

After demonstrating their resilience, it didn’t take much time for the Vampires to start rebuilding their nation. Yet, Luminous was deeply affected by Veldora’s brutal assault, leading her to devise a strategy aimed at safeguarding her weakened kind and promoting their well-being.

This means the new nation has to satisfy two important requirements:

It needs to protect them from devastating attacks like Veldora.
It needs to have a stable supply of nutrients, i.e. blood.

The idea they devised was remarkably clever. Instead, they constructed an underground nation first, followed by a simulated country for humans above it.

In case another disastrous event similar to the Veldora incident occurs, humans would be the ones harmed, while the vampires remain secure beneath the earth. Moreover, due to their proximity to their nutrient source, vampires essentially have an endless reserve of blood. This predicament led to the formation of the Western Holy Church and the Holy Empire of Lubelius.

The Western Holy Church and the Holy Empire of Lubelius

In approximately the same period, both the Western Holy Church and the Holy Empire of Lubelius were established. This was a strategy devised by Luminous, who understood that for a semi-human race like vampires to exert control over humans, their primary sustenance source, religion would be an effective tool. Therefore, Luminous founded the religion called Luminism and made the Western Holy Church its spiritual heart.

Over time, as Luminism expanded, it became necessary to establish a centralized administrative hub. This led to the formation of the Holy Empire of Lubelius, which can be seen as an extension or offshoot of the Western Holy Church.

How the Western Holy Church Works

It seems that Luminsm and the Western Holy Church employ a complex, intricate, and laborious scheme to persuade unsuspecting civilians to serve as food sources for the vampires.

Providing Beneficial Service for Humanity

In this enchanted realm, one swift method to win a stranger’s confidence is by assisting them in overcoming their challenges – these challenges often take the form of monstrous threats and illnesses. Many inhabitants here are defenseless against powerful beasts and unaware of how to mend their ailing or wounded comrades. Remarkably, some vampires possess the strength and the ability to wield holy magic. Consequently, they don disguises as priests and warriors, venturing out to aid those in distress while propagating the teachings of Luminism concurrently.

Becoming an Ally to Humanity

To amplify their power significantly, the vampires devised a belief system, Luminism, that sparked universal interest among humans in the Western hemisphere. According to this doctrine, any non-human entity is considered an adversary of mankind. For those who harbor constant fear towards these terrifying creatures, Luminism resonates as the voice of a fair and benevolent deity. By casting themselves as humanity’s ally against monsters, people from far and wide have embraced Luminism and sworn their allegiance to the Western Church.

Expansion and Human Integration

Over time, as adherents of the Western Holy Church multiply, so does the might and sway of the Lubelius Holy Empire expand. At this juncture, vampires gradually relinquish their administrative positions and initiate humans who are unaware into their fold. Some of these individuals assume roles as priests, while others become Crusaders or Paladins. These newly appointed priests and crusaders are dispatched to diverse Western nations, thereby extending their impact and following further. Now, a millennium since its establishment, the religion of Luminism reigns supreme worldwide.

Absolute Secrecy

These clever strategies significantly fuel and disseminate the belief in Luminism, boosting the power of the Western Holy Church. However, it’s the unwavering secrecy that allows this deception to persist for so long. Only a few individuals are aware of the truth: that the Holy Emperor is in fact a vampire, that their sworn foe, Demon Lord Roy Valentine, is none other than the twin brother of the Holy Emperor, and that Luminus, our one true god, is actually Demon Lord Luminous Valentine, the ruler of the vampires.

A Symbiotic Relationship

One could argue that, despite ongoing discussions about morality and ethics, it’s hard to find anyone criticizing or questioning the Western Holy Church over the past millennium. The reason for this, perhaps, lies in the fact that many people gain advantages or benefits from the existence of this religious institution.

Vampires Get Their Nutrients

Following the Veldora incident, Luminous’s top priority is to provide her people with a feeling of safety and a consistent source of blood. Thanks to the Western Holy Church, individuals willingly approach the vampire clergy – unaware of their true nature, of course – and essentially donate their blood without charge.

Alternatively, worshippers either donate their blood as a sacrifice to God Luminus or the clergy puts them under a brief trance for the extraction of their blood. Since the vampires merely consume a minimal quantity of blood, the donors remain unaware of any physical abnormalities. Consequently, due to the Church’s practice, the vampires no longer need to fret about sustenance.

Humans Get Their Magic, Protection, and Influence

Despite humans remaining unaware of the vampires hidden within the Western Holy Church, they continue to enjoy its benefits and perks, primarily in terms of protection and healing magic. This is not all; some human clergy even ascend to powerful positions in foreign lands due to their ties with the Church.

In essence, humans give their blood in return for shielding, healing powers, and sway, which isn’t a shabby bargain, I’d say. If the humans remain unaware that they’ve been tricked, everything should run smoothly. As the saying goes, ‘ignorance is bliss.’

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

2025-01-06 00:37