As soon as I opened the door and walked in, a woman greeted me with excessive courtesy.
Judah Iscariot.
With her trademark squinty eyes that hide her true intentions and outstanding abilities, she was a character popular among many Deus Ex Machina users.
When I saw her at the Academy, she was unexpectedly leading a club there, but in Deus Ex Machina, she was so goal-oriented that she wouldn’t even glance at anything that didn’t contribute to her dreams.
And it was on the eve of my entrance to the Academy that I first encountered Judah.
She already knew my face.
She must have known that I was Luke Pulsreino.
It was probably because my sister Meiru was involved with ‘Iscariot’.
So why did she come to meet me of all times?
Right now, my doppelgänger’s face is identical to the original.
If she knows my face, she might realize who I am, Luke Pulsreino.
I thought that no one would know my identity since I had hardly done any public activities before entering the Academy, and my activities were entirely outside the Calandra Empire, in the Nova Empire. I never expected things would turn out like this.
…No, she might not recognize me.
I’ve only had one conversation with that woman.
And we’re not close enough for her to recognize my identity, right?
“Pulsreino?”
She looked up, surprised as she recognized my face.
Of course, she must know!
After all, this sky-blue hair is considered a characteristic of the Pulsreino family in the noble society of the Calandra Empire.
But I can’t let her realize that I’m Luke Pulsreino.
Otherwise, the divine image of ‘Son of Deus’ that my doppelgänger has built so far would be tarnished.
Furthermore, it might also reveal that I am the author of the scripture.
Given that the book I wrote has drawn excessive attention across the continent, I can’t expose my identity.
For now, I have to deceive her. Make her believe I’m not Luke.
“Pulsreino….”
I am a saint…. I am a saint….
“Do I look like Pulsreino to you, Judah Iscariot?”
Judah continued to look at my face, confused.
Is it shocking that I have Luke Pulsreino’s face? Even so, her reaction is strangely surprising.
Judah, known for her cold and poker-faced demeanor, is acting like this.
…Could it be that my doppelgänger has been seen by her during their activities at the Academy?
If so, maybe I can make her believe that this doppelgänger is not Luke Pulsreino!
“Did you call me to know my identity? To confirm if I truly am the one and only Son of Deus, and to find out why I came here.”
“…Y-Yes. I’m sorry, but as someone who believes in Deus, I wanted to make sure, so I came to inquire.”
I came here because the lord summoned me, and out pops Judah.
The Iscariot family governs the Cariot territory within the Calandra Empire, not the Genesaret territory that belongs to the Nova Empire.
Yet, the fact that she came here means that the lord of this territory has a connection with Judah and has entrusted her with this role.
They could be related. Given how noble families often entangle through marriage, it’s not unusual for distant families to be related.
She should be at the Academy, but here she is.
It’s shocking, but considering the dream she holds, it’s understandable.
In Deus Ex Machina, she was a woman who ran towards her childhood dream, sacrificing other things in the process.
If her dream hasn’t changed, and her passion for it remains…
“No, Judah. My identity is not the goal. Precisely, it is your dream.”
The reason she traveled all the way from the distant Nova Empire’s Genesaret to see me is clear.
“There’s a dream you’ve cherished since childhood. The kind no adult has properly listened to. The kind that’s merely seen as a childish whim. Judah, you want your name etched in the pages of history, don’t you? You want to be at the center of the whirlwind that shakes this world.”
Wanting to leave a mark in this world, to become a being that won’t be forgotten in future generations.
“W-How do you know that…?”
Judah seemed to collapse as if her strength had drained away.
Did I guess right?
“Follow me, Judah.”
Then this is no longer a crisis but an opportunity.
“Your dream. It shall come true.”
A great chance to bring on board a powerful ally named Judah Iscariot.
“Oh! You didn’t ignore my dream… You didn’t mock it. You didn’t dismiss it as mere child’s play. …You said it would come true.”
Thud.
“I will follow you.”
Judah knelt before me.
Lately, I feel like more and more people are kneeling before me.
“I will follow you, ‘Son of Deus.’ If you can grant my dream, I shall be your servant. I will follow whatever you command, as long as I can turn this continent upside down from your side. Just to leave my name in history!”
“As you wish, it shall be so.”
As long as everything goes according to my plan, I will certainly leave a name in history.
As the heroes who saved this world from ‘Chaos’.
*
“Iako, why do you look so gloomy? You need to control them well until the teacher arrives. There’s too many since coming into Debea, and it’s hard for just me and Mata… What’s bothering you?”
“Oh, Brother Simon. That knight we saw earlier… Why did he take our teacher away?”
“Well, it’s because the nobles recognized that our teacher is the ‘Son of Deus’! He fed that massive crowd with two fish! If this person is not the Son of God, then who could they be? That’s why they recognized and summoned him!”
“…Ah, Brother. You’re lucky to live such an easy life. You’re too dumb to have any worries.”
“Huh? What? Is that all you have to say? And here you are, not showing the slightest faith before the teacher and only worrying?”
“Of course I’m worried. Have you forgotten what kind of people nobles are? Especially the cruel nobles of the Nova Empire?”
“…Nobles?”
“Yeah. The rulers who don’t even treat us commoners as human beings. They think of us as their pets and trample anyone who crawls up to them ruthlessly. The kind that eliminates anyone they think might pose a threat to their status right from the bud. That’s what those noble monsters are like.”
“…That’s…”
“And our teacher has performed countless miracles so far. Even the numerous residents of Capernaum unconsciously followed him. He is someone who can shake the current system. And now, he has fed all these people! From the nobles’ point of view, he’s seen as the most dangerous existence.”
“…So what you’re saying is, the lord of this place, Debea, is also a filthy noble of the Nova Empire, and he will be wary of our teacher?”
“Exactly.”
“And since he’s a dangerous existence, he would want to eliminate him, but since he just happened to arrive, he might pretend to host him while trying to harm our teacher?”
“Bingo! So how about we go in and rescue the teacher…?”
“Let’s go!”
“Ah! Why did you suddenly shout?”
“As always, losing faith means death!”
“What is that even supposed to mean?”
“Iako, do you think the teacher doesn’t know about the nobles?”
“Nobles? Um… I don’t think so…?”
“Iako, you don’t really know the teacher. Not only that, but you also don’t believe in him! The teacher knows precisely how the nobles think of him! He already knows and has gone in preparation!”
“He already knows? Then why…?”
“Of course, it’s because it’s of no concern to him! He’s the one who heals the entire city and feeds everyone to their fill. Who would dare harm him!”
“…I see.”
“That’s how it is.”
Do you think I wouldn’t worry?
But I just believe in that person.
I am Petros.
He is the foundation of the future he will establish.
Losing faith means death for me as a foundation.
“B-But what if things go wrong and there’s even a scratch on his beautiful visage!”
…Huh?
*
“Princess! Princess Aurelia! Please, just stop for a moment!”
“Maria.”
“Hah… Hah… Princess, are you really planning to meet with that person?”
“Yeah… I’ve run out of options.”
“But…”
“All the methods I tried have failed, and no one dares give counsel to my father. The only ones who do are those who end up with their heads rolling. Now, the only ones left are sycophants who care nothing about the future of this Empire.”
“But…”
“If this continues, the citizens of the Empire will only suffer. Ever since my father killed my grandfather and ascended the throne, this Empire has been walking the path of downfall. If we go on like this, the end will be nothing but destruction.”
I heard the conversation between my father and the generals.
Soon, this city, Orias, will be engulfed in my father’s flames.
Countless innocent lives, the future of this Empire will be lost. A horrifying thought.
I cannot allow that.
I will grab at any straw.
The Apostle Paulah, whom I thought could change the balance of the Empire, rejected my plea.
Just when I was about to give up, the saint from Capernaum appeared.
The final opportunity.
Even if I must meet him directly.
I will alter the destined downfall.
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