“Wait? This, this woman? But Teacher! Isn’t she… a noble?”
“Iako. It’s the Teacher’s decision. It’s not your place to interfere.”
“Simon! Even so, she’s a noble! Have you forgotten about Mother and Father? Are you really going to protect that woman?”
The next day, Judah came to us.
She had spoken with the lord of Genesaret, to whom we had entrusted her fully, and returned with everything organized.
After introducing her to all the disciples and announcing that she would be joining us, Iako protested.
Iako’s opposition was somewhat expected.
She and Simon had lost their parents due to corrupt noble officials in the Nova Empire and had fled to Calandra.
So I thought Simon might also resist, but…
It turned out Simon was the one trying to stop Iako.
Way to go, Simon!
“Iako! The Teacher has accepted her! She’s a companion who will journey with us! The Teacher would not take in someone filthy like that noble! What you’re doing now is denying the Teacher! Are you saying you don’t trust the Teacher?!”
“T-that’s…”
Iako lowered her head, looking defeated.
“I-I’m sorry, Teacher. I doubted you.”
Oh… So you do accept her.
Seeing how Simon was acting, I didn’t have to worry about Judah being ostracized within the group, it seems.
“Iako… was it?”
Then Judah spoke up.
“You’ve probably suffered at the hands of nobles too. I understand. I know how twisted the nobles in this country are. I’ll apologize on their behalf. Though I know it won’t mend your hurt.”
“…What?”
“I despise those nobles. So I intend to drive them all out.”
“…What do you mean?”
“There have been many such nobles in the past, but since the current Emperor, Dominic, ascended to the throne, this country has become increasingly twisted.”
What is she talking about?
You’re a noble in Calandra, aren’t you?
“But if it’s the Teacher! If it’s the Teacher, surely he’ll overthrow that vile tyrant and restore this twisted land! No, he’ll establish an everlasting kingdom!”
What’s with this everlasting kingdom nonsense?
Do you want me to start a revolution or something?
“Let’s stick together until then. We’ll follow the Teacher and turn this world upside down and rewrite history.”
Judah, extending her hand, left Iako stunned, who grabbed Judah’s hand in a daze.
It feels a bit fishy, but well, it turned out well, didn’t it?
Even if it’s not a revolution, it’s something significant I’ve been thinking about.
The Emperor, Dominic, has to come down.
*
With Judah now part of our group, we left the city of Debea.
Our next destination is the capital of the Genesaret territory, the city of Kinor.
This is to get our next companion, Johanna, who we’ve set our sights on.
The whole reason we came to Genesaret was for Johanna anyway.
Unexpectedly gaining Judah as a companion was a surprise, though.
But Judah seems like a competent addition.
Thinking back to her performance in [Deus Ex Machina], she’s a promising ally for the future.
Though she does have a shady side, prioritizing her dreams over lives and comrades… Well, I can satisfy that part for her.
If I stop ‘Chaos’, I surely can’t avoid being etched into history, even if I don’t want to.
We already have four companions who are ‘Gift’ users.
And they’re all heroes who were active in [Deus Ex Machina].
It’s going smoothly.
If we continue like this, we should be able to stop ‘Chaos’ without the main body.
That allows the main body to either grow stronger or enjoy academy life.
A commotion began.
Chatter, chatter.
The only problem is the massive crowd following us.
Once we announced we were leaving Debea, the many who had expressed their disappointment began to follow us.
It’s similar to what happened in Capernaum.
Perhaps it’s the news about the fish duplication bug from the previous followers in Capernaum that piqued their interest.
…Should I catch more fish?
This is annoying.
Plus, our numbers have increased tremendously.
At this rate, the fish population in the Calandra River will dwindle.
Still, it seems everyone packed some food, as they haven’t started complaining about hunger yet.
Of course, eventually, they will.
Maybe I shouldn’t have told them to just follow us.
No, that’s not right. Doing so would hinder my quest for holiness.
But can I not use my ‘Gift’ to create food?
A sudden, intense sensation shot through me.
“Te-teacher! There’s a massive presence ahead!”
Simon shouted, sounding terrified.
I felt it too.
Ahead.
In the forest we were heading to, an overwhelming response of life could be sensed.
An unusually strong… response.
Humans?
No.
This isn’t human…
“Grrr.”
“Whoa.”
“Whoaahhh!”
Monsters.
A green wave of creatures slithered out from the forest and began approaching us.
An overwhelming number of monsters that easily exceeded a thousand.
Orcs, goblins, trolls.
And ogres too.
Of course, this continent is a fantasy world where monsters frequently appear in areas where city guards don’t reach.
But this place is only a day’s journey from Debea.
There shouldn’t be this many monsters appearing. No way.
Even in [Deus Ex Machina], we never faced this kind of situation.
Has ‘Chaos’ sent its forces?
But there’s no reason for ‘Chaos’ to target me?
Plus, this seems too…
Just then, my gaze fell upon an ogre with a bloodied robe in its mouth.
The symbol of the Baal cult.
Is it the Baal cult?
They concocted this plan.
Are they sacrificing people to lure monsters toward me?
“Ugh! Orcs!”
“Why are there monsters?!”
“Knight! Where is the knight?!”
“Run!”
“Ugh! Save me…”
“Enough… Enough…”
The group was instantly thrown into chaos.
Everyone flailed to escape, and the weaker ones began to be trampled and crushed.
Those Baal cultists are annoying.
“Damn it. Iako, prepare for battle.”
“What? Battle? Simon, are you crazy? How do we fight against those numbers?”
“The Teacher will be with us. And Lord Deus will fight alongside the Teacher.”
“Yeah, Iako. Trust the Teacher.”
My disciples, believing in me in the face of those monstrous numbers.
I have to meet those expectations.
“Everyone, stay calm!”
I shouted with all the mana I could muster.
The group momentarily halted amidst my roar.
“Before you stands the Son of Deus! What is there to fear?”
Ahh, I hadn’t planned to say that, but here we are.
If they see me, they’ll probably want me to be the emperor of the Nova Empire.
“Ignis.”
Whoosh!
The avatar of flames that only I could see appeared.
“Flames?”
“The saint is engulfed in flames!”
“She intends to show us something!”
– Did you call, Luke?
Similar to the previous image, Ignis appeared as a mature beauty.
– Ignis, please. Sweep away the monsters in front of us.
– All of them? I may have to drain a lot of Luke’s mana. Are you sure it’s okay?
– It’s fine. I’m counting on you, Ignis.
Thanks to all the elixirs I’ve consumed over time, I’m confident in my magical energy stock.
– Alright. Everything will be as you wish, Luke.
High into the sky, Ignis shot forward.
She reached above the monsters and began to unleash a torrential rain of fire.
Whoosh!
Boom!
Kaboom!
“Kyyeeeek!”
“Kiyik!”
It was a sight that resembled a volcano erupting.
The crowd, who had been trampling over each other in chaos only moments before, now stood quietly watching the spectacle.
A divine flame, far superior to Dominic’s.
“This is… the Son of Deus. Ah, I’ve long awaited…”
“The Teacher’s power…”
“Divine judgment… This isn’t a power a human can wield…”
My disciples mumbled, thrown into awe.
Well, I suppose if you were to split hairs, even top-tier mages who had surpassed their limits could do something similar.
But let them think I’m a deity.
I can gather divine power too.
As the time passed and Ignis returned, the area she had touched was entirely scorched earth.
“De… Deus has passed judgment!”
Simon shouted from behind me, raising his hands high.
“This is Deus, who walks with the Teacher! Who dares stand in our way? The one who will save all mankind has come!”
““““Waaaaah!””””
The crowd erupted in cheers.
“Ah, My Lord!”
“I believe! Oh Deus!”
“Salvation! Salvation! Salvation!”
O-Oh… The reaction is stronger than I expected.
But hey, as long as it’s beneficial, right? I just need to gather divine power.
*
““““Waaaaah!””””
That’s Deus…
A rain of fire? No, what is that?
Such miracles with a single being…
This is beyond what a human can accomplish.
A natural disaster.
Only a god can control such power.
My lightning could never achieve something like that.
As expected, there’s no one else like that man!
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