Second City of Nova Empire, Paradise.
At the innermost depths of the Baal Sect’s Papacy
Inquisition Bureau
Creak
A cardinal, once positioned at the heart of the Baal Sect’s power, was hanging on the wall, a ragged wreck bound in chains.
Creeeak
The door opened, and the Pope entered.
Snap
The two Inquisition officers standing by the cardinal’s sides saluted upon seeing the Pope.
“Leave. I have something to discuss with the cardinal.”
At the Pope’s gesture, the Inquisition officers exited, leaving only the Pope and the cardinal in the room.
“Cardinal Saloniir. What is this mess?”
“Uh, uh…”
Cardinal Saloniir mumbled, his teeth all gone and in a state of disarray.
“Goodness. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
The Pope gathered divine power in his hand and healed Cardinal Saloniir’s face.
His once radiant divine power had turned into a pitch-black darkness.
“Now, Cardinal. Speak.”
“Y-Your Holiness! I only meant to serve the Sect… Ugh!”
Thorns suddenly sprouted from the floor and pierced through Cardinal Saloniir’s stomach.
“Cardinal Saloniir. You know that’s not important. I told you not to touch the ‘Saint of Capernaum.’ Yet you let Jevoub act recklessly and made things worse? I’m sure a clever fellow like you realizes you must take responsibility for this, yes?”
No matter how absent the Pope might be, Jevoub would absolutely obey the Pope’s orders.
Cardinal Saloniir knew full well that Jevoub taking his orders meant the Pope’s implicit permission.
The punishment now was a price for his failure.
“Y-Your Holiness! Please! Just one more chance!”
“Your sacrifice will be a great help.”
“No… Noooo!”
Craack
“Our God, Baal, requires an appropriate offering for His descent…”
The blood seeping from Cardinal Saloniir’s battered body pooled together to form a small orb.
Even while watching Cardinal Saloniir struggle, asking for the price of failure.
An embodiment of evil created by sacrificing the Sect’s priest.
The orb levitated and rose into the Pope’s hands.
“Losing Jevoub is unfortunate, but in the end, it seems there’s no other way. …Thus, the direction the Sect must now take is clear.”
Whoosh
The pitch-black divine power emanating from the Pope enveloped the orb.
“Let us hasten the descent of our true God, Baal, even if it means sacrificing the Sect.”
*
“Welcome to the journey with the Teacher. Jaime… was it?”
After finishing the meal and taking a break.
I informed the disciples that Johanna’s sister, Jaime, would be joining us.
Simon was the first to step forward and greet her.
He felt like the eldest brother of the group.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Jaime. As a fellow follower of our Lord, I look forward to working with you.”
Next was Judah welcoming her.
With a sly characteristic vibe, she seems to be adapting well.
“Nice to meet you. Let’s do our best as fellow disciples of the same Teacher.”
Mata greeted her politely.
Perhaps due to her experience as a tax collector, she was very courteous.
“Hello everyone. Thank you for the warm welcome. I am Jaime, Johanna’s sister. I have received the grace of being saved by the Saint… oh, I mean, the Teacher, and I am honored to follow. I look forward to getting to know you all.”
Jaime, having regained her original appearance, now stepped forward beautifully adorned, giving off a holy aura that confirmed she hadn’t been just flattering when saying she’d climbed up to the candidate for saint.
“You say the Teacher saved you? Can you tell us what happened?”
Mata appeared with a piece of paper, questioning Jaime.
When did she start carrying around paper to take notes?
Is that also a side effect of her former job as a tax collector?
“Ah, do you really want to know?”
Jaime suddenly came closer to Mata and clasped her hands tightly.
“…Yes? Ah, yes…”
Mata replied hesitantly.
“Well, then I must tell you how the Teacher performed a miracle! How I was blessed by the Teacher! And how both Johanna and I, as sisters, received His grace!”
“…Sister, really…”
Jaime suddenly exploded with excitement and began to spill out her story.
“That moment of utter despair! The Teacher came to me!”
Starting from her story of reaching the candidate status for saint in the Baal Sect.
When she began to speak of being consumed by the monster of ‘Chaos,’ everyone started to listen intently.
“In my most secret and hidden place! The Teacher entered!”
Jaime shouted excitedly.
…Huh?
Wait a second.
Something feels off here?
It was indeed true she entered the transcendent realm, so she must have gone to a secret and hidden place, but stating it like that sounds weird.
“And then He tore the veil and…”
Veil? Tear?
Sure, to approach Jaime in the dream realm, He did tear the veil formed by the chaos energy, but phrasing it like that sounds different!
“What? Lies! The Teacher couldn’t have done that!”
Upon hearing those words, Iako sprang up from her seat.
“Lies… you say?”
“The Teacher is the living Son of Deus. He came to save this world! He wouldn’t do something strange like that!”
“Strange? Are you saying the Teacher saving me is strange…?”
Jaime began to tremble at Iako’s words.
Uh… Is it just me, or did Iako misunderstand something?
I can totally see how it could be misunderstood… maybe?
Has she been possessed by some lusty demon or something?
“The Teacher’s most cherished disciple is me. He wouldn’t do anything for you that He wouldn’t do for me!”
“Oh? You claim to be the Teacher’s most cherished disciple? Then what have you done with the Teacher to say such things? As for me, the Teacher entered my most secret place and saw everything!”
“All of it? He… he touched everywhere on my body!”
“Everywhere? Touching everywhere…”
“And He did whatever He pleased with my precious place!”
Uh… have I done something like that with Iako…?
I can’t remember.
Having physical contact with Iako… was there anything?
Ah.
I did reinforce Iako’s magic to bring fish onto the boat in the Galilee territory, so maybe that’s what she’s talking about?
“Th-That’s… but…”
“Hmph. Regardless, the Teacher’s most beloved disciple is clearly me!”
“Hah. I think you’re mistaken. How can you call yourself the Teacher’s most beloved disciple when you know nothing about what the Teacher has done for me? In fact, I believe I am much more deserving of that title than someone with your meager figure!”
“What?! Did you just say that?”
“That seems like something I should say.”
Iako and Jaime were now glaring at each other, their faces almost touching.
“Enough. That’s quite enough. What are you all doing in front of the Teacher?”
Simon stepped in to break them apart.
“Sister. Stop it. We’re following the Teacher from here on out, so we can’t fight like this.”
Johanna stepped in front of Jaime.
I can’t believe these two are bickering about such a strange topic.
This is something I really didn’t expect.
“Enough, everyone.”
As I quietly spoke up, everyone turned and looked at me.
“My most cherished disciple? To argue over such things… Can you truly call yourselves my followers?”
Everyone fell silent and bowed their heads deeply.
“I came to this world to save everyone. To save Deus’s offspring from ‘Chaos.’ So you should only think of Deus’s kingdom.”
Of course, even saying this, I don’t know what Deus’s kingdom is.
I just need to defeat ‘Chaos.’
“I’m sorry, Teacher! I was thoughtless!”
“I’m sorry for causing conflict as soon as I vowed to follow you, Teacher. I won’t do it again.”
The two girls instantly bowed and apologized.
No, I’m not particularly upset about it.
Getting to know a character like Jaime, whom I hadn’t seen in [Deus Ex Machina], is quite a refreshing experience.
*
Outskirts of Kinor
Clop
A woman wrapped tightly in a robe.
Strands of noble hair peeked through the gaps, impossible to hide her elegance.
And with her was a knight.
Two suspicious-looking individuals caught the attention of those around them as they arrived in Kinor.
“This is Kinor.”
“According to the pedestrians, the Saint is staying at the house of Zebedee, a priest of the Baal Sect.”
“A priest of the Baal Sect? The Saint? …That corrupt sect? Why?”
“I’ve confirmed the location from the pedestrians. Shall we head there directly?”
“Yes. Let’s go right now. We have no time to waste. Before Abamama burns Orias, we need to hurry.”
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