The capital of the Nova Empire, Orias
Imperial Palace, the Emperor’s Great Hall
One of the ministers of the palace was kneeling before Emperor Dominic, reporting.
“So, you’re saying Aurelia has left Orias, not just the palace, and gone somewhere? We still have no idea where she headed.”
“Ah, I am terribly sorry to report, but… Yes, that’s correct.”
“Haha. Hahaha. Hahahahahaha!”
Hearing this, the emperor began to laugh maniacally, getting louder and louder.
“How perceptive. How did she know to run away!”
The more the emperor laughed crazily, the more his minister began to tremble in fear.
“This girl! Forgetting the grace of having given birth and raised her, she runs away! How did she know? I thought I had acted in such a way that she wouldn’t even suspect she was to be a sacrificial offering at this purification ceremony. Hmmm….”
The emperor rested his head on his arms on the armrest, deep in thought.
“I truly have no idea. I alone knew that she was to be sacrificed. Did she just leave Orias for a while? No, if that were the case, she must have informed me of something. Did she really catch on and run away?”
The minister realized he had heard something he shouldn’t have and started shaking and rolling his eyes nervously.
“Oh dear. I had forgotten you were here.”
The emperor, already aware the minister was present, pretended to smile innocently while looking at him.
“Your Majesty! Please! Spare my life! I have always served you faithfully!”
“Since you bring up such a topic, I suppose you already know what my answer will be?”
While seated, the emperor raised one hand, fist clenched, showing only his thumb up.
“Your Majesty! Please! Please!”
Whoosh!
A thick, dark crimson flame spiraled up from beneath the minister’s feet.
“Ah, no! No! I can’t die!”
“Don’t worry. You are my loyal minister. I shall take care of you appropriately. As a sacrifice for me.”
“Noooooo!”
As Emperor Dominic turned his thumb downward, the flames shot up, forming a pillar of fire that completely engulfed the minister.
Fwoosh!
When Dominic withdrew his hand, the flame pillar dissipated, leaving only ashes that danced in the air.
“O Chaos! I have sent you one who I cherish. Please accept this and quell your wrath. …I shall find my daughter. Please grant me just a little more time. ……Yes. I will find her and offer her in the purification ceremony that will clean Orias.”
Left alone in the grand hall, the emperor spoke as if conversing with someone, despite having no one beside him.
And his eyes gleamed.
“Yes. She will surely satisfy you.”
*
“Understood, Saint. As you said, I will come again tomorrow. I apologize for intruding at such a late hour.”
The person who bowed to me gradually faded away until she disappeared.
Aurelia’s unique ability to handle ‘presence.’
It wasn’t just hiding her appearance or aura but an ability to make her entire body become an illusion, allowing her to pass through solid objects.
With such abilities, in [Deus Ex Machina], even though Aurelia was a princess, her infiltration skills exceeded that of any assassin.
It’s no wonder Mata didn’t notice her entrance.
I hadn’t suspected her presence in my room at all.
My heart is still racing.
Could it be that Aurelia came directly to see me?
I hope I didn’t look too weird!
I think I might have overdone it with my early morning vibe…
Still, having Aurelia join our party is a tremendous advantage.
A capable lord who could replace the current tyrant emperor, Dominic, who is on a rampage.
And a lineage that would provide significant justification towards that end.
Along with enough charm and a good nature to gather supporting forces.
If Aurelia is with us, it will make it much easier to oust Dominic.
But… the timing is a problem.
Originally, Dominic was scheduled to execute the Orias purification operation in about six months…
But because of the snowball effect from my actions, it has suddenly come crashing down to our doorstep.
Aurelia might not have known the exact timing, but it would be reasonable to think it’s closing in on a month since she started discussing the operation with the generals.
One month…
In [Deus Ex Machina], the Orias purification operation was a scheme executed by Emperor Dominic under the pretext of cleaning the capital Orias.
A massacre operation that would wipe out all the lower class citizens under the guise of a purification.
The reality was that Dominic was conducting this to offer sacrifices to ‘Chaos,’ whom he served.
Once this operation commenced, the objective was to secure sacrifices, and Dominic would start indiscriminately slaughtering not just the lower class citizens but nearby residents as well.
Thanks to this operation, everyone who had been enduring their situation would rise up in rebellion, ignited by the revolutionary flames started by Aurelia and Dia.
If the Orias purification operation were to happen while I am gaining influence, the resentment towards Dominic would rise dramatically, and with Princess Aurelia on my side, it would become much easier to topple Dominic.
However, many lives would be lost within Orias as a consequence.
Considering that several named characters from [Deus Ex Machina] are currently in Orias… I need to stop it.
Yet, if I prevent the Orias purification operation, I would lose the trigger to overthrow Dominic.
Losing such a strong catalyst would mean I can’t ignite the massive revolutionary flames seen in the Nova Empire episode of [Deus Ex Machina].
I’m in a deeply troubling situation.
Can I catch Dominic with only the comrades I have gathered so far?
Before he lost his wife, Dominic was an extraordinary prince who excelled in both martial and literary arts.
Even before his corruption, he surpassed the barriers of a swordsman with immense talent and abundant training.
Now, he is in a situation where he is strengthened by ‘Chaos.’
It wouldn’t be easy to deal with just Dominic, especially since the Nova Empire is his puppet.
The current situation is way too difficult.
But there is no time.
Is there no way?
Some method through which I could defeat Dominic…
I can’t recklessly head to Orias for a gamble on using the ‘Gift’.
I would hate to waste everything I built with this clone.
It’s not like I can inherit what this clone has accomplished back to my original self.
…Wait.
Inherit?
…Inheriting.
The appearance of my original self and this clone is completely identical.
Judah, who knows my original face, thought of this clone as entirely separate from Luke Pulsreino.
Even if my original self were to appear here, everyone would likely think of him as the Son of Deus, not Luke Pulsreino.
Even if the clone were to disappear, it means I could still inherit from them.
…If that’s the case, this doesn’t seem impossible.
If I play this right…
*
The next day
“Hello, teacher’s disciples! I’m Maria! Nice to meet you!”
“Ah, greetings. I am Magdalene. Thank you for having me.”
In the living room of the Zebedee household, I introduced Aurelia and her escort knight, Migdal, to the gathered disciples.
Even though Princess Aurelia is now part of our side, she’s still one of the daggers aimed at toppling Dominic.
If I revealed her identity too soon, it might attract Dominic’s attention too quickly and disrupt the plan I devised throughout last night.
Thus, I told her and her knight to keep their identities concealed.
As a princess of this empire, Aurelia’s name is well-known.
Of course, very few would recognize her face since it isn’t widely known. However, I thought it would be better to keep her name hidden, so Aurelia and Migdal decided to use aliases.
The names they chose were Maria and Magdalene.
Aurelia easily blended in with the disciples through her natural charm, while Migdal appeared stiff, as if he was trying to display his identity as a knight.
Well, time will take care of that.
I hope everyone gets along well.
We’ll be embarking on a journey to defeat ‘Chaos’ together.
“Welcome to be brothers with the teacher. I look forward to working with you.”
Once again, it was Simon who stepped forward first.
He showed a reliable presence akin to a leader of the disciples.
And the eight comrades greeted each other.
In my heart, there were many places I wanted to visit right now.
But the Orias purification operation is just around the corner.
I can’t delay any longer.
Just one place.
Valenos.
We will drop by Valenos, where the Grand Wilderness unfolds, before heading to Orias.
To begin the journey to establish Aurelia as the Empress of this empire.
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