The Declaration of War from the Isla Empire.
From the beginning, we have been in conflict with the Katorikus Holy Kingdom, denying the existence and divinity of the teacher. But this is the first time that the dispute has escalated into full-blown war.
The Islamic forces, which began in the desert, have swallowed up one-third of the continent.
The prophet Emperor Mahomed, who pulls all the strings behind this power, is a very tricky opponent.
In response, our Katorikus Holy Kingdom has decided to ally with the neighboring Christos Law Country.
Although they do not fully recognize the epic of our teacher, they acknowledge his divinity and existence.
Thanks to their support, we were able to regain the balance in our war against the Isla Empire.
However, given the national effort we are putting into this war, our control over the regions has inevitably weakened.
As a result, the influence of the central government over the territories near the front lines against the Isla Empire has diminished, leading to an increase in strange activities.
Lords bound to protect their subjects surrendering to tyranny for their own greed.
Holy knights who swore their lives to Lord Deus robbing others of their treasures.
Thus, Aurelia asked me for help.
Could I take a look at the territories near the battlefield?
While everyone else is fighting on the front lines, I am tasked with heading to the peaceful rear.
I wasn’t keen on the idea, but knowing how crucial stabilizing the rear is in this war, and recognizing that there was no one else better suited for this task than me, I began to inspect the surrounding territories as she requested.
What I found was a shocking amount of corruption everywhere.
Aren’t they afraid of Lord Deus’s judgment?
How dare those who claim to believe in Lord Deus!
I infiltrated several territories, keeping my identity hidden, and captured the corrupt lords and priests.
Then I handed them over to the soldiers who followed me, taking them to the prison of Orias.
Can you believe that while engaging in battle against those who openly deny our teacher, these corrupt individuals were busy with their self-serving schemes?
After roaming through various territories, I arrived next at Zantar Territory, which is near the battlefield.
I had heard that the bishop in charge of that territory was corrupt.
Upon reaching the capital Zantar of Zantar Territory, the only information I could gather from the local church was that the bishop had taken some holy knights to a small village called Spring Water Village on some errand.
A visit to a village.
In the midst of a war, a visit to a small village.
Generally, one would assume that people act to stabilize their surroundings in a chaotic time, but…
The people I have encountered are truly despicable.
Upon reaching Spring Water Village, I found a large crowd gathered in the town square.
Could it be because the bishop is visiting?
Through the crowd, I melted in and observed what the bishop was doing.
“Seems like this child isn’t ordinary.”
“Uh? W-What do you mean by that!”
“To show fear in the presence of me, the holy representative of Lord Deus… there’s a chance that the soul of Satan Judah has taken hold of this child.”
How dare the bishop lightly utter the name of Lord Deus.
“Hmm? So you refuse to admit it?”
“N-No! Your Lordship… you’re correct.”
“Then it’s decided. I should take this child for a purification ritual. Understood?”
“… Yes. Your Lordship is right.”
“Indeed. Generally, when a devil arises in one household, it tends to spread to others. I should check on the other children.”
That bishop looked just like the corrupt priests I had seen before.
No, even uglier.
To take advantage of Lord Deus’s existence like this.
To fulfill his own filthy desires with a young girl…
I can’t stand for this any longer.
I cannot watch my lord, the existence of my teacher, be so defiled.
I began to summon the power of lightning and moved to confront them.
“Um? Where is this? Wasn’t I supposed to go to Orias?”
“Uh… we were supposed to, but it seems there’s been a problem in the dimensional rift. I apologize, my lord!”
At that moment, two figures emerged between the bishop and the young girl.
A man and a woman…
No way.
The one I missed so dearly, Johanna.
I thought to myself, when will I ever see you again, after fulfilling the mission entrusted to me by you and finally resting.
I couldn’t be mistaken.
How I had longed for this.
My teacher stood there!
And beside her was our sister, Paulah, who ascended long ago.
It’s certain.
The lord has returned once more to this land!
“Warriors of Deus! Purge this heinous blasphemer on the spot!”
“Haahhh!”
The holy knights, ignorant of their place, dared to attack the lord.
Without thinking, I rushed forward through the villagers and summoned lightning.
Surely the lord would handle it fine, and though the lord must have a plan, I couldn’t bear to watch such filth attack my lord.
Kwang Kwang!
I confirmed that the holy knights fell unconscious from my lightning strikes and approached my teacher to pay my respects.
A bow towards my lord.
“Aah. I stand before you, my lord. My living lord.”
—
I never expected to see Johanna again in this village.
As I was engulfed in confusion, unsure of what to say at that moment.
“My lord. There are too many eyes here, perhaps it would be best to move to a more private location.”
Paulah suggested.
“Oh. I’m sorry, my lord. I didn’t consider that.”
Hearing this, Johanna took out a small tablet from her bosom.
Then she turned toward the villagers and priests and spoke.
“I am Apostle Johanna. I have come here after hearing news of a fallen bishop who has been misusing the name of Lord Deus in this territory.”
“Apostle?!”
“It really is the apostle! The direct disciple of Lord Luke!”
“Lightning fell from the sky! The apostle bestowed the wrath of Deus!”
“Wow! The apostle defeated the fallen bishop!”
“Thank you, Apostle!”
“Waaaaahhh!”
As she raised the tablet, the holy knights rushed from the entrance of the village.
“Bishop Beerge. For daring to use the name of Lord Deus for your selfish gain, for persecuting the people at will, and for many other sins, you shall be brought before a religious trial.”
“P-Please spare me!”
The priest, still dazed after seeing his fellow holy knights struck by lightning, began to tremble and plead upon hearing the words ‘religious trial’.
“Bind the sinner and take them away.”
Johanna’s voice was icy.
She has become much scarier compared to the last time I knew her.
She turned back and looked at me.
“I’m sorry, my lord. I made you wait.”
“Sister Johanna. This is not the right place for conversation.”
“I will take you to an appropriate place. Please follow me.”
After Paulah’s words, Johanna moved to a different location.
I followed her along with Paulah.
The grown Johanna, who did not appear in Deus Ex Machina.
She was incredibly different and unfamiliar but all the more alluring.
I wondered how the others from Deus Ex Machina had changed.
—
Christos Law Country
The Capital Calandra Papal Palace
Knock knock.
A woman clad in armor knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Creeeak.
As the woman opened the door and walked in, she was greeted by another woman with sky blue hair sitting in a wheelchair.
“Meiru. What brings you here, dressed in armor at this hour?”
“Sister Seiren, I think I need to go to the battlefield.”
“Suddenly?”
Seiren asked, surprised.
“I’ve thought of Luke, the Son of Deus, as a demon. I believed I had to eliminate him, considering him a heretic and despising him.”
“Meiru… that’s not your fault. You just didn’t know.”
“Even if I didn’t know… how could I treat our lord, who sacrificed himself for us, like that? I must atone.”
“Meiru! The Pope said it himself. The Lord forgives everyone. He said as long as we serve the Lord, that’s enough, which is why he made us a cardinal!”
“Exactly. I’m heading to the battlefield for the Lord! As a warrior of the Lord, as a cardinal, I’m going to protect him on the battlefield!”
“Meiru…”
“Don’t stop me.”
“You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“… Alright. I can’t stop you now that you’ve made your decision. I believe in you, Meiru. You are invincible! Just be careful, alright?”
“Okay…”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of help to you. My body….”
She pointed at her feeble legs.
Her legs were so injured that they seemed impossible to move.
She was broken from the side effects of borrowing future power, ‘Gift’.
“No, I’m grateful for your feelings. I’m off now…”
The woman left the room.
With a heart full of atonement for the sins she committed against her beloved younger brother and lord.
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