As Luke stood before them on the way to Aureas, they were astonished, while his followers trembled in fear. He again took the twelve disciples and began to speak about the things he was about to face, saying,
Gospel of Aurelia, Chapter 15, Verses 11-12
Through victory in Celes, the Celes Clan was recruited, acquiring the legacy of Celestia and annihilating Atzoatl’s forces.
Through victory at the Academy, Lilith was captured.
As a result, the forces of ‘Chaos’ became significantly weakened.
One of the three existing gods is under my control, while the other has lost his power.
Both were able to secure victories by using the mental world to exert their influence.
I was lucky.
The problem is that Atzoatl has managed to escape.
This means that ‘Chaos’ will become aware that I am invincible in the mental world.
In future fights, it is unlikely that the enemies will willingly draw themselves into the mental world.
Thus, I must find a new method,
and we will respond according to the original plan.
Initially, capturing or weakening Lilith and Atzoatl was only made possible because things went smoothly.
The original plan was to confront all three gods of evil.
The tyrant Dominic rules Aureas.
I will defeat him.
And behind him is Saros…
I will confront ‘Chaos’.
– Was it really so? How can two bodies exist at the same time…?
For this, I brought Lilith with me.
I transferred her seal to my clone through the spatial realm.
Suddenly, she began to float beside my clone as if in a state of a soul.
The reason for moving Lilith from her main body to my clone is twofold.
First, the other two gods of evil, excluding Lilith, do not know that the ‘Son of Deus’ and Luke Pulsreino are the same person.
If the gods realize that Lilith is near the main body, the main body would be in danger, so this was the chosen method.
Of course, no matter how perceptive the evil gods might be, the chances of them discovering it are low.
Second, since I have started to be recognized as Lily by her, there is a possibility that I can enlist her as part of my strength.
If that happens, it could be beneficial in the upcoming battle against ‘Chaos’.
So I brought her along.
– It’s something that can’t even be achieved through divinity. How can one possess two bodies? Lil… Luke Pulsreino. Are you a deity?
I am not sure yet if I can utilize her power.
Well, I never expected it to happen instantly.
I’ll just take it slowly.
– No. If I were a deity, do you think I would be able to cause such events on the ground?
– Indeed… It is possible for a deity to descend onto the ground in the form of an avatar, but performing miracles through divinity is a different matter.
In [Deus Ex Machina], there are limits to how gods can intervene in the intermediate realm.
The fact that a sufficiently powerful ‘Chaos’ would try to slowly consume the continent using uncomfortable means, or that Lilith and Atzoatl would try to draw me into the mental world to confront me, is also connected.
Though their true forms haven’t properly appeared, interventions are restricted by some systematic something that exists above the gods.
– But how can you use divinity?
On the road to Aureas, many of those following me came together and performed a miracle once.
As before, it was a widespread healing miracle.
Through such miracles, many believers emerged, and even though I couldn’t feel divinity surging back, I could tell something was happening.
Lilith witnessed that sight.
– This is my ‘Gift’.
– ‘Gift’? A human’s ‘Gift’ enables one to wield divinity? With a mortal body?
I also have my doubts.
Divinity is a resource wielded by a deity that transcends mortal limitations.
It is the privilege of a god capable of performing countless miracles and the strongest power in this world.
A ‘Gift’ that enables one to wield such divinity.
What on earth is going on?
– … Is that so? When Lily saved me, surely it was because of divinity… If her soul was engraved with divinity back then… then it wouldn’t be strange to wield divinity through a ‘Gift’… as I thought…
Suddenly, Lilith mumbled and fell into her own thoughts.
I had also been searching for that answer for a while.
Why can I wield divinity?
Of course, I can’t wield it in the way I want, but I can at least wield it to some extent.
After all, every miracle has always occurred in ways that have helped me.
Thus, the hypothesis I formed is that of Deus.
If the faith gathered through the book I wrote resurrected Deus and endowed divinity, then everything makes sense.
Then it also makes sense that Ignis gained divinity and became what she is.
But if that’s the case, why has Deus not yet contacted me, the ‘Son of Deus’, even after all this time?
Is this hypothesis itself incorrect?
“Successor… I’m sorry, Teacher. Aureas is coming into view.”
At that moment, Zolga approached and spoke.
As she said, Aureas, the capital of the Nova Empire, began to faintly come into view from afar.
Aureas.
The core location of the Nova Empire episode in [Deus Ex Machina].
The real Aureas…
The place where tyrant Dominic resides.
The center of the Nova Empire.
And the climax of the ‘Son of Deus’’ journey.
Though Aureas can be seen from a distance, it would be too late for this crowd to make it there.
So I told everyone that we would make camp here for the night.
Then, the Celes Clan began to take out the Celestial Empire’s legacy and set up a state-of-the-art campsite.
“Oh! As expected of the Teacher’s disciples!”
“A house is being built out of thin air! What kind of miracle is this!”
“Thank you, Apostles!”
The followers who were amazed by that sight responded.
“All of this is thanks to the grace of the Successor.”
“Worship the Teacher and Deus.”
Since the Celes people joined us, our journey has become remarkably convenient due to the Celestial legacies.
I’m a clone anyway, so I didn’t feel much inconvenience, but for those with me, it must be a significant change.
As I sat upon a grand chair that could be termed as the throne provided by Zolga and Keldor, Jaime and Johanna approached.
“Teacher.”
“I have something to say.”
Suddenly?
What’s going on?
“What’s going on?”
“Teacher, about what you will do in Aureas… may we take the lead in that matter?”
“My sisters could lead it as well.”
The lead?
Ah, are they talking about the fight with Dominic?
“And, once everything is over, may I sit next to you…?”
“My sisters will dedicate everything….”
Jaime and Johanna blushed, bowing their heads low as they spoke.
– Ha. These girls are really funny. The sisters are both driven mad with lust. The scent of females is overwhelming.
Lilith raised her voice seemingly displeased beside me.
Taking the lead means they want to achieve great merit in the battle against Dominic and become the second-in-command of the country I will establish.
… I hadn’t thought they’d have ambitions for power.
After all, the new emperor wouldn’t be me but Aurelia.
– Hey. You aren’t seriously considering accepting something like that, are you?
Just a moment ago, Lilith had been using a somewhat refined speech toward me, but suddenly, perhaps out of excitement, her tone became lighter.
Of course, I have no intention of accepting it.
We haven’t even started fighting yet.
This is a dangerous gamble where we could all lose our lives.
This is a war that could determine the fate of the continent… and they’re thinking of achieving merit before it even starts?
Absolutely not.
There’s no way we can win with such a casual mindset.
“You don’t know what you’re really after, do you?”
“… Yes?”
“Can you drink the cup I drink, and can you be baptized the way I am?”
“Hah, we can!”
“We will do anything for the Teacher’s will!”
No.
Tyrant Dominic isn’t that soft of an opponent.
And the evil god of ‘Chaos’ is even more formidable.
Even though I’ve prepared this much, I can’t guarantee a victory.
So far, things have gone well, but if the evil gods are determined to intervene, I could be wiped out in an instant.
“Who sits at my right or left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared.”
Still, motivation is needed.
The renewed empire after our victory.
What can be obtained there is not something that I will provide.
It will be something that Aurelia and you all will create together.
– … You really have no awareness, do you? Sigh, thinking about it, you were like this in your previous life too.
Awareness?
What on earth is she talking about?
*
“What’s wrong, Apostle?”
“He has arrived. The one.”
“… Yes?”
“The time… has come. Finally.”
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