As they were eating, Luke took the foot, blessed it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “You all must drink this; this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the day I drink it new with you in my mother’s kingdom.” (omission) Then Luke said to the disciples, “Tonight, you will all abandon me. It is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'” (omission) The most cherished disciple replied, “Even if all forsake you, I will never forsake you.” Luke responded, “Truly I say to you, before the rooster crows tonight, you will deny me three times.” The cherished disciple said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you.” All the disciples said the same.
Gospel of Aurelia, Chapter 17, Verses 26-29, 31, 33-35
After finishing the foot-washing ceremony, I moved with the disciples to a huge room on the second floor of a building prepared by Paulah.
According to Paulah, this is the place where the miracle of the Holy Spirit occurred.
So, does that mean the followers of Paulah received the baptism of Ignis here?
It was a space filled with comfortable chairs and sofas, perfect for relaxing.
But where did Judah go?
Wasn’t she supposed to be here?
Did she go to her room?
I intended to spend the night in our designated rooms after a bit of relaxation.
Suddenly, I felt an unsettling flow of magic.
Could it be starting already?
– T-this is! Those guys, no way…!
It seems that Lilith reacted immediately because she was also part of this ‘Chaos.’
A sinister magic enveloping all of Oriaas.
It was a precursor to the Oriaas purification operation seen in the Nova Empire episode of Deus Ex Machina.
– Lily! This is ‘Chaos’…!
– I know.
– No, this isn’t just ordinary! It’s ‘Chaos’ moving directly!
So, I know.
“Teacher washed my feet personally!”
“I will never wash my own feet from now on.”
“Should I do the same?”
“You washed my feet longer.”
“No way! You washed your feet longer, meaning my relationship with the Teacher is deeper than yours!”
But it seemed only I felt this flow of magical energy.
Shivers… No, did Paulah feel it too?
She was hugging herself, trembling.
Having experienced being devoured by the ‘Chaos’ once, the swirling magic mixed with that ‘Chaos’ must be terrifying for her.
“Te-teacher…”
She looked at me with pitiful eyes.
The proud girl from Deus Ex Machina, who escaped the grip of ‘Chaos,’ shows me such an expression.
Wait… could it be that she looked that way only when players couldn’t see?
But what she fears won’t happen.
It’s a bit surprising that the battle begins tonight.
Thanks to the foot-washing ceremony, everything is ready.
Tonight… the tyrant will fall.
“Tonight.”
As I spoke, everyone stopped their unnecessary chatter and looked at me.
“You all will forsake me.”
At my words, everyone fell into silence.
Creeeak…
“What do you mean, Teacher!”
Simon suddenly stood up, breaking the silence.
– Lily! What are you talking about!
Lilith, why are you like that?
“You mean we will forsake you!”
“It’s written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’”
It’s a line from my book.
It’s recorded in the scriptures of Deus.
The original text reads, “Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; but I will raise my hand against the little ones.”
Actually, when I wrote this part, I thought it was just some sophisticated content.
Who would’ve imagined it would become usable like this?
“Th-that is…!”
Everyone seemed dumbfounded, as it was actually written in the scriptures.
I hate the idea of my comrades turning their backs on me.
But to gain power that can confront a deity, this process is essential.
Thus, they must betray me… or not betray, rather.
It’s not betrayal, but they must turn their backs on me and leave.
Only then will the conditions for ‘that’ to activate be met.
“Teacher!”
Suddenly, Aurelia shouted loudly.
“Even if everyone forsakes and betrays you, I will never forsake you!”
With determined eyes, she declares to me.
Considering her strong resolve and the path she showed in Deus Ex Machina, her words must be sincere.
She probably means she genuinely won’t leave me.
But… her strong resolve must crumble.
“My Maria.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“Deus’s son truly tells you.”
The magic I instilled in her during the foot-washing will cause her to turn against me.
It may not be what she desires.
“Tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
“Te-teacher!”
Her expression shows shock upon hearing my words.
“Teacher, even if I must die with you, or if I have to die for you!”
She seemed flustered but soon regained her composure and declared her resolve to me again.
“I will never deny my Lord, even if it leads to my death.”
“I will also!”
Migdal stands up beside Aurelia.
“Lord, who saved me from my filth, how could I betray you?”
Levi, who has become Mata.
“We lived by your grace, Lord. Everything we have is yours.”
“Our bodies, our hearts, all belong to you.”
Sisters Johanna and Jaime.
“I exist because you exist.”
“If we leave you… we would be nothing.”
Simon and Iako.
“Until we repay the grace of Lord who saved us from eternal damnation, we cannot leave you!”
“Betraying the Heir? Would there be any meaning to our existence?”
Zolga and the Celestials.
They all declared as if to affirm me.
These are the comrades I’ve worked hard to gather…
What a reassuring response.
– Wow. Lily. Your comrades… really love you.
For some reason, Lilith is getting emotional beside me.
…What is wrong with her?
It was a touching scene where everyone vowed not to abandon me even if the whole world did.
It’s a sight I couldn’t even see in Deus Ex Machina.
As a fan, nothing could be more moving.
However, I’ll be facing a god.
And two evil gods belonging to ‘Chaos.’
Right now, Lilith, beside me, seems to have been affected by the shock of the events in the mental world and has become very strange but is originally of a different caliber.
To win this battle, or even survive, is an impossibly high difficulty level.
Therefore… they must leave me.
Only then will the conditions be fulfilled.
*
“Huff… huff…”
I ran towards the Baal cult building after leaving.
Even though I enhanced my body with magic, I was pushing myself to arrive as early as possible, and I felt my body reaching its limit.
If I don’t stop now, it feels like my heart will burst.
However… I might be too late.
My Teacher… might die!
Pushing through the doors, I barely arrived at the Oriaas Chapter 1 of the Baal cult.
“Hah… hah…”
I opened the door and panted heavily.
“Who are you?”
“Who are you that visits the cult at this late hour?”
The Holy Knight approached me suspiciously, clearly seeing how odd I appeared.
I pulled out my uncle’s family crest from my bosom.
Originally given to me when my uncle asked me to take on the role of the de facto leader of Debea.
Thanks to following my Teacher, I can still hold onto it.
“This, this is!”
“I am Judah Iscariot. The deputy lord of the city of Debea. I have come to meet the bishop of this place, Oriaas Chapter 1.”
“I apologize!”
“Please wait a moment! I will quickly ask the bishop!”
The Holy Knight dashed inside.
What I’m doing now will betray the Lord’s expectations.
It would mean abandoning the whole world to save the Lord.
Perhaps future generations will record me as the worst demon.
Haha.
To have something precious enough for me to do such a thing, it seems the most important thing is leaving my name in history.
The image of that person flashed through my mind.
“The bishop has allowed the audience! Follow me inside!”
To me, more important than my lifelong dream.
Is that person.
Forgive this foolish disciple.
My Lord.
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