Today, I’m going to discuss two of the Seven Gospels: the Gospel of Paulah and the Gospel of Lydia. The Gospel of Paulah, written by Apostle Paulah, and the Gospel of Lydia, authored by Apostle Lydia.
…What? Yes, that’s right. The Gospel of Lydia. Recently, the latest theological research has revealed that Scala’s original name was Lydia. As a result, the Scala Gospel has been renamed the Gospel of Lydia. It must be the will of our Lord Luke that this true name has been discovered, so it’s only fitting to call it the Gospel of Lydia.
But anyway, the story I want to tell today is this.
All Seven Gospels have slight differences in what they record, but the most distinct differences can be seen between the Gospels of Paulah and Lydia.
For example.
According to the Gospel of Lydia, Lydia recognized the divinity of our Lord Luke the moment she met Him.
In contrast, the Gospel of Paulah states that Lydia was foolish and doubted our Lord Luke.
Completely opposing stories, right?
Even though they are the same Gospel, why are they telling such different tales?
The current consensus in theological circles is as follows.
Lydia was called to be our Lord Luke’s first disciple. On the other hand, Paulah joined the group of disciples quite late.
Back when Apostle ‘Paulah’ was known as ‘Saula,’ she used to persecute followers of Deus.
Well, later she repented and followed the Lord, but from Lydia’s perspective, who was building her power as the first pope, Saula must have been a thorn in her side.
This led to a severely strained relationship between the two women. This is the conclusion drawn from research to date: each woman recorded the other in an unfavorable light due to their worst of relationships.
…What? You ask if they were just fighting because both women admired our Lord Luke?
It’s the holy scripture made by our Lord Luke. There’s no way such vulgar content would be included.
But, if. Just if, that were the case.
If the scripture contains the jealousy of women, perhaps our Lord Luke’s intention was something like this on this continent…
At the continent’s finest university, St. Leopar University, in a theology class
Well, things got immensely tangled up, but in the end, I succeeded in bringing Lydia to my side.
Plus, I even managed to get Lydia to promise to publish my book and spread it across the continent.
Uh… it seems like Lydia might have misunderstood something, but… it’s better this way.
…I do worry about correcting this misunderstanding later on.
Because a lie brings forth new lies.
However, in that situation, I couldn’t possibly correct the misunderstanding.
I didn’t want to see Lydia’s disappointed face, and I didn’t want her to dislike me.
Well, I guess it’ll work out somehow.
After leaving Lydia with the book for ten years.
My book had become the one and only scripture of a rising religion that engulfed the continent.
What the heck, Lydia?
I asked her to spread the book widely, and she went and made the continent’s greatest religion?
In just over a mere ten years?
Impressive, this woman.
Must be because of her unique Gift?
Of course, it wasn’t solely her power, my influence over the last ten years played a part too.
‘Gift.’
In the English of the original world, it means a present or talent.
Many media took inspiration from this meaning and attached the term to a kind of ability, and [Deus Ex Machina] did the same.
Typically, characters in character collection games possess a special ability to showcase their charm.
[Deus Ex Machina] also bestowed a setting of ‘Gift’ to highlight the unique abilities of each character.
According to game lore, any random sentient being in this world awakens their ‘Gift’ at some moment and can wield it.
However, the rate of awakening this ‘Gift’ among all sentient beings is only about 1 percent.
Yet still, the criteria for awakening this ‘Gift’ hasn’t been clearly disclosed.
The abilities of ‘Gift’ vary.
It can grant a person with ordinary muscle strength the power of 100 men.
Or give an average human, who has never encountered magic, the intellect to become a grand wizard in an instant.
The moment a sentient being awakens their ‘Gift,’ the identity of that ability is imprinted in their minds.
In an abstract form, of course.
For example, Lydia Hubris’s ‘Gift’ ability is as follows.
‘A demonic spider that enthralls other sentient beings.’
This is the skill description of Lydia’s Gift ability, ‘Demonic Spider,’ as written in her character skill window.
The developers of [Deus Ex Machina] must have caught a bad case of something because they didn’t provide any intuitive explanations like ‘reduces enemy attack power by 50 percent and restrains for 10 seconds.’
As a result, players had to use the skills directly to figure out each character’s ‘Gift.’
Enthralling other sentient beings, huh? Even with the explanation, I have no clue what that ability is.
Regardless, Lydia built countless connections in the underworld through this ability and managed to seize control over the back world of the Calandra Empire by forming an information guild.
And she did it all without engaging in any shady business or dubious activities.
In fact, this led to quite a buzz among [Deus Ex Machina] players. A girl without any backing establishes a guild of this caliber alone? Didn’t she offer something sexual to gain support? They were saying.
As a result, players were inflamed, causing quite a ruckus until the developers stamped that Lydia was ‘a woman unfamiliar with men.’
Nonetheless, the important thing is that Lydia was a wonderfully capable woman.
As someone familiar with [Deus Ex Machina], I knew that well, but I never imagined she’d accomplish something this tremendous.
Thanks to her, I easily achieved my initial goal of making money, but…
I didn’t expect that book to become such a bothersome affair.
*
“So, this day has come when I finally send you off to the Academy, my Luke… sniff.”
The beautiful noblewoman before me started to cry.
“Oh, Mother, why are you crying on such a joyous day? I’m finally going to fulfill my duties as a member of the noble Pulsreino family!”
In the Calandra Empire, or rather this continent, studying at a high educational institution like the Academy is regarded as a noble’s duty.
Nobles who don’t graduate from the Academy are treated as lesser nobles.
Thus, no matter how weak my body might be, it’s only natural for me to attend the Academy.
Even though I’m itching to see the characters from [Deus Ex Machina] as I head to the Academy.
“Still… sniff. I wonder if a frail child like you can withstand the rough Academy…”
“Mother… I’m not a child anymore. I’m an adult, capable of taking care of myself.”
“Luke… I wish Meiru, who will be attending the Academy with you, could take care of you… but she’s already left.”
Meiru Pulsreino, huh…
She probably won’t take care of me at all. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t make my life miserable at the Academy.
After all, she took a separate carriage to the Academy, insisting she didn’t want to sit with me.
“Sigh. If only Seiren were still at the Academy…”
“Don’t worry. I’m also a Pulsreino.”
“…Right. Worrying like this would actually be belittling our son. Alright, I won’t worry anymore, Luke. Go and show the strength of the Pulsreinos.”
“Yes! Mother!”
As I boarded the carriage, leaving behind the members of the family who saw me off.
“Luke!”
My mother called me.
“Yes? Did you call for me, Mother?”
“Recently, it has been said that there are victims being attacked by unknown assailants near our territory. Please be careful.”
“Yes, Mother. I’ll be careful. And there’s no need to worry. I have the knights of Pulsreino with me, what is there to fear?”
At the same time, I surveyed the escort knights.
They were the strong knights from the North who have always had a soft spot for me since I was a child.
They are the most reliable knights I could wish for.
“Then…”
*
…Deus? …Deus! Is that so? Are you also worshiping God?
What the heck is that?
Why is that monster here…
The final boss of [Deus Ex Machina] Part 1… the God Slayer, Saula Drakania.
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