Chapter 6: Heading to Kalandra
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Today, I’d like to discuss two of the seven gospels: the Gospel of Paul and the Gospel of Lydia. The Gospel of Paul, written by the Apostle Paul, and the Gospel of Lydia, written by the Apostle Lydia. … Huh? Yes. That’s right. The Gospel of Lydia. Recent theological research has revealed that Scala’s original name was Lydia. This led to the Gospel of Scala being renamed the Gospel of Lydia. Since the discovery of the true name must also be the will of the Lord Luke, it would be appropriate to change the name to the Gospel of Lydia.
Anyway, this is the story I want to talk about today.
All seven gospels… Let’s take an example. According to the Gospel of Lydia, Lydia was called as the first disciple of the Lord Luke. On the other hand, the Gospel of Paul says that Lydia was foolish and doubted the Lord Luke.
These are completely different accounts. Why are there such different stories even though they describe the same events?
The current theological consensus is this: Lydia was called as the first disciple of the Lord Luke. On the other hand, Paola joined the group of disciples much later. When the Apostle Paola… Well, it is said that she later repented and followed the Lord, but it must have been a thorn in the side of Lydia, who was building her power as the first Pope.
Because of this… … Huh? Didn’t both women just fight because they loved Lord Luke?
It is the Bible created by Lord Luke. But, what if? Let’s assume that was the case. If the Bible…
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Things have gotten incredibly complicated, but I succeeded in winning Lydia over to my side.
Moreover, I managed to secure her promise to publish and spread my book across the continent.
Uh… it seems like Lydia has misunderstood something, but… a good outcome is a good outcome, right?
…I’m a bit worried about clearing up this misunderstanding later.
Lies beget more lies, after all.
But in that situation, I couldn’t bring myself to correct her.
I didn’t want to see Lydia disappointed, and I didn’t want her to hate me.
Well, it’ll work out somehow.
—
Ten years after entrusting the book to Lydia.
My book had become the sole scripture of a new religion that swept the continent.
Wait, Lydia, what the heck?
I asked her to spread the book as widely as possible, and she created the continent’s biggest religion?
In just a little over ten years?
This woman is incredible.
Is it because of her Gift?
Of course, it wasn’t just her doing; my influence over the past ten years played a part too.
“Gift.”
In the original world, the English word means a present or talent.
In many media, it’s used to describe special abilities, and [Deus Ex Machina] is no exception.
In character-collection games, characters typically have unique abilities to showcase their charm.
In [Deus Ex Machina], to emphasize each character’s unique abilities, they were given the setting of a “Gift.”
According to the game’s lore, a random intelligent being in this world can awaken a “Gift” at some point and gain the ability to wield it.
However, only about one percent of intelligent beings awaken a Gift.
The criteria for awakening a Gift have never been clearly explained.
Gifts vary widely.
They can grant a human with average strength the power of a hundred men.
Or enable someone who’s never touched magic to instantly become a grand mage.
When a Gift awakens, its nature is imprinted in the mind of the individual, though in an abstract form.
For example, Lydia Hubris’s Gift is described as:
“The Bewitching Spider that Enthralls Other Sentient Beings.”
This was the skill description for Lydia’s Gift, “Bewitching Spider,” as shown in her character skill window.
The developers of [Deus Ex Machina] must have been drunk or something, because they didn’t include intuitive descriptions like “Reduces enemy attack power by 50% and binds for 10 seconds.”
As a result, players had to experiment with skills to figure out each character’s Gift.
“Enthralls other sentient beings”? Even the description doesn’t make it clear what the ability does.
Anyway, with this ability, Lydia built countless connections in the underworld through her charm, establishing an information guild that dominated the Empire of Calandra’s dark side.
And she did it without resorting to seduction or other shady means.
In fact, this caused quite a stir among [Deus Ex Machina] players. A woman with no backing building a guild of this scale? Some speculated she must have used her body to gain influence.
This sparked heated debates among players until the developers confirmed that Lydia was “a woman untouched by men.”
The important thing is that Lydia was an incredibly capable woman.
As a veteran of [Deus Ex Machina], I knew this well, but I never imagined she’d accomplish something this monumental.
Thanks to her, I easily achieved my initial goal of earning money…
But who would’ve thought the book would cause such trouble?
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“So, the day has come to send you off to the Academy, my Luke… sob.”
The beautiful noblewoman in front of me began to weep.
“Come on, Mother. Why are you crying on such a happy day? I’m going to fulfill my duties as a proud member of the Persleyno family.”
In the Empire of Calandra, no, across the entire continent, attending a higher education institution like the Academy is considered a noble’s duty.
A noble who doesn’t attend the Academy isn’t treated as a proper noble.
So, even with my frail body, going to the Academy is only natural.
Though, to be honest, my desire to meet the characters of [Deus Ex Machina] is also driving me there.
“Even so… sob. Can a frail child like you endure the harsh Academy…?”
“Mother… I’m not a child anymore. I’m a full-grown adult. I can take care of myself.”
“Luke… If only Meiru, who’s attending the Academy with you, would look after you… But she left ahead of you.”
Meiru Persleyno, huh…
I doubt she’ll look after me. I’d be lucky if she doesn’t make my life miserable at the Academy.
She didn’t even want to ride in the same carriage as me and left for the Academy in a different one.
“Sigh. If only Seiren were still at the Academy.”
“Don’t worry. I’m a Persleyno too.”
“…You’re right. Worrying like this is like underestimating my son. Alright, no more worries, Luke. Go and show them the strength of the Persleyno family.”
“Yes, Mother!”
As I boarded the carriage, leaving behind the family members seeing me off…
“Luke!”
“Huh? Did you call, Mother?”
“I heard that there have been victims of attacks by unidentified assailants in the nearby territory recently. Please be careful.”
“Yes, Mother. I will be careful. And you don’t have to worry. What could I be afraid of when I’m with the knights of Persleyno?”
At the same time, the strong knights of the North who have adored me since I was little… They look more trustworthy than anyone.
“Then…”
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“Deus? … Deus! I see. Do you serve a god too!”
What the heck is that?
Why is that monster here…