Chapter 7: Bringing Saulah to Repentance(1)
As Saola came near to the Lord Luke, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saola, Saola, why are you persecuting me?” And he answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said to him, “I am Theus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Saola got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he knew nothing. Then he went into Orias…
—
Kalandra Empire Academy Girls’ Dormitory Building 1 Top Floor
Click.
The door to a luxurious room opened, making it hard to believe it was a dormitory room prepared for a student. A woman with sky-blue hair tied back entered alone through the opened door.
“…Tch. There was no need to give you such a luxurious room. … Lord Deus might be disappointed when he sees this. You are a woman who enjoys luxury. However, leaving your assigned room is a violation of Academy rules. According to what Lord Deus says in the Bible, it is something you should not do. This is getting me into trouble.”
Unlike other students…
“I clearly remember asking for a simpler room than the one I used last semester, so why did you give me this room?”
“Maybe you have a room… I heard that you threatened to give me a better room because you didn’t like it?”
“Who’s there!”
The woman unpacking her belongings, upon hearing another voice, swung her fist in that direction, imbued with an aura befitting her level of skill—a ferocious energy capable of tearing anything apart.
Tap.
But another woman with sky-blue hair appeared and easily caught the fist.
“Your habit of throwing punches first hasn’t changed, has it, Meiru?”
“…Sister Seiren?”
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Seiren tilted her head slightly and smiled brightly.
“Why are you in my room, Sister? You already graduated from the Academy and are working with the Imperial Knights.”
“That’s right. I’m still with the Imperial Knights. It’s like training to inherit the Persleyno estate. Look at this armor. Only Imperial Knights can wear it, right?”
Seiren tapped her armor with a clang as she spoke.
“…If you’re with the Imperial Knights, why are you at the Academy? Don’t tell me you deserted your post again… Sister, even if His Majesty the Emperor appointed you as a knight for formality’s sake, neglecting your duties to this extent…”
“No, no, no! What are you talking about! … There was some trouble at the Academy last year, remember? His Majesty expressed concern. The Academy, the future of the Empire and a gathering place for all talents, must never be in danger. So, he dispatched a few Imperial Knights here, and I’m one of them.”
“…Oh. I see.”
Meiru nodded in understanding.
“By the way, I’ll be teaching some special classes during the Academy’s curriculum. We might run into each other in class.”
“Ugh. The Academy’s legendary tyrant is teaching?”
“…What’s that supposed to mean, Meiru? Slandering your lovely sister? Shall we have some sisterly bonding time?”
Seiren placed her left hand on her hip and raised her right fist, grinning.
“N-No, Sister! I mean… I’m just glad to see you again after so long!”
“…Pfft. Alright, Meiru. I’m thrilled to see you again too. But didn’t Luke come with you? I heard he’s starting at the Academy this year.”
“Oh. That disgusting guy… I couldn’t stand coming with him, so I left first. I don’t know when he’ll show up.”
“…You’re still like that. Why don’t you make up with him, Meiru? You two were so close when you were kids.”
Seiren looked at her precious younger sister with a sad expression.
“No way. I could forgive anyone else, but not him. He dared to insult Lord Deus. I don’t care if he humiliates me, but I can’t be with a blasphemer who belittles Lord Deus and calls him a lie.”
“…I see. Well, all three Persleynos are at the Academy now. Let’s meet again later if we get the chance, Meiru.”
“…Yeah, Sister. See you later.”
Thud.
Click.
—
On the road to the Academy
Inside the carriage, I was organizing my thoughts.
The “unidentified assailants” Mother mentioned earlier.
Who could they be?
Were there such beings at this point in time?
When I arrive at the Academy, the entrance ceremony begins.
The entrance ceremony marks the start of Episode 1 in [Deus Ex Machina].
It’s also the game’s tutorial phase.
But at this point, there wasn’t anyone attacking the northern territories indiscriminately…
Who could it be?
“Young Master, the sun is setting, and entering the forest now might be dangerous. There are no villages or houses nearby. It looks like we’ll have to camp here tonight.”
To be honest, the world of [Deus Ex Machina] I knew and the world I’m in now are quite different.
That book.
The book I wrote completely changed this world.
If it had just been a book spread across the continent for fun, it wouldn’t have been a problem…
But who would’ve thought it would become a massive religion that engulfed the continent?
The Deus Church.
That’s what people call the religion that regards my book, [Something Everyone Living on the Continent Must Read], as its supreme scripture.
They don’t call their religion the Deus Church themselves, but others do because they recognize Deus as the only legitimate god to rule the continent.
The believers of the Deus Church call themselves “Christos.”
The name comes from “Christos,” meaning “the anointed one,” which I made up for the book.
I cobbled together various concepts from the religion of my past life, but I never imagined things would turn out like this…
“Mother in heaven… grant us this day our daily bread…”
Even the coachman praying over his meal in the distance.
“Hey, you! Have you forgotten the words of Lord Deus!”
“I-I’m sorry, Hans! I’ll correct myself!”
Even the veteran knight scolding a junior knight.
Everyone in my current party is a Christos, a follower of the Deus Church.
Well, technically, I wrote the book, but I never imagined our estate would be so deeply influenced by it…
“…Huh? Young Master, someone is approaching.”
Baro, the head knight leading the group, shouted.
What? Someone’s approaching in the middle of the night in this dark forest?
And then, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
“All hands, prepare for battle!”
It might seem excessive to prepare for combat just because an unknown figure is approaching.
But this is the world of [Deus Ex Machina].
A world teeming with all sorts of fantasy monsters.
In a situation where any kind of monster could attack, we can’t afford to let our guard down.
In that tense silence, everyone held their breath.
“Who’s there! Identify yourself!”
The unidentified figure entered the area illuminated by the light, revealing their form.
A woman with red hair, wearing tattered cloth, walking slowly toward us.
And strikingly beautiful.
“A… woman?”
“Captain! She looks like a poor lady who was robbed nearby. Should we take her in and escort her to a nearby village?”
A red-haired woman.
Her face feels familiar.
Have I seen her before?
“Wait a moment. We don’t know yet. We need to confirm.”
“Confirm what! As men of the North, seeing a lady in such a state…”
“You fool! Have you forgotten our mission? We are to protect the Young Master all the way to the Academy. We can’t afford to overlook even the slightest risk! If Deus sees this, how will you…”
“Deus? You guys. Do you believe in Deus?”
“…Huh? You know Lord Deus’s words. Then that’s good. That’s right. We follow and act on Lord Deus’s words…”
“…Deus! I see. Do you guys serve a god too!”
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
An incredible power began to surge from the woman.
“H, hmph. What, what is this?”
“Everyone, form an escort! She is stronger than standard, and we will protect the Young Master first!”
I remembered.
That woman’s true identity.
The abandoned, deformed dragon.
The final boss of [Deus Ex Machina] Part 1… Saula Drakania.
Why is she here…
—
As Saola came near to the Lord Luke, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around her, and she fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to her, “Saola, Saola, why are you persecuting me?” And she answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And the voice said to her, “I am Theus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Saola got up from the ground and opened her eyes, but she knew nothing. Then she went into Orias…
—