[Side Story] GOD Talk (4)
Like most young boys, I had a fascination with bladed weapons. I cherished the wooden sword my father, a carpenter, had carved for me, and I took a keen interest in the martial arts.
By the time I reached the tumultuous age of thirteen, my friends were starting to trade in their wooden swords for steel ones.
One day, while sparring with a friend who owned a steel sword, I ended up snapping my wooden sword—my companion of many years—clean in half.
The friend who had played such a pivotal role in bisecting my sword didn't offer a single word of apology. Instead, he blamed me entirely, sneering, "Who still carries a wooden sword? It’s your own fault it broke!"
Filled with rage, I bit my lip, stormed away from the spot, and headed home to my father.
As I stomped toward the house, the wooden structure looked just like my broken sword, and I hated it.
When I arrived, I saw my father standing at the entrance, talking to someone inside.
I couldn't tell who it was from the doorway, but given that my father was bowing his head to look down at them, it seemed to be someone around my age.
I crept closer to the door, careful not to make a sound.
As I reached the threshold, I heard my father speaking.
"Little one, at your age, you should be out playing. I have a child about your age, too. He’s out having fun with his friends right now... but you want to learn the trade under me? I’m just a carpenter, you know?"
"Yes. I want to learn from you, sir."
The voice that reached me was young and fresh, before the change of puberty.
'A kid...? It’s a voice just like mine...? He wants to learn carpentry? Why?'
My father seemed to share my curiosity, for he asked the child the same thing.
"Why? There are so many other jobs out there. Why choose carpentry?"
"It’s just... a feeling. I was passing by, and... for some reason, I just felt like I belonged here."
"...If that’s all you have to say, I can’t teach you. Why don't you go try learning to be a blacksmith instead?"
"..."
"Are you shaking your head 'no'?"
"..."
"Ha... why are you just as stubborn as my own son? Fine. Where are your parents? I feel like I at least need their consent."
"..."
After a moment of hesitation, the child with the youthful voice said something that left me stunned.
"My parents... are gone. I was an orphan to begin with... and I spent three years from age ten to thirteen watching a blacksmith work, so I know the basics... I ran away when the blacksmith's son asked me to join the Roman army... I’m afraid of killing. I don't want to do it."
"Hmm... looking at your appearance... you aren't dirty, so it’s a bit hard to believe..."
"...I washed in the stream. I wash every day, so... that’s probably why."
"Oh? Why do you wash every day?"
"I don't know... how to put it... I just feel like I’ll get sick if I don't."
"What a kid... Well, it’s getting late, so let’s see what you can do tomorrow. But where are you going to sleep? My house is small... this is difficult..."
"Hehehe... the stable is fine."
"Hmm... how could I treat a guest like that? I’ll ask my wife when she gets home later. For now, go say hello to my son who’s been listening outside. Son~"
My father, who had been talking to the child, called out to me, knowing I was there all along.
I shuffled into the room, feeling awkward.
And finally, I saw the child with the youthful voice.
"..."
"..."
The child had an unusually rare, long, black mane of hair.
Had he never brushed his hair in his life? It was a bit messy, but he had ruby-red eyes that matched his black hair perfectly.
Seeing a kid my own age who held my gaze so strangely made me feel a mix of wonder and a sudden, possessive sting—like someone was trying to take what was mine.
He’s my father... who do you think you are!
"Y-you—who are you!?"
"Well then, who are you~?"
He mimicked my tone, acting playfully as if he were trying to be funny.
"You...!"
"Hey, what’s your name?"
"Me? Me? I’m Jesus Christ... and you?"
"Hahahaha! Why is your name so funny? Me? I’m Judas Iscariot. Nice to meet you!"
He flashed a smile, showing his white teeth, and held out his hand.
"...?"
"..."
I stared at his hand, a giant question mark floating in my mind and on my face.
What on earth are you trying to do to me?
He must have noticed my expression, because he tapped his own forehead and said:
"...Ah, sorry! Blacksmiths use tools so much that... to show they aren't a threat, they shake hands to show the other person they aren't holding a weapon."
"..."
Hearing his explanation, I pouted and slowly took his hand.
His hand was rough and calloused from all the hard work.
He’s a kid, just like me...
This kid has really been through a lot...
Wait? What is this? Why does my heart feel so calm when I hold his hand?
His hand was strangely... warm.
Like the sunlight on a clear day...
He must have thought the greeting was over, because he started to pull his hand away.
I didn't want to let go, so I held on just a little tighter.
"...Hm? Why?"
"..."
At his puzzled question, I realized what I was doing and quickly let go.
"...Anyway, nice to meet you!"
"...Hmph!"
Pat-pat-pat-pat.
I hurried into the house and headed to my room.
Once inside, I threw myself onto the wooden bed my father had made.
Creak—
The sound of wood rubbing against wood echoed as the cloth blanket my mother had made poked out.
Even though I was in my room, I could still hear the conversation between my father and the boy.
"...Well, I’m sorry. My son is still a bit young."
'I am not young!'
"It’s okay. We’ll get along fine. I think we’ll be fun friends!"
'No, we won't!'
"Anyway, let’s see how you do tomorrow. Oh, right... how about dinner..."
"It’s fine. I’m okay eating in the stable. It’s more comfortable for me."
"...Hmm... I understand. I’ll talk to my wife about it."
And so, the boy came to live with our family.
...
...
...
Seventeen years passed. When I turned thirty... one day, I woke up from a deep sleep and realized it.
That I was truly the Son of God...
That my work... my mission had been ordained!
From the moment of that realization, the world looked different...
And heavily armed angels began to hover around me.
Having realized I was the Son of God, I knew that if I grabbed anyone and told them, they’d call me a lunatic. I was lost and debating what to do when I went to find Judas Iscariot, the friend who had grown up with me like a brother.
Judas was always a prankster, so I didn't expect much.
I just wanted to hear something grounded in reality.
Clang, clang, clang—
"Hey! You! Mr. @@!#! Shut your trap and get back to nailing! The day is almost over!"
I saw him, his long hair neatly tied back in a ponytail, looking every bit the seasoned carpenter.
"Oh!? It’s Jesus. Mr. @@!#! If you don't finish before I get back... you know what happens, right? I’ll follow you around and mark you closely! Huh!? Don't you dare get distracted! You want to hear it from your wife for coming home late? Huh? What? Ah... ah... if you go home early, your wife squeezes you dry at night? Ah~ now you’re making me go soft... I got it. Just be careful and don't get hurt until I get back. Just do your best. You know?"
Hahahaha!
Hahahaha! Man! You’re really quick on the uptake!
Wherever he was, the atmosphere was always bustling and cheerful.
With a mischievous face, he asked me innocently:
"Hey. Why the long face? Huh? Did you get a secret you need to spill to your big brother? Is it... this? Who is it? Jamie from the upper village with the big jugs? Or... Aria from the lower village with the hips that look like she’d pop out babies like nothing?"
He held out his pinky finger and winked.
As expected... I felt like I could talk to this consistent guy, whether he believed me or not.
"Ha... you probably won't believe me even if I say it, but... what would you think if I told you I was truly the Son of God?"
"..."
Naturally, he didn't say a word, as if he were about to burst out laughing.
Yeah... you’d laugh, too...
Go on, laugh.
...
...
But...
He was looking at me with a serious expression.
?
Why?
"When I was a kid... when I first passed by your house, I had this feeling. This feeling that I had to bet everything on the future of this house? I think that was for this very moment today."
"W...what? Are you... actually believing this absurd story?"
"Hey. I came here on nothing but a feeling. I felt like I was possessed by something... but at least... I’m not possessed by a demon, right?"
"..."
Just as he said... with my divine power, I could see that he wasn't tainted by demons or any such evil at all.
"Then... you’re saying you’ll believe me... I’m going to give up everything, let it all go, and go out to prove that I am the Son of God... if I asked you to come with me... would you leave? Would you give up Jamie and Aria, whom you like so much?"
"..."
It wasn't about liking them...
It was the validation from the person closest to me, the one who acknowledged me...
I don't know why waiting for that validation made me so nervous, but my heart was pounding as I waited for his answer.
"Let’s go. It’s not like we’re just wandering off blindly, right? You’re doing this because you believe in something, aren't you? Let’s go and see. I’m already thirty and I haven't even married yet, what do I have to lose? If I don't do something reckless like this now, I never will. If we try and it doesn't work, we can just come back down. It’s not like they’re going to kill us. Your father took me in when I had nothing... surely I can do this much."
"R...really? You mean it!? Okay... then let’s get our things ready and meet in front of my house."
"You got it. Your big brother here is going to support you like crazy."
At his cheerful response, I couldn't hide my joy and set the meeting place in front of my house.
...
...
A little while later...
He had truly left everything behind, carrying only some simple cooking tools, and was waiting in front of my house.
"Hey... you know what? When I first saw you, I saw a halo behind you for a second? But now... I keep seeing it... I think this is a sign of a massive jackpot?"
"..."
Just as he said, I turned my head left and right to check my shoulders, but I saw absolutely nothing.
Has he lost his mind...?
Together with Judas, I went to my father and mother and announced my intention to leave home.
Then, my father and mother knelt as if they had been waiting for this moment.
"O, Highest One in the Heavens... we shall gladly follow."
"..."
I was so surprised that I helped my kneeling father and mother to their feet.
And then, I heard the shocking truth.
The secret behind my birth... it was an absurd story that I wasn't born from the union of my father and mother, but conceived by the will of God.
That a star in the heavens had shone upon the place where I was born...
That the Magi from the East had seen that starlight and come to find me...
That Roman soldiers had hunted me down to kill me...
Having heard all these secrets, I looked at the angel who had been listening with me, heavily armed.
The angel nodded, as if to confirm my father’s words were true.
...
...
Having heard the whole story, I bowed deeply to my father with Judas, and finally set out from home to fulfill my mission.
...
...
"Oh, right... Judas."
"...Yeah?"
Still, I had to say it.
"About Jamie and Aria."
"Yeah. Don't bring them up... it makes my heart heavy... I have to give up what I have to give up..."
"Do you know that both of them liked you?"
"...W, what?"
Judas, who had been walking ahead of me, stopped in his tracks, his neck creaking as he turned to look at me.
"They were both waiting for you to confess... what are you doing now?"
"..."
Clatter, clatter.
He started to unpack his bags.
"They were waiting for me? I think I was short-sighted. Sorry... I had no idea! Ah~ why didn't they give me a hint!? Oh my~ Hehehe! Who should I go see first?"
"..."
Are you seriously trying to run away?
After lighting a fire under my resolve?
Leaving me here?
Not a chance...
You aren't going anywhere.
Hehehe...
As if reading my will, the angels made the fog around us thick and dense.
"Huh...? Why is the weather like this? Hey... hey! Let go! Ow! S, stop dragging me!"
Drag... drag...
He was dragged away, his neck firmly held in my grip.
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jamie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Uwaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A mournful scream echoed from him, but...
That wasn't my problem.