Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Believer (2)
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"Those are words I'm endlessly grateful for, Master."
Marie replied, tears streaming down her face.
Surprisingly, though she was crying, it wasn't out of sadness.
On the contrary.
Joy, delight, gratitude, ecstasy—she was shedding tears immersed in positive emotions.
Just from the simple words "You've become beautiful," she was happier than anyone in the world, and at the same time, she showed Oliver infinite gratitude.
It wasn't for Oliver to judge, but it seemed far from normal.
Everything, from beginning to end...
'What the hell is going on?'
While Oliver pondered this, time passed, and Marie composed her emotions, returning to a calm state.
"I-I'm sorry, Master. Seeing you again like this... it was just so overwhelming... I'm sorry for showing you such an unsightly side of me."
It was sincere.
Oliver shook his head.
"No, you didn't show anything unsightly. I don't quite get it, but... if it's all right with you, could you grant me one request?"
"Yes! Speak it!"
Marie knelt again, her face shining with boundless joy. He'd seen that somewhere before... Ah, right.
It was very similar to the worshippers praying in a cathedral. Humans praying to their god.
"Marie... I'm asking again, please don't kneel to me. I beg you."
As if sensing Oliver's emotions indirectly, Marie jumped in surprise and shot to her feet.
She was just like a child scolded by an adult.
"I-I'm sorry, Master. Please forgive..."
Oliver's head spun in a way that was hard to describe, and his stomach churned uncomfortably.
But he gathered his wits and decided to sort things out step by step.
"...It might not be my place to say after leaving on my own, but if it's okay, could I ask how the others are doing? The members of Joseph's Family."
"Everyone is doing well, thanks to the ocean-deep grace you've bestowed upon us, Master."
"......"
"And there's something I need to tell you."
"Go ahead. I have a lot to say too."
"We've changed the name of our organization. I sincerely beg your forgiveness for doing so without permission."
"Ah... There's no need to apologize, Marie. I left, after all, so you can name it whatever you want. That said, may I ask what you named it?"
"The Chosen People."
"Ah... Chosen by whom?"
"By you, Master!"
Marie answered without the slightest hesitation, pause, or doubt.
Her conviction was so absolute that Oliver was left speechless.
"M-Me?"
"Yes! You, Master!"
"Look, Marie. I'm not your m-master... Wait a second... Can we pause this conversation and switch to something else?"
Oliver said as he sat down on a nearby tree root. He was a bit tired.
"A chair—"
"—No, it's fine. I'm comfortable here. You sit too, Marie."
"No, how could I possibly... I'm fine standing."
"......All right. Then, one more question."
"Yes, speak it."
"...After I left, could you tell me what happened? Something feels off."
"Ah, yes... After you left, Master, a small trial came upon us."
"A trial?"
"Yes. Thinking you'd vanished forever, some tried to leave, others declared themselves the new master, and still others attempted to steal from us."
"Ah... I didn't realize it was that bad. I'm sorry."
"No need. Why should you apologize to the likes of us? There's no reason at all. And it all ended well."
"Oh? How so?"
"I killed them all."
Whoooosh...
A cold wind carrying the chill of winter suddenly blew through the forest.
It was bone-chillingly cold.
"W-Well... that could happen. If you don't see eye to eye, you fight or hit, and killing isn't out of the question. But you managed to win impressively?"
This was sincere.
Before leaving, Oliver had given her intensive training and battle experience, but objectively speaking, Marie's skill level was comparable to the other high-grade disciples.
One-on-one was one thing, but taking on a group alone was no easy feat.
"Were they just mid-grade disciples, by any chance?"
"No. They were all high-grade disciples, so I had to kill more than half of them."
"I don't get it, but that's impressive."
"It's all thanks to your grace, Master."
"I didn't really do anything."
"No, I know. From beginning to end, it was all your grace."
Marie was sincere.
Oliver wanted to correct her on this point, but with so much to discuss, he put it off for now.
"Hmm, let's set that aside for the moment... I vaguely heard that you're producing Filterette—gifts. And that you, Marie, acted as the broker."
"Ah, that was a cover identity. To scout out Landa."
"I see. Well, that's not important. You are producing Filterette—gifts, right?"
"Yes. We applied the recipe you taught us and made them with utmost sincerity. Never to bring shame to your teachings."
"Thank you for saying that. But I heard something strange."
"What is it?"
"I heard some cult of black mages is making them. Is that true?"
Oliver recalled Nina from the magic gun he'd met and killed while guarding Miss Jane.
He hadn't gotten the details by chance, but he'd always harbored a slight suspicion.
"No."
"Ah, okay."
"Yes. A cult? We serve you, the true savior, Master."
"...............Pardon?"
"Unlike pathetic fools like Pater, we have the honor of being chosen by you, Master, and serving you. A cult? Perish the thought."
Hearing that, Oliver had no idea what to say.
It was so bewildering that even his comprehension couldn't keep up.
Still, Oliver didn't give up and tried to understand Marie.
The light had faded, and Oliver had left Joseph's Family for his own purposes. Over a year and a few months later, Joseph's Family—no, the "Chosen People"—had grown into a decent organization capable of trading with Crime Firm.
That much he could understand. But worshipping him? That made no sense at all and left him utterly confused.
Misinterpreting this as a bad sign, Marie spoke up.
"After you left, Master, I was heartbroken, but I didn't weakly give up. I realized the trial you'd given us and strove to endure it."
"A trial?"
"Yes. We realized our sloth. We realized our incompetence. Isn't that why you left us?"
"Well, you could see it that way, but overall, it feels off."
Marie ignored Oliver's words. Her voice grew more agitated as she shouted.
"We discovered traitors in the organization and realized how pathetic we were. We dared to leech off your grace like parasites, with no thought of repaying it! Even if we intended to, we never acted on it!"
"......"
"So we decided to form a new group perfect for serving you, Master. Devoted solely to you, doing everything for you, worshipping only you—we strove to become true believers."
"......"
"First, we reorganized the group and let everyone know how grateful we should be to you, Master. And we spread your teachings."
"My teachings? Me?"
"Yes! Do not discriminate, cooperate! Treat according to ability! Provide fair education to all! Share knowledge! Guarantee a minimum livelihood and strive endlessly!"
Marie shouted loudly, panting for breath.
"To foolish us, all of this was profoundly grateful teaching."
"...I just thought it was basic."
"This world doesn't even have those basics."
Marie squeezed out her heartfelt response.
"...We received immeasurable grace from you, Master, that we can never repay."
"......For now, keep going."
"Everyone understood my words, and we informed the Pharmacist."
The Pharmacist. The pillar of Wineham, the dark force gripping that small city.
Oliver felt a twinge of guilt toward him too.
They'd planned to do business together, but Oliver had left without a word.
"He was furious when he heard us, but we soon convinced him."
"Convinced him?"
"Yes. When he saw the teachings you left and the power you left, he understood."
"Is he still alive?"
"Of course. He handles finances and poor relief for our Church of the Chosen People."
"Poor relief?"
"Yes. A god needs believers worthy of him. It's not yet grand enough to tell you about, Master, but our influence is steadily expanding from the small city outward."
"......"
"Please don't misunderstand. I know what kind of person you are, Master. We never force belief. We help the needy instead. Just as you helped us."
"......"
"The sick, orphans, the elderly, women, laborers, beggars. To those who can't survive alone in this harsh world, we give money, food, clothes, jobs. In the process, we simply spread the word that it's all thanks to you, Master, and share your teachings."
"......"
"And before they know it, they awaken to your teachings and follow them sincerely."
"And if they achieve anything, they'll think it's all because of me."
"It's not a misconception—it's fact!"
Marie raised her voice without realizing it. She looked surprised herself.
"I-I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I forgot my place and raised my voice... Forgive me."
"No, you can yell if you want. Just don't kneel."
"Thank you for your mercy... Currently, our Chosen People, including the black mages in training, number around two hundred, and our believers have just surpassed three thousand. It's modest compared to you, Master, but our growth is steep. All of this is for you—"
"—Marie."
"Yes?"
Oliver thought for a moment, then let out a sigh.
"I didn't ask for any of that. I didn't want it either."
"......"
"What I wanted was for you, Marie, and everyone to do what they themselves desired. Work hard and get rich, or get revenge on those who hurt you... Marie, why did you become a black mage?"
"...Because I wanted to be strong. I hated those days when I couldn't say anything."
"Yes, exactly. You hated how you couldn't do anything when they dumped filthy sewage right next to your house, when your mother collapsed from illegal labor, when your father was beaten to death by local thugs. I remember."
Marie's face lit up with surprise and joy. She was grateful and amazed that Oliver remembered her story.
"Then isn't practicing black magic better than doing something you don't want?"
"...You are right."
"You understand."
"Yes. And I still want to grow stronger, Master. To become someone worthy of standing by your side."
"......"
"Desires change. I want to serve you as my savior, my god."
"I'm neither savior nor god. What I did for you was simply what I had to do at the time."
"Yes, of course you'd say that... Master, do you know of sun worship?"
"...No?"
"In ancient times, before the Pater Church, some humans worshipped the sun."
"......"
"They drew pictures, made statues, bowed to it, offered the finest meat and bread. Because the sun drove away darkness from the earth, gave warm light and nutrients for crops... But the sun doesn't know, and has no such intent."
"......"
"The sun simply does its job. Whether worshipped or reviled, it rises and sets. Silently fulfilling its role."
"Yes, so—"
"—Does that make the sun worthless?!"
"......"
"No matter how lowly creatures on the ground act, isn't that sun—silently doing its work—the true savior, the true god?! Far better than some contradictory being demanding worship!!"
At that moment, Joanna's face flashed through Oliver's mind. No, correction: he no longer remembered her face.
"......"
"Everything you've done for me was that light, that warmth, those nutrients. Overlapping your hand on mine to teach me black magic, listening to my story, talking with me—that's all of it. Thus I pray..."
Marie knelt again, clasped her hands, and shed tears.
"Though our abode is humble for serving you, Master, please bestow your mercy and return to us. I swear on the souls of my believers and myself: we will bring you everything you desire and exalt your glory. So please, become our savior, our god."
Oliver looked down at Marie, who had knelt three times now, and spoke.
"You'll do anything I want?"
"Yes!"
Marie's face brightened like someone facing hope.
"Then stop this absurd act of worshipping me as savior or god, go back to living your own life, and live for yourself."
"Master..."
"I don't want any of what you've done, Marie. And it doesn't make sense."
"Doesn't make sense?"
"Yes. As you said, the sun rises and sets whether praised or cursed. That's why humans sought new objects of worship. So why are you straining yourself to serve the sun? Isn't that against its teachings? It's not for the sun."
His unusually firm tone, uncharacteristic of Oliver, was enough to bow Marie's head.
She collapsed face-down onto the ground like someone in despair, staring at the earth in silence.
"That's all I have to say. Our thoughts differ, but it was good to see you anyway. I hope next time we meet, you're different."
With those words, Oliver turned back the way he'd come. Dawn would break by the time he got home.
"You're right."
"Pardon?"
"You're right, Master. Truthfully, I didn't do all this for you. I did it because I wanted to be by your side. I thought if I did this, you'd stay with a lowly one like me."
"...That's a pity."
"Yes, I think so too."
Marie slowly rose. At the same time, her hair lengthened, and her pale skin turned a pure black.
"......"
"So I'll have to change my approach. You told me to live as I desire... so it should be fine to take you by force, right?"
Her body now fully black. As she clenched her slender hand, long, chilling claws grew from her fingers.
Oliver removed his leather mask and replied.
"...Sounds good. Give it a try."