The Tale of the Unbeliever (2)
Anne had remained steady until just a moment ago. She had not bent, even though she was frightened. The Twelve Divine Generals knew this better than anyone else. They possessed the discerning eye to tell whether a person had been broken or not.
Yet Anne suddenly promised to cooperate. She surrendered, lowered her head, and begged for forgiveness.
“... What is your intention?”
Quaidro's eyes flashed with suspicion. The Generals standing behind her also looked completely unbelieving.
“R-really...”
Anne looked around at the enormous Twelve Divine Generals surrounding her and her younger sister. After a moment, she continued her words.
“Actually... I met a very strange being.”
“A strange being.”
“Yes. It was... very large. And red...”
Large and red. The Generals exchanged glances with each other. Cardinal Caelum, who had sent them here. The words he had repeatedly emphasized came to mind.
“If it's an evil being, exterminate it. If it's the Primordial Phoenix, capture it.”
“Cardinal Caelum did say that, didn't he?”
It was similar to the sighting reported from the Imperial Capital. She had heard that he had saved the Crown Princess who was on the verge of death. It was a serious illness that no treatment could cure. The only being in the world that could treat it was the Phoenix, burning with flames for a lifetime.
“Tell me in detail.”
“I thought that it was the God's apostle. Since meeting it, many good things have happened to me...”
“You mean you haven't harmed me at all, is that what you're saying?”
Anne nodded her head.
“... Martin brother.”
Martin, who had retreated, came forward again. He held Anne's hand and opened his eyes without irises.
“Are you telling the truth, Anne sister?”
“Yes. It's true. I met a huge red being, and I thought it was sent by God.”
“Why did you hide this fact from us?”
“That is...”
As she hesitated for an answer, the Generals shot her with terrifying gazes. It was a threat that if she didn't speak the truth, it wouldn't be good.
“It's because the priests are too scary. I thought they might not even be priests...”
“Audacious! How dare you question the sanctity of the Order!”
“Quaidro brother. This child might have been deceived by an evil being and is lying. Perhaps we should purify her instead?”
Purification meant only one thing. Burning. A punishment to cleanse cleanly with fire.
At that, Anne shrank back, hugging Rone tightly.
“Quiet.”
Quaidro dismissed the opinions of the Generals. If it were a lie, Martin would have found it out first, more than anyone. But he was silently staring at Anne without saying anything.
“Indeed, that was the case.”
He even smiled as if pleased.
“I will ask again. So, was the thing Anne sister faced really that huge and red being?”
“Yes, it is.”
“So, it's not an evil being either?”
“In my opinion, it was, but... it might be different if the priests see it.”
Up to here. Martin let go of Anne's hand. It was different from before. Her skin hadn't turned red.
“All of it is true.”
“... Really, Martin brother?”
“At least, from my perspective, it is.”
She wasn't deceiving them with malicious intent. She had simply told everything she knew honestly. Once this fact was known, they couldn't pressure her anymore.
“For now, let's stop here, brothers and sisters.”
Ada, who had been the first to speak, was the one who stopped the Generals. She hadn't hidden her reluctance from the beginning. The other Generals tried to object to her action. But there was no reason, no justification. If it wasn't a lie, they couldn't threaten her.
“Anne sister. Then, can you guide us to the place where you saw that being?”
When Quaidro asked that, Anne replied that she could. She even added that she could go right now.
“No. Not now.”
The sun was about to set. Darkness was the world of evil beings. There was a possibility that the being was benevolent. It was better to go at a time filled with the will of God.
“Tomorrow at dawn. Around the time the sky brightens, guide us.”
“Ye-yes. I will. I will definitely.”
So, why don't you leave our house now?
When Anne asked, Quaidro firmly refused. The reason was that it would be troublesome if they ran away at night.
“We will stay here today.”
“Eh? B-but we can't bring the priests to our house...!”
“We don't need food.”
“Fasting is familiar to us.”
The Generals knelt all at once.
“We don't need a place to sleep.”
“We will offer prayers.”
They closed their eyes and began to chant prayers. The narrow house was filled with the Twelve priests. In that sight, the two sisters were stunned.
“...Haa.”
The one who hadn't knelt was Ada. She passed her comrades and approached Anne's side. She slightly bowed her head and conveyed her inner thoughts. She apologized. She asked to endure for a little while. It wouldn't take long, so just endure for today.
“Ada sister. What is it?”
“I'm sorry.”
Ada also knelt at Quaidro's words. Then, after chanting prayers, only Anne and Rone remained.
Anne's mind raced. ‘What on earth are you trying to do, Red Bird-nim...?’ The owner of the voice that no longer could be heard. Anne looked out the window with a worried expression.
*
“Anne sister.”
“Uuu...”
“Anne sister.”
She barely opened her eyes at the voice calling her. In front of her sat the priest who had been called Ada.
“Get up. You have to guide us.”
“Ah...”
Anne barely moved her stiff body. She had slept in the corner hugging her younger sister all night. Originally, twelve priests had entered the small house. Even though they had gathered in one place and knelt to pray. Still, with so many people, there was a lack of space.
“Unnie...”
“Be quiet, Rone. Unnie will be back soon.”
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she stood up. Looking around, the house was empty. It seemed the priests who called themselves priests were waiting outside. Ada seemed to have come back inside to wake her.
“Guide us.”
At Quaidro's words, Anne stepped forward. It was early morning, so there were few people.
“Anne sister. Where did you say the place you saw that being was?”
“A lake a bit away from the village. I saw it there.”
“A lake.”
For a moment, the Generals discussed among themselves. Around the time the sky brightens. Not a cave where darkness remains, but a lake. It wasn't a time or space where evil could flourish. This might really be the Primordial Phoenix.
‘Phoenix? Progenitor? What does that mean?’
For Anne who had heard the identity from him, these words didn't make sense. But she didn't particularly want to correct that part. She just had to say what she heard yesterday.
The Twelve Generals who led Anne headed to the lake. Some chanted prayers while walking. After some time, around the time the sun was about to rise.
“Here it is.”
Finally, Anne arrived at the shore of a lake and pointed ahead.
“Hmm.”
“It's a wonderful place.”
It was a vast lake. The water was clear and clean. The surroundings were quiet. Quaidro, who had been looking around for a moment, stared at Anne.
“What should we do now?”
“Eh, eh?”
“If you met that being here, don't you know how to meet it?”
You didn't hear that part?!
In the moment Anne was flustered and stammering.
A strong wind blew from somewhere. The strange thing was there was no cold air. The wind was strong, but not the north wind from the north. It was a wind she had never felt from anywhere.
“What is this?”
“What is this wind?”
The Generals were also bewildered by this situation. It said it found me.
Suddenly, a voice pierced into her mind. It was like a thin voice or a heavy resonance.
‘What is this?!’
‘God?!’
Everyone was bewildered and looked around. Then, sensing the presence, they looked up to the sky.
“...Ah.”
The red bird hovering in the sky, flapping its wings. It was huge. Overwhelming. And radiant. Just seeing it gave a feeling of being crushed. That kind of being had come all the way above them. Yet, none of them noticed it.
“Brothers and sisters!”
At Quaidro's shout, the Generals prepared for battle. Whether evil or not, it didn't matter at this moment. Their instinct was shouting. That is dangerous. If you don't resist, you will bow your head. It will shake the foundation of the faith that led them!
“Benevolent being! I will immediately kill you.... K, kuaaaak!”
The General who had scared Anne the most fell. His skin turned red as if burned.
“Haa...”
The one who reads human hearts. Martin. He started bleeding from both eyes.
“How dare you...!”
Quaidro drew out his holy power. Soon, a pure white spear was created in his hand. He had fought evil beings his whole life. He had endured countless hardships and trials. But he had overcome all of it.
“Today is no different! God is with us!”
He threw the spear with all his might. No, he tried to throw it.
――Pasusu!
“What, what is this?!”
The light spear turned to ash and collapsed. It had pierced all evil, but this time it couldn't.
“Ah, we can't do this. Brothers and sisters! Wake her up!”
The Generals hurriedly lifted someone's robe. Even in this situation, the woman who only offered prayers. Then, in response to the Generals' call, she slowly opened her eyes.
“Helica sister! Please! It's an indescribable being! Your power. We need God's help!”
The first of the Twelve Generals. Helica. Her identity was the Vessel of God.
――Shaaaah!!
Light dwelled in Helica's body. The sight made the Generals offer prayers. Quaidro believed in victory without doubt.
“Ooh! God! Come before us!”
“Come before us!”
“Descend to this land and defeat your enemy's enemy!”
“Defeat!”
It wasn't because it was evil. It wasn't to harm. It was instinctively to avoid it. To keep it far. Like humans who can't live without the sun. But can't face it head-on. The light became stronger. Helica slowly moved. Her steps were soon the steps God had taken. Her gestures were soon what God commanded. Great being. Please save us. Rescue these pitiful servants from this trial....
――Plop.
“...Ah?”
“Eh, eh?”
The Generals had to doubt with their eyes. Helica had fallen. Their God had disappeared.