The Holy Spirit Descends (3)
If your mother's son—that is, your brother or your son or daughter or the wife in your bosom or the friend who shares your life with you—quietly entices you to deny Deus's word, do not follow him, do not listen to him, but have mercy and teach him Deus's word.
However, if he knows Deus's word and denies it, show him no mercy, no pity, do not cover for him; punish him without forgiveness, for he is a demon who sought to lure you away from the Deus who guides and loves you—even if he is family, strike him dead mercilessly with stones.
“Luke. Tell me the truth. Have you received the Holy Spirit from Deus?”
“……Pardon?”
What? The Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit out of nowhere?
What is this woman talking about?
“……I’m not sure what you mean by the Holy Spirit.”
“No need to hide it. Look at this. I too follow Deus’s word.”
The faint milky scent unique to children stung my nose.
She placed her hands on both my shoulders and leaned in so close it was burdensome, then stepped back slightly and held up a necklace for me to see.
“Behold. The mark of a Christos who serves the Lord: the ‘Rictodus.’”
Rictodus. The symbol of faith permitted only to the highest ranks in the Deus cult—elders and above.
Showing it to me and even naming it meant she was convinced I was a Christos.
But why?
Where did that certainty come from?
There was no reason for it.
If I admitted knowing about the Rictodus here, it would reveal I was a key figure in the cult.
That would be trouble.
Best to play dumb for now.
“Rictodus? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Don’t be like that. I sensed the Holy Spirit by your side. I even stopped communicating with the emperor and rushed out because I felt Deus’s divinity. And at the entrance ceremony, I sensed Deus’s aura from you.”
What?
A Holy Spirit was by my side?
Holy Spirits don’t exist in reality. All I had was the salamander spirit to fight Cronia Messene’s golem…
Wait. Spirit?
Hold on.
Did she sense the salamander by my side and mistake it for a Holy Spirit?
Even a grand mage as ancient as her would never have seen or sensed a spirit before.
So it wouldn’t be strange if she mistook her first encounter with a salamander for something divine…
But what about sensing Deus’s aura?
“Deus?”
“Yes, Deus! I know her aura. When I was in danger, she saved me. And that same aura came from you.”
What are you talking about?
The headmaster was in danger, and Deus saved her? Deus vanished long ago and won’t revive until Dia meets her through the ancient seal.
This is ridiculous…
“But at the entrance ceremony, you showed no reaction when I revealed my Rictodus. So I thought I’d been mistaken. But just now, what I felt by your side was unmistakably Deus’s divinity! You must be an apostle chosen by Deus’s Holy Spirit, right?”
Uh…
This seems like a huge misunderstanding.
But why is she so convinced?
What even is Deus’s divinity? I’d like to know too. How do you know if I don’t?
“Ah… I see. Telling others would put you in a difficult position!”
I had no idea what she was saying, but yeah. It would. I just wanted to head back to the dorm and sleep.
I’d always wanted to visit the headmaster’s office, but not like this.
“Y-yes! I’ve been rude. I got carried away feeling her aura again. I apologize.”
What’s with her drumming solo act? Oh, did I nod without realizing?
“I forgot you might have your reasons. Hiding your identity and keeping a Holy Spirit by your side already marks you as an apostle of different resolve from Scala Arachne—the high priestess. It’s all Deus’s will, and I, a mere servant, dared to…”
This woman. She knows Lydia after all.
I’ve been too lax about the Deus cult lately.
I’ll have to write to Lydia later and get a list of key figures without raising suspicion.
“I swear I won’t tell a soul. I’ve only caused you trouble. I’ll handle the Cronia matter properly. To think she’d touch Deus’s apostle over Siren Perseino’s issue. Go on ahead. I’m truly sorry.”
“Uh… yes. Then I’ll be going. Thank you.”
I bowed awkwardly to Wakpa Hucknockjuke and hurried out of the headmaster’s office, eager to escape.
Whew.
A sigh escaped me the moment I left the room.
It was fortunate she dropped it without probing further… but this ridiculous misunderstanding.
Whatever. As long as she thinks I can’t reveal my identity, it should be fine.
First period was a mess from the commotion… What time was it now? I still had other classes.
Screeech.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome home, Master. Shall we start with a bath, dinner, or… or…”
Io Hybris in her maid outfit greeted me at the dorm entrance. What was with her?
Or what? What?
“……What are you doing? Or what?”
“……”
Io fell silent, freezing mid-sentence. Embarrassed by her own words?
“Ah, or… Whatever, forget it!”
She switched from prim maid to her usual brash tone in an instant.
“Tch. You become a guy and feel nothing hearing heart-fluttering lines from a pretty maid like this?”
“Pretty maid? Who?”
“Ugh! Annoying!”
Thud thud.
Io stomped loudly into the room.
Of course, it was a joke. Io was plenty pretty, and that earlier act was subtly devastating.
I was just too stunned by the surprise.
“Hey. Where you going? Carry my bag.”
“……Tch.”
She turned back at my words, came to my side, and took the bag.
“Dinner ready?”
“Yessir. All set. Hand over your coat.”
“Pfft. So why’d you do that earlier? Trying to seduce me?”
“Yeah! Thought I’d tempt Master and dig up some dirt. Why? Is our Master impotent? Come to think of it, my super pretty, popular sister barely visited. ……Wait, do you really have issues down there? Or into guys?”
Flick.
I flicked her forehead.
“No. I like pretty girls. Lydia too.”
“Then why?”
“Well… there are reasons. But it’s not time to tell you yet. Later.”
How do I say I was scared my lie to Lydia would get exposed if I visited?
Lately, it feels like walking on thin ice. I never planned to lie, so why does it keep happening?
Even the headmaster today… Sigh.
Splash.
After dinner, I sank into the bath Io had prepared, lying back.
Ugh. Headache.
Just the first day, and things were already veering off my plan.
This was bad.
It was fine if I didn’t get the attention of my favorite academy folks yet—plenty of chances later.
But if my plan to stop Chaos went awry… that could be really dangerous.
The world might end as is.
Gurgle.
I submerged until the water touched my eyes.
Good. Tomorrow night, secure the Avatar fast.
Earlier than planned, but better safe than sorry.
With Saula Dracania corrupted, who knows how Chaos will move.
Academy Sorority ‘Galrot’ Lounge
A dozen or so female students from ‘Galrot’ sat in a circle, deep in discussion.
“Sister Sophie has a point. Scripture says Deus vowed never to judge humanity through water again.”
“Then how do you explain the recent Galilee territory flood? Surely not Deus’s judgment?”
“I disagree. Deus is the truly omniscient and omnipotent God. Not some petty deity propped up by priests. This Galilee flood is her design too, carrying profound meaning.”
“But Deus promised no more floods for humanity… Wait!”
“You’ve caught on. Deus promised only for humans. Other races are exceptions. And Galilee borders beastkin lands. Therefore…”
Bang!
As the debate heated up, someone flung open the door, sky-blue hair whipping behind her.
“Hey! Juda Iscariot! Is it true? Did that guy really wreck Cronia’s golem?!”
“Heh. You never change, Sister Meiru Perseino.”
“Don’t dodge. Tell me quick, Juda. Did ‘that guy’ really beat Cronia?”
“Yes, apparently. Cross-verified with several first-year freshmen who were in the class.”
“No… way.”
“True to the Perseino blood. To think even the youngest shattered Cronia’s golem after his sister.”
“……How did that guy do what even I couldn’t…”
“Does it bother you that your little brother succeeded? You’re siblings. Though I’ve never heard you mention him. You always say your sister is the one to surpass.”
“Hah. Who’s siblings with that guy? …I used to think of him as my little brother. He was frail since childhood, so I swore to protect him.”
“……What happened?”
“That guy… denied Deus.”
“……Pardon? Your devout brother… denied Deus?”
“Yes… I don’t want it this way either. But he claimed Deus’s tales were all lies. Said to throw away the scriptures containing her word!”
“But he’s your brother. He might’ve strayed. Teach him Deus’s word patiently…”
“Juda. What are you saying? Forgotten scripture? If ignorant, it’s fine. But one who read Deus’s word and denies it…”
“Is possessed by demons.”
“Exactly. …My beloved brother, but once possessed, I can no longer be near him.”
“I see…”
“Anyway, how does he have that power now? Late-blooming talent? Does that even make sense? Even so…”
Heh. Meiru. You’re so dishonest.
Scripture isn’t just that.
Do not heed the demon’s words. Ignore them. Even family—strike them dead mercilessly with stones.
That is Deus’s word.
But you didn’t follow it. No, you distance and pretend to hate him to deny that truth. Entertaining.
Luke Perseino, huh.
I thought the third son was an incompetent Perseino with no rumors.
But Meiru defends him, and he overwhelmed Cronia.
This piques my curiosity.