Calling Levi (3)
Seri... no, a god perhaps. What beauty is this? It makes one think that if a goddess of beauty existed, she might look just like this.
Oh no.
This isn't the time to be admiring her.
"It is an honor to meet you, son of Deus."
I'd asked the clothing shop for their most beautiful dress, but I hope I don't look too strange. Of course, I don't dare think I could become the lover of someone like him, but still, just in case.
"O great one. I have a shameless request to make of you."
"A request? What might it be?"
The one I'd waited my whole life for. The turning point where I might adventure alongside him—or not.
I have to speak well.
"Yes. It is..."
BAM!
The moment I tried to ask her to take me in.
The door behind me burst open with a loud crash.
"Benefactor, forgive me. I couldn't bear to stand by listening any longer."
Turning around, I saw some of the men who'd been glaring at me from outside storm into the inn.
"This woman is a filthy Seri. It was already hard to stomach a dirty Seri daring to meet you, but for her to beg without knowing her place!"
"Indeed, benefactor! This woman isn't fit for Deus's grace. We'll drag her out right now."
And they seized my arms, yanking me from my seat.
"W-wait a moment. Let her go!"
"Shut your mouth, you wench. Where does a filthy Seri get off trying to see the benefactor?"
"Her 'request' was probably something vile like making money appear or easing tax collection."
"N-no, that's not it! I didn't come to ask for that!"
I didn't come for that... I just wanted him to take me out of this hell...
I see.
A filthy woman like me dreaming of companionship? Ridiculous.
I wanted to follow him, but... for someone like me, that's impossible.
Beautiful hero.
Someone utterly beyond my reach...
Time to wake from the delusion.
Know my place and return to my wretched life...
"Stop."
It was then.
"...Pardon?"
"Cease your persecution of her. I wish to speak with her."
The hero wants to speak with me?
"B-but benefactor! This one is filthier than a whore—a Seri!"
"Yes, benefactor! If you converse with such a dirty woman, you might be tainted..."
"I told you before. I came to this land to reclaim the faithless. All sinners shall be cleansed by our mother's love. The righteous need me not, but sinners have need of me."
I don't know what it means exactly, but yes, hero. I need you. Take me from this hell...
"Th-that is..."
"Therefore, Levi."
"...Pardon? Yes, O great one!"
"Follow me."
Follow...? Really?
"...How could I? Dare I, a filthy woman like me, follow in your footsteps...?"
He knew my heart without me even speaking it. Truly the son of a god.
More than that... even knowing I'm the daughter of a filthy Seri, you're saying you'll take me with you?
"Our mother's love shall wash you clean and make you reborn pure."
Thud.
I fell to my knees and prostrated myself before the hero.
Knights make oaths of loyalty, they say.
I don't know how it's done, but I offer myself to you.
"I shall forsake all to follow you. My wealth, my family, my status—I offer everything to you. I cast off my false name, Levi; grant me a new one."
"A new name. Henceforth, you are 'Mata.' In the primordial tongue now lost, it means 'gift of Deus.'"
"Ahh... My lord. To think I, of all people, am a gift from Deus..."
My life, my body... even my soul. I offer it all to follow you.
My hero.
* * *
Somehow... it felt impulsive.
I'd snapped at those extras trying to drag Levi away and told her to follow me in anger.
But her reaction is bigger than expected?
Levi—no, Mata—joins the protagonist's party in part 2, so her backstory at this point isn't detailed in the game.
She's known only as a tax collector named Levi who fled Caparnaum after the Nova Empire's fall and changed her name to Mata.
In truth, 'Mata' doesn't mean 'gift of Deus.'
I just renamed her Mata because that's what Levi changes to in Deus ex Machina, and it felt more natural than Levi. The meaning I tacked on afterward.
Glad she likes it, though.
Still, Mata... in the game, she always showed signs of affection starvation. Was it because of a past like this?
Her background mentions her as a tax collector, but I had no idea she was treated like this.
Thanks to that, recruiting her was easy.
With Mata secured, no reason to stay in this city.
The 'miracle' drew more attention than I thought.
Word's even reached the academy where my main body is.
The Baal cult gripping the Nova Empire will hear soon enough.
Given the current pope's temperament, they might send someone to eliminate me.
Better to leave the city quickly.
Ideally, I'd have left the moment the academy felt the ripple, but I couldn't without Mata.
Now I can.
Next destination... Gennesaret, the Nova Empire's breadbasket.
* * *
The next day, in Caparnaum.
A paladin who'd been fervently questioning passersby came panting back into the cluster of priests.
"Pharisee Cardinal!"
"Yes, James, paladin captain. Where is he?"
"Th-that is... he left the city yesterday."
"...What? Left the city?"
"Yes... the townsfolk say he declared 'by the will of Deus, I must move on' and departed for elsewhere."
"The report said crowds were lining up to see him—enough to keep him busy for at least three days, no?"
"The report seems accurate. Even with many still waiting yesterday, he suddenly decided to leave."
"Then his followers... they ignored everyone and left?"
"He... took them with him."
"...What?"
"They formed a massive procession and left the city together. Those who wished to follow went; those who couldn't stayed behind."
"Such... that means a huge group has abandoned this city!"
"Yes... it seems so."
"This is... a serious problem. It might hinder His Holiness's 'purification' plan."
"For now... we should report to His Holiness."
"Sigh... yes, that might be best. I hope His Holiness doesn't vent his wrath on us."
* * *
Nova Empire capital, Orias.
Imperial Palace, emperor's throne room.
"So, in the small town of Caparnaum, you say?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Hahahahaha!"
The emperor burst into booming laughter, unable to hold it back.
"Those Baal cult geezers took a real hit, hahaha!"
"How shall we proceed?"
"No need. It's fine."
"Pardon? But—"
"If things go wrong, the Baal cult weakens. They've been getting bold on my coattails lately—might not be bad. Let's see how those old fools handle it."
The official wanted to warn that failure could spark civil war and weaken the empire, but memories of a recent advisor beheaded for counsel sealed his lips.
"More than that, I can't wait for Orias's purge day. Heh."
* * *
Nova Empire capital, Orias.
The Christos headquarters led by Paola.
"Caparnaum? Son of Deus?"
Paola took the newspaper from Barnabas and asked.
"Yes... the whole empire's buzzing. Probably the entire continent too."
"Hm..."
"Is it true? Is this the one the apostle spoke of?"
Paola, scanning the paper, finally spoke.
"We need more confirmation, but... it seems likely."
"Then we must go see him—!"
"No. We focus on spreading the gospel here."
"...Pardon?"
"The Lord has his will. He will call us when needed. We spread his word to the ends of the earth and await his time."
"Understood, Apostle!"
* * *
Kallandra Empire capital, Kallandra.
Deus cult.
Kallandra 1st Branch, deepest chamber.
The cult's top leader, High Priestess Scala, sat reading a report.
"Caparnaum..."
She glanced again at Luke's letter, just arrived.
"Performing such a miracle in Nova while residing at the academy... Lord... is this the sign that the time has come?"
She raised her arm and rang the bell on her desk.
Creeeak.
"You called, High Priestess?"
"Summon all the elders."
"All the elders...?"
"Yes. At last. At last, the time has come."