Taking the First Disciple
When Luke reached the age of seven, he arrived in Kallandra and drove the plague from the world.
He healed the sick, and Io, the sister of Lydia (Scala in the old version), received grace.
Before witnessing the miracle, Lydia, daughter of the Hybris house, was foolish. She failed to understand Luke's words, dared to doubt his true nature, and forgot her promise to him.
A memory from my childhood that still lingered, unforgettable.
"Lydia. Io. I've told you many times before. If this day ever comes... head straight down the secret passage."
She shook her head.
"There's no time, Lydia. Hurry and go find old man Hans."
She shook her head again.
"Lydia! Listen to Mom! We don't have time for this!"
"Now, the only one left to look after Io is you, her big sister Lydia. Lydia... can you take care of Io?"
...She nodded.
"Yes. My beloved daughter, Lydia. I know you can do it. Old man Hans will take good care of you. Please, look after Io."
"Found them! They're here!"
"Seize them!"
Rumble...
The secret passage's entrance sealed shut, and I never saw my parents again.
Io and I escaped through the passage, fleeing to the empire's outskirts with old man Hans.
We ran not to the empire where we had lived, 'Nova', but to another empire, 'Kallandra'. To avoid being captured on charges of treason and losing our lives in vain. To honor our parents' sacrifice.
A completely unfamiliar environment, the first time I'd ever truly lived.
No more life of luxury with my parents. It was a harsh existence where even thoughts of revenge were impossible.
About a year later, old man Hans, who had struggled to keep us alive despite our meager circumstances, fell ill.
And he... never rose again.
He had worked himself to death caring for us, neglecting his own health...
I'd lost my parents. Lost the entire household. And now, the last one left, old man Hans.
All that remained to me was Io.
The only one my parents had entrusted to me was Io.
Now, to survive. To protect Io. I had to find my own strength.
And in that moment, I awakened.
My Gift.
Gifts weren't given to just anyone.
They were bestowed by God upon the chosen.
Some kind god must have taken pity on me and Io, granting it to me.
But the Gift I received wasn't an ordinary one.
Even as a child, it allowed me to overwhelm and manipulate adults.
A power so immense that if the authorities saw it, they'd deem me a threat and label me a public enemy—a dangerous force unfit for the light of day.
With no choice, I plunged into the world of shadows.
To survive.
To protect my one and only family, Io.
I toiled and toiled.
After about ten years, I finally became the master of a proper information guild, successfully dominating the capital's underworld.
There was still a long way to go, and my power was nowhere near enough for vengeance against my parents' killers. But I was on track.
If I kept at it, revenge might not be a pipe dream someday. Protecting Io, too.
That's what I thought.
Until Io contracted the plague.
The ends of her limbs began rotting red.
I couldn't believe it.
An incredibly rare, incurable disease.
No saintess or cleric had ever succeeded in curing it.
The worst affliction, so rare that even witnessing it was unlikely... Why Io, of all people?
...This can't be happening.
They took my parents. Took old man Hans. Everyone from me. And now Io too?
...Then why give me this Gift at all?
Wasn't it so I could survive?
Did you want to see me struggle with this power, only to despair in the end?
This makes no sense!
The worst god imaginable.
I was a fool to thank the divine for granting me a Gift.
Of course gods don't care about mortals.
As I despaired, cursing the world...
Salvation descended.
"Hello, Scala. Or should I say Lydia? Lydia Hybris."
A boy who knew my true name and family—unknown to anyone but Io.
And his identity: the only son of Kallandra's greatest knight, Leopard Perseino.
According to my guild's intel, just a frail boy unfit for the Perseino name.
But the medicine he brought was anything but ordinary.
The beggar with the plague, hired for a pittance to test it, was perfectly cured and leaped to his feet.
"...The medicine works?"
I bolted out of the guild building straight to the hideout where Io was hidden.
As fast as possible. Before it was too late. To not miss the chance to save her.
I poured the medicine into Io's mouth as she lay collapsed on the bed.
Rustle.
"Sis?"
Io sat up, her skin returned to its normal color.
The tips of her limbs, once bright red, now brimmed with vibrant life—impossible to imagine she'd been on the brink of death from the plague just days ago.
"Io... Io!"
I embraced her tightly.
"S-Sis!"
It was real.
The medicine was genuine. And he—no, that lord—was no ordinary man. He had descended upon this earth... the exalted one.
What else had he said?
I recalled the moment I first beheld him.
"Don't be too surprised, Lydia. I have no intention of telling others about your identity. In fact, I came here because I want to be your friend."
Friend.
He wanted to be friends with me...?
...Wait a minute.
Does that mean... the one who granted me this Gift was him?
When our house fell, he pitied us and bestowed it?
And when Io fell to the plague, he descended to save us...?
Stories of gods incarnate are rare.
Ancient tales, mostly, since true descents to earth are uncommon.
Scholars conclude that gods must sacrifice something to manifest here.
And each miracle on earth consumes their divine essence.
Did he sacrifice something to come here?
And used that precious miracle... for us?
Even after I cursed the heavens while Io suffered.
Yet he chose sacrifice... for us.
"I'll come back in a week. If you like my gift then, will you be my friend? Oh, right. I'm Luke Perseino."
His final words echoed in my mind.
A week later.
He would return.
To the information guild.
How many days since he came? Checking the calendar in the hideout...
It was exactly a week.
Today.
Today?
This is no time to dawdle!
He might already be at the guild, waiting!
In my stupidity, testing the plague medicine on a beggar delayed using it by a full week.
He who sacrificed for our salvation—and here I was, breaking that promise by being late.
Could there be greater ingratitude?
Unable to fully catch up with Io, I raced to the guild building.
Dignity and grace be damned—I ran.
At the information guild, I asked my subordinates. Thankfully, he hadn't arrived yet.
Whew.
Thank goodness.
If I'd been late, what an ungrateful wretch I'd have been.
I couldn't presume to make him wait inside.
Hiding my identity as usual, I waited at the entrance.
And at last, he arrived.
"I've been waiting for you, Lord Luke. Please, come inside."
I escorted him to the reception room and cleared out every subordinate from the guild building.
"Did you try the medicine?"
"Yes... It was a potion of such astonishing efficacy, I could scarcely believe my eyes. To think the plague could be cured."
"Good. Then, may I hear your answer from last time?"
His answer from before.
He wanted to be friends... was that it?
Thud.
I knelt before him.
"Lydia Hybris pledges her eternal service to you, Lord Luke—no, Lord Deus."
Friends? As if I could ever be worthy of friendship with Lord Luke.
"Until now, I believed all gods had abandoned us. That no matter what I did, they doomed me to failure... But you, Lord Deus, were different. You saved us. The only one who redeemed my sister and me. From this day, I shall follow you."
He saved us like this, yet asked only for friendship? I would thank him even if he used me as a mere beast of burden.
Lord Luke said nothing.
Did speaking his true name displease him?
"...Am I wrong? I thought you were the incarnation of Deus."
Should I have pretended not to notice! Had I offended him?
I bowed my head deeply, and then...
"...Yes. You're right. I didn't expect you to figure it out."
He spoke.
This meant...
"I knew it! As I thought, Lord Luke!"
Of course! He had fully accepted me as his servant!
Thank you, my Lord.
I offer this lowly body to you.