Making Saula Repent (1)
As Saula drew near to Lord Luke, suddenly a light from heaven shone around her. She fell to the ground and heard a voice say, "Saula, Saula, why do you persecute me?"
"Lord, who are you?" she asked.
"I am Deus, whom you persecute," it replied. "Now rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you must do."
So Saula got up from the ground, but when she opened her eyes, she could see nothing. They led her by the hand into Orias...
Kallandra Empire Academy
Women's Dormitory Building 1, Top Floor
Click.
The door to a suite so luxurious it was hard to believe it was prepared for a mere academy student—perhaps reserved for someone important—swung open.
A woman with sky-blue hair tied back entered alone.
"...Tch. No need for a room this extravagant. ...Deus might be disappointed if she saw this. She'd think I'm some woman reveling in luxury. But leaving an assigned room would violate academy rules. As Deus commanded in the scriptures, it's something I mustn't do. What a dilemma."
Unlike typical noble ladies, she had arrived without a maid, lugging her own bags. She began unpacking them from the luggage rack.
"I distinctly remember requesting a simpler room than the one I had last semester. Why'd they give me this?"
"Maybe they thought you were threatening them for a better room because you hated the first one?"
"Who's there!"
The woman, hearing the unfamiliar voice while unpacking, whipped around and unleashed a punch infused with qi toward the source.
Her fist carried a ferocious energy befitting her realm, fierce enough to tear anything apart—but...
Thud.
Another woman with matching sky-blue hair appeared and casually caught the punch.
"That hot-tempered fist-first personality hasn't changed, has it, Meiru?"
"...Siren sis?"
"Long time no see?"
Siren tilted her head slightly and flashed a bright smile.
"Why are you in my room, sis? You graduated from the academy ages ago and work with the Imperial Knights."
"True. I'm still with the Imperial Knights. It's like heir training before inheriting Perseino Territory. Check out this armor. Only Imperial Knights can wear it."
Siren knocked on her armor with a clang as she spoke.
"...If you're Imperial Knights, why are you at the academy? Don't tell me you ditched your post again... Sis. Even if His Majesty appointed you as a formality, shirking duty like this..."
"No, no, no! What are you talking about? ...There was that unpleasant incident at the academy last year, remember? His Majesty expressed concern. He said the empire's future—where all its talents gather—must never be endangered. So he dispatched some Imperial Knights. I'm one of them."
"...Ah. Got it."
Meiru nodded in understanding.
"By the way, you're slated to guest lecture a few special classes, sis. We might run into each other during lessons?"
"Ugh. The academy's legendary tyrant teaching?"
"...What are you on about, my dear Meiru? Slandering your loving sister? Maybe it's time we rekindle some sisterly bonds after all this time?"
Siren placed her left hand on her hip and raised her right fist threateningly.
"N-no, sis! I-I'm just... so happy to see you after so long!"
"...Pfft. Yeah, Meiru. I'm thrilled to see you too. But where's Luke? I heard he's starting at the academy this year."
"Oh. That revolting creep. ...He couldn't come, so I left first. No idea when he'll show."
"...Still like that, huh? Why not make up already, Meiru? You two were so close as kids."
Siren gazed at her precious little sister with a wistful expression.
"No way. Anyone else, maybe—but not him. He dared mock Deus. He can humiliate me all he wants, but blaspheming Deus, dismissing her as fiction? I can't associate with that heretic."
"...Fine. Anyway, all three Perseinos are at the academy now. Catch you later, Meiru."
"...Yeah. Later, sis."
Thud.
Click.
On the road to the academy.
I was sorting my thoughts inside the carriage.
The 'mysterious assailant' Mother had mentioned earlier.
Mysterious assailant... who could it be?
Was there anyone like that at this point in the story?
The academy entrance ceremony happens when I arrive.
That's the start of Deus ex Machina's Episode 1.
The tutorial phase of the game.
But no random raiders from the northern territories at that point...
Who the hell is it?
"Young master. The sun's setting, and entering the forest now is risky. No villages or settlements nearby. Looks like we'll have to camp here tonight."
Truth be told, this world differed greatly from the Deus ex Machina I knew.
That book.
The one I wrote had turned everything upside down.
If it had just spread as some fun read across the continent, no big deal.
But to think it birthed a massive religion swallowing the land...
The Deus cult.
They revere my book, Bible for Continent Dwellers, as their holy scripture. That's what folks call it.
They don't call themselves that, but to outsiders, it's clear: they see Deus as the sole legitimate god ruling the continent. Hence, Deus cult.
Believers call themselves Christos.
A term I coined in the book—'the anointed ones.'
Pieced together from my past life's religion. Never dreamed it'd go this far...
"Our Mother in heaven... give us this day our daily bread..."
Even the coachman up ahead, praying over tonight's meal.
"You fool! Have you forgotten Deus's words?!"
"A-ah! S-sorry, Hans! I'll correct it!"
The veteran knight scolding his junior.
Everyone traveling with me now was a Christos, a Deus believer.
Okay, fine, it's my book—but I never thought our territory would be this deep in it...
"...Hm? Young master. Someone's approaching."
Baro, our lead knight, shouted.
What? In this pitch-black forest night?
A shadowy figure gradually emerged from the darkness.
"Everyone~! Battle formation!"
Prepping for combat over an unknown approach might seem excessive.
But this was the world of Deus ex Machina.
Teeming with fantasy monsters.
You don't slack on vigilance when anything could pounce.
Tension hung thick as we waited in silence.
"Who goes there! Reveal yourself!"
The figure entered the firelight.
Her form came into view.
A red-haired woman in ragged cloth, trudging forward.
And stunningly beautiful, at that.
"A... woman?"
"Captain! Looks like some poor lady robbed by bandits nearby. Shall we shelter her and hand her to the next village?"
Red-haired woman.
Face rings a bell.
Have I seen her before?
"W-wait. We don't know. Gotta check first."
"Check what! As northern men, we can't ignore this..."
"You fool! Forgotten our mission? We're escorting the young master safely to the academy. No risks, however small! What would Deus think..."
—Deus? You lot... believers of Deus?
"...Hm? You know Deus's words? Perfect, then. Yes, we follow and live by—"
—...Deus! So you serve a god too!
The mood shifted abruptly.
Immense power surged from the woman.
"Grk. W-what is this?"
"Everyone, guard formation! Anomalous powerhouse—protect the young master first!"
I remembered.
Her identity.
The forsaken dragon hybrid abomination.
Final boss of Deus ex Machina Part 1, the continent's worst monster.
Saula Dracania.
Why the hell was she here now?