The Priestess's Divine Revelation
The fraudulent character had set her sights on the fraudulent protagonist. (1)
Stumbling from mana depletion, the supporting character lost his footing at the edge of the stairs and pitched headfirst toward the abyss.
"Master!"
"No!!"
Seeing their master on the verge of unconscious collapse, Jack and May scrambled desperately to escape the tomb... but it was too late.
"Ugh...! H-heavy...!"
Just before Joyeon's body plunged completely into the pit, Lily rushed forward and seized his arm, halting his fall.
"What...? Why would a priestess save Master? Wasn't she an enemy?"
Jack had assumed Lily was Joyeon's enemy, having fled with Lord Richard from Pawn. Yet watching her throw herself forward to rescue the falling man left him utterly bewildered about how to interpret the situation.
"W-what do we do?! What should we do, Jack?!"
"...We can't leave yet."
More than half of Joyeon's body was already dangling over the abyss. If Lily let go, he would plummet. Jack reasoned that provoking her by rashly emerging from the tomb might cause her to drop Joyeon, whereas staying hidden and observing might actually be safer for their master.
Meanwhile, Lily's light frame was slowly being dragged forward by Joyeon's weight.
"Lord Richard...! Please come help me quickly...!"
"R-right away...!"
Despite his broken legs, Lord Richard crawled across the floor at Lily's call, grabbed Joyeon's shoulders, and helped pull him to safety.
"Haa~ Physical labor really doesn't suit me... I only meant to talk, but I never expected him to faint right at the edge of the stairs... Ah, my apologies, my lord. I'll cast a recovery spell on you immediately."
After dragging Joyeon to safety, Lily caught her breath and, upon seeing Lord Richard's shattered legs, hurriedly began treating him with holy magic. Though her abilities as a priestess weren't particularly high, healing the lord's legs didn't take long.
"Thank you, Priestess. Thanks to you, I feel much better... But aren't you going to kill him? Earlier, it seemed you intended to."
"Yes. I did intend to kill him. Anyone who refuses my requests is nothing but an obstacle. That is, back when I didn't know he was a necromancer."
"A necromancer... What difference does that make? It's true his summoned undead possess tremendous power, but he still won't obey you, Priestess."
"His refusal to obey my requests is no longer a problem. For now, carry him and follow me. I'll explain as we go."
At Lily's words, Lord Richard hoisted the unconscious Joyeon onto his back and began climbing the stairs behind her.
"You understand my plan well, don't you, Lord Richard?"
"Of course. I review it every single day to avoid mistakes."
Lily Cubus's plan to plunge the world into apocalypse, driven by her self-proclaimed divine mission. It was supposed to begin with one hundred thousand undead of unknown origin annihilating every human in the great city of Neveiria.
"Even if Neveiria is completely destroyed, a handful of survivors will remain. They'll spread word to other settlements that Neveiria has been utterly wiped out."
"Exactly. Then you and Bishop Kilhug planned to confirm those rumors as true. Only Lily Cubus and Lord Richard know the true identity of the one who created the undead—even Bishop Kilhug remains ignorant. But if the bishop, who obeys your every command, were to speak as the head of Neveiria's church, no one would dare disbelieve him."
"That's right. I intended to spread the story that the undead appeared because of 'the atrocities of wicked modern humans capable of using black magic.'"
"...Ah."
"You see now? The original plan lacked a concrete 'culprit.' We needed to fabricate an unbelievable worst-case scenario—the total annihilation of Neveiria—and leverage Bishop Kilhug's immense influence to make the lie believable. But then a real modern human necromancer appeared before me. A modern necromancer with power enough to command one hundred thousand undead."
To make magic users and modern humans genuinely hate each other, to ensure no one could trace the mastermind, Lily Cubus had been willing to sacrifice the city she lived in and the countless people she knew.
"With his existence alone, there's no longer any need to massacre Neveiria's people. If the appearance of the undead and the necromancer who summons them is burned into the eyes of those who escape, the rumors won't be 'Neveiria was destroyed by undead,' but rather 'Neveiria was annihilated by a modern human necromancer.' That way, we'll have plenty of capable adventurers left who can fulfill my requests."
Having nearly reached the uppermost level of the Abyss, Lily stopped before a prison cell. Following her gesture, Lord Richard opened the iron bars and dragged Joyeon inside, propping him against the back wall.
"This is clearly a 'revelation' from God."
"A revelation, you say."
Lily clasped her hands together and offered a prayer toward the heavens beyond the prison ceiling—toward the god watching from somewhere above.
"Yes. God, who has recognized my efforts, must have sent him here to urge me onward with greater vigor."
"It certainly seems God favors you greatly, Priestess."
"Therefore, we must live up to His expectations. We will execute this plan flawlessly and plunge the world into a crucible of chaos!"
Lily smiled brightly, as though the plan had already been perfectly accomplished. Seeing her smile, Lord Richard also grinned and began securing Joyeon to the wall using the restraints.
Before long, Joyeon was completely bound spread-eagle against the wall. The bindings looked sturdy enough to withstand any magic or superhuman strength.
"...But the most important issue remains: he refuses to obey your requests, Priestess. How do you intend to resolve that?"
"I'm aware. But this is a trial sent by God. I shouldn't take it lightly either."
"Do you have a plan?"
"It's hardly a plan. Simply put, instead of merely asking, I intend to offer him everything I possibly can."
Lily Cubus gazed up at Joyeon with a resolute expression.
****
At the same time, inside the tomb.
"Lily Cubus the priestess... So she's a fanatic wearing the title of priestess. To harbor such absurd ideas..."
"What dangerous thinking! Planning to turn the world into an apocalypse! And using Master to do it!"
"Incomprehensible."
Jack, May, and House—who had been watching over the bound and imprisoned Joyeon—exchanged words after eavesdropping on Lily and Lord Richard's conversation.
"It doesn't seem like she intends to kill Master... What should we do, Jack?"
"...It takes roughly five seconds to exit the tomb. What's the probability that Priestess Lily Cubus won't harm Master during that time?"
"Ehh~ Maybe thirty percent?"
"Then if we don't leave, what's the probability that Priestess Lily Cubus will harm Master?"
"Based on their conversation, zero percent."
"Therefore, even if there's only a one percent chance that Priestess Lily Cubus will harm Master, we absolutely must not leave the tomb right now."
"Uuu~! Jack! Aren't we being completely useless?!"
"It can't be helped. That's the situation we're in."
"So we can't do anything again?"
"It's not that we can't do anything. Right, House?"
At Jack's call, House affirmed. Unlike during the Neutral Saintess's hospital incident, House's presence remained completely undetected by Lily and Lord Richard. Moreover, it had already scattered its young roaches throughout the city. If it pushed itself, it could even recall the roaches it had sent outside, but what they needed now wasn't combat strength—it was someone capable of making contact.
"Let's inform Tiasia and Lady Arty of the current situation. If Tiasia is outside, she could launch a surprise attack on Priestess Lily Cubus. And with the artifact Lady Arty possesses, Master won't remain unconscious from mana depletion."
"Ah! That's a great idea!"
"House, you can move right away, correct?"
"Possible."
"How long do you think it will take?"
"Within five minutes."
"Excellent. We have time until Master wakes up anyway. Let's contact Tiasia and Lady Arty and discuss our next move."
In the end, the followers decided once again to wait and observe the situation.
****
Time passed...
...Twitch.
"Nngh... Where...?"
Having recovered a bit of mana, Joyeon opened his eyes, complaining of dizziness. A narrow, dimly lit room. The only source of light was blocked by sturdy-looking iron bars.
"A prison...? Why am I here... Huh?"
As he tried to move, Joyeon realized his limbs were completely restrained and immobile.
"Have you awakened, Master?"
"Master, are you alright?!"
'Jack, May... What the hell is going on right now?'
Hearing that Jack and May's voices lacked urgency, Joyeon concluded the situation wasn't entirely dire and demanded an explanation from them.
"Master, you were unconscious for about an hour—"
"You've finally come to. I was worried you'd be asleep much longer than this."
Jack's attempt to answer was cut off by a soft, elegant voice from nearby. Joyeon turned his head to identify the speaker.
"...Lily Cubus."
"Yes. Lily Cubus. I'm delighted you remember my name."
Unlike her usual courteous smile, Lily beamed at him with genuine, overflowing affection. Joyeon glanced around in confusion at her inexplicable behavior. Lord Richard, who had been with her earlier, was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did that man go?"
"If you're asking about Lord Richard, I asked him to step aside. He's not in the Abyss right now. He's probably waiting at the mansion. Right now, it's just you and me in this place. Ah, though there are other people in the other cells."
"...Get out. Right n—"
"Wait! Just a moment, please. I only wish to talk. I have no intention of harming you whatsoever. I swear it upon God."
"Talk, my ass. You tried to kill me the moment we met."
"That was because I knew nothing about you. I sincerely apologize for that. I'm truly sorry."
Lily bowed deeply, wearing an expression of genuine remorse. Of course, Joyeon had no intention of forgiving her just because she apologized.
'Sorry, my foot. Apologizing while keeping me tied up like this? Yeah, right?'
"...Master, during the hour you were unconscious, she truly did nothing and simply waited for you to wake up."
'Huh? An hour? I was out that long?'
"She did worry whether you might not wake up..."
'She was worried too...?'
With almost no mana in the depths of the underground where undead swarmed, Joyeon had remained unconscious for quite some time. Throughout that period, Lily Cubus had quietly waited by his side for him to awaken.
"...So what is it you want to say?"
Ultimately deciding he might as well hear her out based on Jack and May's words, Joyeon asked quietly. Lily's eyes sparkled as she immediately posed her question.
"Do you believe in 'God'?"
"God...? What are you talking about all of a sudden. Can anyone in this world not believe in God?"
"I'm not asking whether you believe in God's existence or not. I'm asking about 'faith.'"
"Faith? Whether you follow God or not. Something like that?"
"That's right."
Though he couldn't grasp the purpose behind Lily's question, Joyeon answered honestly.
"Well, I don't really believe in things like God."
"Even after directly witnessing the miraculous wonders of God's existence?"
Lily gestured between herself and Joyeon, brought together by the world's fusion. But rather than that, Joyeon recalled the whimsical gods he had met in his dreams and grimaced, shaking his head.
"Miracles, my ass. They just do whatever they want. I hate being jerked around."
"Jerked around... I see. So that's how you think. I understand a little better now how those without faith view things."
"So what? What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I think it would be good if you believed in God. Just like me—the true gods, the Modern God and the Magic God."
"...What the hell are you talking about."
Without answering Joyeon's retort, Lily asked again.
"Do you believe in fate?"
"...Now what? Fate?"
"Fate."
Meeting Lily's serious gaze, Joyeon thought for a moment before speaking.
"I don't. Fate is nothing more than the 'result' of coincidences upon coincidences arising from my own actions."
"That's not what I mean by fate. The fate I'm referring to is God's will, something we mere mortals can never change... discovering talents you never knew you possessed until death, all for God's purpose. Finding items prepared to carry out God's will. And meeting others who share that same purpose. Just like how you and I kept encountering each other all day today."
As Lily approached slowly with an intense gaze unlike any before, Joyeon felt uneasy and denied her words.
"I already told you clearly. Meeting you was just coincidence. Like tourists with the same purpose running into each other while wandering famous tourist spots. It's nothing but coincidence."
"At first, I thought so too, but it's not coincidence at all. You and I are fated partners chosen by God."
"This doesn't make any sense... Hey, stay back."
Lily continued approaching Joyeon with a bright smile. Panicking at the sight, Joyeon tried to back away, but with his limbs bound, he couldn't move an inch.
"I am a servant who carries out the 'God's' will. And the fated partner prepared for someone like me... that is you."
"Don't talk crazy! Fated partner, my ass—are you in the middle of some chuunibyou phase?! You're not a kid, so stop with the childish nonsense!"
"Don't you remember what God said on the day the world changed?"
"I don't know! And are you ignoring what I said?"
"If the modern world and the magic world were to fight, who would win? That's what He asked."
"What... What kind of nonsense is this now... Are you actually insane? You're seriously thinking of starting a fight between the modern world and the magic world right now?"
"Yes."
"Does that even make sense? They're already fighting everywhere anyway, so why bother doing something like that?"
"What I want is complete hostility. Not small-scale conflicts, but a world war where people kill and are killed."
"Don't spout bullshit. Something like that isn't possible."
"It is possible! Because it's not about starting a war, but about triggering an opportunity for mutual hatred. If you and I work together, there won't be any problems at all! That's why I need you. With you, this world can advance toward the apocalypse God desires."
Lily's eyes, now right in front of Joyeon's face, gleamed with a madness he had never seen before. Only now truly grasping her abnormal thinking and insanity, Joyeon broke into a cold sweat and turned his face aside in an attempt to distance himself from her.
"Am I crazy?! You think I'd team up with a woman who tried to kill me to turn the world into an apocalypse? Hell no! There's no way I'd ever help someone like you!"
"Of course, I'm not just asking for your help. If you help me, I'll give you 'myself.'"
"...What?"
For a moment, Joyeon reflexively questioned her, wondering if he'd misheard. Then, seeing the same mad glint in her eyes and the incomprehensible ecstasy in her smile, he realized he hadn't misheard.
"I'll offer myself to you. A pure body that no one has ever touched. Of course, not just my body—my heart as well. If you move for my sake, I'll devote both my body and heart to you."
"W-what..."
"I mean it! For you, I can give everything...!"
Overwhelmed by Lily Cubus's frenzied proposition, Joyeon could only stare in stunned silence.