Chapter 158. Preparation for War (4)
“What on earth is this…?”
Faced with unexpected news, I rubbed my forehead.
“Could you please explain in detail?”
“Well, what’s happening is…”
The ‘Illusionary God Cult’. It was spreading under this unheard-of name, with claims that the fake religion I had established was growing.
The leader was, of course, known as Ethnos, and the main activity centered on terrorism, attacking religious facilities and spreading the message that I had promoted about reclaiming freedom from Gods.
“While those were my words, I never instructed anyone to attack other sanctuaries.”
More importantly, not even a hundred individuals were involved in this fake religion I ran.
Except for those who had followed me here as crew members, all reside in the fortress.
None of them would have secretly started proselytizing activities.
‘Anyone caught doing such a thing knows they’d be dead by my hand.’
To prevent the religion I had spread from causing harm to the world, I had established nearly threatening rules.
One of the strictly prohibited actions was indiscriminate proselytizing.
Though my preaching might have been lacking as a leader, my warnings were crystal clear, especially since I made the rules during a particularly intense time.
“It seems someone is trying to use this religion I created for some purpose… but to what end, I do not know.”
“Perhaps they are gathering followers in your name to accumulate wealth?”
Ansandy’s speculation was plausible.
Given my established creed and policy, there was no real profit for the leader, but someone breaching the creed would not adhere to it faithfully.
“Arian has started an investigation, stating she’d contact you, but I suspect you haven’t heard anything?”
“Nothing at all… Oh, might others have sent something as well?”
“We all sent missives. We were puzzled by the lack of response.”
It’s because of that ocean.
Just as 〈Mind Link〉 had failed, the parchment communication was also blocked.
Unlike a phone, it lacks any sort of delayed message delivery, so I had no way of knowing.
Instead of responding, I sent a request for support in wartime, so everyone chose to trust and come along.
‘Just my luck.’
I briefly explained the situation.
“Indeed, Arian was quite determined, prepared to personally confront you if this turned out to be your doing. It would be wise to contact her quickly to clear the misunderstanding.”
I sighed…
“I’ll contact her and suggest she manages this situation for now, and we can regroup later.”
This was truly an unsatisfactory situation.
Though I deeply wanted to uncover who was orchestrating this, I didn’t have the luxury to pursue it personally.
“You’re handling it quite calmly. I expected a more heated reaction.”
Ansandy looked at me, seemingly surprised.
“Weren’t you quite disdainful of such matters?”
Ender questioned with curiosity.
“Indeed. Although I am quite angry, I’ve learned to suppress it well enough now.”
I showed the group Phoebus, which I had almost forgotten.
“It’s thanks to the owner of this relic.”
“Is that by any chance the instrument the hero Atra used?”
Delion’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Yes, and I’m giving it to you.”
“Why me?! A relic of that magnitude can’t be easily handed over to anyone!”
“Among us, you’re the only one who can sing better than me. The rest of us can’t carry a tune.”
I joked, but Delion seemed as tense as a stone under the weight of my offer.
“I-I’ll accept it later. I can’t muster any strength in my hands right now. Goodness… That legendary Phoebus…”
Delion seemed to need a moment to collect himself.
“I was tense since earlier. Apparently, for him, this place is akin to a sanctuary.”
“Ah, indeed it is.”
I nodded.
At this point, everyone who needed to be here had arrived.
After giving them some time to converse, I contacted Arian using the parchment.
I clarified that I hadn’t ordered the recent terrorist attacks and expressed my desire to catch those responsible myself.
「Of course, I believed in you. I’ll do my utmost to join this war as well.」
Her response came swiftly. Whether she truly believed was anyone’s guess.
‘Having the empire continue to deal with those fake disciples might actually be more beneficial to me.’
I felt I had enough power to confront the princess and wouldn’t be involved in the battle with Cahon.
Stomp, stomp.
Just then, Lyla appeared, looking completely dejected.
“We finally met, only for him to scold me harshly.”
Cernun followed her, rapping her head in annoyance.
“You brat. You should’ve asked for guidance sooner, not having done so once until now—”
“Okay, okay! Please stop the scolding already…”
Indeed, Lyla seemed completely deflated in front of her mentor.
“I had not expected there would be two more to guide.”
“Two?”
One must be Eldritch, but who could the other one be?
“I mean the mercenary, Ansandy.”
“Ansandy? I assumed she wasn’t a mage…”
“It seems she has already reached at least the 1st rank of magehood. I, too, have never heard of that mercenary using magic, so some investigation is in order.”
Ansandy rarely shared anything about herself, so even I wasn’t sure.
“I do hope Ansandy and Delion could also achieve the 4th rank… I would appreciate your assistance.”
“In these circumstances, what choice do I have? But do not make it sound as if the 4th rank is easily achieved.”
Even so, Cernun stroked his beard before adding,
“Strangely, enlightenment seems to be occurring faster these days.”
“Is that so?”
“Academia students have been ascending ranks swiftly. Record numbers of 3rd rank have emerged.”
While this was a joyous occasion for someone raising disciples, he noted that this was not a simple occurrence.
Investigations suggested that mercenaries had also ascended ranks, improving overall quality.
“And I, too, feel restrictions easing somewhat compared to before.”
“Restrictions…”
“A clear change is happening in the world. Whether it’s positive or not remains to be seen.”
From the awakening of the Divine Blood to changes in the war and the difficulty of achieving enlightenment.
“A very grand war is brewing. Comparable to, or perhaps even greater than, the Holy War.”
“Hmm… then, we’ll need to prepare even more thoroughly.”
Cernun nodded, then pulled Lyla’s ear.
“And yet, to not have reached the 4th rank! You’d better brace yourself, disciple.”
“Ow! Master, please let go…!”
Even though she continued to be scolded, Lyla seemed significantly more at ease.
Meeting an encouraging mentor seemed to have significantly alleviated her anxiety.
“Well then, I’m heading underwater for a while.”
“Underwater?”
“Yes, I need to gather more means of fighting the dwellers.”
I produced a Gospel of the Dwellers, something I had kept separate after wiping them out once before.
“The ‘Scripture of the Abyss’.”
“I intend to undergo the initiation ceremony and wield a dweller’s miracle. There shouldn’t be any issues.”
“Well… given your expertise, do as you will. I’ll monitor the sea just in case.”
“Yes, that’s all I need.”
I never thought Cernun’s tracking magic, which used to be so burdensome, would be utilized in this way.
“To resort to the dwellers’ miracles…”
I wasn’t sure when she’d come by, but Talia appeared with a reluctant look on her face.
“They are miracles most well-suited for underwater combat. Knowing how to wield the enemy’s tools makes for better preparedness.”
Especially in a specialized environment like the deep sea, this held true.
I could already transform into a dweller, but it made sense to prepare further for undersea battles.
“All right, fine.”
Nodding in agreement, Talia and the others watched as I dove into the sea.
『If anything happens, make sure to drag me back to the surface.』
『Understood, dad!』
One of the reasons this initiation ceremony was challenging was that it required descending into the deepest, dark ocean where no light reached. A near-impossible task for a human being…
‘Transform—Dweller of the Deep.’
But for me, who could transform into a dweller, it was by no means a difficult ritual.
As I swam deep into the ocean, I noticed something peculiar.
‘There’s not a single fish?’
I initially thought they ran off due to the aura of an Outer God, but that wasn’t it.
As a dweller, I had incredibly refined senses that could detect living beings at vast distances.
Yet I sensed nothing.
‘It must be the dwellers’ doing.’
We weren’t the only ones preparing for war. By making sure no marine life was caught, they effectively cut off a crucial food supply.
In the chains of islands around Hagiogos, where fish were a staple food, this presented a significant problem.
‘But once I acquire the dweller’s miracle, I’ll be able to summon fish back. Increasing catches is something dwellers often use when negotiating with humans, so there must be a miracle for it.’
‘Let’s see…’
I descended to a depth where no light could reach.
‘Once I’ve reached the bottom of the deep sea, the rest shouldn’t be difficult.’
In truth, this ritual isn’t designed for an ordinary human to perform unaided.
Normally, dwellers would use miracles to bring a human there to carry out the ritual.
This essentially means gaining recognition from the dwellers and the opportunity to become one of them is the primary requirement.
It’s impossible for an average human, but solving this requirement allows for smooth progression.
‘No sacrifices or anything, just draw a circle on the ground… It’s so easy it almost worries me.’
I knelt within the ominous, alien character-inscribed circle beneath the ocean.
I raised my hands above my head as if in worship to the vast ocean’s Outer God, and I began chanting the prayer written in the initiation ritual.
‘Oh great【Father of the Abyss】, Lord of the oceans and leader of all dwellers.’
The critical point in this initiation is not to move until becoming a dweller. I couldn’t blink or move even a finger, or else the initiation would fail.
‘I beseech you to accept me as part of your family.’
Chanting the prayer in my mind while remaining perfectly still was a trivial challenge for someone who could transform their cells at will.
After finishing the prayer, I waited for any changes the initiation might bring…
‘… What?’
Any other initiation had brought immediate changes. This time, however, there was complete silence and no noticeable change.
‘Is it because I’ve already taken a dweller’s form… No, wait?!’
When I tried to check the Gospel, the book disintegrated into nothingness. For the first time since arriving in this world, I was rejected by an Outer God.