Chapter 100

Nicolas, who had been quietly pondering Ramon’s words, gave a slight smile.

It’s a ridiculous lie.

“After the revelation was announced, many nobles were surprised and delighted. They are competing to make donations to the Seraph Temple.”

“Yeah, I bet they are.”

In the Pavilion Empire, the word of God is absolute.

It’s a country where the existence of abilities proves the existence of God.

“Do you think this makes sense, counselor?”

“Well, I don’t believe it either. How could they bring up a revelation that disappeared long ago so boldly….”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s a shallow trick to try and put food on the table in a desperate situation.”

Nicolas sneered and stood up.

God has disappeared.

He was certain of it.

Because the next chapter of the Primera hasn’t appeared yet.

By this, Nicolas vaguely felt that God had finally abandoned the royal family.

In such a situation, what revelation?

“Funny. It’s truly pitiful that they have to lie because they’re hungry.”

Approaching the window, Nicolas looked out fiercely and added,

“It would be troublesome if that lie tarnished my status.”

“You are quite right, Your Majesty.”

In a world without God, the absolute ruler is the emperor himself.

Weak and useless humans should always crawl like insects at the lowest level to maintain the class system.

That is his idea of justice.

“On the contrary, it’s a good thing.”

Nicolas nodded.

“If they falsely claimed to be God, they should pay a heavy price. This is the perfect opportunity to wipe out the Seraph Temple.”

“Pardon?”

Ramon was taken aback.

“Even though they oppose Your Majesty’s will, the Lamisa High Priest and some of the priests are all high-level ability users….”

“Yes. That’s why until now.”

Nicolas turned around with a grin.

“Haven’t they managed to survive and crawl around, even being stoned as heretics?”

That’s why he wanted to get rid of the old church faction.

However, in an empire where ability users are favored,

Killing high-level ability users without a reason would damage the authority of the royal family.

So, he had left those thorns in his side alone….

‘This is an opportunity.’

This time, he could crush those who dared to threaten his justice.

“Ah, I have an interesting idea.”

Nicolas’s eyes sparkled.

“Since they dared to defile and deceive in the name of God, shouldn’t the most faithful subordinates judge them?”

“The most faithful….”

Ramon, muttering, asked,

“The Holy Knights, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. Gather the Holy Knights to interrogate the heretics. And.”

Nicolas, sitting back in his seat, added with a snake-like smile,

“It would be perfect if Enock takes on the role of the interrogator.”

“Ah! A wise decision, Your Majesty!”

“In two weeks.”

Nicolas looked up at the moon that had not yet risen.

“At the moment the revelation is confirmed to be a complete lie, the scum who dared to deceive God.”

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

“Have them burned at the stake by the hands of the Holy Knights’ commander.”

* * *

<The first divine revelation in hundreds of years!>

<Nobles competing to send donations and relief supplies to the Seraph Temple.>

<The owner of the revelation, the young priest, Zadkiel Terrot, of the Seraph Temple.>

<On the night of the full moon, will God truly show a miracle?>

The empire was in an uproar.

Everyone was watching the Seraph Temple, anticipating the ‘miracle’ spoken of by God.

* * *

Seraph Temple.

Zadkiel Terrot, the young priest and the owner of the revelation, was unexpectedly visited by guests while he was, as usual, taking care of the sick.

Thud, thud, thud.

Seven Holy Knights entered the temple in formation, their blue cloaks and silver armor exuding a sacred and sharp aura.

‘Is it because of the revelation?’

Zadkiel tried to suppress his heart, which was pounding with tension.

At the center of the Holy Knights was Enock Rubinstein, whose eyes were sharper than before.

“Are you the priest, Zadkiel Terrot?”

A Holy Knight with orange hair on Enock’s left asked. Zadkiel nodded, trembling.

“By the order of His Majesty the Emperor, we, the Holy Knights, are here to investigate the revelation you received….”

“Stop.”

Enock raised his arm to cut off the knight’s words.

“I’ll talk to him separately.”

The knights were taken aback.

Zadkiel realized that Enock was considering his fear.

They moved to a room inside the temple.

“Is it true that you received the revelation, priest?”

Enock asked immediately.

The tenderness from before was gone. Zadkiel tensed under the cold, sharp gaze of the Holy Knight.

“...Yes, it’s true.”

“The revelation disappeared hundreds of years ago. I, unfortunately, believe that God has abandoned us.”

Zadkiel took a deep breath.

“Don’t you feel it too, priest? And suddenly, a revelation like a miracle, which only God can show, has come down….”

“...”

“Do you really think this makes sense, priest?”

Enock didn’t believe it.

In fact, many people, like Enock, were skeptical of the revelation.

Even Zadkiel himself, who caused this commotion….

“If you did this to heal the wounds of a declining temple, I can understand.”

Trying to persuade Zadkiel, Enock’s voice softened.

“The number of believers will increase if a revelation comes to an abandoned temple. And the nobles are sending donations and relief personnel without hesitation.”

“...”

“Do you know why?”

Enock added in a low voice.

“If the revelation is true, then embracing the lowly is God’s will, and even the emperor can’t do anything about it.”

“...”

“Even if it’s a lie, it’s because there’s no need to be punished just for believing.”

“I, I know.”

“This burden falls on you, priest. And your mother, the High Priestess Lamisa. And your brothers and sisters, the priests here at Seraph.”

Seeing Zadkiel tremble, Enock was convinced of his lie.

He felt sorry.

He understood why Zadkiel had to spread such a ridiculous false revelation.

“This is your last chance. You must tell the truth for me to help you.”

“...”

“I’ll ask you again.”

Zadkiel, who was trembling, looked up at Enock.

“Really, did you receive the revelation?”

A gaze that burned like a flame….

Clear and firm.

Blue eyes.

Looking at them, Zadkiel thought of his daughter, Lylis’s clear, blue eyes.

‘You promised. To believe.’

His trembling lips opened.

“Yes, it’s true. I really received the revelation from God.”

“...”

Enock felt that Zadkiel’s determined gaze would give the same answer no matter how many times he asked.

“...Damn.”

Enock bit his lip.

* * *

Fifteen days had passed since the revelation came to the Seraph Temple.

Today was the night of the full moon.

The day when the miracle spoken of by God would occur.

“Ah.”

“Ah!”

“Ee.”

“Ee!”

“Oh, you’re doing well, my princess.”

Feeling guilty, I carefully examined my father’s half-face as he brushed my teeth.

‘Wow. I didn’t expect him to be the inquisitor. The emperor is cruel.’

There was something I hadn’t considered when I caused this commotion.

The emperor’s character.

The emperor seemed to think the revelation was a lie.

So, he planned to use this as an opportunity to eliminate the thorn in his side, the Seraph Temple.

If the miracle doesn’t happen?

He plans to brand everyone in the Seraph Temple as heretics and send them to the stake.

And he chose my father to carry out the execution.

‘What a bastard, really….’

He was trying to shock-educate my father, who didn’t listen to him and sided with the commoners.

“Okay, let’s go to bed.”

My father, smiling, carried me to the bed and stopped.

His gaze was directed out the window.

At the full moon that had risen, full and yellow.

“Dad, what are you thinking?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing.”

“Liar. Are you thinking about the priest? Isn’t today the day all the sick people will be healed?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Hehe. Will they really all be healed?”

“...We’ll know tomorrow.”

“Yeah. But why does Dad look so serious? Do you think the priest lied?”

My father, smiling weakly, laid me down and covered me with a blanket.

“What do you think, princess?”

“I believe the priest. He’s so kind. He wouldn’t lie.”

“Yeah, he is kind. But you don’t believe in God, do you, princess?”

“Well, if the priest is telling the truth, I’ll believe now, okay?”

I giggled and added,

“If all the sick people really get better, more people will think like me. They’ll swarm to the temple where the priest is! And make many donations!”

“Yeah… That would be nice….”

My father, looking like he was about to die, crawled into the bed.

‘I’m sorry, Dad.’

I apologized in my heart to my father, who had been suffering for 15 days.

For Enoch Rubinstein, the protagonist who needs to slowly build and lead the old church faction, this commotion is a disaster.

Well, they’re about to disappear as a pile of ashes on the stake anyway.

‘No, that won’t happen!’

I peeked out from under the blanket and looked at the large grandfather clock in the corner of the room.

11:59.

The second hand racing towards midnight.

‘Countdown starts!’

* * *

At that moment.

Zadkiel was sitting in a dark room, holding the hand of High Priestess Lamisa, praying earnestly.

‘God, please….’

That day.

Was what the young princess said true?

Did he believe too hastily?

“Mother, please.”

Zadkiel closed his eyes tightly.

* * *

Ding, ding, ding.

The moment the clock struck midnight.

I, who had been tossing and turning and was startled by the bell, subtly checked the watch on my wrist.

15min

Showtime!