36. Liar
If you cast a fishing line, you must wait until it sinks before you can catch a fish.
It was something my father, who loved fishing, used to say. As an elementary school student, I was dragged to a boring fishing spot, and every time I tried to run away, he would spank me and say that. That’s why I can remember it so vividly.
It’s also the reason why I hate spicy fish stew. I eat it well when it’s given to me, but usually, when my father suggests making spicy fish stew, it means it’s time to go fishing, so I never eat it.
The lesson of this story is that you have to know how to wait.
What if my father had taken a man who enjoyed leisurely activities instead of a playful elementary school student? My father couldn’t wait for me to become a man and ended up with a son who detested fishing.
The same goes for schemes. There are times when you have to push people, and there are times when you have to leave them alone.
The key to all strategies was doubt. When you sow doubt, you should blow on it and make it burn brightly, and once it catches fire, you should just throw in some fuel from time to time and watch it burn.
That’s why I stayed in the bishopric instead of making hasty moves. Of course, I didn’t waste the time I had.
The diocese of Irenihut, where I am staying, is nominally under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See.
This means that there is much more knowledge stored in the monastery than the last monastery I visited. There are also many books that can only be found here.
Recently, my curiosity has increased, so I started digging through the archdiocese’s library. And I was amazed. In the diocese, bookshelves were filled with precious treasures that even a single piece of gold could not buy.
“hahahaha, hahahaha. Prince, I don’t seem to be well suited to books. I hate the stifling smell of books.”
“There are many people who are dissatisfied with something that is worth thousands of dollars.”
“Money… Come to think of it, I came this far because of money.”
John was grumbling, but before he knew it, he was immersed in emotion as he stared at the dimly lit wall. He must be remembering the moment that completely changed the life of John, who was just an ordinary servant.
“Later, when you go to the bar, brag to your heart’s content. How many people have had as many experiences as you?”
“The first time I met the prince was in a prison… It was a gloomy, dark place, just like here, with a stuffy smell…”
“Shish”
His expression was relaxed, and it seemed like he would stay that way for a while. I looked away from John’s sigh and at the books piled up on my desk. They weren’t all bound books.
Mixed in were parchment scrolls that proved their age and tree bark that had been boiled until it was soft. If handled incorrectly, they might crumble to dust. That was why my hand was so careful as it touched the book.
I slowly opened the ancient book and placed the dictionary the bishop had given me next to it. I read the title, going over each letter in the stiff lines and squares.
“The Sordid and Sinister Gaze Towards Human Slaves ~The Unconcealable Lewd Desires of the Elven Queen?”
What the hell… What is this?
Just as I was about to tear up the book in disgust, I noticed the note written in the corner of the dictionary the bishop had given me. Only after reading the note did I understand why the title of the book was like this.
“…I see.”
In the other world, it was almost impossible for humans to read and write. Any action was carried out under strict censorship and control, making it extremely difficult to exchange knowledge.
So the humans in the other world shared their knowledge at the risk of their lives. They hid the contents under titles so blasphemous and sacrilegious that they would be dragged away as a sacrificial offering if caught.
This was why there were so many intense titles. Human writings were designated as forbidden books, as reading them was considered blasphemy against the ruling class of the other world. However, thanks to this, even if they were arrested, the contents could not be read because of these vulgar titles.
The humans of that time wrote down everything they knew under titles stained with their own blood, praying for the end of the other world and the advent of humanity.
As I learned the context, I felt my heart grow heavy.
I had thought the titles were just vulgar, but in reality, they were filled with grim determination and desperate prayers. I couldn’t help but feel respect for the humans of that time who had given up their lives like mayflies in the hope of a future without hope.
With a solemn heart, I turned the pages of the book to read the records of that time.
[The Elven Queen whipped the human slave and harbored an indescribable desire. If that whip were to be turned on her, what would she think?]
-I realized that not all the records were like that.
***
Fortunately, not all the books were like that.
I skimmed through the records of the other world that had been passed down as copies of copies and learned a lot. Most of it was about what kind of god Lux Stella was, what kind of disposition he had, and when and how he had descended .
And I also found out why the church was so vague about Lux Stella. It wasn’t like I was in the Vatican or anything, and I had only looked at the books kept in the bishopric for a few days.
Although I couldn’t tell the exact year, there was a part that was mentioned in common in dozens of records.
[There is a rumor that the elves are tired of the gods’ demands for offerings and are looking for a new god. A noble and powerful god worthy of their service.]
[The masters have begun preparing a new ritual. More of our people are being taken away. Rumors are circulating that it is a ritual for a new god.]
[Voices of accusation are growing louder. The masters are fighting over whether or not to worship the new god.]
There is no proper mention, but it is highly likely that the new god is Lux Stella. However, since none of Lux Stella’s characteristics were mentioned, I couldn’t be sure.
After that, the story continued about the races of the other world without anything else of note. Meaningful records were as rare as a soybean in a drought. Even when they did appear, they were only one or two lines long, but if I were to summarize them, it would be like this.
[The starlight does not answer to the masters or to us…]
After searching for a long time for records related to this, I finally got the gist of it. This [new god] never revealed his true identity or name.
Not to the races of the other world, and not to the humans who were persecuted under them and longed for the favor of the gods. It seems clear from the circumstances that the new god is Lux Stella.
However, even the name Lux Stella is just a pseudonym that has been distorted and twisted over time. The races of the other world offered countless sacrifices to gain the favor of a powerful god whose name they did not even know, but the result was always the same.
In the end, the new god began to be forgotten among the races of the other world. Except for one: the humans who had not received the favor of any god. Even so, it seems that the new god did not respond for a long time.
As the estimated date of the records approached the present, the descriptions became more desperate and grim.
[O starlight, please look down on us who have been chosen by no one.]
[In the next town, a prayer to the new god was discovered. The masters made an example of the people who were praying. May our flesh and spirit become a burnt offering to the new god, not to their god.]
[Can’t we win the favor of the new god with our flesh and spirit?]
And at the end of all these records, there was one refrain that was written like a chorus. It was a refrain that had definitely been added later.
[Weak ones, praise the starlight. He wanted life for us, not sacrifices.]
I looked at the pale cross mark left on each record and moved my gaze to the back of my hand. The wound that had been cut in the shape of a cross was dotted with drops of blood. They didn’t flow down or harden into a scab.
“He still hasn’t revealed his name?”
If the records are correct… Lux Stella seems to be very reluctant to intervene in the world.
I’m not a fan of human sacrifice, but I’m extremely reluctant to step up and overturn it myself. Rather, it’s extremely unusual for a human to receive the favor of Lux Stella.
In summary, a god who is friendly to humans, but doesn’t need humans.
Knowing this fact, the parts related to the vows also come across completely differently. Lux Stella doesn’t really care whether humans believe in him or not. Then what meaning do the vows have?
I could figure it out with just a little thought.
Honesty, temperance, diligence, evangelism, temple.
On the surface, they appear to be commandments telling you to live a good life, but they’re different when you look closely. The five vows are specialized not so much in cultivating an individual’s morality, but rather…
“In protecting and preserving the world and human civilization.”
…just as Bishop Ganista said.
I pushed aside the records I had been looking at and stood up from my seat. The bishop was looking at me with a very pleased expression.
“Why on earth did Lux Stella choose a human? What’s his real name?”
“Kukukuku.”
Inside the library, which reeked strongly of old books, Bishop Ganista’s low laughter echoed through the deathly quiet space. The bishop looked at me over his dusty pince-nez and laughed for a long time.
“You said you didn’t want to study, but you’re doing well on your own.”
“…”
“Of course it’s a natural question. You’re curious. The reason why Lux Stella chose a human out of countless others. His true name and identity, and the protection and miracles that are bestowed on those who believe in him…”
The end of this long introduction was.
“You can find out once you become a bishop.”
It was just like when my parents told me that I could have fun once I went to university. It was something that had happened decades ago. I couldn’t help but give a cynical response.
“I thought you didn’t need to study to become a bishop.”
“It’s true that a bishop is made when they have the Stigmata. However, just because you have the Stigmata doesn’t mean that you can just carry out your duties as a bishop. There’s a difference between becoming and doing.”
“Oh, dear.”
John was a problem because he did as he said, and the bishop was a problem because he talked nonsense as soon as he opened his mouth. I decided to ignore the bishop’s habit of talking nonsense rather than engage in a meaningless argument. It was better to get to the main point instead of having a pointless verbal altercation.
“By the way, why did you come all the way to the library?”
“I came because I was impressed that you were studying on your own. As it happens, there’s a way to resolve your questions. While you’ve been studying hard for the past two weeks, everything that you’ve been preparing for has been completed.”
“What do you mean by…”
“Yes.”
The bishop stopped smiling and looked down at me with a very serious expression.
“It’s time for you to go for your miracle examination.”
***
Two weeks had passed since Terver and the knights had escaped under cover of darkness.
During that time, Bishop Ganista had said that they had already fled, but Yubas’ army refused to believe him and continued their standoff. It was clear that they openly doubted the bishop’s cooperation.
This action further widened the gap between the church and Yubas. From a national perspective, it would have been right to exercise some restraint in their speech. However, the person currently leading the army that had arrived at Illenfoot was Cardal Orn Yubas.
He was one of Yubas’ bloodline, for whom his own advancement was more important than the position of his family.
Cardal raised the level of pressure day by day.
Not only did he review his soldiers in front of the castle walls, but he also repeatedly announced that he would hand over the suspects, itemizing the reasons why they had come. It was a crude method, but these efforts gradually began to bear fruit.
From time to time, Cardal would mount his horse with some of his escort troops and circle the outskirts of the bishop’s castle walls, his bestial eyes glinting. Today was no different. He sneered whenever the bishop’s soldiers cowered from his gaze.
“The quality of your equipment is fine, but your posture is inferior to that of our conscripts. You dare to rebel, when you wouldn’t have survived without Yubas’ protection.”
Then a messenger approached Cardal, who had just finished circling the outskirts of the castle walls. The messenger knelt before Cardal, a single bead of cold sweat trickling down his face.
“Your Excellency, there is intelligence that the third son of Povis, who is under the bishop’s protection, is about to go for his miracle examination.”
“Oh?”
As the messenger reported, dripping with sweat, a tiny snowflake landed on Cardal’s cheek. Cardal felt the snowflake melt instantly and touched its trace with a smile.
“The winter sea will be dangerous.”