The Time of Choice③
Dustin (Pope of the Divine Word Church) perspective
The capital of the Divine Word Church, this Aleyus Kingdom, was always enveloped in a state of constant urgency.
All high-level telepathic users capable of long-distance communication were mobilized. Messages were sent to every long-distance communicator stationed across the realm.
The Divine Word Church had thus established a global information network, ensuring that any developments would reach my ears in due course. This time, however, the opposite was true.
The objective was to disseminate information from our end.
"Use whatever deceit you must! Don't concern yourself with appearances! Persuade the populace to pray to the Black Dragon, at any cost! Incite them if necessary—do whatever is required!"
The long-distance communicator shouted, spittle flying.
All of this had come about because of that so-called World Quest.
Perhaps, one might say, we owe this outcome to it.
When the Taboo was distributed to all humanity during Sequence 1, he clasped his head.
Seeing the Taboo revealed the teachings of the Divine Word Church—understanding their meaning became unavoidable.
Once understood, public allegiance would sever from the Divine Word Church.
Originally, the Church’s decline had been pre-programmed.
Regardless of outcome, considering the Church’s founding purpose and past actions, it was always destined to fade.
Yet, this was premature.
Too early to lose the Divine Word Church—the limbs of my own design.
The Church must endure until the conclusion of the Black Dragon’s conflict.
The World Quest Sequence 1 shattered that plan without warning.
Yet, during the subsequent World Quest Sequence 2, a glimmer of hope emerged.
The Church’s decline could no longer be halted.
But the people still remained in turmoil.
The Church of the Divine Word has long held the record of providing spiritual solace to its followers.
Even as time erodes loyalty, the people still listen—now is the moment to act.
A race against time.
Before the hearts of the people turn away, reach as many as possible with prayers to the Black Dragon.
When time passes, order returns, and the people grow calm, the Church of the Divine Word will be blamed—yet it was always prepared for annihilation.
Nothing more than a slight miscalculation in timing.
This is not the ideal moment to relinquish the Church’s great card.
Yet it must be better than nothing.
“Your Holiness!”
A man, face taut with tension, rushes in from a distant conversation.
His expression reveals no good news.
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes. The church has been destroyed by unknown assailants.”
……already, regions have begun acting thus.
Expected.
When people are betrayed by what they trusted, they harbor intense hatred.
The strength of affection inverts directly into hatred.
Thus, if they learn their sanctuary—what they relied upon—has been betrayed, what then?
Easy to predict.
No. That does not appear to be the people turning into a mob.
What?
Answer contradicts expectation.
Then what?
A massive disc-shaped object flew through the sky. The church was destroyed during its passage.
……he did it.
A disc-shaped object flying through the sky.
Only one person could possess such a thing.
No. Only one person had possessed it.
Potimas Haifenas.
Some weapon he created.
Now that the man is dead, the only one who could have seized that weapon is Lady Ariel, who defeated Potimas.
It follows naturally that Lady Ariel is the one who destroyed the church.
"Pope!"
Another distant caller speaks up.
"Are you reporting the same incident—church destroyed by a flying disc?"
"Y-yes."
"Location?"
The location of the destroyed church is confirmed, cross-referenced on a map.
Meanwhile, multiple similar reports arrive simultaneously.
High travel speed.
As expected of a device created by Potimas.
Disgusting, yet his competence must be acknowledged.
"...heading straight toward the Elrow Great Labyrinth."
The trajectory of the flying disc, determined, pointed directly toward the Elrow Great Labyrinth.
It appears to destroy churches in towns along the route.
We assumed the geographical proximity was on our side.
Lady Ariel’s party will now arrive at the Elrow Great Labyrinth ahead of us.
The delay, relying on Shiro-sama holding back the Black Dragon-sama—was that a failure?
I should have acted before confirming Potimas’s demise.
...No.
At that time, I did not yet understand Ariel-sama’s plans.
Though I had anticipated it, the arrangement to jointly defeat Potimas made betrayal impossible.
Regret serves no purpose.
Ariel-sama’s party has already arrived at the Elrow Great Labyrinth ahead of us and secured their position there.
We must focus on our own response now.
“What of the city where the church was destroyed?”
“Whispers of divine punishment are spreading.”
So it has come to this.
If the church was destroyed at this time by something beyond human understanding—such as a flying disk—then it is not unreasonable for people to interpret it thus.
A deliberate provocation by Lady Ariel, accelerating disbelief in the Divine Word Faith.
“What shall we do? If we continue like this…”
“…Have the local clergy publicly declare their devotion to Shiro.”
“Huh?”
The distant messengers stare, stunned.
But there is no alternative.
The stage of choosing means has long passed. Whether called ruthless or not is irrelevant.
In a region where faith in the Divine Word Faith is already fracturing, what happens when a clergyman declares devotion to Shiro?
Some will turn in protest to prayers for the Black Dragon.
“Speak in ways that incite the populace. Then mention Shiro’s name.”
What becomes of the clergyman who delivers such a speech…
But it must be done.
The distant messengers began their transmission, as if sensing my resolve.
…Forgive me.
All blame lies with me.
Therefore, I am bound by duty to fulfill my obligation.
If Lady Ariel reaches the Elrow Great Labyrinth first, so be it.
If I cannot precede her, then I will act to offer as many prayers as possible to the Black Dragon.
What, even now I was once a man who won a presidential election and became president.
I know how to gather votes.