322 – Elysia’s Prayer -4-

—*Clink.*

The sound of rough iron chains echoed as the pocket watch fell, causing Elysia’s pupils to quiver.

“Why…?”

An old pocket watch.

The very watch gifted to commemorate a child’s birthday, now held by that man who possessed her leash.

I smiled, showing Elysia the watch dangling from my finger.

“Is it our turn, then?”

Elysia’s eyes trembled coldly, as if the very air within the cathedral had settled into a chill.

Her thoughts must be tangled.

How could she fathom that I held her leash?

Or perhaps she wondered if I was a conspirator in league with the Apostle of Restraint. Such thoughts would surely swirl in her mind, refusing to narrow down.

Her trembling gaze was proof enough of that.

I offered her a reassuring smile, as if to say not to worry. I had come here for a sort of transaction, after all.

“Relax.”

“…”

“Take a deep breath.”

“Why do you have that watch…?”

Cold beads of sweat gathered on Elysia’s brow. And I uttered the very answer I most wished to hear from her. Surely, she too hoped for clarity.

“How do you come to possess it?”

-Startled…!

“Well… indeed.”

“Speak.”

“Would you believe me if I said it was mere luck? That I stumbled upon the watch lying in the street and picked it up?”

“You were a conspirator of Restraint, then.”

“Not quite.”

I shook my head with a small smile.

“I am no conspirator. I’m not particularly close to them… To be honest, I don’t even know who the Apostle of Restraint is.”

“Then…!”

“Complicated, isn’t it?”

How could I know the use of such an object, if I were not a conspirator of Restraint?

It must be perplexing.

She would find no reason to grasp it.

A secret known only to a select few within the order, and here I was, an outsider, blathering about it.

Yet I had no intention of explaining this fact. I had neither the means nor the reason to do so.

A mere twist of fate.

If I claimed to have learned it from a book, who in the world would believe me? Not even the lady would.

—

I shook my head, having thought of a more comfortable way, and spoke to Elysia.

“Do not overthink it. I have merely come to return a lost item.”

Elysia’s demeanor shifted, turning feral.

“It would be wise not to weave such trivial lies.”

“Am I lying now?”

“…”

“Can you not see it with your own eyes?”

‘Blue.’

Elysia squeezed her eyes shut, perceiving the color of emotion. It was blue, the hue of truth.

She could not discern to which rhythm she should dance.

Should she trust his words?

Or should she unmask his deceit? She was utterly lost.

There were too many gaps to take the man bearing the treasure she desired at his word.

I regarded the wary Elysia with a subtle smile. For now, it seemed the initiative lay with me. I felt that this conversation might end favorably.

“I am not lying.”

I spoke the truth to her.

I have no intention of causing you harm.

I had to remain cautious.

She was an Apostle.

Her ability to manifest emotions, perhaps hindered by the protection of the status window, could not be wielded against me, yet she was a significant pillar among the heretics, a monster in her own right.

With a single misstep, my head could roll, and I could easily become a puppet, deceived by cunning lies.

But one thing was certain: Elysia feared me, and that alone granted me a greater advantage in this exchange. Even without a watch, I could feel the time slipping.

With trembling eyes, Elysia gazed at me, her lips twitching as she spoke.

“What is it that you desire from me?”

I replied to her.

“Nothing at all.”

“…Lies.”

“I truly desire nothing.”

‘Blue…’

-CRACK.

—

“To reclaim what was stolen from you, and let vengeance be your guide.”

“…”

“Or perhaps to repent and return to the clergy. I seek nothing, desire nothing.”

I shook the chain that hung from my fingers.

“Do you wish for it?”

-…gulp.

“If you desire it, I can offer it. The Lord knows better than anyone that it is not a mere trinket.”

“…”

Then.

“Let us converse for now.”

“…”

“I have prepared quite a significant gift. Would it not be a pity to remain nameless to one another?”

“…”

I cast a small smile toward the silent Elisia.

“My name is Ricardo.”

“Ricardo… a name I have not heard before.”

“Naturally. I am not one of great renown.”

“…”

“I am a servant of the Deathmunt family, attending to the sole daughter, Lady Olivia of Deathmunt.”

“Deathmunt…”

“Do you harbor ill memories of Deathmunt?”

Elisia shook her head in denial.

“I remember them as a family that consistently sends aid. Their reputation is notorious, but I have had no personal dealings with them.”

“That is fortunate.”

“…”

“If you held negative thoughts about Deathmunt, it would be regrettable indeed.”

-ssshhh…

In an instant, the atmosphere turned cold, and Elisia shivered. As if to say, had she been one to bear animosity toward Deathmunt, our conversation would have taken a different turn.

“…”

For the first time, I felt the stirrings of fear.

I waved my hand at the rigid Elisia.

“Loosen up.”

“…”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’m merely here to return what was lost.”

“…I understand. But.”

Elisia opened her eyes wide and spoke to me.

“If you think to use that object against me, you’d best abandon the idea.”

“…”

“It would be far better to fall into the hands of restraint than to face the consequences.”

“Mm.”

“…”

“You seem rather sharp-edged.”

I shrugged my shoulders slightly and took another step toward her.

—Swoosh!

In an instant, a black spear shot toward me from behind. It approached with lethal intent, as if Elisia were ready to kill. I met her dark magic with a mysterious smile.

“This clock.”

“…”

“Don’t you want it back?”

“…”

“I wouldn’t make such a foolish move, if I were you.”

—A pause.

“I am a capricious person.”

“…”

“I came here with good intentions, yet I wish to avoid seeing blood.”

“…”

“If you think you can kill me, go ahead. But know this: you will surely die here.”

Elisia spoke to me, her cold magic swirling around her. It was as if she judged my sincerity as a mere scheme.

“Do you think…”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I would fall for such a ridiculous lie?”

“Haah…”

“Before I became an Apostle, countless souls reached out to me. They offered their help. They claimed to ask for nothing in return… They extended their hands to me.”

“…”

“Do you know what those very same people said when crisis struck?”

“…”

“You foolish girl. It’s your fault for being weak.”

Elysia’s magic thickened, suffocating in its intensity.

“No matter how much you extend a hand of goodwill, I cannot trust you.”

“…”

“When what they sought to take from me vanished, they abandoned me just as they did… my husband…”

I sighed deeply, facing the tense Elysia, her aura sharp and unyielding.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to believe? Even if it’s a lie, believing it would serve you well, Apostle.”

-Crack.

“Are we not gathered here?”

“…”

“Even for restraint.”

“…”

“And for a mission that bears no progress.”

Feeling the retreating, distorted magic of Elysia, I smiled.

“Very well.”

“…”

“Alright.”

I spoke to Elysia, sensing the atmosphere was not conducive to idle chatter, and decided to get to the point.

“Let us make a pact.”

“A pact? Are you suggesting we form a contract now…?”

Elysia’s words, sharp as arrows, flew toward me. For her, who had been stripped of freedom by a contract, such a suggestion was unwelcome.

“You propose to free me from the leash of restraint… only to place a new collar around my neck?”

I shrugged, responding to Elysia’s biting retort.

“No, surely not. After all, I’ve suffered under restraint myself.”

“What do you know to speak so boldly…?”

I smiled faintly, quoting her words from long ago.

Calmly.

And.

Maliciously.

“Did you not say that to me?”

“…”

“How many times have you died?”

– Sssss…

In that moment, the emotion that loomed large in Elysia’s eyes erupted violently, conjuring the form of a colossal demon.

As if to say, the god you believe in is none other than I, fierce and terrifying.

“If you cannot believe, then you need not.”

“…”

“If you wish to disbelieve, you may pray to your god as you did before.”

“…”

“But.”

I shook the shimmering clock once more, casting a cold gaze upon Elysia.

“Am I not better than your silent god?”

It was a cruel smile.

A sweeter smile than that of a devil extending its hand.

“You said your son was dead.”

“…”

“You spoke of a husband who, every night, drunkenly shattered the peace of your home.”

“I told you nothing. I have shared my story… my family’s story… with no one…!”

In response to Elysia’s trembling voice, I shook my head lightly.

“How would I know?”

“…”

– Siiik.

With a rising smile, Elysia’s hands trembled sweetly.

“You will die.”

“…”

“Abandoned by the Pope and forsaken by the Apostle, one meets a wretched end.”

“…”

“Without fulfilling the mission, one will close their life while gazing at the fleeting shadows on the cold pavement.”

Elysia’s eyes trembled violently. The gaze that perceives emotions reveals the truth, coloring it in shades of despair.

“You, who abandoned the child, betrayed the order too late.”

“…Enough.”

“Because of this clock, you have been rendered powerless.”

“…”

“I have pleaded and prayed to a silent god…”

“…”

“Do you not understand? The divine is always one who does not respond.”

I smiled at the trembling Elysia, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

“I mean, in another time. In a tale unknown to anyone… a story that no one can grasp.”

“The color blue…”

“It seems we communicate well.”

I waved my hand toward Elysia, whose eyes were quivering as they met mine. The old pocket watch soared through the air, landing precisely in her embrace.

“Take it.”

Elysia’s eyes were still shaking.

“I have no need for it anyway.”

“…”

“Trust, by its nature, requires something to be given in return. I have just proven my trust to you.”

“…”

“Now it is your turn to show.”

Elysia remained silent, staring vacantly at the watch clutched in her hands.

She had prayed so fervently to the god.

The divine had remained taciturn.

She bore no resentment for the absence of answers.

Yet, she found herself speechless at the realization that it was merely one man who had brought this to an end.

Trust.

If she willed it, she could flee from this very spot. But here she stood, unable to utter a word, trapped by the weight of the trust he had cast upon her.

It looked different.

The color of that man’s emotions, grotesque yet radiant, shone like a scar forged from countless trials overcome.

“What I desire is but one thing.”

“…Ah…”

“Do not oppose me.”

“Ahh…”

He appeared sacred.

A savior of life, the saint who sought no recompense, evoking a deep sense of reverence within me.

“Ah…”

As if a demon had veiled his own eyes.

“O God.”

He shone brilliantly.

“…?”

Elysia knelt upon both her knees.

Without hesitation, she lowered herself to the ground, her white linen soiled, gazing up at me.

“Apostle Elysia.”

Elysia placed her hand upon her heart and spoke.

“I shall follow you.”

“…”

“I will become your apostle.”

“…”

“I shall betray the silent God.”

“Wait a moment…”

“I will firmly establish myself as your apostle alone.”

“I am.”

“I am your apostle.”