From his seat on the beach chair, the man's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Anointed?"
Adryan knew his relationship with that crazy god was, to say the least, strange, but to this extent?
Had he completely misunderstood their relationship?
Had he been shaking hands while the rapper wanted a hug? Didn't that mean he'd left a God in a "situationship"?
'What happened to "I use you, you use me"? I'm your anointed one?! Fuck off!'
If this was the True Creator's way of tying him down, the redhead could only stand up and applaud the bastard for it!
The smoke around him seemed to boil; the yellow within it condensed into a tide that spread several meters. Orange spots bubbled beneath its surface.
But before it could advance further, the man reigned in his emotions.
Observing the yellow tide that looked like it was made of lava, Adryan growled with disdain.
'It seems that, with my deeper connection to the sephira, this one is also affected in some way by my emotions. At least, when they're stronger, or there's an explosive change… Tch.' The Reaper shook his head; he waved his hand, and the tide vanished into yellow dust.
This new detail didn't bother the redhead; he simply noted it for later testing.
His mind immediately raced, weaving this new piece of information with what he already knew about the Fallen God's affinity with him.
Given how obsessed the Ancient Sun God was with Christian symbolism, it was impossible that the True Creator would use that title just because, especially since His status is constantly improving.
'Anointed refers to a person set apart, consecrated, or chosen by God for a specific mission, often symbolized by anointing their head with aromatic oil.
'Being called by that title requires the 'oil,' but at exactly what moment was I anointed?
'Was it when I found that one-eyed giant statue in the Creed's lair? Or was it when I went to buy the ingredients for the Provoker potion?
'I can't rule out that it was when he healed my wounds and Flora's after the battle with that horrible fetus. Could it be that the reason he left the Hanged Man's Card of Blasphemy wasn't just to pay me back, but to say that my baptism was already complete?
Adryan's chest tightened with anxiety and terror; a snake writhed in his stomach, almost making him wish he could vomit it out.
The very idea of being marked by the Rapper was uncomfortable enough; that it was, in fact, a form of 'baptism' was repulsive to him.
Didn't that mean, in a way, that he was His Blessed One?
'Isn't this a bit too much favoritism? What about Medici, you bastard? Don't you have a heart? What do you think that three-flavored soup will think when he finds out that his Oh So Beloved Lord is pampering his mortal enemy?!
By his standards, at least, that was heartless.
"Mm…" The redhead crossed his arms for a moment, his brow furrowing even further.
This Anointed business was too strange. What was the reason for such a 'kind' attitude from that guy?
Thinking about that, another possibility arose in the Reaper's mind.
'Could it be because, in his eyes, I'm also from the Modern Age?
'Adam had said that if it weren't for Amon, he would have supported Klein for the seat of Lord of Mysteries. Since the True Creator is the other side of the coin, one could say they share this opinion.
'Since this time it's not about his son, and I have no conflict of interest with him—even going so far as to help him—does he have no problem supporting me?
Tap tap tap
His finger began tapping his bicep at a somewhat rapid pace, matching the beat of his heart.
'The True Creator isn't Adam. Being pure humanity, he can't so easily ignore the hatred toward the three traitors who devoured him. Likewise, his other emotions might influence him in certain ways.'
With this in mind, Adryan doubted the Rapper was willing to cast aside Medici, someone who had served Him faithfully and fervently for millennia.
An unknown modern person was not the same as a loyal stag, after all. The emotional balance dictated as much.
But…
What if someone had laid a foundation, a basis, such that by the time a mordern person arrived, the True Creator's heart would soften?
The most precious and beloved angel of the Lord Who Created All. To whom the Ancient Sun God had bequeathed a kingdom.
The Angel of Silver.
Having been the one who accompanied the Creator the longest, as well as His 'Right Hand,' it is possible that He left a deep impression on the fallen incarnation, influencing in some way the latter's attitude toward future 'modern people' who would encounter Him.
'…'
Adryan looked up at the sunless yellow sky of the city, deep contemplation in his eyes.
"Senior Silver. But what kind of relationship did you have with this Father? Are you really the mother of those little devils he calls his children?"
The more he learned about the Angel of Silver, the more Adryan felt He was the strangest transmigrator of them all.
'Well… "Transmigrator" might not be the most accurate way to describe him. I can't rule out that He might also be a Survivor of the disaster—No, now is not the time for this…' Sighing, the redhead kept all these theories to himself until he had more information to confirm them.
When it came to matters involving Gods, Adryan would never allow himself to jump to conclusions so early on.
It was all a game of chess. He always had to see ten moves ahead.
If he failed to see or misread even a single move, the only thing awaiting him was checkmate.
This newly discovered information didn't change anything about how he would treat the Rapper. It just let him see His pieces more clearly—nothing more.
Returning to control the soldier after more than a minute of silence, he focused on the matter at hand.
Lowering his head slightly, the soldier sighed a little and said calmly, "Mhm. You're right."
"Ohoho," Miss L smiled until she had to close her eyes, nodding energetically, "That's good! Very good!
"The Lord's blessings must be received with humility and servitude!
"Serve the Lord faithfully. Surrender yourself to the Creator of All who bears the sin of everyone.
"In the face of His great mercy, we can only be enveloped by His love and praise Him! Praise be to the Creator!"
'Oh, I'll praise Him well. Don't worry about that. I think there are bits of today's breakfast stuck between my teeth; his cross looks like a good toothpick.' Hiding his serpentine tongue, Adryan had the soldier bring out the 1,200 sassem he had prepared in advance and placed it on the table.
Sliding the wad of money with three fingers, he looked deeply at the woman.
"What do I have to pay for the finger?"
Their original deal was only for the blood. And he highly doubted that Miss L would offer a 2-for-1 deal.
"Ohoho." Miss L's eyes curved slightly before closing.
The shadows in her eyes spilled out in the shape of tears, spreading into a smudge that once again covered half her face.
From her tunic, Miss L retrieved a photograph and placed it on the table.
Having done so, she took the wad of money and tucked it into the sleeve of her tunic. The darkness of the sleeve swallowed it up with relish.
'You're pretty confident that's all of it, aren't you?' Rolling his eyes slightly, Adryan didn't rush the soldier to take the photo; he analyzed it from where he stood.
It was a photograph that seemed to have been taken secretly, judging by the angle. Whoever took it didn't want to be seen.
The subject of the photo was a woman. Her skin was delicate, her brown hair fell like a waterfall, and her eyes looked gentle.
Seeing her gave Adryan a strange sense of familiarity.
His mind quickly compared the woman's face to one from his past, superimposing them. The familiarity turned to recognition.
Her face was too similar to Robert's! They almost looked like twins!
'It's his older sister,' the redhead cursed in the smoke-filled city.
It was Madam Sharon!
As he recognized the relative of his traitorous, murderous friend, he noticed that there was someone else behind her.
Her face was covered by a veil; her long, silky black hair fell freely down her sides. She wore a somewhat provocative black dress, revealing a hint of cleavage accented by a seductive mole. Together with her hat, she gave the illusion of a delicate rose that concealed a powerful poison among its petals.
Miss L tapped Madam Sharon with her four-fingered hand, specifically with the protruding finger bone.
"You have been commanded to put an end to her. The method is up to you, as is the time it takes, but it must be done before the year ends." She emphasized, calmly.
At that moment, the redhead severed the soldier's deep connection to him. Keeping the screen active but preventing his emotions and words from being shared.
His shoulders began to shake; his fists clenched until his nails cut into his palms.
The composure he had barely regained shattered; this time, not even a trace remained.
"Hahaha!" Adryan burst into laughter, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.
He knew the consequences of his intervention in the events at Tingen would come sooner or later. Fate always exacts a price for what it gives, and he was behind on his payment.
But he hadn't expected them to do it in such a spectacular way!
"Oh, this is incredible! Hahaha!" Wiping his eyes with his red palm, Adryan couldn't stop laughing.
Veins bulged on his neck, pulsing with fiery fury.
The tide of magma manifested around him once more, accompanied by a roar that filled the area.
"Do you have any idea what you're asking me to do?!"
Adryan didn't even have to use his ability to piece the information together. He knew exactly what this request meant.
At this point, Madam Sharon should still be Trissy Cheek's teacher/jailer.
Trissy herself, who is a candidate to become a Vessel of Descent for the Primordial Demoness!
"The exact time it takes to create one was never revealed, but given the difference in levels of existence between a mortal and a True God, it's impossible for Trissy to be one now. It's likely that the process only truly begins in Sequence 4 when she acquires divinity and ascends from there.
"But that doesn't matter if that damn Cheek Ring exists! By sacrificing the wearer's life, that castrated bitch can use it to descend for a limited time!"
For a True God, having time was all they needed to wreak havoc! Especially Cheek!!
"You fucking asshole, you know this and yet you plan to risk the carrier of the City of Calamities running into her?!"
"Not only that! These bitches are in the 0-08 script in the hands of that useless writer! You want to drag me into the script, you piece of shit?! Do you have any idea what I had to go through to make sure I didn't get involved with those bastards in any way?!"
Everything he had done to make his time in this city as peaceful as possible… All his sacrifices would go to shit.
It wasn't as if he had the choice to refuse either. It wasn't even that the option to refuse was available; it never was and never would be.
If he tried to say the word "No," the True Creator would surely use the connection he had with him to blast the rap concert of the century into his brain.
Whether he liked it or not, he had to take this request and hit the dance floor.
"Urghhhhh," he ran a hand forcefully across his face while, with the other, he made the tide of magma disappear. Adryan breathed.
Although he wanted to summon several mannequins to take his frustration out on, it wasn't the time to do so.
Slowly, he entered a state of semicogitation, calming his burning emotions. After that, with a cooler head, he knew what he had to do.
No matter how horrible the situation was, he could still turn this to his advantage.
'Besides, this might serve as a good resume when I go to sea for the Iron and Blood Cross Order…'
Sighing silently, Adryan regained control of the soldier and looked down at the photo.
"What information do you have on her?" He spoke blankly.
Miss L didn't change her expression, but the shadows on her face seemed to twist, revealing satisfaction.
Without haste, she pressed what remained of her finger against the photograph once more. Specifically, on the older woman.
"She now goes by the name of Jane Roleffes. She lives in an apartment in the southern part of the Elysian District. She plays the role of a single mother struggling to pay for her daughter's college tuition."
The bone moved toward the veiled woman behind 'Jane,' "This is her daughter, Anna Roleffes."
Tap tap tap…
The bone tapped the veiled figure a few more times before moving away, returning to rest on her lap with her other hand.
"Jane Roleffes is a Demoness of Pleasure from the Demoness Sect with certain important responsibilities. Her role as a mother is just a charade she uses to move more easily around the city. On the back of the photo are more details about her movements.
"When you decide to take her out, notify us by scratching with the nail in any room where there are only shadows.
"While you handle Jane, we'll take care of Anna. Don't get involved with her in any way."
"…" Adryan took his time digesting the information; the soldier's frown reflected his confusion.
In what the woman in front of him had said, many things stood out that bothered him.
Why were they talking about this?
They had just discussed two important characters in the history of 0-08 in great detail without any security measures or concealment.
There was no way the conversation hadn't been detected by the quill.
As crazy as the Aurora Order was, they weren't stupid. They wouldn't risk ruining their plan.
So, Adryan asked through the soldier in a heavy voice.
"Who am I talking to right now?"
Fush…
A small breeze seemed to pass through the windowless room.
The flames of the lamps flickered for a moment, and the shadows grew inexplicably deep.
At the center of it all, Miss L sat, unperturbed. Half her face remained shrouded in shadow, but now she wore a faint smile.
Of the many smiles she had shown, that simple one was the most terrifying.
In the shadows of the hood, bright red eyes without pupils opened.
"It's still too early for our conversation, Calamities"
Bluergh!
Miss L suddenly doubled over, bringing a hand to her mouth. A ridiculous amount of blood spilled from between her fingers. Amid the red cascade, pieces of her organs scattered across the floor.
Huff! Huff!
Breathless and visibly pale, the woman looked up, trembling. The shadows on her face had lifted, revealing her ruined makeup and bloody, teary eyes.
"Ha… ha…"
Despite her body's dire condition, Miss L didn't seem the least bit worried. She gave him a huge, trembling, bloody smile. She was ecstatic.
Cough! Cough!
This time, aside from the blood, it was her tongue that came out with the cough.
Watching this impassively, the soldier simply grabbed the photo and the severed finger and placed them in some containers.
Leaving the embroidered handkerchief behind, he gave a slight bow, "Have a good afternoon and weekend, Miss."
Miss L nodded at his words, unable to respond. Instead, with her four-fingered hand, she made a motion from bottom to top, right to left, across her chest.
Having done that, she prostrated herself on the ground, in the red pool staining her robes. Gathering her tongue and pieces of organs with her hands, the Shepherd stuffed them into her mouth and chewed with relish.
Ignoring that bizarre sight, the soldier turned around and walked away.
Twenty minutes later, in an alley on the outskirts of the Nexus district, the soldier stood in front of a hooded young man wearing round glasses.
"Did you manage to get everything the boss wanted?" Charlotte asked, watching him with mild curiosity and amazement.
Summoning a person—or at least something similar—through just a tattoo had been an interesting experience.
The soldier nodded and pulled down his hood, revealing a bald head and honey-colored eyes. The bald man handed the two containers to the young man.
With his purpose fulfilled, the bald man's body dissolved into golden dust that drifted onto Charlotte's forearm, and he left the alleyway shortly after.
A short while later. In the City of Calamities.
Adryan was lying on the ground, his gaze lost in the sky.
This was already turning out to be an interesting day…