My brother's fabricated rumor was truly masterful.
Having been accepted as truth for a decade, no one thought to question its verity now.
Even so, seeing the Pleroma believe it wholesale confirmed they lacked the ability to recognize their own kind.
'This could be useful later.'
Should I test one more thing?
There was something I'd held off on verifying due to ambiguity, but meeting a high-ranking Pleroma now presented the perfect opportunity.
"A bit slow, are we? You actually believe someone who uses divine power is a Pleroma."
Strauch forced a smile as he watched my mocking grin. But simultaneously, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Manners... Right, I shouldn't expect proper etiquette from someone locked away in a back room."
"Am I wrong?"
"You seem to be under a serious misconception. There's no rule that a Pleroma cannot use divine power. We, too, have faith in Him."
'...Right.'
It was good I had relied solely on divine power without revealing my identity until now.
Divine power is the strength of clergy, and as such, pure faith is cited as a condition.
But even with the system's help, the fact that I, lacking great faith, could use divine power so freely was somewhat suspicious.
If I used divine power as proof of purity, the moment evidence emerged that a Pleroma could also use it, everything would crumble.
Then, Stroich stroked his chin and nodded as if reaching a decision.
"It is surprising you can wield divine power to such an extent. Since there's room for counterattack, making you a publicly known Pleroma takes priority. Of course, before that..."
*Whoosh—*
A wind so fierce it was hard to keep my eyes open slammed into my face.
I squinted, checking my surroundings.
"...!"
Seeing the city spread out below, I was at the capital's clock tower.
A crowd gathered in the square watched with startled faces, wondering what was happening.
"Shall I give you one chance?"
"...What..."
"You don't seem particularly shaken by the threat of force, Your Grace..."
Strauch, lost in thought, finally spoke.
—Such obstinacy and defiance break noble stations, and in infinite agony, even justice grows weary.
A monotone voice flowed rapidly into my ear.
Outwardly, nothing seemed to happen, but I knew instinctively. He hadn't spouted this ridiculous nonsense for no reason; he had cast a spell on me.
Whether it was the high-altitude wind hindering my breath or the sensation feeling all too real, my heart began to race.
"I wonder if you'd still be so indifferent if your identity as Nicolaus were revealed in the heart of the capital. Feeling more inclined to listen now? Wouldn't it be better to end this cleanly before you truly become a Pleroma?"
'...No.'
Of course, this isn't reality. No need to falter.
Since the magic isn't visible, it must be a mental-type spell. My excessive agitation is likely because of that.
But what's the proof it's not real?
The fierce wind feels like it's choking me.
I try to breathe, but the rhythm doesn't match the air constantly rushing in.
'Damn it, my head because of the magic...'
I don't have the presence of mind to weigh possible options, to think of the reasonable path he might choose.
'To dispel the magic on me, I need to deal with it now.'
That's not a bad idea either.
Even if I won't gain much useful information.
"Look. Over there are students from the Imperial Second Academy. Since this is near the school, some of these people have probably passed you on the street once or twice. Everyone here has come to hear your confession."
Strauch turned my face, pointing over the railing.
"If you won't talk, how about this? I'll reveal that Nicolaus Ernst is a Pleroma myself. I'll become Schwerin's righteous councilman, and you'll be the Pleroma who deceived the public... Naturally, your merits and achievements will crumble."
"..."
"This seems like an excellent way to bring down Adrian Ascanien's reputation in one go. How can he hunt other Pleroma if he can't control one of his own family? Right? He'll have no choice but to step down."
Let's think calmly.
When you think about it, there are parts that don't make sense if he summoned me to the real world.
First, he's threatening to push someone over the railing at the inaccessible top of the clock tower. This situation clearly indicates it's an illusion where showing blatantly wrong actions poses no problem.
Second, I'm not wearing a mask. What would make people identify me as Nicolaus? This point isn't even worth discussing.
Third...
I pushed mana through my fingertips.
A sensation like something popping occurred.
Even though I controlled it, thinking to use it sparingly, the blood that had just stopped flowed again.
"This, it's meaningless anyway."
Strauch giggled, perhaps aware I'd used magic.
I twisted the corner of my mouth, listening to his laughter.
Third, I can't use magic here either.
Earlier, I thought, 'It's clear a curse that drains stamina the more magic is used is placed on this space.' How could a spell cast on a space remain effective here?
Ultimately, this place is also a world Strauch created.
"...Good."
Having come this far, it would be a waste to let this opportunity slip after meeting a Pleroma of this caliber.
At that moment, a familiar window appeared before my eyes.
*Ding—!*
Chapter 4 Special Reward
Is life only once?
Congratulations! The 'Retry' trait has been added!
Retry Lv. 1
— Move to the last checkpoint within 〈Chapter 4〉
— 1 use costs 2.0 points (0/2)
— 2.0 points to next level
* Held Points: 2.0 points
* Luck 0.15 points until next point acquisition
'...Last checkpoint?'
I don't know where that checkpoint is, but it sounds like I can rewind time.
Since the advent of magic, research on time travel has continued unabated, but it has never fully succeeded.
Why would a magic no one has ever mastered be given to me? It's frightening now.
'No, this isn't the time to think about that.'
It's a bit suspicious that it appeared now when I intended to summon it in an emergency. Giving me this trait now, specifically...
'It means I should use it.'
I wanted to observe a bit more, to try and get information about the Pleroma from Strauch.
Even though I planned to fold and retreat if things got dangerous, the fact I was given this ability suggests there's information I need to obtain this time.
I looked down at the ground and spoke.
"What's the point?"
"Hm?"
"What good does cornering me in a fake world do?"
"...This doesn't seem like the time for that? I don't know what makes you think it's fake."
Strauch asked me, as if checking, still lacking confidence.
He was putting on a relaxed front, but his expression wasn't exactly comfortable.
"If it were real, there'd be no reason I couldn't use magic."
"..."
The smile completely vanished from Strauch's face.
'Of course.'
Earlier, he cast a mental-type spell on me.
The fact that it resolved as mind control means my level is above his. No matter how he restricts my mana, he can't change that.
Strauch answered in a cold voice.
"I understand your meaning. Since it's your own choice, you won't blame others later, will you?"
The space changed in an instant. The wind stopped, and I was in an unfamiliar place I'd never seen before.
It was clearly a religious place. As if his arrival wasn't announced, hundreds of people in the chapel looked at Strauch with bewildered faces.
A priest at the pulpit cautiously spoke.
"...We are in the midst of liturgy, Vicar."
"I know. Let's end today's mass here."
'So he's a Vicar.'
The fact they naturally call Strauch 'Vicar' and not 'Councilman' confirms I've crossed over into the world of the Pleroma scum.
"Vicar, you must tell us what business..."
"Let's proceed with the ordination."
"Pardon?"
"Since Lord Nicolaus has personally chosen this path, shouldn't we comply without delay?"
Strauch sneered, tightening his grip on my robe.
As soon as the name Nicolaus was mentioned, the believers' eyes changed.
"Vicar, what you mean..."
"This man is Lord Nicolaus."
*Crash—!*
As soon as he finished speaking, an attack flew toward the pulpit.
I grabbed my bleeding head, which had hit a decorative corner, and tried to get up.
No, I tried to get up, but someone pushed me with vitriol toward the chapel aisle.
'These bastards...'
"Calm yourselves."
Strauch laughed, crossing his arms and saying something utterly meaningless.
I tried to draw on mana again, but as expected, it didn't flow smoothly, likely due to the stamina issue.
'Then... I'll listen to what I can and then rewind.'
Right now, in their space, everything I hear and deduce is useful information.
Fortunately, the crowd surrounding me stopped their attacks and turned to look at Strauch.
I pushed off the floor and raised my body.
"Everyone. This situation holds much meaning for us, doesn't it?"
Strauch clapped his hands to focus attention and continued in a leisurely tone.
"I didn't know he could penetrate this far. Clearly, this brother's abilities weren't exaggerated. Right?"
"'Penetrated this far'... Since I'm not a Pleroma, it's not about rank. It seems there are places one cannot enter depending on qualifications.'
And that likely determines one's rank in the Pleroma world.
While I searched for Strauch's voice within the crowd, he spoke again.
"And yet, the fact this man cannot use magic means our world is constructed very robustly. Right? So there's no need to worry about this incident any further. As always, we can overcome it."
The Pleromas' reaction grew even more fervent.
'...Using me for propaganda in this situation is a bit surprising, though.'
It's all useful information.
I don't know the details, but it seems there's been a problem in their world recently, and it has become a serious source of anxiety among the Pleroma. Judging by how they're connecting dots from seemingly unrelated events, the toll must be greater than I thought.
'I should remember this.'
"And... I understand your anger. But shouldn't things proceed in order?"
Strauch's voice grew closer.
"The fact Lord Nicolaus could penetrate this far also means the vitriol we can use will increase exponentially."
Strauch pushed through the crowd and stood before me.
He held a knife in his hand.
"..."
"It's a place where even a Pleroma cannot set foot. You should consider it an honor to be reborn here."
Strauch cut my arm, drawing blood, and spoke.
—Only now can I say this.
The blood falling to the floor began to gain viscosity and stick to my skin.
Strauch unhesitatingly stabbed his own arm. Then he pulled his arm from my hand, letting his blood flow.
"Let me at least tell you this much: I created you."
Strauch received a bottle containing a black liquid from someone, poured it on my wound, and recited an incantation.
—Instant,
Ah, halt! You are truly beautiful!
'...This...'
It's an expression I'm sure I've read somewhere before.
But I had no more time to ponder peacefully.
*Crash—!*
"Kuh...!"
On the verge of losing consciousness, I mustered all my strength, imbued my fist with mana, and swung.
I attacked my own arm along with the spreading vitriol before it could spread further, which seemed like a decent attempt. Though my skin wasn't intact, my mind was clear.
Strauch was thrown far away, gasping for breath and spilling blood.
"What?!"
"Grab him!"
Several believers rushed at me. I blocked the incessant attacks, approached Strauch, and pressed down on his shoulder.
"Thanks for the good experience."
I'd like to infiltrate deeper and extract more useful information...
But if word spreads, the leadership converging here would be instantaneous. Whether I retreat now or hold out a bit longer, what I can obtain ends here.
"Kgh..."
Strauch grabbed my shoe with both hands, desperately trying to shake me off.
Feeling the vitriol pouring onto me, I summoned the Retry window and muttered quietly.
"Rewind."
* * *
*Whoosh—*
My eyes automatically scrunched shut from the fierce high-altitude wind.
The pain caused by mana vanished as if washed away.
I was back.
The surroundings were the same scenery I'd seen before.
Strauch was saying the same thing as earlier.
"...How can he hunt other Pleroma if he can't control one of his own family? Right? He'll have no choice but to step down."
"...Ha...haha..."
In all my life, I never thought I'd experience being cornered to the brink of becoming a Pleroma.
As I shook with laughter, another crimson drop fell to the floor.
"What is it?"
Strauch looked at me, seemingly flustered, but soon began laughing again.
"Well, well... I never knew Lord Nicolaus was such a hollow fool."
I let out a light laugh, wiped the blood, and tapped my wrist once.
*Beep—*
"Capital clock tower."
"Hm?"
I'm not sure if it was conveyed well over the wind noise.
Around the time he talks about my brother, Strauch likely believes the mental-type spell he cast on me is still effective.
Strauch gestured with a triumphant face.
"Still haven't grasped the situation? If you want to end this amicably, you'd better speak up quickly."
"...Right."
Feeling the intense sunlight hitting my left field of vision, I scanned the cityscape. As my voice trailed off, the sound of the wind tousling my hair became vividly clear.
If not for being captured by a Pleroma, seeing the capital's panorama from this height would have been a fantastic experience.
I admired the ground below and slowly opened my mouth. Then, with one hand, I grabbed Strauch's shoulder.
*Crash—!*
With a roar, Strauch's body flew far away.
*Thud—*
I felt something burst. I don't know what it was.
The sight of blood-mixed vitriol scattering in all directions flowed by in slow motion.
Strauch, having crashed into the opposite railing, lay sprawled, blood pouring from his abdomen.
I tilted my head, trying to reset my senses, and approached him.
"...Ghk..."
At some point, he had gotten up and stabbed my arm with a knife, speaking.
"Won't, work."
—Only now can I say this. Halt, truly...
Whether he intended to turn me into a Pleroma again, I now saw that Strauch's own wrist was already covered in blood from the knife he'd stabbed himself with. I gripped his wrist tightly and pressed down.
"Argh! Sp, spare..."
"Spare you?"
At my words, Strauch dazedly twitched his upper body. Blood poured from his mouth.
Seeing him stick to this method until the end, it's clear that turning someone into a Pleroma must allow free manipulation of the target. He must have thought this was the most reasonable method available now.
I stared down at his face.
"Why would I kill you?"
"...Then..."
"I have to return the favor for what you did to me before I go."
I smiled, looking into Strauch's eyes.
—-----------
T/N:
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