At first light, Lilith had Phoenix take her back.
After confirming that everyone was still fast asleep, Lilith lifted the Transfiguration on herself, restored the pillow she had turned into her double, then yawned and padded back into the bedroom as if she had only just returned from the privy.
Isabella, who had been hugging Lilith in her sleep, startled awake when her arms suddenly felt empty. She blinked her drowsy eyes, saw Lilith climbing back onto the bed, and promptly closed them again, drifting off once more.
Lilith, however, lay there with her round eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
What is it that Isabella and the others truly want?
———
Blue Mountain Island was the largest island in the Rorsted Archipelago—vast in area and rich in forests and mineral resources.
Taken on its own, the island's name might strike some as unfamiliar, but mention the City of Generosity, Bayam, and everyone knew it—Bayam sat right on Blue Mountain Island.
Its reputation as the "City of Generosity," however, had been built upon Loen's bloody exploitation of the locals. From the city's earliest days, each large-scale project had been accompanied by the deaths of many natives—treacherous working conditions, gruelling hours, treatment akin to slavery, and meagre wages left countless bodies buried beneath roadbeds and railroad sleepers.
Hundreds of years had passed, and Loen's oppression of the Rorsted natives had only grown worse. That was the fundamental reason the Resistance could never be fully crushed.
——
Deep within Blue Mountain Island's jungle, in a concealed cave.
The bald Resistance member Kalat sat in his wheelchair, staring at the repaired idol of Kalvetua, muttering to himself from time to time and occasionally calling in soldiers from outside to ask whether the deity's messenger had arrived.
A little after nine, a man in a dark trench coat and gentleman's hat appeared, an ornate sceptre in hand. He held a coconut and sipped its juice through a straw, strolling through the jungle with the ease of a man out for a walk.
News of his arrival was relayed to the cave at once. Kalat hastily had his subordinates push his wheelchair out to greet him.
When Edward saw him being jolted at high speed over ruts and hollows—nearly thrown from the chair—he was momentarily stunned. To an outsider, it might have looked like a wheelchair race.
"Lord Messenger!"
Kalat pitched forward to perform a five-point prostration before Edward, but halfway through the motion his body was set back into the chair—Edward had lifted and steadied him with an invisible hand.
"These meaningless formalities—cut them where you can in future."
Edward had originally considered, as Klein had in the original story, drafting new canons for the Sea God's Church, but he truly lacked the expertise for that sort of thing. Better to leave it to Klein later.
"Understood."
They proceeded into the cave together. Along the way, Kalat kept sneaking glances at this suddenly-appearing messenger. His skin was darker, like a native of the Rorsted Archipelago, yet his manner and gaze were no different from those Loen gentlemen.
So…was he of mixed blood?
Why would the Sea God choose a mixed-blood as "His" messenger?
Edward noticed the doubt but did not explain. The moment he stepped into the cave and saw the sea-serpent idol, he said in a tone of command, "From this moment on, all bases of the Resistance and the Sea God's Church are to abolish idols."
Kalat froze. "Why?"
"The Sea God has been reborn. He now stands on equal footing with the Seven Gods. Have you seen any church of the Seven that maintains a divine statue?"
A hot flush rose in everyone's chest; they were unable to contain their excitement. So the great deity had truly become that powerful?
"But then…how are we to pray to the Sea God in the future?"
Edward drove the sceptre into the ground. "Use this sceptre as the model and design a sigil. Henceforth, as with the churches of the Seven, you will pray through the Sea God's insignia."
"I understand, Lord Messenger."
Thus, a matter touching hundreds of thousands of believers—the question of divine images—was settled in just a few words.
This world really did run like a ramshackle troupe.
"Alright, on to business—about the Naturism Sect."
Kalat's expression grew solemn. "Lord Messenger, have you heard of the Naturism Sect before?"
"I have a general idea."
Kalat explained, "In recent years, that sect has been very active in Oravi. Their creed is to forgo clothing, return to nature, and indulge one's instincts, believing that in such a state humanity attains spiritual liberation. They worship an evil god known as the Mother Tree.
"Their leader is a Beyonder, but not a particularly powerful one."
Edward cut in, "Why were you cooperating with them?"
"Because…there is a greater power behind the Naturism Sect—apparently a church from the Southern Continent. For years, the Resistance and the Sea God's Church have tried to establish contact with other forces and churches to oppose those Loen bastards." At this point, he snuck a glance at Edward. "One of them was the Numinous Episcopate."
Edward's expression did not change. "And the other was the Naturism Sect—more precisely, the force behind them?"
"Yes."
Kalat nodded. "Even calling it 'cooperation' is generous. We merely provided them some cover, didn't obstruct their proselytising, and occasionally offered conveniences—nothing more."
"Although the Loen people seized our land and wealth, they ultimately couldn't separate themselves from us entirely. The Sea God's followers are scattered through every corner of the Rorsted Archipelago. Some of the sharper ones have even blended into noble households as butlers."
"What do they want you to do this time?"
"...Help them place a woman inside the Governor's Mansion."
Edward paused, surprised. "The Governor's Mansion—can you even get a hand in there?"
Kalat gave a bitter smile. "In truth...the Governor's Mansion periodically recruits maids and servants. We quietly propped up a slaver who can slip certain people in."
"So the Naturism Sect plans to use you to smuggle a woman into the Governor's Mansion as a maid? What do they intend to do?"
"They only said it was a divine decree."
"And the compensation? You can't be doing this for free."
"Of course not," Kalat replied at once. "But since we haven't agreed yet, we haven't discussed that."
"If you do agree, when and where are you meeting?"
"They arrived two days ago in the nearby city of Mostar. They're waiting there for our reply."
Edward took up the sceptre and turned for the exit. "Take me to them."
From the Resistance base to Mostar would have taken at least a whole morning on foot. Fortunately, Edward had passed through the city on his way here—one teleportation was enough to arrive in an instant.
Only the bald Kalat and the man pushing his wheelchair went with him from the Resistance's side, though there were certainly Resistance members already in Mostar.
"How did your legs end up like this?" Edward asked casually as they walked the streets of the small city.
"I was hit in the spine in a previous battle with the Loen military. It caused paralysis."
"Why did you join the Resistance?"
"To take revenge on the Loen."
Edward shook his head. "No—I'm asking why you joined in the first place."
Kalat blinked, then answered in a daze, as if remembering, "...I think it was to have enough to eat."
"What about the others?"
"The younger ones—mostly to fill their stomachs. The older ones…many have grudges against the Loen, or they've simply had enough of the oppression and abuse."
"If one day the Loen are driven out—or even if they remain, but you succeed in founding a nation that can stand against Loen—how do you plan to govern?"
Kalat murmured, "By then, I'll probably be long dead."
"..."
The corner of Edward's eye twitched. "I'm asking a serious question. Don't get melodramatic."
"Er…I never thought about it."
"Then hurry up and absorb the knowledge the Sea God has passed on to you. Everything you haven't thought about is in there."
"I understand!"
As they spoke, they arrived at a two-storey house. Kalat's subordinate went ahead to knock. After a moment, the door slid open to reveal a man in his thirties with a narrow, gaunt face, a brown full beard, and sinister bluish tattoos snaking up his neck.
The moment he saw Kalat, the man gave a shadowy smile. "Welcome, Lord Kalat."
His gaze shifted to Edward. "And this is…?"
"He is our Resistance's new commander." Kalat paused, then snorted, displeased, "Flight Ken, are you planning to keep us standing on the doorstep?"
The other man hurriedly stepped back to let them in. "Ah, my apologies. Please, come inside."
It was a typical Loen-style townhouse, yet the Rorsted-flavoured decorations hanging everywhere suggested the resident either had a fondness for native aesthetics—or was a native himself.
Flight Ken handed each of the three a bottle of beer, reclined on the sofa, and smiled. "Lord Kalat, have you given it thought? Can you do this for us? I won't hide it from you—this order comes from my mentor, Saint Zatwin of the Rose School of Thought."
"If you see it through, you'll gain the friendship of a demigod."
Edward asked, "Aside from that, what benefit does the Resistance get?"
"Heh. Would the death of Bayam's governor, Admiral Amyrius, count as a sizeable benefit for your Resistance?"
Kalat stared, aghast. "You want someone planted in the Governor's Mansion to assassinate Amyrius? He's a demi-god as well. You can't expect us to smuggle a demigod into the Governor's Mansion, can you?"
"No, no, no. There are many ways to kill. Under the protection of the great Mother Tree, Amyrius is doomed this time—provided you first get our person into the Mansion."
Edward raised an eyebrow slightly. Could the person the Naturism Sect had arranged be that very mistress from the original account—inserted as a maid, winning Amyrius's attention, slowly rising to mistress, and then…
No—that arrangement by the Mother Tree of Desire had been aimed at Klein impersonating Amyrius. The one she truly wished to corrupt and bear a child for was Klein.
But Klein should still have been in Bansy right now; he couldn't reach Bayam so soon. Besides, his current identity was Gehrman Sparrow. Given Amyrius's attitude toward Gehrman, how would it ever play out like in the original, with Gehrman impersonating him?
And the timing didn't line up either.
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.