âThe Tale of Izarâ
In [Contemplation of the God of Lies], there was a part that I watched with my eyes narrowed.
Its contents were as follows.
[Bellatrix, the God of Lies, took notice of a young man named Izar.
Izar was a shepherd in the Selcia Mountains, and his good heart always pleased Bellatrix.
Thus, Bellatrix did something that was forbidden to the Gods. He borrowed the body of a woman and fell in love with Izar.
The two became husband and wife and swore eternal love. And Bellatrix has Izarâs child.]
It was shocking that it was possible for a god to marry a human and have children.
[Bellatrix was a beautiful God. However, a human heart is weak, and by some Godâs trick, Izar fell in love with another beautiful woman. Even with a child growing inside Bellatrixâs belly.
The day Izar returned from spending the night with another woman, Bellatrix asked Izar where he had been.]
Gosh⦠He cheated on a woman with a baby in her belly? Heâs a madman who deserves to be cursed at.
I read on and on, expecting Bellatrix to shower the unscrupulous bastard with thunderbolts.
[Bellatrix knew everything. Yet Bellatrix wanted Izar to tell a lie. However, Izar talked about his one night stand with another woman and begged Bellatrix to forgive him.
The truth can be as painful as a lie, or even more. Bellatrix kisses Izar on the forehead and returns to the divine body.]
In the end, it was a disastrous ending.
[Izar spent the rest of his life missing Bellatrix, lamenting his poor choice to fall for a one night stand.]
And after reading the story, I fell into thought for a while.
There was a story that didnât come out at the end. The child of Bellatrix and Izar, who was in Bellatrixâs stomach.
Did the child naturally disappear in the process of Bellatrix returning as a God?
âNo, noâ¦â
I read the book again from the beginning. And in an instant, something came to my mind.
âHow does the author know this storyâ¦?â
***
âUh⦠Uhâ¦â
Professor Draive backed away.
I guess what I scratched last time worked. If I see that heâs trying to destroy all data like this.
Soon, something like a small magic circle shone in Professor Draiveâs hand. Then something like a skeleton rose from the ground and began to rise.
One, two, three.
âAs expected, youâre a necromancer.â
Professor Draive trembled at Casâs words and opened his mouth.
âWhy are you two doing this to me? What did I do wrong?â
âYouâre talking like someone who doesnât know that necromancy is black magic and forbidden by the Empire.â
[The God of Justice, Hetuse, nods his head and opens his eyes.]
At Cassâ words, Draive trembled.
âI-I donât know. I just developed the talent I had from birthâ¦â
His gaze turned to me.
If I, as the Saintess, inform the temple, the Paladins will flock to this place. And Draive, a professor of theology, will be put out from his position, and may be put on trial.
His eyes were shaking with fear.
About eight skeletal soldiers got up and approached us.
Draive covered his eyes with both hands. He seemed to be in great pain.
When I grabbed the skeleton soldierâs head with Cielâs holy power inside me, the skeleton soldiers collapsed like dry leaves breaking.
Crackã ¡
I looked back and saw Cass beating the skeleton soldierâs ribs with his long legs. Then the skeleton soldier collapsed.
âUgh⦠Uuuughâ¦â
I said to Professor Draive, who trembled and ran back.
âI wonât tell the temple.â
At that moment, Professor Draive looked at me startled.
His eyes narrowed.
I said again.
âIâm saying Iâll keep it a secret from the temple.â
At those words, Draiveâs lips trembled and he spat out his words.
âAre you sure?â
I said, raising one corner of my lips.
âInstead, itâs on the premise that youâll be honest with us without a single lie from now on.â
Draive looked at me as if he was bewildered, then sat down.
âI will tell you everything.â
[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, likes your negotiating skills.]
After a while, he led us to his secret lab.
This was the reason I watched him from behind instead of immediately questioning him. To hold solid evidence and get an answer that he would cooperate with us.
The secret laboratory in the basement had a damp aura, and books with various dark auras were placed on the bookshelves.
âA place like this in the basement of the Academyâ¦â
âMarquis.â
I gave Cass a hint.
Nevertheless, the intimidated Draive must not shut his mouth.
âUm, are you really not going to inform the temple? Even the Imperial Palace?â
I nodded my head confidently at Draiveâs words.
âAs long as it doesnât harm people, I also respect black magic.â
At my words, Draive looked at me with startled eyes.
Itâs surprising that a saintess, who is on the opposite side of black magic and the Demon Realm, would say such a thing.
âBut Iâve also cooperated with the Demon King, Diego Bester.â
Thatâs why I donât want to have any preconceived notions.
[The God of Justice, Hetuse, clicks his tongue.]
[The God of Benevolence, Oman, gulps down while thinking of someone who handles demons.]
Draive looked at me again, and from his library he took out a thick book he had written and handed it to me.
I accepted it.
âAnyway, to investigate the events of the past⦠Thereâs nothing as efficient as necromancy.â
The theology professor is a necromancer, so looking at it again, itâs unconventional.
âAnd to learn about the God of Lies⦠I summoned the dead of Salerium. Everything I wrote in the book was told by the dead.â
What was vague was becoming reality.
âWhat is the name of the dead?â
At my words he pointed to the front cover of the book. And the moment I saw that name, I felt my goosebumps stand on end.
I immediately put my hand on my forehead.
Cass came closer and accepted the book. Then he started turning it over with rough hand gestures. His face was also hardened.
Now is the moment when all the truth must be revealed.
I spoke to Draive as I heard the sound of paper being turned.
âProfessor Draive. Can you call her⦠again?â
That name in my mouth was insanely awkward.
âThe âreal Camillaââ¦â
[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, stands up as if he has realized something on his own.]
[The other Gods donât understand your words.]
[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, is explaining a formidable reasoning to the other gods.]
[All the Gods are shocked.]
The name of the book containing all the materials of [Contemplation of the God of Lies] was [Conversation With Camilla].
And maybe sheâ¦
At my words, Draive stared blankly at me before opening his mouth.
âThatâs⦠Iâm no longer in contact with her. Iâm not sure why.â
Draiveâs answer made me feel a little demoralized.
âCan you risk your life for the answer you just gave?â
Cass suddenly pulled a dagger from a sleeve and thrust it into Draiveâs neck.
Draive winced at his cold eyes.
âM-Marquis⦠Itâs really true. Thatâs why this record has been cut off since the day I couldnât see her. The Saintess can take this record.â
Certainly, he last wrote this book three years ago.
âI think itâs true.â
At my words, Cass withdrew his dagger from Draive with his cold eyes still on him.
âMarquisâ¦â
But itâs not like there wasnât any way.
Although itâs not ânecromancyâ, I can use a similar method. It might come with risks, though.
[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, finds out about your plan and opposes it.]
[The God of Benevolence, Oman, hears of your plan from Hessed and opposes it.]
[The God of Love, Odyssey, opposes it.]
[The God of Destruction, Ciel, objects.]
After a while, I opened my mouth and spoke to him.
âTonight, will you stay with me?â
His eyes widened at my words.
[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, cancels the objection first.]
[The God of Benevolence, Oman, puts the negative vote down his throat and swallows it.]
[The God of Justice, Hetuse, shakes the shoulders of Hessed and Oman, saying that those words donât mean âthose wordsâ, so come to their senses.]