Khaled, the doctrine instructor of Audrey House, had been in unusually high spirits these past few days.
The reason was the new priest assigned to the orphanage — Raymond.
Raymond Pilgrim.
Among the young priests of the Cult, there were few who did not know that name. The top graduate of the Holy Capital’s spiritual academy, a man whose brilliant accomplishments followed one after another. The elite among elites.
The fact that he had been chosen as a Guide at such a young age vividly demonstrated the Cult’s expectations for him. Assignment to Audrey House alone required passing strict procedures, but the status of Guide was on an entirely different level. Most likely, once this mission was completed successfully, he would be summoned to the main temple and prepared for an archbishopric.
...And that very man had approached Khaled himself a few days ago.
“It seems I’ll be staying here for quite a while. Would you be willing to arrange a gathering so I can get to know the mentors better?”
Since Khaled had already been preparing a welcome party, the request could not have been more timely. What excited him most was that Raymond had entrusted that role specifically to him.
“He must think highly of me... Though I suppose that’s only natural, considering how diligently I’ve worked for all these years.”
A connection to the Cult’s elite was not simply a matter of career advancement. It was an opportunity to offer more sacrifices, to present greater tributes to the gods. And someday, after leaving this “World of Shadows,” to be reborn in the “World of Light,” rewarded with a far more prosperous and blessed life.
“At last, today.”
Khaled poured his whole soul into preparing the celebration. Not only food and wine — he summoned every teacher without exception. He did not particularly like the thought of sharing Raymond’s attention with others, but this was still a formal reception. The grander, the better.
Perhaps it was because of this anticipation that Khaled failed to notice that, during his doctrine lessons, the behavior of certain children had become ever so slightly different from usual.
“Phew, I should hurry.”
The moment class ended, Khaled intended to head straight to the celebration hall. But the instant he stepped into the corridor, someone firmly seized his sleeve.
Khaled stopped and turned.
A familiar face stood before him.
“...Director?”
The merciful, gentle smile was the same as always.
And yet Khaled felt a strange, almost imperceptible unease.
“Teacher Khaled.”
“Yes-yes, Director Audrey.”
“Today is Teacher Raymond’s welcome party, correct?”
***
30 minutes before the start.
Gunther looked into the mirror as he adjusted the priestly robes. Because of his excessively muscular body, the fabric was stretched to its limit in certain places. He had only worn these clothes for a few days, yet the reflection already seemed familiar.
A cassock.
Normally, a single glance at this outfit would have filled him with disgust.
But on Raymond, it looked astonishingly fitting.
Probably because Raymond truly had been a noble and righteous man, a genuine “priest.”
Gunther tore his gaze away from Raymond’s reflection in the mirror and slowly began gathering his belongings in the room.
He would not be returning here.
He had not forgotten to destroy the bundles of letters through which he had learned who Raymond was. Whether he succeeded or failed, those materials could become evidence for dissection and analysis.
In the end, all that would remain was the brand of traitor and heretic.
At the very least, Gunther wanted to prevent that much.
He could not allow the noble life of a man who had managed to remain upright even after being born and raised in this horrifying nation to be trampled like that.
“...No matter what, I want to get him out alive.”
In truth, over the last few days, while accelerating the escape plan, Gunther had been constantly thinking about one problem.
The reason Raymond had failed in the original storyline.
Raymond had been an exceptionally capable man.
The fact that he had walked the elite path inside Luthien — a totalitarian state where the sect had soaked into every layer of society — while concealing a blade of apostasy against his chest, spoke for itself.
...And such a man failed at the very end, after overcoming the hardest stage of infiltration?
Gunther examined it from every angle.
In the end, there was only one conclusion:
“He was exposed too early... at the most unexpected moment.”
Whether it was the escape plan or traces left in the past.
That was how Raymond had fallen into a trap, and Dominic, trying to help him, had been subjected to real brainwashing.
“My role... is to correct that failed history.”
There was only one solution.
He had to move as fast as possible.
As always.
The best choice in the worst situation.
And that was what Gunther did best.
“It’s time.”
Shrrk—
Taking a deep breath, Gunther left the room and headed # Nоvеlight # toward the welcome party.
The timing had been deliberately set late — after the children’s lessons had ended and everyone had returned to the residential wing.
“...”
For a moment, Gunther let his gaze linger on the residential building, where a light was flickering.
Then, as if nothing were wrong, he walked forward.
The meeting place was the staff dining hall.
Muted voices drifted from beyond the doors. It seemed nearly all the teachers had gathered, except for those on duty.
The most important stage was beginning.
“Oh, Teacher Raymond! You’ve arrived.”
A man approached him with a radiant smile.
Teacher Khaled.
A priest of the Order of Protection, responsible for doctrine.
Feigning admiration, Gunther looked over the “prepared” hall.
“To prepare everything this magnificently... this is too great an honor for me.”
“Not at all, Teacher Raymond. It is our honor to host such a guest.”
Other teachers immediately approached as well, all wearing friendly faces. Greetings, light jokes, and well-wishes rained down on him.
Unlike the previous days, Gunther responded to each of them with perfect warmth and moved to the seat indicated for him.
The moment he sat down, the teachers naturally closed in around him.
Grinning, Khaled spoke again.
“Before we officially begin, how about a glass of wine? We handled the aging ourselves, so the taste is rather distinctive.”
Gunther did not refuse and emptied the glass.
The sharp taste touched the tip of his tongue.
Savoring it, Gunther calmly confirmed his suspicion.
“I’ve been exposed.”
There was no point wasting time wondering “what” or “how.”
He himself did not know Raymond’s full past.
But since the predicted danger had arrived earlier than expected, all he had to do was respond to it.
Keeping his expression perfectly composed, Gunther analyzed the abnormal signs.
First, the flickering light in the residential wing.
That had been Dominic’s signal in case of unforeseen changes.
Thanks to that, Gunther had entered the dining hall in a state of absolute vigilance and... understood instantly.
The genuine friendliness the teachers had shown him before had vanished without a trace.
In its place were caution and suspicion.
Eyes tracking his every movement.
Attention lingering far too long on his expressions.
Smiles stretched unbearably tight.
What gave them away most was how often they kept glancing toward the exit behind him, as if fearing an escape attempt.
The moment he shifted even slightly in that direction, they instinctively twitched, trying to block the path.
The seating arrangement was the same.
It all looked like a celebration.
But in reality, it was an encirclement.
And yet Gunther did not retreat.
Continuing the casual conversation, he focused on assessing the situation and realized several more facts.
“They’re still confused.”
“They’re not one hundred percent certain I’m a traitor. It’s only suspicion... at that level.”
But it was no light suspicion.
It did not take Gunther long to assemble all the pieces and reach the conclusion.
“This is Sister Audrey’s doing.”
It seemed she had realized something questionable.
Which meant the variable Dominic had warned him about...
The moment the uneasy premonition made Gunther shift his gaze toward the single empty seat of honor, it came—
“Waaah!”
A sound utterly out of place in this room.
A baby’s cry cut through the clink of silverware and glasses.
The conversations stopped.
Gunther turned toward the source.
Shrrk—
In the doorway leading to the kitchen, Sister Audrey appeared with a child in her arms.
The boy was around two years old.
“Zenon, good boy. There, there...”
The old nun’s movements as she patted the child’s back were surprisingly deft.
Zenon quickly stopped crying and began smiling innocently.
Audrey gently apologized to those present.
“Forgive me. Lately this little one simply cannot sleep without me. I know it’s unpleasant of me to bring him to a place where one ought to laugh and celebrate without a care, but...”
Gunther did not take his eyes off her.
Audrey did not take hers off him either.
Holding the child slightly tighter, she slowly met Gunther’s gaze.
A smile spread across her wrinkled face.
“God’s grace sometimes lies in being able to accept even such a small disturbance.”
Gunther easily read something familiar in the old nun’s eyes.
Something he had encountered countless times while fighting Luthien over the last few months.
The eyes of someone deeply enjoying a vulgar game.
The confidence of a predator convinced of victory.
Audrey’s goal was obvious.
Keep him here so he could not cause any disturbances inside the orphanage.
In truth, it did not matter to them whether he was truly a traitor or not.
They were the sort who would torture and burn people at the slightest shadow of suspicion.
Most likely, an investigation team from the upper ranks was already on its way.
And this dining hall scene was perfect for their purpose.
High-ranking priest-teachers on guard and ready to attack.
And Audrey herself, who was surely the strongest among them, holding a hostage in her arms — Zenon.
No matter how extraordinary a warrior “Raymond” might be, breaking through this obstacle would be extremely difficult.
“...Haa.”
Yes...
If this were Raymond’s strength.
When Gunther let out a heavy sigh, the faintest triumphant smile flickered across Audrey’s lips.
And at that exact moment, a suppressed, furious breath crashed roughly into Gunther’s ears.
[How much longer do I have to wait?]
[I can’t endure this anymore.]
Gunther’s sigh instantly turned into laughter.
This was not the laughter of despair, self-reproach, or bluffing.
Audrey’s face twisted with confusion and anger.
Piiii—!
That was the price for behavior so obviously abnormal.
That familiar sense of emptiness pierced through his mind again.
His sanity points were probably being spent.
But Gunther had no room to care about that now.
Cling-cling-cling—!
The sound of coins scattering and scraping against each other.
Countless pieces of gold rolling somewhere.
It was not a real sound, but a thunderous roar echoing in the deepest part of his soul.
The one authority engraved into his spirit, into his very existence.
Boom—!
Invisible scales descended upon Gunther’s soul.
Onto them, one after another, things that were not made of flesh and blood began to fall.
The choices he had made.
The decisions he had not abandoned.
The deaths he had not looked away from.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Gunther slowly raised his eyes.
[You place “1500” Karma upon the scales.]
And finally...
[The “Merciful Judge” opens its eyes.]
[The “Healer and Executioner” extends its hand.]
[“Amyado — Harbinger of the Dark Night” surges forward.]
...○○○●●
The faint sound of closing eyelids sank into the chaos that followed.
.
.
.
At that same moment, movement began in the residential wing of the orphanage as well.
