#069

Athanas could not understand.

‘He said he wouldn’t do anything even if the world were to end.’

Of course, those words might have been intended to make Athanas, who possessed [Regression], give up.

But the ‘Fabio’ that Athanas had observed was truly a man who would do nothing.

‘Even when we first met….’

Fabio had stood before the underground stairs for a long time.

‘But even after waiting, he never went down to the end.’

After the time was turned back, Fabio turned away from him even though Athanas hadn’t spoken to him.

Despite being so terrified of [Regression], he didn’t even check to see if someone had obtained it.

One could view it as an action born of caution, not knowing what traps might lie below.

But rather than that….

‘If I had known I would meet you, I would have hanged myself this morning! I would have died before you could realize my existence!’

…It seemed closer to the fact that he lacked the confidence to remain sane the moment he realized someone had obtained [Regression].

Fabio’s attitude was consistent.

He didn’t want to know. He didn’t want to be involved. He didn’t want to stand out. He didn’t want to be caught. He didn’t want to die….

‘He seemed to believe that even the Saintess wouldn’t be able to protect him.’

What made him so afraid?

[Regression]?

But wasn’t [Regression] a Divine Power that the Lord had condoned?

‘…Have you never had such a doubt? Whether the one who gave you the Revelation was truly the Lord?’

When Fabio asked that question, Athanas did not doubt.

Who could possibly blind the eyes and ears of the Lord?

However, as his encounters with Fabio continued, cracks began to form in that belief.

‘…Is [Regression] truly a power permitted by the Lord?’

Dreams of a terrible world where Order collapsed and plagues raged.

The reason he believed those dreams were Revelations was that [Regression] truly existed in the secret location he had seen in the dream.

A power that turns back time, a power that deviates from Order.

Would the Lord not know that such a Divine Power was hidden within the Capital Church?

Therefore, it must be the Lord’s Will and guidance that this power fell into his hands.

‘But what if that power originated from something horrific?’

If so, it would mean he had been believing the whispers of an Evil God to be the Lord’s Revelation.

Athanas was confused.

The thought that he must not dare doubt the Lord and the thought that not doubting might be exactly what an Evil God desired alternated in his mind.

In desperation, Athanas sought the truth from Fabio, but he gained nothing, only terrifying the man.

As such failures repeated, the thought that [Regression] was actually a horrific power grew stronger. He had just made up his mind to confess everything, including [Regression], to the Saintess.

But why….

‘Why did the apostle stop the condemnation?’

Because he doesn’t know I have [Regression] yet?

But doesn’t he know that I will obtain [Regression] in the future?

If I die now, the future he fears so much will never come….

“…Tell me the reason.”

The Sixth Apostle asked, without lowering his sword.

Fabio answered, though he was trembling.

“Do—Does Lord Ter not know? Who this man is?”

“Athanas. A Holy Knight. He dared to fabricate a divine revelation for his own purposes and even committed perjury before an apostle.”

“Not what you just found out! Have you never heard the name Athanas before that?”

“…Should I have?”

“Of course! No, even if Lord Ter doesn’t know, the Saintess surely will! Please, just ask her once! The Saintess will tell you to stop immediately!”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why….”

“Why are you so certain? Why should the Saintess know about that man?”

“That is….”

“Fabio. You must not commit perjury before someone holding the Sword of Judgment. You know that, right?”

Fabio spoke, clutching his clothes tightly.

“…Actually, I do not only have the memories of ‘Fabio.’ It was a lie to say I have no memory of being called by a name other than Fabio. I dared to speak falsely before the Saintess. I have memories from before I became Fabio, and because of that, I know about Athanas as well.”

“What do you know?”

“…It is content that all other ‘Watched Ones’ would also know. Please, ask the Saintess. She will know.”

Sextus remained silent for a moment, then let out a small sigh and replied.

“The Saintess replied that she does not know.”

“…What?”

“She says she has never heard such a name.”

“That cannot be! Absolutely, that cannot be….”

Fabio flustered, acting frantically.

“What about the other Watched Ones? What did they say? Did they say they don’t know Athanas?”

“Fabio. What kind of existence is the ‘Athanas’ you know? Tell me that first.”

“That is….”

“I’ll erase that fellow’s memories with Oblivion, so don’t worry and just speak. Everything you know.”

“Athanas is….”

Fabio hesitated for a moment.

Athanas’s heart beat rapidly.

Finally, this was the moment he could hear the truth he had so desperately wanted to hear.

“…He is a savior who once saved this world.”

‘Savior?’

Me?

‘…Then why was he so afraid of me?’

Sextus also frowned deeply, as if he couldn’t accept it.

“He saved it? Then why would I not know?”

“Because it is something that has not happened yet. No, it will never happen. Because the apostles are in the Dark Realm now. But all the Watched Ones clearly saw it. There, Athanas was the hero, the hope, and the savior who restored Order to a world where Order had collapsed.”

“The Being Beyond the Starry Sky showed you such a thing?”

“…Yes. Heretic Slayer Athanas. There is no one among the Watched Ones who does not know that name.”

‘Heretic Slayer?’

It was a somewhat chilling name to be attached to a savior.

Athanas chewed over the words he was hearing for the first time. Watched Ones, Being Beyond the Starry Sky, Heretic Slayer….

“Of course, what I saw could be nothing more than a lie concocted by evil beings, and Athanas could be a nobody. But what if that was truly a fragment of the truth? Do you intend to kill someone who could become a savior over such a trivial matter?”

“Fabricating a revelation is not a trivial matter.”

“Then there must be a reason! A reason why it had to be so…!”

Fabio looked back at Athanas.

His expression was incredibly desperate.

“Athanas, why did you do it? Why did you fabricate the revelation?”

‘…Probably five minutes. If I stall any longer, I won’t be able to naturally catch Fabio after turning back time.’

Athanas reflexively calculated the time.

He couldn’t engage in such a long conversation.

“…Why were you afraid of me?”

“What? You want to ask that now? Answer the question! Is it my head that’s about to fly off? It’s yours! How can you even think….”

“That is the answer. I was curious why you were afraid of me. That’s why I wanted to find out more about you, even if it meant fabricating a revelation.”

“…What?”

“What is a Heretic Slayer that made you so afraid of me?”

“No, right now….”

“We have no time, so please answer quickly. If you just give me the answer, I will also tell you the whole truth.”

“That is a lie.”

Sextus spoke in a voice like frost.

“Fabio, step back. That man has no intention of telling the truth.”

“What….”

“…He is counting time right now. Why? Does he have some secret trump card? Or is there a limit to the time he can move that body?”

“A-Are you saying Athanas is being controlled right now?”

“Who knows. What is certain is that he feels no fear of death before the Sword of Judgment. Could that be possible if it weren’t his own body?”

“Then what should we do….”

“There is an easy way to tell.”

Athanas felt a sharp pain.

Looking down, the hilt of a dagger was protruding from his thigh.

“…He feels pain?”

Sextus tilted his head.

“Strange. Usually, those who are completely controlled cannot feel pain. Did he just receive an order? But he’s not afraid of dying? Perhaps he was promised he could be resurrected?”

Athanas grit his teeth to endure the pain.

‘With that apostle here, it’ll be impossible to ask anything more.’

“Regardless, the fact that he’s suspicious remains. Fabio, come here.”

“W-What have you done? Checking for pain could have been done with something else! Like squeezing lemon juice in his eyes! The femoral artery passes through the thigh….”

Far from stepping back, Fabio spread his arms and pressed close, as if trying to hide Athanas behind him.

“Athanas, do not move. It’s dangerous if the knife moves and hits the artery.”

“…Why do you keep protecting him? I told you that fellow keeps lying.”

“Can’t we just find out the reason now? Since Lord Ter can discern what is a lie, you won’t be deceived! The suspect has no intention of fleeing, so if you use such excessive force….”

“Fabio.”

Sextus was now directing killing intent toward Fabio as well.

“Do you trust what the Othergod showed you more than the words of an apostle?”

‘…Othergod?’

“Why would the Othergod show you a savior? No, did you even see it in the first place? That fellow might have tampered with your mind. To make you believe he is the Savior of Order.”

“That’s impossible! I have a Blessing that makes me immune to any mental interference!”

“…And how do you know that interference-blocking only stops Blessings belonging to Order? The Othergod might be manipulating your mind as we speak. You just aren’t aware of it.”

“That is….”

“Fabio. You are the Othergod’s toy. The Being Beyond the Starry Sky is doing all this just to see how many times you despair. Even so, can you trust your memories?”

“Of course….”

“Do you remember how many times you’ve died?”

“…I died how many times?”

“See. You don’t remember, do you?”

“No, I….”

“Why did the Othergod erase the memories of your deaths but leave the memories of that fellow? Wasn’t it because it wanted to see you trust him and then be betrayed?”

“What are you—no, the other Watched Ones surely….”

“What about the other Watched Ones? What difference does it make if they have the same memories? Just because many people have fake memories doesn’t make them real.”

“No….”

Fabio clutched his head, seemingly confused.

“No, that can’t be. A game… it was a game. Everyone must have been pulled into the game….”

The words he muttered in a low voice were almost impossible to understand.

Only fragments of words like ‘how to prove’ and ‘evidence’ could be heard.

‘…Two minutes left.’

“Fabio.”

Before turning back time, there was one thing he absolutely had to ask.

“Did the ‘Savior’ Athanas you know possess [Regression]?”

Upon hearing those words, Fabio froze for a moment.

“…[Regression]?”

Chapter 70