In the beginning, God Rowrik was in the form of a young child. It is said that he loved new things and experiences more than anyone else. A god who had never manifested on earth. That god did not love humans. He merely blessed those who were victorious in war.

The stronger ones received the god’s choice. And the one who received that choice was the current Elzerat Empire.

From ancient times, the Elzerat Empire enjoyed fighting with other countries on the frontier, and always won those wars. Rowrik, known as the primordial god and the god of war, blessed the Elzerat Empire, and this continued.

The Elzerat Empire was strong. And that strength became a problem. Perhaps because the constant victories became boring, the god no longer bestowed blessings.

The watching had ended.

People thought so. Believing their country was strong even without the god, they gradually neglected the god and the temple.

Thus, the temple walked the path of decline.

‘But we can’t let it go like this. The time will come soon. We just need to hold on until then.’

A smile spread across Sesenia’s face.

“You know it’s not true, don’t you? You know better than anyone, Great Priest. That the god has long since departed. Don’t you feel the power weakening?”

“Hoh hoh.”

“Isn’t it your problem that you rely solely on the god without using other means, with that purity of yours? Because you’ve become fools waiting only for the god’s power.”

“No matter that you bear the title of Saint, it seems you’re going too far.”

It was then. Unlike the silent Great Priest, the High Priest Ray looked at Sesenia with a very uncomfortable expression. Nevertheless, Sesenia looked at them without the slightest impact or disturbance.

“Couldn’t you be a little less pure?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Only then did the Great Priest begin to be moved by her words.

“Great Priest. Let your ‘words’ walk the dirty path and be covered in the filth at its end, while you remain as the Great Priest who simply believed those words. I will cover myself in that filth and save the temple. To say it will happen means to do it.”

“Filth, you say.”

“Temple items from someone with abundant holy power, found by a certain saint. But they weren’t real divine objects. Even if this is revealed later, what does it matter? We need to get through this moment.”

“What are you trying to do, Saint Sesenia?”

“I will create something to get us through this situation. Use it to draw everyone’s attention.”

“Are you saying we should create fakes to get through this?”

“Yes.”

“But in the end, the people of the empire will turn away all the same.”

“Is this the time to worry about such things? You need to maintain life, even if just a little. If we leave things as they are, the temple will collapse.”

It wasn’t wrong. Rather, it was too accurately right. If left as is, it was obvious the temple would soon collapse. Even now, except for the moderate faction priests, most priests were skeptical about this matter. Many had already left the temple.

The priests realized the disappearance of divine power faster than others.

The Great Priest thought he might be the last Great Priest. In such a situation, forced life support.

“Is that necessary? In the end, when it’s revealed, won’t we suffer an even greater blow?”

“……”

“I know you said this for our sake, but you don’t need to worry, Saint Sesenia. Let’s pretend we didn’t hear this conversation today.”

But Sesenia smiled even more at the Great Priest’s words, who seemed to have given up.

“It’s a sacred object that won’t be easily exposed. Because it contains the power of god. And I know how to bring the god back.”

That’s when the Great Priest, who was about to leave, stopped.

“You’re going too far with your jokes.”

“No. It’s true. In the end, the words that the god has not left will become true.”

If it had been other words, they might not have shaken the Great Priest’s heart. But to the Great Priest who had grown up in the temple all his life, who had believed only in the god, those words that the god had not left came as a greater comfort than any other words.

“Hoh hoh……”

“Stop joking. You’ve been constantly……”

Perhaps all her words had sounded like jokes, High Priest Ray’s expression hardened.

“If it were a joke, would I voluntarily offer to become the words? In the end, you’ll need my power to find that method. So, use me.”

“……What exactly is this method you speak of, Saint Sesenia? And why do you say you’ll cover yourself in filth and dirty your reputation?”

“I have a wish. And I’d like you to promise to grant what I wish for without asking any reasons, Great Priest.”

“There’s no need to listen, Great Priest. Isn’t it obvious? After presenting a strange proposal, trying to gain your help……”

High Priest Ray, who had been looking unfavorably at Sesenia all along, spoke as if he had been waiting for this moment. But even so, Sesenia didn’t move an inch. As if it didn’t matter what was said about her.

“……This is quite a serious conversation.”

“Yes. That’s why I didn’t come here lightly either. Just speaking about it might get me dragged away for blasphemy. Creating a fake and announcing it, and then taking all the responsibility upon myself… I’m speaking with the end in sight.”

Amidst the resolute and serious exchange of words, High Priest Ray had nothing to say. He could only bite his lips and look at Sesenia with an uneasy expression.

“If it’s such an important matter, are those present here trustworthy?”

“Well. I have no problem. I trust my maid more than myself.”

“I guess I’m the problem.”

“But I think the Great Priest has nothing to worry about either. The words you’re spitting towards me are proof that you, High Priest, are deeply concerned about the Great Priest. Isn’t that right, High Priest?”

Sesenia called out to him as if she had been waiting. The gaze of the man who had been looking unfavorably at Sesenia all along changed.

“……That’s……”

Handling people is not difficult. That’s what Sesenia had been doing all along as an empress. Rather, what’s difficult is winning people’s hearts. In the end, even if you manage to make someone your ally with difficulty, if you fail to win their heart, it becomes nothing.

In that sense, Ray, who had entered with the Great Priest, was someone she didn’t need to worry about at all.

He was someone who liked and believed in the Great Priest more than anyone else.

“Isn’t that right?”

As expected, Sesenia’s prediction hit the mark perfectly. Of course, what he was saying might not be true, but at this moment, it seemed genuine.

“I haven’t heard or seen anything. I’m just here to assist the Great Priest.”

“That’s fortunate. Then, Great Priest, please make your choice. Fulfill my wish. Then I will become your words.”

“After you’ve said this much, what more can I do? Whatever happens, whatever comes. Anyway, in a situation where even I don’t have much time left… If we can hold on a little longer, doing anything is right. What is it that you want from me?”

“I have a dog that’s difficult to tame. Would you please protect it here?”

Suddenly, the air changed. Sesenia had said this in case Silian wasn’t present, but he showed his presence as if to prove he was there by exerting his power. Sesenia smirked.

“A dog…?”

Even while feeling the change in the air, the Great Priest deliberately ignored that feeling and continued speaking.

“There’s a very difficult to tame mad dog.”

“A mad… dog……”

“But don’t worry. It doesn’t bite people. What I want is for you to protect ‘them’ from anything happening, in your name as the Great Priest. Don’t show them to anyone, don’t let anyone know they’re here. But keep them safe.”

The temple was the safest place to protect the twin royals of Salmon.

They had protected them perfectly in the past. It wouldn’t be any different now. Knowing this, Sesenia threw herself into direct negotiation with the Great Priest.

“It’s a person, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“A being about whom we should ask nothing?”

“That too, yes.”

“Hoh hoh…… If I make this promise, I’ll be able to hear about that method you possess, Saint Sesenia, right?”

This time she didn’t answer. She had already finished that conversation several times. So there was no need to answer this time. He should know Sesenia’s intentions better than anyone.

“I understand. In the name of Great Priest Noel, I will keep that promise. In the name of Rowrik, our primordial and only god. I will protect them.”

“Thank you. Then it’s time to introduce the mad dog.”

“……You’re the only one who calls me a dog.”

“That’s why you should become a person instead of a dog.”

As Sesenia smiled brightly, a man appeared out of thin air. This time he wasn’t alone. In his arms was also a young girl.

“Protect them perfectly.”

“This… This person……”

Faced with an unexpected situation, the Great Priest and Ray could only blink.

“Wh, when were they here!!”

The one showing the most excessive reaction in this situation was Lizbeth.