Distorting History

Beyond the window, the sound of children’s laughter echoed continuously from the orphanage garden.

Dadada!

Dodo!

Paddling!

Cecilia and Miel were running around the garden with the children.

Just a while ago, the kids were sweating profusely while building sandcastles, but now they were fully engrossed in a race.

Thanks to Iris, the kids found out that Carina, though ambiguous whether she’s human or monster, is a kind being, and under her lead, they’re playing naturally.

They were gossiping about Cecilia being like a six-year-old mother, but they quickly forgot about it and started playing together.

Cecilia, being a child, was expected to play well, but it was surprising to see Miel mingling with the kids.

“Got it!”

“Wow!”

Serina shouted as she tried to tag Cecilia.

“Now Cecilia is the one who’s ‘it’!”

“I’m it!”

Cecilia clenched her fists and replied with determination.

Oh, it’s a game of tag.

But if it’s tag, Miel shouldn’t be participating, right?

Since she can fly, she can’t be caught…

But then, Miel started writing on Cecilia’s hair.

《10 seconds until departure!》

《10》

《9》

《8》

It’s a countdown!

As Miel continued counting, the children prepared to start, their faces tense with anticipation.

《3》

《2》

《1! Gg!》

Dodo!

Cecilia began to run towards the children energetically.

Her small legs moving quickly looked really cute.

Cecilia, fighting!

“Tell us another story!”

A child sitting around me with shining eyes said.

I was telling them stories indoors.

Hmm…

The girls were playing outside, and the boys were listening to stories inside…

It’s very PC-like.

Disney would love it.

At first, I told them about how I eliminated the evil cultists hiding under the kingdom and saved the village of Shia Kalt.

Then, I told them a lot about the Master.

The children were completely absorbed in the stories about the Master’s beauty, power, and mystery.

Especially when I talked about the Master’s dragon form, their eyes sparkled, and they were utterly captivated.

It was a very satisfying reaction.

What other stories should I tell?

It seems I had a set of stories I always told…

Ah, right!

The true form of Michel!

“Okay! Now I’ll tell you about the real Michel!”

I announced excitedly, and the children gathered closer.

“I know Michel! He’s the compassionate God of Light!”

A child said confidently.

“Yes! He gave us a lot of food at the Temple of Light before!”

Another child added.

I shook my head and gave a mysterious smile.

“No, no. Michel isn’t the God of Light.”

The children tilted their heads in confusion.

“Michel is actually the God of Blood and Slaughter! And he loves war!”

“Huh…?”

The children’s expressions froze for a moment.

Some looked scared, glancing at each other.

“There’s no need to be so scared!”

I quickly waved my hands and continued.

“Michel desires the blood of the wicked! It’s to punish the villains for justice, and that’s the true ritual for Michel!”

The children’s expressions gradually softened.

“But… the priest said Michel loves peace…”

A child said with a doubtful expression.

I shrugged casually.

“Is it more likely that an ordinary priest is right, or that I, as Michel’s apostle who has seen him in the Heavenly Realm, am right?”

“Michel’s apostle!?”

“The Heavenly Realm…?”

The children’s eyes widened.

“Yes! Miel also went to the Heavenly Realm with me! And we met Solarius, the God of the Sun!”

“That’s not true…”

“It’s a lie…”

Uh…

It’s true, though…

Some children looked at me with suspicious eyes.

“Show us proof that you’re Michel’s apostle!”

Uh!

My authority is sealed right now!

Wait, I have skills given by Michel!

“You don’t believe me at all!”

I muttered, sounding displeased.

“If you go to Shia Kalt Village, everyone there can vouch for me! But fine, I’ll show you!”

‘Red Moon!’

In an instant, the sky darkened.

The sunlight from the window disappeared, as if an eclipse was occurring, and the world grew dark.

Then, a crimson moon rose in the sky.

The children’s eyes widened as they looked at the moon and then at me.

“How about this! This is a power given by Michel!”

I puffed out my chest proudly.

“Since Michel is the God of Blood and Slaughter, the moon is red like blood!”

“I’ve seen that moon before!”

A child exclaimed.

“Yes! It appeared suddenly last time!”

Other children nodded.

Oh!

I remember now!

When Hind and Edgar dealt with the cultists here, the moon was visible!

“Yes! I told you I defeated the cultists with Hind and Edgar in the underground of the kingdom, right? That’s why you saw it too!”

The children’s eyes widened in amazement.

“And of course, the Master and Nis wiped out the cultists!”

“Wow!”

“So cool!”

“Michel’s apostle!”

“Apostle of Blood and Slaughter!”

The children clapped and cheered.

Yes! That’s it!

I released the skill, and the sky returned to its normal brightness.

“Hehe, any more questions?”

I asked proudly.

The evidence of Michel’s apostle is the panties and bra he gave me!

“Umm…”

Then, a child with brown hair and freckles raised his hand shyly.

This kid had been fidgeting throughout my stories, as if he wanted to ask something.

“Yes?”

“You said Frostia is a good dragon… but why did she and Nis kill people from the two empires?”

The room fell silent as soon as the child asked the question.

Some children looked like they had just remembered, while others seemed to be hearing it for the first time.

Uuuuuuuuh…

How do I cover this up…

It’s really pitiful that so many people died…

If this gets out, the image I’ve built up will completely collapse!

Calm down.

Think.

What do the children know?

That people died at the meeting place of the two empires.

And that the Master and Nis were involved.

How can I spin this?

Cultists…

Yes!

Blame it on the cultists!

“You guys know about the cultists gathering there, right?”

I asked cautiously, and the children tilted their heads.

“Uh-huh…”

“Were there cultists there?”

“Yes! I heard too!”

Some children nodded, recalling the rumors.

Luckily, the rumors had spread enough.

“The Master and Nis went there to eliminate the cultists!”

I declared confidently.

“The meeting place of the two empires was a hideout for the cultists!”

Yes, let’s go with this setup!

“But… I heard that knights and adventurers died first…”

The freckled child asked with a doubtful expression.

Why does he know so much…!

“Why would they risk their lives to attack the Master and Nis? It’s obvious they had no chance!”

“Uh…?”

“They were fake cultists!”

I continued with growing confidence.

“Disguised as knights and adventurers to hide their identities! They were actually cultists! So they were willing to die to protect their hideout! They were fanatics!”

The children gasped and nodded.

“Ah! I have a question too!”

Another child raised his hand.

“What about the altar they built later?”

They’re talking about the Path of Evil Gods!

That’s already spread too!

“Well…”

I hesitated for a moment, thinking.

How to explain this…

“It’s true that the undisguised cultists came later.”

The children held their breath, focusing on my story.

“But the Master and Nis didn’t kill them right away.”

“Why?”

“They had the cultists build an altar to commemorate the occasion!”

The children’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Different cultists were gathered to show fear!”

“To let other cultists know that they were all killed here! And once the altar was complete, they disposed of the cultists who had served their purpose!”

“Wow!”

“So cool!”

The children cheered, hearing the tale of a dark hero.

Phew…

I’ve told so many lies…

My conscience almost pricked me!

But I’ve lied so much already, so it’s okay!

I glanced back and saw Carina halmoni with an impressed expression, believing my story wholeheartedly.

Iris nodded as if she knew there was a reason, and when our eyes met, she smiled faintly and whispered,

“It’s an honor to work for Frostia and Lycoris.”

Ha ha…

My lips naturally curved upwards.

Perhaps, unintentionally, I’m rewriting history.

Heh heh…