In That Dream, an Angel Appeared and Said

‘…You did nothing wrong.’

When the time for choice came.

He decided to take the path chosen by more people.

‘Yes, you did nothing wrong. Rather, we’re sorry.’

‘Despite there likely being a better solution, we made you stain your hands with blood.’

It was a natural result.

The glory of that era was too far away for future generations to grasp.

From now on, such people would increase, and everyone would wish for it.

It was impossible to join the ideal of trying to rebel against the current imperial system, unable to forget an era they hadn’t experienced.

‘That’s right, everyone, even preaching those teachings stems from the desire for a righteous era to come, so how can you place meaning in the teachings themselves rather than their intent?’

But perhaps because the saint’s halo was too strong?

The beginning might have come from a heart following that ideology, but ironically, they became so obsessed with following that ideology that they came to reject even the era of peace.

They hoped to return to an era where people desperate to overcome despair depended on them in abundance.

The end that those who were even prepared for rebellion for that met would be these beheaded heads in front of him.

After averting his gaze from such gravestones, he soon began to look back on the path he had walked, clenching his blood-stained hands.

What remained in the place where those who didn’t receive empathy from everyone disappeared…

As those executed worried, a group that even felt shabby compared to the glorious past.

‘There’s no need to exclude anyone anymore. In the coming era, respect for them will be a shield protecting us and a means to achieve what we pursue.’

But light existed for them too.

A much clearer light than before.

‘Don’t stop those who leave. But if they don’t want to leave, always remember. Because we’ve excluded so much, we must be prepared to bear even more in the era that’s about to unfold.’

Although it seemed like it would collapse at any moment, their faith became even more solid just by the disappearance of those who caused worry in their hearts.

Without a single flaw in that light.

By someone else bearing the blood that should have stained them.

‘Lord, I am not as noble as they are.’

At some point, he realized.

The reason the order didn’t collapse even when it seemed it would crumble further due to civil war was because there was someone bearing something that tested their faith.

Because someone else shouldered what had to be achieved by dirtying one’s hands.

‘But that doesn’t mean I think I’m walking the wrong path. Just as everyone has a role, dedicating this dignity for those who show light to the public can’t even be called a price.’

Determining each other’s roles and sharing responsibilities…

It’s one of the most correct conditions for humans to remain human.

By relying on each other like that and building a collective, they’ve survived until now and been able to grasp the opportunity to pass on those teachings to future generations.

‘As you taught, humans commit sins because they are imperfect and weak. But if everyone forms a community with one heart, someone can shoulder that price instead.’

So fear not committing sin.

Like the idol who ascended embracing original sin, if sacrificing oneself can create a path beneficial to the world, that’s enough.

Those who admire him consider even harming their own dignity a trial, and prepared to boldly accept everything that would come ahead.

Believing without doubt that that determination would continue to the end.

‘Arian Hayes. A believer who had recently awakened faith has gone missing.’

But is this also a trial?

To a believer who had just awakened faith…

Is pointing a sword even at a noble believer who should move towards the future he must protect truly a trial given by the one he serves?

‘As we investigate, strange testimonies are coming out. That her belly was swollen when she left her home…’

‘Are you saying she ran away because she was pregnant?’

‘Yes, despite not having contact with anyone.’

A story that can’t be overlooked especially because of experiencing similar cases.

As someone said, there might be a reason for it, but if the reason is something incomprehensible at first sight…

In the present, which is still just at the stage of ‘respect’, it’s clear that confusion will arise for everyone just by that fact spreading.

The power gained by serving none other than an idol contributes to the birth of that horrific monstrosity. Furthermore, that someone harboring such a thing exists among the order members.

Isn’t it possible that the order, which saw the possibility of recovery after conflict, might collapse?

‘Lord. Is this also a trial?’

Yet he couldn’t even allow himself to utter a single resentment towards the one who created such a trial in his path.

Because if he didn’t do it, someone else would do it instead.

‘…If that is what you desire, I will follow.’

So if someone has to do it, he would be prepared to commit it.

With his hands that were already as dirty as they could be.

‘If it’s to protect the light of those who remain… I will bear all the price to protect it.’

Even if he wears the mask of a demon and becomes a demon, he would be prepared for that too if it’s for the greater cause.

Prepared to offer himself as a sacrifice embracing that sin, if someday the accumulated original sin spreads to an irreversible extent.

‘Let there be light.’

To delay that time even a little, he endlessly recited prayers.

The teachings that became the foundation of that faith. Recalling verses appearing in the Bible.

‘Let there be light…’

Wishing for light on the path he was walking.

Even if he couldn’t see that light himself, he endlessly repeated, hoping that someone would encounter that light.

“Blinded by jealousy, your younger brother is crying out while seeping into the ground.”

What follows after that.

The story of the descendants who bore original sin.

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“Cursed by the earth, from now on you will not have grain no matter what field you plow.”

“Also, those who meet you will feel powerful hatred towards you, including your parents.”

Yes, even without opening the book, I can continue it like flowing water.

All the original sin embraced to protect the nobility that the order should have.

Because I had been holding onto my mind by repeating those teachings, fearing that I would collapse from self-loathing because of it.

“Looking down from heaven, the world is so corrupt. Inevitably wanting to sweep away all of that with a flood, you who heard my words, build a ship of cypress wood. Let in a pair of each animal within your reach and firmly lock the door of the ship.”

“But I will not eliminate everyone through the contract with you. When this calamity ends, I swear by the rainbow set in the earth as a sign of the covenant that I will never again destroy this land with a flood.”

From its birth, it was full of filth.

About the ‘history of sin’ that becomes complicated again as long as human beings remain, no matter how much it’s erased.

“How dare those who live with their feet on the ground aim to reach the sky? Gathered in one place, even the original sin they carry becomes arrogant enough to reach the sky.”

“Inevitably, I will scatter them by making everyone’s language different. Thus, by making their languages different, those who couldn’t understand each other eventually scattered and began to spread to various parts of the world.”

Countless times read, the story in the book.

There were always people in that process.

“My child, open the way to the promised land. The believer who heard that command stretched his hand over the sea, and the sea parted…”

“The pushed-back seawater became walls protecting those advancing, so their descendants could safely advance to the opposite side.”

The descendants who inherited original sin from the first humans…

Among them, those who sought forgiveness received rewards, and those who didn’t were punished without exception.

What that means is that a miserable end always awaits those who forget their own duty.

“…It’s amazing.”

When such stories had reached a certain climax.

Finally, Joseph, who had stopped reciting the Bible, began to express admiration while staring at the woman’s back.

“Although you don’t seem to belong to Lagrid, to think you’ve memorized all that content.”

“Well… Since the order I belong to doesn’t have clearly passed down stories, we often quoted Lagrid’s when managing faith.”

A doctor yet belonging to an order…

He belatedly realized. The person in front of him was of the kind that inquisitors so loathed.

‘Children of Clea. A force that began to reveal its existence in the late war… putting knowledge above faith.’

No matter how much they’re trying to understand and respect, they didn’t want to associate with them if possible.

Because they are those who use faith as a tool for pursuing ideology.

They can never understand those who have maintained faith by using heretical knowledge as a tool.

“But if you ask if I affirm all that content, I’d have to answer that it’s unreasonable.”

So even these words were somewhat expected.

That their ‘line of respect’ might be much lower than what they had assumed.

“Unreasonable… It seems that teaching hasn’t led to faith towards Him.”

“It can’t be helped. From the start, what our order pursues is exactly the opposite of yours.”

No matter how much they follow the teachings of the Bible, they only see it as part of knowledge to maintain faith.

In fact, while maintaining faith, they viewed the teachings themselves that lead to that faith negatively.s are imperfect, so they can’t help but commit sins…

They believed that they could overcome that belief of having to correct one’s conduct through prayer to the Lord, not with prayer but with knowledge and their own hands.

“Humans being sinners from birth, what nonsense.”

But even viewing that favorably is only possible with external consideration.

Joseph’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing the following muttering.

“You…”

“I have one question for you, Mr. Inquisitor.”

A question returned before the displeasure could be expressed.

“Do you, in Lagrid, think that even a newborn child has sin?”

A very primal question.

Although he felt doubtful, Joseph decided to answer for now.

“…It would depend on who takes in that child.”

It’s just a line of respect.

If this conversation ends, he will continue with the planned execution.

There was no reason not to show that much leeway in a situation where he had already cornered them.

“Yes, that’s right. Children don’t know anything.”

Despite such a situation, the other party was answering his words nonchalantly.

“Because they don’t know anything, even the concept of good and evil doesn’t exist. If we call their ignorant actions pure, they become pure, and if we call them sins, they’re called sins… In the end, it could be said that determining their existence is up to the adults who take them in.”

Does she not know what situation she’s in? Or…

Does she have something she believes in despite the current situation?

“…Mr. Inquisitor.”

Whatever it was, she just spoke.

Still maintaining her attitude of turning her back on him.

“Why must children who don’t know anything become sinners with just one word from adults?”

As uneasiness gradually crept in at that consistent attitude.

Although she probably wouldn’t do anything rash given her position as a teacher in Maris, that too was only from an external perspective.

“Is it because making them have a sense of guilt is good for making them obey? Because it’s easier to control them when they’re swayed by anxiety that they could make mistakes at any time?”

Someone belonging to Cleas, which is at the opposite end of the inquisitors, not just anywhere else.

Who could guarantee that they wouldn’t try something to disgrace them?

“…Isn’t that a question unrelated to the current matter?”

Why on earth are you rambling on about things contrary to our doctrine in this place?

What’s cradled in your arms is certainly not a baby.

How can you accept such an ugly and disgusting being like the one I saw then, to be stalling for time like this?

“Is that really so?”

As cautiousness was felt more because of not knowing.

The woman chuckled as if mocking such conflict.

And then…

“In that dream, an angel appeared and said.”

Another verse from the Bible that followed after that laughter, which they had been sharing until now.

“Carpenter of Nazareth. Fear not that your wife has conceived a child. The Holy Spirit given by my master has descended upon her, causing her to conceive a child.”

But that content alone, I just couldn’t.

I couldn’t accept it as simply showing respect towards me, like what I had heard until now.

“So fear not. He is a blessing sent down as the son of heaven to honor this earth…”

Without a single mistake, clearly and distinctly.

“When that child is born, name him ‘Yeshua’, meaning ‘one who is with heaven’.”

The moment that story was finally nailed down.

The faces of everyone before her gradually began to turn pale.

As if hearing a possibility that no one had anticipated…

No, they had tried not to anticipate.

Because they knew what the actual result of a virgin conceiving a child would be.

If that were pulled down from myth to reality, they grasped what horrific results would occur.

“…Isn’t it ironic? The beginning of the idol you serve originated from a child born of a virgin.”

Only then did her gaze gradually turn towards them.

Eyes worn with fatigue like his own. Yet there was uprightness in them.

As if mocking those frozen upon hearing her current words.

“Then why are you so intent on seeing a virgin carrying a child?”

He realized.

From the beginning, her uttering verses from the book wasn’t out of respect, but for this statement.

That hideous thing he saw back then…

To make a statement equating something like a demon with the ‘idol’ they serve.

“This…”

The moment he belatedly realized this.

The stopped time began moving again, and anger rising from within began to numb their reason.

“You blasphemous one!!!”

Just before that was about to be put into action.

Only then did her body, which had been standing like a wooden statue, begin to turn towards them.

And…

“…Huh?”

Their actions stopped as soon as they engraved what was cradled in her arms in their eyes.

The fiery emotions subsided instantly with the exclamation uttered, and soon everyone’s gaze began to focus on something cradled in her arms.

What exists there is a demon. A monstrosity created by all parts of the human body tangled haphazardly…

It was clearly a being that should be called that.

-Uh, ah…

But what is it that I see with my own eyes now?

Wriggling fingers, and clear eyes following that movement.

As the being, whose head was still wobbling as if unable to even balance its body, smacked its lips, the woman cradling it supported the back of its head and began to take a step towards them.

“Believers of Lagrid.”

While narrowing the distance with them like that.

She speaks while revealing more clearly what’s cradled in her arms.

“Do you…”

Before the followers of God whose only basis was faith.

“Do you believe in miracles?”

While presenting a noble being created by her own hands.

-Uh, ah…

As if proving that certainty.

-Waaaaaaaaah!!

In the arms of the woman with her back to the sunlight.

The cry announcing birth began to resound powerfully.