Volume 9, Chapter 23 – The Gospel’s Changing Prophecy

After ambushing Pepe in the courtyard and seeing her startled reaction, Yisi, thoroughly satisfied, enjoyed her breakfast in a good mood and then headed alone to the Divine Religion’s base.

She had some questions for Atwood.

To Yisi’s surprise, when she arrived at the main hall where Atwood resided, guided by a maid using the token Atwood had given her, she found Atwood, Lin, and seven other bishops standing before the Gospel, their expressions grave.

Did I come at a bad time?

But just leaving without a word didn’t seem right either. Yisi chose to wait outside the door until their discussion concluded.

“Just because of the Empire’s invitation, the Gospel changes its prophecy target? This is making a mountain out of a molehill! Atwood, what are you thinking? We should just refuse this invitation directly. If worse comes to worst, I can just make a trip to the Empire. At most, I’ll just waste time on meaningless things. That’s better than having the Gospel change its prophecy target. The time it takes to make a new prophecy is much longer than the time it takes for me to go to the Empire. You know this very well, don’t you?”

Even without seeing Lin’s expression or movements, Yisi could tell from her tone that she was extremely agitated. Furthermore, judging from the conversation, the reason they were gathered seemed to be that Lin had received an invitation from the Empire and Atwood wanted to use the Gospel to foresee the purpose behind it.

Atwood’s aged voice followed immediately.

“Lin, the Empire is not as friendly as we imagine. The reason the previous Popes insisted on moving our headquarters out of the Empire was precisely because they suspected the Empire would act against us. Now that the Empire has completed its unification, it’s time for them to set their sights outward.”

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“Your Holiness, I agree with Lin. Even if we have two Gospels and can prophesize two completely different things separately, the speed at which both Gospels predict one event is far faster than just one. If a conflict arises that requires a long interpretation, and we happen to be using one of the Gospels on the Empire, we might lose more than we gain.”

“I also agree with Lin. Our purpose is to save the lives of the continent in the future, not just to ensure our own survival.”

“Everyone, let’s not make a rash decision. Consider this: if the Empire truly intends to move against our Divine Religion, as His Holiness suggests, then inviting Lin to the Empire undoubtedly has ulterior motives. They might want to harm Lin, or use her to threaten us into paying some price. Although our goal is to save more people, if Lin, the key figure, is gone, everything will be for naught.”

“Who says Lin is the key? She is merely a false Hero! The true Hero should be Yisi Enya! Not only did she obtain the Dryad’s Nectar prophesied by the Gospel, but she also brought the Angel, who should belong only to the Hero, under her command! The reason the Gospel had us grant Lin power back then was because it intended to use Lin to lure out Yisi Enya, have her join us, and take the Hero’s seat! Now that the true Hero has appeared, this imposter has lost her value! Letting her go to the Empire is fine! We don’t need to change the Gospel’s prophecy target!”

A sharp, grating voice that made one uncomfortable all over.

Yisi recognized this voice. It was Bishop Gran, who had lost his sanity because the Hero’s position was taken from him.

Although she felt sorry for him after hearing his story, his current words and actions made it impossible for her to feel any sympathy. Atwood promoting Gran to Bishop out of guilt was definitely a merciful but mistaken decision.

Fortunately, neither Lin nor the other bishops paid any attention to Gran’s words, seemingly treating him as if he were invisible.

“Didn’t I tell you? I encountered the Demon Lord Tartaros in the Hels Kingdom! We might have escaped once, but who can guarantee we can evade her a second time? The magic radiating from her every move filled me only with terror. Even a thousand of me combined would be mere playthings in her hands! I must hurry and raise my level! For that, the Gospel’s prophecy absolutely cannot be interrupted! Every move the Demon Lord makes inevitably brings destruction! Since she failed to achieve her goal in the Hels Kingdom, she will surely reappear somewhere else!”

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“Lin, calm down. As you can all see, the Gospel has shown no new instructions. If the Demon Lord’s appearance had changed anything, the prophecy on the pages would have changed accordingly. Since nothing has appeared, it indicates that it was merely an accident.”

“I cannot agree.”

After Lin’s words fell, a noisy murmur, like whispering, filled the main hall.

The discussion lasted for about fifteen minutes before Atwood spoke.

“When the Gospel gives no instructions, important disputes must be resolved by seeking guidance from the Gospel. If the conflict itself concerns the Gospel, then it shall be decided by a vote among the Pope and the Bishops chosen by the Gospel. You have discussed long enough. Let us begin now. Those who agree to change the Gospel’s prophecy target, take one step back.”

Click, clack.

A few scattered footsteps.

Judging by Yisi’s hearing, it seemed five out of the nine had stepped back. In other words, the Pope’s opinion had won the vote.

There was a moment of silence.

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“Lin, you see the result.”

“…I maintain my opinion. May today’s decision not bear bitter fruit in the future.”

“Leave the Gospel in the main hall here untouched. Use the one in Lin’s possession for the prophecy.”

It sounded more like an announcement than something said specifically to Lin. Afterward, only indistinct, extremely faint and small sounds remained in the hall, reminiscent of monks chanting scriptures. Yisi guessed it must be some kind of ritual to make the Gospel change its prophecy target.

She kind of wanted to see what this ritual looked like.

Although she could use [Concealment] magic to sneak in and observe, this was, after all, an important meeting of the Divine Religion. She had no interest in eavesdropping, even though that was exactly what she was doing now. Unintentional overhearing and deliberate eavesdropping were two different things. The latter carried a much greater psychological burden.

“Preparations are complete. Let us begin.” The Pope’s voice suddenly turned serious. “O sublime and great Holy Book of the Gospel, heed the voices of us, your believers, and guide us to a future free of mist—”

After reciting a long string of blessings, so long that Yisi was about to yawn, Atwood finally got to the point.

“Reveal to us the way to overcome this crisis!”

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Tssss—

The sound was like plunging a red-hot iron rod into water.

In an instant, the entire hall erupted in an unparalleled blue light. The immense magical fluctuation even caused the air to distort. As if unable to withstand this magical tide, the barriers inscribed on the walls flickered erratically. Yisi was certain that if the shaft walls hadn’t been reinforced with magic circles, this pure magical power alone would have been enough to topple the entire structure like dominoes.

A full minute passed before the light finally dimmed. Immediately following, a collective gasp echoed through the hall.

“Even I can interpret such simple words! Your Holiness, your guess was correct! The Empire truly intends to act against us! The Gospel forbids Lin from going to the Empire!”

“How could this be… No, Atwood, besides forbidding me from going to the Empire, what does that string of text after it say? Only you can understand those.”

“…Even I cannot comprehend it all at once. Interpreting them requires time. But I think we can begin making preparations.”

“Such as?”

“Prepare to intercept the Empire.”