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Chapter 39
I loosened the cloth wrapped around my neck and placed it on the worn-out table.
“Do you know why an evil god is called an evil god?”
Instead of answering, I posed a question. Wendy’s shoulders gave a startled twitch. With a sulky face, she offered a half-hearted reply.
“Because… they’re bad?”
“That’s right, bad. A true god cherishes their believers, loves them, and sees them as precious. But an evil god is different. An evil god doesn’t trust their followers—”
I leaned forward slightly.
“—they trust their followers’ desires.”
Wendy blinked, clearly lost. She didn’t understand why I was suddenly talking about this.
“An evil god fulfills the wishes of those who follow them. Any wish, no matter what.”
People were lured in by that sweet whisper—promises that any wish could be granted.
And once they became believers, they offered sacrifices to the god in exchange for their desperate desires.
This wasn’t common knowledge. I had only learned it after being elevated to Cardinal, when I was allowed into the restricted archives to read the old texts.
“That’s absurd.”
Wendy cut in sharply, rejecting the idea.
Her response was natural—exactly how ordinary people would react.
“It is absurd. Most people would think so. But… what if someone saw a miracle with their own eyes?”
My question silenced her.
“The method is simple. Become a believer, obey their commands, and offer the sacrifices they demand.”
“S–Sacrifices?”
“Yes. Sacrifices.”
“But… the temples also offer tributes every year. Isn’t it the same?”
“Not at all. The Filinau Empire’s temples never sacrifice people.”
At that, Wendy let out a strangled gasp.
“W-What did you just say?”
“People. The only offering an evil god accepts is the life and soul of a human being.”
Of course, this was knowledge no ordinary person could know, so I understood her confusion.
“That’s impossible. How could a god demand something so cruel?”
“That’s why they’re called an evil god. Would they be called that for no reason?”
“I thought… it was just because the Ozent Empire worshipped them.”
I nodded, since that wasn’t entirely wrong.
The Ozent Empire had once worshipped the evil god as their patron deity, offering up sacrifices in exchange for immense power and military might. With that strength, they had begun conquering the continent.
Many nations were on the brink of ruin, nearly erased from history, when a miracle occurred.
At that time, a Saintess of the Filinau Empire offered a desperate prayer. Her plea reached the goddess, who answered.
By divine providence, the power granted to the Ozent people by the evil god vanished. Stripped of their strength, the empire collapsed in defeat and was destroyed.
Thus, the deity they worshipped was branded an evil god, dishonored and erased from history.
Or rather—supposed to have been erased.
But in truth, their faith survived, passed down in secret. To avoid the same path of destruction, they grew their power quietly, carefully, over a very long time.
And now, with unrest spreading through the empire once more, the gods had granted Leandros a holy mission.
“Is… is this really true?”
“Why would I lie to you?”
I chuckled at her dazed face, then turned toward an old mirror in the room.
No matter how plain I dressed, my appearance couldn’t be hidden. An immigrant girl with no parents, protected only by an older sister—
“I look like the perfect target for abduction, don’t I?”
Even without me spelling it out, Wendy understood I was referring to myself. Her expression tightened instantly.
I could see her already wracking her brain over how to report this to my “true master.”
“What if… what if I get kidnapped instead?”
“Would that work?”
At my dry reply, Wendy clutched her hair with both hands, looking ready to scream in frustration.
From that day, we fell into a routine.
In the mornings, we took walks to tour the territory. We stopped by the library, pretending to study imperial knowledge. Sometimes we visited the temple to offer prayers.
We always returned home before nightfall. To the street vendors we had befriended, we joked about how carefully we locked our doors.
Three uneventful days passed.
On the fourth, during our morning walk, I was kidnapped.
In the most unexpected way imaginable.
An old woman was struggling with a heavy load. Wendy asked to help her, and I allowed it.
The woman’s destination turned out to be a tavern, famous in the town.
The owner? Or just a worker?
I thought it odd, but when she insisted on serving us tea to show her gratitude, we followed.
Yet before we could even finish our cups, everything went black.
When I awoke, my hands and feet were bound.
“That woman wasn’t just some poor old granny…!”
Wendy’s voice trembled with fury as she struggled uselessly against her ropes.
I, however, couldn’t help but admire the cleverness of the trap. Using pity to lure us in—truly wicked.
“Wow, they’re just as pretty as the rumors said.”
“Told you.”
Two men entered as we came to. Their hulking builds and rough faces told me immediately: escaping by force would be nearly impossible.
“The older one’s plain, though.”
“Compared to the younger sister, her looks don’t shine at all.”
“What did you just say? I’m already mad about being kidnapped, and now you’re rating our faces?!”
Wendy’s loud protests only made them laugh.
“Ha! First time I’ve seen a girl shout like this even when tied up.”
“Means she’s got stamina. Perfect for a slave. When’s the ship leaving again?”
“In a week.”
“Then lock up the older sister till then. Send the younger one off first.”
“Thought so.”
They spoke casually, then approached. Wendy kicked and thrashed in protest, but it was useless.
“So quiet, huh? Must be scared out of her mind. Come on, up you go.”
The smaller man grabbed me by the arm. At once, Wendy screamed louder.
“No! Let Lys go!”
Her violent resistance made one of the men hastily gag her with a cloth. Soon after, Wendy slumped over, unconscious.
The man holding me sneered.
“Relax. It wasn’t poison. But if you cause trouble like your sister, next time it might be.”
The perfect threat. I twisted my face in anger, then lowered my head as if crushed.
“That’s more like it.”
Satisfied, the men dragged me outside, leaving Wendy behind.
“Finally taking her, eh?”
As we exited the building, I froze at the sight of the man waiting.
“Didn’t I tell you? A fine catch, this one. Only been here a short time, no family but her sister—no one’s going to file a missing report.”
It was the fruit vendor. The same one who had first greeted us with warm kindness.
And now, he took a fat purse of coins with glee, walking away with a spring in his step.
“In a strange town, never trust kindness without reason.”
The kidnapper at my side offered the cruel lesson, seeing my shock.
This is surprising…
In this life, I had grown used to surrounding myself with kind, guileless people. I had almost forgotten how vile humans could be.
“Come on, we’ve got customers waiting. Move!”
While I was still reeling, they shoved me into a cart. The wheels rattled as it set off.
From outside came the sound of commotion—new customers arriving.
I turned my head, but the guard inside pressed a blade to my neck.
“If you so much as try to cry for help, I’ll stab you right here. Got it?”
“…”
“And not just you. Your sister dies next if you pull anything. Think you can bear that?”
If we had truly been siblings, the threat might have worked.
Then again, even if Saint or Roy were taken hostage, I doubt I’d care much. That was how little attachment I felt.
The hard mask I wore seemed to convince him.
“Good. You understand.”
The man smirked, satisfied, as the cart rolled to its destination.
A cold, damp prison.
“Well, it’s been a while! You’ve been complaining there weren’t any decent goods, haven’t you?”
The man led me inside, where a knight in full armor greeted him warmly.
And in that moment, I realized—
I had been dragged into the Count’s underground dungeon.
