You carefully observed the reactions around you.

Those who had been looking at Sophia with disapproving eyes until just a moment ago now held quite different emotions in their eyes.

Shock and awe.

The holy power Sophia was emitting was that intense and pure.

It was incomparable to the holy power emitted by those who had proven their qualifications through the emerald so far, or even to the holy power that the original priests had emitted to heal wounds.

To this, the elderly priest said with a face full of emotion, “Oh, great Lord! I express my gratitude for allowing me this great encounter. Child, if it’s not rude, would you please tell me your name?”

“I’m Sophia, daughter of Disthenes.”

“Yes, Sophia. I’ve heard your opinion about the selection well. However, this is a law set by heaven, and as a mere servant, it’s impossible for me to change or cancel it at will. To convey your intentions as well, wouldn’t you come with me to God’s side?”

“I want to stay on earth. There’s so much to learn and explore.”

Sighs leaked out from here and there.

This was because Sophia had rejected, without a moment’s hesitation, the opportunity to go to God’s country, which not only the poor and hungry, but even those living the most wealthy and abundant lives in the city, would desire.

Although he might have been angry out of embarrassment, surprisingly, the elderly priest didn’t seem particularly displeased.

Unlike the priests you had seen so far—though you hadn’t seen many—this elderly priest seemed to be a personally moderate and excellent person.

If you looked at it with a skeptical eye, he might have just become intoxicated by the holy power before his eyes to the extent that he would accept whatever Sophia said positively.

“Yes, if that’s your choice, I can’t force you. However, if it doesn’t interfere, I’d like to continue talking with you about faith and holy power in the future. Would you allow it?”

“If I can broaden my insights by talking with you, Priest, that would be such a valuable time. I’m so pleased you’ve invited me.”

Murmur, murmur.

You listened to the whispers of the people around.

“So, is the Priest saying he’ll take Disthenes’s daughter as a disciple now?”

“No, no. It’s not ‘I’ll teach you,’ but ‘I’ll talk with you,’ isn’t it? He’s just designated that girl as an equal discussion partner!”

“Oh my, what an absurd thing. I hear even princes from other countries take him as their master, but such a person with a mere young girl?”

“She’s not just a young child. Look at that holy power! She must be a girl chosen by the Lord, no doubt!”

Most of the whispers were like this, but among the relatively minority opinions, there were some different ones.

“Oh, I had no small amount of complaints and doubts about that selection method, but I couldn’t dare to speak out of fear of the reactions around me. And now a young girl like that points it out so refreshingly.”

“Isn’t it possible because she’s a young child who doesn’t know much about the ways of the world?”

“Tsk tsk, your eyes are also wrapped in prejudice. Look at that attitude and the content of what she’s saying, is that at a level to be dismissed as a child with short-sighted thoughts?”

“Not just that. She shows a detached attitude even in front of an opportunity others would desire, truly an exemplary attitude as a scholar.”

You tilted your head.

Honestly, you felt like “Is that really so?” to some extent.

But you could tell that the atmosphere of the city itself was focusing on Sophia and marveling at her actions.

Since that “marvel” didn’t only include positive emotions, there were also those who directed gazes of envy or wariness, but no one ignored her as just a mere girl like before.

You were convinced that Sophia’s position would completely change due to this incident.

However, it was then.

– Swish.

The red mist, which had thinned enough not to greatly hinder your activities, began to thicken again.

People, the ground, buildings were covered in mist, blurring their outlines.

Perhaps even space or time itself.

Strange phenomena began to unfold.

Everything distorted as if flowing backwards, and the conversation that had just unfolded repeated again.

However, the elderly priest’s reaction was quite different.

“How foolish, how foolish! Do you dare to try to measure God’s will with your meager insights! Truly arrogant!”

“I’m sorry, Priest. Please forgive me just once!”

The priest denounced Sophia, Sophia’s father repeatedly bowed his head, and people looked at Sophia with contempt or mockery.

You frowned with non-existent brows.

It was an excessively artificial development.

You felt the unpleasantness of seeing a story that had been forcibly twisted from its original flow and modified to suit someone’s taste.

The red mist gathered and scattered here and there, creating mirage-like scenery in various places, and it seemed as if it was showing Sophia’s future.

She was confined to her home, rejected by her father as a shame to the family, and after her father’s death, her new head of household, her older brother, openly mistreated her, and even the servants of the house ignored and mocked her.

She fell ill in a dark room and died weakened, unable to even eat proper meals.

You tried to swing your sword to cut through the red mist, but the mist didn’t even budge.

The Tin Knight had techniques for fighting beings without substance, but you weren’t in a complete state right now.

It was then that you felt impatient.

[‘Dorothea’ is calling the ‘Tin Knight’!]

[‘Adelaide’ is calling the ‘Tin Knight’!]

Your chest.

The brooch that usually conveyed your will to your companions was faintly glowing and driving away the mist.

[‘Dorothea’ says she’ll get you out now, so wait a moment!]

It seemed that your companions on the outside, or reality, were trying something to help you.

It was truly reassuring, but you shook your head.

You instinctively felt that you shouldn’t leave here now, that you shouldn’t leave Sophia like this.

You didn’t understand the specifics of your current situation, but you were certain that you shouldn’t leave that unattended.

Therefore, you shouted.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ informs that something strange is attacking Sophia!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says we need to give substance to something without substance!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ requests an enemy to defeat!]

It was a vague and unreasonable explanation.

But you believed.

In your contractor, your partner, your witch.

Naturally, your witch lived up to that trust.

《—The game will now begin.》

You heard the narration of the Game Book that was somehow mechanical, but had been heard to the point of boredom during repeated training with Adelaide.

At the same time, a change occurred in the red mist.

The red mist that had eroded the surrounding area suddenly began to gather in one place.

The mist began to peel off from the ground, buildings, and people.

And, in front of you, the world split into two, each reflecting a different scenery.

On one side was what was probably the original history where Sophia was recognized by everyone in the city.

On the other side was a history where Sophia met a miserable death, intervened by something unknown.

《STAGE 1st. VS ≡二三二≡≡二三二≡》

《If you win the confrontation, you can choose the desired history.》

《If you lose the confrontation, ≡二三二≡≡二三二≡ will ≡二三二≡≡二三二≡ with Sophia Hubris’ body》

Some content couldn’t be heard properly, perhaps because the red mist was resisting the power of the Game Book, but it didn’t matter.

At least a clear “enemy” had appeared before your eyes.

Something that could only be described as a human-shaped entity covered in red mist, with even its features unclear, rushed at you.

You grasped your sword and cut down the opponent in one breath.

It fell without putting up any proper resistance, and the mist that formed its body scattered back to various parts of the world.

However, some of it seeped into your body as if leaving a curse.

《You have won the confrontation. You can choose the desired history.》

《≡二三二≡≡二三二≡ denies your existence. Your existence deteriorates. Please be careful in the next confrontation.》

You realized that your body had become a little more sluggish and weaker.

But the price was worth it.

When you chose the original history as your desired history, the distorted history disappeared and Sophia’s life returned to its normal track.

People showed reverence and praise to Sophia, and the red mist circled around as if looking for a new opportunity.

You were certain. This fight would be quite the long one.

***

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