"Hello, Allie."
"Hi, Tez."
The exchange of rather casual greetings made their hearts ache because they knew they could only enjoy a brief moment of peace.
Ailette put a smile on her face. "You've bought quite a lot of guests. I'm not really happy to see them, but I opened the gates nonetheless because I heard you were here."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't travel alone. The religious order always needs to flaunt their influence with numbers."
"Yeah, I know. You don't have to apologize about that."
"This isn't ideal, but thanks for opening the gates for me, Allie."
"Don't mention it."
"How are you feeling?" Tesilid asked.
"I'm completely fine now. Were you worried about me?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Describe to me how worried you felt."
His expression suddenly changed. "I thought I would die," he said honestly.
Ailette was stunned.
"I would have killed myself along with this world if you never woke up again."
Many gasped at this point, including Ailette. But that was all the time they had to catch up with each other.
"Allie."
Tesilid's voice sounded different from the way he usually called her. Everyone at the plaza could tell the serious talk was about to begin.
"The Vatican told me something strange," he continued. "They said you believe in another god. Tell me. Is this true?"
She didn't say anything back.
Tesilid spoke in his calm and affectionate way with his deep, baritone voice. But nothing tugged at Ailette's heart as effectively as that. The moment she had practiced in her head over and over was finally here, but she could only say one word after clenching her fists tightly enough.
"Yes," she finally muttered.
"Oh..."
His interjection sounded completely devoid of emotion. On the other hand, the people behind him were in an uproar.
"What?! D-did you hear that?"
"The Divine Emissary admitted it!"
"Heathen! She's a heathen!"
The customs of a monotheistic world were not easily altered. The knights started throwing dirty looks at Ailette as she slowly brought her gaze back up. She figured it might feel less painful to imagine the worst-case scenario beforehand, so she tried to imagine Tesilid feeling betrayed before confirming the sentiment on his face. But when she did look up, he threw her completely off guard.
"Allie, what is the name of the god you serve?"
She didn't know what to say.
"Please be honest and tell me their name."
She couldn't read his expressionâhis face could be settling into a bitter smile or about to break into a sob of gratitude. But for some reason, the look on his face seemed familiar.
Just then, a memory flashed before her eyes. His expression now was the same one he had worn after finding the Well of Immortality when he had heard where the Save Point artifact had come from. Ailette remembered what Tesilid had felt at the moment. It was the relief of finally being free. Could it be that this was the emotion he was feeling at the moment? Ailette decided to answer him out of a desire to see if that was true.
"Their name is the Voice that Shapes the World."
Her words instantly took effect.
â¬Â«System» Progress on [Calling of the Grand Priest of Voiceism] has been updated.â
It was worth noting that the knights on both sides weren't the only people gathered here. There were subjects of the duchy in the area as well.
â¬Â«Quest» Seventh [Calling of the Grand Priest of Voiceism]
Quest Requirements: Tell 1,000 people that you serve [The Voice that Shapes the World]
Quest progress: 1,000 of 1,000 people required]
â¬Â«Quest» The Seventh [Calling of the Grand Priest of Voiceism] has been completed.â
There were more than a thousand people gathered at the plaza, which immediately helped her finish her mission.
â¬Â«System» Collecting rewards from the quest. Your [God-Forsaken World] has turned into a [World With a God].â
It didn't exactly change the world in any particular way. In fact, no one, including Ailette, could really feel the change at all. But the Voice that Shapes the World did grant a little sign to show that the rules of existence have changed in this world. And it manifested through Ailette Rodeline, the medium between God and the world.
"W-what is that?!"
"It's a halo!"
Rays of divine light reacted with Ailette's powerful divinity and formed a curtain of light behind her, taking on a beautiful radial shape to become a halo, the sign of a blessed saint. People gasped as Ailette's amplified charisma turned the entire plaza into a sacred place. Her overbearing presence exerted pressure on the holy knights of Order and Goodness, stopping them from making any comments about Ailette's heresy as they desperately gasped for breath. The invaders were no longer allowed to breathe freely in the plaza, except for one person.
"Allie."
The handsome man's chest rose and fell. Despite his best efforts to control himself, the sound of his breath gave away his excitement.
"May I come close to you?" he asked.
His words made everyone in the plaza tense. What was the heathen judgment officer going to do now that the Divine Emissary had admitted to being a heathen? One had to assume the worst, but Ailette didn't seem to think so.
"Yes, you may."
She allowed Tesilid to get close to her. He openly displayed his joy as he slowly started walking toward her. When he took the first step, the knights of Heathfenrir flinched because they knew the master of the holy sword could unleash his weapon at any moment. When he took the second step, the holy knights of Elfenheim regained their breath and watched the whole thing unfold as spectators.
That's right, Sir Tesilid. Get close and make her drop her guard.
With the third step, he made everyone stop breathing, as if the entire plaza had turned into a vacuum. By the fourth step, the handsome man with silver hair was an arm's length away from Ailette and was beaming with a radiant smile. Then, he took the fifth and the final step.
Ailette's hands quivered when Tesilid drew closer, even though there was no more distance between them. The man's large hand cupped her cheek.
"Big Sis!" Ash shouted when he realized Ailette had let her guard down, but it was too late.
The man's gorgeous face was already the only thing she could see. His warm hand covered one side of her cheek while his lips parted with a soft breath. By the time Ailette realized what was going on, she was exchanging breaths with Tesilid, whose aquamarine eyes were already half closed.
She flinched and jerked backward, but he did not let her get away from him. He pressed his lips against hers and lusted after her breath. The kiss was unbelievably sensual for the pious holy knight that he was.
But just then, someone ruined the mood.
"That's the signal! Commence attackâ Ah!"
An aura blade flew toward the fanatic's face when he failed to read the room, cutting him off. Magram shuddered as he watched a flying sword land in the ground before his feet. Its source became clear when the sword of light returned to Tesilid.
As they parted, Tesilid breathed out in bliss and focused his gaze on Ailette. He ran a thumb across her moist lips, slowly regaining his usual composure upon suppressing his desire. He then made his next move.
Flop.
With everyone's eyes still fixed on him, he knelt before Ailette. He took on the tone of a pious holy knight once again and said, his tone reverent, "Your Eminence, the Divine Emissary."
"Tez?"
"I, Tesilid Argente, wish to be baptized."
It snapped Ailette out of the lingering stupor of the kiss and made her open her eyes wide in surprise. "Here? Are you serious?"
"Yes, I have always longed to convert," he explained. "I swear to serve the Voice that Shapes the World from this day forth until the day I die."
Ailette couldn't say anything for some time. She could hardly believe the best thing she could ever imagine had just happened.
But her silence made Tesilid anxious. He wished to be saved right away. And so, he conjured the most persuasive look he could muster and whispered, "Please, Allie. Take me."
Needless to say, Ailette could already see the system window hovering in front of her.
â¬Â«System» You have converted a heathen into a follower.â
There was only one thing left to do. Ailette placed her hand atop Tesilid's silver hair.
"I, Ailette Rodeline, baptize Tesilid Argente in the name of the Voice that Shapes the World."
â¬The Voice that Shapes the World says they are merciful enough to accept a troublemaker like him.â
â¬The Voice that Shapes the World promises Tesilid Argente a position as the Divine Emissary's personal guard.â
Tesilid had been a slave and a plaything for his god when he knelt down, but he rose a free man. He lifted his head high, as if he had opened his eyes in a new world. Then, he turned around. The first thing he did as a follower of Voiceism was to spread the good news to the holy knights of Elfenheim.
"Why don't you join me and convert as well? There is no hope in the Order and Goodness."
The holy knights were livid. Tesilid's conversion was no less shocking than the Divine Emissary's admission of heresy.
On the other hand, the Duchy's forces were jubilant in celebration.
"Well done, Brother!"
"That's my grandson-in-law!"
"I knew I could count on you, Son-in-Law!"
"Son-in-Law! We're going to celebrate and have roast goose for lunch!"
Tesilid smiled at the holy knights. "Now, please leave us if you aren't going to convert. I must go for lunch."
A dozen aura blades appeared behind him and blended with Ailette's halo. It was impossible to ignore the aura master's courteous request.
And so, the holy knights of Elfenheim had little choice but to quietly leave the duchy, just as they had entered it. This incident would later be remembered in the history of Voiceism as the Conversion of Feronsa, while the believers of Order and Goodness would recount it as the Humiliation in Feronsa.