I must have swayed on my feet without realizing it, because Narkhe lightly steadied my back.
Until now, I had only considered the completed Pleroma itself. Seeing an ordinary human become a Pleroma and appear before me, the shock came first.
I heard my own voice, speaking without my conscious intent.
"...Mr. Gelda Asman?"
"Yes, that's me."
The other party maintained his smile as he continued.
"Is it something important? It's raining, so please come in first."
* * *
Narkhe looked around the room with a stiff, hardened face.
Unlike the last time we visited, all the family photos that had been scattered around the room were gone.
But more than that, his attitude was astonishing.
'Does he not remember us?'
That was highly likely.
If you resurrect a dead 60-year-old as a 20-year-old, then the memories of the 40 years after age 20 would be gone.
And even if, by some chance, he did remember us, if it were a problem, Narkhe would have given me a signal.
Gelda Asman set teacups down on the table. A pungent mint scent spread.
"So, what brings you here?"
"We interviewed Mr. Gelda Asman a few days ago, and some additional questions came up, so we came to see you in person."
"Ah, the interview."
He narrowed his eyes, sweeping his gaze over us, then smiled as if regretful.
"Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to give you answers. If that's the reason, you probably came looking for my grandmother, Gelda Asman... She passed away a few days ago."
"...No, you are her."
Narkhe stared straight into his eyes and said.
It couldn't be helped.
There was an error in his words now.
From what we learned talking to them a few days ago, Gelda Asman's family had all died when they were young. Before the children even reached adulthood.
Since people in this era generally marry in their 20s or 30s, it was impossible for him to have grandchildren.
"I see. You must be grieving deeply, and I'm sorry if I've stirred up her memory unnecessarily."
"No, it's fine. It's a comfort that there are people who remember her good deeds and come looking for her."
"Were you close to her, Mr. Asman?"
"Yes, although I didn't see her often, she was like a spiritual pillar to me. She was someone I was proud of my whole life."
Gelda Asman smiled brightly with a satisfied expression.
"..."
It seems the Pleroma even scripts the scenario after resurrection.
I want to tell him to work on his acting skills.
Accepting death as a blessing isn't strange, but if you're going to act, it's better to rely on universality rather than revealing your own ideology like that. Smiling brightly when your respected grandparent died in an accident only makes the other party puzzled.
I asked Gelda Asman.
"By the way, it seems your names are the same."
"It's quite common to name children after parents or grandparents."
"Excuse me, but how old are you?"
Asman was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth.
"Twenty-five. Why do you ask?"
That pause was bothersome.
He had clearly stopped to think about his own age.
"No special reason for asking. You just seem around my age."
"Felix Vaichel, was it? How old are you, Mr. Vaichel?"
"Twenty-three."
That meant 24 in Korean age.
Although it was decided after consulting with friends, for a moment I wondered if we had gone a bit too far, considering I'm a high school sophomore.
But from what I remember, while my style changed, my face didn't change particularly much, so this level of exaggeration wasn't strange.
"Is the person next to you the same?"
"Yes."
"I see. A new media outlet, you say? I hope it goes well."
Asman said while reading the business card I gave him.
As we seemed to be running out of things to say, I asked him directly.
"I have a question I'd like to ask you, Mr. Asman. It won't be published, it's just a simple question, so please feel free to answer."
"Go ahead."
"Do you intend to continue the sponsorship your grandmother was doing?"
"The Heiligenji Orphanage story."
He stroked his chin and nodded.
"Of course. I should carry on her will. She only had me and my older brother left as family."
Here it begins.
Yes, he has no intention of giving up the orphanage.
The Pleroma do not engage in charity.
It's only natural that a price must be paid for resurrection, for receiving a blessing.
He will hand over the orphanage children to the Pleroma as that offering.
Looking into his clear eyes, different from what I saw a few days ago, I asked.
"You have an older brother. What does he think about sponsoring the orphanage?"
"Well. It seems all he thinks about now is business."
Gelda Asman laughed.
"..."
I had to desperately stop my expression from darkening.
It was clear that Abin Asman had also become a Pleroma.
When I met him a few days ago, he had stepped away from business and was living off the money he made in his youth.
'...He's reverted to his 20s way of thinking.'
Of course. They resurrected them from that era.
I don't know what the principle of resurrection is that returned everything to their youth... but they are not the people I met a few days ago. Forty years is more than enough time for a person to change multiple times.
And the Empire changed a lot in those 40 years.
The fact that they are adapting and living in a world that has changed to an earth-shattering degree without any issue is astonishing.
Resurrection or whatever, to them this must be like a time warp.
Even when I first fell into this place, I could hardly smile peacefully for the first few weeks.
But he smiles with a relaxed face, as if feeling no sense of alienation here, as if living a peaceful daily life no different from yesterday.
'It seems there was a corresponding benefit and shock.'
They must have been given a benefit worth moving 40 years through time. A benefit that could completely overturn their previous dissatisfying, frustrating life.
Of course, there would have been the Pleroma's doctrinal brainwashing, but what if, at the same time, their greatest desire was fulfilled?
So, before they adapted to an unchanging reality, from that era when 'once, I wanted to be a mage'...
"What are your thoughts on magic? It might be an unrelated question, but we're planning a special feature on social reform. We want to hear as many opinions as possible on a world that revolves around magic."
"If there were no magic, our world wouldn't have developed this quickly. Even if it differs from your opinion, Mr. Vaichel, I think the current structure, while having some unfair aspects, isn't wrong."
"...Then, Mr. Gelda Asman, have you ever thought about wanting to become a mage?"
At the same table, in the same seat, with the same person, I ask the same question.
I can't help but recall the answer the old man gave us a few days ago, with trembling hands clasped together, with eyes where stubbornness had melted away even if the color had faded and blurred.
I still vividly remember that gaze, as if he saw his younger self in a non-mage youth who wanted to become a mage.
'...Please.'
I prayed to something I didn't even know and clenched my fist tightly.
Then, Gelda Asman, who had been pondering, smiled brightly and wrinkled the bridge of his nose.
"Of course! Given the chance, I'd really want to. Honestly, living as a non-mage isn't easy. If I could use even a little magic... at least I wouldn't live being treated as less than human."
"..."
Narkhe bit his lip.
My shoulders, which had been completely tense, relaxed on their own.
Feeling all my energy drain away, I averted my gaze from him.
Let me correct that. Now, he is not the same person.
The old man I saw a few days ago is dead and gone. The person before me is a separate entity, disconnected from him.
'It feels like being at a funeral home.'
I quietly replied.
"I understand."
"Aren't you taking notes?"
"It's fine. I plan to organize simple Q&A after returning."
I received Asman's contact information, left, and headed silently toward the dormitory.
Narkhe was the same.
When we had run for a while and were nearing the school, Narkhe opened his mouth.
—"It's an insult to the deceased. I wonder if Mr. Asman would have wanted this."
—"Indeed."
He would never have wanted to live as an accomplice of the Pleroma.
It seems their yearning for magic from their youth was considerably stronger than I expected.
Narkhe, unable to wipe away the bitterness, let out a sigh. Then he said to me.
—"Lucas, I found out something today. Let's meet in the student council building basement at midnight. I'll call Leo and Elias too."
* * *
I finished the purification of the four countries promised for today and returned to the school just before midnight.
In the capital or Bavaria, armed mages with fierce expressions are patrolling the streets.
It's been about a week since the Pleroma caused the incident, but the number of people out on the streets is still noticeably reduced compared to before the incident.
I glanced down at the scenery outside the school from the dormitory, read today's newspaper, and warped to the meeting place.
Elias looked up and spoke.
"You're here."
The three were already seated. They must have already discussed the Pleroma, as their expressions weren't great.
Sure enough, a newspaper article about the Heiligenji deaths was spread on the table.
Narkhe straightened his leaning body and spoke.
"Since Lucas is here too, let's talk seriously."
"Right."
"As you know, each Pleroma receives a special ability. Meaning, Pleroma who aren't just lay believers."
In other words, the first-generation Pleroma.
Not just those who believe in the Pleroma doctrine, but those who possess the Pleroma's特质.
Narkhe looked around at his friends and continued.
"The special ability Gelda Asman received is similar to mine."
"Yours?"
"I have Insight as my innate ability. It's not that amazing a level, but I can grasp roughly what situation someone is in or what they're thinking without them saying it."
"That's cool."
Elias nodded more calmly than expected. He seemed to have guessed.
More than that, if it's similar, it becomes quite problematic.
"Gelda Asman can also sense others' emotions like I can. But it's limited solely to emotions. He can't know the situation or unspoken thoughts like I can."
'Hmm.'
I understand why he received that ability.
Of course, maybe he didn't 'receive' it; perhaps this was his latent potential, which made him a target for the Pleroma. Anyway...
His ability is one with exceptional utility for manipulating people.
Especially, it would be easier to apply to children.
Who would hold negative feelings toward someone who reads their heart and gives them what they want first?
In the novel, the Pleroma, as sponsors, frequented the orphanage, often participated in events, and met the children.
The environment for exploitation is already prepared.
"I'm not sure what ability Abin Asman received. But just looking at Gelda Asman, it's clear this ability can be used dangerously. Lucas, don't you think he'll go to the orphanage to carry out his work?"
Narkhe said, looking at me.
He seemed to have already grasped the conclusion I reached, and was likely bringing it up to have me explain to our friends.
"Right. I think Asman is either connected to the Pleroma causing the disappearances in that area, or will be soon."
"Will they move as a group?"
Leo asked.
"Yes. To pay the price for receiving a new life, they'll need to offer decent results. Maybe the Pleroma side orchestrated this to capture more children, more cleanly."
"Hmm, the problem is the timing of execution. We can't stick to them 24/7, and to monitor what happens at the northern capital orphanage..."
Everyone sank into thought, and silence continued.
Finally, Leo spoke.
"We can just use the same method the Pleroma used."
"How so?"
"If the Pleroma made someone related to the orphanage an accomplice to avoid suspicion, we can also place someone there. Plainclothes police would be hard to arrange, so we can have them watch and contact us immediately if something strange happens."
That's a good method.
"Okay, let's do that exactly."
Instead, we'll need to change the assigned personnel daily to avoid suspicion.
I continued immediately.
"But we need another method. Plainclothes police can only detect a problem after it happens. They can't hear the plans in someone's head."
"...That's true."
Leo nodded.
But it's not like Narkhe can go there every day and admire his face either.
'Let me think. There must be a way.'
I closed my eyes for a moment and pressed hard on my brow bone.
Then I opened them almost immediately.
"...Emotion."
"Huh?"
I read some magic books about emotions after coming here. Among them were methods of manipulating emotions using magical potions.
"Leo, can you get me some usable love potions?"
"What?"
Leo asked back with a dumbfounded expression.
After saying it, a few song lyrics flashed through my mind, making me let out a slight, pointless laugh, but anyway, that's not important.
Elias clapped his hands, cackling, then barely stopped laughing and said to me.
"To feed it? To make the Pleroma fall for you?"
"Certainly could get information that way..."
Leo muttered with a dry laugh. Then he looked straight at me and said.
"Okay, there are potions. They're on the borderline of illegality, but if the target is a Pleroma, it shouldn't be a big problem. But how will you administer and maintain it? Go there every day and secretly put it in his tea or something?"
"No."
I shook my head and continued.
"I'm going to drink it."
—-----------
T/N:
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