Chapter 177

Program fraud case (4)

The singing, dancing, drinking, and psychedelics were the same as before. When the excitement reached its peak, Madame Lamor brought someone up the center platform. It was a medium height man with a white chiton, a white expressionless mask, and a hood covering his head. The 'prophet' was real.

He was a real wizard.

As soon as he murmured behind his mask, a tremendous ethereal storm shook the whole garden. The glare blinded Kleio for a few seconds. Ether spread out over the mansion's courtyard and gave off a bluish-purple glow before it settled down like a flame losing heat. As if Madame Lamor's garden had become a giant snowfield, purple etheric snowflakes soared through the air. Kleio's jaw dropped under his mask. This was really ridiculous.

'The color of the ether...does that mean he's an arch-mage?'

A magic formula emerged under the dome-shaped curtain of ether. However, it was strangely entangled and twisted, making it difficult to determine what it was. Even though Promise was fully deployed, Kleio couldn't identify the identity of the prophet. Promise didn't announce a level or a unique skill. There was only one message that came up with the white-robed man's appearance.

[―Disturbing the output format of the Word.]

The twins seemed happy with the sights, and Cel, who was standing back, seemed not to be looking beyond her mask. And, the people fell into a crucible of madness. It appeared that they had suffered from group hypnosis.

"Have you seen the flame of grace? It is the light that guides us to look outside the world."

Some fell to their knees, and some began to point at the self-proclaimed prophet. The ether laser show grew more and more spectacular. Tears and screams spread through the garden in response.

"Woahhh!"

"The prophet!"

Kleio couldn't figure out what was going on. The peculiar ethereal light was nothing but radiance that swelled in an amorphous form, yet people were in tears as they watched it.

"Can you see the other world?"

"I can see it."

"Ah! Oh my God."

"Do you see the tower that touches the sky and the light that banishes the night?"

"I can see it."

"Did you see it?! The birds of steel and the fire of the Gods that follow them?"

A man approached the prophet, trembling, and kissed his feet.

"I see! A huge tower, a bird of fire."

'What the hell are you seeing...?!'

The people raised their heads in different directions.

'Everyone seems to be seeing something different. How is this possible...?'

The twins and Cel were also caught up in the crowd, but they didn't seem very excited.

'Is the author showing them a vision? That doesn't seem to work for those without ether sensitivity.'

It was challenging to maintain his thoughts as his surroundings grew more frantic.

Thump, thump, thump.

Thump, thump.

About thirty people had taken off their shoes, and we're stepping through the grass with their bare feet. They held each other's hands and began to spin around the prophet, growing faster and faster. Kleio was swept away by the people and was forced to do the same. Those who fell into the frenzy seemed to be stronger.

"Did you see it?"

"I saw it!"

"It's a different world!"

"Ah!"

Some responded differently. As if they had responded to Madame Lamor's invitation several times, they were the ones familiar with leading people and the atmosphere.

"How did I forget this?"

"I remember everything now."

"This mystery and joy...to be able to taste it again...."

Kleio's feet got tangled as he watched the reactions of the fanatics with regular attendance. Having missed the hand of the person in front of him, he panted as if he might vomit and lay down on the ground.

'This isn't a normal séance. I don't know if it's a cult of pseudo-religious fanatics, though.'

More and more people fell and began to sob or stare into the air. The corners of their mouths, visible under the half-peeled masks, were filled with laughter. Eventually, someone did end up vomiting, so Kleio pulled himself to the edge of the garden.

'Gather people who like the occult, give them alcohol and hallucinogens, and then show them a spectacle. Of course, it works.'

There were very few skilled wizards, and most of them were researchers or teachers, so it was rare for people to see this kind of magic. In the first place, it was very rare to use magic as a tool of entertainment. Aside from Kleio, Ezra was the only likely candidate for such a spell.

'It looked like the same snowflakes and flash of light I made before.'

Even after two years had passed, school officials and students still sometimes chattered after the snow Kleio had conjured during the final exams in the first year. Those with ether were usually indifferent to the occult, so there must've been none who recognized the prophet's identity.

Also, there were very few with ether sensitivity among Melchior's agents, so they must've lost their memory because of this strange magic.

The atmosphere continued to heat up as Kleio laid down, everyone collapsing right after their dancing reached its peak.

In the midst of it, the prophet descended under the altar. Behind his head was a halo of blue-and-gold ether. No matter how civilized these citizens were, it was a figure that could make them call out for God.

"Everyone has seen what I have, so listen now."

Everything ceased except for their gasping and sobbing. It was a silence filled with wonder and exhaustion. The prophet glanced down at each of them, raising tension, and Kleio could feel his stomach tighten. In the silence, Kleio could clearly distinguish the hooded man's voice. It was that of an ordinary young man, making it unbelievable he had such a terrifying ether.

"I am the prophet Marqion. I have seen a new divinity come from the blood of the world. I know that there will come a God of mercy who doesn't achieve justice through oppression."

Kleio wriggled like a stabbed worm.

'This is another story I've heard a lot.'

"Eternal repetition of history, endless repetitive suffering isn't true salvation. How would the God who created us be like the God who saved us? A God who has brought up this imperfect world and made us live again and again in pain cannot bring true salvation."

As he listened, Kleio's confusion grew.

'Does this mean that he looked into the previous world? Is it intentional, or is it another mistake?'

"When we believe, see, and read, every one of us could possess miracles. In love and faith."

As Marqion raised his arms, ether began to rise again from his fingertips. People looked at the prophet as if possessed.

"[I have the power to prophesy, knowing all mysteries and all knowledge, and having all faith to move mountains, but without love, I am nothing. I give all that I have, and I give my body to fire, but without love, it is of no benefit to me.]." 1)

The strange ether wrapped around each of them as if to appease their exhaustion. It wasn't a technique that someone with normal ether flow could do, yet that wasn't what surprised Kleio the most.

'That mantra... that's a line from the Bible!'

He had no doubt.

"Did you see? This new world of mine, a strange revelation, is from outside this world. Cross-communication is possible. I've looked beyond the boundaries of the world and have realized a truth. The world is made of text, and it is readable."

Kleio felt like a jolt of lightning had passed through him.

'Where did this guy come from? Can he just spread the secret of the world in this way?'

Was Kleio not the only one to be put into the manuscript from another world? As Kleio heated up, the atmosphere around him grew more modest. As the sobbing faded, Marqion continued to speak with the halo behind his head.

"The end has come before us, who have lived blindly and illiterate of the truth. That day isn't far."

'No, but doing this is weird.'

The twins pretended to fall and Cel, lying curled up behind the prophet, met Kleio's gaze. Even if she didn't say it, he could tell what she was thinking.

'Isn't this bullshit to make money?'

'What's the end goal?'

Kleio immediately abolished the idea that Mousai sent the prophet. The religion of the Goddess Mnemosyne had only hymns and poems recited by the priest and no scriptures. Of course, there was no concept of an absolute end to come one day. The apocalypse and salvation were religious sticks and carrots, and without them, threats wouldn't work well.

'All known countries in this world have Mnemosyne and her daughters as Gods. So, the rules are regulations of religion aren't strong, and the church's authority is weak. It's designed to block religious wars....'

To the people of this world, divine power was called God's blessing, magic was God's grace, and unique skills were God's choice. The vague distinction between everyday miracles diluted the absoluteness of religion. In this world where religion didn't kill people, someone who spread apocalyptic nonsense was the cancer of society. The false prophet was like the Europeans spreading smallpox to tribal communities that had no immunity.

'This is a world without extremist religion, so why are you doing this?'

Perhaps...

'...Did he really look into the world before?'

If Melchior could do it, it wouldn't be impossible for others.

'How have you summarized the basics of pseudo-religion then?'

Marqion's words continued.

"I've seen the fate of the world in one book, and I've conveyed it to you again. The sight is the end of the world."

"Ahhh!"

"A bird of fire!"

"The river!"

"Then, prophet, will our world end that way?"

"Exactly."

"What should we do?"

Marqion fixed his gaze in the air and stretched out a gloved hand, speaking like he was reading some invisible text.

"Follow me. One who has unconditional love and faith will survive after the end."

"The prophet."

"In the day of judgment and death, even if the whole earth is burned, only those who correctly listen and follow my words will be saved forever! Do you believe?"

"I believe!"

"We believe!"

People struck the ground and shed tears in an unpleasant and eerie collective madness. The fire and candles vanished during shock and horror, leaving only the moonlight as the prophet raised a hand to signal at something.

"[And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.]" 2)

1) 『Kai Korean Version』「1 Corinthians」 13:1-3.

2) 『King James Bible』, 「Revelation」 21:1.