Chapter 29: Side Story – Selene (1)

[Author]

Before we begin, let me explain something.

This side story—*Selene Episode*—is about the past of the protagonist, Selene.

It is a two-part episode that delves into her life in another world. I uploaded it with the hope that readers would better understand the actions of the main character, Lene. Unlike the main story, the atmosphere of this episode is not light. Please note that you don’t need to read this side story to understand the main story.

I realized I was an orphan at the age of two, when memories from my past life returned.

“I didn’t have parents in my past life… and I don’t have any now either.”

It was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh.

But the small consolation was that, compared to my previous life—where I had run away from home and lived on the cold streets—this life was much better.

At least here, I had food, clothes, and a proper bed.

“Well, it’s a fantasy world after all.”

I let out a laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, yet I couldn’t deny the warmth of the bed that I found comforting.

If someone were to write a novel about my current life, it would probably start like this:

“I reincarnated, and it was a warm fantasy world.”

Time passed much faster than I expected. It had been two years since my past life’s memories returned, and now I was four years old. I could walk, run, and speak with no problems.

The only issue? I was a girl.

…Well, it couldn’t be helped.

Who could have predicted I’d be reborn as a girl, after having been a boy in my previous life? But it still felt strange, uncomfortable even.

Especially when it came to things like… bathrooms.

Yeah, bathrooms…

“Don’t run in the hallway, Belle!”

I was staying in a certain monastery.

It belonged to something called the Iah Order, I think? From what I heard, this world is ruled by two deities: Tet, a male god, and Iah, a female goddess.

…Not that I cared. Even if this world was a fantasy, there’s no way gods actually exist.

From the perspective of this world, Earth would probably seem like a fantasy world too.

A place where you could know everything happening across the globe through a small rectangular device, and fly in the sky without magic—that’s the kind of world Earth was. If that’s not fantasy, then what is?

In other words, from this world’s perspective, Earth is a fantasy world without gods.

So, from my perspective, it’s only natural that this so-called fantasy world also doesn’t have gods. Everything the Order says is a lie—a trick to take money from people.

“Now, let’s all pray to the goddess.”

At Sister Lily’s words, I quietly closed my eyes and thought, “If gods really do exist, why don’t you talk to me?”

Another year passed quickly, and I turned five. On my fifth birthday, someone came looking for me.

“I heard there’s a child named Selene in this monastery.”

He introduced himself as a Holy Knight from the Papal Office of the Iah Order, and his words made every nun’s face turn pale.

…Was something wrong?

“Where is the child named Selene?”

“That’s me.”

“Lene!”

“Shh. I’ve come here to speak with this child, so I would appreciate it if others did not interfere.”

He waved his hand, gesturing for the others to step back, and then slowly looked me over.

“Silver hair. Red eyes. Just as I heard, a truly unusual appearance.”

At his words, I quietly clenched my teeth.

Yeah, I know my appearance is unusual.

Because of it, kids my age avoid me, so I’m always alone.

“A prophecy has been given. And I was ordered to bring you to the Vatican.”

“Pffft…!”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at his words.

A prophecy, really? Prophecy…!

Is this guy seriously old enough to believe in something so ridiculous?

It’s probably just some pointless errand. How foolish.

I don’t know why I’m the target of this errand, but there’s no way a prophecy exists, right?

“What is so amusing?”

“It’s funny that someone your age believes in something as absurd as a prophecy.”

“…That remark could be considered heresy, so I would advise you to be careful.”

“Do you get executed for heresy?”

“It’s possible.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“…Very well.”

With that as our last exchange, the self-proclaimed holy knight effortlessly lifted me into his arms and began walking.

“Can’t you put me down? I’ll come along willingly.”

“I can’t risk you running away.”

In the end, I had to remain in the arms of this so-called holy knight until we arrived at the Vatican.

Once we arrived, I was dragged in front of a door somewhere.

“Where are we?”

“This is the room where the Saintess spends her days. From here on, I can no longer accompany you.”

“…!”

Now it’s a Saintess,  a Saintess…!

“I thought you said you’d be careful?”

“Oh, right.”

I don’t want to die, so I better keep my mouth shut.

That was the last conversation I had with the self-proclaimed holy knight. Stifling my laughter, I slowly opened the door.

A long corridor stretched out before me.

After walking down the corridor for about five minutes, another door appeared.

It was a golden door, shining brilliantly.

Is this the place I’m supposed to enter?

With that thought in mind, I slowly opened the door.

“You’ve arrived, Miss Selene.”

Inside was a young woman with blue hair.

She sat gracefully on a floor covered in luxurious silk, wearing a gentle smile.

Since I’d been told this was where the Saintess stayed, I guess that’s the so-called Saintess.

“Hello, Saintess Pff… ma’am…”

“As I’ve heard, you are quite unique. Do you know why I called for you, Miss Selene?”

“…I was told something about a prophecy calling for me.”

“Yes, that’s correct. And the matter I need to discuss with you is—”

Just as she began to speak,

“It’s not about her. It’s about me.”

The Saintess’s demeanor changed.

A completely different atmosphere from the person I had just been conversing with.

The saintess I had been conversing with until just a moment ago had a gentle expression. But the one standing before me now had a much more playful atmosphere.

“That guy, seriously. How could he make such a mistake? It’s like he’s some kind of fool. Don’t you think so too?”

“Ah, um… what are you talking about…?”

“What do you think I’m talking about? The mistake of dumping the birth of a world onto me. And the mistake of making a boy be born as a girl.”

At her words, my mind went completely blank.

How could she possibly know that?

I’ve never spoken about Earth, or about my previous life. Not even once.

But this woman in front of me, how could she possibly know…?

“You know the answer, don’t you?” she said.

She claimed she was a goddess.

She spoke with ease about the truth I’ve denied, and will continue to deny.

“Still don’t believe me? Well then… fine. Watch closely.”

The saintess smiled widely as she said that.

And at the same time, *splurt!* A sound rang out, and her head exploded.

It exploded. It exploded. Her head exploded.

Fresh blood splattered. The sticky, sickly smell of it filled the air, spreading everywhere. Red—

…What?

My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, powerless.

There was no answer.

Of course there wasn’t.

What lay before me was a corpse. A corpse with its head blown off.

“What… is this…?”

“How about now?”

And in the time it took me to blink, in that very brief moment,

the saintess had returned to her original form, smiling as she spoke to me.

“…Huh?”

Had I just hallucinated what I saw?

That couldn’t be. The blood was still splattered all around, and the sticky, metallic smell of it lingered in the air.

And more than anything, her right hand was still drenched in blood.

“Magic can’t bring the dead back to life. But in my case, I can do it by paying a price. This girl, this room may be special, but still…”

Slowly, she walked towards me.

“This girl’s upset with me for doing such things, but… what choice do I have?

If I didn’t go this far, you wouldn’t acknowledge my existence. And I want you to recognize me. Because you are even more special than she is… no, you’re more special than anyone.”

With my legs powerless, I couldn’t move as she approached.

“So, how about now? Can you acknowledge who I am? Can you believe it?”

“There’s no way I could..

“Oh dear. Lying is a bad thing, you know? Especially in front of me, of all people.”

With those words, she slowly bent down and gently brushed her bloodstained right hand against my lips.

As if she were applying rouge.

“Haha… hahahaha…”

“Oh my?”

“…74.”

So it existed.

God really did exist.

The parents of my previous life were fools.

No, those fools who are not even worthy of being called parents were beyond saving.

There is a god. It’s definitely here.

“Puhuhu….”

To think they were ruined, deceived by ridiculous cults and lies.

While they had no idea what a real god was like, they blindly believed in one. Yet, here I am, someone who never believed in a god, meeting one first.

“So? Can you believe it now?”

To her question, I quietly nodded.

“This child shall be appointed as a priest. That is the oracle given this time.”

“That’s absurd! How can a mere five-year-old child be a regular priest!”

“The law of this church is me. So the goddess has said….”

“Even so….”

The saintess. After meeting the goddess Iah,

For some reason, I became a priest.

There was no formal ceremony for it.

In a large room filled with numerous old men, that conversation was the conclusion, and just like that, I became a priest.

And one week later.

“From today, Lene is an inquisitor of heresy. That is the oracle given this time.”

“What is this?!”

“Lene is just a five-year-old child! This is too….!”

‘Since when was age a standard? So the goddess has said….’

Heresy Inquisition.

“Oh my.”

“Even so….”

I went from an ordinary priest to an inquisitor of heresy.

…Is this a promotion?

For a moment, I had that doubt, but I didn’t really care.

However, one thing I did realize from all this was that the way the goddess of this world handles things is a complete mess.

‘Oh dear. Saying such things hurts my feelings.’

But it’s true.