# Episode 19. The Second Sin (2)
From the moment of their birth, all sins had an inkling of their own destiny.
The sin of pride, Spuer.
Spending a lifetime uplifting oneself.
Deceiving and disrupting allies and enemies alike.
Daring to stand on equal footing with or even surpass the uniqueness of a god-like being.
Sometimes, even destroying or whimsically controlling entire nations.
Such was the fate Spuer was born into.
Never belonging anywhere, never feeling a sense of belonging.
A destiny always accompanied by loneliness.
But for the first time, Spuer encountered someone who evoked a sense of kinship.
The sin of wrath, bound by the same label.
Living a lifetime consumed by the unquenchable flames of anger.
“Huh, what are you?”
Still, Spuer felt confused.
Surprisingly so.
“Why can’t I feel anything?”
Because there was no trace of blazing anger emanating from the sin of wrath.
“You… how is that even possible…?”
Stumbling over his words in bewilderment, such was the shock.
Puppets born without strings somehow gaining their own self-awareness and moving independently.
How astonishing could it get?
Especially for fellow puppets.
“I’ve merely followed my destiny…”
“But an opportunity came to me.”
Lapis calmly explained to the astonished Spuer.
“A tiny but precious foreign object got stuck in the gears of fate.”
“Foreign… object? Isn’t that bad?”
“It depends on how you interpret it. But not for us. You know, right?”
Similar yet different destinies.
Both were destined to be swept away by fate, losing their very selves.
Yet they had broken free from that compulsion.
Having finished his thoughts, Spuer acted instantly.
SPLAT!
“Exactly how?! Please, teach me the way!”
Hanging onto Lapis’s leg.
Fate?
It’s just called fate.
In reality, it was the forced suppression of Spuer’s individual self.
Whether desired or not, one must live according to one’s fate.
A corrupted heretic and ancient power combined to create this mutation.
Born already twisted, he couldn’t help but cling like this.
“To teach?”
“Yeah, sure. You know our shared destiny well enough.”
“Yeah. All too well.”
Too well understood to even be a problem.
“Understood. I’ll teach you.”
Lapis pointed at the carriage with an outstretched finger.
“Believe in him.”
“…Just believe? That’s it? That simple?”
Spuer’s face contorted.
“Are you playing with me?”
“No. I’m telling you what actually worked for me.”
“Believe in what? A god?”
“No. In my savior who changed my fate.”
“Savior?”
“Yeah.”
Truth be told, Lapis didn’t believe at first either.
Questioning why such kindness was bestowed, why something so tempting was offered.
But as the impulse of wrath faded.
Meeting the same sin under the guise of coincidence, she became certain.
That he truly was the one to save her from this fate.
At the same time, a small doubt arose.
Why had he come for her?
If he deemed her useless and sought another sin’s fate instead?
Would he abandon Lapis like this?
Just imagining it made her chest feel hollow with pain.
Her first-ever source of will and family.
A desire not to lose them.
All these mixed emotions led to the current outcome.
“All… for the sake of… God…”
Dangling in mid-air, Drake slowly dying.
Even Lapis, like that foolish believer, wanted to cling to faith at this moment.
‘Faith…’
What is faith?
Belief.
Simply directed towards ‘God’.
Then what defines ‘God’?
Omnipotent power?
No.
God isn’t omnipotent nor competent enough to care for everyone.
Thus, faith is merely a word expressing fanatical belief.
The meaning changes depending on how it’s phrased.
Could Lapis’s devotion to Evan be considered faith then?
Even if Evan himself isn’t a god?
“Yeah. Seems about right.”
Lapis thought while tightly gripping her hand placed over her chest.
‘All for the sake of God.’
A satisfying sound.
Just omit the word ‘God’.
As it held no value for Lapis anyway.
‘This. All of this.’
Something incomparable to anything divine.
The only thing capable of interfering with life’s mechanical gears – small yet precious.
She gave it a name.
‘For Evan’s sake.’
Ah.
Right.
This is it.
A short resonance.
Ripples spread through Lapis’s heart once filled with rage.
Right.
This is it.
Heehee.
A smile formed at the corner of Lapis’s lips.
Naturally, a smile settled on her face.
“Come on, repeat after me.”
Lapis took Spuer’s hands.
The oppressive sensation coursing through his whole body.
Without realizing it, Spuer tightly gripped Lapis’s hands.
“All of this… for Evan’s sake.”
That’s how Lapis whispered softly.
“Hehe. We’re done, Evan!”
Inside the carriage.
Evan looked out the window with mixed feelings.
Outside, blood splattered everywhere.
The heretics lay fallen, all maimed.
‘I didn’t ask for this much…’
To heretics, being maimed isn’t that big of a deal.
Given their gods’ appearance, with faith and offerings, they recover quickly.
This should be enough to pin them down for now.
These guys are pros at running away after all.
Arthur wouldn’t bother stepping in either.
The Aura Vessel still incomplete.
He’d likely wait until full recovery or stabilization.
Thus, this could be seen as partial normalization of the story.
“Hehe. Did I do well?”
“…You did.”
Praise must be given.
He affectionately ruffled her hair.
Lapis smiled widely, hugging Evan’s leg as if satisfied.
Watching this scene, Spuer’s expression soured.
Like witnessing your best friend acting cute with their lover?
“Can you untie this for me?”
Spuer extended his hands.
Ropes tightly bound around them.
Evan glanced at them momentarily.
Should he untie them or not?
‘Hmm, still kinda dangerous?’
Lapis has become completely rabbit-like now.
Occasionally turning into a murderous rabbit when her eyes roll back.
Fine as long as she doesn’t get angry.
But Spuer?
Not quite sure about him.
Apparently he turned a kingdom into a bloodbath upon awakening,
With dominion over kingdoms being his goal.
Ultimately falling after trying to surpass even divine authority.
‘Though he didn’t really use his own unique abilities back then.’
Feels like he was pieced together with only the good parts from various powers?
Which explains the lack of consistency.
Is he the same now?
“You should untie me soon.”
Spuer whispered in a low, strangely enticing voice.
“And I’ll grant you power.”
“Power?”
“Yeah. Don’t you want to rule the world? With our two fates, it’s entirely possible.”
Rule the world?
“He’ll make you a powerful ruler. How does that sound?”
Become a real man?
‘Hmm. Not really appealing.’
Evan wasn’t interested.
Why?
‘Already a real man here?’
Surviving over a year in this harsh world.
Definitely a man among men.
Maybe even on par with Bear Grylls.
Though probably couldn’t eat bugs raw…
“I have no interest in such things.”
“What?”
Evan replied with a completely disinterested tone.
Titles, power, money – none of it interests me.”
Well, money might be slightly intriguing.
But already has plenty.
Getting more than enough allowance too.
No need to play along with some kid.
“What’s wrong? Not tempted at all?”
“Yes.”
Impossible. There’s no way someone could lack that much desire…”
Spuer’s eyes widened as he noticed something peculiar in Evan’s pupils.
Though the exact form remained unclear, like a mosaic effect.
“Interesting…”
Magic, monsters, gods – all existing realities in this world.
Mosaic-covered eyes?
Just mildly curious, that’s all.
While Evan stared intently at his eyes,
Spuer’s hands trembled.
“…Unbelievable.”
“?”“Can’t read you…?”
“Read what exactly?”
“You, surely you’re not some kind of puppet?”
“What?”
Not a puppet?
What an offensive thing to say.
‘Ah, maybe complimenting my looks?’
Then, acknowledged.
“But why can’t I read anything…? Hmm?”
Spuer’s eyes bulged and his body shook.
“You’re looking at my eyes, right?”
“Just admiring your beautiful eyes.”
“!!”
Spuer shuddered as if electrocuted.
“Y-you…”
Spuer stammered.
Didn’t see this side of him in the game either.
Still young maybe?
Truly unfamiliar behavior.
Like Lapis perhaps?
Too tense, thus stumbling over words.
Should help him relax a bit?
‘Even in front of sins, this tense?’
Still, proves I’m quite the man.
Feeling proud internally, Evan spoke.
“What’s your name?”
“…Spuer.”
“I’m Evan. If it’s not too much trouble, may I inquire how you ended up here?”
“…By chance.”
“See.”
Looks like he doesn’t want to talk about it.
Didn’t press further.
No point upsetting him unnecessarily.
Absolutely not out of fear.
Respecting personal boundaries, that’s all.
Suddenly, Spuer clenched his lips and asked Evan.
“…You haven’t been messing with me, have you?”
“?”Evan gave him a look saying ‘What nonsense is this?’
Golems and potions all behaving normally.
What trick is he talking about?
‘Maybe having some weird misunderstanding?’
Evan’s type isn’t young kids like that.
Lapis approached with a somewhat relaxed expression and patted Spuer’s shoulder.
“Spuer. Calm down. Am I right?”
“But…”
“Not feeling any impulses right now, are you?”
“…”
Pride and wrath.
Uncertain what they feel like, but apparently sometimes these impulses subside.
“You can have this peace.”
“…That…”
“Let’s play together, okay?”
Lapis grinned like a child and swung Spuer’s hands around.
“Looks like you’ve had it tough.”
Evan casually responded, not particularly caring if Spuer followed or not.
“Do as you please, follow your heart.”
“Doing whatever I want?”
“Yes.”
Initially planned to bid farewell politely.
So told him to do as he wished.
“You’re free to do as you like.”
Snap!
Understanding the material of the ropes and breaking them down, Evan watched Spuer briefly before nodding.
Why?
“Alright. Need cross-verification anyway. Sure.”
“Great! Heehee, Evan! You really wanted to bring this guy along, right?”
‘Nope.’
Already met Lapis under the guise of coincidence, which was enough.
Collecting more sins?
Not some grand villain, why gather them?
Seems most sins are pretty young anyway.
If they all gathered, would it be much different from an orphanage…
‘Wait, orphanage?’
Not a bad idea?
Calling it an orphanage, but actually a place to protect them from getting hurt or awakening as sins.
Might make conquering this world easier.
Reason for precaution.
Once might be coincidence, but twice is pattern.
Twice is pattern, thrice is destiny – better safe than sorry, right?
Could get one step closer to a safer world.
‘Not bad?’
Good idea.
Plenty of money, so worth checking out.
“Let’s get going.”
“Okay! Want some snacks, Spuer?”
“Throw it away, these weeds.”
“Weeds? They’re delicious though.”
Bickering Lapis and Spuer
Watching them like friends made Evan secretly proud despite not showing it on his face.
Oh, right.
“4th. Throw some high-grade potions.”
Clang! Clatter!
In case of death, kindly threw a few potions their way.
Should survive on their own with that.
Creak.
“Dolph.”
The carriage started again.
Evan quietly asked.
“How much money do I have?”
“Huh? Probably enough to buy a mansion!”
Good.
Decided.
“Then why the money?”
“Planning to establish an orphanage.”
Somewhere sins might reside too.
Evan withheld further explanation.
Better to keep additional plans to himself.
A few days later, Evan returned to the duchy.
Upon returning, Evan immediately realized how fast rumors spread in this world.
Strange rumors were circulating in Alkarte territory.
“…Rumors are spreading that I returned because I didn’t like the supply of test subjects?”
“Yes…”
What kind of ridiculous rumor is this?
Blue Beard, coming out like this?
After saving them even!
‘Disappointing, Blue Beard!’
Perhaps just burn the beard.
When Evan was grinding his teeth in annoyance over the false rumors,
“Evan, Evan!”
“…Really want to burn all the carrots now.”
Lapis, who was forcibly advocating vegetarianism to Spuer, pointed outside the window.
“An enormous carriage is coming!”
“…Oh my goodness. Good heavens.”
This time, Evan visibly gasped in shock.
The head of the Alkarte Duchy,
A major player in the underworld,
Evan’s father,
The Alkarte Duke had returned to the mansion after several months.
