MDCR 29

My Record as the Mastermind in Charge of the Villain
Chapter 29

The Book of Soleia.

This is a record about the Forgotten Gods.

Not just anyone can see it.

It is not a book made by humans, but one created from the lingering resentment of the Forgotten Gods, and it appears only before those who are chosen. It reveals only the pages connected to their fate.

The god assigned to the page given to Telecus was Peregion.

A child-god of Raugina and one of the gods of battle, now forgotten. That god had chosen Telecus.

Peregion bestowed a blessing upon him—a fist capable of wielding immense power. It was useful. What was easier to understand than direct strength? Everyone submitted to its might.

Telecus vowed to himself: He would make everyone know this god, and make them revere him—the god’s apostle.

To do so, Peregion had to be summoned to the mortal world. For an apostle to grow stronger, the god who chose him must also grow stronger. First, the god had to descend. A miracle had to be shown for people to recognize him.

For that task, a vessel was required.

A worthless vessel would not do. There was no point in entering one that could only display divine power for a few years before vanishing.

Telecus wanted a vessel capable of fully containing his god and unleashing that power in its entirety.

While searching for such a vessel, Telecus learned of a boy prophesied to be the largest and most powerful vessel in the current world—Airix Berckart.

Telecus was certain. Fate would one day lead him to that boy.

Because that was fate.

And just as he believed, the opportunity finally came.

Information arrived that a large number of cult worshippers had boarded the Central Line express train.

It was said they were preparing a ritual in the capital—to summon one of the children of the god they served.

The inquisitors and attendants to be dispatched were chosen. Telecus was selected as one of the inquisitors, and a useful piece of information reached him: Airix Berckart was on that train.

Telecus’s heart swelled.

As expected—fate was coming to him.

He could persuade the boy easily. No one knew Airix better than he did. By his side was a monk who supplied him with information about Airix—how he lived, what he wanted, how he could be convinced.

And finally, the day of destiny arrived.

The Order stopped the train between the great canyon and arrested those attempting to conduct the wicked ritual. They resisted, but the evidence was certain. Pola’s Bird—an entity created by the gods—had identified them.

While the arrests proceeded smoothly, Telecus went to find Airix.

A monk who had been helping him determined the boy’s location and told him.

With Peregion’s power and the Guardian’s Dagger granted to him, Telecus eliminated the duke’s subordinates who stood in his way. It was nothing special. After defeating them all, Telecus declared proudly:

“Please come with me.”

The boy followed him without resistance.

As expected, fate was on his side.

The high-ranking officials of the Order were deeply impressed that Telecus had brought Airix. Some suspected it had been staged, but Telecus scoffed and ignored them.

Airix did everything Telecus asked. And before long, he said:

“I want to learn more about the gods.”

Airix requested access to the secret monastery’s library. With the elder’s permission, Telecus allowed him entry.

Once inside, the boy rapidly absorbed the knowledge contained in the ancient tomes. The vast accumulation of wisdom stored there became his own.

He devoured knowledge ravenously.

And at last, he agreed to summon Peregion.

“I want to do it right now.”

Telecus was certain.

Yes—fate flowed for him.

He offered the sacrifices he had saved and opened a passage to the divine realm where Peregion resided.

The ritual proceeded flawlessly, and Peregion soon appeared. The descent began.

From Peregion’s body, a spinning sphere was extracted.

What is that?

Was it always like this? Should he have studied more about divine descents?

Airix caught the sphere as if playing with a ball.

Is it over?

But it was too quiet.

Peregion, who should have completed his descent, said nothing.

My god, where have you gone?

I cannot hear your voice at all.

Telecus looked at the boy.

Are you there?

The boy stood with his clear ruby-colored eyes shining.

Telecus felt something was strange.

Wait—were that child’s eyes always that color? Weren’t they green?

His memory blurred. He had never properly looked into them before.

The boy’s lips curved slightly in a smile as they moved.

“Absolute Command.”

A light, playful voice echoed.

“Destroy.”

Thud—

A heavy force struck Telecus. His entire body shattered with the impact. Darkness closed in.

And that was the end—

…It wasn’t.

When he opened his eyes in shock, it was dawn.

Was that a strange dream?

When had he fallen asleep?

A monk entered the room to wake him.

“Lord Telecus! Please rise. Today is an important day, isn’t it? You mustn’t oversleep!”

It was the very monk who had supplied him with information about Airix.

After Airix came to the Order, that monk had disappeared one day. He had heard the man was assigned to assist another apostle. Since he had already obtained the information he wanted, he had forgotten about him.

Then why had he appeared again?

“Lord Telecus?”

Telecus soon realized something astonishing.

He had returned to that very day—the day the Order stopped the Central Line train on the canyon bridge to capture the cultists.

The day he brought Airix Berckart.

Is this a dream?

Then which was the dream—this or that?

“Lord Telecus, pull yourself together. Did you not sleep well? Today is important.”

Yes… the other must have been the dream.

But it was an incredibly strange one. It felt as if he had truly lived through the future.

Still, it was fortunate. All those unfortunate events were only a dream. He had not failed.

After that, everything unfolded exactly as it had in the dream. The people who spoke to him, the trivial incidents that occurred—everything was identical.

So identical that he could predict what would happen next.

The train stopped as scheduled on the great canyon bridge, and preparations for the search and arrests began.

Now, a senior official would speak.

“The Red Camellia Group has boarded the train. They say they received a report of a magical beast sighting.”

Yes—those exact words.

Inquisitors carried a large birdcage covered in black cloth. It was a sacred artifact to be used for detection.

Telecus already knew they would be here.

In truth, they had come to protect the duke’s son. The magical beast was just an excuse. Telecus planned to drive them all back with Peregion’s power.

“What should we do? Many of them are the Duke of Berckart’s people. They’ll claim Pola’s Bird is falsely identifying magical beasts.”

Though others worried, Telecus reassured them.

“We cannot simply let Pajainen believers go for such a reason. The gods will aid us.”

They all agreed.

The cage was opened, and the papers stacked inside fluttered out. The flying sheets folded themselves into birds. Soon they would find the cultists.

Telecus smiled contentedly.

Yes—Peregion must have shown him what would happen today in advance.

Thank you. You truly are watching over me. I will do my best as well.

Though events unfolded slightly differently afterward, he paid it no mind. Prophecies were always like that.

What mattered was that Airix Berckart now stood before him.

He had to take him.

And to do that, he would remove that girl first.

She must be one of those sent by the duke to protect his son. With the Guardian’s Dagger, he could dispatch her in an instant. If anyone asked, he would simply claim she was a cultist.

But that girl hadn’t been among the Red Camellia members in the dream. Where had she come from?

Wait—had she not been there? He felt like he had seen her.

Suddenly, he remembered.

Ah, yes. He had seen her. Definitely seen her!

So then—

Crunch.

At the prickling sensation, Telecus raised his hand. A multicolored worm had sunk its teeth into the back of his hand.

What is this?

Had he seen this too?

His vision blurred, and he collapsed.

Thud.

“Um.”

Meimon spoke cautiously.

“The young master’s snake has bitten someone…”

Airix quickly replied,

“It’s not my snake—”

I spoke even faster.

“It’s a wild snake.”