Temptation

Just before I left Lillia’s office, she stopped me.

“Oh! One more thing before you go, Ellie.”

Opening a drawer in her desk, she pulled out a small metal box and handed it to me. I glanced at her to see if she wanted me to open it now and received a nod. Unlocking the box, I peered inside. It was an E-watch. From my knowledge, it was the wiWatch U, the latest model from Orange. It was certainly a state-of-the-art E-watch, though I had heard various concerns raised about the level of privacy granted to its customers. While I was examining the device, Lillia elaborated.

“It’s from Mark. It has both my and his contacts loaded on it.”

Previously, I would have had to reject this on the basis that it would have been rejected by the Lord. However, for better or worse, that wasn’t going to be a necessary concern anymore. As such, I accepted.

“I appreciate the gift. Pass my sincere thanks to Mark.”

Lillia gave her soft laugh.

“You know, I was shocked to hear that you didn’t have one. Even if they are expensive, you could’ve at least gotten an older model, right?”

“… Personal reasons.”

“You truly are an interesting girl, Elysia.”

Not a girl.

===

Three weeks had passed since my meeting with Lillia. I had taken to preparing for and researching my trip to the coast. My current experience told me that I wouldn’t have much luck proselyting in Strait, so that remained my best option. Additionally, if I started an aggressive proselyting campaign and got in trouble with authorities and ruined my reputation before the party with Lillia, I would lose that opportunity entirely. Consequently, I had tried to visit the library and work on converting the elderly in the game room to… mixed results. Currently, I was taking a break with Sarah and Connor.

“Elysia, stop moping and play against me again!”

Moping? What is she talking about?

“I don’t think I did anything worthy of moping over.”

Sarah gave me a smug look.

“You just lost to me and Connor in Hazard.”

I felt my eye twitch slightly. Perhaps Lillia was right about my micro-expressions….

“I do not recall losing. You two changed the rules mid-way and started playing together.”

Sarah’s smugness didn’t leave her face. Connor gave her somewhat of an exasperated look.

“Don’t worry, Elysia. She does this to me, too.”

I sighed.

“How did you do with those qualification exams?”

Connor looked a bit bitter and sighed.

“I think I passed, but I’m worried that I might have been right on the line with my field theory exam. I’m not good with quantum content.”

The conversation continued like that for a while, before I finally left to head back to my apartment. Returning, I was met by a sight that had become all too abundant over the past weeks: the Lord was asleep. This, of course, should have literally been impossible – the Lord was not a biological being with physiological needs. However, in recent times, it seemed that the divinity that made the Lord all-powerful had worsened to the point that his existence was distorting. As a physical being myself, I was not suffering immediate consequences from this, but it nonetheless heralded an imminent end. By my current estimate, I likely had less than five months to live.

I stared down the mostly unmoving body of the Lord. Since I had first seen him, his form had continued to get thinner and thinner, and his complexion paler and paler. Moreover, his hair had become less white and more a silvery grey. Indeed, God looked like a living corpse.

But that doesn’t matter. No matter what, I would prevent that ending. While I hadn’t gained believers, I had gained a valuable connection. I would live. I had to.

===

Sitting in the game room of the library, I was waiting for a new opponent. I had attempted to proselytise to the previous one but had been met with the unfortunately consistent response.

“Oh, I don’t want to buy anything, sorry.”

And then they would leave. I had tried varying my approach, only to be met with repeated failure. While I had assumed that the elderly would be easier targets, perhaps I shouldn’t be leading with “I have an excellent opportunity for you.” While I was pondering a script change, someone walked up to my table. Ah, a new opponent, that’s… what? What I saw deeply unsettled me.

Sitting down at my table was a tall, well-built man with, excepting the bangs over his face, short jet-black hair. Wearing what could only be described as anachronistic smart casual dress, with a dark grey jacket and simple jeans, he was looking me straight in the eyes. His face was incredibly symmetrical, with his well-proportioned features compensating for the unmistakable heavy bags under his eyes. Of course, what was bothering me was none of these things. His smile was what was truly unnatural. While one might consider his smile cheery at first glance, they would not reach that same conclusion by looking into his eyes. Not only did his smile not reach them, but it felt as if nothing reached them. While his irises were nominally an extremely dark brown, it was more as if they were black holes absorbing all light that approached them. They were truly the eyes of the Abyss – and I say that as someone who has actually seen the Abyss.

… Is he the Devil? My stunted thoughts could grasp no other conclusion. While I certainly wouldn’t consider myself to be one to judge harshly from appearances, I could not help but find myself intensely distrusting this man from the moment I met him. Nonetheless, when he stuck out his hand for a handshake, I grasped it in turn. His smile only grew.

“My name is Adam, what’s yours?”

I stared at him for a moment before finally giving a curt response.

“Elysia.”

He tilted his head slightly as if to think on it, but I couldn’t help but get the impression he didn’t particularly care about my response.

“Elysia, hm? What a lovely name.”

I sat there in silence for a moment, before he finally took the initiative to continue conversation.

“How about I play black? Matches our hair colours well, don’t you think?”

He gave a gentle chuckle. Ugh. On the surface, he truly seemed like a sincere and charismatic man, but his every action was only putting me more and more on guard. Who is this guy? Irrespective of my thoughts, I made the first move, and our game began….

===

Even after an hour of play, the match continued. Something of a crowd had gathered around us to watch the game. Time control was obviously optional in the game room, and I had made the unfortunate mistake of not imposing it at the start of the game. Consequently, after I initially played out a fairly by-the-book opening sequence, when I realised quite how skilled he actually was, it was already too late. We were currently 60 moves in, and it was his move. The peanut gallery was muttering to each other, and while it was a little irritating, it wasn’t so disruptive to my concentration that I couldn’t continue.

“Who is this new guy?”

“He’s keeping up against Elysia. Nobody here has beaten her before, right?”

“I hear all really good players tend to be weirdos like her.”

No need to give me backhanded compliments….

Adam finally moved, and I refocused on the game. This is over….

“Draw?”

Adam gave a bitter smile, before sighing and nodding. We shook hands, and that concluded the game. I stood and moved out of the crowd, who was now closing in to analyse the game. Adam followed, and looked at me interestedly.

“You really are quite good….”

I stared back at him, unresponsive. I wanted nothing to do with him. Ignoring my ignoring of him, Adam continued.

“You know, I hear you’re trying to convert people to some religion.”

I stopped for a moment and glanced at him. So, he already knew me before approaching? I suppose that makes sense. Nonetheless….

“What do you want?”

He raised his hands as if to protest his innocence, giving me a wry grin.

“No need to be so hostile, ‘Ellie’.”

“My name is Elysia.”

His smile grew.

“But you let Lily call you that. I’m hurt!”

He seemed to be trying to bait me by showing that he knew Lillia Bellon, but I wasn’t particularly interested. I had already assumed that from the moment I was certain he had approached me with knowledge of who I was. I stared at him, waiting for him to get to the point. I was frankly getting quite impatient with these insincere types. Maintaining his smile, he continued.

“I have an offer for you.”

“Not interested. I already have an arrangement with Lillia.”

“No, no. I don’t want to employ you. I’m offering myself to you.”

“… What?”

Is this guy just messing with me?

“I’m offering to convert to your religion.”

At that, my eyes widened. This guy….