Usurper

Two days earlier.

"Oh, I never would have guessed you were so kindhearted." The Celestial Worthy's figure appeared on Nimrod's retinas. Watching Nimrod fold the report letter with meticulous care, he spoke with a hint of mockery.

"I have to do something that makes me feel good." Nimrod said casually, "Celestial Worthy, why do you always focus on these trivial details?"

The Celestial Worthy smiled and sat down:

"Because they're entertaining enough-I've never met anyone like you. To us, these lives are ants we could crush at a whim, yet you carefully nurture every last one of them. Were you a benevolent god in your world?"

He paused, then steered the conversation in another direction:

"I look forward to what you'll do next. You're interesting. If you can nail God Almighty to his own cross, then even if we can never separate, that's an ending I could accept."

Nimrod glanced at the Celestial Worthy, feeling that not a single word he had said was true.

Still, he did not dwell on the Celestial Worthy's words. He simply stood and tossed the letter, which he had steeped in the power of Sefirah Castle to imbue it with an anti-divination ability, to Mr. Z, who was diligently waiting outside the door:

"Please deliver this letter to the front desk of the Blackthorn Security Company. Make sure no one sees your face."

Even after saying that, Nimrod still felt it was not entirely safe. Worried that Mr. Z might interpret "make sure no one sees your face" as "kill everyone inside, and no one will see your face," he paused and added:

"Don't harm the employees or customers inside... don't hurt anyone."

"Understood." Fortunately, Mr. Z understood Nimrod's words. He silently took the letter from Nimrod, then asked of his own accord:

"Is there anything else I should watch out for, Mr. L?"

Nimrod considered for a moment. "That's the public-facing base of a Nighthawks team from the Church of Evernight, operating under a cover identity. Be careful. Don't get caught-this is part of the Descent Plan."

Mr. Z hesitated, but still nodded to show that he fully understood Nimrod's meaning.

Most of the day had passed before Mr. Z returned in his signature black robe to report to Nimrod. After delivering the report letter to the Blackthorn Security Company's front desk without anyone noticing, he had made a long circuit through Tingen City to ensure that the Church of Evernight's Nighthawks were not following him.

"Mr. L."

After describing the details of his operation and assuring Nimrod that he had harmed no one, Mr. Z spoke again:

"His Excellency the Saint has sent a message-he has verified the information you provided earlier and asked me to pass this on to you:"

"The Aurora Order will spare no effort in creating the identity you require. However, for certain reasons, the Saints cannot travel to Tingen during this period..."

Having finished, Mr. Z straightened again and waited for Nimrod's next instructions. His words, however, plunged Nimrod into a brief spell of thought.

...It looks like Adam or "0-08" has made a move. He leaned toward the latter.

Protected by Sefirah Castle, he would not be discovered by Beyonders of the Spectator Pathway so long as he had not exposed himself to their gaze-unless they began trying to arrange his actions.

From the current situation, perhaps "0-08," in Ince Zangwill's possession, had suddenly begun writing something along the lines of, "Ince Zangwill was truly unlucky. Mr. Z's devout faith led him to realize that someone else had orchestrated the Creator's descent, and he sought Saint Tenebrous's help..."

And Ince Zangwill had used "0-08" to prevent Saint Tenebrous from coming to Tingen's aid.

"That will do."

Nimrod thought for a moment before speaking to Mr. Z in front of him:

"The report letter has been delivered, and the Evernight Goddess's followers have noticed my hints. Now, all we need to do is wait."

After Nimrod finished speaking, Mr. Z hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Mr. L, I don't quite understand your intentions... why did you let the Church of Evernight know of your existence?"

Is this a probe? Nimrod studied Mr. Z's expression and reached a conclusion.

Mr. Z was not probing his behavior. He was genuinely puzzled by his inability to understand Nimrod's intentions and hoped for guidance from this Blessed, who was closer to God than he was.

Nimrod gathered his words and offered the explanation he had prepared long ago:

"Z, I need to ask you a question."

"If our desire to bring about the Lord's descent here did not originate from us, what would you think?"

"What would I think..." Anger and hatred flashed in Mr. Z's eyes without a moment's hesitation. "That's impossible. Bringing about the Lord's descent is the hope and wish of every one of us. If I did not harbor that desire, that would be a betrayal of the Lord..."

"Z, I know how you feel, but... having that desire does not mean following blindly."

Sensing the gratifying progress of the potion's digestion within him, Nimrod composed himself and began patiently instructing Mr. Z in a slightly somber tone:

"But our enemies aren't merely heretics at Sequences close to our own-don't forget that all of the current Seven Gods once betrayed the Lord."

"What if a higher existence we cannot resist has altered our thoughts? What if an Angel serving an evil god has altered the Lord's voice as it reaches our ears?"

Seeing Mr. Z seem to sink into a prolonged silence, Nimrod knew it was time to take things a step further. He immediately added fuel to the fire:

"And unlike the gods of Storm, Knowledge, and Sun, at least the Evernight Goddess... was not one who betrayed the Lord of her own accord."

In Mr. Z's eyes, Nimrod spoke calmly, wearing a faint smile, his entire upper body shrouded in darkness as secrets from an ancient age slipped from his lips.

"Besides... the Lord does not need mortal blood sacrifices, for he is himself all."

Nimrod stood:

"The Lord willingly bears every sin. But if we cannot ease his burdens, how are we any different from lost lambs? Z, we must lie low for now, and when the one behind the scenes appears, bring down his wrath on the Lord's behalf."

The instant those words fell, Nimrod felt something inside him shatter with a crash. The Beyonder abilities that had seemed obscured behind a veil of mist slowly seeped into his body, becoming something like his own instincts.

Out of the corner of Nimrod's eye, the Celestial Worthy stood quietly, coldly watching the gray fog separate from Nimrod's body.

Nimrod suddenly realized...

He was not digesting the potion.

-He was "usurping" the characteristic.