"This..."
Akemi felt the surge of powerful spirituality within her body, and for the first time, she truly experienced what power was.
A vast stream of information was imprinted into her mind, knowledge and strength gained through a special ritual.
The claim about having the power to change destiny was not a lie. It was real.
The reason she had been able to witness that earlier scene, one that felt like a dream, was not due to inhaling some hallucinogen. It came from a power far beyond her understanding.
"That is the power."
Even now, it still felt unreal to her.
"Secrets Suppliant, that is the name of this power."
"This is the starting point of a sequence of power, something far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. But it comes with many costs. Do you want me to tell you?"
Akemi shook her head without hesitation.
"No need. I am willing to bear any cost."
"Very good. That is the kind of pure believer I need."
The gentle voice carried a note of satisfaction.
"I am not someone who toys with the fate of others. I simply give those who wish to change their destiny the opportunity to do so. Whether they succeed is up to them."
"Normally, the power of a Secrets Suppliant user is not safe. The depth of the hidden knowledge and the existence of high sequences carry the risk of madness and corruption."
"However, the power I grant you carries no such risk. But, once you pray for greater power, as your strength grows, your thoughts and personality will slowly align with mine."
So that was the meaning of loyalty and faith for the rest of her life.
Akemi took a deep breath, calming her excitement. Then she knelt like a devout believer, pressing her forehead firmly to the floor.
"Thank you for your gift, God."
At this moment, she had already decided who she would devote herself to and who she was willing to give everything for.
"Lift your head."
She obeyed.
This time, instead of seeing a shadowed figure, the moonlight revealed the face of the person sitting before her.
A seemingly young boy, even younger than Shiho, with the appearance of a high school student.
"Don't doubt it. I am younger than your sister. I'm sixteen this year."
"My name is Amamiya Ren. You can call me Amamiya or Ren, but don't call me God casually. I don't like being treated as if I have some special fetish. Of course, you can say it in private if you want."
"So, Akemi, now that you have gained power, what do you want to do?"
"I want to... first recover the one billion yen that was lost."
Her goal was clear. What mattered was not the money itself, but silencing the two people who had betrayed her.
"Kill them completely to avoid any future trouble."
"Are you ready this time?"
"Yes, I'm ready."
"Then do it."
Ren would not interfere with someone who had already made their decision. He had no interest in controlling their every word or action. He preferred to see what changes would unfold in them after gaining power.
He was curious how Akemi, now empowered, would confront the organization.
"Now that you have awakened, you need to handle things cleanly. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
She was no longer naive. Having made her choice, she would now completely eliminate the threats to her.
Ren recited a string of numbers.
"Here is my contact information."
"Of course, if you think this method is troublesome, there are other, extraordinary ways to contact me."
Indeed, such supernatural methods would be even safer.
"Do your best, Akemi."
Ren rose from the sofa. A door appeared in the space beside him, and he stepped through, disappearing from her sight.
She stared at the now-closed space, her thoughts momentarily clouded before she collected herself.
It was indeed the work of a god.
Her heart was pounding, yet she felt no fear. Only a strange excitement and a deep sense of reassurance.
The fears she once had were gone, replaced by the confidence that came with this new power.
So gods really did exist.
This was the devotion believers felt toward their deity.
For someone who had never believed in anything before, her faith was now unwavering.
Akemi was certain she would become the most loyal follower of her god, because she believed only he could save her and her sister.
But first, she had to leave.
She had to take care of those two people quickly and ensure they could never cause her trouble again.
In the past, finding them would have been difficult, but now she had ritual magic that could locate people. All she needed was to prepare the required materials.
She did not know many rituals yet, but the ones she had were more than enough for finding and killing.
At this moment, she offered her most sincere faith to her god.
After returning to his home through a set spatial coordinate, Ren took out his phone and contacted Miwako.
"...She's made her decision."
"Is that so?"
Miwako was not surprised. A sister desperate to save her sibling could easily be driven to such a choice.
It seemed the billion yen would never be returned.
"If that's the case, how about putting all the blame on the organization? After all, they were the ones who ordered the bank robbery."
"Can we?"
"Don't worry. It will only take a little effort. She will go there to save her sister. I'll give you the exact location, and you can contact Inspector Matsumoto."
"No problem."
(To be continued.)