Even now, the Altar followed the Holy Language—the one used by the followers who once transcribed God's revelations during the Holy Era—silently longing for it to return to them as well.0

The Altar was not the same as God—nor was it the same as Quay. Its will didn’t always align with His. Even as it served Quay as God, it continued to act on its own beliefs. Seeking the Holy Language and creating the human chimera were decisions it made of its own accord.0

Therefore, Empress Sophien, who regarded the Altar as her foremost threat, had no choice but to take an interest in the Holy Language.0

“Deculein,” Sophien said as we climbed the spiral staircase leading to the highest floor of the Imperial Palace, “how much do you know about the Altar?”0

“I am aware of what they’re after,” I replied. “But do you know who they are, Your Majesty?”0

“Of course I do,” Sophien said. “After I finally escaped that loop of regression, the only thing that held my attention was religion. I spent some time wondering which bastard had the nerve to test me like that. The ones they call the Altar stood out more than most.”0

Ever since she first became aware of the Altar, Sophien must have instinctively harbored hatred, revulsion, and murderous intent. Born as the crafted body of God, she would have understood—on a level deeper than talent—that her survival depended on the destruction of the Altar.0

“The Altar claims that God will descend to remake the continent from the ground up—no status, no class,...0