Chapter 153

Huh?

Is this some kind of mistake? I quickly rubbed my eyes, suspecting I was seeing things. Unfortunately, the reality in front of me didn’t change a bit.

Shit, why is this happening? What’s going on?

“Uh… Mr. Evans! Look at the author’s name in this book!”

“What…?”

“It’s the same as your name, Mr. Evans! Wow… that’s so strange!”

Maria giggled as she pointed with her pale finger to a part of the book. Meanwhile, I froze completely, unable to even crack a smile.

Thankfully, Maria didn’t notice my stiffened state. Gradually, the paralysis began to wear off.

Something’s definitely not right here.

Firstly, something felt off about this book earlier—it had a sleep magic spell on it. And despite my usual resistance to most magical effects, it caught me off guard. Not to mention, just now, my body froze up again—probably some kind of paralyzing magic. Either way, I couldn’t resist it.

Alright, fine. Let’s say I got hit by two spells back-to-back because I let my guard down for a moment.

But why did *only* I get affected and not Maria?

This must’ve been some kind of trap embedded in the book—an automatic trigger that hits whoever opens it.

Still, how did Maria avoid it while I got caught? I wasn’t even closer to the book than her!

Only an incredibly skilled mage could’ve done this—minimum level 8 circle magic. Maybe even higher.

And that’s not all that’s weird.

“Evans.”

Why does this book have *my* name in it?

Sure, there could be someone else with the same name, but Evans isn’t exactly common. Coincidentally, though, there *is* another very famous “Evans.”

It’s been 500 years since I last thought about this guy.

Time traveler Evans.

An ancient scholar who studied time magic across the continent.

The one and only time traveler in history, known for hopping between eras—from thousands of years ago to highly advanced futures—and leaving traces of himself everywhere.

Even gods who’ve lived through eons don’t know much about him. He’s also infamous for writing bizarre books under the pseudonym “Evans.”

I read one of his works 500 years ago—a book called *The Flower That Eats Time*. It dealt with regression and time travel, and I still remember its contents vividly.

So… could this book also be written by that Evans? As far as I know, he’s the only person using that pen name. If so, why would he write something like this? And why target me specifically with these spells?

…

Truly fitting for such a mysterious figure—this is full of oddities. Should I investigate him further?

Or maybe…

Ugh…

“Mr. Evans? What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Guess I spaced out for too long. Maria asked with a curious tone.

“Thinking? About what?”

“When you found out the author’s name was also ‘Evans,’ you suddenly went quiet. I wondered if something was wrong…”

“Hmm, nah. Let’s just keep reading the book.”

Can’t leave Maria hanging alone, can I? So I flipped back to the first chapter. At the same time, I discreetly cast an invisible net around us to check for any hidden magic within the book—without letting Maria know, of course.

Hmm…

Nothing seems amiss. Looks like the book is harmless now. Guess we can proceed safely.

Maria didn’t make much progress while I was asleep. Did she immediately check on me after I dozed off? Guess that shows how much she cares about me—it makes me feel good.

Under the title *The History and Paradoxes of the Holy Order*, the book begins by discussing the Order itself.

*”The Holy Order. Despite being a religious organization, they operate independently as a nation, running the Holy Empire centered around the Holy Emperor’s Palace.”*

*”How much do you know about the Holy Order, dear reader? Or rather, how do you perceive them? A place filled with corrupt priests? Or a benevolent and clean institution focused on charity and service?”*

*”Regardless of your perspective, it doesn’t concern the writer. What will be discussed henceforth is the *history* of the Holy Order—from ancient times until today. How much do you know about it?”*

*”When does the history of the Order truly begin? To properly discuss *history*, we must first define its starting point.”*

Evans, you old dog, your writing style hasn’t changed a bit. After living for so long, I’d expect it to evolve somewhat.

By now, Maria’s already immersed herself in the book, her eyes shining brightly. The sleepiness that once gripped me has vanished entirely.

*”What defines an order? Numerous followers? A grand palace like the Holy Emperor’s Palace? A powerful group of holy knights? Do these elements make an organization worthy of being called an order?”*

*”No, whatever image comes to mind, if it fits the examples listed above, it’s wrong. The true defining feature of an order is *faith*. Whether it’s a handful or a multitude, faith births, sustains, and prospers an order.”*

*”Then, who was the first follower of the Holy Order? Was it the Messiah who descended upon the continent to bring salvation? Or perhaps the first saint, renowned for wielding divine power? Or the first pope who stayed beside the Messiah even during crucifixion?”*

*”All incorrect. The first follower of the Holy Order is none other than the Supreme God Himself. In the beginning, when there was no universe, no mortals, no concepts of good or evil—only chaos—God existed alone, fully believing in Himself.”*

*”In the vast emptiness, where there was no land, no sky, no rivers, no seas—nothing but chaos—there were only two things: God, the sole entity in the infinite void, and the universe itself, synonymous with chaos and creation.”*

*”God was His own believer, priest, pope, saint, knight, and messiah—all rolled into one. He embodied faith itself, the lone self-aware being amidst the primordial fusion of light and darkness.”*

*”Thus, the history of the Holy Order predates the creation of the continent—the Genesis. Because God existed from the very start.”*

After reading that part, Maria paused momentarily before taking a deep breath. Her breathing seemed slightly heavier now.

“Why’d you stop? Not enjoying the book?”

“No, quite the opposite—it’s so fascinating that I’m starting to wonder if this book contains false information.”

“This book? What’s so interesting?”

“Well… I’ve never seen anything like this before. Out of nowhere, it starts talking about the Lord and then delves into events prior to Genesis…”

“You’ve never heard of this?”

“Yes, every scripture simply states, ‘In the beginning, the Lord existed, and He created the continent.’ But nothing goes further back than that… This is new to me.”

“I see. Can’t help you there—I’m unfamiliar with the teachings of the Holy Nation.”

Maria continued reading with renewed interest, but the next parts surprised her greatly.

*”The 17th Pope Gregory I secretly met with two women. Once, he mistakenly sent love letters meant for both women, getting rejected by both. Later, one of the women forgave him and resumed their secret affair, though their relationship wasn’t as strong as before.”*

*”Priest Hans had an illegitimate child. He tried hiding the child but eventually gave up due to difficulties. What he didn’t know was that the child he abandoned would later return as a saint of the Order—Saint Ephelasé.”*

*”Beatrice Constantinople, famed as one of history’s strongest holy knights for defeating two absolute powerhouses, killed her own father, the Pope, and fled to the Demon Forest. Four years later, she encountered a demon named Oscar Lucifer and eventually formed… well, a certain kind of relationship.”*

Flip.

“Hmm… no more. I wanted to read more about the chaotic era and the Lord mentioned earlier.”

Books dealing with history usually cover wars or political changes, right? Why does this one focus on embarrassing (and scandalous) private lives of historical figures instead? And it’s not just a small section—it continues throughout the entire book.

Wait… why is my real name here alongside Beatrice’s story? How does Evans know about events from 400 years ago?

“And they ‘formed a certain kind of relationship’? Beatrice and I were merely master-servant; what nonsense is this?”

Of course, Evans is a weirdo. Just like the last book I read, *The Flower That Eats Time*.

“Such imaginative tales about pre-Genesis times… alas, disappointing. Nothing but baseless fabrications.”

“Haha! How does it feel?”

“I imagine those defrauded individuals feel far worse and more aggrieved than I do right now.”

Disappointment, perhaps? Maria sighed softly, her gaze dropping downward.

Sniff… I hate seeing our Maria looking so deflated. I want her to experience only the most beautiful things—like a parent caring for their daughter.

“Maria, listen…”

“Yes?”

“Do you really want to know about those ancient times? If you wish, I could share some stories with you. Interested?”

“Me…?”

---