Corner Creator - Chapter 0

Prologue

A gallows was set up in the village square.

A young girl, maybe seventeen or eighteen, is tied to the post.

Crowds have gathered in the square, buzzing with people who’ve come to watch her execution.

[Crime: Heresy]

The accused has claimed herself to be a servant of God or a saint and stirred up the poor crowd.

A farmer, staring blankly at a sign in the middle of the square, scratched his head and spoke up.

“Heresy…? What kind of crime it is that it would make them tie up such a young girl like that?”

“Ah, don’t tell me you don’t know what heresy means?

It’s the horrible crime of defiling the name of the Creator!

“The penalty usually starts with death, no less.”

“You’ve heard about the mountains of salt and pepper, right?

Well, apparently, this witch conjured them up with her sorcery.”

As he heard about the mountains of salt and pepper, the farmer licked his lips and asked, “Salt and pepper, rare stuff piled up like mountains… Where would that be?”

“Ha! Don’t even think about mentioning the salt and pepper mountains. If you don’t want to end up like that girl, accused of heresy and sentenced to death, keep quiet”

Despite the malicious accusations against her, the girl tied to the scaffold remained silent.

Then, six priests appeared on a platform overlooking the execution stage.

The highest-ranking priest among them spoke up.

“I am a cardinal, one who servers the word of god.”

“The accused must give a pure and honest answer to all that is asked, in a way that would honor the Creator. Do you swear to do so?”

“I will always tell the truth, but I won’t answer questions that don’t need answering.”

As the girl moved her delicate lips to respond, the cardinal narrowed his eyes and began his questioning.

“Is it true that, despite being just a farmer’s daughter, you’ve been claiming to be blessed by the Creator?”

“Yes, I am alive right now because I’ve been blessed by God.”

“…Then I suppose the Creator didn’t bother to warn you that you’d end up on the scaffold like this?”

“Do I look like I’m in danger? He told me I’d be safe as long as a fair trial is conducted.”

Despite the Cardinal’s malicious questioning, the girl continued to respond logically and calmly without a hint of hesitation. Her bright, clear eyes were filled with pure and unwavering faith.

“Ahem! Then let me ask you about the mountains of salt and pepper. Do you admit that you created them through a pact with a heathen demon?”

“I have no such power. That was purely a blessing granted by God.”

As the girl’s response wasn’t what he wanted to hear, the Cardinal’s brow furrowed in frustration.

“Why do you believe the Creator would make a mere girl like you His representative?”

“Because it pleases Him to use even a mere girl.”

“It’s hard enough for holy priests to hear His words, and here you are, moving your deceitful tongue to speak lies!”

“…God is always watching over us.”

Having reached the end of his patience, the Cardinal gave a cold nod.

“…Very well. If your so-called God is watching over a lowly girl like you, then prove it to everyone here! Executioner, burn this witch!”

As the order was given, the executioner immediately picked up a torch and approached the pyre.

The moment he brought the torch to the pile of firewood beneath the platform…

…Whoosh! Boom!

Out of nowhere, a powerful gust of wind whipped through the square, so intense that it was impossible to keep one’s eyes open.

When the wind finally died down, the Cardinal looked up, only to see the terrified face of the executioner.

“Executioner, what are you watching for? Hurry up and light the fire!”

“C-Cardinal, please, look over there…!”

The executioner pointed, and there stood a massive, peach-colored pillar, towering so high its height couldn’t be measured.

1… 2… 3.

The pillar was divided into three sections, each intricately carved with strange patterns on its surface.

The lowest section was covered in strange symbols carved in chaotic patterns, Even the Cardinal, who had amassed extensive knowledge, had never seen symbols as cryptic as these.

“…What is this? Where on earth did this pillar come from?”

Then, the pillar began to move slowly.

The massive, flesh-colored pillar stretched down from the sky. Its true nature was…

“The pillar is moving! It’s a living pillar!”

“The Creator is furious!”

“It’s because the Cardinal tried to punish an innocent girl! This is divine punishment from God!”

“Please, forgive our sins, and lead us not into temptation….”

It was a finger.

The massive finger that appeared in the middle of the square threw the execution grounds into complete chaos.

Men screaming and running away, elderly folks dropping to their knees to pray, children staring up in awe, and priests frozen in fear with pale faces.

Pure pandemonium.

Only the girl tied to the stake smiled faintly.

“…God, You’ve saved me once again.”

The giant finger that had

saved the girl from being burned at the stake…

Didn’t belong to God, but rather…

“…a shut-in from their room.”