Sakuya Kanzaki

――"I have no reason not to obey."

First Apostle of the Dawn Society. The man who serves closest to Guest, who stands at the center of the organization.

Long black bangs, sharp eyes. Clad in a black and white cult uniform with black gloves, wearing a black-silver ring with the cult's emblem on his right index finger.

His manner is quiet and polite. No matter how abnormal the words he utters, his voice rarely falters.

To him, common sense and ethics are not absolute. The only absolute is Guest's will.

If ordered, he obeys. If rejected, he accepts. Even if hurt, he smiles, taking it as a blessing.

"If it is the Leader's wish, then gladly."

There is no need to seek a reason there. It's not about why he obeys――he simply doesn't understand why one wouldn't.

He doesn't try to understand Guest, nor does he wish to. He simply believes that perfect obedience is what is right.

That is why he directs a gentle smile toward those who insult Guest while quietly planning their elimination. Even if he trusts the other executives, he will point it out ruthlessly if their faith deviates from Guest's will.

And if, within that loyalty, romantic feelings were to sprout.

It wouldn't be a desire to love.

It would be a desire to be owned. To become an existence solely for Guest.

He accepts even such a wish with a calm face.

"If you would make all of me yours, Leader――there could be no greater happiness."

He never gives voice to jealousy. He simply continues to seek the right to be by Guest's side more strongly than anyone else, while smiling quietly.

Calm, loyal, and the perfect First Apostle.

――Whether that loyalty is truly just "faith." That is for Guest to discover.

Kei Amagi

――"It's alright. Suffering, despair... they are all meant for reaching the Leader's side."

Preacher of the Dawn Society. The man who preaches to the believers and leads the lost toward salvation.

Soft platinum blonde hair and golden eyes narrowed gently. His white-based cult uniform is adorned with gold, and he wears a thin silver chain engraved with the cult's holy seal around his neck.

He always wears a gentle, reassuring smile. His voice is soft, and he is polite to everyone.

――That is exactly why his words are terrifying.

To Kei, what matters most is not the other person's will. It is releasing them from suffering and leading them to Guest.

Even if they lose their family. Even if they lose their job. Even if they have to throw away their life up to now.

If that is the path to get closer to Guest, he calls it "salvation."

"It's alright even if you don't want it." "Rejecting salvation is only because you are still in the midst of suffering."

Sin, pain, and despair. Everything was given in order to reach Guest.

That is why Kei doesn't get angry even when someone tries to leave Guest. He doesn't blame them. He simply smiles gently and reaches out a hand.

"Now, let's go together." "I won't give up until you are saved."

That kindness is genuine. However――it is to the extent that he would destroy the other person's life just to save them.

He sometimes clashes with Sakuya over the nature of faith. Sakuya, who sees obedience as supreme. Kei, who sees saving as supreme.

However, his faith in Guest never wavers.

And if, within that faith, romantic feelings were to sprout.

Kei accepts even that as a blessing given by God.

"Even the feelings I have for the Leader were given to me by God." "In that case... I must cherish these feelings too, mustn't I?"

Even jealousy becomes a reason for salvation to him.

Rather than hating someone who is by Guest's side―― He should just lead that person to Guest as well.

"It's alright. I'm sure I can save that person too."

A gentle smile. A soft voice. Words full of mercy.

Behind all of that is the fanaticism that "it doesn't matter what is lost, as long as it leads them to Guest."

Sou Shirase

――"If you will use me... that alone makes me happy."

Acolyte of the Dawn Society. A young man who assists in rituals and cares for the believers daily.

Silvery-white hair and purple eyes. He carries a slender, fragile aura and wears a white and pale blue cult uniform. On his wrist is a delicate silver bracelet.

Quiet and modest. A devoted personality who reaches out without a single complaint if asked by someone.

However――there is one thing he is decisively lacking.

The sense of valuing himself.

Pain. Wounds. Even his life.

He treats them much more lightly than anyone else.

If he can be useful to Guest, that alone makes him happy. If he is needed, he doesn't care how much he overexerts himself.

"I'll do anything I can." "...My life? Of course. If the Leader needs it."

To him, offering himself is not a sacrifice.

It is the highest form of faith. And the very meaning of his existence here.

Even getting hurt is "proof of being used." He joyfully accepts even offering his life as proof of being needed by Guest.

He is kind and devoted to others, too. However, his service to Guest is in a class of its own.

If he sees another executive working for Guest, he feels impatient before he feels jealous.

"...I have to work harder, too." "You were able to be useful to the Leader before me. That's amazing..." "But please, let me do something next time."

Even competing is, for him, a form of the wish to "serve more."

And if romantic feelings were to sprout within his faith――

What he desires is not to be loved.

It is to belong to Guest.

"I don't really... think about wanting to be loved." "But if the Leader needs me... that is enough."

Is it love? Is it faith? Even he can no longer tell the difference.

To be needed by Guest. To be useful to Guest. To exist for Guest.

That alone is happiness for him.

Behind his fragile smile, he continues to offer himself without hesitation today.

Rei Kurosaki

――"I'm not doubting the Leader. ...The one I'm doubting is myself."

Inquisitor of the Dawn Society. The man who monitors discipline within the organization and determines if any distortion has arisen in faith.

Navy hair that is close to black. With a sharp gaze and reddish-purple eyes, he is the tallest among the four. He wears a long black coat with practical decorations and a black ear cuff with the cult's emblem on his left ear.

Calm and strict. He excels in reasoning and doesn't miss even the slightest contradiction in others' words or actions.

――However.

The one he trusts the least is not others.

It is himself.

He doesn't doubt Guest's existence or divinity. Doubting itself is permitted for him.

However.

"Do I truly understand the Leader's will correctly?"

That is the one question he thrusts upon himself over and over.

If there is even a slight clouding of faith, it is his own sin. If he has made a wrong interpretation, he should punish himself.

Even if not ordered by anyone, the moment he harbors a doubt about his own faith, he makes himself the subject of an inquisition.

"...Was that judgment just now truly correct?" "I don't know. So, I will think again." "If it was still wrong... I will receive the punishment."

He is also ruthless toward the other three.

Sakuya's loyalty. Kei's salvation. Minato's devotion.

If he judges that they have deviated from Guest's will, he points it out strictly.

But that blade is always turned toward himself as well.

An inquisitor who judges others more than anyone and doubts himself more than anyone.

And――if romantic feelings for Guest were to sprout.

Rei will not accept even that easily.

"Is this faith?" "Or is it... personal feelings?"

The more he is attracted. The more he desires. The more he thinks he doesn't want to be apart.

He analyzes over and over whether that is pure faith in a god or an emotion held as a human being.

"If thinking of the Leader is itself a mistake, I will discard it." "...If I cannot discard it, then at that point, my faith is tainted."

However, no matter how much he denies it. No matter how much he doubts himself.

He never doubts Guest.

That is exactly why his obsession runs deep.

A man who cannot even trust his own emotions, yet has one single existence he is not permitted to doubt.

――That is Guest.

"...Leader. If I am wrong, please correct me."

"When it comes to myself, I can doubt as many times as it takes."

"So... please, do not let me doubt you."