Chapter 10
“Father, there is definitely someone behind all of this…!”
The aged man sitting on the throne didn't even blink at the woman's biting words.
“And?”
“Yes…?”
“And so what?”
The mad Followers were trying to start a Holy War on their own, and it might be their turn next.
Now was the time to stop them, the right time to oppose them.
Because the moment they found any way, it might be impossible to turn everything back.
“How, how.”
“....?”
The woman, upon hearing the reply, trailed off in despair.
Under the brilliant lighting, her brightly adorned pink hair caught the eye.
“How can you betray the kindness of our Father God like this…?”
The girl remembered.
The mockery and malice of the evil gods, and the villains who rushed in, targeting her.
It was a fleeting moment.
A moment when everyone was preoccupied with the battle.
One of the evil god's assassins took advantage of the opening and reached right in front of her.
“Die.”
The rapidly approaching form of death.
The flashing blade, the murderous eyes, the fate that made her forget even to breathe.
She, a Princess of the Kingdom, would have been lying cold that day if it hadn't been for someone's help.
From that day on.
Princess Aisella Carsein swore to join the Lord God's Religious Order.
For him, she was even willing to give up the throne.
‘Father God, please.’
She prayed desperately in despair.
To fulfill the Promise they made that day, she was prepared to do anything.
***
We were traveling for a long time, guided by the Royal Knighthood.
The location was inside a chariot.
While sitting comfortably and traveling, I made eye contact with Bella, who was fidgeting nervously.
With an expression that seemed to be suppressing something she wanted to say, I spoke first.
“Do you have something you want to say?”
“....! Oh, no.”
When I asked, Bella hurriedly lowered her eyes and flustered.
I've seen it many times, but I still can't get used to this scene.
A super beautiful girl is looking at me nervously, giving off the vibe that she wants to win my favor.
‘I've made it.’
A life upgraded several levels, making it almost unfair to compare it to my ordinary life.
If this world had instant food and a cell phone, it would be heaven, but now I'll even overcome that.
‘I will live for myself.’
My ambition hasn't ended yet.
Once I've sorted things out to some extent, I'll go back to expanding my power and drawing super beauties.
That's the romance of the Game I used to Play, ‘Ragnarok.’
“Ah, right.”
“Yees…?”
“I saw Lisia before coming to you.”
At the familiar name from my mouth, Belladis' expression momentarily hardened.
“Are you talking about… Lisia?”
“Yes. Just before you came here, she was almost attacked by the Black Sun's Priests.”
“....!”
Hostility leaked into her subtle expression.
If I hadn't been there, it looked like she would have immediately turned the chariot around to wage a Holy War against the Black Sun.
“She's fine now. I looked after her myself.”
At those words, she seemed relieved, but her expression still didn't soften.
It seemed like she was worried about Lisia as a fellow Follower, which made me feel quite proud.
‘The Divine Power sealing was an accident.’
I was also startled by the Penalty that was inflicted on Lisia at the time.
If the timing hadn't been right, I would have seen Lisia already cold.
“Lord, Lord God, did you perhaps…”
“Hmm?”
“Did you also show that form to Lisia…?”
My form? I didn't show it.
I was too busy helping her at the time.
“....Hoo.”
Bella breathed a sigh of relief after hearing my answer.
It was still an unreadable reaction.
Then, as if she realized something, she opened her mouth again.
“When we arrive at the Kingdom, I will do my best to ensure your safety, Lord God.”
Her fingers were still fidgeting.
Red eyes with a subtle glint peeked at me from beneath her doe-like eyelashes.
“Huh? Is there really a need for that?”
I'm stronger, even if she is strong.
“Absolutely.”
But Belladis, after hearing Lisia's story, was so resolute that
I had no choice but to nod obediently.
“If you say so, there must be a reason.”
“....”
A stiff Silence descended after that.
She was focusing all her attention on watching my reactions, and I gradually became less talkative due to the atmosphere.
I thought we'd have a lot to talk about when we finally met, but I didn't expect to be so tongue-tied.
‘This can't be happening.’
With that thought, I spoke to Bella.
“Bella.”
“Yes, yes. Father God.”
“Did you have a good time while I was gone?”
‘Ah.’
This idiot.
I meant to start a conversation, but I stepped on a landmine right from the start.
Of course they wouldn’t have had a good time while I was gone.
They were even preparing for a Holy War.
“I, I… I was preparing with the utmost care so that I could welcome you at any time, Lord God.”
However, Bella gave an admirable answer.
But that's not the answer I wanted.
“Really?”
“...Really.”
“Really? You weren't struggling at all?”
When I asked again, as if she had made up her mind,
Belladis didn't avoid my gaze, instead adopting a composed posture.
‘She's challenging me, huh?’
I extended my hand to break down the wall between us, and she's backing away like this.
Then I can't help but feel a bit stubborn.
“Well, then.”
“....?”
“I was going to give you a gift, even if it was just out of pity, if you said you were struggling even a little.”
At those words, Bella’s expression instantly froze.
“So you’re saying you really weren’t struggling?”
“Ah, no.”
“Right. Good. I'm glad you were okay.”
“Lord Goood…”
Watching Bella’s increasingly tearful expression, I asked her once more.
“Was it a little hard while I was gone?”
“....”
“It’s okay to be a little honest.”
A severe internal conflict seemed to be brewing within Bella.
Just say it, why is it so hard with me?
We were good, weren't we?
Even in the Game, we interacted constantly without fail.
“...Hard.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“A little, just a little. It was hard. So little that you really don’t need to worry about it.”
She spoke timidly, like a child confessing a wrongdoing, and for a moment, I almost burst out laughing.
“So.”
I said, reaching out to Bella’s head.
“...Hiek.”
A short intake of breath, then beautiful eyelids squeezed shut.
She seems to think I’m going to pat her head, but I decided to repay her for what I received earlier.
‘Is this okay?’
It should be.
This isn't my old body; it's the remade body of a Lord God.
“...?”
Bella, who had been obediently moving her head at the guidance of my hand, soon settled down on my thigh.
“Ah?”
“Let’s rest for a bit, like this.”
“...“
She must have gone through a lot trying to deal with the Black Sun, so she needs to rest like this, even if it's in this way.
I can ask about the gift later.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I looked at Bella, who wouldn't lift her head.
I gathered her scattered, beautiful hair and stroked it.
-Stroke. Stroke.
The atmosphere inside the chariot was much softer and more comfortable than before.
***
I took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere to briefly organize my thoughts.
The Kingdom, the Regarium Kingdom.
This is the first nation I'm visiting in this body, and an important stage where I need to imprint my new appearance.
Why? Because it'll make it easier to travel all over the country in the future.
‘Or not.’
Would being too recognizable actually create restrictions?
Maybe covering my face would be helpful.
‘I happen to have something good in the warehouse.’
I thought of the stealth item that would be lying dormant in the warehouse tab.
Since I’m possessed, I should do what I want.
What could be more frustrating than being confined and only doing work?
And for that…
“The King of Regarium must be doing well.”
“...Yes.”
The answer came from below.
I continued to stroke Bella’s hair, enjoying the feel of the soft strands between my fingers.
In Game terms, it's the first national power the player encounters and a tutorial zone full of reliable helper NPCs.
However, if you underestimate the first power you encounter, you might quickly face the reality of your Religious Order being wiped out.
You have to be nice when they are nice.
--
「Title: Fuck, this Ragnarok noob tried to rob the national treasury in real-time and is fucked
(Picture of Kingdom Knights chasing)
-Six stars appeared above my head, am I fucked? They keep chasing me;;
┗lol idiot. You can never get rid of that.
┗Take it like a man. Did you think the Regarium Kingdom was a joke?
┗Seriously guys, this is serious」
「Title: Listen up, you idiot in the post above
-That never goes away until the world resets, so either leave the country or quit the game」
┗Of course, if you leave the border, you’ll be eaten alive by other Constellations, so good luck lol
┗What the fuck are you talking about」
--
Back when I was a player, my Religious Order was reset countless times because I tried to raid the national treasury as I pleased.
The King's vault, where all kinds of treasures slumber.
How can you resist that?
But I had to.
Because the wrath of an entire kingdom, incurred in exchange for greed, is not easily washed away.
That's why I sealed my desires long ago and started working on building up Affinity with the Regarium Kingdom.
And the result is this.
-Groooooan...!
As the massive, magically engineered gates opened, confetti rained down from all directions.
The sight was so spectacular that I stared, mesmerized.
“Bella, do you see that?”
I wanted to show her too, but there was no reply.
It seems she's fallen into a deep sleep.
‘But do Vampires sleep?’
Putting aside such trivial thoughts.
The chariot I was riding in, along with our Knights, continued forward.
Past the grand streets, familiar yet unfamiliar in their reality,
We finally arrived in front of the enormous palace where the King resided.
The chariot continued deep into the Royal Palace before finally stopping.
“...“
Bella, whose head had been resting on my lap, naturally raised her head.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, ah. I, I slept well… The Lord God’s thigh is so comfortable and warm…”
As Bella stammered her reply, we disembarked, and Baltar and the Knights greeted us.
“I’ll guide you from here.”
“Very well.”
I decided to obediently follow his guidance.
But before that.
“Surely, you don’t intend to have the Lord God meet your King in this state, do you?”
However, this time it was Bella who sharply addressed them.
‘Ah.’
Only then did I become aware of my physical state once again.
My clothes were soaked in blood.
My newly sacrificed clothes for dramatic effect were precariously close to revealing my skin.
Thanks to that, I looked like a street beggar.
“Would it be alright if I made some preparations to meet the King, with Bella here as my attendant?”
When I politely asked, Knight Commander Baltar fell into thought.
However, before long, perhaps even he found my appearance appalling.
He quickly agreed and provided a large room equipped with a bathroom.
I could simply wash up here and change into new clothes.
“Bella, wait for me a moment.”
Leaving Bella, who couldn't take her Eyes off the bathroom, I leisurely used the bath.
A short while later.
Refreshed, I retrieved clothes from the warehouse, put them on, and headed back out.
“...May I, dry your hair…?”
“Please do.”
Saying so, I entrusted my head to Bella, who carefully brought a towel.
Mmm, I felt much more refreshed than before. My mood brightened considerably.
It was during this brief moment of relaxation.
-Princess! It’s dangerous…!
Noisy sounds began to echo from beyond the room I was in.
“...?”
-Move aside.
-B, but…!
-If you do not move now, I will severely punish you.
Then, through the slightly opened door, a beauty with unusual hair color…
…looked at me with a flushed face.