Chapter 11
Aisella Carsein.
A princess of a kingdom, the only daughter of the King, often encountered in the Game, and an NPC.
Many players, captivated by her beauty, sought ways to recruit her.
However, due to the game's settings, it was impossible to persuade her, leaving players disappointed and forced to turn away.
Contact with the Princess invariably led to a Sudden Quest.
「Help the Princess escape from the Regarium Kingdom!」
She possessed the innate spirit of a resistance fighter.
She abhorred Political Marriage and yearned for freedom.
With outstanding political acumen and intelligence,
Despite being born into and raised along an elite path to become a proper member of the Royal Family, she desired to escape her gilded cage.
What a disaster.
---
「(Strategy Guide) Title: Whatever you do, don't accept the Sudden Quest just because the Princess looks hot.
- The moment you do, six Stars will appear above your Head and you'll be chased until you die.
┖But she's hot though
┖Yeah, try it lol
┖Don't do it, you idiot」
---
‘An airhead princess.’
When I was deeply immersed in the Game, obsessed with expanding my Religious Order and maximizing Progress, Aisella Carsein was a time bomb to be avoided at all costs.
Her Head was literally flower-like, a Pink Head.
In the industry, they called it a "Pink Head," I think, not sure.
「‘Aisella Carsein’ wishes to speak with you.」
‘Go away.’
「‘Aisella Carsein’ wishes to make secret contact with your Religious Order.」
‘Damn it, go away!’
Every time I saw that Sudden Quest pop up on the screen the moment I logged in, I was terrified.
The Kingdom's crazy woman, tireless despite repeated rejections, twisted herself into knots trying to get involved with our Religious Order.
Did she hate being a Princess that much?
Just eat delicious food, enjoy life moderately, and get married, right?
I don't care about the details of politics, but I wish she'd consider my situation, having to reject her Quests every time we meet.
And now.
The woman looking at me cautiously is that infamous crazy Princess of the Kingdom.
“Pink Head.”
“...Yes?”
“Haha, nothing.”
I pretended otherwise and gave a warm smile.
I could see the Princess's expression brighten in real-time.
There’s no way the people of this era would know internet slang.
‘By the way.’
The current atmosphere was tense with Confrontation.
Bella, standing next to me, was glaring at Aisella as if she were a stray cat.
‘Why are you acting like that?’
Opposite them, the maid and Knights, pale-faced, were enduring Bella’s gaze.
‘And what's with you guys?’
The spacious room felt cramped due to their presence.
The carpet was soiled by various military boots and iron shoes, and the peaceful atmosphere had instantly transformed into a suffocating one.
What the heck. Give me back my peace of mind.
I just took a bath and felt refreshed, and now this?
“...Um.”
Fidgeting and watching my reaction, she finally initiated the conversation.
“I’ve already heard everything... about the, the situation. That...”
She cautiously looked at my face and then quickly averted her gaze, startled.
‘Oh, so burdensome.’
She was so apologetic that it made *me* feel flustered.
“You ‘Descended’ personally... to stop the Holy War.”
“It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
I replied with an embarrassed laugh.
“Oh, no!”
‘Whoa there.’
However, the Princess’s startled rebuttal made the already strange atmosphere even stranger.
What was this?
My current status in this Kingdom wasn't particularly favorable.
I was under suspicion, and I came here to clear up and dispel that suspicion.
‘And to activate some Objects while I'm at it.’
But right off the bat, before even meeting the King, the person considered a thorn in the Kingdom’s side shows up.
‘It's a bit uncomfortable.’
Not just a bit, a lot.
Because, in my opinion, the relationship between her and me in the Game didn't end on good terms.
“Lord God’s Descent saved countless lives.”
“That’s... good to hear.”
Preventing meaningless deaths is a great thing.
I hoped the King would also view my actions favorably.
Strained relations with the Regarium Kingdom would be troublesome in many ways.
“Father God.”
Then, the Princess, who had been cautiously observing, suddenly looked at me with a resolute gaze.
Why, what?
Why was she making such a Solemn expression?
“I will ensure that no harm comes to Father God. I swear it on my honor, and everything I hold dear.”
“...?”
There's no need for that.
Honestly, staying put would be helping me, but I couldn’t say that, right?
For now, since she was offering help, I just smiled.
“Because… that’s our Promise.”
...Huh?
Promise? What promise?
The crazy woman was bringing up a Promise I never made, as if only she knew about it.
Suddenly throwing in a curveball like this would inevitably lead to a Mental Breakdown.
“...How dare you.”
Bella, sensing the strange turn of events, growled just loud enough for me to hear.
“Do you perhaps… remember our Promise…?”
I didn't understand what she was saying.
I didn't know what to say.
I could only offer a meaningful smile.
“Haha.”
“...!”
As if satisfied with just that, her eyes sparkled with life.
“Th-Then. I wouldn’t want to bother you, Constellation, so I’ll take my leave for today…”
Aisella said so and slowly rose from her seat.
“Oh.”
And then, as if just remembering, she turned to me before leaving.
“Father also… is currently prioritizing your well-being, Constellation.”
“So…”
“Please rest well today, and we’ll officially meet tomorrow.”
“Aha.”
With those words, Aisella and her entourage completely left the room.
‘...Wasn’t the last part the most important?’
I hadn’t realized it amidst the chaos, but that thought suddenly occurred to me.
Anyway, it was a relief that they were giving me some time to rest.
They’d probably be holding meetings about me and my followers.
“Lord God.”
Bella, who had been patiently waiting, finally cautiously examined my Complexion.
That kindness was very comforting, and it felt like my drained energy was returning.
“I’m alright.”
“...I’m sorry. I…”
I stopped Bella, who was suddenly trying to feel Guilt, by holding her wrist, and looked around the room.
A luxurious suite with three large rooms and a Bathroom.
I could give Bella one room and go to another to freshen up.
“So today, we can just rest for a bit.”
“Yes…”
Then, I thought about our Holy Knights, who were elsewhere.
“I wonder if our kids are doing alright.”
I felt a bit uneasy since they were out of sight.
They had a history, after all.
Even with their leader by my side, I couldn't help but worry.
‘Please, just stay put...’
Wishing for that, I decided to properly enjoy my healing time.
“Alright. If you tell me to rest, I’ll rest as I see fit.”
First, I went to the sofa in the corner and sank into it.
As I was savoring the luxurious feeling, Bella, who was staring blankly at me, came toddling over and knelt beside me.
“....”
“....”
“Bella?”
“Yes, Lord God.”
“...You can be comfortable.”
“This is the most comfortable for me.”
Like a master and servant, always on standby, kneeling?
I don't understand the sentiment, but if she’s uncomfortable, she’ll get up on her own.
Thinking so, I opened the status window to check on my Followers.
Lisia and Belladis’ status windows were already open due to previous contact.
Their previously low Faith Levels have also properly recovered.
It seems the Fan Meeting had quite the effect.
‘Good.’
A significant portion of the Map is still deactivated.
I need to open it quickly and resume collecting Faith.
I still have a lot of resources left, so I'm not worried right now, but it's a kind of occupational hazard.
You never know when or where an incident might occur.
‘Speaking of which.’
Is Lisia, who said she was heading to the Religious Order headquarters, doing alright?
If anything happens, a warning window will pop up, so I guess there’s no problem.
I miss her red hair and green eyes filled with trust.
Bella is certainly pretty and beautiful, but there's an undeniable truth to the unique charm of each character.
“Hmm.”
Is there any way to bring her here?
Checking her location on the Map, she's moving diligently.
“Lisia, huh.”
“Y-yes...?”
“Is there no way to summon her?”
I want to put a leash on her before she does something reckless again.
From my perspective, my Followers are the type who won't cause trouble only if I personally supervise them.
Is it like a group Separation Anxiety?
Thinking about the current situation, scattered all over the place since the Holy War…
My hypothesis seems to be gaining credibility.
“There's a lot to do.”
“....Ah.”
Bella, who was staring blankly at me, reacted belatedly.
“There must be other Followers still diligently searching for me.”
First, I need to clear up this misunderstanding here, and also get rid of the Star that's faintly flickering above my head.
I need to start preparing for my Followers’ proper debut.
[Black Sun Incarnation: As expected, seriously...]
A timid Constellation mutters something incomprehensible in a corner of the chat window.
‘You too, stay put and don’t cause trouble.’
[....]
Of course, I'll need the cooperation of other Constellations for that.
The Black Sun wasn't the only one trying to manipulate this world.
I’m also curious about the actions of the other Constellations with whom I made good memories before.
‘Is this fortunate?’
If this was a point where I had to start from scratch, instead of continuing from my previous Progress…
It would have been truly bleak.
That's how close to ruin this world was.
***
“Have you heard the rumor?”
Inside a bustling tavern.
One of the men, flushed with alcohol after finishing their day's work, boisterously opened his mouth.
“The story about the Regarium Kingdom's Knighthood returning alive.”
“Huh? So they returned alive? I thought they went to stop the Holy War…”
“But, their opponent… weren't they the Followers of Father God?”
Followers of Father God.
The culprits who recently caused an uproar in the world, and now, have become no different from time bombs.
-Holy War.
The fact that they were preparing a monstrous plan was public knowledge, spread through rumors.
-Clatter. Clatter.
In the middle of her meal, a small figure listened in on their conversation.
Pulling her hood down low, she repeatedly tucked her constantly slipping red hair back under the hood.
She couldn't help but be bothered by the irritating noise.
“So the Regarium Kingdom’s Knighthood defeated the Constellation’s Knights?”
“What else could returning mean! They either won or subjugated them.”
“Good for them! The atmosphere has been grim with talks of war breaking out!”
“Did they only prevent war? This will change the world's landscape.”
-Indeed. No wonder the surrounding nations are on high alert.
“....”
The woman listening stopped her actions abruptly.
“Chomp, chomp, but.”
A bandit-like man, munching on his food beside her, suddenly raised a question.
“Rumor has it, the Religious Order's Chariot and Knights were seen near the Regarium walls.”
“What? Is that true?!”
“A rumor is a rumor. But, if it's true…”
“The Constellation's apostles became prisoners of the Regarium Kingdom?!”
If they lost in the Holy War, they become prisoners.
And prisoners could become useful tools in politics later.
“Ooh…!”
Humans who defeated the power of a god.
What a heart-stirring meaning it held.
-Thud.
Finally unable to bear the conversation any longer, the woman stood up and walked towards them.
The men, who had been boisterously chatting amongst themselves, froze at the sudden approach of the unknown figure.
“...?”
“W-what?”
They felt resistant to the figure, much smaller than them, but…
“Father God will not be defeated.”
The imposing aura emanating from her…
“...Ugh.”
The faces of the rough-looking men gradually turned pale.
“Absolutely. Whether by lowly humans like yourselves, or the insignificant Royal Knights.”
The woman, still hooded, conveyed her message.
“Never.”
“A-alright, just stop…”
With their lungs constricted by an unknown force, the food they had just eaten threatened to come back up.
The woman finally released the men, who were pushed to their limits.
“Bleuurgh!!”
“Gurgle.”
Leaving the men behind as they vomited, the woman took out some money and showed it to the tavern owner.
The owner, who had a harsh appearance and was about to start a commotion, quickly became polite upon seeing what the woman held in her hand.
“Oh, my. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Including the Disturbance fee.”
“Y-yes…! Of course. Don't worry about it!”
After confirming the situation was resolved, the Priest left the Tavern and set her Goal.
‘Lord God.’
It seemed she needed to go to the Kingdom.
She couldn't tolerate anything, especially the tarnishing of her Lord God's honor.
‘I will not forgive those who insult Lord God's name.’
The Follower, Lisia, thought with anger in her green eyes, visible beneath her hood.
The Goal was Regarium Kingdom.
She needed to find out what was happening there.
“...Belladis.”
Perhaps―
That foolish Vampire had caused some trouble.