Chapter 25. What Was a Festival...

Undead.

In a world where magic and Divine Power exist, it's quite a shame to leave them out.

If there are Followers to raise, shouldn't there also be monsters to give them experience?

'What's with the timing?'

It feels like the stage is set for me to use the Holy Sword I just obtained.

Or maybe that's just how I feel.

I was itching to use the equipment I just got.

'Let's check on everyone's status too.'

The Hero... is probably still not ready for actual combat, but the Sword Saint is a different story.

She just suffered a crushing defeat at Lisia's hands, but with my touch, she'll quickly become stronger.

First, the Followers' locations.

Lisia, the Sword Saint, and the Hero are relatively close.

In the distance, I see a flustered Belladis quickly approaching me.

Expanding the Map to a wider radius...

"Oh, they're going all out."

I could see countless red dots, appearing in real-time and approaching us.

If the Undead are the monsters, then their Constellation is…

『The Flesh-less Prophet of Death』

The owner of a name brimming with edgy chuunibyou vibes.

In the Community, he's called "Fleshless," the Constellation of the Undead.

He's someone I know very well, since he's an opponent I have to fight repeatedly for Progress.

'I thought I finished him off last time.'

After dealing with the last Life Vessel and his army, Fleshless's role in the story practically disappeared.

But Undead are Undead. It seems he's managed to raise a new force somewhere.

'He's really persistent.'

When it comes to the efficiency of life force, they're definitely ranked number one among all races.

'But they're not pretty.'

They just look smelly and dirty.

To me, who was serious about aesthetics as much as story and Progress efficiency, those hideous appearances were an immediate disqualifier.

So I eliminated them, again and again.

I made sure my Followers were living, beautiful women, followed by handsome Holy Knights, a clean and pure force.

"Father God...!"

Suddenly, a shadow swelled and rose, revealing Belladis.

"Another Constellation's forces are invading...!"

"Yeah."

The vampire Follower, tense at the arrival of a being of a different caliber, meets my eyes.

I stroke Bella's head to calm her down, slowly conveying my intentions.

"I just so happened to have something I wanted to test. Good timing. They've come just at the right moment."

"Huh...?"

"Bella, don't worry and leave it to me."

"...!"

Without fully understanding, Bella simply offers a trusting smile.

-Whoosh!

Opening the Skill tab, I imbued Bella's body with Divine Power.

Of course, it's the kind that discriminates against Undead.

Actually, each of my skills is fatal to the Undead.

Since my build is focused on Love, Blessings, and Healing…

To the Undead, who possess opposing qualities, my existence must look like a nuclear bomb.

'Pacifist route, hooray!'

This playthrough is focused on the power to save rather than the power to kill.

As expected, peace is the best.

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Pacifist route...?」

'None of your business.'

「Descendant of the Lost Star: It seems they're seizing an opportunity.」

I briefly open the chat window, and two Constellations, seizing the moment, make their presence known.

Among them, the opinion of the "Descendant of the Lost Star," also known as Star Son, catches my eye.

'Opportunity?'

「They've been subtly checking me before. They wiped out the entire village where the child gifted with the 'Sword Saint' talent lived.」

As expected of a Constellation, their methods are excessively violent.

'Did they just wipe them out?'

「Descendant of the Lost Star: The powers of my child and the Holy Sword are very troublesome for them.」

'I can see that.'

It's a spear that pierces even other Constellations, let alone the Undead.

That's why I'm even more excited.

'They have no idea, right?'

「Descendant of the Lost Star: Absolutely. If they knew, they wouldn't have dared to show their faces.」

Star Son agrees with me.

Confirming this makes my heart race even more.

They don't know about my existence, and they don't know about the Holy Sword.

'If this isn't an experience event, then what is it?'

I've been completely captivated by this large-scale flirting invasion.

"Ah..."

Bella's face is flushed with ecstasy from the imbued Divine Power.

"First, take care of the ones attacking the walls. Don't initiate anything."

I've set the stage, so I can't let Belladis hog all the experience.

"As you will, Lord God."

"Oh, and also…"

I checked the Map and made a rough estimate.

Do I really need Belladis's Knighthood?

She can hold them off to some extent on her own, but if the Knighthood gets involved, it'll turn into a complete massacre.

'They absolutely must not learn about our existence.'

"Deploy the Knighthood inside the walls to prepare for any variables."

"Yes...!"

I can't just give the experience dumplings, who are so eager to come to me, the boot at the entrance.

If they see the stationed Knighthood, they'll surely withdraw their forces immediately.

As Belladis departs, I also moved to prepare for this event.

"F-Father God...!"

Starting with the pale-faced King of Regarium.

“I’ll handle it.”

Before I even had a chance to rise from my seat or make preparations to mobilize the Kingdom's forces, I conveyed my intent with a benevolent smile.

“Oh…! Father God, please… watch over these poor lambs…!”

“Hufufufu.”

‘Don’t interfere. They’re all mine.’

Forget the emergency meeting about the crisis; I’m going to set the stage myself, beforehand.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: I, I don't know anything...]

‘What's he talking about all of a sudden?’

Lightly dismissing the Black Sun Incarnation’s incomprehensible words, it was finally time.

“My little chicks.”

It was time to meet our new Followers, the ones who had their pockets picked thanks to the Star Child.

***

“U-Undead are coming…!”

“They said there weren’t just one or two…! Villan, who just came back from hunting, saw them clearly! He said they were coming in an entire army…!”

“So, are we all going to die…?”

“Die? What are you talking about?!”

The guard who had been leading them suddenly ran off somewhere, leaving the Sword Saint and Lisia stranded by the roadside.

It wasn't just that it was difficult to grasp the unfolding situation; the rumors circulating around them were unsettling.

“…Undead?”

Lisia and Hériane exchanged bewildered glances.

The sky-blue-haired Follower, despite being disconcerted by the change in her Divine Power, was about to move to try and stop the situation.

-Thud!

“Wait, where are you…”

“…I must stop them!”

“What are you going to do alone? And…”

Lisia wasn’t the only one who felt the change in Divine Power.

How could she not recognize it?

The identity of the familiar Divine Power emanating from a stranger's body.

‘…This too.’

Surely, this was the will of her Constellation, her Lord God.

Lisia first tried to pull the Sword Saint back, intending to face the threat herself.

“Please step back. I will go.”

“No! You step back! If they’re Undead, my power can definitely…!”

The Holy Sword’s power was like poison to the Undead.

Just facing them, even a mere touch, could return their existence to nothingness.

It would be more than enough to deal with the current crisis.

However, Lisia coldly assessed her condition.

“In your current state, you’ll only be a hindrance.”

“…!”

“So—”

As the Confrontation between the two Followers reached its climax, an indescribable Divine Power began to blossom in Lisia's mind.

“Ah, ah…”

The moment she felt it, every cell in her body seemed to awaken, and her blurred Vision cleared.

“What…?”

Hériane sensed something amiss as Lisia’s determined expression softened into a vacant stare.

“…Ha!”

Suddenly snapping out of the dreamlike sensation, Lisia regained her senses and grabbed the Sword Saint's arm.

“Wh-what is it? Just now…”

“This is no time for that.”

“Huh…? No, what just…”

“Just now, Father God bestowed a Revelation upon me.”

A Revelation.

Guidance, akin to Realization, bestowed by a Constellation upon their Follower.

“He told me to stop the Undead army, *with you*.”

“What are you suddenly…”

“Follow me.”

“Wait a second…!”

It was a baseless demand, yet her grip was incredibly strong.

The Sword Saint’s body was helplessly dragged towards the wall.

“No…! You need to at least explain…!”

“How dare you say a Revelation from our Lord God requires explanation? Unacceptable!”

“This foolish Follower, really…!”

Lisia marched resolutely toward the wall, matching the Kingdom's Knights who were all heading in the same direction. Beside her, the Sword Saint was being dragged along with a bewildered and frustrated expression.

“W-wait. It’s dangerous here—”

The stationed Kingdom soldiers tried to stop their abrupt arrival.

“Don't get in the way!”

“Ugh…!”

They were unable to block the tremendous strength emanating from her slender frame, and she broke through their ranks.

-Stop the Undead army's invasion, together with the Sword Saint.

The clear Revelation echoed in Lisia’s mind.

There was no room for doubt.

With that mindset, right here, right now.

-Rumble, rumble, rumble…!

In the distance, accompanied by tremors, the Undead army advanced.

Despite being dragged along in a state of confusion, the Sword Saint adopted a serious demeanor as she faced the approaching threat.

“So many…!”

“If we leave them unchecked, the Kingdom will be in grave danger.”

Lisia offered a simple yet weighty observation.

“Is it truly the will of the Absolute that has led us both here?”

“Doubt is blasphemy.”

Lisia shot Hériane a sharp look.

Startled by the glare, Hériane felt a surge of resentment.

‘No, at least tell me what's going on…’

And at that moment—

-Whoosh!!

A tremendous Divine Power converged from the heavens, descending before them as a brilliant halo of light.

[Skill, 'Summon,' activated!]