Chapter 31. Return

「Warning! Unauthorized access!」

-Clank...

At the deepest end of the Abyss.

Beyond the lock, thoroughly sealed to suppress something, a presence stirred.

Deep loneliness, despair, and then a dreamlike hope.

The woman had placed herself here of her own volition.

For her Lord, who would one day return.

“...”

And so, she willingly relinquished all her rights, borrowing the senses of another Constellation.

-Thump. Thump.

It resonated.

Through the countless circuits connected to the woman, a grotesque heartbeat echoed, as if space itself had been granted life.

Even as they chipped away at her own life force, the woman willingly endured, continuing to grasp at clues.

The two horns sprouting from her head were the pride of her race and her everything.

But for her Lord God, they were cumbersome symbols she would gladly shatter.

Though countless years had passed since she last saw the light of the heavens, the woman recalled those glorious moments and smiled faintly.

“Father God.”

Further and further away.

The woman's consciousness sank into the deep darkness.

#

“...Huh?”

A strange sense of unease suddenly washed over me.

It felt like a strange pull, similar to when Lisia had sought me out, but my status window remained unresponsive.

So, it was quite likely just my imagination.

I was currently in my dedicated Chapel.

It was originally intended for the nobles of the Royal Palace, but it had been converted into a place solely for the worship of my Religious Order.

So, it was practically mine.

‘It's still a bit much, though.’

I hadn't fully adjusted to my changed daily life.

Touching the status window was something I'd always done, so that was familiar enough.

But facing reality itself like this still wasn't easy.

For example—

Even if they suddenly offered me this sparkling, enormous Chapel,

“Wow, this is insane.”

It only made me feel awkward; I didn't feel any sense of luxury.

“Is this really made of gold? Is this really mine?”

[Black Sun's Incarnation: The Chapel was indeed provided by the King himself for your followers—]

“No, I mean, who are those prayers directed to? They’re all for me. So, this Chapel is ultimately mine, right? Isn’t it?”

[Black Sun's Incarnation: No, what kind of twisted logic is—]

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

As I placed my finger on the Curse button, Black Sun frantically affirmed my words.

We've known each other for this long, and he still doesn’t understand my heart.

Truly upsetting.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: O-okay…! You're right! It’s yours!]

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

I nodded with satisfaction at Black Sun's hasty words and removed my finger from the Curse tab.

Child of the Lost Star: So, what are you going to do now?

As the conversation lulled, the Child of the Lost Star, who had been waiting for an opportunity, sent a message.

Lounging comfortably in a Chapel chair, I was curious about the Constellation’s intentions.

“What do you mean?”

[Child of the Lost Star: Haven’t you lost the Fleshless Prophet of Death?]

“Ah.”

The massive undead army that had vanished without a trace during my Hero's debut.

Even for a Constellation, having their forces disappear in 3 seconds must have been quite a shock. Unlike the previous Constellation—

‘He ran away.’

He left only a single message acknowledging my existence, then disappeared completely without any further conversation or action.

He was a Constellation-level being, so he could hide himself as much as he wanted.

‘It’s a shame, though.’

I was starting to enjoy collecting Constellations, and he’d escaped right in front of me.

“I can just catch him next time.”

But this wasn't my only chance.

No matter how skilled he was at escaping, as long as he didn’t completely withdraw from this world, we were bound to meet again.

“Unless he goes to hell.”

Even if those Constellations were going to extremes, they wouldn't think of hiding there.

“Anyway, I’ll look for him later.”

Now that I'd transformed the undead invasion into my Hero's debut,

The moment had finally arrived to unwind and enjoy the fruits of my labor, something I hadn't been able to do properly in the Chariot.

Namely, in my own dedicated Chapel.

-Creeeaaak...

The massive doors, which had barred any outside intrusion, slowly opened.

I quickly rose from my reclined position and assumed a reverent posture to greet her.

“You’ve arrived?”

The one who finally appeared was

Our Filial Daughter, Lisia, whom I had already met face-to-face.

“Lord God.”

“Come and sit.”

I readily offered her a seat as she bowed her head in respect.

“...!”

At my invitation, she approached with a happy smile.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“N-no, it’s nothing...”

Lisia quickly averted her gaze and denied my concern.

Her cheeks were flushed, indicating that she was quite shy in this situation.

This was a characteristic of hers; she was easily flustered by expressions of affection, and I often enjoyed this reaction even back in the game.

“No, I was watching you the whole time.”

“You were… watching over me…?”

Well, it was only during a few crucial moments, but

Wasn’t the fact that we were together during those moments what truly mattered?

“Of course.”

As I smiled and nodded, she trembled, lost in the lingering emotion.

I had noticed it even when observing her in setting mode, but as expected of my Follower, she was truly beautiful.

A heavenly beauty rarely seen even in my original world.

Of course, since it's based on a game character, seeing it in person revealed its destructive potential.

Especially the Divine Power pouch that keeps catching my eye.

With every movement, it emphasizes its presence and appeals to my attention, making it quite difficult to manage my gaze.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat to momentarily compose myself and decided to directly praise Lisia for her hard work.

“Do you have any questions for me?”

Lisia, and Belladis.

They are the followers who have worked hard to find me while I was gone.

Although I haven't contacted them yet, other followers must also be calling for me.

It wasn't my intention, but I'm willing to take 'some' responsibility for the current situation.

‘I should enjoy it while I'm here.’

Just wait, other Constellations.

There's a certain thrill in collecting them.

It's a different kind of fun that wasn't available in the main store.

“I, I dare not harbor any blasphemous thoughts against my Lord God...”

It was just curiosity, not blasphemy.

But I expected this.

Belladis also thought a lot about the reward.

In times like these, I just need to decide.

[Do you wish to use a High-Level Blessing on the follower, ‘Lisia’?]

First, I'll give her a mindless praise sticker.

“Ah...!”

Lisia makes a very happy expression as the Divine Power flows into her body.

Her eyes loosen, and her breathing quickens, but...

Since she's enjoying it, I feel good too.

“I won't abandon you again.”

And then I told her and our Religious Order the words they desperately needed to hear.

The Black Sun's assassination attempt on Lisia, and Belladis's Holy War.

Following that, it was difficult to properly assess due to the continuous and unintentional incidents.

It must have been really tough.

If this is exactly like in the game, the bond between me and my followers must be very deep.

“Sob...!”

Desperately holding back her Tears, Lisia trembled, her hands shaking.

Just like with Belladis, she seems to want to do something but is lost in reverence.

I gladly took Lisia's hand and pulled her into an embrace.

Like that, for a while, we held each other close and comforted our hearts.

***

“... ”

The quiet Chapel.

The sound of two people's presence.

Right now, Lisia must be feeling gratitude for my Hug, but I'm being healed as well.

How can I not love my beautiful, cute followers who constantly Worship me?

A faint fruity scent, a warm embrace, and a warm body temperature.

‘This is heaven.’

I was secretly indulging in my desires and enjoying the Hug with a joyful Heart.

[Follower, ‘Belladis Rochellia’ is approaching you.]

-Creak....

“...?”

The Chapel door quietly opens again, and another familiar figure enters.

It was our Bella, with black hair and red eyes, who should be busy preparing to leave.

“Ah.”

She looked around as if searching for me, and then she gasped slightly as she saw us embracing.

“Hello.”

“...!”

She hurriedly bowed her Head in greeting, but her gaze remained fixed on us.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Her gaze was so persistent that I wondered, but then I brushed it off casually.

“Um, ahem...!”

Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Lisia was the first to pull away from my embrace.

She needlessly adjusted her clothes and glanced at Bella before finally meeting her gaze head-on.

‘What are you two doing?’

Their subtle rivalry was so funny that I had to hold back my laughter.

“What's up?”

“...Ah.”

Bella, who was having a staring contest with Lisia, flinched at my question and opened her mouth.

“The, the preparations for our return to the Holy Place are, all complete.”

“Oh, really?”

The Holy Place.

Our Holy Place.

The preparations for returning to the headquarters of our Religious Order, which I had cherished and nurtured in the game, were complete.

Judging by the longing in Bella's gaze, it seems she's quite reluctant to part with me.

She likes the body I Summoned with Divine Possession, so let's just take it as a compliment.

“Bella has a particularly important mission.”

The content is simple.

She just needs to return safely.

I can manage the rest through the System, so all she needs to do is help with the synchronization.

I've done this countless times in the game.

The object's level reset is quite annoying, but I'm confident I can quickly Cover it with other methods.

“So.”

“A mission given to me ‘alone’ by Father God.”

Belladis emphasizes the importance of the mission by focusing on a particular word.

At the end of her gaze was Lisia with a puzzled expression.

‘What are you two doing now?’

With my two followers engaged in an inexplicable nerve war, I started to worry needlessly.

***

“... ”

Before Belladis, who was brimming with confidence after receiving instructions from Father God, 'Ron'.

A red-haired follower stood.

“Do you have something to say?”

Lisia—

One of the most trusted followers within the Religious Order had called Belladis aside.

“It seems you're the one with something to say.”

However, the reply was incredibly cold.