Chapter 32. Who is the Sinner?

“If you have nothing to say, I’d like to leave. As you know, I have a ‘special’ mission bestowed upon me by the Lord God.”

“....”

Lisia’s icy expression momentarily cracked at the deliberately provocative tone.

The Vampire's sharp senses didn't miss it.

She was clearly shaken by the bond between Belladis and the Lord God.

That alone made Belladis feel a vile desire wriggling within her.

“Wait.”

As Belladis turned her back, counting the seconds in her mind, a firm voice stopped her, as if waiting for this exact moment.

“What.”

Belladis turned around nonchalantly.

Lisia's expression was darker and more irritated than before.

“Don’t get cocky.”

“...Huh?”

“I said, don’t get cocky.”

Belladis scoffed at the sudden accusation.

“You, to me?”

When it came to faith in their Lord God, she was confident she wouldn't lose to anyone.

That's why the arrogant tone, using the word 'cocky' without knowing anything, was extremely irritating.

“Who has been serving by the Lord God's side since his Summoning? Was it you?”

Belladis pointed at Lisia with a deliberately theatrical flourish, then shook her head with a look of contempt.

“No. It was me. Unlike you, who knew nothing and just flitted around, I was in a position to receive His exclusive favor.”

“While you stood by and watched the Lord God bleed?”

However, Lisia also held a weapon for this verbal duel—

The first thing Lisia did after returning to the Kingdom was to get a full explanation from the Holy Knights of the Religious Order.

“...!”

The Vampire of the Religious Order flinched at Lisia’s pointed words.

As one who serves the Lord God, allowing an external attack was a grave sin worthy of immediate execution.

This was the first time the Father God had been Summoned, but everyone would unanimously agree on such a charge.

“Belladis, you were there. You weren't alone.”

There were many witnesses, and all of them were shocked.

The ambush by the Priest of the Black Sun, who inherited the power of a Constellation.

And 'Belladis,' the closest aide, did nothing.

She was gripped by futile suspicion and took no action.

Incompetent—

Despite pledging to serve the Lord God with her life, Belladis had committed a grave error.

“Don’t speak out of turn.”

As Belladis growled, Lisia added without backing down.

“Did I say anything wrong?”

“...At that time, at that time...!”

Belladis knew her excuse was absurd, even as she uttered it.

But she truly couldn't help it.

At that time, she was half-mad with the desire for revenge.

“You couldn’t help it? Do you think that makes any sense?”

“And you.”

Belladis’s resentful gaze turned towards Lisia.

The sinner wasn't just one person.

“Who abandoned the Religious Order and embarked on a pilgrimage? Who shirked their responsibilities when the Religious Order was faltering, when His sanctuary was threatened?”

The Vampire’s fangs pointed towards the equally irresponsible Follower.

“....”

“We are all sinners. Before Him, we all bear unforgivable sins.”

Shameless.

Belladis swore to face the love she offered to her master with composure.

Since He had returned without abandoning them, all that remained was to Worship Him with everything she had.

“So, I will Worship Him with the rest of my life. That was my wish from the beginning.”

“Yes, I remember.”

If it was Belladis from the Black Sun, the Vampire—

It was a figure Lisia knew all too well from her memories.

“The Black Sun, and the Biological Weapon.”

“...! You...!”

“You should have been disposed of, but you were reborn under the Lord God’s mercy. As one of his closest Followers, no less.”

Unlike Belladis, who was becoming increasingly agitated, Lisia continued speaking calmly.

“You think you're better than me? That you understand the Lord God better than I do? Don't make me laugh.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re still just a Vampire, obsessed with the taste of blood. A Monster who sought blood in the name of revenge.”

She had tried to start a Holy War.

Driven by suspicion based on misinformation and a personal desire for revenge.

At the time, the other members of the Religious Order were unable to make sound judgments, so there was no one to stop Belladis's stubborn insistence.

But one person.

One person had opposed her.

“I’ve been with the Lord God from the very beginning.”

A past when there were no other Followers but herself.

Even in that harsh and difficult environment, Lisia had been happy.

Because she always felt the presence of her Lord God within her Heart.

“So, don't you dare act so cocky as if you know everything about ‘our’ Lord God, after swearing to serve Him.”

Our.

Lisia offered Belladis a chance for Atonement with her last shred of patience.

-Gnash.

Belladis was now biting her lip in frustration.

Because she couldn't properly refute Lisia's words, because she had tried to avoid responsibility.

Belladis, who loved her Lord God more than anyone, could no longer betray her Heart and her Love for Him.

Tears of frustration welled up in her narrowed Eyes.

“I will never make the same mistake twice.”

She then conveyed her resolve, enunciating each word clearly.

“Good.”

Lisia nodded obediently, gradually easing her aggressive stance.

One way or another, the Lord God would be saddened by the conflict between his Followers.

‘No.’

Lisia couldn't bear to see such sorrow, even if it meant facing a knife.

That's why she backed down.

“I’ll be going.”

Lisia, who decided to leave first, passed by Belladis.

The Woman left behind remained standing there for a long time, still filled with sorrow and self-reproach.

#

---

「Title: Ah shit; Another ally got invaded;;

-What's the point of raising Affinity and forming alliances when they just get smacked by Constellations and wiped out all the time?

└Do you think Constellations are a joke lol

└Constellations invade if they want to lol

└You think you can just do whatever you want and run away? Take responsibility lol

└What responsibility

└Deploy troops, what kind of responsibility are you talking about

└It's obvious you just deployed useless scrubs

└How did you know?

└I lost five allies doing that

└Idiot lol

└Please take some responsibility

」

「Title: Are allies really necessary?

-I suddenly thought about it. Managing them is such a hassle lol

└Will your ancestors do your daily quests for you?

└If you don't need allies, give them to me please;;

」

「Title: A Constellation has its pride

-Borrowing the hands of humans? Absolutely unacceptable

└I used to think that way

└If you abandon all your Religious Order allies, other Constellations will just take them all. Can you handle that?

└No, I can't handle that, you bastard

└Why are you suddenly cursing

└The OP got all his allies NTR'd and is pissed lol

└Lol

└I lost everything and can't even upgrade because I lack resources, and it's so frustrating when Constellations constantly invade my Holy Place

└I don't care

└You should have treated them better when you had them

└When you feel it's too late, shout! 'Reset'.

└Get lost

」

---

“Oh, Father God. What is this...?”

For a demonstration of what I've accomplished, I gathered the King and other important figures and headed to a wide-open space.

Edmund asked me something, but I just gave him a smile.

—Swoosh...

A holy energy rose from the ground, soon taking a clear form.

“...!”

It was the army of purified Undead I had gathered earlier.

Holy Spirits.

I didn't want to use them myself, but they were perfect for stationing in the currently vacant Regarium Kingdom.

[Would you like to deploy the summoned Holy Spirits to the ‘Regarium Kingdom’?]

‘Yes.’

I mentally accepted the prompt and looked at Edmund standing next to me.

Troop Deployment.

A System that becomes available after completing the Affinity quest with the King, establishing a mutually cooperative relationship.

The world is a Constellation's playground.

This wasn't a fact known only to me.

Even Edmund, who hated Constellations in his younger days, would have understood the need for a stronger Constellation's power to protect the country.

“We must always be prepared for foreign invasions.”

“...!”

“I've learned a lot from this Undead incident. Therefore, I will order all the Holy Spirits gathered this time to dedicate themselves to protecting the Regarium Kingdom.”

“F-Father God…!”

Edmund, despite his frail body, hurriedly tried to Worship me.

“Don’t.”

Thank you, but I don't enjoy torture as a hobby.

I'll just accept your gratitude.

“I cannot accept such excessive grace…!”

“Accept it.”

“B-But—”

“Accept it.”

Just take it. I don’t need it.

When Edmund refused again with all his heart, I also spoke with all my heart.

Finally, the old King grandpa withdrew his refusal.

It was a hasty gain, but…

Those were all summoned by sacrificing high-ranking Undead.

Even in the Game, they could easily handle mid-stage levels.

Therefore.

“Please accept it without worry, and I hope it will contribute to the safety of the nation.”

“F-Father God…! gasp…!”

Unable to hold back any longer, the King bowed his head and trembled for a long time.

Another solemn silence.

I brushed off the overreaction and checked my status window.

The defense safety of the Regarium Kingdom, where the Holy Spirits were deployed, was green.

Very safe.

It's partly thanks to my reputation, but I guess it's worth it, considering they've grown stronger from high-ranking Undead.

I haven't seen them fight directly yet, but I think they're worth looking forward to.

Next—

‘I already miss her.’

Thinking of Belladis, who had completely left the Kingdom, I already wanted to run to her and pat her head.

I could meet her immediately using Summon, but relying on a single Follower isn’t good either.

So, for now.

I just need to wait patiently until she successfully arrives at the Holy Place and finish the unfinished business here.

There's still some unfinished work to do.

“....”

My gaze turned to the names of two Followers that still had the "new" mark.

The Sword Saint.

I had already become close with our little Hero, but I hadn’t properly met the new newbie Follower who had to stick by her side.

I'm coming.

[Child of the Lost Star: Nice to meet you.]

‘But you know what?’

[Child of the Lost Star: ...?]

‘I’m obviously going to keep the Hero here.’

[What.]

‘Well, isn’t it obvious? Who knows what might happen, and you're taking that child around.’

Perhaps because they are a Constellation, they still lack a human-centric perspective.

They're only thinking of sending the Hero to the front lines without a second thought.

‘You didn’t do that to other Heroes, did you?’

There was no reply for a long time.

That was the answer.

‘This house is really well managed.’

It’s not my house, but seeing that happening next door doesn’t look good.

The problem with the Heroes' temperamental personalities lies here.

Anyway, I finished the meeting with the King after scheduling a new meeting.

#

“He, he’s here! He’s here!”

Deep within the hideout of a certain faction.

The sight of a man with iron skewers piercing both sides of his head, foaming at the mouth and shouting, obviously didn't look normal.

A sacrifice.

He was a kind of consumable used for communication with a Constellation.

Then who was possessing the man’s body?

An entity unlike other Constellations, terrified and fearful of a specific being.

The fleshless Prophet of Death.

—Calm yourself.

A deep voice echoed from the prepared Constellation audience chamber.

“C-C-Calm down now...! H-Happened, happened…!”

Suddenly, the man who was speaking urgently collapsed.

His life had ended.

—Not very cost-effective. You should have handled him a little more carefully.

There was no reply.

There was no one to speak for the Constellation.

The Ruler of Space ordered his Follower to prepare a new sacrifice to convey his will.

—The Absolute Being has returned, but he has lowered himself to the level of a human and freely communicates with his Followers without any restrictions.

According to the information received, he used Summon.

The truth of that horrible, despicable, and chilling act was… an eccentricity that the two Constellations couldn't comprehend.

A Constellation, that lofty celestial being.

To meet the eyes of mere humans…

How humiliating and cursed!

—There must be something.

He even refused sacrifices, so the owner of this audience chamber…

He realized that his doubts about the Absolute Being were growing uncontrollably.

—It’s best to move up the schedule.

In the darkness, the mastermind of the incident smiled quietly.

A full-frontal assault was hopeless.

Considering the amount of Divine Power the Absolute Being must have accumulated, he couldn't even imagine it.

So, he would use a shield.

A Follower who once belonged to his Religious Order, now Corrupted.

—If you love your Followers so much, can you turn a blind Eye to this as well?

The darkness deepened.