Chapter 43. Look at This Kid

“Elder.”

Calisa’s voice called out the name.

However, her emotions were truly chilling.

If I carelessly imagined them directed at me, it would be enough to sting a little.

-Calisa.

The still-disoriented Dragon Lord clumsily flapped his wings, wary of Calisa’s gaze.

It was quite a ridiculous sight.

A Constellation, being intimidated by their own creation.

Perhaps if he hadn't foolishly handed over the Heart of the Celestial Dragon, there would be no reason for him to be so subservient to Calisa.

「Child of the Lost Star: It takes quite some time to create a sacred object.」

Although it's a characteristic unique to the Dragon Constellation and their race…

Other Constellations aren't incapable of creating sacred objects similar to the Heart of the Celestial Dragon.

However, since it’s a symbol imbued with their identity, it inevitably requires a considerable amount of time and effort.

“Why did you try to take me back?”

-I, I… For you…

“I don’t want to go back.”

-No. That’s…

Another firm refusal.

The Dragon Lord was at a loss for words at the successive shocking statements.

“Elder, do you love me?”

-Love…?

The Dragon Lord was flustered by Calisa’s question.

Love, indeed.

A noble being like a Constellation couldn't possibly possess such trivial emotions as those of mere mortals.

Sacrifice, love, devotion.

The followers of a Constellation always desire their idol's attention, but in reality, very few truly receive favor.

It’s like a twisted, multi-level marketing scheme of the underworld.

Calisa’s case would have been the same.

She’s currently receiving attention, but she could be cast aside at any moment based on her perceived value.

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Even though she's the current successor…?」

‘Why has Calisa been forced to fight?’

The Dragon Lord has demanded endless proof from his child.

But me?

I provide benefits several times superior to those of the Dragon Lord.

“I don’t want to fight on the Elder's orders anymore.”

-Im, Impudent. How can you even think such a thing? You, you… Aren’t you a Dragon?

“Yes. I am a Dragon. But, but I have my own standards.”

-Are such trivial things more important than the task of becoming my successor…?

Gnash

Task.

At that word, I heard the grinding of teeth from beside me.

For Calisa, it must be a word that triggers trauma.

“Elder. I’m not your puppet.”

-P, Puppet? I never thought that…

“Back then, when I was your follower, you forced me to fight every single day.”

-....

“Whether it was against fellow Dragons, monsters, or anything that displeased you. Against my will, I was no different from a convenient tool for you.”

What Calisa experienced wasn't an unyielding sense of accomplishment.

It was a foundation of defeat, the fear that grew the higher she climbed, a fear of breaking at any moment.

‘Calisa is a person too.’

A living being who experiences, feels, and grows.

Compared to an unstable position where she had to wait a lifetime for an uncertain future, our Religious Order offered much better treatment.

I didn't need Calisa for every stage.

Just a few crucial moments.

Even those were significantly fewer battles compared to the Dragon Incarnation.

I don’t force her to fight every time, nor do I suppress her freedom.

I listen to her wishes within reason, and I've consistently worked on raising her Affinity.

A sweatshop of a company that only demands…

Compared to our company with superior pay and benefits…

Which one would she prefer?

Even a random Black Sun follower would know the answer.

“I remain in the embrace of Father God of my own free will.”

-Then, I, I…

“Although I was momentarily swayed, my Lord God granted me wisdom once again.”

The Polymorph the Dragon Lord had cast on her had long since vanished from her mind.

“See?”

The one who chimes in is more annoying than the one who scolds.

I didn't miss the opportunity and spoke to the Dragon Lord.

“I told you I didn’t do anything to Calisa.”

Unlike a certain despicable someone, I’m not a scoundrel who tries to steal followers after cooperating.

“Calisa wants to stay here, right?”

“Yes…!”

“Can you say it again?”

“I…! I deeply admire Lord God more than the Dragon Elder…!”

Calisa, overcome with emotion, dropped a verbal nuclear bomb.

Excellent Tiki-taka.

-Uh, uh…

The Dragon Lord, bombarded by our combined offensive, staggered and his form began to blur.

-Th, This is absurd. Calisa…

“Exorcism successful.”

-Saaa…

Although he simply canceled his Summon to escape the situation, it amounted to admitting his complete defeat.

「Constellation, ‘Dragon Lord’ has left.」

“Cut.”

“F, Father God.”

Realizing that the source of the trouble had disappeared, Calisa hurriedly backed away.

She seemed deeply embarrassed by the fact that she had been confidently standing with her arms crossed.

“Hmm.”

I could finally properly see Calisa.

Her beautiful face, previously hidden by the eyepatch.

Two horns symbolizing the Dragon, and her chest radiating immense Divine Power.

‘Nice.’

This, too, was the dramatic Fan Meeting with a follower I had so longed for.

“How have you been?”

“I will atone for my sins for the rest of my life…”

“No.”

The fault lies with the Constellations who try to cause trouble whenever they’re bored.

An innocent follower has no sin.

“So…”

I drew the Holy Sword.

I took a stance, intending to erase the remaining presence of the Constellation from Calisa.

“...If that is Father God's will.”

However, Calisa, watching me, spoke with a detached air.

Her expression was like that of a sick person looking at the last leaf.

‘Another misunderstanding.’

“Even in death, I will never forget the grace and love you have bestowed upon me.”

“Wait a minute.”

“So, I wonder if you could remember me, even if it's just a fragment of a memory.”

I have no intention of killing you.

Why would I kill my precious follower?

Especially Calisa's characteristics and beauty hold a value that can't be exchanged for anything.

I figured actions speak louder than words, so I swung the Holy Sword in that state.

-Kiiiieee...!

A blessing effect was bestowed upon Calisa, the target, while the ominous energy residing within her met its end.

Only then did Calisa realize that the unsettling energy clinging to her had completely vanished.

“This is...”

“Too much. Are we really that close?”

The bond between a Constellation and their follower is special.

It's a connection that cannot be easily severed.

Calisa, seemingly feeling quite guilty about this incident, acts as if she'll humbly accept any action I take.

I wish she would greet me with her usual big-sisterly smile.

In the Game, Calisa is a famous community idol.

No, actually, every single follower is precious.

Because I need them to make any progress whatsoever.

“Sob...!”

Calisa, finally realizing the truth in my words, shed tears of sorrow.

“Are you going to leave?”

“No....!”

“Then, did you join hands with that guy before to harm me?”

“No!”

“And what about the Dragon Lord?”

“I don't want to return to his Sanctuary...! I'd rather embrace Lord God in my heart and end my own life!”

“Alright then.”

[Follower, 'Calisa,' praises you deeply in her heart.]

A warm hug is the perfect way to resolve misunderstandings.

-Pat, pat, pat.

With a forgiving heart, I embraced Calisa.

I didn't forget the blessing pats on the back either.

Calisa sobbed a few times in my arms, then abruptly stopped, her expression much more relieved.

“I will never forget the grace you’ve shown in forgiving me.”

“Mm-hmm, yeah, yeah.”

Honestly, I was satisfied because I had my own fun as well.

Beating up two Constellations in one event, talk about cost-effectiveness.

I'm glad Calisa is safe, but I'm also happy that this event occurred. It's been a while since I've enjoyed something this much.

Beginner's luck, perhaps?

It was an experience that brought back the nostalgia of those days when I was deeply immersed in the Game.

[Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper,' uses 'Summon'.]

-Whoosh...!

If it weren't for the Divine Power surging from somewhere, we could have had a much better ending.

“...Ugh!”

Sensing the unpleasant energy, Calisa frowns and looks around cautiously.

‘Is this guy crazy?’

I severed the energy to give him time to prepare, but I didn't expect him to headbutt me instead.

It feels like a wild boar I freed from a trap just made a U-turn and charged.

However.

“Oh.”

-Thump.

Facing that navy-colored sprout growing and then forming into a shape like a human hand, staring at us…

I couldn't help but wonder what kind of situation this was.

“Who are you?”

-W-wait...!

Looking down, The Eternal Sleeper’s Summon was surprisingly insignificant.

It looked like something I could banish with a single kick.

It only reached up to my ankle, looking like a severed human wrist.

An eye blinked in the palm, looking up at me.

I don’t think it came back for revenge.

‘This is too anticlimactic.’

I was needlessly tense.

The energy I felt was too insignificant.

Considering the small scale of the manifestation even after using Summon, it must have already been pushed to its limit.

-I want to clear up the misunderstanding!

“Now?”

-There are others involved in this!

The Eternal Sleeper wiggled his fingers and shouted.

It’s quite grotesque to see a hand just sticking out like that.

I bent down near The Eternal Sleeper and spoke.

“Hey.”

-...Huh?

“Don't you guys have any sense of awareness?”

I think I've given them plenty of chances.

He approached a Constellation’s follower.

Not only that, but he tried to use the follower as a means to his own end.

They know better than anyone how big of a sin this is in the world of Constellations.

But I let him go.

Even though I labeled him as 'hostile' to our Religious Order, I let him continue to exist. I believe I showed as much mercy as I could.

Especially since I got my fill of excitement from this Calisa event.

-No, I...

“What? Do you want me to remove the hostility?”

If I try to understand that stupid head of his, it’s not that difficult.

He probably had a very simple plan.

He's trying to improve his situation by selling out his accomplices.

“Go on.”

-...Huh?

“Keep running, keep spreading the rumors.”

It's good timing. I need to take care of something.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: My, Absolute Being...]

“Playtime is for the human world.”

In other words, whatever happens in the world of Constellations has nothing to do with me.

Only my Religious Order and my followers matter to me.

“Do everything you want to do.”

-N-no...

“But. Look forward to what happens next.”

I gathered Divine Power in my hand.

Just enough to annihilate a tiny lifeform.

After that, it was simple.

The Eternal Sleeper’s Summoned body was weak, and I had the power to eliminate him.

-Oh...

Looking at my hand's shadow cast upon him with a vacant gaze, the Constellation...

-Pffff...

Turned into ashes, vanishing due to the Divine Power.

“Hmm.”

Refreshing.

After finishing the job cleanly, I felt good thinking about talking to Calisa.

“Calisa, now...”

I stood up and headed towards her.

Or rather, I tried to.

“L-Lord God.”

“...Huh?”

[Due to excessive interference, 'Summon' has been deactivated.]

Until the surroundings turned white and my body felt like it was floating.

Hey. Give me my body back.