Chapter 55
-Is this… right?
-Is there any other way besides this?
In front of the Dungeon City.
The Constellations who had dispatched their elite followers whispered amongst themselves, having finally arrived at the place they sought as their utopia.
They would have loved to attack the Dungeon City with a full-scale army and monopolize the dungeon, but…
…lacking the confidence to directly confront the Father God and survive, they were carrying out a covert operation as instructed by the Black Sun’s Incarnation.
"Identification."
"…Wait. You're not even official guards, why are you inspecting us?"
"Because those who are disrespectful cannot be allowed to mingle in the place where the Father God resides."
One of the high priests felt dizzy.
"Should we just kill them?"
One of them muttered menacingly.
"Be quiet."
"But… are we really going to be stopped at the entrance like this?"
"It's just for show, they won't persecute other religions. According to rumors—"
"Hmm, those from other faiths are not allowed to enter."
Looking at the guard's impassive face, one of the followers turned to the one who had spoken earlier.
"That's what he said."
"…Times have changed."
Even with his elevated authority as the Absolute Being, he hadn't emphasized such cruel rules as to discriminate against other faiths.
But the guards' current attitude was as confident as if the Absolute Being himself was standing behind them.
"Just a mere guard…?"
The high priest was dumbfounded.
Everywhere else, he was treated with reverence, with people saying, "Oh my god, it's the priest!"
But here, they were looking down on him as if he were a beggar at a feast.
"I can't stand this."
The white-haired priest glared at the guard with deep anger.
‘…What kind of energy is that?’
It was difficult to discern accurately because of the robes concealing their forms, but…
…the guard, having experienced his fair share of battles, sensed that their divine power was on a different level from others.
‘B-But… I can't back down here.’
The guard wiped the sweat from his mustache and swore…
…that he would never allow the Father God's place to be tainted by the aura of other wicked things.
"…Are they really crazy?"
"Calm down."
"No, listen to me."
The white-haired priest felt like doing cartwheels.
They weren't even officially recognized guards.
They were just a local militia, stopping passersby with their so-called rules.
"Who even owns the dungeon anyway?"
A dungeon was like a festering sore on the world.
A sore that, if not treated in time, would fester and burst, harming its surroundings.
“…”
"You have nothing to say either, do you? Is this how things should be?"
The white-haired priest had been working in a distant land until recently.
But a revelation had come down, and he had rushed here without even having time to finish his work.
Nothing was more important than the words of a Constellation.
"Are they mocking our faith?"
"No… that's not it."
The white-haired priest expressed his frustration.
"It's just… absurd that unqualified people are stopping us."
Did they not know how influential the people gathered here were?
Each one of them was favored by a Constellation, and their divine power ranked among the highest in the world.
They were literally ‘national power-level’.
The high priests were bewildered by the unfamiliar feeling, as every single one of their actions was scrutinized by the public.
There were five apostles of Constellations gathered in this place.
Each of the five Constellations was sponsoring them.
“He has a point.”
“Should we just break through?”
“No. That would only attract ‘their’ attention.”
The apostles were wary of the ‘real’ ones hiding among the fakes.
The mysterious force possessing the true divine power of the Absolute Being.
“T-Those from other faiths… cannot be allowed inside…”
“Do you even know who we are?”
Even to the untrained eye of the guard, unfamiliar with the profound world of religion, their faces were familiar.
The high priests of each faith, whose mere presence was considered a natural disaster.
If they so desired, turning this area into a wasteland would be a trivial matter.
“Enough with the games, and step aside.”
“…”
‘Oh Father God.’
But the guard couldn’t allow them to enter.
He, too, was a devout follower, deeply devoted to the Father God.
“I refuse.”
“This…”
“I can’t take it anymore. Let’s just go through.”
There were plenty of ways to pass, even without resorting to murder.
Just as the gathered high priests were about to take action…
“Wait.”
From behind the guards blocking the Dungeon City…
…a beautiful voice stopped the escalating tension.
“…?”
Their gazes turned towards a figure watching them, wearing a mask.
‘An elf?’
The white-haired high priest recognized the racial characteristics.
One of those self-absorbed people from the distant Great Forest was here.
“I can vouch for their identities.”
“…Huh?”
The guards expressed their disapproval at the unexpected words.
But then, their faces paled as they saw the identification badge pulled out from within the elf’s robes, and they hurriedly stepped aside.
“…?”
Naturally, one of the priests looked at his companions, trying to understand the situation.
‘What was that?’
‘I don’t know.’
Confused glances and bewildered responses.
But since they had successfully entered the Dungeon City, they decided to silently follow the masked figure.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who was informed in advance.”
“…What?”
“Apostles of the Constellations.”
The elf answered their questions leisurely, as if knowing everything.
“I share the same goal as you.”
“The same goal?”
“To drive the Absolute Being out of this world.”
“…!”
The will of the great stars, a secret known only to the highest echelons…
…had come from the masked elf’s mouth.
“We didn’t receive a revelation about a collaborator in our plan.”
“The more information there is, the more loopholes there are.”
In a dark alley, Lagnis carefully chose her words as she looked at the bewildered group.
‘I could die if I’m not careful.’
Five opponents, each of whom would be difficult to handle alone.
Ignoring her sweat-soaked back, Lagnis put her plan into action, guiding them towards the dungeon.
#
“Hey.”
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …」
“Hey, hey, hey. You’re the best, truly.”
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …Just stop it already!」
If he told me to stop, I would.
I silently complied with the Constellation’s request and observed the situation with the apostles and Lagnis, who had entered the Dungeon City.
There had been a major incident of them being stopped at the entrance, but thankfully, Lagnis, whom I had hurriedly deployed, managed to cover for it.
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: I managed to get them to the Dungeon City for now… but will they really enter the dungeon so easily?」
“If they’ve come this far, they have no choice.”
I said, looking at the Black Sun’s Incarnation with a satisfied expression.
I didn’t know how he persuaded them, but it was clear that each of them had sent their favorite follower.
The disgusting and vile divine power flowing from each follower supported my deduction.
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …So?」
“Huh?”
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: How can mere followers inflict direct damage to the Constellation’s main body?」
“If they come into contact with the divine power, it’s a sure thing.”
What I wanted were their nicknames.
Those unique, Constellation-like nicknames with slightly chuunibyou-esque titles.
A structure where their true nature couldn't be known until I saw them for myself.
Was this how the incarnations of the red button, who enjoyed unboxing, felt?
I wondered what kind of shitty… no…
…unique talents each of them possessed.
I was also curious about how those bastards had planned to ruin the world.
This was my personal curiosity.
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: I’m curious now… why do you hate Constellations?」
As I was immersed in anticipation, the Black Sun’s Incarnation asked me that question.
“Why do I hate them?”
To think you’d betray my love for Constellations like this? This was truly hurtful.
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Anyone but a fool would know that the affection you speak of is quite twisted.」
…Was it that obvious?
I tried to act friendly, but I couldn't hide my fundamental disgust, it seemed.
“That’s a trade secret.”
But sadly, I couldn’t say it out loud.
Who would believe me?
That I was once a mere human, one of the very race they despised.
That I had become the strongest Constellation overnight, so they should just cater to my whims.
Would any being in this world believe and follow me?
It was better to just play the role of a slightly crazy Constellation from the beginning.
“Ah, I suddenly feel lonely.”
My followers were overwhelmed by my very existence, and the other Constellations saw me as an enemy, or a symbol of fear.
All I did was live as I pleased.
「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …?」
“Let’s just get to work.”
Ignoring the bewildered Black Sun's Incarnation, I hurriedly changed the subject.
The five apostles of the Constellations, swayed by Lagnis’ eloquence, were entering the dungeon.
“Welcome.”
This was the beginning of the plan I had been waiting for.