Chapter 64
“Let's talk for a moment.”
In the midst of their busy daily routine within the domain of the Father God, a Constellation approached the Lion of the Sun.
Forgotten Wisdom.
Among the Constellations, she was considered elderly, and perhaps the one suffering the most from her current degraded state as a Kangshinch'e (?).
“What is it?”
The Lion of the Sun, with elegant gestures and refined speech befitting a maid, faced Forgotten Wisdom.
“....”
To Forgotten Wisdom, it all felt utterly incongruous.
A Constellation acting like a maid... there could be nothing more shocking.
“So, you're really going to live like this?”
“Like this?”
“A plaything of the Absolute Being....!”
Forgotten Wisdom choked back her indignation, glancing at her own attire.
It was humiliating enough to be in a human body, but she was also forced to wear clothes that suited *his* tastes.
A doll to be used and discarded when needed, perhaps treated even worse than that.
“So you're saying we should rebel against him now? Against the Absolute Being?”
“'Him'? 'HIIIM'?”
Forgotten Wisdom clutched the back of her neck.
At that moment, silken hair brushed against her hand with a soft rustle.
“...Ugh.”
Forgotten Wisdom shuddered at the unfamiliar sensation and looked back at the Lion of the Sun.
“...Where is the one who wanted to burn the world and become another sun?”
“...That was just youthful bravado.”
“This is madness.”
Seeing the Lion of the Sun deny even her past aspirations, Forgotten Wisdom felt she could no longer persuade her.
“You're saying that, but you're doing just fine, aren't you?”
“What do you mean, 'doing just fine'...! I'm dying of anxiety every day...!”
“What are you anxious about?”
“With a single gesture from him, my precious Religious Order could vanish in an instant.”
“It was always like that.”
“What...!”
The Lion of the Sun was simply stating the truth.
Other Constellations might have participated in the conspiracy against the Absolute Being, dreaming of wealth and glory, but Forgotten Wisdom had come this far because she had truly no other choice.
Everyone knew this, so no one bothered to provoke her.
“You're weak, just easy prey for the other Constellations.”
“How dare you, how dare you speak to me like that...!”
“That's why you should stay here, isn't it?”
Forgotten Wisdom couldn't speak any further.
Her emotions were overwhelmed by cold, hard logic.
“If you're under the protection of the Lord God, at least your life will be spared. And with the failure of this last operation, his Status has only risen. There might not be any Constellation who would dare challenge him again-”
“...Isn't there one?”
Forgotten Wisdom muttered, almost petulantly.
The same being came to mind for both Constellations simultaneously.
The Constellation who had devoured even the one who gave birth to her, and, not content with that, had tried to erase everything in the world.
“Don't talk about that.”
The Lion of the Sun said, not wanting to recall 'that incident.'
“My apologies.”
Forgotten Wisdom readily admitted her mistake.
If that ever happened again, it was clear that no one would be able to stop it.
“Wouldn't it be better to be with the Lord God than to be killed by 'it'?”
“...But that’s a relic of the past, isn't it?”
“Who’s a relic of the past?”
“....!”
The Absolute Being, having overheard their conversation, couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Uh, since when?”
“Not long. Just got here.”
In truth, he had been listening from the beginning.
But he couldn't bring himself to interrupt such an interesting conversation.
It was like secretly listening to gossip about your boss.
The Absolute Being, Ron, was a dopamine addict of the highest order.
“Anyway, it's true that I fought with 'it'.”
The Absolute Being started, with a wistful expression.
“But to put it simply, 'it' is still alive.”
“...What?”
“That was a bit short.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah.”
Forgotten Wisdom immediately became respectful.
Watching her, Ron decided to continue with what he was originally going to say.
“That Visitor isn’t dead.”
“How can that...”
“I wouldn’t have sealed 'it' in the Underground Prison if I had killed it.”
Ron’s words stunned the two Constellations.
“So, so that means 'it' is still alive?”
“Half-dead is more accurate, I guess.”
“Oh.”
“No way.”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Eeeeek…!]
‘And you are?’
The Black Sun's Incarnation, who had been quiet until now, suddenly interjected.
“And, the seal on 'it' has become a bit loose.”
“....?”
The second bombshell shattered the Constellations' composure completely.
“Wh-what can we do...”
"Just calm down for a second."
The weakening of the seal also implies the liberation of the one sealed within.
Knowing this, they had come this far to ask for help.
"Last time, fighting directly outside was easy, but this time it's a bit complicated."
"..."
"So, help me out a little."
"Help... us...? The Absolute Being is asking us?"
A faint, unidentifiable emotion tinged their gaze.
"If that thing gets loose, everyone will die anyway, so don't even think about doing anything stupid."
Knowing the source of that emotion, the Absolute Being preemptively blocked their desires.
Watching Forgotten Wisdom snap back to their senses as if waking from a dream, Ron began to worry about the situation ahead.
"Just what... how are we supposed to help...?"
"Be bait."
"....?"
***
There's no telling when the Mental Contamination transferred to Penrion will erupt.
More importantly, I still don't know the 'Visitor's' plan.
Does it want the destruction of my Religious Order, or does it want a repeat of *that time*?
I needed to draw out the Visitor's intentions a bit more.
"Tomorrow, there's going to be a little… happening."
I entrusted Belladis, who remained at the Sanctuary, with the responsibility and explained the events to come.
"A... 'happening'... you say?"
"Yeah. I haven't told Penrion yet, so please take care of that part."
"A secret... between Father God and me..."
Awkwardly watching Belladis blush for no reason, I continued with the main topic.
"Don't be surprised if the Divine Power of other Constellations suddenly appears. Bella, react as usual. However..."
A mysterious force led by the Divine Power of other Constellations will appear.
But what I want is to elicit the Visitor's reaction through this event.
[Forgotten Wisdom: A-Are you sure this is safe for my followers...?]
'Don't worry about it.'
This guy has way too much self-importance.
Does he seriously think his, no, *my* Religious Order can stand up to my forces?
In reality, they'll undoubtedly be annihilated within a day.
'It's the same WWE I always chew up and spit out.'
The Holy War will be a fresh shock, provoking the Visitor who has been waiting for an opportunity.
Just a little provocation.
Even if it's just a little, I hope it reveals its hidden intentions.
"The target is the Underground Prison of our Sanctuary."
"....!"
Belladis knew very well what that meant.
It was the area I always stressed the importance of and asked her to take care of.
"I'm not saying to actually attack the prison itself. Just play around outside our territory."
I'd prefer if unnecessary blood wasn't shed.
And here, we have a specialist in the field of 'blood', don't we?
"Understood."
Belladis Rochellia bowed her head deeply, accepting my command.
"Good."
I smiled and patted her head.
"Hmm."
Watching my follower retreat with a pleased hum, I moved towards the Kingdom.
***
Edmundo Carsein smiled contentedly as he looked upon the ever-prospering Kingdom.
It was all thanks to the blessings of Father God.
He had forgiven even himself, who had once been hostile to His Religious Order, and had even bestowed a great reward upon him.
"If you wish, I will offer this entire Kingdom to Lord God."
It was a statement that would make anyone who heard it clutch their head and collapse, but there was no one who could stop Edmundo now.
"Really?"
Hearing the familiar voice from behind, Edmundo was startled and turned around.
"Lo-Lord God! I greet you...!!"
"No, please stay as you are. It's fine."
I don't have a hobby of making old men kneel.
Stopping the old King, who immediately tried to prostrate himself, Ron went straight to the point.
"I was wondering if there's anything useful in the basement of this Royal Palace."
"The basement, you say...?"
Edmundo Carsein expressed his confusion.
The basement was nothing more than a space filled with a large quantity of unusable Magic Stones.
Aside from serving as an escape route for the royal family in emergencies, it was a useless place with no real purpose.
"Yes, that's right."
That was exactly the place Ron wanted.
High-risk Magic Stones that ordinary beings couldn't properly use.
The quantity and quality of Magic Stones suitable for beings of Constellation level were slumbering here, in the basement of the Regalium Royal Palace.
'Time to move the prison.'
"If Lord God desires it, I will gladly offer you that basement...!"
"Huhuhu."
Ron let out a benevolent laugh for the first time in a while.
The plan was to provoke the Visitor with the first event, then move the seal to the basement here.
'The energy here feels a bit off.'
In other words, the Otherworldly Outer God Relocation Operation.
It was by no means an ambition to drive that dangerous being out of my own home.
Everything is for the 'peace of the world'.
It was decided to move it to a more accurate and suitable location.
'Haa... my Heart feels heavy.'
[Black Sun's Incarnation: .....]
I felt a cold gaze from somewhere, but I ignored it and decided to proceed with the plan as originally intended.