Chapter 7: Sacrifice (2)

-Gulp...

A tense gulp, the source unknown.

In a situation where each faction was facing off before the Holy War, only two beings were moving.

One of the main forces of the Father God's Religious Order, who had arrived to wipe out the Black Sun, and...

An unidentified man who had suddenly descended from the sky.

Everyone present felt confused by the unexpected visitor.

Just who was that man?

Just who was he to so easily deflect the Vampire's attack?

No one knew the answer.

‘I’m a fan.’

Only the excited man, hiding his secretly pounding heart, faced his Follower.

***

Belladis Rochellia.

The brightest Star of the legion and the atoned Vampire.

Her top priority was, naturally, the whereabouts of the vanished Father God.

For the Religious Order, and for herself.

Nothing else could quench this endless thirst and bring her true happiness.

Even though the being was still shrouded in much mystery, she was confident she could live on, receiving only the Lord God's love.

At that moment...

“Die, or get out of my way.”

She was truly annoyed by the unidentified man standing before her.

The inexplicable sense of unease she had felt since earlier was irritating her.

What was it?

‘Mental interference?’

The moment their eyes met, her body went limp and she almost collapsed.

Belladis couldn't accept what had happened to her. So she attacked him with all her might.

-Clang! Chang!

However, the man deflected all her attacks and, disgustingly, looked down at her with composure.

His gentle smile remained unchanged.

He kept saying incomprehensible things and continued to try and converse with her.

She never imagined it was a ploy by some fellow who had descended for a Fan Meeting.

“You, just who…”

So, the more they talked, the more the unsettling feeling she had felt since earlier continued to bother her.

The situation escalated with time.

As Belladis’ patience wore thin, she was about to unleash a larger attack when…

“....!”

Belladis froze, sensing a clear killing intent from somewhere.

Chills ran down her spine, sharpening her senses.

The familiar presence she so loathed was approaching.

Black Sun.

The power of the god that had plunged Belladis' life into hell approached them in an instant.

His eyes half-mad, he frothed at the mouth and moved at a speed difficult to follow with the naked Eye.

The one empowered was a Priest and Apostle of the Black Sun.

The Black Sun Priest's robes fluttered in the air, accompanied by the sharp whistling sound of cleaving wind.

“....!”

Belladis reacted, trying to counter, but the man in front of her was in the way.

The momentary confusion that settled hindered her judgment.

And so...

The Apostle, empowered by the Black Sun's Divine Power, closed the distance.

A black flame-wreathed sword attack tore through the barrier and pierced the man's chest.

The mysterious barrier that had not been breached despite her numerous attacks was easily dispelled by the Apostle's attack.

-Pwah!

The man’s blood splattered on Belladis' cheek.

She was quite taken aback by the brutal scene.

Why?

Were they not on the same side? Was it true, as the man had said, that he had nothing to do with the Black Sun?

‘Then why…’

Why had he tried to stop them?

As the question arose, an icy sensation pierced Belladis' mind.

[Blood Memory (A)]

Her unique characteristic activated, pulling forth familiar memories from the past.

“...Ah?”

Belladis wiped the splatter from her cheek with a puzzled expression.

From the warm, still-wet liquid on her fingertip, she faced an unbelievable reality.

The familiar scent, sensation, and memory entering through her nose…

The helping hand that saved her from the hell that unfolded in the basement of the Black Sun Cult in the past.

A god who had opposed her, along with a goddess who had arrived at his behest.

The memories that rushed in tormented Belladis.

The cells of her entire body awakened, pointing to the presence of her Lord God here, on this very ground.

Pointing to the man who had taken the Apostle's attack in her stead.

It couldn't be.

It shouldn't be.

‘Why?’

Why did he have the same scent as her Lord God?

She knew that was a foolish question.

In truth, she couldn't accept it.

“...Huh.”

Her blood-stained wings folded slightly.

The man's body began to collapse as if it could no longer hold on.

It was a blow imbued with the power of a Constellation.

A mere human could not harm a higher being, but it was different if they possessed the same rank.

Instinct pushed her before reason could catch up.

Belladis jumped toward the falling man in shock.

-Thud.

And caught him.

Belladis supported the man's bleeding body.

“Ah, why, no…”

Her trembling lips caused confusion.

Belladis was now in a state of utter panic.

Her crimson Eyes trembled violently as she carefully examined the features of the man she held in her arms.

The man was beautiful.

If one were to paint the Lord God's presence and bring it to the present world, wouldn't it look like this?

He was captivating even as his life faded, elevating it to the realm of decadence.

Belladis’ body reacted to the man.

It told her she knew this man. That she couldn't deny it.

“Bella.”

The nickname she had so desperately longed for flowed from the man’s lips.

“It is such a joy to finally meet you like this.”

His face, drained of a considerable amount of blood, was noticeably gaunt.

As if his breath could leave him at any moment, the man pathetically gazed upon Belladis.

Belladis could no longer feign ignorance.

“Lord… God…?”

“Do you recognize me?”

Belladis’s breath hitched.

“How…?”

It is easier for Constellations to take on human form than to bestow Blessings.

This is a widely known fact, and throughout history, there have been cases of Constellations directly becoming human.

However, such a thing rarely occurred because assuming the form of a mere creation diminished their authority.

Such a rare occurrence happened right before her eyes.

Moreover, it was her Lord God, the one she was willing to give her life for, who had descended.

Belladis’s despair did not end there.

Her Lord God was gravely injured by an external force.

This reality alone tore at Belladis’s insides.

“Ah, ah…”

Looking at the Lord God’s blood pooling in her arms, Belladis felt a certain impulse.

Even in this situation, I'm revealing such base desires.

“I couldn't bear to watch you suffer any longer.”

Belladis’s Lord God, Ron, willingly opened his mouth to convey his will.

“I couldn't stand to see you all hating each other, hurting each other, and dragging yourselves down to hell…”

*Huff, huff.*

Exhaling ragged breaths, he caressed Bella’s cheek with his hand.

Though his hand was covered in blood, further soiling her face, the warmth was certainly conveyed.

“GRAAAAAH!!”

A Black Sun’s Priest, oblivious to the atmosphere, charged forward in a frenzy, but Belladis’s chilling gaze stopped him.

-KWAANG!

Magic, carefully controlled so as not to affect her Lord God, flung the unwelcome guest far away.

The unconscious Priest showed no sign of getting back up.

`[The 'Black Sun's Incarnation' screams while watching his Follower.]`

Ignoring the message window that popped up somewhere, Ron focused on his Follower.

‘Wow.’

So charismatic.

The instantaneous shift in the beautiful woman's demeanor was a spectacle, like watching a renowned actor perform.

Her expression, brimming with rage just a moment ago, softened as it turned back to him, returning to a pitiful, rain-soaked puppy look.

The entire sequence was so admirable and lovely that Ron wanted to break character and do a cartwheel.

‘Hold back.’

A sense of unease, and a dramatic reunion.

The atmosphere was charged.

Sacrifice, a Constellation’s rightful virtue.

Each of these moments builds leadership, and that returns to me.

In the form of precious ‘Faith Level.’

[Do you wish to use Holy Blood on the Follower, ‘Belladis’?]

Yes.

It has no effect now, but the important thing is the sentimental value.

Sensing the change, Belladis reacted with surprise once more.

This was the moment that solidified her near-certain suspicion.

“Th-This is…”

“Bella. My love, my child.”

As a final touch, Ron decided to give his Follower a gift.

The gift of self-love.

Even now, she was blaming herself for her desire for blood, and Ron felt a pang of sympathy.

Now that the Game had become reality, Ron, who was once a player, wanted his Followers to be happy.

Because that's how the Religious Order, and everyone, could be happy.

However, there was one problem.

‘So, what do I do now?’

He had successfully orchestrated the critical, dramatic moment, but he missed the timing to recover and stand up.

Ron had inadvertently become a dying Constellation in his Follower's arms.

‘Still, gotta do what I gotta do.’

“Will you make a promise with me?”

“My Lord God.”

“Promise me, that you will no longer hate yourself.”

Ron decided to just subtly close his eyes as he spoke.

[The 'Black Sun's Incarnation' asks what he's supposed to do now.]

Oh, right.

He forced his eyes open again just as he was about to close them.

If he just went like this, the Black Sun Cult would fall apart.

“…And one more thing, please stop the Holy War. I'm alright.”

“Ah, I understand, my Lord God. I will follow everything you wish. So please…!”

Distressed by Ron’s serious condition, Belladis pleaded with tears welling up in her eyes.

“*Sigh,* You don't need to worry. I'm slowly recovering anyway.”

Ron, wanting to reassure Belladis, showed her his wound.

Indeed, the bleeding had stopped, and the wound was healing on its own.

“So…”

Ron trailed off, then truly closed his eyes, pretending to lose consciousness.

Partly because Belladis’s embrace was more comfortable than he expected.

As a Constellation descended upon the mortal realm, nothing could threaten him.

Ron was simply enjoying the whole experience.

Holding the unconscious Ron, Belladis lifted him into a princess carry.

‘Uh, this is a bit…’

Ron felt embarrassed by the unexpected pose, but there was no turning back now.

Fortunately, she obediently followed his words and started on the return journey.

-Shabak. Shabak.

In the hushed silence, Belladis quietly spoke.

“Let’s return, with our Lord God.”

“Aaah…! Father God…!”

“Sob…!”

Sniffles could be heard from all around.

Ron didn't need to see to know that everyone gathered here was moved.

This had become a full-fledged Fan Meeting.

‘All good now?’

[The 'Black Sun's Incarnation' reluctantly nods.]

‘Huh? Mad?’

[The 'Black Sun's Incarnation' hurriedly applauds.]

With everyone winning, the situation was successfully concluded.