Chapter 102
There is only one person who can hear the God’s Voice: The Saintess, only one of whom can exist in an era. She was the god’s representative, spreading mercy and teachings far and wide across the world.
But quite ironically, Franz, who had entered the cathedral, could hear the God’s voice. If it were a follower of the Goddess Church, it wouldn’t be strange for them to shed tears on the spot, but he was merely bewildered.
'How is this even possible…?'
If he had been a devout believer who faithfully followed the Goddess, he might have understood it somewhat, but that wasn’t the case either. Far from it, he was always busy blaming the gods whenever something bothersome happened.
The Goddess resolved Franz’s question immediately.
[Meeting briefly last time through the artifact must have been the catalyst. Right now, you are surrounded by divine power second only to my daughter.]
So that was it.
Franz immediately accepted the Goddess’s explanation.
Not only did he possess the artifact, but he also faced her directly and even conversed with her, so in a way, it could be considered a given.
[By the way, why would someone who isn’t even a follower come all the way to the Cathedral? Ah, perhaps to see my daughter…? Oh my, I was being quite dense. I’m sorry.]
'It’s not like that.'
It was true that he came because he had business with Yustia, so strictly speaking, she wasn’t wrong. But it was absolutely not for a reason straight out of a romance novel as the Goddess thought.
Anyway, whether it was the World Tree or the Goddess, they all had bothersome personalities.
Well, what could he do. They must have been desperate for this kind of amusement, having lived through eons of time. They were surely bored.
By the way.
'Is it okay for you to keep linking me with Yustia like that? She wouldn’t even be able to dream of marriage, let alone dating.'
[Why would you think that?]
Why, he asks? Naturally.
'She’s the Saintess.'
When one thinks of a Saintess, she is an existence akin to the embodiment of supreme purity. Of course, in some less devout interpretations, it is often reinterpreted to mean a woman of lust, but at least in this world, that wasn’t the case.
If such a woman were to not only date but also marry and have a child, the vast majority of followers would undoubtedly feel betrayed.
In the first place, from the moment she became the Saintess, Yustia’s body was no longer hers alone.
That was why she had complaints too, didn’t she, saying she was stripped of her freedom by becoming the Saintess when she didn’t even want to.
[If that’s the case, it’s fine. They are my followers, after all. I will do something about it.]
Had the words 'do something about it' ever been this reliable?
Perhaps because she was a Goddess, the weight of her words was extraordinary.
That aside, how exactly was she going to do something about it?
Would she appear with a 'Ta-da!', and tell the followers that she permits the Saintess’s marriage?
Picturing that scene in his head, Franz let out a 'Pfft!' and burst into laughter.
Because the sight of the followers collapsing on the spot and shedding tears upon witnessing the Goddess seemed like it would be quite a spectacle.
It was then.
While Franz was letting his guard down like that, a massive incident occurred.
“Ah, aah…”
“This can’t be…”
“To think a day like this would come for me too…”
Suddenly, the surrounding followers began to collapse one by one, bowing their heads. There were even those who shed tears.
Their gazes were directed at a single spot as if they had made a promise, and at the end of those gazes was none other than Franz.
'What in the world is this situation…?'
At the bizarre event happening to him, Franz hurriedly looked around and began to assess the situation. And the moment his gaze turned upward, he realized.
That trusting the Goddess was foolish.
'Damn it…'
The ceiling was definitely blocked, yet a light was shining down on Franz’s head. It was a single ray of divine light, like something from a divine vision.
And through that light, someone revealed herself. An elegant figure, a fluttering dress, a benevolently smiling expression. What more needed to be said? It was the Goddess worshipped by the Goddess Church, Luan.
Luan descended toward Franz very slowly, like a falling feather, and kissed his head.
Why did she suddenly do such a thing?
The answer was very simple.
'She intends to make me a real Saint…'
In truth, from the moment he heard the God’s Voice, he was an existence no different from a Saint. But that only meant he met the conditions to become a Saint, not that he had actually become one.
Rather, he had planned to hide the fact that he could hear the God’s Voice as much as possible, because it was obvious that getting deeply involved with the Goddess Church would be bothersome for no good reason.
He had even planned to ask Yustia to keep quiet about the sealed artifacts if possible…
With so many people witnessing this sight before their eyes, rumors were bound to spread: that the Magic Tower Master had been chosen by the Goddess and had become a Saint, making it impossible to hide.
And with this, it became a situation where it wouldn’t be awkward at all even if some sort of connection formed with the Saintess.
If the Saintess got a man, it would be a bit questionable, but if that partner was a Saint, honestly, it would be somewhat acceptable.
Furthermore, the child born from them would become a Saint who would lead the Goddess Church once again, so for the followers, it would be no different from a double, no, triple blessing.
But even knowing all that, Franz couldn’t bring himself to accept the Goddess’s actions favorably.
'Didn’t you say you’d do something about it?'
Of course, as a result, it was somehow resolved. It was just that one very significant victim emerged in the process.
'Why does that victim have to be me?'
Franz closed his eyes, thinking it was unfair. The pitch-black darkness where nothing could be seen felt as if it were showing him his future.
When he finally opened his eyes again, the Goddess had already disappeared. To cause such a mess and then vanish completely! Could anyone be this detestable?
Anyway, it seemed like he needed to start sorting out the situation…
With countless people still sending him looks of awe, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything.
It was then.
Yustia strode over and grabbed his wrist.
Her expression was quite serious, so it wasn’t good, even as a joke.
“Franz, see me for a moment.”
Yustia said that and began to head somewhere. Of course, she was still holding onto his wrist.
Eventually, Franz arrived with her at her room. With only a bookshelf, a desk, and a bed, it was simple, to put it nicely, and bleak, to put it harshly.
Haa-.
Letting out a long sigh, Yustia turned around and faced Franz.
“Franz, may I ask for an explanation?”
“The thing is…”
Franz explained everything that happened after he entered the Cathedral.: from suddenly hearing the God’s Voice to the Goddess suddenly going overboard - all of it.
Listening quietly to the story, Yustia placed a hand on her forehead.
“So you’re saying it’s all because of the Goddess again this time…”
“Well, that’s how it is… I’m sorry.”
He hadn’t done anything, but he was ultimately involved in the incident, wasn’t he.
Franz felt sorry for her, but he also felt it was unfair since he wouldn’t have had to apologize if it weren’t for the Goddess.
“But you know. Why on earth did you say such a thing…?”
Yustia shifted her gaze elsewhere and asked in a soft tone.
“What thing?”
“That thing…! The part about marriage, let alone dating…”
Even if she asked why he said it…
'It was just something that came out by chance…'
It wasn’t a remark made while being conscious of any particular situation, nor did it have a hidden meaning. It was just something that naturally popped out while speaking without a filter.
But Yustia didn’t give Franz time to answer.
“N-never mind…! Don’t answer.”
Saying that, Yustia muttered quietly to herself, “Because it ended up like this thanks to that…”
Unable to hear it clearly, Franz tilted his head and asked.
“What did you say?”
“T-today, just go back…! I’ll talk with His Holiness the Pope about what will happen from now on and let you know…!”
“S-suddenly?”
“Yes…! Suddenly…!”
In the end, Franz had to leave the Cathedral via teleport, as if being chased out by Yustia.
As Franz arrived in front of the Magic Tower out of habit, a sigh naturally escaped his lips.
Duke, Magic Tower Master, Saint, and even Demon God’s Adversary - no matter how he thought about it, it seemed like he had too much work.
* * *
In the end, without obtaining any information about the Demon God, Franz arrived at the Western Region.
Looking down from atop a high mountain, he saw a flat, unvaried land, a large lake, and a developed city around the lake.
Compared to the Empire’s lands, there weren’t many mountains, and wide plains stretched out, making it seem perfect for farming.
Anyway, the first thing to check was that lake visible to the eye.
'It was when a ray of light shone on the lake.'
It was quite bothersome to ask around one by one, but there was no other way.
Well, he had no choice but to finish it as quickly as possible and return.
Snap-.
Franz snapped his fingers and teleported.