Chapter 271
What is a god?
Is it an omnipotent and omniscient being possessing the power of creation, godly power? Is it something beyond the category of a living creature?
No, perhaps trying to define a god by human standards was an irony in itself.
While Franz continued to ponder this, Yustia stood up and brushed the dirt off her skirt.
“Come to think of it, it’s not that strange, is it? You use the power of a god, and you frequently meet with other gods. It seems stranger if you weren’t a god-like being.”
“…I’m far too incompetent to be called a god.”
“But the power you possess isn’t going anywhere.”
That was true, of course, but…
Franz could no longer refute her opinion. Every single word she said was correct.
“Though I didn’t expect you to be able to use divine power as well. Well, don’t worry too much about it. I’m sure it will all work out somehow.”
Yustia gave a bright smile.
Why was that? Her expression looked strangely pleased.
'Right, it should be fine.'
Didn’t the Goddess say she would take back her godly power someday? When that day came, he would surely be able to return to being an ordinary human.
Magic Tower Master, Duke, Saint. He wasn’t quite sure if someone simultaneously holding three ridiculous titles could truly be considered ordinary, though.
“Then let’s rest a bit before we go.”
Saying so, Franz took a step toward everyone waiting a short distance away.
One step behind him, Yustia followed with a smile still lingering on her lips.
Afterward, they took some time to rest together. The surroundings were entirely a wasteland, so there wasn’t much to see, but it was enough to replenish their depleted stamina.
In the midst of this, Yuna suddenly pulled something out of her bag.
“I made some jerky at home. Do you guys want some if you’re okay with it?”
Franz brought the jerky he received from Yuna to his mouth. As jerky usually is, it was tough and hard, but the salty taste was decent enough.
Anyway, doing this made him feel nostalgic, or rather…
“Franz, doesn’t doing this remind you of our days in the Hero’s Party?”
Was he not the only one who felt that way? Hera spoke while chewing on a piece of jerky in her mouth.
“Yeah.”
Franz replied briefly and recalled the memories of those days.
They had definitely been chewing on jerky in a wasteland right before a battle with the Demon Lord’s Army. The jerky they ate back then was much tougher and harder than this, leaving it as a rather unpleasant memory.
Even so, the reason a smile formed on his lips was surely because that memory had remained as a fond reminiscence. The ancestors' proverb that everything becomes a good memory once it passes might actually be true.
“Come to think of it, I am a bit curious. What kind of person the Magic Tower Master I didn’t know was like.”
“Arian, it would be better for you not to know. The Franz of those days was truly like a demon.”
“Is that so…?”
“But if you’re curious, there’s no reason I can’t tell you. Next time we have a chance, I’ll tell you over a cup of tea.”
“S-Sounds good…!”
Franz slowly shook his head as he watched Hera and Arian converse.
What on earth were they talking about with the person in question right in front of them?
It was quite some time later that everyone, having rested while chewing on jerky, began to move again.
Without fail, the dead who wandered the living world, unable to die, blocked their path, but Yustia carefully purified them.
A golden haze brilliantly dyed the wasteland.
Of course, there were dangerous moments at times, but…
“I’m fine. Really.”
Yustia overcame the trials as she always did.
Was she perhaps overdoing it? Was she forcing herself to keep going even though she was in pain?
Such thoughts occurred to Franz, but he couldn’t bring himself to interfere. He believed it was right to respect her choice, at least for now.
How much time had passed since then?
“Franz, I see something over there…?”
Just as Yuna said, a small house could be seen not far away. The house was in such a terrible state that it looked like it would collapse at any moment.
Yustia, who also saw the house, let out a long sigh and tilted her head back. The deep blue sky reflected in her eyes.
“So that was it in the end…”
Did Yustia know something?
Franz couldn’t bring himself to voice that question. It might end up hurting her, after all.
If she ever brought up today’s events someday, he could ask then. What the small house in front of them meant.
“Then let’s go.”
Yustia took the lead and stepped forward.
Why was that? The sound of her footsteps echoing across the vast wasteland sounded unusually loud.
How much time had passed since then? It was when there wasn’t much distance left to the small house.
Creeeak-.
Suddenly, the tightly shut door opened.
“Hmm-, I don’t recall inviting any guests.”
Along with a familiar voice, someone revealed themselves from the shabby house.
Pitch-black hair, crimson-tinted eyes, and skin so pale there wasn’t a trace of blood in it.
It was the Fallen Saintess who had led the world to ruin.
Her gaze, which had been leisurely looking around, stopped in one place. She was staring intently at Yustia.
Soon, she narrowed her brow in displeasure and opened her mouth.
“…Who are you? You have a rather unpleasant appearance.”
“I am, I am you. I came to save you.”
“Save me? Why? I’m happy right now.”
Behind her, as she tilted her head diagonally as if she didn’t understand, something came out of the small house.
People, no, human-shaped skeletons. They walked out without any flesh and stood beside the Fallen Saintess.
There was no need to ask who they were; it was obvious. If it was the two that Yustia missed so dearly, then naturally…
“Mom, Dad, please wait a moment. They’re guests who came to see me.”
Like puppets, they followed her words and went back into the house.
In the end, what Yustia had wished for was to return to being a girl from an ordinary family. She had now achieved her utopia. Even if it was a reality riddled with lies.
“So what were we talking about? You’re going to save me?”
“Do you even know what you’ve done…?”
“Well? Is there some kind of problem?”
“It’s all a problem, making the world like this, digging up the remains of our deceased parents to live with them…!”
Having once harbored the same thoughts, the Vassal felt deeply about the current situation.
The other Yustia seemed to ponder for a moment, then soon nodded.
“So that’s what you wanted to say in the end. That I am wrong.”
“That’s…”
“Then let me ask you. Am I someone who isn’t allowed to be happy? Why must I sacrifice myself for everyone else?”
Yustia couldn’t answer her question. The only reason she was able to change her mind and become happy was all thanks to Franz.
She couldn’t bring herself to force her own standards onto the Yustia of this world, where Franz didn’t exist.
“Well, having a conversation like this doesn’t really have much meaning anyway. My parents are waiting inside, so I’ll wrap up this chat now.”
Right after she spoke, a dark aura began to waver from her. That aura, which gave off an unpleasant and terrible feeling despite being divine power, filled the ground densely like a water mist.
In response, Yustia also drew up her divine power. Untainted, brilliantly golden divine power erupted from her body.
The two conflicting divine powers swirled as if to devour each other. One to protect a happiness riddled with lies, the other to shatter those lies and awaken reality.
Even if she won, there would be no glory at the end. Only scars would remain.
“You intend to ruin my happiness until the very end.”
The deep blue sky was instantly covered with dark clouds. Dark light flashed within the dark clouds, emitting an ominous atmosphere.
'Has Yustia ever done something like that…?'
At least in Franz’s memories, Yustia had never done anything similar.
If it had been magic, he could have at least anticipated it to some extent, but because it was divine power, of all things, even that was difficult.
However, if there was one thing that was certain, it was that the Fallen Saintess found this current situation extremely displeasing.
In other words, there was a high possibility that this phenomenon she caused was meant to attack everyone.
Having reached that conclusion, Franz simultaneously drew up the divine power and godly power that had been lying dormant within his body.
He didn’t want to intervene in Yustia’s affairs if possible, but given the situation, he couldn’t just stand by.
Meanwhile, a massive hole formed in the dark clouds. As if something was about to fall from it.
Sure enough. Soon, a dark-colored beam of light struck down from the hole to the ground.
Just as Franz was about to respond accordingly, a golden shield suddenly appeared and enveloped the area.
The warm and steadfast feeling emanating from the shield was incredibly familiar to Franz. It was none other than the property of Yustia’s divine power.
Presently, a low voice reached Franz’s ears.
“Franz, will you trust me…?”