episode_0721

Sitting on a chair in the reception room, I quietly looked at the two people, who naturally asked themselves, “How can someone like this be considered an adult?”

“Make an excuse.”

“That. You really have no face.”

“I’m sorry, Lucy.”

“I clearly told you to make an excuse.”

I’ve heard you say sorry enough times. So now tell me why you’re sorry.

Now that you’ve calmed down from playing with your friends, you should be able to listen to me calmly.

I stared blankly at the two of them, and then Mama carefully opened her mouth.

“I know you may find my words unbelievable, but I did not do this solely for my own selfish desires.”

“So you’re saying there’s some selfishness involved?”

“…That’s it.”

“How can a writer like Jushin insert his own desires into public affairs? I want to let those who praise Mama know. This kind of woman is the Goddess he serves.”

“Hey, Lucy. Didn’t you say you’d listen to me?”

“Why don’t you say anything? When Mom looks at my face like an idiot, I start spewing out curse words.”

When I kicked my feet and made a fuss, my mom started to cry.

Watching that, I felt a little sorry for him, but that was it.

I didn’t want to be lenient until a proper excuse came out.

“To continue the excuse. At the end of the last war, Lucy was granted powers.”

Yes, that’s right. The reason I was able to make a new beginning was because I received power from Mama.

“Lucy is my daughter, and she has been perfectly qualified through a series of miracles. She has also received my powers, so it is safe to say that she has the qualifications to become a deity.”

“…Huh?”

“Besides, since everyone on earth is praising you, Lucy can become a divinity whenever she wants.”

“No. No. Wait. What? I’m a god?”

“To be exact, I am in the process of becoming a god.”

“That means you’ll eventually become a god!”

“Didn’t you know?”

“Of course I don’t know!”

I can joke around and say things like, ‘Lucy is a god! Lucy punch! Lucy punch!’ but this is the first time I’ve heard of someone actually becoming a god!

“There’s no turning back now. It’s impossible to stop the flow.”

I know what Mama meant. From the moment I started my new world, it became impossible to stop this flow. From that moment on, sooner or later, I was going to become a god.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t explain it properly to Lucy. I should have given her a choice.”

“No, that’s fine.”

Whether I knew this or not, my choice was the same. It was the best choice at the time.

If we hadn’t opened a new beginning, we wouldn’t have been able to seal Agra again.

If attaining the title of god meant I could prevent the destruction of the world, I would gladly do so.

“So what does my attaining godhood have to do with painting my image on the territory?”

“As you know, divinity has no lifespan. The moment a god dies is when he is forgotten by people. In other words, as long as people remember you forever, you do not have to fear death.”

“You’re going to make the territory close to the church so that people won’t be able to forget me even if they try?”

“Yes.”

“Ha. You really worry about useless things. How can you forget me overnight when there’s so much disgusting trash in this neighborhood?”

“I don’t know.”

Until now, Mama had been sobbing and watching my every move, but this time it was different. She had the majesty of a god as she glared at me with her eyes wide open and declared.

“Humans are easily excited and also easily forgetful. I have seen it happen many times.”

What Mama is talking about is not just a story of this world. Mama, who has repeated countless times with the sole intention of saving the world, must have seen the evil side of humans as well as the good side.

“To be remembered by people, you must engrave something memorable on the ground so that they cannot forget you.”

Yes. If I make the perverted crow worship me, the people of the continent will not be able to forget me even if they want to.

“But whatever my intentions, this incident was my fault. I did it without asking your opinion.”

Mama bowed her head again, saying she was sorry, and chewed her lips while looking at Papa, who was also apologizing.

“The reason I lied to you even though I knew it was wrong was because I didn’t have the confidence to convince you. It’s also my greed to want Lucy not to be forgotten.”

Then he carefully grabbed my hands with both of his own and shouted at me in a voice mixed with tears.

“If Lucy says she wants to die as a human, I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can bear losing everything again. I.”

I got down from the chair and lifted Mama’s cheeks up.

Then I saw Mama’s face, a mess due to the tears flowing down her face.

Mama tried to shake my hand off, perhaps embarrassed to show her face, but I didn’t allow her.

“It’s okay. Mom is always pretty.”

“…I’m sorry. Because I’m a bad mother who can’t do motherhood properly. Because I’m a selfish woman who only thinks about herself.”

“So what? That’s just how it is.”

An intelligent being cannot remain self-sacrificing forever.

To have intelligence is to have emotions, and to have emotions is to have greed, and a life that has greed is bound to have selfishness, whether small or large.

Didn’t I do the same thing in the past?

Back in the days when I was a scoundrel, I committed all kinds of evil deeds, hoping that everyone in the world would be miserable like me.

The same goes for Papa. When he thought he had lost Mama, Papa could not bear the pain anymore and broke down, locking himself in his room.

Even though he knew how much his daughter would suffer.

“Lucy…”

Selfishness is not a bad thing. Being greedy for something is a natural right of life. As long as it doesn’t cross the line, it’s okay for people to be selfish.

“Mom did something wrong, though.”

This time, I crossed the line a little bit. I wasn’t joking, I was really angry and yelled at him.

“I’ll forgive you this once.”

But it’s within the range of understanding, so you should forgive her. No matter what, Mama is Mama.

“But next time you do something out of your own free will, I’m going to put a leash on you and drag you out.”

“Yes. Yes! I understand! I won’t act like that again! And I’ll tell them to take all the statues outside too!”

“Ah. You don’t have to do that.”

“…Huh? But Lucy. You hated those statues, didn’t you?”

“I still don’t like it. But I needed it.”

Even before talking to Mama, I had been thinking about using crows to change my image, but after hearing Mama’s story, I became more determined.

Think about it. If a statue of me wearing bikini armor starts being worshipped, that means my image is fixed in that.

If I ever truly ascend to godhood in that state, I might have to wear bikini armor for eternity!

That much is absolutely unacceptable.

Never!

“Do you hate that armor that much? I think that armor really brings out Lucy’s beauty…”

“Should I put it on?”

“…No, it’s okay.”

I get that it’s full of Mama’s tastes, right? But why should I make any sacrifices?

If it were back in the old days when I didn’t know my true identity and was forced to indulge my mother’s perverted tastes, then I wouldn’t know.

The current Mama is a slacker who laughs and cries at every word I say.

I won’t listen to what you say.

“I should tell the goddess. Lucy wants a different statue.”

“Tell me to design the dress you want for me. Then I’ll do the work myself.”

Even though I was proud of myself for using the characteristics of a perverted crow well, there was one thing I had not considered.

The crow’s madness was much more powerful than I expected.

“Okay! Lucy! Let’s try it on from here to here! In the meantime, I’ll make some more designs! I didn’t have much time so I couldn’t make them all!”

As I looked at the clothes that filled the hallways of the art school, I felt dizzy.

With all these things made, do you still have designs to make? No, not in the first place.

“There are so many similar things. You seem to have run out of creativity, so why are you trying to act so crazy?”

“Similar! Look closely! They’re completely different! The way they fold the clothes, the detailed patterns, and…!”

The crow, whose eyes were wide open and who began to speak passionately, was not at all discouraged by all the harsh words I poured out.

…Damn it. I should’ve just stared at the ceiling.

*

Apostle of the Art Society. Frete has been working hard in Aln’s territory for the past few days.

Although he was a prete who worked 140 hours a week, just like slaves did in the barbaric times of the past, he was not at all satisfied.

The statues created by the goddess are certainly wondrous.

So much so that I wonder if I could ever get there even if I dedicated my entire life to it.

Merchants and bards located here and there on the streets are selling decent goods with the support of the church, and the atmosphere of the streets is stable thanks to the control of the Knights of Arn.

Objectively speaking, the business of the Alun Estate was clearly a success.

Considering the long lines outside the city, it was clear that the initiative in nearby cities would also be successful.

Nevertheless, Frete could not bear this uneasy feeling.

Why is it? Why am I so anxious when Yeong-ae gave me permission?

While Frete was wondering if he was becoming bored, a goddess appeared next to him.

“Ah. Goddess.”

“My apostle! This is not the time for this! Your power is needed!”

“But, Goddess, I am now.”

“Shut up! Follow me now!”

Frete, who was forcibly dragged back to the church, shed tears when she encountered the goddess Lucy for the first time.

Ohhh. This is exactly why I couldn’t be satisfied.

I have yet to bring out Youngae’s true beauty.

Behold! A sight worthy of being called a true goddess!

I want to move the brush right now!

I want to create a piece of work!

“This kid really doesn’t change.”

Lucy frowned and tried to persuade Frete, but her words had no effect on Frete, who had already entered her own world.