Ch.102102. How to Take a Hit Without Pain

# Before Everything Happened

“Your role is the most important.”

“Uh, what…?”

At the end of my gaze filled with fierce determination was Black Sun, wearing a bewildered expression.

Her beauty remained stunning no matter how many times I looked at her.

A faint blush rose over her porcelain-like skin, seemingly revealing her true nature.

‘Why?’

Setting aside useless questions, I got straight to the point.

“Let’s do what we do best.”

“W-what we do best…”

“Yes. Politics—”

“Proving our love… Huh?”

What on earth was she suddenly talking about?

Her face turned as red as a carrot, and I grabbed her shoulders and shook her as she couldn’t continue speaking.

“Ah…!”

“Focus. This isn’t the time for jokes.”

Love or whatever—that can wait until after everything is over.

First, we need to deal with the immediate situation.

Now that we’ve found their hideout thanks to Ragnis’s constellation radar.

We need a powerful weapon to deliver the final blow to those bastards.

Mere force means nothing.

They can’t attack me because of the “system,” and I can’t attack them either.

That’s why I decided to use the element that always works as the “standard rule.”

“Constellations wither and die without attention.”

“Huh…?”

Black Sun gave me a questioning look, but this is the right answer.

And even more effective than indifference is malicious attention.

Making the whole world hate them and creating reasons for everyone to despise them.

“I’ll use the screen.”

“And then…?”

“I’ll broadcast. Show their evil side.”

“S-so—”

“I’m going to deliberately let them hit me.”

“What?”

“I’ll deliberately take their hits to show myself in pain.”

Currently, the world favors my existence.

People are interested in my every move, and many changes occurred when I returned.

Only the objects were reset, not the hearts of those who liked me.

Their favorite constellation getting beaten by other villains?

That’s unacceptable.

For this purpose, I didn’t mind sacrificing this divine manifestation body.

“Absolute One.”

Black Sun grabbed the hem of my clothes.

“Is this right…?”

“Yes, it is.”

“…No.”

What’s with her?

The expression with which she’s trying to stop me doesn’t look good.

I was rather puzzled by that resolute look in her eyes.

Isn’t this the usual approach?

It was the same with Black Sun before, and with other constellations too.

I create a favorable situation for myself and set up an irreversible advantage.

I’m good, they’re evil.

When there’s such a convenient setup, not using it would be a crime.

‘Past me, I commend you.’

All efforts are rewarded.

I’m glad I worked hard on Ragnarok.

“What if something really happens to the Absolute One…?”

“As if.”

“Still! There’s always a possibility…! They’re not just constellations. You said they came from previous eras, right…?”

“That’s true, but.”

They may be called constellations and beings from the past, but right now they’re no different from other monsters.

They have no cult supporting their existence, and they’re currently burning their own life force to maintain their existence.

They’re literally like time bombs.

“This is the perfect opportunity.”

“There might be another way…”

“As if there is.”

It’s right for me to take action directly here.

That’s how it’s always been, and how it will be.

There’s no need to sacrifice other believers and people.

I just need to close my eyes once and take a few hits.

“So watch carefully.”

I decided to show Black Sun the battle of constellations.

#

“How insolent! How dare…!”

“Debut…?”

At first, the Past Remnants showed bewildered reactions.

But then.

“I’m going to make you all into villains. So bad that people born in this world will pass down stories about you for generations.”

“…!”

Hearing my simple explanation, they began to rage one by one.

“Do you think that will benefit you?! The whole world will laugh at you instead!”

“Really? Shall we go through a briefing?”

“…What?”

I displayed another screen showing a highlight reel of constellations’ misdeeds.

A constellation that burned down an entire village because they wouldn’t listen.

A constellation that cursed their own followers because they displeased them.

The list goes on endlessly.

“…That’s.”

“Can you confidently say you didn’t do the same? Are you that innocent?”

“What’s wrong with that! Our duty is to bring proper truth and justice to the world! That too is ‘righteousness’ that must be accepted.”

“Yeah. I like your consistency.”

I didn’t expect them to hesitate after seeing the videos I showed.

It’s just to set the mood.

A kind of seasoning for the upcoming “debut operation.”

“You know what? This world doesn’t want you at all.”

“How dare you speak so…!”

“Ask anyone in this world. They’ll all give you the same answer.”

Those who regard life as their possession, entertainment, and momentary consumables.

This is such an obvious question and fact.

No one welcomes them.

No one wants them to rule over them.

The living beings and residents of Dianon just want to live ordinary lives.

To be born normally, live normally, and die normally.

Compared to constellations, their lives are incredibly short, but they’re precious because they’re fleeting.

“Sophistry!”

Sophistry my ass.

I thought I was used to it, but I still can’t adapt.

Why is their logic always so novel and creative?

Anyway.

‘Black Sun.’

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: ….」

When I gave the signal, the broadcast began to be transmitted secretly.

The location is the same.

In the form of a huge screen that everyone around the world can see.

A clear screen showing the situation began to appear, visible to anyone who just looked up on the street.

“Phew…”

I focused my mind.

Right now, I’m the victim, a noble god sacrificing myself to save everyone.

I drew up my divine power.

「Warning! You may receive damage if you release your ‘authority’!」

‘That’s exactly what I want.’

Some sacrifice is essential for the greater good.

“I’ll tear that mouth of yours right now!”

“You’re going to capture our image?! Fine! Show your helpless self in front of everyone!”

“I’ll make you cry in pieces!”

Divine power was being drawn up everywhere.

Forms of beasts, elements, weapons.

All kinds of malice shaped in various forms were directed at me.

‘This is a bit scary.’

This is almost the first time I’m taking damage directly.

Attacks from believers just sting a little, but attacks from other constellations will actually hurt.

‘But I have to do what needs to be done.’

「Child of the Lost Star: I’ll intervene if necessary.」

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Don’t die. Even though I know you won’t, just don’t die.」

I smiled at the chat messages worrying about me, and tried to set the mood.

“Come! Ominous beings! Seeds of evil driving the world into darkness!”

“You!!”

BOOM!

As if my provocation was the spark, a massive amount of divine power exploded instantly.

I deflected the dangerous ones with counterattacks and deliberately ignored the ones I could take.

THUNK!

“Ugh…!”

It hurts.

I felt a burning sensation and saw a translucent spear stuck in my side.

It was so directly embedded that I was speechless.

A normal person would have died instantly.

“Guh.”

I grabbed it firmly with both hands and pulled it out.

SPLAT!

Blood splattered, leaving a long bloodstain on the ground.

I wrapped additional divine power around the wound to prevent it from worsening.

At the same time, I drew up healing power to maintain my strength.

There was no time to hesitate in pain.

Even at that moment, other attacks continued to target me.

WHOOSH!

I drew up divine power to block a snake-like form attacking from my blind spot.

“Haha! How pathetic! What do you think the other lowly creatures will think seeing your current state?”

‘They’ll think I’m extremely pitiful.’

Perpetrators never realize what they’re doing.

They get caught up in momentary emotions and can’t properly assess the situation.

Moreover, the opponent is an annoying constellation that has been scratching at them all this time.

‘This is unbearable.’

If someone was taking hits so refreshingly like this, even I would have charged in.

THUNK!

A light attack penetrated from another direction.

I endured it again, gritting my teeth.

Even getting beaten by the older guys behind the construction site wasn’t this painful.

Legs, back, arms, abdomen, face… no, not the face.

My beautiful white divine robe instantly turned red and became so tattered that its original form was unrecognizable.

Soon, my appearance was so precarious that it looked like my divine manifestation would be canceled at any moment.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Absolute One!!」

‘What’s wrong with you now.’

It’s confusing when a person involved acts like this.

‘How are people reacting?’

「Child of the Lost Star: …People everywhere are seriously agitated by your crisis. Especially the people in your sanctuary.」

That’s a bit sad.

I didn’t want to hurt them, but it can’t be helped.

Still.

「Child of the Lost Star: This should be enough.」

‘Really?’

I was just starting to have trouble enduring.

There were several moments when I almost counterattacked without realizing it.

It’s fortunate that the mood has ripened evenly well.

‘So can I do it now?’

After taking hits, it’s time to return the favor.

I inwardly grinned.