Ch.110110. Hunting Monsters

-GROOOOOOAR!!

The Moon That Swallowed Dreams wailed pitifully.

To me, it looked like the anguish of someone on the verge of madness from injustice, but from a third-party perspective, nothing could be more grotesque.

A leader of countless Otherworld monsters, with tentacles raised all over its body.

“W-what is that…?”

“Ah, ah…!”

The Father God’s paladins who faced this calamitous form fell into deep despair.

Emotional disturbance spread like a plague through the troops, and gradually the tide of battle began to turn.

“Krek! KREEEEK!”

“Urgh..!”

A flesh-craving Otherworld monster broke through the shield formation and swung its claws.

Though I had tried to control my strength somewhat, several inexperienced paladins suffered minor injuries from the attack.

“You there! Don’t waver! If the shield bearers die, we all die!!”

“B-but if we stay here, that thing will…!”

Terror-stricken eyes once again beheld the ancient monster.

A thick aura of death that seemed impossible to overcome.

Anyone would be certain.

That thing is an incarnation of indescribable terror, a monster that has manifested to destroy the world.

“Get a grip.”

A sharp voice descended upon them.

Belladis Rocheria.

A faithful servant of the Father God and a vampire.

The devotee wrapped in dark power bound their minds from their state of panic.

“If we falter here, your families behind us will die too. Is that what you want?”

“T-that’s…!”

“That’s right! Have you forgotten who stands behind us? Never fall!”

“UOOOOOH…!”

The devotees, barely escaping their state of fear, began to rally once more.

“…”

Belladis, watching them, shifted her gaze to look at the monster.

‘Father God.’

She would never retreat.

No matter how impossible the mission, if her lord commanded it.

‘Please watch over me.’

Belladis was ready to walk into death’s jaws time and time again.

-Saaah…

Once more absorbing death-form magical power, Belladis began to rush toward the battlefield.

-KWAAANG!

“Kieek!”

“Krrruk!”

As the Otherworld monsters struck by her scythe screamed in agony, Kalisa, who was far away, turned her head.

A dragon-person who had thrown away her blindfold, brilliantly revealing yellow dragon eyes.

-Crack.

She swept across the battlefield once more, sending down blue lightning.

The Otherworld monsters struck by that attack were charred black without making a sound.

‘You’re doing well.’

She had worried about the ancient monster’s full appearance, but it seemed the other devotees were doing their jobs well.

“Lady Kalisa!”

“Yes.”

Kalisa turned her gaze to another devotee.

The devotee was wearing attire different from the Father God’s.

A black background with a white sun drawn on it—the symbol of their order.

Incarnation of the Black Sun.

The order that had come under the Father God’s command had now arrived here to provide support.

“The devotees who will serve God’s will have all arrived.”

Bowing their head respectfully, making clear who stood above whom.

They conveyed they were of the highest rank in the Black Sun.

“Thank you for your hard work. The mission remains unchanged.”

“…Yes.”

“In accordance with Father God’s will, support the holy war.”

“I shall obey.”

The Black Sun priest bowed once more, then vanished from the spot in an instant.

When their presence was felt again, they were far away, stabbing an Otherworld monster’s head with a dagger.

“W-what the!”

When a startled paladin of the Father God asked, the Black Sun priest nodded with a heavy gaze, then immediately moved to find the next target.

The changes didn’t end there.

“Repay the grace of the Father God.”

“We must send these wicked things to hell…!”

Apostles in Black Sun attire began to appear everywhere.

“Everyone.”

Before the formation of the startled devotees could break, Kalisa stepped forward to take control of the situation.

“To protect what you love, and the foundation of Father God.”

“…!”

The flames in their hearts rose once more.

They began to rediscover their primordial faith that had been submerged in thick fog, captured by fear.

“Father God! Please watch over me!”

Finally, the priests who had decided to face God’s enemy with one heart and mind joined forces to confront the Otherworld monsters.

“Are you watching…?”

Kalisa looked up at the sky shyly and continued.

“When all this is over, I will truly be able to take my place in your embrace. That is.”

It must be the will of the One who decided to love all.

“KREREREK!”

“Let’s not interfere.”

Kalisa began the hunt.

#

“You’re doing well.”

I forcibly sent the Dream Constellation to the hidden world, making it act out the finale.

The Moon That Swallowed Dreams, swinging its tentacles freely to create an intimidating presence, just as I wished.

But rather than feeling fear toward the divine monster that descended into reality, the devotees chose to overcome it and fight for me.

“…Hmph.”

“…”

As I was purely admiring this, the Source of the World beside me looked at me with an indecipherable gaze.

“…Why did you send that one out?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“If it changes its mind later—”

“Come on, it’s not my first time doing this.”

I looked at the Source of the World with those words.

I already had a firm grip on the reins.

So tight that it couldn’t change its mind now.

The reason the Source of the World was expressing concern here was likely because it feared I might change my mind.

“Why are you looking at me with those eyes?”

“…”

“Afraid I might flip everything and join hands with them now?”

“T-that’s…”

“I won’t. I’ve finally built up my relaxation build, I can’t do a tap dance here.”

It was a feast I had prepared so deliciously.

Just a little, really just a little remained.

Having come this far, the thought of overturning everything didn’t exist even in my dreams.

Nevertheless, the Source of the World had an expression suggesting something was bothering it.

“So, what’s the other reason?”

When I asked, the hesitant Source of the World turned to me.

“Why does everyone in the world want only you?”

Difficult words.

But not an unpleasant topic.

Why does everyone like me, and chant my name?

The answer is so simple it’s disappointing, but still fun to say each time because only I know it.

“What do you think?”

Why would they not hesitate to sacrifice their lives?

Why would they overcome even a monster worse than death to face the Otherworld monsters?

“Faith.”

They had faith.

And at the source of that faith was a solid narrative that made it not strange for them to entrust their lives to each other.

“Have you heard of Ragnarok?”

“Ragnar…ok?”

“Never mind if you don’t know.”

It would be stranger if you did know.

I wonder how it would react if I told it that this world was something inside a game.

I was purely curious, but I didn’t bother to tell it.

Perhaps it’s psychologically more stable for everyone not to know.

“I used to play a game once.”

“A game…?”

“I learned something from it.”

Raising devotees to create the greatest order.

With just a few finger movements, I saved poor creatures struggling in a desperate world.

Even I seemed to find comfort in that small act.

That’s why I enjoyed it.

Saving and gathering other devotees, that is.

Since the world was garbage anyway, I could confidently claim that our side was better than the forces of other constellations.

“So you should take some interest too.”

Instead of just observing from a dark corner, occasionally showing yourself like I do can bring about good results.

Each of those small things becomes a precious memory that devotees will never forget for the rest of their lives.

-GROOOOOOAR!!

Leaving the Source of the World lost in thought, I looked at the monster.

As I had ordered, it violently swung its tentacles to push back the devotees, but never launched a direct attack.

It’s not in a position to do such things anyway.

That’s because the lower beings down there were already eagerly clashing with their bodies, drooling.

“Absolute One!”

“Yes.”

A visitor came running from far away.

I received that small body, and it rubbed its cheeks against my chest while giggling.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes! They’re all listening well!”

The visitor was referring to the Otherworld monsters.

“The preparations?”

The visitor didn’t answer.

Instead, with a warm smile like the morning sun across their face, they looked at me with confidence.

“Good.”

My gaze turned back to the battlefield.

At the end of my gaze stood a devotee with flowing red hair.

Lisia.

My first devotee, and the one I had grown most attached to.

When she almost died the first time, I can’t describe how anxious I was.

And now.

To create the final highlight, to dramatically announce that our order had saved the world.

Her activity was needed.

“…”

With tightly closed lips and resolute eyes, she stared at the ancient monster.

Despite the scratches all over her body, such minor pain couldn’t stop her.

-Grip.

She grasped her weapon.

It was her own weapon, which I had personally bestowed upon her.

Holding that cross-shaped object clumsily, she then took her stance and put strength into her legs.

-KWAAANG!!

“Kieek?!”

As the Otherworld monsters who faced this cataclysmic form made startled sounds, their bodies exploded, clearing a path.

Lisia charged forward.

“Haah!”

Dozens with each step.

The red-haired devotee who received my blessing could not be stopped by anyone.

“Let’s go.”

Finally.

I cheered for Lisia with an overflowing heart.

It must be a human who defeats the monster.

Someone with a pure and firm heart above all else.

And the protagonist had always been decided.