Ch.1160Make Sure to Contact Home and All That.

The corrupted Feyrus became a loyal servant of Alfodhr, diligently continuing the groundwork for the god’s descent.

Initially, he built his power using the knowledge of soul manipulation taught by Alfodhr, betraying the Church and attacking the Holy State to draw Elpinel’s attention.

Of course, no matter how much he was Alfodhr’s apostle, it was impossible for him alone to face the full might of the Holy State.

Since Feyrus never intended to win from the beginning, as soon as defeat seemed imminent, he disappeared without hesitation and began operating in secrecy while faking his death.

“Won’t you also become an apostle of the Master?”

He reunited the cult followers who had been shattered into cells by repeated suppression efforts, secretly recruited those with value, and even managed to plant his agents in the upper echelons of various countries.

Thus, the “Cult of Forgotten Gods” was born.

Though it was somewhat small to be called a church… but in cults, the larger they grow, the greater the risk of discovery, so Feyrus likely thought that number was just right.

And indeed it was.

—-

Decades after the formation of the Ancient Gods Cult.

The Ancient Gods Cult, having planted its executives beside the powerful in various countries around the world, steadily expanded its influence while operating in the shadows, avoiding the eyes of the Holy State.

They instigated conflicts between nations from beneath the surface, collected the Holy Grails scattered throughout the world by compiling information flowing secretly among the powerful, and even eliminated those who might interfere in the future.

Though no one knew of their existence except members and collaborators due to their strict secrecy, the cult was literally manipulating world affairs according to their will at that time.

Of course, even that brilliant golden age lasted barely more than a decade.

After the predestined variable—”Haschal”—finally awakened, the apostles who formed the core of the organization began to fall one by one, and the cult’s fate started its downward spiral.

…Of course, for Feyrus, the cult was merely a disposable card from the beginning.

Since the organization had already served its purpose by recovering the Holy Grails and contributing to the destruction of Heaven’s Wall, Feyrus didn’t particularly care about its fate.

For him, the only important and meaningful thing was the command of his god, Alfodhr.

======[ Alfodhr ]======

Returning time to the present.

“Send that man to the underworld…? Isn’t he far too weak in both power and forces to intervene in the war of demigods?”

Lilith, who had been watching Alfodhr give orders to Feyrus, tilted her head in doubt about whether such a command was even possible.

Thanks to Heaven’s Wall being damaged to the point where it could no longer fulfill its role, the connection between the celestial gods and their earthly followers had strengthened, naturally making Feyrus stronger as well, but…

“With just that level of power, he’ll be crushed like a worm before he can even steal another demigod’s divinity.”

If he could obtain and awaken divinity, he might reach the realm of demigods, but currently, he hadn’t even reached the peak of human potential, let alone demigod status.

With such a body, it wouldn’t be strange if he died instantly upon entering the underworld conflict.

“That’s why I gave him the Valkyries. Even ones bearing divinity.”

Of course, Alfodhr had assigned three Valkyries as his guards, and thousands of demon beasts would also join forces…

“But they’re not equal to a full demigod, are they? If even two—no, even one enemy joins forces, they’ll struggle to avoid defeat.”

It was clear that they would be shattered the moment they faced two or more demigods. They didn’t have nearly enough power to dream of conquering the underworld.

In Lilith’s judgment, the fact that Alfodhr, who must know this, ordered his apostle to head to the underworld meant…

“…Is he a sacrificial pawn? To divert the attention of the Ascended while our research bears fruit?”

It seemed the only explanation for such an overt and aggressive move, deploying three Valkyries to draw the Ascended’s attention elsewhere.

“That depends on that human’s—’Balder’s’—capabilities.”

Alfodhr answered with evident pleasure.

“If he completes his mission, it will be a task and test to prove his worth… but if he fails, he will meet his death as a disposable pawn.”

Whether he dies as a pawn or rises as an apostle depends entirely on Feyrus himself.

He had merely given an extremely difficult but not impossible task, and now he would simply watch the outcome with interest.

“Ah, I see?”

Lilith chuckled softly.

She inwardly muttered with disgust at his perverted maliciousness, thinking him truly insufferable.

…Of course, when it came to perversion and maliciousness, the current Lilith was in no position to judge others, so it seemed that even gods, like humans, despised those similar to themselves.

======[ Haschal ]======

“Sister, are you feeling unwell…?”

After yet another nightmare that ended with my death, as I was soaking in hot spring water to wash away the unpleasant feeling from my body and mind.

Lena, who had woken up late and entered to bathe with me, asked with concern while examining my complexion.

“Hm? Oh, no. I don’t have any particular pain anywhere. Why?”

I reflexively avoided her gaze and brushed it off. There was no point in making her worry when telling her wouldn’t lead to any solution.

Besides, it wasn’t exactly a lie. Strictly speaking, I wasn’t in pain—I was just terribly exhausted.

Since I couldn’t properly rest during sleep and instead repeatedly fought and died in dreams until waking, the mental fatigue was tremendous, not to mention the physical toll.

It was like small discomforts and stresses accumulating without release until they transformed into a massive snowball.

“Your complexion is so pale. You have dark circles under your eyes, and your cheeks seem slightly sunken…”

“Ah… um…”

Lena reached out and gently touched my face, sighing softly.

Her cautious attitude, like someone dealing with a family member with an incurable disease, made me feel awkward.

Is my face really that bad…?

Wondering if it was really that serious, I lowered my head to check my reflection in the water… but I could only see my chest.

I turned my head sideways to see my face reflected in the water.

Hair wet and drooping, a ghostly gaunt complexion. Bloodshot whites around puffy eyelids. Cheeks that had thinned from weight loss.

Yet with bright blue eyes still burning intensely, I looked like a woman driven mad after being betrayed by a lover of ten years.

…No wonder Lena was worried.

Due to my lack of mental composure, I hadn’t realized it until now, but even to my own eyes, this was definitely far from my normal appearance.

“Haah…”

My sigh scattered the hot spring steam, reflecting that ghostly appearance more clearly in my eyes.

Is the nightmare’s influence now showing on my face? All this suffering because of that damned wolf.

“It’s nothing to worry about. This is… this is just because I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I’ll get better after a good rest.”

Still, I couldn’t bear to worry the others for the sake of my pride.

I smiled reassuringly and gently stroked Lena’s hair as if combing it.

“Sister… I’m not a child anymore, you know.”

“Hmm, you have grown taller, haven’t you? Is it because you’re in your growth spurt?”

Unlike before when she was child-like from my perspective, Lena, now in her late teens, had grown tall enough to reach just below my chin.

I really couldn’t treat her like a child anymore. Though she was still cute.

After making excuses while stroking her hair, Lena didn’t ask any more questions about my health.

I’m not sure if she simply forgot to pursue it or if she gave up, knowing I wouldn’t answer even if she pressed further.

“—So yesterday, Sister Anaris said she might need to have her priest robes refitted.”

“Oh? Well, since we’re having them made, let’s go for the highest quality. She can use anything from my storage.”

“But didn’t the goddess warn against extravagance?”

“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m sort of a goddess too, you know? I give permission.”

“Hehe. What’s that supposed to mean?”

Perhaps she simply preferred chatting about various things with me, prioritizing that over pressing me about my health.

—-

This can’t continue.

After enjoying a bath for an hour while chatting, I returned to my room and seriously contemplated my future while letting the maids tend to my hair.

I told Lena it was nothing serious, but as the person experiencing it, I couldn’t dismiss this as a simple problem.

[You already know. You’re holding up well now, but if this continues, you’ll eventually reach your limit.]

Hersella shared my concern.

[We need to find a solution as quickly as possible. Unless you want to lose your mind and become a new evil god replacing Invidius.]

Because the moment my gradually eroding mental strength reaches its limit, a divine madwoman will descend upon the capital.

‘Who doesn’t know that? The problem is I can’t find a solution no matter how much I think about it.’

[That’s only natural. Neither you nor I know anything about such matters, so you won’t find an answer by pondering alone.]

Hersella clicked her tongue mockingly.

[Stop being so stubborn and seek answers from those who might know. You don’t have much to lose anymore, do you?]

If it’s about evil gods, naturally I should ask those who would know—in other words, the gods themselves.

‘Easier said than done. It’s not like they’re reaching out to me, so what am I supposed to do?’

Since I awakened my divine nature and began growing as a deity, even Astraea, who used to speak to me through the stigmata, no longer reached out.

Since I had no idea how to initiate contact with them, communicating with other gods seemed impossible at this point.

[Why not visit a church and pray? Perhaps you might reach them that way.]

Except for the one communication method I had unconsciously closed off due to unpleasant memories every time I went there.

‘……’

Do I really have to visit the Church of Astraea…?

A faint sigh escaped me. I had an ominous feeling that some big commotion would occur.

Considering my former position and current status, just visiting Astraea’s church would already be headline news.

…I’ll have to go secretly, quietly. If I can avoid people’s eyes, it might be somewhat okay.

—-

– FLASH!

It was not okay.

Despite my efforts to conceal my identity by wearing a hood and veil while suppressing my presence, the moment I set foot in the church, a dazzlingly brilliant light welcomed me.

As if the former saint, who had been repeatedly asked to visit but never did, was being taught a lesson for her impudence.

I looked up at the sky and let out a deep sigh, enveloped in a dazzlingly brilliant golden pillar of light.

“Haah…”

This is exactly why I didn’t want to come. Damn Ascended gods.