Ch.118118. It Was Summer (2)

“Oh, F-Father God…!”

“Let’s put aside formalities for a while here.”

Before the devotees could even be surprised, I scooped up seawater with both hands and splashed it on them.

“Kyaah…!”

Startled by the cold sensation, they looked at me like frightened deer.

That sight was so amusing that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Everyone attack!”

“If the Father God commands it…!”

Belladis responded enthusiastically, her face beaming with a happy smile.

“Ahh, Belladis…! Sh-show some restraint.”

Lisia was horrified at the sight and tried to stop her, but Kalisa, who happened to approach, helped out.

“No, Lisia. Just for today, we’re setting aside formalities. Have you forgotten our deity’s instructions?”

Lisia hesitated at those words.

She was actually the first one to approach me.

Now that I was directly participating in the party, she seemed quite flustered.

‘Not a chance.’

But I had no intention of letting this rare opportunity slip away.

We shed our positions as constellation and devotees, and for a while, we splashed water on each other at the beach.

It was truly ridiculous, but it was a continuous battle where neither side tired.

I was in a divine vessel, and they were the finest devotees of their generation.

We wouldn’t get tired from just playing for a few hours.

“Phew.”

I wanted to enjoy this as long as time allowed.

But the sunset was already seeping over the horizon.

Only after seeing the sun sinking beyond the deep blue did I announce the end of our gathering to the devotees.

“Ah….”

A disappointed sigh from someone unknown.

“I anticipated this, so I prepared something else.”

“….?”

When going on a group outing, there’s always something that shouldn’t be missed.

Normally, I would resent such a forced schedule.

But now it’s different.

Aren’t I surrounded by lovely devotees that anyone would envy?

Looking at the devotees who were gazing at me with curious anticipation, I smiled and revealed the next activity.

“I present to you: the campfire.”

In the deep darkness of night.

I gave the devotees time to reveal their honest feelings.

-Crackle. Pop.

After a delicious meal.

We returned to the beach, sitting closely around a large blazing bonfire.

“I-is this how it’s done…?”

“Yeah.”

I decided to gently guide Lisia, who found everything unfamiliar, and explain the purpose of this activity.

“Now, everyone.”

“Yes, yes, Father God.”

“Yes.”

“In front of this fire, there are no lies. Not from me, and not from you.”

“…!”

“I can feel the intense divine power. Ah, this is the Father God’s-“

“It’s just a fire. I’m just saying that to set the mood.”

Belladis, who was trying to show off, instantly turned bright red.

“Hehe.”

Kalisa, who couldn’t hold back her laughter beside her, was an added bonus.

“Anyway, let’s begin.”

I regained control of the atmosphere and decided to go first.

“I’ll start. Just watch to get a feel for it.”

“I will engrave everything about our deity in my heart.”

“…No. Don’t be that passionate.”

I closed my eyes with a troubled feeling.

Then, after collecting my emotions, I calmly gazed at the huge bonfire.

“Honestly, I just want to rest and let everything go now.”

“…!”

“Ah, ah.”

“You’ll all get a chance to speak, so could you listen to my story first?”

I stopped them first, as they looked like they might collapse from their seats at any moment.

“I’ll continue.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Since returning from the void period until now, I’ve honestly thought about ‘retirement’ a bit. I had many things I wanted to do personally.”

“…..”

“I know. It’s absurd, right? It’s so ridiculous that you wouldn’t think it could come from the mind of a constellation.”

For a moment, memories of my original place came to mind.

I always pushed them aside because they were difficult to recall.

But in this moment, it felt like time to return to the essence of my existence.

“I don’t know why I suddenly became a constellation and took on such a heavy burden. I never thought about it deeply.”

I simply did my best in the role I was given at some point.

I saved Lisia who was on the verge of death, and stopped Belladis who almost started a holy war.

I also succeeded in saving Kalisa, who was about to walk a wicked path.

That’s not all.

There were many interferences when I wanted to spend happy times with my devotees.

“Still, I think I’ve lived diligently, doing my best in my own way. That’s probably why I’ve been thinking strongly about resting. But.”

I turned my head to look at Lisia and the other devotees.

All of them had tears welling in their eyes, clearly preparing for a painful farewell.

“I’m going to stay as I am.”

“Ah…!”

“D-deity.”

Hearing their relieved responses, I felt satisfied inside and explained my reason.

“This world that I saved, that we saved—shouldn’t we enjoy it while we can?”

“Y-you speak wisely…!”

“I don’t want to make things too complicated. I just want to spend more time with all of you, like this vacation. That’s all.”

My story was now finished.

It was time for the other devotees to take their turn.

“Vera, you go first.”

I said to Belladis, who was sitting on my right.

Vera, upon being called, stood up and closed her eyes in prayer toward the bonfire.

“Father God, forgive me for harboring impure and base feelings toward you.”

“….”

Belladis’s confession began like that.

“I know these are feelings I should never have for my deity, but here, in this place you’ve provided, I wish to reveal them.”

“Be-Belladis-“

“Lisia. It’s okay.”

“….!”

In this place, everyone is equal.

That’s what I decided.

It was to approach the essence of life, its deepest part.

That was the direction I wanted and the ideal the world should move toward.

“Father God, I adore you. Not as words to dwell in the Holy Spirit, but truly deep in my heart.”

Perhaps it was a confession.

A confession too good for someone like me.

“After this time passes, you and I must retreat to realms that can never touch again. But right now, I want to reveal everything.”

“….”

Belladis was crying.

I quietly watched her.

“I love you. My deity.”

Belladis’s time ended.

But even though her turn was over, no one stepped forward.

Vera’s performance had been too shocking.

Who could have imagined?

That a being as mighty as a constellation would propose spending time candidly with devotees.

And that a devotee would believe those words and pour out her true feelings.

“Ah, um. Um…”

Lisia was malfunctioning.

“Ve-Vera…?”

Kalisa was also malfunctioning.

“What are you all doing?”

But I, at least, kept my wits about me and urged the next person to take their turn.

To Belladis’s right was Kalisa.

“Ah, yes. No. Um, F-Father God.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I don’t want to force anyone.”

“…”

Kalisa, who had lost her composure, thought for a moment at my words, then quickly regained her senses.

“Oh, fine! I love you to death too! Not only that, I’ve imagined having a grand wedding with you…! No, I’ve even dreamed about it.”

“Wh-what?!”

“How blasphemous…!”

At this unexpected bombshell statement, Lisia—

Even Vera, who hadn’t yet recovered from the previous shock, widened her eyes and glared at Kalisa.

“I-I haven’t even said anything yet..!”

“To be truly honest, you have to go this far…! This is the power of the dragon!”

Kalisa, clearly embarrassed by her own words,

Sat down with her face bright red, as if steam might rise from the top of her head.

And for a long time, she couldn’t lift her head again.

“I-I’m done.”

Done with what?

Putting aside the tingling thoughts in my head, it was time for the next person.

Lisia, whose mental state had already collapsed after two rounds of devotee attacks, was looking at me.

‘Why are you the one losing it?’

I’m the one being attacked.

Anyway, as I waited quietly for her response,

Lisia let out an uncontrollable hiccup.

“A-are we really doing this…?”

“Since we’ve come this far, you can say anything you want.”

“….”

“Well, if you have any complaints about me, you can share those too.”

“N-never, absolutely not..!”

After firmly denying this, Lisia suddenly stood up and approached me.

This was a completely new situation and quite different.

Usually people just gather courage to speak from their seats; it’s rare for someone to come right up to me like this.

Right up.

Come to think of it, the distance between us was remarkably close.

Surprised, I stood rooted to the spot, while Lisia gradually moved closer.

If either of us leaned forward just a bit, things that shouldn’t touch would meet.

‘What?’

My mind froze at the suddenness of the situation.

And what followed was.

-Thump.

Not something I initiated, but a free self-hug from Lisia.

Her warm body heated mine.

We remained like that for a long time, as if time had stopped.

“I-I love you too.”

“….”