Ch.1313. The Showdown

# Title: So the King of Regalium is a Psychopath, Right?

– He’s cruel to his own daughter, but then throws a fit when she leaves. What’s his intention?

┗Teacher, why are you asking us?

┗It’s just a tutorial stage anyway, who cares?

┗Yeah, just collect some starting items and connections lol

# Title: I Know Why the King Above is Like That

– From what I know, his wife died early because of some incident. And coincidentally, there’s a daughter next to him who resembles his wife? But she’s younger?

┗Just get out of here lol

┗Oh my god hahaha

┗Please die. Please…

┗So the reason he’s being cruel is because he’s fighting with his last remaining conscience?

┗Oh….

┗What “oh”? Damn it hahaha

—

The next morning.

I woke up feeling refreshed for some reason, and had been wide awake from dawn until now.

Perhaps because it was a royal palace, the view outside the window was truly picturesque.

‘Should we build a palace of our own while we’re at it?’

There should be something similar to a palace on the church grounds.

Just then, my shadow at my feet suddenly wriggled.

“…Huh?”

Thinking I might have seen wrong, I looked again, and it was definitely wriggling as if alive.

What the hell?

I almost unleashed a divine skill, but barely regained my senses and began to observe the situation.

-Rustle.

The wriggling shadow paused for a moment, then gradually began to take shape.

The first things I saw were a pair of red eyes. Then a slender figure in neat nun’s clothing.

It was our Belladis.

“…Vera?”

“Father God. Was your sleep uncomfortable…?”

She naturally popped out of my shadow and casually asked about the quality of my sleep.

“No, I just woke up… But.”

Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked her.

“How long have you been in there…?”

“Since you were in the bedroom, my Lord. I’ve been waiting the whole time.”

“….Why.”

“Well, because I’m by my Lord’s side…?”

Why am I asking something so obvious?

Seeing that sentiment clearly expressed on her face, I had no choice but to let it go.

Though I haven’t been in this world long, the children’s constant worship seems to be growing heavier by the day.

“…Hmm.”

Recalling last night’s memories, I feel the forgotten dizziness creeping back.

The princess has gained enlightenment, they say.

Well, that’s fine. I don’t mind that part.

The problem is that she keeps trying to get involved with our church.

If we get involved with the princess, we’ll incur the wrath of the psychopath king above her.

And then what?

From then on, we’ll have a six-star fan meeting and be ostracized globally.

‘Should I really flip out?’

But the opponent is Regalium.

It’s too prestigious in the setting to be dismissed as merely a tutorial helper nation.

-Your daughter has gained enlightenment and gone half-mad, but I won’t take responsibility, so handle it yourself.

Then her father would laugh and order his knights to risk their lives.

‘This is so annoying.’

I need to find a decent excuse somehow.

In the most peaceful way possible, without harming anyone.

‘If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have come.’

Who would have known?

That NPC whom other users drool over and desperately want to recruit.

That NPC who had built an impenetrable wall that was the stuff of nightmares in the community.

To think she would fall after just one simulation—

‘No way.’

There was a definite need to prevent the church’s image from plummeting.

As I spent some time with Vera in that state, the morning sun rose to an appropriate position.

-Knock knock.

The sound of someone knocking on our door was heard just then.

Soon after, a knight with a familiar appearance opened the door and entered.

It was the Knight Commander, “Ricardo Baltar.”

‘Is this old man free these days?’

To think that someone as important as a nation’s Knight Commander came all the way here to escort me. It feels somewhat disconnected.

I had expected a maid or butler to come.

‘Come to think of it, maybe not.’

My current status isn’t a guest, but a subject of caution.

Given that accidents could happen anywhere at any time, it might be a carefully selected personnel arrangement from their side.

“Shall we go?”

I greeted him politely.

“…I will escort you.”

Baltar, still wrapped in formality, began to guide us with precision.

The interior of the palace was exactly as I had seen in the game.

However, I couldn’t help but be drawn to each detail due to the lifelike quality that transcended dimensions.

‘Being a king is nice indeed.’

Though I hold a position similar to a king among my followers, the feeling is different.

Vera has been extremely tense since earlier.

Though there are no longer any traces of harm to me, her firm determination not to allow a second incident is evident.

‘Can you stay still?’

‘If the Father God says so.’

That’s why I set up insurance before leaving the room.

To prevent her from misunderstanding and doing something strange on her own.

“It’s lively.”

I expressed my honest impression.

After being immersed in modern scenery, encountering such rare sights in person makes my heart race continuously.

Servants bustling around the palace, butlers, and occasionally what appear to be noble officials.

Though very restrained, it’s pleasing to see each person dedicated to their role.

I wonder if our children would look like this if I returned to the church headquarters now?

I truly look forward to that time.

“…Thank you.”

Praise for the palace is praise for himself.

Baltar, who had been guiding us through the palace interior, answered after a slight delay.

“I wonder if His Majesty has been well.”

I wonder if he’s been doing well all this time.

At least he hadn’t perished until I progressed to the end-game level, so he must have been fine.

“His Majesty the King is always in good health. Under his rule, the Kingdom of Regalium prospers day by day.”

His textbook-perfect answer, as if he had memorized the entire manual, made me smile inadvertently.

“That’s good to hear.”

Since a kingdom I viewed favorably was doing well, I didn’t feel particularly bad either.

After all, I partly came to tour the palace anyway.

We arrived in front of a massive door.

“Please enter this way.”

“Is this… the audience chamber?”

“No.”

Baltar answered with an even stiffer demeanor than before.

“…Then?”

“His Majesty the King wishes to meet the Constellation in the conference room.”

Conference room?

Is it the conference room I know?

Roughly speaking, it’s the room where the king discusses matters with his officials or debates important national topics.

-Rumble…

As the massive door opened with a majestic sound, and I stepped through it.

An interior that was too luxurious and enormous for humans to use greeted me.

‘…Wow.’

The moment I saw it, I felt overwhelmed by something.

An atmosphere where every structure, even every speck of dust, seemed imbued with authority.

It felt as if the boundary between inside and outside the door was completely separated into different dimensions.

-Click. Click.

Vera and Baltar followed behind me.

“Your Majesty.”

Upon entering the room, Baltar immediately knelt in respect and waited for the response of the man beyond.

An old man with a white beard, exuding the passage of time.

‘Should I kneel too?’

With my dignity as a Constellation at stake, I just stood there watching the situation.

“It must have been difficult.”

A brief silence followed. The old man, after staring at me for a long time, suddenly spoke.

Despite his somewhat weakened and hoarse voice, a unique strength could be felt.

Dignity and demeanor that seemed to say he had lived to rule over others from the moment he was born.

“Coming all this way.”

My first meeting with a nation’s king left a deep impression on me.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

I smiled gently and bowed my head slightly in respect.

“The Knight Commander may leave.”

“…!”

After nodding in response to my greeting, King Edmund ordered Baltar to exit.

“B-but.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. Please leave now.”

In this vast room, there were only me, Vera, the king over there, and the Knight Commander.

The Knight Commander was the only one who could prepare for any contingency.

Telling him to leave seemed like a decision that put half his life on the line.

“…Vera, do you want to leave too?”

When I asked tactfully, the king interjected again.

“Your follower may remain.”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“It’s an order, Knight Commander.”

The other party was the king.

Unable to betray his loyalty, the Knight Commander finally moved his reluctant feet and went outside.

-Boom…

As the heavy door closed again, the three of us were completely isolated in the room.

“Please sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

The aged king accommodated me, maintaining his initial demeanor.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Normally, there would be tedious ceremonies or procedures.

He boldly cut through all those processes to get straight to the point.

I slowly walked over and sat in a suitable spot.

Even from the outside, it looked quite antique, but the moment I sat down, I realized this was the life of nobility.

Surrendering to the plush comfort, I waited for the king’s next words.

“I heard you descended to this land directly to prevent a holy war.”

Edmund Karsein brought up the subject straightforwardly.

“That’s right.”

“All this time, we thought you had abandoned this world. Or else, that you had exhausted your power and vanished somewhere.”

I didn’t know I would end up like this either.

Who could have imagined?

Becoming a god-like entity overnight and exploring an unfamiliar world.

-Grind.

At the word “vanished” from the king’s mouth, Vera, standing beside me, clenched her teeth.

It was good to see her exercising maximum restraint after being asked to stay calm.

‘Now I should start working on him.’

This is the important part.

I need to somehow gain the king’s favor to lay groundwork for the upcoming conversation about his daughter.

‘Should I apply some blessing?’

The healing skill I provide is very beneficial for the human body.

For an aged king, there could be no better nourishment.

For him, first.

“Someone spread false information to my children.”

The person who hinted that there were clues about my existence in the Black Sun Church.

I don’t know who that bastard is, but what’s important is that our children were victims of that false information.

“That’s why they were about to launch a holy war against the Black Sun Church.”

The king quietly listened to my story until then.

“….”

“Although I was able to stop the holy war when the opportunity arose, it seems there was a minor misunderstanding with the royal army in the process.”

I continued speaking with a tone suggesting deep regret.

“This someone you speak of.”

The king, who had been listening to my story, opened his mouth.

“Their whereabouts haven’t been identified yet, but I’ll find them soon. It must be an evil force trying to drive a wedge between Your Majesty and our church.”

I was confident I could identify the culprit soon.

I had the ability, and in the original progression world.

It was as good as in the palm of my hand.

“An evil force…”

The king, looking very displeased, cleared his throat and said.

“Are you saying there’s a true culprit who dared to mock both me and your forces in all this?”

“That’s right.”

“If we catch this culprit.”

“We should make an example of them, so they can never threaten my children and peace again.”

I spoke while calmly meeting the king’s gaze.

Spirit is important here.

To ensure that the anxiety hidden deep in my heart doesn’t leak out.

It’s like hypnotizing yourself when dealing with him.

“Perhaps.”

King Edmund Karsein, after a long silence suggesting deep thought, opened his mouth.

Many concerns must be clashing in his mind.

Whether what I’m saying is true or false.

Whether he should be hostile to our church or trust us for now.

Add to this the matter concerning the princess.

Even for Edmund Karsein, known for his cold temperament, it would be quite a headache.

“You might have come here already knowing everything.”

Knowing everything.

The moment I heard it, my thoughts raced intensely.

Should I pretend to know, or should I confess honestly?

As I continued to ponder.

Suppressed anger leaked from Vera beside me.

“Even if you are the king of a nation, I cannot tolerate you doubting and insulting my Lord.”

Though she was smiling sweetly.

Being close to her, I could feel it properly.

Right now, Belladis Rocheria clearly harbored killing intent towards the king who was cornering me without basis.

“…I got a bit excited. I apologize.”

Only when faced with the king’s retreating attitude.

One realization flashed through my mind.

‘He deliberately removed the Knight Commander, his only means of protection.’

If he had wanted to threaten me, there would have been more bold measures.

‘He wants dialogue.’

Seeing him readily acknowledge after Vera’s warning just now, my guess gains confidence.

Only then did I feel I could determine my next action.

‘Alright. Let’s just go for it.’

“I’m fine.”

First, I calmed down my beautiful follower who was growling threateningly.

Then, with a gentle smile, I answered.

“Your Majesty asked if I knew everything.”

“….”

“In this world—”

Who was I again?

In this hell where these constellations are running wild.

The constellation who reached the highest position, the highest authority of the strongest church.

That authority, even for a king of the strongest nation.

Is a position that should be looked upon with reverence.

“There is nothing I don’t know.”

Therefore, I dared to say it.

“….”

“….”

After my words, a silence that heavily pressed down on the atmosphere.

‘Almost there.’

Soon after, the answer that put an end to everything came.

“I have committed a sin worthy of death.”

-Thud!!

The king, who had been obediently listening to my words, suddenly rose from his throne and pressed his forehead to the floor.

“All responsibility for these matters lies with me.”

“…What?”

I can’t comprehend the situation that has unfolded.

What is this?

“As you already know, Constellation, I dared. I dared…”

The king trembled as if his head might roll at any moment.

With difficulty, he spat out his final words.

“The one who spread false information to your church was me, Edmund Karsein…”

The culprit suddenly appeared.