Ch.201Side Story 2. The Story After, Irina (4)

The Story After, Eirene (4)

God can be idolized and worshipped precisely because He does not exist.

People are overwhelmed, revere, idolize and worship celestial gods because they exert transcendent power beyond human understanding.

But what happens to people when that being beyond understanding enters the realm of comprehension?

“The more one tries to understand and examine God rather than serving His will, the more one loses faith.”

In that sense, the celestial god who created all kinds of miracles yet had no substance ultimately took away the foundation of people’s faith.

The being that should have been transcendent fell, was sealed, and lost power.

The absolute faith was cracked.

Therefore…

The status of the celestial god, who was merely superior to others rather than something transcendent, plummeted, and the hero party took that place.

The public opinion created by the hero party to place Lug on the demon lord’s throne.

As a result, the hero party’s status rose beyond imagination, and Eirene’s status, who had always acted to save the absolute majority, surpassed that of the celestial god.

“I made it that way.”

As a decision made by a saintess who should serve the celestial god, it couldn’t have been worse.

She brought down the god she served and placed herself above him.

Eirene, who could finally view the situation objectively, came to realize:

“I was no longer your devotee, but simply a person of power who would do anything to get what I wanted.”

Her former self would never have made such a choice.

The human Eirene might be that kind of person, but the devotee Eirene was different.

She would never damage God’s status or doubt His actions.

She had dirtied her hands to save the Celestial Church and led it in that manner.

All of it was for the Celestial Church. Furthermore, for faith.

Surely that must have been the case…

“I don’t understand myself anymore.”

Eirene could no longer understand what she wanted.

Faith? Power?

Did she want to save people? Or did she want to elevate her own status?

Is the expression she’s wearing now truly hers? Or is it fabricated to show others?

A girl who has lost her sense of self.

“So before it’s too late.”

The Celestial Church must disappear.

That would be right even without her existence.

Yes, long ago.

A church that lost its god to worship should have disappeared, but wasn’t it Eirene who forcibly held onto it?

Although there was the justification of saving the children in the monastery cared for by the Celestial Church, there was no reason it had to be in the form of a church.

With Eirene’s abilities, other directions would have been faster.

“Returning to the original state would be right.”

She has already achieved her goal, and if she desires more, what she dismissed as inevitable will no longer be inevitable. Therefore, the Celestial Church must disappear.

“So, Lug. I want to apologize for everything I’ve done using your name until now.”

“Apologize…?”

At first, she moved the church with the sole purpose of finding Lug, but midway through, her thoughts changed.

She could step back from jealousy and stubbornness to look at herself objectively. As a result, Eirene realized that she had been using, not worshipping, the celestial god all this time.

So she wanted to apologize.

That was the reason she didn’t do anything to Lug on the way back.

Everything she adjusted for him was for this purpose.

“…And I should restore what I’ve built up with my stubbornness back to its original state.”

It’s fine without her now. Those she wanted to save have either died or found their own way.

There’s no need to forcibly hold onto the Celestial Church that should have collapsed, and her stepping down alone will easily solve that problem.

Yes, because she is essentially the core of the Celestial Church.

That’s why the devotees worship her even more deeply than the god.

Lug knew.

Eirene is a strong person.

Her mental strength is stronger than anyone in the hero party.

But that’s because she has an iron wall built on an already collapsed mental foundation.

She can endure because she has been hurt more than anyone and has already fallen into the pit of despair.

Yes, when she saw everyone at the monastery that the Celestial Church failed to protect.

She had etched that scene in her eyes and had been seeing everything else blurrily.

“I just… wanted to say this. I’m sorry, Lug. Even though this apology might only confuse you…”

Perhaps even this apology is just self-satisfaction. She has come to doubt even her own sincerity.

“Eirene.”

“My story ends here. I wanted to apologize, and in return, I’ll withdraw from the Celestial Church. That’s the summary.”

“…It’s not good to drive yourself like this.”

“Really?”

Words spoken at the sight of Eirene’s precarious state. But Eirene responded with a gentle smile.

“Lug, how does my expression look to you? How do I appear?”

“…”

Eirene’s expression looked relieved. At least on the surface, that’s how it appeared.

“How is it?”

She had become able to deliberately make such expressions.

That’s why he was at a loss for words.

Despite needing to comfort her, he was momentarily speechless.

Because she truly looked that way. Because he thought that everything she had said might not be sincere.

Being able to tell perfect lies makes one subject to suspicion in return.

Being quick-witted and skilled at reading people’s emotions, she lost the ability to understand her own feelings.

Yes, so.

“It was a boring story, wasn’t it? Shall we end it here?”

“This isn’t a story to end so simply. You know that.”

“Is that so?”

Eirene tilted her head.

As if it really wasn’t an important story.

He knows that’s a lie. The real emotions hidden behind that perfect mask must be a mess.

But he can’t tell.

Eirene’s expression was perfect, and no negative signs could be felt. A perfect mask.

And that’s precisely why she shouldn’t be left alone. Until he sees the real face hidden behind that mask, his voice won’t reach her either.

“You don’t know, right?”

“…”

“It’s nice that Lug is easy to read.”

And that hesitation was clearly visible to Eirene. Psychological insight that doesn’t even allow for superficial pretense. That was the chronic disease Eirene had developed.

“Then since you’ve listened to my story well, shall we move on to the next thing?”

“…Pardon?”

“I told you before we talked. If you listened seriously, we would continue what we couldn’t do that day.”

Normally, Lug would have eagerly taken up such a topic. But Lug is also human.

He couldn’t prioritize unleashing his desires on a girl carrying such wounds.

“…Let’s do that.”

But that’s what they decided to do.

***

Lug remembers. The moment when Eirene’s mask cracked.

The incident at the lake was planned by Eirene. So her acting was perfect, and Lug was almost completely fooled by her expression.

But the moment when Lug expressed his honest impression was different.

-May I ask one thing? Why are you bathing with clothes on?

-Are you disappointed that I’m not naked?

-No, this is more erotic.

-Ah…

Eirene’s reaction then.

The way she unconsciously covered her body and shrank back.

Was even that action fabricated to deceive Lug?

No, that couldn’t be.

‘She was the one who seduced me first, so there’s no reason for her to react that way.’

At least at that time, Eirene was indeed trying to seduce Lug to captivate his mind.

She created such an atmosphere, and Lug was so tense that he had to swallow dry saliva several times.

But thanks to Eirene’s honest reaction, the atmosphere changed.

It was certainly a sensual atmosphere, but it must have been quite different from what Eirene had expected.

Eirene was careless then.

And Eirene always had a careless aspect in that regard.

That’s why he had said he would match Eirene’s pace.

So there would be no better opportunity than now to see the true feelings Eirene hides behind her mask.

Yes, so Lug intended to show her.

“What should we do? Should I undress after all?”

“No, you can stay as you are.”

A side of himself that she had never seen before.

“I’ll take care of everything, so Eirene just needs to do as I say. Understand?”

“Ah, yes…”

With that, Lug took Eirene’s hand and led her to his bed.

The beginning would be atmospheric and gentle, like he had done with Lilith.

But what follows will be overwhelming to the point of losing consciousness, like he had done with Millia.

Yes, that way.

“Understand? You must do exactly as I say.”

“…?”

He will draw out her true feelings.