Ch.2121. The Sword Saint (1)

“Suddenly, after the appearance of the ‘girl’ and the hasty departure of a constellation and his follower…

“A star has fallen on the Constellation’s temple!”

At some distance away, one of the citizens who witnessed the anomaly shouted.

“In broad daylight?”

“You must have heard it too! Something flashed and fell from the sky!”

Human curiosity works in frightening ways.

At first, people seemed to flee from the tremendous noise, but when nothing happened afterward, they began moving toward the scene one by one.

Among the crowd, Lisia was also present, her robe pulled low over her head.

‘Father God.’

At the destination where the crowd was heading stood a temple dedicated to a constellation.

This meant there was a high probability that the falling star was someone’s doing.

“…How dare they.”

Lisia headed toward the temple, feeling deep displeasure.

-Whoosh…

A massive stone with mysterious white smoke rising from it.

“Eek…! I don’t like ugly men…! I want to be with handsome oppas!”

Turning her head toward the commotion, Lisia saw a child with sky-blue hair being dragged away by the guards.

“Wow, how can such a small thing be so strong…!”

“Hey! Hold tight! She’s struggling!”

It was hard to tell if this was restraint or abduction.

“Aaah! No, nooo…!!”

Amid the chaotic scene, Lisia turned her attention back to observing the fallen meteorite.

‘Fortunately.’

Luckily, the unidentified rock had fallen outside the temple.

This too must be the blessing of the constellation she served.

Convinced of this, Lisia concentrated briefly to check for any other anomalies.

“…?”

As she did so, her body trembled slightly at the ominous energy flowing from the rock.

‘A constellation’s energy.’

Having gone through countless battles following the Father God’s commands, Lisia knew.

She knew this was a familiar energy, and one of the more dangerous kinds.

Sacred artifact.

It referred to an object imbued with a constellation’s power.

The fact that such an ominous object had fallen in the domain of the constellation she served was proof that Lisia’s suspicions were correct.

‘How dare they, against Father God.’

The entity that dropped this sacred artifact knew this temple belonged to her patron deity.

It was deliberately trying to make its presence known.

‘First.’

She tried to find the paladins of the order stationed here, following her original purpose.

Lisia managed to find her way out of the gathered crowd and let out a deep sigh.

-Sigh…

Then, sensing an eerie feeling from somewhere, she instinctively turned her head.

“…?”

Right nearby.

A figure standing not far away, completely covered in a robe.

Judging by the similar build and visible posture, it was clearly a woman.

“Do you have something you wish to say to me?” Lisia asked warily.

The woman who had concealed her identity spoke.

“It seems a sacred artifact has fallen here.”

“…..”

“So I wanted to see it for myself.”

‘Divine power. A priest?’

Lisia tried to guess the identity of the person while sensing a strange energy she had never felt before.

“I am the Sword Saintess, ‘Herien.'”

“….!”

Saintess.

Members of an order who served a violent and hideous constellation with a cruel disposition.

Even Lisia had never directly encountered them and only knew of their existence through rumors.

“I received a revelation that a hero would be born in this area.”

“…Is that so.”

“And also the appearance of a holy sword—”

The Sword Saintess Herien had a special ability.

An ability received from her constellation with an indistinct form—the ability to distinguish between good and not good.

“I felt them simultaneously. Today is surely a blessed day.”

The meeting of a hero and a holy sword does not easily come to pass.

The Sword Saintess exists to assist with such difficulties.

But in this revelation, both entities manifested simultaneously in one place.

Though Herien didn’t show it outwardly, she was hiding joy in her heart.

“Nothing makes my heart race more than the birth of a new hero.”

Herien said this, then quietly gazed at Lisia.

“….?”

When Lisia was momentarily confused by the sudden attention, Herien shared her impression.

“You are loved by your constellation.”

Sensing the energy swirling around Lisia, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Ah….”

“Such divine power without direct contact… it would be impossible unless you were a favored devotee.”

“Father God…”

Moved by those words, Lisia once again offered a prayer of gratitude to her patron deity.

Though she formally completed this process more than five times a day, even that felt insufficient.

If possible, she wanted to be connected to him 24 hours a day—that was Lisia’s heart’s desire.

“If it’s not too presumptuous, may I directly feel the constellation’s love?”

“Love, you say?”

“It’s nothing special. I just need to touch your hand with mine.”

After deliberating whether to do this or not, Lisia decided to grant the Sword Saintess’s request, if only to repay her kindness in praising her existence and her constellation.

She was also curious about the accurate description and result.

“Then… please, for a moment.”

“I’m the one who should be grateful.”

Herien nodded briefly in respect, then took Lisia’s outstretched hand.

‘Ah…’

In that moment, a warm and ecstatic display of divine power.

The consciousness of Herien, the Sword Saintess, instantly settled into the warm embrace of the constellation.

‘This is…’

Though she had encountered the energy of numerous constellations, she had never felt one so full of love.

What instantly pierced Herien’s heart was an almost regretful envy.

She had never shared such communion with her own constellation.

‘Every day must be filled with happiness.’

This was truly the ideal that all devotees dream of.

That was what was unfolding within Lisia’s inner self.

“…..”

After briefly feeling the divine power, Herien tried to end the connection.

“….?”

But.

-Shhh…

Deep within the warm and bright divine power.

She detected something coiled up.

Even though she didn’t want to know, that eerie energy had grabbed her wrist.

‘This is…’

Herien saw what was hidden there.

And that terrible darkness looked back at her.

“….!”

Herien knew the identity of that energy.

It was like the wickedness she had encountered countless times in devotees.

“You.”

“What’s wrong?”

When Herien suddenly grabbed her wrist and broke out in a cold sweat, Lisia became confused.

“Are you a priest of those people, the Black Sun…?”

“…! No! How could you say such a terrible thing!”

“Then what is this hidden energy?”

Black Sun.

The acts committed by that group that shouldn’t exist are so infamous that it would be strange for any human living in this world not to know of them.

The existence of an immature hero and a devotee of the Black Sun order.

‘They’re targeting the hero…!’

Sensing danger, Herien immediately unleashed her divine power.

-Whoosh!!

Faced with the enormous amount of divine power surging from beneath her feet, Lisia had no choice but to respond in kind, feeling wronged.

“What on earth…!”

That this was a minor misunderstanding caused by someone’s community.

It was a matter of the lofty constellations that mere humans could not comprehend.

#

“Warning! A holy war is in progress.”

“…Huh?”

Right after seeing off Belladis, who had gone to prepare for her departure with a regretful heart.

Seeing the message window that appeared at an impeccable timing, I reflexively opened the system window to check the situation.

Focusing on the screen that captured a scene like a hologram monitor, I could see a familiar red-haired figure.

Our filial daughter Lisia.

According to the warning window, she had just become embroiled in a holy war.

‘No, our child isn’t the type to bully others.’

She has always been of a gentle disposition.

She might respond if provoked, but she’s not the type to provoke others first.

And.

‘Why is she here?’

The name of the place displayed on the map clearly showed “Regalium.”

It was so natural that it caught me off guard.

‘How did she find her way here?’

I thought she was supposed to return to the order’s headquarters.

Our filial daughter who somehow reached my location.

Could she be looking for me?

If so, I’m ready to pat her head plenty in appreciation.

For now, putting aside the matter of praise.

I focused on the situation in the screen to determine exactly what was happening.

However.

“Ugh.”

I was dumbfounded seeing Lisia looking confused at a woman lying on the ground covered in dust.

“…Huh?”

Anyone could see it was right after a battle, a situation that had already ended.

…It’s over already?

‘I just got here.’

I didn’t have time to assist with blessings or help directly.

It just went “ugh” and was over in a flash.

‘Something feels off.’

But thinking about it properly, it’s not such a strange situation.

Right now, Lisia is in her prime state with her divine power restored.

In a one-on-one match, not against multiple opponents, my devotee could never lose to another constellation’s devotee.

‘She’s done well anyway.’

As I mentally praised Lisia, I saw Vera approaching from a distance.

“Father God.”

“Yes?”

“I just felt some enormous divine power. Similar to ours…”

“…I’m checking on it, so don’t worry.”

It was already resolved in an instant anyway.

I calmed the worried Vera and sent her off to finish her work.

“As expected…! You know everything.”

After watching Vera leave with a face full of trust, it was time to examine the person who had attacked Lisia.

“Name: Herien

-Special: Sword Saintess”

Sword Saintess.

Special priests selected to assist and protect heroes.

‘Here we go.’

I don’t know why she fought with our Lisia, but it seems she came to retrieve the girl with hero potential that I saw earlier.

After all, it’s their job to assist immature heroes.

The sky-blue hair visible through the torn robe seemed to confirm this suspicion.

A hero characteristic, sky-blue hair.

And those who work with them have similar features.

‘It’s fortunate nothing happened.’

“…Hmm.”

But what’s annoying is still annoying.

How dare they touch my devotee?

Beyond the screen, I can see Lisia confused by her too-easy victory, and the guards surrounding her.

From the circumstances, it looks like Lisia bullied the Sword Saintess.

‘No way.’

I can’t just watch her being falsely accused.

I immediately headed toward the king.

This is exactly what strong connections are for.

“I’ll bring him right away!”

“Hohoho.”

When I smiled kindly, Edmund the King smiled back even more broadly.

This is the power of authority.

Soon we’ll be able to secure Lisia and the Sword Saintess.

What remains is.

“…I really don’t want to see these guys.”

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: I don’t like them either…”

The two constellations have the same unpleasant reaction.

The constellation that handles heroes—

“Child of the Lost Star”

An impressive name, but not so impressive methods.

His devotees are heroes, and heroes have a nature that extremely despises other constellations.

They were designed from the start as weapons to kill major constellations.

In terms of pure power, they fall far behind our devotees.

The frightening thing about them is their curse penalty.

If you kill a hero or take damage from a holy sword.

There’s a very high probability of receiving a penalty.

‘Talk about childish design.’

After working hard to raise your progress, having it cut down by a hero’s curse penalty would be quite unfair.

No matter how much I’ve raised my progress to the position of absolute being, openly confronting someone who’s willing to self-destruct is not easy.

“I can feel the flow of stars somewhere…”

‘At this point.’

I think I know who the owner of this suspicious message is.

“Constellation ‘Child of the Lost Star’ recognizes your existence.”

“Constellation ‘Child of the Lost Star’ requests a conversation with you.”

“Will you accept the request?”

“Hmm…”

“If accepted, you will be transferred to the constellation’s space.”

A timely conversation request from the constellation.

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: S-surely… you’re not going to accept?”

“Why not?”

“The opponent is that crazy star! You’ll only suffer losses…!”

Still, we should at least talk.

It’s not like I’ve done anything bad in this round.

I’ve just been focused on raising my progress.

‘Let’s give it a try.’

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: R-really…?”

“If it doesn’t work out, we can just overturn everything.”

Penalty.

It’s only a troublesome element in games, but now it’s different.

Reduced progress can be filled with other resources, and even if it affects the devotees, I’m confident I can fix it quickly.

‘I have to do what needs to be done.’

I didn’t raise my progress just to run away.

I built up this progress for this very purpose.

“Request accepted!”

“Loading… 68%”

So I decided to at least see their face.

Who knows? The conversation might go in a good direction for both of us.

Especially if I establish good relations with the hero side, it could be convenient in the future.

And so.

“Loading complete!”

My vision went dark, and the world began to crumble.

-…This holy sword wants you.

No, I don’t need that.