Ch.304304. The Sinner’s Repentance

[Did you really have to go this far?]

While the Dark Spiritmaster was protecting Aria and Elenoa Luden Griffin, I walked through the ruins of the village with Stella.

The blue flames that had brightly illuminated the dawn disappeared when the sunlight rose, just like their dark past. Only small embers flickered, as if they had been scattered across the garden beds in place of seeds.

“……”

I didn’t answer Stella’s question. I simply continued to take in the devastation I had created with my eyes.

Furniture that hadn’t completely burned still remained in place, as if waiting for their owners. Buildings stood with only their frames remaining.

Bedding, beds, and clothing had mostly burned away, but surprisingly, some items had somehow survived this catastrophe.

[…..]

As I continued walking across the blackened ground, Stella finally closed her mouth and followed behind me. Toward me, who had turned an entire village into a wasteland and hadn’t hesitated despite hearing their resentment and screams.

Stella followed me without any reproach, maintaining a distance of about two steps.

Was this her own form of protest?

That’s what I thought at first. But what I felt from her footsteps and breathing as she continued to follow me was anxiety and concern.

She was worried about me, which is why she was following behind me so carefully while maintaining her silence.

At the edge of the village, I stopped in front of what would have been a large garden plot where seeds should have been sown and nurtured with sweat.

Burned ashes had settled with the wind, turning it into unusable land.

“Stella.”

Looking at that scene, I carefully called out to her.

[Yes, Deus Verdi.]

Stella slowly approached my side and took in the same view I was seeing. It seemed like she was trying to somehow read and empathize with my current thoughts.

“In the world I used to live in, there were those who said that if you repent, God will forgive you no matter what you’ve done.”

[…..]

“Even if you commit murder, rape, terrorism, or torture. They said God forgives all of that.”

[Merciful, yet cruel.]

She was right.

From the perpetrator’s perspective, it was truly a merciful savior, but from the victim’s perspective, it could be considered a truly cruel being.

“I don’t intend to debate whether that’s right or wrong. I only know it as information; I’ve never held such beliefs myself.”

[Deus Verdi praying to God. It doesn’t quite suit you.]

Stella whispered with a faint smile. She wasn’t wrong. But right now, I felt the urge to clasp my hands together.

“I wanted to know the criteria for forgiveness. What standards did your Goddess Hertia have for granting forgiveness?”

[Hmm.]

I thought it wouldn’t be difficult for her to explain, as she must have explained it many times to people as a Saintess. But Stella unexpectedly paused for a moment.

Then, with a slight smile, she answered.

[Does that really matter?]

“……”

[Goddess Hertia certainly had her own measure for forgiveness. But that’s irrelevant now.]

Stella looked at me while folding her hands as if in prayer.

[Because I have inherited her divine position.]

“That’s blasphemy.”

[But it’s the truth.]

Until now, Stella had never claimed to have reached the level of a demigod. Even after absorbing Hertia’s divine position, she always prayed to the gods as she had before, humbly seeking their guidance.

[Deus, people who ask about forgiveness usually fall into two categories.]

I could easily guess, but I deliberately waited for Stella to continue.

[One is those who have already committed sins.]

“……”

[The other is those who are about to commit sins.]

Her clear eyes seemed to pierce through the abyss within me. It felt like sunlight was entering the emotions welling up in my chest for the first time in a long while.

[Deus, those who seek forgiveness before committing a sin don’t deserve to be forgiven.]

“That’s a painful jab.”

Seeking forgiveness before committing a sin.

That means knowing that what you’re about to do is a sin, while also having no intention of stopping.

[So, speaking as one who holds divine authority, whatever you’re planning to do, I won’t forgive you.]

“……”

[I will impose punishment proportionate to your sins, and the judgment of flames will not waver due to personal feelings.]

“I suppose so.”

Because that’s the kind of woman Stella is.

[However.]

There was a wistfulness in Stella’s expression as she carefully added. I could feel that she was genuinely saddened.

[I will carry out all judgments with tears. I’ll beat my chest in agony as I expose each of your sins.]

“……”

[I will feel the same pain. I will share in that suffering. Because I hold you in my heart.]

Her confession was truly sharp yet heavy. And it was more effective than any other words could have been.

“You’re not a Saintess for nothing.”

The moment I imagined her suffering because of me, I even felt the urge to abandon all my plans.

Was she trying to reform me like this?

Stella whispered with a small smile.

[Is it counseling just to say nice things? You need to be able to feel it in your heart.]

But.

Even while saying that, Stella ultimately knew that I wouldn’t yield and would continue forward.

So she didn’t say anything more.

With only the stark threat and persuasion that my sins would be her pain.

And so we spent a little time together before heading back to where the villagers were.

I had sent word to Greyford that I, the necromancer, had returned, so they should be coming to get me soon. The villagers and the two bishops would be arrested and taken away together then.

[That’s a relief.]

Stella’s footsteps beside me were somewhat lighter now. It might be a bit of a joke to say that a soul’s footsteps were light, but that was the atmosphere she gave off.

[I thought you had suddenly changed. Since you have other souls in your body, I thought you might have been altered or corrupted somehow.]

“…Everyone will probably think that.”

Those who witnessed this scene with me—the Dark Spiritmaster, Aria, and Elenoa—would inevitably misunderstand.

“I’ve caused unnecessary misunderstandings.”

[Please explain it well when we get back.]

“That’s difficult.”

In the end, I would have to explain why I was doing all this. But the words wouldn’t come easily. Especially to Aria and Elenoa, there were reasons that made it even harder to speak.

“I suppose I could tell the Dark Spiritmaster.”

[…Or should we just keep it a secret between us?]

Stella, who casually asked this, had somehow transformed from the Saintess she was moments ago into a woman with slightly mischievous thoughts.

This worked out well.

“Let me say it again, don’t be influenced by Vellica. You don’t need to forcibly follow her suggestions.”

[It’s not forced.]

“You’ve found your composure and now you’re being rude.”

[It’s not rude either.]

“…Don’t talk like a child.”

[I’m not a child either.]

Stella pouted her lips and glared at me with dissatisfied eyes. She glanced at my hand and then, with a flushed face, carefully asked.

[By the way, Deus. When someone of the opposite sex touches you, does it always… umm, how should I put this…]

“Do we really need to bring that up now?”

Couldn’t we just let it pass like a midsummer night’s dream? We were both caught up in the drowsiness and heat of dawn, and an extreme situation occurred, that’s all.

[It was my first experience like that! When, when your hand touched my chest, I suddenly felt a tingling sensation and something, something just rushed through me.]

“Stella.”

[Ve-Vellica teases me, saying I’m sensitive and calls me a… a female in heat!]

“…Call Vellica.”

I thought I should give her a stern talking-to, but Stella continued with a flushed face.

[Is it true? It can’t be, right? I’m still a Saintess… now a deity! I, I can’t be that lustful, right?]

“I wouldn’t know.”

How would I know if you’re sensitive or not? I’d have to have fondled someone’s chest to know that.

I walked forward in irritation, but Stella followed closely.

[De-Deus. Just once with your hand…]

[Waaaaaaah!]

A dramatic scream came from far away.

The Dark Spiritmaster flew directly toward us, passing by Aria and Elenoa, panting heavily.

[Am I being left out? No, right? Bokshil and Bbokshil disappeared too, you’re not leaving me alone, are you?!]

“……”

[……]

[Why aren’t you saying anything! Deus, you’re not abandoning me, are you?!]

The Dark Spiritmaster, floating in the air, began to thrash about and gradually started spinning in midair.

“Dark Spiritmaster, act your age.”

As I sighed watching her now spinning like a squirrel in a wheel, she cried out with a tearful expression.

[I can’t stop this!]

Seeing that,

The various emotions that had been heating up until now began to calm down considerably.