Ch.308308. Divine Punishment of the Goddess

“…….”

I slowly opened my eyes, still heavy with fatigue. I’d heard that as you age, your body deteriorates to the point where you feel tired even after sleeping.

As someone using a body that had been rapidly aged through drugs, I was experiencing that feeling a bit earlier than most.

I found myself lying in my bed in the royal palace. Sunlight streamed through the windows, creating a cozy atmosphere.

‘I’ve been a nuisance.’

I had fallen asleep during the banquet held in my honor. Even if my body was tired, it was something I shouldn’t have done.

[Mmm.]

As I carefully tried to get up, I heard a faint voice beside me.

The Dark Spiritmaster had curled up and was sleeping in the crook of my arm, while my hand was gripping my staff.

I relaxed my hand that had been clutching the staff with what could be described as obsessive force.

The clammy sweat inside my palm made me feel uncomfortable.

‘I should wash up.’

Leaving the Dark Spiritmaster where she was, I showered while thinking about what had happened yesterday.

I had provoked Victor Wellington of the Wellington Company, and after sending him away, I had talked with the Dark Spiritmaster.

– Don’t leave.

– Don’t you confuse me too.

– It’s too short a time to forget you.

“Damn it.”

The words I had spoken while half-asleep now pierced my chest like daggers.

I wasn’t embarrassed about the parts that were sincere, but just thinking about how the Dark Spiritmaster would gloat made me furrow my brow already.

And as expected.

[Deiuuuus.]

A voice with a rising inflection and nasal tone could be heard from outside.

The Dark Spiritmaster, who had slipped into the shower room, was wearing a lecherous smile.

[Why did you go alone? Let’s shower together.]

“……”

[Oh my, shall I help you? I’m not going anywhere.]

The Dark Spiritmaster was covering her mouth while her shoulders rose almost to the ceiling in excitement. The moment I noticed her gaze trying to discreetly move toward my lower body.

“Don’t get cheeky.”

I sent her flying out with a blast of mana.

[Puwak!]

The Dark Spiritmaster flew backward, rolling across the floor. In the past, she would stay with me but never enter the shower or bathroom.

‘This is why I didn’t want to say anything.’

Seeing her crossing boundaries so freely while gloating made me sigh involuntarily.

After finishing my morning shower, I came out drying my hair with a towel to find the Dark Spiritmaster sitting crouched on the bed with her back to me.

It meant she was sulking.

“We’ll be heading out soon, so get ready. Where is Stella?”

[Don’t talk to me.]

“…Don’t act like a child.”

[I said don’t talk to me!]

She shrieked and buried her head between her thighs. She seemed genuinely upset.

[You were so kind yesterday! What did you say? Don’t go anywhere! That it’s hard to forget me! You bad man!]

As she continued to shriek, I put on my clothes and answered.

“I meant it.”

[Huh?]

“But that doesn’t change anything. You’re just my monitor, only here to ensure I don’t use souls for personal purposes.”

[Why doesn’t anything change?]

“……”

I was at a loss for words.

My hands froze while adjusting my shirt cuffs, and I slowly looked at her.

The Dark Spiritmaster, who was now staring at me intently, tilted her head and asked.

[Didn’t you tell me you liked me? That’s what I heard.]

“It meant something different.”

[Oh come on, Owen and Stella both said so too! That I received a confession.]

“…You spread rumors that much in such a short time.”

If I had given her one more day, she would have gone to brag to His Majesty too.

[But why doesn’t anything change? It would be nice if I could… um, d-date you.]

“I’m engaged.”

[I’m a ghost, you know?]

Every time the Dark Spiritmaster spoke, I found myself at a loss for words. We were having the same conversation, but it felt disconnected.

There was clearly a contradiction in my position, but I couldn’t refute it.

[Did I ask you to marry me? Can’t we just be lovers? I’m a ghost anyway, so it doesn’t matter.]

“You…”

The dead should not cross the boundary of the living.

I was about to say that, but.

[I have to stay awake constantly to monitor the Land of Rest inside you, right?]

“……”

[So I can’t even have a relationship? That’s not fair.]

I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Yesterday I had outmaneuvered Victor of the Wellington Company, but today I somehow found myself being outmaneuvered.

And the reason was…

I knew it stemmed from the contradictions in my own actions.

[Deus, are you afraid of loving multiple people?]

“Dark Spiritmaster, the Griffin Kingdom doesn’t allow polygamy.”

[But the Kingdom of Zerman and the Han Empire allow it, don’t they?]

“I am a person of this kingdom. And the land I originally lived in didn’t allow polygamy either.”

[I’m a ghost, remember?]

What kind of invincible logic was this?

“I am alive.”

I grabbed my staff.

The Dark Spiritmaster naturally followed behind as we headed out of the room, but our question-and-answer session continued.

[But why? Am I not attractive?]

The Dark Spiritmaster stopped in the corridor and confidently thrust out her chest.

[Stella is pretty too. I really don’t understand why it’s not possible.]

Her words hit me as weighty questions. I appreciate when multiple women show me favor.

But I have no intention of accepting it.

I thought it was obvious.

I recalled when Findenai threatened me, saying she would tolerate my relationships with other women.

Even then, I denied it.

I thought it was wrong to harbor feelings for multiple women.

[I wonder why?]

The Dark Spiritmaster tilted her head, genuinely confused. I too opened my mouth only to close it again.

After all, no answer came to mind.

[You’re so damn passive.]

“Watch your language.”

Finally, after hearing the Dark Spiritmaster’s curse, we headed outside.

There was no official business, but there were things to do. I was told by a servant that a meal had been prepared, but I politely declined.

[Oh, you’re awake?]

As we entered the garden, we saw Stella basking in the sunlight.

It was a fitting sight for Stella, who had become a demigod of hearth and fire.

“Let’s go. We have much to do.”

At my words, I thought the two would follow behind me with questions, but.

Stella approached me with a bright smile and asked.

[Deus, do you believe in the god Bellas?]

“Hmm?”

It was such an unexpected question.

Suddenly asking if I believe in the god Bellas?

Stella should know that I don’t believe in any gods.

“No.”

But Stella wouldn’t ask without reason, so I shook my head, and she continued smiling as she asked another question.

[Then do you have any memories from the original Deus, the body’s previous owner?]

“…That’s not the case either.”

Not understanding what she was trying to ask, I slowly stopped walking and looked at Stella.

The smile she still wore now seemed to carry a different meaning.

[What’s going on? I’m scared.]

The Dark Spiritmaster clung to my arm. I wondered if Vellica was up to something, but there were no horns visible.

Stella’s questions continued.

[Then when you lived as Shinwoo Kim, what was your occupation?]

“I was an ordinary office worker… What exactly are you trying to ask?”

[Oh, it’s nothing.]

Stella gestured with a beaming smile.

[I just wanted to tell you that it’s good to be wary of lust.]

“……”

The god Bellas.

The original Deus.

If there was a commonality between them…

Both indulged in women and luxury.

[I was a bit worried after hearing what you said to senior yesterday.]

Stella’s subtle smile began to fade.

Slowly, very slowly.

Like hot iron cooling sharply and hardening, her gaze pierced into the Dark Spiritmaster and me.

[I thought, ‘So he can say things like that too.’]

“…Are you angry?”

[No, no! But I was thinking, you confess and throw yourself at senior, yet with me, you just touch my chest and that’s it.]

“I didn’t touch you.”

If we’re being precise, wasn’t it Vellica who forced me to touch?

[Oh, is that so?]

But perhaps I misspoke.

Stella’s eyes grew even colder.

[Since you didn’t touch me intentionally, it wasn’t you who touched me. I see. Well, I don’t know what I was sobbing about, but I’ll keep that in mind.]

[What’s happening? I’m scared! Apologize to her!]

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

There was clearly something I had done wrong for Stella to react this way. In this situation, it was best to simply apologize cleanly.

“I’m sorry.”

I immediately extended my hand in apology, and Stella, after making a sullen face, puffed her cheeks slightly and took my hand.

[…Since I’m a god now, I should show mercy. I’ll try to forgive you.]

“Thank you.”

I’d have to improve Stella’s mood later, but for now, I needed to focus on the task at hand.

If you asked if I was going straight to confront the Wellington Company, that wasn’t the case.

What I was about to do now was…

Dante.

I intended to find the Black Mages who had attacked Griffin and escaped alive.

Just then.

[Take this!]

Thwack!

A slight impact hit the back of my head, causing it to jerk forward a bit.

It didn’t hurt or feel unpleasant. If anything, it felt like I was pushed.

When I turned my head slightly, Stella, with a reddened face, was clutching her nun’s habit with both hands and shouted.

[I couldn’t hold back.]

“……”

[Divine punishment!]

Once again, Stella clenched her fist and charged at me, hitting me repeatedly.