Ch.3232. Who Is the Sinner?

“If you have nothing to say, I’d like to just go, but as you know, I have to carry out the ‘special’ mission given to me by our Lord.”

“…”

At his deliberately provocative tone, a crack appeared in Lisia’s icy expression.

The vampire’s sharp senses didn’t miss it.

She was clearly disturbed by the mention of his bond with their Lord.

That alone made Belladis feel a stirring of the base desires he had secretly harbored.

“Wait.”

As he turned his back, counting numbers in his mind, a firm voice stopped Belladis in his tracks.

“What.”

Belladis turned around with feigned indifference.

Lisia’s expression was now darker and more irritable than before.

“Don’t be arrogant.”

“…Huh?”

“I said, don’t be arrogant.”

Belladis let out a hollow laugh at the sudden accusation.

“You’re saying that to me?”

He was confident that his devotion to the Lord surpassed anyone else’s.

That’s why her haughty tone, using the word ‘arrogant’ against him without knowing anything, greatly irritated him.

“Who has been serving by our Lord’s side during divine manifestations all this time? You?”

Belladis pointed at Lisia with an exaggerated gesture, then shook his head with contempt.

“No. It was me. Unlike you who knew nothing and just wandered around, only I was in a position worthy of favor.”

“While you stood by and let our Lord bleed?”

But if it was weapons for verbal combat, Lisia had them too—

The first thing Lisia did upon returning to the kingdom was to get a full explanation from the Paladins affiliated with the order.

“…!”

At Lisia’s sharp words, the order’s vampire flinched.

As someone serving the Lord, allowing an external attack was a grave sin.

Though this was the first time hosting the Father God’s divine manifestation, everyone would unanimously attach such a crime to him.

“You weren’t the only one there, Belladis.”

There were many witnesses, and all were equally shocked.

The surprise attack by the Black Sun priest who inherited the power of the constellation.

And Belladis, the closest aide, did nothing.

He was simply paralyzed by unfounded suspicion and took no action.

Incompetence—

Despite vowing to serve the Lord with his life, Belladis had committed a grave mistake.

“Watch your mouth.”

As Belladis growled, stung to the core, Lisia pressed on.

“Did I say anything wrong?”

“…Back then, back then…!”

Belladis knew his excuse was absurd even as he spoke it.

But he truly couldn’t help it.

At that time, he was half-mad with vengeance.

“You couldn’t help it? Do you think that makes sense?”

“And what about you?”

Belladis turned his resentful gaze toward Lisia.

The guilty party wasn’t just one person.

“Who abandoned the order and went on a pilgrimage? Who shirked responsibility when the order was faltering and our Lord’s sanctuary was threatened?”

The vampire’s fangs turned toward a fellow devotee who was just as irresponsible as himself.

“…”

“We’re all sinners. Before our Lord, we all bear unforgivable sins.”

Shamelessness.

Belladis had vowed to face his love for his master with composure.

Since the Lord had returned without abandoning them, all that remained was to devote everything to worship once more.

“So I’ll dedicate the rest of my life to worshipping our Lord. That was my wish from the beginning.”

“Yes, I remember.”

If it was Belladis from the Black Sun vampire era—

He was someone Lisia knew all too well from her memories.

“Black Sun, and a biological weapon.”

“…! You…!”

“You should have been disposed of, but you were reborn under our Lord’s mercy. As a devotee in the inner circle, no less.”

Unlike Belladis who was becoming increasingly agitated, Lisia continued calmly.

“You think you’re better than me? That you understand our Lord better than I do? Don’t make me laugh.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re still just a vampire obsessed with the taste of blood. A monster who sought blood under the pretext of revenge.”

She had tried to wage a holy war.

Due to suspicion from incorrect information and personal vengeance.

At that time, other order members couldn’t make sound judgments either, so there was no one to stop Belladis’s stubborn insistence.

But just one person.

One person opposed her opinion.

“I’ve been with our Lord from the very beginning.”

In the past when there were no other devotees besides herself.

Even in those harsh and difficult circumstances, Lisia was simply happy.

Because she could always feel her Lord’s presence within her heart.

“So don’t you dare act arrogant, as if you know ‘our’ Lord completely, after vowing to serve.”

Our.

Lisia gave Belladis one last chance for atonement with her remaining patience.

-Grind.

By now, Belladis was biting her lip in frustration.

Because she couldn’t properly refute Lisia’s words, because she had been trying to avoid responsibility.

Belladis, who loved her Lord more than anyone, could no longer betray her heart and her love for him.

A tear of resentment fell from her furrowed eyes.

“There won’t be a second mistake.”

Then she delivered her message, enunciating each word clearly.

“Okay.”

At that, Lisia nodded compliantly and gradually reduced her intensity.

Either way, their Lord would be saddened by quarrels among devotees.

‘No.’

Lisia couldn’t face such sadness even if a knife were put to her eyes.

That’s why she had backed down.

“I’m going.”

Lisia, who decided to leave first, brushed past Belladis.

The woman left behind remained standing there for a long time, still filled with sadness and self-resentment.

#

—

“Title: Oh shit; Another allied country got invaded;;

-What’s the point of building rapport and forming alliances when they just get beaten and destroyed by constellations whenever they feel like it

└Do they think constellations are a joke lol

└If constellations want to invade, they just do it

└Did you think you could just mess things up and run away? Take responsibility lol

└What responsibility

└You need to deploy troops, what are you talking about

└It’s obvious you just placed useless pawns

└Wow how did you know?

└I’ve ruined five allied countries that way

└Idiot lolololol

└You need to take some responsibility, please”

“Title: But are allied countries really necessary?

-I suddenly had this thought. Managing them is such a pain

└Who’s going to do your daily quests for you?

└If you don’t need allied countries, give them to me please;;”

“Title: Damn constellations have their pride

-Using human hands? Absolutely unacceptable

└I used to think that way

└If you abandon all your order’s allied countries, other constellations will just take them all, can you handle that?

└Of course not, you idiot

└Why the sudden insults wtf

└The poster got all his allied countries NTR’d and is pissed lololol

└Lolololololol

└Now I’ve lost everything and can’t even expand because I have no resources, and holy wars keep coming whenever constellations get bored

└I feel you

└You should have treated them better when you had the chance

└When you feel it’s too late, just shout: ‘RESET.’

└Get lost”

—

“O-Oh Father God. What is this…?”

I had gathered the king and other important figures to demonstrate my achievement, leading them to a wide open space.

To Edmund who asked this, I simply smiled without saying a word.

-Whoosh…

Holy energy rose from the ground, soon taking a distinct form.

“…!”

It was an army of purified undead that I had previously gathered.

Holy spirits.

Though I dislike using them myself, they’re perfect for stationing in the Regalium Kingdom while I’m away.

“Would you like to deploy the summoned holy spirits to ‘Regalium Kingdom’?”

‘Yeah.’

I accepted the prompt internally while looking at Edmund standing beside me.

Troop deployment.

A system that becomes available after completing rapport with the king, entering a mutually cooperative relationship.

The world is a playground for constellations.

This wasn’t a fact known only to me.

Even Edmund, who disliked constellations in the past, would understand very well that a stronger constellation’s power is needed to protect the country.

“We must always be prepared for foreign invasions.”

“…!”

“I’ve learned something from this undead incident. Therefore, I will instruct all the holy spirits I’ve gathered to be dedicated to protecting the Regalium Kingdom.”

“O-Oh, Father God…!”

Edmund tried to hurriedly bow in worship, leading his aged body.

“Please don’t.”

I appreciate it, but I don’t enjoy torture as a hobby.

I’ll just accept his gratitude.

“I cannot accept such excessive grace…!”

“Please accept it.”

“B-But—”

“I said accept it.”

Just take it already. I don’t need it.

When I spoke sincerely to Edmund who was repeatedly refusing, the elderly king finally got the hint.

Though it was obtained hastily.

Those are all summoned using high-level undead as sacrifices.

They could easily hold their ground in mid-stage areas even in the game.

Therefore.

“Please accept without worry, and I hope they will contribute to the nation’s security.”

“O-Oh, Father God…! Huh…!”

The king finally lowered his head and trembled for a long time.

Another solemn moment begins.

I ignored such an excessive reaction and checked my status window.

The defense safety of the Regalium Kingdom where I deployed the holy spirits was green.

It means very safe.

It’s probably partly due to my name value, but it seems these spirits have grown beyond their undead origins.

Though I haven’t seen them fight directly yet, they should be quite reliable.

Next—

‘I miss her already.’

Thinking of Belladis who has now completely left the kingdom, I already want to run to her and pat her head.

I could meet her immediately using divine manifestation, but it’s not good to rely on just one devotee.

So, for now.

I just need to wait calmly until she successfully arrives at the holy water, and finish the remaining tasks here.

There are still some unfinished works.

“…”

My gaze turned to the names of two devotees that still had the new indicator above them.

Sword Saintess.

I’ve already become close with our little hero, but I haven’t properly acquainted myself with the new devotee who should be accompanying her.

I’ll go.

“Child of the Lost Star: I’ll be counting on you.”

‘But you know what?’

“Child of the Lost Star: …?”

‘I’m obviously going to keep the hero here.’

“What.”

‘No, it’s obvious. How can I take that child around not knowing when something might happen.’

As a constellation, they still lack consideration for humans.

They just want to send heroes to the frontlines without thinking.

‘You’re not doing that to other heroes too, are you?’

There was no answer for a long time.

That was answer enough.

‘Your household is really well-managed.’

It’s not my home, but it doesn’t look good when the neighbors are like that.

So that’s where the heroes’ problematic personalities come from.

Anyway, I wrapped up my meeting with the king while scheduling a new meeting.

#

“H-He’s here! He’s here!”

In a deep, hidden stronghold of some faction.

The man, with metal skewers in both sides of his head and foaming at the mouth, certainly didn’t look normal.

A sacrifice.

He was a kind of consumable used for communication with constellations.

Then who was inside the man’s body?

An entity that was uncharacteristically frightened for a constellation, fearing a specific being.

Prophet of Fleshless Death.

-Calm down.

A deep voice resonated in the constellation’s audience chamber.

“C-C-Calm down now…! It’s, it’s haaappening.”

The man who was suddenly speaking urgently collapsed with a thud.

His life had ended.

-The cost-effectiveness isn’t very good. You should handle them more carefully.

There was no response.

Because there was no one who could convey the constellation’s words.

The master of the space ordered his devotee to procure a new sacrifice to represent his intentions.

-The Absolute One has returned, but has lowered himself to human level and is freely communicating with his devotees without any restrictions.

According to the information received, he used divine manifestation.

The truth about that terrible, base, and chilling act was an eccentricity that the two constellations could not comprehend.

A constellation, that lofty celestial being.

To meet eyes with mere humans, who are nothing more than created beings.

How shameful and cursed an act!

-There must be something.

Even refusing sacrifices, according to reports.

The master of this audience chamber realized that his questions about the Absolute One were becoming unbearably inflated.

-Indeed, it would be better to move up the schedule.

In the darkness, the mastermind of the incident smiled quietly.

A direct confrontation is hopeless.

Even estimating the amount of divine power accumulated by him, it was simply unthinkable.

Therefore, he would use a shield.

Using a devotee who once belonged to his order but has now fallen.

-If you love your devotees so much, can you turn a blind eye to this as well?

The darkness continued to deepen.