Ch.5555. Bait Toss

“This should work, right?”

“It’s not like we have any other options anyway.”

In front of Dungeon City.

The Constellations who had dispatched their elite believers whispered among themselves, having finally arrived at their utopia.

They would have preferred to attack Dungeon City with an army-sized force and monopolize the dungeon, but they didn’t dare directly antagonize the Father God. Instead, they were secretly carrying out operations as instructed by the Incarnation of the Black Sun.

“Identification.”

“…Wait. Why are you conducting inspections when you’re not even official guards?”

“Because we cannot allow disrespectful individuals to enter a place that serves the Father God.”

One of the high priests suddenly felt dizzy.

“Should we just kill them?”

One of them muttered savagely.

“Be quiet.”

“Come on… we’re about to be denied entry and you want us to just submit to their inspection?”

“They may have the title, but they won’t persecute other religions. According to rumors—”

“Hmm, members of other religious orders cannot enter.”

After hearing the guard’s emotionless statement, one of the order members turned to the one who had been complaining earlier.

“See what I mean?”

“…Times have really changed.”

Despite having supreme authority, the absolute being had never emphasized cruel rules that discriminated against other religious orders. Yet the guard’s current attitude was completely unapologetic, as if the absolute being stood right behind him.

“Who does this mere guard think he is?”

The high priest was dumbfounded.

Everywhere they went, people would bow and say “Oh my God, Priest,” but here they were being looked down upon like beggars at a feast.

“I can’t take this anymore.”

The white-haired priest glared at the guard with deep anger.

‘…What kind of energy is this?’

Though their robes concealed their appearance, making precise identification difficult, the guard, who had experienced much in life, instinctively sensed that their divine power was on a completely different level from others.

‘B-but I cannot back down here.’

The guard wiped the sweat that had soaked into his mustache and made a vow. He would not allow the place of the Father God to be tainted by the energy of other false beings.

“Is this guy really insane?”

“Calm down.”

“No, just listen to me.”

The white-haired priest felt like doing a backflip in frustration.

They weren’t even officially recognized guards, yet they were blocking passersby with rules like some neighborhood militia.

“Who even owns the dungeon in the first place?”

A dungeon is like the world’s abscess. If not dealt with in time, it festers and bursts, causing damage to its surroundings.

“…”

“You have nothing to say, right? Is this situation normal to you?”

The white-haired priest had been handling business in a distant land until recently. But after receiving a revelation, he had rushed here immediately without even finishing his work.

After all, nothing was more important than the words of a Constellation.

“Are you ‘mocking’ our faith right now?”

“No… that’s not it.”

The white-haired priest expressed what he found unreasonable.

“It’s ridiculous that unqualified people are standing in our way.”

The gathered individuals wielded tremendous influence. Each one was favored by a Constellation, and their divine power ranked among the highest in the world.

They were truly “national power level.”

The high priests gathered were confused by the unfamiliar sensation, as their every move was closely scrutinized by the public.

There were five apostles of Constellations present, each backed by one of the five Constellations.

“You make a good point.”

“Should we just force our way through?”

“No. That would only draw ‘their’ attention.”

What the apostles feared were the ‘real ones’ hiding among the fakes—the mysterious forces possessing the divine power of the true absolute being.

“M-members of other religious orders cannot be allowed inside…”

“Do you know who we are when you say that?”

Even to the eyes of the guard who knew little about the profound religious world, he had encountered these figures before—the high priests of each order, considered walking natural disasters.

If they wanted, they could turn the entire area into a land of death without effort.

“Enough with the jokes. Clear the way.”

“…”

‘Father God.’

But the guard could not allow their entry. He too was a devout believer who held the Father God deep in his heart.

“I refuse.”

“This is…”

“I can’t take it anymore. Let’s just go through.”

There were plenty of ways to pass without resorting to murder.

Just as the high priests were about to take action:

“Wait.”

From behind the guards blocking Dungeon City, a beautiful voice stopped the escalating tension.

“…?”

Their gazes turned to a masked figure watching them.

‘An elf?’

The white-haired high priest noticed the racial characteristics.

One of those beings who lived proudly in the distant great forest was now present here.

“I’ll vouch for their identities.”

“…What?”

The guard showed displeasure at this unexpected statement.

However, after seeing the identification badge the elf produced, his face turned pale, and he hurriedly cleared the way.

“…?”

Naturally, one of the priests looked at his group, trying to understand the current situation.

‘What was that?’

‘I don’t know either.’

Questioning glances met questioning responses.

However, since they had successfully gained entry to Dungeon City, they decided to quietly follow the masked figure.

“Who are you?”

“Someone who received advance notice.”

“…What?”

“Apostles of the Constellations.”

The elf answered their questions with a relaxed attitude, as if knowing everything.

“I share the same intention as you all.”

“What intention?”

“To drive the absolute being from this world.”

“…!”

The grand will of the great stars, which had been secretly conveyed only to the highest ranks—this highly confidential matter had just come from the lips of the masked elf.

“We never received a revelation about having a partner in our plan.”

“The more information there is, the more vulnerabilities arise.”

In a dark alley, Ragnis carefully chose her words while observing the suspicious group.

‘One wrong move and I’m dead.’

Opponents that would be difficult to handle alone, and there were five of them.

Ignoring her back already damp with cold sweat, Ragnis executed her plan to guide them into the dungeon.

#

“Hey, hey.”

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: …]

“Hey, hey, hey. You’re really the best, seriously.”

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: …I get it, so stop it already!]

If you say stop, I’ll stop.

I quietly observed the situation of the apostles who had entered Dungeon City and Ragnis, fulfilling the Constellation’s request.

There was a major accident with the entry denial, but fortunately, Ragnis, who was urgently deployed, covered it well.

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: I managed to get them to Dungeon City for now… but will they really enter the dungeon willingly?]

“If they’ve come this far, it’s guaranteed.”

I said with a pleased expression while looking at Black Sun’s name.

I don’t know how they were persuaded, but it’s obvious they each sent their favorite believers.

The disgusting and vile divine power flowing from each believer supported my inference.

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: …So.]

“Hm?”

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: How can mere believers directly impact their original bodies, the Constellations?]

“Once they come in contact with divine power, it’s guaranteed.”

What I want are their nicknames.

Those unique, Constellation-like nicknames with somewhat chuunibyou-esque modifiers.

A structure whose true nature cannot be known until directly revealed.

Is this how incarnations of the red button who enjoy unboxing feel?

I’m truly curious about what kind of dog-like… no, unique talents they all possess.

Additionally, I was curious about how those guys originally planned to destroy the world.

This is my personal curiosity.

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: I’m curious about something now… why do you hate the Constellations so much?]

As I was deeply immersed in anticipation, Black Sun asked me that question.

“Why do I hate them, you ask.”

You betray my affection for the Constellations like this? This is truly disappointing.

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: Unless you’re a fool, you know that what you call affection is quite twisted.]

…Is it that obvious?

I’ve been trying to act friendly, but apparently I can’t hide my fundamental disgust.

“That’s a company secret.”

But sadly, I can’t properly speak about it anywhere.

Who would believe it?

That I was once merely human, one of those races you all despised.

I became the strongest Constellation overnight, so just humor me.

Would any being in this world believe and follow such words from me?

It’s better to just play the role of a Constellation with a screw loose from the beginning.

“Ah, suddenly feeling lonely.”

Believers find my very existence overwhelmingly honorable, while other Constellations see me as either an enemy or a symbol of fear.

I’ve just been living as I wanted.

[Incarnation of the Black Sun: ….?]

“Let’s just get to work.”

Leaving Black Sun confused by my statement, I quickly changed the subject.

The five apostles of the Constellations were now entering the dungeon, having fallen for Ragnis’s persuasion.

“Welcome.”

Finally, the beginning of the full-scale plan I had been waiting for.