Ch.6161 Sacred Place (1)

“…Fine! I get it!”

“W-well, I didn’t think we had a chance of winning anyway…”

“When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so bad.”

“…”

The four constellations were eventually persuaded by the Emissary of the Sun’s words.

‘How is this working?’

If I had been alone, convincing them would have been difficult, but with her enthusiastically helping by my side, they started coming around one by one.

‘And why is she trying so hard?’

I looked at the Emissary of the Sun.

The defiance she showed initially was completely gone, replaced by the demeanor of a faithful servant in a maid uniform.

“…Is something wrong…?”

“Why are you being so cooperative?”

The situation doesn’t seem to involve any scheming, but there’s still an inexplicable pressure.

It’s like she wants something, yet doesn’t want it at the same time.

“I was simply the first to respond to the Absolute One’s words.”

The Emissary of the Sun hesitated before speaking.

“It’s awkward to say this myself, but the moment the Absolute One discovered our location, the outcome was already decided.”

“That’s true.”

They probably never imagined they had an internal spy among them.

‘It’s a shame to end things here.’

Thanks to Black Sun’s efforts, we successfully completed our friend hunting(?), but it would be difficult to deploy another spy operation now.

This operation would have heightened their vigilance.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: B-but we’ll have another opportunity someday.」

‘That’s true too.’

How to lure new constellations.

Just throw Black Sun at them.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …?」

Leaving the confused Black Sun behind, I told the constellations my purpose.

“I want you all to remain as constellations.”

What kind of crazy talk is this now?

After forcing them into divine manifestation against their will and trampling on their pride as constellations.

And now I’m saying, ‘You are constellations.’

“My head hurts.”

“Hey, Emissary of the Sun. Is this really right? Did we understand your words correctly?”

“We were wrong. Now we’re wrong…”

Seeing the constellations speaking as if their souls had left their bodies, I hastily added:

“Look, listen up, guys.”

There’s something they’re overlooking.

I haven’t taken anything away from the constellations I’ve farmed.

Their religious orders, status, and other secondary things.

Everything they need to remain as constellations is still intact, and I have no intention of taking it away.

As I said earlier, I want them to remain as constellations.

“Then why all of this until now?”

“I want more constellations?”

“W-what…?”

“Are you saying we’re not enough?”

They’re saying things that sound like lines from a harem protagonist.

“Isn’t it obvious? The world is vast, and there are disgustingly many constellations out there.”

There are still so many constellations who want to turn the world upside down.

That’s why I need to bring them all under my command, to make the world a happier place.

Only then can the world I live in stabilize.

“I just want to quit all this too.”

Did someone threaten me to become a constellation?

Until recently, I was just a player enjoying a game.

“I’m saying this for all our benefit.”

“…”

“At first, there was someone who didn’t understand like you guys, but now they’re doing fine.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Are you talking about me?」

‘No, no.’

Absolutely not.

There was a grumpy but kind neighbor who I couldn’t call a black idiot.

“Anyway, stay here for now. I won’t interfere with how you manage your believers.”

It was about time to intervene in real life.

Because I could now enter the ideal world I dreamed of with my believers.

#

-Kyaaaah!!

-Fuck, give it back! Give it back!

The screams continue.

Since becoming the greatest constellation in the world, I occasionally browsed through the events happening here when I was bored.

There were many beautiful elements like laughter, joy, and happiness.

But there were even more terrible and desperate things.

“…..”

I stared at the screen with a blank expression.

One believer was oppressing another.

-You vile creatures! How can you do this when you too are believers serving a god like us!

-Our god does not recognize other religious orders! Cruel revenge on those who commit blasphemy!

This too was the atrocity and neglect of the constellations remaining in the world.

In an already harsh world to live in, with the absolute threat of constellations added like a spoonful of misery, it truly resembled a scene from hell.

“Sigh, typical constellations.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …They are also those who serve constellations.」

“Wouldn’t everyone have been happier if constellations never existed?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …?」

I know what Black Sun’s reaction means.

It must sound like madness.

In this world, constellations are an essential element that cannot be absent.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: So, will you tell me now?」

“Tell you what?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Why you’re gathering constellations.」

“I already told you.”

Because I can’t stand seeing them causing trouble.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Is that really the reason…?」

“Of course.”

The reason I gathered these five constellations was the same as before.

“What did you expect to be different?”

From small spirits to the owners of massive stars called constellations.

Magic power, divine power, and even more transcendent powers beyond that.

And those who wield such powers are still roaming freely in this world.

But do they manage their believers like I do?

No.

“I need to teach them.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: W-what?」

“How to work.”

The world is vast, and there are many constellations that need guidance.

So I decided to start by changing the constellations I already possess.

I silently looked at the names of Black Sun and Star Child in my friends list.

“You two will be later.”

Right now, I’m short-handed, so I need to keep some surplus personnel.

“D-did you call for me…?”

The ‘Emissary of the Sun’ said cautiously as she opened the door and entered.

“I have something to ask.”

Among the constellations I’ve recruited this time, she’s the most obedient and compliant.

I don’t know what she’s plotting inside, but for now, I decided to use her courteous attitude.

“How do you usually manage your believers?”

“T-typically, for efficiency, I select the believer with the highest divine power and communicate only through them.”

“Why?”

“If I try to communicate with too many believers, they seek me out from everywhere, and it can actually harm the believers.”

“That’s the ideal constellation model.”

Each religious order emphasizes different doctrines, mindsets, and behaviors.

But typically, religious orders ruled by constellations take that form.

They elevate a believer they’re particularly interested in to the highest position in the order and manage the subordinate members through them.

“T-thank you.”

The round lion ears on her head slowly turn toward me.

“What are you doing?”

“Usually, when establishing a master-servant relationship, sometimes one strokes the other’s head…”

“Who told you that?”

This is the first I’ve heard of it.

“…I’m sorry.”

The Emissary of the Sun quickly raised her head at my bewildered reaction.

Looking at her, I spoke again.

“As I said earlier, manage your religious order as usual. Just don’t do anything I would dislike.”

“I will never create anything hostile to the Father God’s religious order.”

“And.”

“…?”

“Those ‘primitive things’ you talk about that make people tremble in fear, like holy wars, sacrifices, and so on. They’re all banned from today.”

“…!”

The Emissary of the Sun looks at me with an expression like she’s lost her country.

“Especially sacrifices, this primitive act is truly forbidden. Why kill innocent living beings?”

“Usually, sacrifice rituals are performed to elevate the constellation’s authority—”

“We all know that doesn’t work, so don’t do it. Worship is enough, isn’t it?”

“I shall obey…”

The Emissary of the Sun drooped her shoulders and returned to her companions.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Are you going to let them live here permanently?」

“I have to. I can’t release them anywhere else.”

Even if I took away their religious orders completely, they would surely establish new ones with just a name change.

Better to keep them in my house.

Even with their divine manifestation bodies here, remote controlling religious orders is a basic skill for constellations.

#

-Clink.

Four months after leaving the Regalium Kingdom.

Through a forest surrounded by thick fog, the faithful servant of the Father God finally arrived at their homeland.

【Father God’s Sanctuary】

“Ah…!”

Belladis trembled with deep emotion.

Once a place that became emptier than anything after losing its master—

Now it was different.

Belladis had brought news that would make everyone rejoice.

“That’s…”

A member of the religious order guarding the entrance to the sanctuary, the magnificent patterned gates, recognized Belladis.

“…!”

“I have returned.”

“We behold the apostle of Father God.”

“The troops are extremely fatigued, so I will quickly disband them.”

“Understood!”

The entrance to the sanctuary began to open with a tremendous rumble after confirming Belladis’s identity.

The paladins accompanying her watched with stern expressions, but couldn’t hide the yearning in their gaze.

And so, Belladis was about to formally enter her home.

“Bat High?”

From a distance, someone approached after confirming her presence.

A nickname that contained contempt but was also a sign of familiarity.

Belladis frowned as she looked at the person.

“Well, your temper’s still alive. Seems you’ve got energy left even after all that hardship.”

The woman was a beastkin.

With pointed wolf ears twitching on her ash-gray hair, moonlit eyes peered through her bushy bangs at Belladis.

“You.”

“So, did you find any clues about our master?”

She too was a faithful servant of the Father God.

His hunting dog, who had vowed to wait for her master who had left home.

Hiding fangs that could tear apart an opponent at any moment.

She continued to wait.

「The target’s mind is contaminated!」

“Welcome back.”

The woman smiled slyly.