Ch.7171. Gotta Work, Work

“Look at this.”

“Whoa! Whoaaaa…!”

“Damn, I need to change my church right now!”

“My heart hurts….”

The newly born constellations looked back at me with bewildered expressions, thanks to my touch(?).

“W-why is this happening?”

“Aren’t they being too enthusiastic…?”

“I told you so.”

I told you this would work.

Praise for the citizens, terror for the opposing constellations.

What could be more efficient than this?

「Child of the Lost Star: I suppose it’s been ingrained in the constellations’ minds for too long.」

Divine manifestation is bad.

Divine manifestation is a vulgar and base act!

Such fixed notions had somehow become ‘Providence’ among the constellations, and it became a rejected skill.

That’s what I found out.

‘I need to correct this habit once and for all.’

“Let’s end the broadcast here for now.”

The citizens beyond the screen were absolutely overwhelmed with emotion.

I think I’ve made enough of an impression by now.

“Ahem, ahem.”

After clearing my throat, I once again transmitted my words to the world beyond the screen.

“Now, I believe my will has been properly conveyed to all of you.”

-….!

With those final words, I manipulated the system window to close the screen.

“…..”

Silence lingered for a moment.

“It suddenly got awkward.”

The atmosphere was like having just finished filming a scene.

The constellations were avoiding each other’s gazes, and even the ‘Emissary of the Sun,’ who had been radiating a bright mood throughout, had a flushed face.

“Is it that embarrassing?”

“O-of course it is…! Even if we’re constellations…!”

“What about being a constellation?”

To the believers’ eyes, they might be gods, but to me, they’re all just the same living beings.

“Anyway, let’s wrap things up here for today. Start getting used to revealing your divine manifestation forms gradually.”

“I’m already used to it.”

The visitor took a step forward and spoke up.

“Oh, how admirable.”

Responding immediately to those eyes that seemed to be asking for praise, I patted their head.

“T-treating the visitor like that…”

“What am I witnessing right now?”

‘Their reactions are excessive.’

If they’re surprised by every little action, they won’t survive in the situations to come.

More precisely, they won’t survive socially.

For the future I’m envisioning, the constellations needed to become more accustomed to ‘divine manifestation.’

‘Dianon is in a lot of pain.’

Though I didn’t show it outwardly, she’s probably in a precarious state.

Speaking of Dianon, I also remembered the ‘dungeon’ issue that was resolved previously.

It’s been pushed back because of the constellation debut operation, but it’s an equally important matter.

The revenge of our Black Abyss believer Ragnis, and the collapse of the dungeon.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Ah… right.」

‘The dungeon is still intact.’

If we don’t destroy the dungeon’s core, Dianon’s stress levels will skyrocket, and the world will turn to dust.

Last time, our fanatics(?) cleared up to the middle level, but it’s been temporarily put on hold due to the constellation recruitment.

The adventurers are probably still wandering through the maze in the dungeon, and the core at the lowest level must still be intact.

“Wait a minute.”

I think I’ve got a good idea.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: H-hold on, that scary expression again…!」

“What? I didn’t do anything.”

Putting aside my feelings of injustice, I decided to give the constellations some free time today.

“Rest well during the remaining time, and take care of your church management too.”

“W-what else is there…?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Did you think we’d just do this once and be done?”

Aren’t they taking their life… no, their constellation life too lightly?

We have mountains of things to do in this world.

Forced divine manifestation was just the beginning.

#

The forest, once filled with lush vitality, was engulfed in black flames.

After voraciously consuming the lives of others, its long existence was coming to an end.

The source of the black flames, face hidden behind a mask, was silently carrying out their task.

“A-aren’t you afraid of World Tree’s wrath…!”

One of the elves shouted in anger.

His gaze belatedly discovered traces of his own kind in the masked figure.

A being with only one ear intact, bearing the stigma of once having rejected the World Tree’s love.

“…The outcast! You filthy bloodline…!”

“…You all are still the same.”

The figure was reassured.

They were still the same garbage that deserved to be burned to death, still exactly as she had hated them.

This made it possible to proceed without hesitation.

-Whoosh!

The flames soared.

The form of death, as if crawling up from the depths of an abyss, gradually moved toward the fallen elf in search of traces of life.

“Ah, ah…”

Despair settled in the elf’s eyes as he saw it.

“Wait. Let’s talk instead of doing this.”

“Why should I?”

Tilting her head slightly as if to scratch at the elf’s deepest fears.

“I-I know many things! If you spare me, I’ll tell you all the secrets of our kind!”

“Then die.”

Ragnis threw the elf to the black flames as planned, starting from his feet.

“Ah, aaaagh…!”

Only when even his vocal cords, which had been screaming in agony, were blackened did the black flames continue advancing into the lush forest in search of their next prey.

-I’m afraid.

Once, before her time of revenge, Ragnis had revealed a secret she couldn’t speak of.

-Amidst painful screams and hateful gazes. I fear my heart might waver.

To that, Black Abyss had answered.

Fear nothing, for I will always exist by your side, and following your heart is the truth and the right path.

With that, a ray of light seeped into Ragnis’s heart that had been filled only with darkness.

The shame of the elf race with only one ear no longer kept her trapped in the nightmares of the past.

She was the incarnation of revenge and the glorious first believer of Black Abyss.

The apostle of black flames, Ragnis.

“Behold me.”

Leaping over the already blackened elf kindling, she headed deeper into the forest.

“After everything is finished, I will return to that place and await your orders.”

Ragnis made a deep vow in her heart.

The elf’s vengeful heart continued to burn the forest.

The abominable elements that once filled their desires by burning the life force of the race were being purified.

Deeper, even deeper.

Ragnis’s black flames continued to burn the forest until not a trace of life could be found in the area.

#

-Crack.

Being an elder didn’t make one much different from other beings.

Perhaps because of age, the lack of moisture made it burn even better?

In front of the blackened ‘thing that was once an elder,’ Ragnis gazed at the entrance to the World Tree before her.

One being, trembling at Ragnis’s presence, had set up even the ‘cursed thorns’ as a last bastion to block intruders.

“Why don’t you just come out now?”

-Rumble!

At those utterly disrespectful words, the constellation of the World Tree raged with all its might.

To Ragnis’s eyes, it looked like a pathetic creature struggling to survive.

‘They’re all the same.’

It was a moment when her past self, who had worshipped this thing as a god for all those long years, seemed foolish.

“Now there are no believers left for you here. They’re all dead, or well, the rest have fled or whatever.”

She could follow and kill them—

But the fate of elves who left the forest would all be the same.

Just as she had once experienced.

「Constellation ‘Incarnation of the World Tree’ requests a conversation with your believer.」

‘That’s not how it works.’

And Ron, who had been watching the situation, gladly provided a place for dialogue while mocking that ugly behavior.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: If it tries anything…」

“With me here?”

A constellation is only strong against those weaker than itself; the story changes when an absolute being has its back.

“Just watch. This is going to be really entertaining.”

-Are you not afraid of the wrath of nature!!

The constellation’s anger resonated loudly through the space.

And facing it, Ragnis opened her mouth without even blinking.

“Wrath? What wrath? You didn’t say a word until everyone was about to die.”

She had burned all the elves who guarded the forest.

“And what were you doing in there?”

While her believers were all burning up, while they were screaming in agony and calling out to their constellation, all the constellation had done was—

Hide deep inside and continue to throw innocent creatures at Ragnis.

Even the elder.

It could have helped if it wanted to.

-You wench!!

“I know. I also know that I can’t break through if you’re in there. You’ll probably stay in there until I get tired and leave. How ugly.”

-Ha, hahaha!!

Seeing Ragnis prove her position herself, the Incarnation of the World Tree gladly laughed mockingly.

-It’s exactly as you know! A primitive being like you cannot penetrate my divine power!

“But now there are no believers left to serve you anywhere. Can you still be considered a constellation?”

-…What?

“Can a god without believers be called a god? Who would consider such an ugly, selfish creature an absolute constellation, a god?”

-How dare you! How dare you!!

The constellation, having run out of words, lashed out, but having trapped itself inside the World Tree, there was nothing it could do.

There wasn’t even a minimum number of believers left to convey its will.

Because Ragnis had eliminated them all on her way here.

“Well, I’ll be going now. You can just stay in there and wet yourself for the rest of your life.”

Ragnis felt satisfied with this.

From thoughts she once believed would never be within reach, she had come this far.

Her revenge had been successfully and satisfyingly completed.

As Ragnis turned around to leave without any lingering attachment, the thunderous rage continued to echo behind her, but there was nothing that could hold her back anymore.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: My goodness.」

「Child of the Lost Star: Interesting. A mere living being rebelling against its creator.」

“This is their potential.”

Ron had known from the beginning.

That if they took his hand, they could deliver a blow to the constellations, whether for revenge or whatever else.

“Well, now that the revenge is more or less over, it’s time for Dungeon City.”

Ron’s gaze naturally turned to the maids who were diligently attending to their duties.

Though they now appeared as beautiful women, they too were once constellations who had made their mark in this field.

“Time to work, ladies.”

Ron grinned at them.