Ch.7575. Philanthropy

Even just looking at it makes me cringe… but fundamentally, this thing is indeed a part of me.

It’s just that aspects that would normally never surface are now front and center, and when combined with the original owner’s tendencies, it’s taken an extremely exaggerated form.

If I examine it closely, I suppose these traits are actually facets of myself…. But in this world, there are things that remain embarrassing even when you acknowledge them.

‘I definitely can’t change that one’s clothes.’

“That’s right, another me. This gothic Lolita dress is part of my identity. If you change it arbitrarily, automatic operation would be impossible.”

‘……..Just keep your mouth shut.’

“I refuse. You know it too, don’t you?”

‘….Fine, I get it. Then go and take care of business.’

“Understood, another me.”

Thus, having decided to escape from this walking embodiment of cringe-worthy history, I gave her some vague orders and quickly moved to address my own matters.

“Oh, it’s completed?”

Just then, upon hearing that the golem design I had entrusted to Lunifer Ficentrius was finished, I was about to send a messenger—an avatar—to get a direct explanation when….

‘……..Ah.’

“You seem to be in a predicament?”

Seeing “me” about to leave, she made a troubled expression.

The wolf avatar had unfortunately been sent to Lisa’s location and couldn’t be moved for a while, and it would be somewhat late to return and send it again.

《…….Would you… mind… helping?》

“Of course. Leave it to me, another me.”

So despite my reluctance to send her out, I had no alternative but to dispatch that vampire avatar.

……After all, it is one aspect of my appearance, but thinking about it carefully, something seems a bit off.

That thing… I can control it, but when I think about it, can I really call it “me”?

The soul has separated from it?

No, from the beginning, that isn’t……..me, is it?

If so, isn’t it far from being a means of communication?

※ ※ ※

“Oh, you’ve arrived!”

“Indeed I have, Magician Lunifer Ficentrius.”

When “she” appeared holding a parasol and spoke from the center of the laboratory, Lunifer looked at “her” with confusion, probably because she wasn’t the usual wolf avatar.

“I am also his messenger, so you may rest assured.”

“Yes, gladly!”

Having reassured him, “she” moved straight to the main topic, seeing no need to waste time.

“Now then, show me the golem—the reason you summoned me.”

“Certainly! O messenger!”

As “she” said this while emitting holy power—low in output but high in concentration—to prove her status as a messenger, he quickly grasped the situation and cheerfully went through a large arched doorway adjacent to the laboratory…

A moment later, he returned with the golem.

“Is this it?”

“Yes! Indeed it is!”

The golem created by Lunifer Ficentrius was well-made according to the instructions of the main body—once me but now separate.

The quality of the stone materials composing its body was excellent, and its structure was quite stable yet versatile. Above all, the magical formulas inscribed throughout its body showcased his capabilities superbly.

As “she” observed the completed golem with great satisfaction, a thought suddenly occurred to her based on the biological response she sensed from it.

“Magician Lunifer Ficentrius. I have a question.”

“……What is it, messenger of the great one?”

Seeing him respond like a researcher facing a client raising concerns about a finished product, “she” realized that she had jumped straight to questions without offering any praise. So after clearing her throat, “she” began with lavish compliments to change the atmosphere.

“The golem has been perfectly completed according to his wishes. Excellent work, Magician Lunifer Ficentrius.”

“Th-thank you!”

“But… who is the human used as the core of that golem?”

As “she” asked with careful attention to her tone, breathing, posture, and expression to convey a casual curiosity, Lunifer responded confidently without taking it as criticism.

“We received a volunteer from the Vengeance Order. An elderly man with little time left offered himself willingly, saying he could serve the great one as a physical vessel for much longer.”

“I… see…..”

Caught off guard by Lunifer’s unexpected explanation, this vampire messenger—closer to “a rather emotional and human-like me”—was somewhat taken aback.

However, this feeling didn’t last long.

‘Why, why would they go to such lengths?’

Instead, the surprise quickly turned to curiosity.

Even in this era, gods are sacred and transcendent beings, but at the same time, perhaps because the divine race forms the core of divinity, they are also quite accessible.

To draw a comparison, gods are often described as something like royalty with supernatural powers, making it difficult for the kind of fanaticism we typically imagine to emerge.

At most, they might be comparable to fans of famous politicians or members of cult-like religions in our reality…

‘……..Ah.’

And only upon reaching this thought did “she” come to understand why believers showed such fervent reactions to her master.

The gods of the current pantheon are, metaphorically speaking, rather inept politicians.

They can provide tangible benefits (privileges as believers, divine realm passage after death) to their supporters (believers), but in exchange, they have serious moral flaws and personalities that couldn’t be described as good even as a polite lie.

In short, with very few exceptions, people believe in them primarily for the benefits.

Even cult-like religions try to gaslight their followers into believing they are good, justifying self-serving and greedy actions with noble-sounding pretexts.

But these gods don’t even bother with that minimal pretense, taking the attitude of “I have power, so what does it matter?”—naturally reducing their appeal for genuine faith.

Of course, fear of power, reverence, or awe of their transcendent abilities might often be part of this relationship…

But such feelings would be impossible for the common people who become followers of her master.

Meanwhile, “her” master represents their last hope.

For those who lack the money to buy offerings expected by gods, who have no citizenship due to low social status, and who possess no exceptional martial prowess—just ordinary commoners.

Or those from the middle class or above who have lost everything due to some incident, or the impoverished who had nothing to lose to begin with.

Such people previously had no recourse when caught up in unjust situations or suffering unfair treatment—they could only bury their grievances in their hearts.

But then “I” appeared in those desperate circumstances.

One who bestows blessings regardless of conditions if prayed to with sincere hearts, who helps exact revenge through various methods, and furthermore, provides hope for the future…

While “her” master might have done this as part of a bigger picture where more vengeance means more power for him, to those on the receiving end, “her” master was a savior and simultaneously someone clearly different from other gods—truly embodying what a god should be.

“In other words, he is the only one who loves us equally, simply because we are believers, O messenger.”

“……..I see, so that’s how you think of him.”

Thus, “her” master—I—finally understood clearly why there were followers who blindly followed “her” master—me.

As a result of borrowing heavily from Christianity—a religion that successfully spread its faith in reality—and from the red-bearded one’s ideology that easily captivates people’s minds…

“Her” master was perhaps the first in this world to practice the concept of universal love.

It might be a bit exaggerated, but if one had to describe it, he would be something like a fantasy Jesus.

“Lunifer. He says, ‘Good intentions do not necessarily lead to good results.’ He also added that rather than devices to reform sinners, you should make separate golems for such volunteers in the future.”

“Indeed, indeed! I understand, messenger of the great one! I shall follow those loving words!”

As “she” cautioned him to be more careful in the future, “her” master—I—was smiling pleasantly, recalling the reasons why he was so beloved.

“Well then, I shall take my leave now. Good work, Magician Lunifer Ficentrius.”

“Yes, messenger! May your day be filled with love!”

And so, as “she”—”her” master—I—bid farewell to Lunifer and departed for the divine realm, I suddenly felt the emotions others were sending my way and reflected:

At first, it was essentially about surviving after being caught up in an accident, but seeing people sending their love to “her” master—to me—like this…

‘……..I really need to work harder.’

It seems that even those without a purpose eventually find one.