Ch.7878. Black Sun (2)

In the massive cathedral of the Regalium Kingdom.

Lisia, who had been offering fervent prayers inside the facility, rose with a dazed expression.

‘Divine Power…’

The Divine Power that had been flowing abundantly throughout her body was now scattered.

She knew exactly what this meant, as this was now her second time experiencing it.

“F-Father God.”

There was no answer.

The absolute being who always gently made His presence known whenever she desperately called His name.

Now, nothing existed within Lisia.

A terrible emptiness.

Lisia lowered her posture as a chilling sensation came over her.

A cold wind blew through her heart.

“F-Father God.”

As if she had returned to infancy, Lisia curled up and desperately prayed inside.

That her immensely powerful God would return as if nothing had happened and preach light to everyone.

Or else—

“Ah.”

A trial.

Perhaps this was punishment for their excessive complacency.

A relationship that must be handled harshly and strictly because of love.

‘Was that it…!’

Lisia sprang to her feet.

And decided to leave the cathedral with determined steps.

Her purpose was singular.

To fully repay the love that Father God had bestowed upon them.

“Lisia!”

Suddenly, a familiar figure emerged from Lisia’s shadow.

Belladis Rocheria.

The redeemed vampire who shared in the Lord’s love.

“R-Right now! The Divine Power…!”

“Please calm yourself.”

“…Huh?”

Lisia was already prepared.

Prepared to spread the will of the Lord.

“Lady Belladis. We must prepare. We must prepare to receive deeper teachings and love by passing through the trials left for us—”

“What are you talking about… ah.”

Belladis, who had been looking at Lisia with an uncomprehending expression, soon gained an insight and felt elation.

“Is that it?”

“That’s it.”

“Ah, my love, my Father God.”

Belladis put her hands together in prayer, feeling overwhelming emotion.

This is a test for the foolish, and another form of love.

“So, it’s right for us to subdue those who are confused now.”

“Exactly.”

They understood each other perfectly.

It was a moment when the two believers’ hearts aligned without a single explanation.

“Then.”

As Belladis asked with a subtle expression, Lisia responded with eyes full of expectation.

“Now, we should hurry to implement the ‘stabilization’ of faith.”

“Yes.”

—Swoosh.

Belladis melted back into the shadows.

It was to use her movement ability to deliver this news to others who would likely be in confusion by now.

“Watch over me, Father God.”

Lisia offered a prayer with a confident face.

In this trial, she would never waver like before…!

#

While Father God was confronting the Incarnation of Dianon—

In the depths of a sinking consciousness.

The ideologies of two constellations clashed fiercely without a moment’s hesitation.

“Let go…!”

“Calm down.”

“Let go! Let me go and then we can talk!”

The Star Child instinctively blocked Black Sun.

“If I let go, you look like you’ll do something rash immediately.”

“So we just sit still?! The absolute being has disappeared! Do you think the others will just sit around?!”

Black Sun conveyed his words with an urgent expression.

The suddenly vanished presence of the absolute being.

In a world completely devoid of him, Black Sun felt an intense emotion he had never experienced before.

Emptiness.

The bond formed by the “system” had been severed with a unilateral notification.

As a victim of the absolute being, Black Sun knew better than anyone.

That this communication blackout was certainly ominous.

“Star Child: It’s an overreaction.”

“You know it too…!”

“Star Child: Yes. I know it well.”

The Star Child was one of the constellations who had witnessed his divinity most closely.

As a constellation with unique qualities, he could detect the absolute being’s specialness better than anyone.

“Star Child: He will return.”

“…!”

Hearing those words, Black Sun felt like he would die of frustration.

Having been far removed from the mortal world, the other seemed unaware of how serious the current situation was.

Even now, countless constellations would be watching for opportunities.

After all, the absolute being’s very existence had been a massive shackle for them.

“Star Child: Even so, what can you do?”

“…..”

“Star Child: Can you immediately interfere in the human world to stop other constellations’ activities? Or can you control the rapidly changing world through the power of the church?”

He couldn’t do anything.

No constellation could.

Rather, it was only possible because he was the absolute being.

Because his church had the highest rank among constellations and the most extensive forces.

“…That’s not all.”

“Star Child: Then what? What makes a constellation lose reason and act impulsively?”

Black Sun was greatly irritated by Star Child’s attitude, as if he had mastered everything.

“What about you?”

“Star Child: What do you—”

“Do you think you’ll be safe in this situation? Have you forgotten what position we’re in! We can’t survive without the absolute being!”

They had been borrowing Divine Power from the absolute being for their crumbling churches.

The amount was at least double what they had gathered through their activities.

“Star Child: Is that really why?”

“…What?”

“Star Child: We are eternal beings. With enough time, gathering that much faith power is not impossible.”

Star Child’s words weren’t wrong.

True to his nature, Star Child coldly examined Black Sun’s reaction.

Though agitated, his concern was clearly not about his own safety, but something on an entirely different level.

“Star Child: You miss the absolute being.”

“N-Nonsense…!”

“Star Child: Your mouth may deny it, but Divine Power is honest.”

The space composed of Black Sun’s existence rang with a whine.

Evidence that Star Child’s guess had hit the mark.

‘Me?’

No constellation hated the absolute being more than Black Sun.

During the chaotic era.

When all constellations desired the vacant position of the absolute being and waged holy wars.

The Incarnation of the Black Sun was the one who envied, was jealous of, and resented Ron, the Father God, to death.

‘I miss the absolute being?’

Currently, the absolute being had disappeared.

After leaving only an absurd message to wait, he had vanished into the eternal void with no indication of when he would return.

The probability of his return was slim.

—Throb.

“That’s impossible.”

“Star Child: It is possible.”

“Don’t lie…!”

“Star Child: Aren’t you the one lying to yourself?”

Star Child was confident in his conjecture.

Since becoming part of that mysterious “chat room” because of the absolute being, he had been able to check on Black Sun’s state whether he wanted to or not.

Black Sun was currently sad.

Because of the absence of the absolute being he had so hated.

‘Has he been… assimilated?’

This should be an impossible phenomenon.

It should never have happened.

But just as he had easily violated “Providence,” perhaps this time too he had bestowed an impossible phenomenon upon a constellation.

“I, I.”

“Star Child: Be clear. Do you miss the absolute being? Do you feel affection for him?”

“That can’t be.”

“Star Child: If you’re concerned about the absolute being’s wellbeing, I’ll gladly help. But if you have base intentions to take advantage of this situation, I’ll stop you here.”

Hearing those words, the Incarnation of the Black Sun fell into deep silence.

It was only after a short time that he made his decision.

#

“Absolute being…!”

“What the.”

At the unexpected visit, I was completely dumbfounded.

Glossy black hair, fair skin, a straight nose, and a slight blush on the cheeks as if waiting for a new groom.

That figure calling me with familiarity momentarily confused me.

“Black Sun?”

“Y-You’re back?”

“Of course I’m back.”

When I instinctively called the name, an affirmative response came back.

It was as if I had gone on a journey from which I might never return.

‘It was a long journey, though.’

The Incarnation of Dianon was a rare constellation I hadn’t even met in the game.

So even I was tense when facing her—

‘This is unexpected.’

It feels very unfamiliar.

Meeting Black Sun in the real world, not in the chat window, felt strange.

“Are you really Black Sun?”

“I-Is that important right now…?! Where have you been! Do you know how important you are…!”

Black Sun was crying.

This was also shocking enough to freeze my thoughts.

‘Has he forgotten our memories?’

Beyond my player days, even after the real possession.

I had diligently tried not to get unnecessarily attached to Black Sun.

I tormented him when I could, and irritated him when possible.

I never passed up such opportunities.

Even though he was a constellation I kept close and used—

We were once in a relationship where we fought to the death over each other’s territory.

—Thump! Thump!

“If you’re going to leave, you should tell me! What am I supposed to become when you disappear alone? Huh? What am I supposed to become?!”

“…Free?”

“What freedom?!”

Waaaaaah!

Black Sun, who had been shouting at the top of his lungs, buried his face in my chest and burst into tears.

‘Uh oh.’

The blade in his hand looks quite dangerous.

I was worried that he might suddenly swing what he was holding, unable to control his emotions.

—Buzz! Buzz!

“Star Child: It’s me.”

‘I already knew it was you. Why…’

“Star Child: In this case, absolute being, you are at fault.”

‘What?’

What nonsense is he talking about now.

The homeowner just came back from working his feet off, and now he’s talking about fault.

‘What? Why do I feel like I’m the bad guy?’

If I’m guilty of anything, it’s unknowingly completely converting(?) Black Sun.

I didn’t know he thought our relationship was this deep.

“Uh…”

The Emissary of the Sun, who was behind me, could only make a stupid sound, unable to take any action after seeing this scene.

“…!”

And seeing her, Black Sun suddenly jumped out of my arms and headed toward her, seething.

“You…!”

“Y-Yes?”

—Grab!

“Aaack!”

Then he firmly grabbed a handful of her hair and shook the Emissary of the Sun as if he would rip it out.

“If you all had done your job properly, this wouldn’t have happened! What were you doing?! With that ridiculous appearance as a divine vessel, what were you doing that you couldn’t even take care of the absolute being properly?!”

“Kyaaak! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Despite being a divine vessel, the Emissary of the Sun seemed to feel pain, begging for forgiveness in panic.

Nevertheless, Black Sun showed no intention of stopping the punishment.

“Wait.”

Only when I intervened directly did the situation finally come to a temporary halt.

I trapped Black Sun’s figure in my arms and kindly waited until he caught his breath.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Easy, easy…”

How on earth did it come to this?

Following Black Sun’s lead, I too felt like crying.