Ch.8686. Pat

“Wait, wait a moment!”

“What?”

“D-Divine Power, you created new Divine Power! How is that even…!”

Divine Power is essentially the inherent property of a constellation.

For one constellation, there exists only one Divine Power.

That was the way of the world, an unchanging truth and immutable law.

The Incarnation of Dianon couldn’t understand the Absolute One’s words at all.

“What do you mean how? I just did it.”

“Huh…?”

“Instead of wasting time, let’s come up with a plan.”

The Absolute One spoke while looking at the dumbfounded Incarnation.

Even now, somewhere in the world, conspirators targeting his forces and the Incarnation of Dianon would be operating in the shadows.

First, they needed to quickly identify who these people were.

-Whoosh!

The Absolute One pulled out a mass of Divine Power.

“Put it in.”

“Huh…?”

“Your Divine Power, put it in here.”

Since he had created something new, it would be a waste to leave it just for his alt character in Dungeon City.

The Absolute One decided to make full use of the Black Abyss power on this occasion.

「Child of the Lost Star: Absolute One.」

‘Oh, hey.’

Star Child, who had been silent for a while, sent a message.

This was perfect timing.

Since they created this power together, he should explain things in advance.

「Child of the Lost Star: Are you going to use the power of Black Abyss?」

‘Yes. The situation calls for it.’

「Child of the Lost Star: This could potentially reveal the Absolute One’s identity.」

The Past Remnants that flowed in from the past.

Of course, things wouldn’t progress as easily as they had with other constellations.

‘I still have to do it.’

With the world potentially turning upside down, he couldn’t just sit still.

‘I can always create another alt character.’

The constellations probably didn’t understand.

That users from certain countries are prepared to discard and recreate accounts as many times as necessary to get what they want.

「Child of the Lost Star: I understand.」

‘Good.’

For a moment, he wanted to ask about Black Sun, but decided to postpone it.

He chose to focus on solving the immediate problem first.

“Absolute One?”

“Yeah.”

I looked at the Incarnation of Dianon while still holding the Divine Power.

She was still hesitating, reluctant to put her power in.

“What are you doing?”

“Um… well, that’s…”

“Don’t you want to catch those remnant things or whatever? Or do you want to just stay here and die?”

“That’s not it…!”

“Instead of wasting time thinking, hurry up and put your Divine Power in.”

“…Can you really handle this?”

“If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

Who am I?

The Absolute One with the highest progression in the ‘Ragnarok’ server.

The being beloved by all believers and feared by constellations.

That’s me.

“If I put my Divine Power in, it’s going to draw an insane amount of aggro…”

“It doesn’t matter since it’s just an alt character.”

“Ah.”

The Incarnation of Dianon finally seemed to realize something, her expression surprised.

“So that unusual Divine Power you used in Dungeon City was this?!”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you had kidnapped another constellation and were exploiting them…!”

“That makes me sound like some evil corporate boss.”

“…?”

Faced with her expression that seemed to ask if that wasn’t the case, I responded with an indifferent gaze.

「’Source of the World’ is interfering with your Divine Power-Black Abyss. Will you allow it?」

After casually accepting, an alien power began to infuse the Divine Power I was holding.

‘Hmm.’

Watching another constellation’s power continuously infuse into the Divine Power I had prepared, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

At this rate, I might even be able to create entirely new constellations.

‘Nah.’

I must be going crazy from playing constellation for too long.

Creating a new life form? Ridiculous.

“It’s, it’s done.”

“Oh, okay.”

I snapped back to reality at the call of the Incarnation of Dianon, who had finished putting in all her Divine Power.

-Whoosh…

The Divine Power of the new resident gently enveloped the Black Abyss Divine Power.

From the outside, it clearly appeared to be the Divine Power of a constellation with a secretive relationship with the Source of the World.

「The power of ‘Source of the World’ has successfully infused into the ‘Black Abyss’ Divine Power!」

「You can now use a new form of power.」

When I quickly opened the menu to check, I saw abilities similar to those of other constellations.

Blessings, curses, mental interference, and so on.

The same constellation flavor I was used to seeing.

“How is this even possible?”

“If you do it, it works.”

Looking at the Incarnation who still couldn’t understand what was happening, I withdrew my power with a satisfied feeling.

‘How can anyone resist this?’

Even I think this is a perfect bait.

Any other constellation would probably pounce on it immediately.

It’s none other than a trace of the Source of the World.

The moment someone gets even a clue of it, they can wield tremendous influence.

“I’m going now.”

“…Huh? Already?”

“Yes, already.”

A look of disappointment crossed the pretty Incarnation’s face.

An ordinary person might have been tempted, but knowing her true nature, I only felt chills.

‘I want to play with my filial daughter.’

I wanted to run dungeons together, bestow blessings, and even craft mythic-grade equipment for her.

「Do you wish to leave the ‘Other Side World’?」

‘Yeah.’

“I’m leaving.”

Even until the moment I left the Other Side World, the Incarnation of Dianon stared at me intently.

‘Why is she like that?’

I hope she would stop showing unnecessary interest.

After this is all over, I’m really going to live however I want.

#

“Lisia.”

“Father God…!”

At a time when everyone was busy moving around,

I called Lisia aside.

“Is everything progressing well?”

“Yes, we’re currently relaying information to our people spread across various countries, and we should be ready to follow Father God’s instructions soon…!”

“Yes, good. You’re working hard.”

A moment of silence.

As Lisia stood there fidgeting while looking at me, I spoke again.

“Are the kids doing well?”

“The kids… Oh.”

My believers.

The purpose for enjoying Ragnarok, and now practically my identity.

“Belladis is organizing her knights, Leyden is demonstrating holy magic with the high priests, and the other apostles…”

Familiar names came from her full lips.

All names of believers I had diligently farmed.

Hearing them made me feel at ease, my mind clearing.

At least it was much better than listening to stories about constellations.

“Everyone’s doing well.”

“Yes, yes.”

“But.”

“…?”

“Why do you look so anxious?”

Knowing my filial daughter’s usual demeanor, I didn’t miss even the subtlest change.

Her expression and gestures suggested she was expecting something.

When I asked, Lisia jumped in surprise and raised her head.

“N-No, not at all!”

“Come on, that’s not true.”

I wondered what it could be.

What could make her feel anxious despite my presence here?

There was no need to think too deeply about it.

“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to tell me.”

“Father God. I absolutely did not have any disrespectful thoughts. It’s just, just…”

“Just?”

“Just…”

She was hesitating considerably.

“A-Actually, it is a disrespectful thought…!”

“…Pardon?”

“Could you please pat my head?!”

The red-haired filial daughter shouted after gathering all her courage, as if she had made a huge decision.

Fortunately, we were the only ones here.

If others had been present, their faith in me might have been quite shaken.

‘Pat her head, what?’

I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected request for physical contact.

“Ah!”

Having blurted it out, Lisia seemed to belatedly realize the situation and took a step back.

“I, I must have gone mad for a moment…! I’ll go to the punishment room!”

What punishment room?

Did we even have such a thing in our sanctuary?

Anyway, I grabbed Lisia as she was about to do something drastic.

“Wait.”

“Y-Yes, Father God.”

“You want me to pat your head? It’s not like it’ll wear out.”

Wouldn’t it usually be the opposite that’s embarrassing?

It’s not an everyday opportunity to touch the crown of such a beautiful woman.

-Swish, pat.

“…Ah.”

So I stroked her head slowly, like touching a tense small animal, to avoid startling her.

Her fine hair brushed between my fingers.

Her eyes, which had been filled with guilt, widened in surprise, then trembled as if unable to find their bearings.

“This much is nothing special.”

“…”

“But why did you suddenly think of this?”

“Y-Yes… I mean, no. That-“

She said there was a time when believers were talking among themselves.

The direct blessing I had given to Belladis.

Lisia had truly envied such an opportunity.

From a believer’s perspective, there was nothing more glorious than contact with their sect’s constellation, so it wasn’t that strange.

‘I should pay more attention.’

That thought suddenly occurred to me.

Recently, it felt like I had been caught up in one thing after another without rest.

“When this is all over. Look forward to it.”

“L-Look forward to what, may I ask?”

“Yeah.”

Parting with Lisia, who was filled with a strange anticipation, I decided to focus more seriously on the sect’s affairs.

#

-The work.

-Is progressing smoothly.

-Any pursuit?

-They know to be afraid, so they’re hiding thoroughly and not coming out.

In the deep, deep darkness, the Past Remnants whispered.

-We’ve brainwashed several believers with constellation power and brought them to our side.

-Did they follow easily?

-They know they’re next if they don’t.

If not stopped, the world would perish.

An authority too unreasonable for one being to possess.

The beings sought to take away that authority and set the world right.

That’s why they bound their souls to this land, abandoning their dignity as constellations.

-Everything is for the world’s continuation.

The beings spoke in unison.

They swore terrible revenge on the one who had made them this way.

And not stopping there, they vowed to show such hell to any constellation that defended such an evil god—

That they would beg to be annihilated.