Ch.9696. The Karma of Constellations

After that, Lisia’s fashion show continued.

A beautiful qipao with the sides of her thighs fully exposed, clothes strangely resembling modern street fashion, and then going even further—

“M-my Lord.”

Lisia, her cheeks flushed red, looked at me with subtle eyes.

“…”

I could only stare blankly at the sight before me.

White flowers blooming brightly on the hem of the skirt.

A design that perfectly enhanced the inherent feminine beauty.

And the soft silk veil gently placed on her head.

—A wedding dress.

I never imagined I’d see Lisia like this in my lifetime.

‘I would have really missed out if I hadn’t seen this.’

Today.

I can proudly say this time rivals any experience I’ve had until now.

Responding to Lisia’s embarrassed demeanor, I strongly felt as if this luxury clothing store had transformed into an actual wedding venue.

Even the attendant helping Lisia with her outfit lost her words, busy taking in the beautiful sight.

Though it would be understandable if she felt uncomfortable with others’ gazes besides mine, Lisia’s attention was focused solely on me.

「The devotee, ‘Lisia,’ is extremely happy!」

Setting aside the status window that arbitrarily transmitted the devotee’s emotions, I took one step.

And with the second step, I reached Lisia’s side.

“H-how do I look?”

“Not that.”

“P-pardon…?”

“Speak more comfortably.”

“B-but—”

“I want to hear it. Lisia.”

“…Ah.”

Her moist eyes turned toward me.

Her red lips, hesitating for a moment, carefully parted.

“Father God, my eternal love, my light, and…”

“Lord… Ron.”

The devotee willingly spoke my name.

In that moment, it felt like the world was born anew.

“…”

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

I want to see this sight again.

It was a series of moments so intense that I unconsciously wished for it strongly.

‘Why only now?’

I had been entangled with too many dark constellations all this time.

Of course, some constellations became kinder while being with me, but my most fundamental happiness was…

When I saw our devotees like this.

“I’m happy.”

“…!”

“Are you okay, Lisia?”

“I, I am.”

Once again, hesitation seemed to trouble Lisia.

Though I already knew her feelings somewhat forcibly, I wanted to hear it properly from her own lips.

Are you truly happy in this moment?

“Deathly.”

The devotee who always looked at the same world as me from one step behind.

“I’m deathly happy.”

Now she approached me with courage.

Her eyes were filled with moisture.

That didn’t seem to be the result of shame.

“I have so many things I couldn’t say to Father God all this time.”

“…”

“When you suddenly disappeared from the world, I remembered all the things I couldn’t do for you, Father God. Each day was so painful. Impiously, I wondered if I was being abandoned.”

I remember when I first met Lisia.

In an abandoned prayer hall where no one came, she was praying solemnly, calling my name.

Without my precarious intervention, she would have truly been in mortal danger from the apostles of the Black Sun.

“What sin did you commit? It was all my fault.”

“N-no. If we had been proper devotees, Father God would have… would have…”

Lisia hesitated again.

It seemed as if she was filtering her words several times, wondering if what she was about to say would sound pleasant to me.

I didn’t want to act like some macho guy telling her not to worry about such things.

“Such things won’t happen again.”

“…!”

I simply conveyed with confidence that I would become a better constellation tomorrow than I am today.

That, I think, is the greatest apology a constellation can offer to their devotee.

A handful of sorrowful emotions flowed from Lisia’s eyes.

It wasn’t intentional—she seemed unable to control it due to the emotional impact.

“Huh…?”

Surprised at herself, Lisia hurriedly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

I was overwhelmed again by the sight before me.

A red-haired filial daughter in a wedding dress, shedding happy tears.

It created the impression that only she and I existed in this space.

“When everything is over. I’ll stay here.”

“Ah…”

“If Lisia and the other devotees are okay with it, I’ll stay by your side.”

“I-I will serve you until death…!”

Seeing Lisia’s bold declaration, courage welled up in me once more.

#

After surveying the main base of the Father God’s Order at the Sanctuary, I still had one more task remaining.

“Kalisa.”

“I greet the great master of ten thousand races, Father God.”

In a dragon shrine located in a vast volcanic region where ordinary humans couldn’t even breathe due to the extreme heat,

Kalisa respectfully welcomed her master.

“Have you been well?”

“Under Father God’s protection, I’ve been living happily day by day…”

To hear such words, I hadn’t paid enough attention to Kalisa.

‘Karma stack 1.’

When everything is over, I have many devotees to look after.

If constellation incarnations are included, it seems like my days will be increasingly busy.

“You could have come over to our side. Weren’t you lonely?”

“With Father God’s love and presence fulfilling my heart, how could I shiver from mere solitude?”

The attention is excessive.

“Later, organize your things and come to the Sanctuary.”

“But…”

“Come.”

Sometimes it’s necessary to push firmly.

If I don’t strongly intervene, she might stay alone in this lonely and desolate place until the end of her life.

With a dragon’s lifespan extending into thousands of years, I absolutely cannot let her live like that.

I need to send her on vacation, let her do what she wants.

She might wander, not knowing what to do, like Lisia did, but I’ll be there to help.

“Anyway, have you heard about the Past Remnants?”

“Yes. I will burn those wicked beings who seek to harm Father God, even if it costs me my life.”

“You don’t need to go that far.”

Loyalty in heart is enough.

“We’re roughly estimating when they’ll attack, but we haven’t confirmed how large their forces will be. And where they’ll enter from.”

I don’t think they’ll simultaneously open gates to the Otherworld all over the world.

Of course, even if they do.

‘We have the Visitor.’

With the original alien cuisine master ‘Visitor,’ we can cover that much.

“Then…”

“For now, Kalisa, guard this place. I’ll keep watching.”

Even when separated from an incarnation, I can continuously check the status of devotees through the system.

This means I can adequately respond even in unexpected situations.

“I shall obey.”

“Don’t obey too much.”

“…?”

“It’s nothing.”

Actually, I do have something in mind.

What I want to do after all this is over—

“Um… and.”

It might be awkward to ask now, but pure curiosity arose.

“How is the Lord of Dragons doing?”

“…!”

Kalisa flinched as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.

“Do not worry. Sometimes he comes in crying uncharacteristically for a constellation, but he has never harbored ill intentions.”

“…He’s still doing that?”

“Shamefully, yes…”

He must have really liked this devotee back in the day.

I didn’t expect him to still be mentally suffering.

‘You should have treated her better.’

He used to take her for granted when she was his devotee, but now that she’s with someone else, he regrets it.

‘Come to think of it, that’s quite annoying?’

“Kalisa. Next time he comes, tell him you’re happy being by my side. With sincerity.”

“A-alright…!”

A faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks.

If possible, I’d like to witness it.

If he’s going to suffer, he should suffer artistically so he won’t think of coming again.

“Aren’t there other dragons there?”

“It seems… I was the only candidate he had in mind.”

“No, then. He should have treated you better.”

Since there’s no chance of getting Kalisa back, it’s become unfortunate for him.

So he can suffer, constantly reflecting on his foolish behavior.

If not that, there’s the option of converting to our order.

At least then he could see Kalisa being happy from a distance.

“Don’t you ever want to go back?”

“Absolutely, absolutely not.”

“Oh… I see.”

I asked playfully, but the answer seemed filled with desperation, as if begging me never to ask again.

“Now there’s really not much time left.”

Fortunately, the timing is appropriate.

At least I had the leisure to spend time with our devotees before the big event.

‘My Object level has somewhat recovered, and this should be enough to handle things.’

The Sword Saintess and Hero in the Regalium Kingdom will also have a foundation to contribute to this matter.

—Absolute Being.

And finally, the news I’ve been waiting for started to arrive.

“Let’s end this now.”

Past Remnants.

Those villains who couldn’t let go of their attachments to the previous world.

From this moment on, I decided to grant them true rest.