Chapter 377 - Interrogation
"You. What exactly is your relationship with that woman called Stardust?"
Celeste's question, directed at me with a somewhat cold voice.
At those words, I thought, finally, here it comes.
'...Right. Of course she would have looked into Stardust more.'
As Stardust's strength became a hot topic, naturally word about her would have reached Celeste's ears.
In truth, Stardust wasn't yet at a level to be threatening to Celeste, but the problem was...
'Celeste knows that Stardust possesses the power of stars.'
That's why she can't help but be wary. Humans fear what is different from themselves.
...Still, the fortunate thing is.
'For now. Celeste doesn't know about the bad blood between the Sun God and the Star God.'
In other words, she only has an instinctive hostility because Stardust serves a different god... she can't possibly know Stardust's true identity.
And since I also possess the power of stars.
Here, a direct approach is the answer.
With that judgment in mind.
I smiled and opened my mouth.
"The relationship between a hero and a villain."
"That's not what I'm asking..."
"To be precise, she's a hero I'm trying to bring to our side. After all, she also possesses the power of stars like me."
At my words, she still looked at me with uncomfortable eyes.
"...So, you're close to her?"
"What? Well... depending on your perspective, I suppose. It would be good if she came to believe in the power of the sun too."
At my words, she nibbled her lips slightly.
Then, as if she had made up her mind, she looked into my eyes and said.
"Egostic. Do you like that woman?"
"..."
Celeste's offensive became even sharper.
Looking at her as she stared at me with golden eyes that seemed to pierce through me, I secretly swallowed and realized.
That if I didn't handle this properly now, it would become a big problem.
So, still smiling.
I carefully opened my mouth.
"...Who would I like?"
"I only have the Sun God who watches over humans like us... and you, Celeste, his spokesperson."
"She is merely someone I approach for the sake of our sun. I have no other interest or personal curiosity. I'm already busy focusing on Kathedal. Haha."
At my words, delivered without taking a breath, Celeste's face relaxed slightly.
Making up words on the spot made me feel a bit guilty toward Stardust, but I had no doubt she would forgive me for the greater good. If I had said "We're close enough to have kissed" right now, I would have been immediately branded a heretic and faced death...
"Ahem... Well, I understand. If that's the case."
Celeste answered, avoiding my eyes.
"Still, don't get too close to that woman."
"...Yes. I understand."
As she said this, her cheeks seemed to redden slightly.
'Did I get through this safely?'
While I thought that and felt relieved inside.
I noticed something that momentarily felt off.
But something's strange.
'...I thought she would probe about the power of stars or betrayal, but instead she focused on asking about my relationship with her.'
It was a subtle difference, but I took note of it. Celeste was too important to me, so I paid attention to even the slightest changes in her expression or tone.
Especially...
'Could it be that she's a bit jealous that I've been spending time with Stardust...?'
"..."
No, that can't be it.
I think it's absurd even as I consider it. The very thought seems problematic.
But if that's true...
"..."
That's good.
"...What are you looking at?"
Yes.
It was a good thing.
Because Celeste needed to like me even more than she does now.
"Ah. Haha. It's nothing."
"Hmph..."
Looking at Celeste who turned her head away from me with a slightly reddened face, I quietly thought.
I needed to get much closer to Celeste.
I had to make her depend on me.
To make her fall for me, rely on me, to the point where she couldn't live without me.
So that.
...When she has to choose between the Sun God and me.
She would abandon the god she had served her whole life and choose me.
'...It won't be easy.'
I thought as I played with my pen.
In fact, it wasn't just difficult. It was nearly impossible.
But.
I had to at least try.
If this method was the easiest way to save the world.
So.
I smiled and spoke to Celeste.
"...Ah. And Celeste."
"Yes."
"I've discovered another relic of the Sun God."
"...What?"
At my words, she raised her head from the documents she was looking at and opened her eyes wide.
Seeing Celeste like that, I chuckled and then asked her.
"So, would you like to go together? Right now."
"...Of course!"
She replied to me, seemingly a bit excited.
Wait, how did you find out about this?
...Let's go right away!
Looking at Celeste speaking like that, I grinned.
Good.
It was an opportunity to take our relationship one step further.
Plus... a chance to instill a certain 'mindset' in her.
With that thought, I quietly smiled and got up from my seat.
It was time to go to that place in Europe where the fourth relic of the Sun God was hidden.
***
"Here, this should be the place."
"..."
On a bustling European street.
Following Egostic's words, Celeste stood there and spoke with a blank expression.
"...You're saying a relic is hidden in this crowded place?"
Currently, she had taken off her saintess outfit and was wearing a plain T-shirt like other people.
With her long silver hair fluttering as she walked.
...Thanks to the recognition reduction applied to both of them that blocked the gazes of others, Egostic had also taken off his usual coat and mask, wearing a plain shirt as he smiled at her.
"Yes. Just trust me."
"Hmph..."
He spoke with such a confident voice.
Celeste quietly followed him as he walked ahead.
With a somewhat awkward feeling.
'...How long has it been since I walked down a street in such ordinary clothes?'
After hearing the voice of the god in her childhood, she had devoted all her energy to establishing an empire for him.
As such, it had been a long time since she had leisurely walked down a street full of people like this. Until then, she had always focused on serving the god in the prayer room during her spare time.
So.
With the sun shining down warmly from the sky, illuminating the street.
This space filled with the laughter and chatter of people.
Celeste was looking around with a feeling of experiencing something new.
Outside the cathedral, there were so many people living happily like this.
...This too must be the grace of the god.
With such thoughts, she unconsciously smiled warmly as she looked around, and then.
Looking at Egostic's back as he walked ahead, she fell into complex thoughts.
...This scenery too, I'm seeing it thanks to him.
He's such a strange man. That Egostic.
With such thoughts, she fell into reminiscence.
*
"You. What exactly is your relationship with that woman called Stardust?"
After careful consideration, the question she had asked.
At her words.
Egostic answered her without a moment's hesitation.
"The relationship between a hero and a villain."
"That's not what I'm asking..."
Just as her eyes were about to furrow at his obvious answer.
Egostic smiled and said this.
"To be precise, she's a hero I'm trying to bring to our side. After all, she also possesses the power of stars like me."
Hearing those words.
Celeste felt a twinge in her heart.
...Right. In the end, he's interested in her because she has the same power of stars.
Is there some kind of kinship between people who received power from the Star God?
It was absurd.
...He had told her that he was a believer of the Sun God. But in the end, what he cared about most was bloodline.
"...So, you're close to her?"
With a sense of betrayal, she asked in a cold voice.
Egostic, still seemingly without any thought, gave an ambiguous answer.
"What? Well... depending on your perspective, I suppose. It would be good if she came to believe in the power of the sun too."
'...'
So, he's been with Stardust for the past 5 years?
And that woman was pretty too.
Is that really all there is to it?
[Shocking! 401 Definite Reasons Why Egostic Likes Stardust!]
Somehow, the article she had seen the day before wouldn't leave her heart, and she felt a coldness inside.
"..."
Right.
I need to be clear about this.
...If it's true, Egostic might betray the Sun God and side with that woman who believes in the Star God. Yes. That's the only reason.
After rationalizing like that.
She then asked Egostic with cold eyes.
"Egostic. Do you like that woman?"
"...."
At those words, Egostic momentarily paused while still smiling.
Watching Egostic as he seemed to choose his words, Celeste's gaze grew increasingly cold.
'...I see. Egostic. In the end, he's just a man.'
He said he would live for the Sun God, but he's trying to side with the stars again because of a, a woman. That kind of man.
Yes. Somehow. I should have noticed when I saw him forcefully kissing me in the future. So this is the extent of it?
...This won't do. I need to do something about this woman called Stardust right away...
As Celeste was having such dangerous thoughts.
"...Who would I like?"
Egostic finally opened his mouth carefully.
At his words, as Celeste's attention returned to him.
Egostic casually delivered words that struck her heart.
"I only have the Sun God who watches over humans like us... and you, Celeste, his spokesperson."
...?
'W-what did he say?'
For a moment. Celeste wondered if she had misheard.
If not, did he really just casually say something as embarrassing as "I only have you, Celeste" right in front of her?
As Celeste was suddenly flustered.
"She is merely someone I approach for the sake of our sun. I have no other interest or personal curiosity. I'm already busy focusing on Kathedal."
Egostic drove the point home decisively.
Stardust is only someone he approaches for her sake. He has no other feelings... he made that clear.
Clear enough for Celeste to feel reassured.
"Ahem... Well, I understand. If that's the case."
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she turned her gaze away from Egostic.
Then, unconsciously smiling to herself, she quietly thought.
Yes... Egostic only has her. How many people have been chosen by the Sun God?
...Egostic. He should only be by her side. That's the most fitting place for him.
Therefore.
Celeste quietly spoke to Egostic.
"Still, don't get too close to that woman."
Because he belongs to her.