Chapter 379 - Allowing It To Seep In Slowly

The world of the original work describes the setting of the gods like this:

In the beginning, there were three gods.

They descended to the world of humans and guided them with benevolent hearts.

One god gave strength.

Another god gave knowledge.

The last god gave love.

And so, these three gods who guided humans...

The ancient people called them by comparing them to what was most familiar to them in nature.

...And as the gods affirmed these names,

They were called thus from then on.

The Sun God.

The Moon God.

And the Star God.

These three gods who guided humans...

...suddenly disappeared one day.

Having erased all records of themselves. Forgotten by everyone.

Why did the gods suddenly leave?

And why, after countless ages, has the Sun God returned now to destroy this world?

"..."

The reason isn't explained in detail in the original work.

...Actually, that's not what's important right now anyway.

What matters is that the Sun God is the final boss of the original work who will destroy this world.

"...I wonder why this part was erased."

Inside the Sun God's ruins.

I had such thoughts as I watched Celeste looking at the mural with a contemplative expression.

Celeste.

The Sun God's Saintess.

In truth, the young girl knew nothing about the god despite being called the Sun God's Saintess.

But one day.

She was chosen by the god.

She heard the god's voice.

She received the god's power.

She was commanded by the god's oracle to pacify the world with her ability.

...Although the god revealed nothing about itself except that it was the Sun, and the god's voice was never heard again afterward.

She had discovered this much about the god through her own efforts.

That's because she believed her life had been saved by the god.

Celeste. She truly, sincerely believed in the god.

Something only possible because she was genuinely a saintess chosen by the god—beyond what could be summarized as mere fanaticism.

But even someone like her.

In the original work, when the god declared it would destroy the world... when the god's judgment filled the sky.

'...My god. Why...'

Even she had struggled with doubt.

Whether it was right to follow his path of destruction.

But in the end.

...Because she had blindly followed the god from the beginning. Because the god was everything to her... the outcome was predetermined.

'...I understand. If that is the god's will.'

In the original work.

She made that decision with lifeless eyes.

From that day on.

The world villain alliance Kathedal changed its course from world domination to world destruction.

Becoming Stardust's greatest enemy in protecting the world.

And.

I was trying to prevent that from happening.

"Egostic? Are you listening to me?"

'...Surely. Even the original Celeste hesitated about destroying the world.'

If I stay by her side now.

Surely. I can change her choice, can't I?

In the original work. Even she, who blindly followed the god without knowing anything about it, felt extreme betrayal when she learned the god's true intentions.

If she learns, like now, that the god of the past was good... if she believes the god is good...

The sense of betrayal when she learns the truth would be indescribably greater, wouldn't it...

"...Can't you hear me? Hello?"

While I was lost in these thoughts.

A somewhat irritated voice came from somewhere.

Only then did I snap back to reality and notice Celeste looking up at me with her arms crossed and a slightly annoyed expression.

"...Haha. I'm sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. What were you saying?"

"Hmph... thinking about something else when I'm right in front of you. Anyway, look at this."

She turned her head and pointed to a character written next to the mural.

Among the ancient Latin text, several parts were defaced in black.

"The Sun God resolved conflicts together with the God of ■■ and the God of ■■..."

I tilted my head as I read it.

...I don't think I saw this mural in the original work.

"I think those parts should be the Moon God and the Star God... but they're erased."

"...Yes. Since this is the Sun God's temple, I suppose the other gods aren't important enough, so it wouldn't matter if they were erased..."

But was it necessary to deface the original text to that extent?

...It was puzzling, but since there was nothing more to learn, I decided to move on.

In this way, we explored the Sun God's ruins together, walking slowly.

We discussed what these inscriptions might mean, interpreted the murals in our own ways, and talked about what kind of being the Sun God might be.

Before we knew it, we had almost reached the end of the ruins.

"...Today was quite enlightening."

In the final corridor.

Celeste said with what seemed like a joyful expression.

"I've learned that the god actually existed in the past, and what kind of being they were. Now I can say I've truly taken a step closer to dedicating myself to them in the true sense."

She murmured, looking at the ceiling with golden eyes that had been glowing for some time.

Standing beside her.

...I too smiled and replied.

"Yes. It's truly fortunate. Soon the Sun God will descend, so only good things will happen from now on. Perhaps the world will become a better place."

In reality, I knew the world wouldn't become better, and the god only intended to make it worse.

But I spoke as if I sincerely believed without doubt that the god would make this world better.

As if the god "should" do so.

As I was saying this, at the final chamber visible at the end of the ruins.

In front of it.

Celeste, who had been silent at my words, cleared her throat, stopped walking, and spoke.

"...And. All of this today is thanks to you, Egostic. Thank you. I wouldn't have been able to discover this place on my own."

Looking at her as she spoke with a slightly awkward voice, avoiding my eyes...

...or rather, speaking in a voice that tried to hide her embarrassment. I was slightly surprised.

That Celeste would thank me first like this?

Of course, she seemed uncomfortable saying it herself... but still, this must mean she's opened up to me quite a bit.

Then, I should respond in kind.

For greater affinity.

Looking at Celeste, I smiled and said.

"Haha. It's nothing. Aren't we the only two in this world bound by the same choice of the Sun God? So Celeste... as fellow believers, it's only natural that I help you.

"...So I'll always be by your side. I'll always help you. I'll be on your side, Ms. Celeste. So if you ever need anything or need help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Because I need to stay by your side and continue to influence your ideology with my own.

I said with a smile, hiding such thoughts.

And to my words.

"...The same, Sun God."

After murmuring that for a moment.

"Fufu. Is it because I'm the Sun God's Saintess?"

She answered me with a smile.

...Hmm.

Yes. Here, I should say this.

"No. That's part of it, but..."

I said, turning to her with a grin and continued.

"Celeste, being by your side... I've come to quite like you."

That wasn't a lie.

The more I stayed by her side, the more hope I had.

The hope that the current her... could deny the god and realize what the right path is.

"Even without the god, I want to stand by your side and see what path you walk."

At the moment of judgment, what path she would choose to take.

I. Had to see it.

And to my words.

She widened her eyes in surprise for a moment.

...Then with a faint smile, she said to me.

"...Thank you, Egostic."

As she said that.

...Unlike her usual self, she looked quite cute.

***

Finally arriving at the final chamber of the ruins.

There, a white golem-like figure was placed.

"This seems to be the god's relic that this temple was keeping."

I said, looking at the weapon embedded in the wall.

One of the Sun God's weapons that provokes those who see it and draws out their anger.

Since I had only seen it as a setting in the original work, this was my first time seeing it in person too.

Despite looking like a rough lump of white stones clumped together, it somehow emanated a sacred aura.

"Wow..."

As Celeste's eyes sparkled at the sight, unlike her usual self.

I chuckled and pointed at the golem, saying.

"Ms. Celeste. Go ahead and awaken it."

"...Huh? Me? ...What about you?"

"I think it's more appropriate for you to take it, Ms. Celeste. Haha. What would I do with a sacred relic? ...Besides, you're my boss. I should yield to you."

I said with a smile.

...In truth, since I'm a fake spy of the Star God, nothing would happen even if I touched it. What's there to be afraid of?

Of course, not knowing this, she seemed somewhat moved, probably thinking I was yielding the relic to her again.

"...Yes, if that's the case, gladly."

With those words.

She approached the golem and quietly placed her hand on it.

Then with a flash of white light.

Whirring

The golem began to move, synchronized with Celeste.

"Oh! It worked, Egostic!"

And as Celeste rejoiced at this sight.

I quietly watched her.

Good. According to plan.

The fourth sacred relic that would become the cornerstone of destruction.

The relic that someday, Celeste would destroy with her own hands.