Chapter 396 - Divine Revelation (3)

# After the Divine Revelation

After receiving the divine revelation, I immediately rushed to Celeste and quietly finished my thoughts as I observed her current state.

'...She's in an extremely unstable condition.'

Just as I had expected.

She sat delicately on the floor with tears in her eyes, trembling with a confused expression.

Well, it was only natural.

Even in the original story, she defined the Sun God as a benevolent deity, and when the prophecy of destruction came, she fell into confusion and despair.

...How great must her sense of loss be now, after my words shattered her firm belief that the Sun God was purely good?

It probably feels like the ground she was standing on has collapsed.

And because of that.

Now was my opportunity.

At this moment when she felt deep despair toward the Sun God and was in a confused state, not knowing what to do.

...That is, at this most unstable moment.

This was my chance to guide her according to my will.

Everything I had done until now was for this very moment.

That's why I opened my mouth like this.

"Celeste."

"Why did we follow the Sun God?"

"...What?"

She responded with confusion to my question, which I had asked with a serious expression.

I quietly began to speak to her.

"The reason we followed the Sun God... was because he was a benevolent deity. Because he saved our lives, and we knew he would similarly save this world."

That's what I said.

Yes.

This was exactly what I had been whispering to her all along.

'We believe in the Sun God because he is a good god.'

...In truth, Celeste probably had no reason to believe in the Sun God. It was just blind faith.

But the moment I defined 'why we believe in the Sun God,'

She naturally came to accept those words. Like a suggestion.

That's how I created the premise.

We don't just believe in the Sun God.

We believe in him 'because' he is a good god.

And those words mean.

...If the Sun God is not a good god.

Then we don't have to believe in him.

"...Yes. But... but, sob. Egostic. I don't know anymore. I don't know what to do now..."

Still sitting on the floor with her knees pulled up, she clutched at me and sobbed with her head bowed.

Then Celeste began to tell me what had happened earlier, in a tearful voice.

"Egostic. Actually... the God came to me separately and spoke to me."

Celeste told me everything that had happened between her and the deity.

How the God told her to destroy this world until his descent, acting on his behalf.

That her purpose was solely to eliminate as many humans as possible, and that her abilities were bestowed not to save people but to slaughter them.

...And that she was ordered to eliminate those with the power of the stars.

"I don't know... Egostic. I don't know. What, sob, what should I do..?"

Seeing her completely broken down, clinging to me and asking that question.

"Celeste, please calm down first, okay?"

I carefully embraced her in my arms.

...Her condition seemed much more serious than I had anticipated.

It was enough to make my heart ache seeing the leader of villains who had been through everything now looking as vulnerable as a young girl.

Had she ever shown such a broken appearance before?

This must be.

...The reaction a person shows when the belief they've maintained their entire life collapses.

And before her.

"Sob..."

"Yes. Just calm down first, calm down."

With a sympathetic expression, I stroked the back of the woman sobbing in my arms.

I pretended to be thinking, with a stern expression, facing her.

As if I were contemplating something and struggling with it.

After maintaining that expression for a while.

"....Haah."

As if I had finally made a decision.

Looking at Celeste, I closed my eyes tightly.

With a determined expression.

I grabbed her shoulders and said:

"Celeste. Listen to me."

At my words, she raised her head with difficulty and looked up at me.

Looking at her dazzling silver hair and golden eyes filled with tears,

I began to speak calmly.

As if I had reached a conclusion after long deliberation.

With a firm resolve and certainty in my eyes.

I opened my mouth.

"Celeste. The reason we believed in the Sun God was because we thought he was a god for humanity."

"The Sun God would save the world just as he saved us. He was someone who thought only of humans, from ancient times until now, and only cared for us. Although he is not present in this world due to unavoidable circumstances, he would surely return someday to lead us again..."

"However."

"Now that we know he is not that kind of god at all... and even worse, he's trying to destroy the world out of pure malice, for unknown reasons."

"Should we really follow his words?"

"....What?"

At my words, she looked up at me with a confused expression, as if she had misheard, as if she couldn't understand what I was saying.

Now, this is the crucial part.

I continued speaking with the most serious expression possible, resolutely.

"...I don't think so."

"If the God is heading down the wrong path, and if we truly are his followers, then when the God is about to make the wrong choice, it is right to stop him even at the cost of our lives."

"Moreover, now that we know the God is not who we thought he was... and he's even trying to destroy the world while using you as a pawn."

"I think. We must stop the God."

"All of us together. The one who's trying to destroy humanity."

"I am convinced that we must stop him together."

After speaking intensely like that, I exhaled.

...Adding one last sentence at the end.

"...What do you think, Celeste?"

And to my words.

Celeste's reaction was...

"I, I..."

Looking up at me with teary eyes, she trembled, unable to continue her words.

She seemed even more confused by what I had said.

...However.

'...She's wavering.'

To me, who had suggested betraying the God she had served her entire life.

The fact that she was at a loss rather than getting angry.

I could tell that she was wavering right now.

In other words. I just needed to push a little more.

So.

Grab

I firmly took her hand.

With a quiet smile, I opened my mouth.

"Celeste. Do you remember what I told you before? That I would always be by your side. That I would always be on your side."

"...Yes."

"And... I also told you a few days ago. Even if the whole world turns against you, I alone will remain by your side. I will protect you against anyone."

"It seems the time has come to keep that promise."

"Celeste."

Looking into her eyes, I spoke with a serious voice.

"If I must face the God to protect you... I will face the God solely to protect you."

"To me, you are far more important than an invisible god."

"Until I die. For your sake, I will stand against the God and protect this world."

"...Celeste."

As I said this.

Quietly, brushing back the hair of the woman who was shedding a single tear.

With a gentle smile, I continued.

"When I asked why you believed in the Sun God... you answered like this. When everything in your life had collapsed, the God saved your life, so you began to follow him."

"And now... I. I will save you. I will protect you. I will become the new direction in your life."

"...So, please believe in me now. I promise I will save this world and correct the God who has gone astray."

"I will become the pillar you can rely on."

"Celeste... so please. Will you join me?"

I extended my hand as I said this.

The devil's whisper.

Yes. What I had been saying was essentially no different from the devil's whisper.

Don't think too deeply.

Rely on me.

I'll handle all the difficult things. Just rely on me... just depend on me.

We're not betraying the God. We're just correcting a God who has gone astray.

So, please join me.

In fact, I had devoted all my time since Kathedal for this very moment.

To make Celeste take my hand.

And then.

"....."

Celeste, who had been quietly listening with her silver hair hanging down and her head bowed since the middle of my speech.

Still keeping her head down so her face wasn't visible, she quietly murmured to me.

"...Egostic."

"Yes."

"Do you know how long I've believed in the Sun God?"

She said with an empty laugh.

"From my childhood until now. For decades, I've lived my entire life following only the God. How could I live according to his will? What would be for his sake? What would please him?"

"...Yes."

"So, if it had been the me of the past, when the God told me to destroy the world... I probably would have hesitated but eventually followed him. After all, I was reborn thanks to him, I am his body. Because I had an obligation to follow him."

"But... but now..."

As she said this.

She raised her head and looked up at me with reddened golden eyes.

Then, with a trembling voice, she confessed to me.

"...Only because of you, I'm throwing all of that away."

"You have to take responsibility for me... until the end. Everything. Understand?"

As she said this and took my hand.

I firmly interlaced my fingers with hers and said, looking into her eyes.

"Yes. I understand. I will absolutely take responsibility until the end."

...I said.

And so.

I finally succeeded in bringing Celeste, the biggest variable on the path to destruction, to my side.

***

And at that moment.

"....."

Stardus opened her eyes in an unfamiliar space.