[Did it really have to co to this?]
After making the Dark Spiritualist stay back to protect Aria and Eleanor, I took a stroll through what remained of the village with Stella.
Much like their dark past, the azure light that brightened the dawn faded away as the sun rose, hiding once again.
Instead of seeds, only smoldering embers flickered in the fields.
“…”
I didn’t answer Stella’s question. I simply kept my eyes fixed on the destruction I had caused.
The buildings’ skeletal fras stood tall.
And the half-burned furniture still remained in place, as if waiting for their owners to return.
Most of the blankets, beds, and clothing had been burned away, but surprisingly, so managed to survive the devastation.
[…]
As we walked through the scorched land, Stella eventually fell silent, simply trailing behind .
Despite witnessing reduce the entire village to ashes with her own eyes and hearing their curses and screams, she didn’t hesitate to remain by my side.
She didn’t reprimand or utter a word. Instead, she quietly kept her distance, following a few steps behind.
Was it a form of protest?
That was what I thought at first.
But as I listened to the steady sound of her footsteps and breathing, what I perceived was anxiety and concern.
She was worried about , following carefully and silently.
I stopped in front of the vast garden at the edge of the village, where seeds should have been sown and nourished by beads of sweat.
The remnants of the burned ash were carried by the wind, settling and rendering the land into sothing that could no longer be used.
“Stella.”
I called out to her cautiously as I gazed at the scene.
[Yes, Deus.]
Stella approached slowly and took in the sa view.
It seed like she was trying to read my thoughts and empathize with my feelings.
“In the world I ca from, there were those who said that no matter what you do, God will forgive you if you repent.”
[…]
“They said that even if you commit murder, rape, terrorism, or torture, God will forgive it all.”
[It is compassionate, yet cruel at the sa ti.]
It was just as she said. From the perspective of a perpetrator, the Savior was undoubtedly rciful, but from the victim’s point of view, the existence of such a god was truly cruel.
“I do not care about judging whether sothing is right or wrong. I have only known about it as knowledge but I have never had faith in them.”
[Praying to the gods doesn’t seem to suit you.]
Stella whispered with a faint smile. She wasn’t wrong. But at this very mont, I felt a strong urge to fold my hands in prayer.
“I just wanted to know the standard of forgiveness upheld by the goddess Hearthia you once served.”
[Hmm.]
I was expecting an imdiate answer, assuming it wouldn’t be difficult for her since she had probably explained it countless tis during her ti as the Saintess. However, to my surprise, Stella paused for a mont before responding with a faint smile.
[Does it really matter?]
“…”
[Surely the goddess Hearthia had her own standards for granting forgiveness. However, that’s no longer important.]
Clasping her hands together as if in prayer, Stella looked straight at .
[Because I’ve inherited her divinity.]
“That is blasphemy.”
[But it’s the truth.]
Until now, Stella had never deliberately claid with her own mouth that she had reached the status of a demigod.
Even after taking over Hearthia’s divine position, she continued to humbly pray to the gods and rescue others with her forr modesty.
[Deus, people who ask about forgiveness usually fall into two distinct categories.]
Though I could easily guess what she was about to say, I waited for her to continue.
[The first are those who have sinned.]
“…”
[The other is those who are about to sin.]
Her clear eyes seed to pierce directly into the abyss within .
For the first ti in a while, sunlight touched the emotions buried deep within my chest.
[Deus, those who seek forgiveness before committing a sin are unworthy of it.]
“What a sharp and cutting truth.”
Seeking forgiveness before committing a sin—
It ant they were completely aware that what they were about to do was sinful, yet had no intention of stopping.
[So, as one who holds a divine position, let make this clear: whatever you’re about to do, I will not absolve it.]
“…”
[The punishnt for your deeds will be severe, and the fiery judgnt will not waver due to personal feelings.]
“That is to be expected.”
Because Stella was that kind of person.
[However.]
As she cautiously continued, the expression on Stella’s face was sohow filled with sentintality. Her genuine sorrow was palpable.
[I will have tears in my eyes as I pass my judgnt. And I will beat my chest in anguish as I uncover each of your sins.]
“…”
[I will share the sa pain and endure the suffering alongside you because you are in my heart.]
Her confession was both piercingly sharp and unbearably heavy.
And at the sa ti, it was also more effective than any other words she could have spoken.
“You were truly born to be a Saintess.”
Just the thought of her suffering because of made want to abandon all my plans.
Was this her way of trying to reform ?
Stella chuckled softly and murmured.
[Counseling isn’t just about saying kind words. You have to feel it in your heart.]
Yet, even as she said this, Stella knew I wouldn’t yield and would continue forging ahead.
And yet, she didn’t press further.
Instead, she left with a blatant threat and persuasion: that my sins would beco her tornt.
With that, we spent a brief mont together before heading back to the place the villagers were gathered.
I had already sent word to Graypond that I, the Soul Whisperer, had returned, so it was likely soone would co to fetch us soon.
The villagers, along with the two bishops, would then be arrested and taken away.
[Thank goodness.]
Stella was now walking beside with seemingly lighter steps.
Describing a soul’s steps as being “light” sounded like nonsense, but she indeed carried that aura.
[For a mont, I thought you’d suddenly changed. I thought sothing might’ve shifted or corrupted you with all those other souls within you.]
“……Everyone probably assus that.”
Those who had witnessed this scene—like the Dark Spiritualist, Aria, and Eleanor—would inevitably misunderstand.
“I have created unnecessary misunderstandings.”
[You need to explain it to them properly.]
“That will be rather difficult.”
In the end, I’d not only have to explain the events but also the reason I caused them in the first place.
Yet, the words wouldn’t flow.
It would be particularly difficult to explain the situation to Aria and Eleanor—because I couldn’t find the words to say.
“I suppose it should be fine to tell the Dark Spiritualist.”
[…Or perhaps we should just keep it a secret between us?]
As she subtly asked the question, the Saintess from monts ago had sohow transford into a woman with a slightly mischievous glint in her eye.
It was good timing.
“Just rember, do not let Velica influence you. There is no need to follow her words blindly.”
[It’s not forced.]
“So, I see that you are speaking bluntly now that you have regained so freedom.”
[I’m not being blunt, though.]
“Stop behaving like a child.”
[I’m not a child.]
Stella pouted and glared at with dissatisfaction.
She glanced at my hand, her face turning bright red, before asking cautiously.
[By the way, Deus, w-when the opposite-sex touches you like that… how should I put it…]
“Do we really need to bring that up right now?”
Couldn’t we just let it pass like a midsumr night’s dream?
After all, the sleep demon and heat had intoxicated both of us and what happened was rely an extre situation.
[It was my first ti feeling sothing like that! When your hand touched my chest, I felt like there was this sudden electric shock… sothing intense.]
“Stella.”
[V-Velica called sensitive and teased about being a woman!]
“…Summon Velica here imdiately.”
I thought of giving her a proper scolding, but Stella, still blushing, continued talking.
[Is it true? It can’t be, right? I’m a Saintess, and a goddess now! I can’t be that… lascivious, right?]
“I have no idea.”
Unless I had touched soone else’s chest before, how would I know if she was sensitive or not?
I stomped off in frustration, but Stella continued following .
[Deus. Just one more ti… please.]
[Waaah!]
A loud, dramatic scream echoed from far away.
The Dark Spiritualist flew past Aria and Eleanor and charged straight at us while panting heavily.
[Am I being excluded? No, right? Now that Fluffy and Fluffy II are gone, you’re not planning to leave alone, are you?!]
“…”
[…]
[Why is no one answering ?! Deus, you’re not going to abandon , are you?!]
The Dark Spiritualist flailed wildly while floating midair, and then gradually, she began to spin in the air.
“Dark Spiritualist, start acting your age.”
I sighed as she spun around like a squirrel in a wheel. She began to pout and yelled.
[I won’t stop!]
Watching that, all the emotions that had been heating up a mont ago began to cool off.
***
sko-fi/genesisforsaken
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