Chapter 578
The sun went out. The sky collapsed, and the foliage burned.
My world, my entire world, has perished.
“How do you feel, Young Master? Are you enjoying this!?”
“Bwaaaaah!”
“Since you seem to be having a good time, I’ll run even faster!”
“Augh!”
I dash forward, carrying Pedi in a cloth, flanked by the stingy and jealous ones alongside Titi, who races beside us.
Surrounded by three quadrupedal beasts, Pedi beams with joy.
‘This can’t be happening.’
I feel like my heart is being ripped apart. I should be in that spot. I endured countless tears in my pants’ knees, bravely facing the peculiar gazes of my family and servants, and prepared to embrace the tragedy of crawling alongside Pedi.
This was the laughter I earned after all that effort. I was definitely a father, playing happily with my son, loved by him.
But why are you all in that spot? Why? Why are those pathetic evil gods taking my place?
‘It should have been me first.’
I bit my lip and glared at the stingy and jealous ones. I could understand Titi, part of our family who had originally played with Pedi, but I couldn’t accept those two stealing his side.
“That spot was mine…”
“Isn’t it jealousy that drives that guy? Why is the owner acting like this?”
A quick glare at Pride made him scamper away like a frightened chicken.
Damn that chick. If it only looked like a chicken, I would’ve fried it ages ago.
‘Was it a mistake to pick them up?’
I couldn’t help but think that. Those vile beings daring to rob a father of his child’s laughter. Isn’t this evil god supposed to be malevolent enough to do such heinous things without a second thought?
Yet I couldn’t just release them now. I had already received a command, or rather an order, from the Emperor to manage them, and my ladies sighed in resignation. Most importantly, if I were to abandon them now, it might earn me Pedi’s disfavor.
What a terrifying dilemma. Keeping them in the house would mean losing my son’s affection, but abandoning them would mean earning his resentment. A hopeless dilemma no matter how I spun it.
“It’s all Cal’s fault.”
“Well, that much is true…”
I hung my head heavily at Mar’s subtle criticism.
That much was correct. This was a disaster of my own making. It’s my fault for being swayed by the idea that I could make use of them in the future.
“On the bright side, though, Pedi has been growing, and his stamina has increased, but thanks to them, he can now play until he’s exhausted.”
Mar, perhaps feeling pity for my situation, gently rested her head on my shoulder and whispered.
That was definitely a silver lining. An infant’s energy isn’t something an adult can handle, and with Krasius and Valenti’s blood running through him, Pedi is practically an engine of endless energy. There were times when the entire estate’s staff would feel overwhelmed just trying to keep up with him.
But now, with eleven evil god companions added in? Pedi’s endless energy might actually be manageable. After all, they were supposedly former gods and should have decent stamina themselves.
“This place will get lively once the triplets start crawling too.”
Suddenly imagining Pedi, Titi, the evil gods, and the triplets all racing around the mansion made me chuckle.
What a ruckus it would be! If that day comes, how much chaos and how many laughs will fill this estate?
‘Good thing I picked them up.’
I sighed in relief at the realization of having eleven evil gods around.
Pedi, the triplets, and all the countless little ones yet to come.
If we were just playing with the kids ourselves without these formidable evil gods, the mansion would have turned into complete chaos every day!
As time went on, the evil gods became integrated into the mansion.
Initially, the servants were wary of the talking beasts—the oldest worries and sins of this world, the ones unjustly banished from the estate alongside the owner. Frankly, it would have been stranger if they accepted it without caution.
But the evil gods voluntarily assisted the servants with their tasks, easing their mistrust.
“You just need to move this to the room of the second lady.”
“Got it.”
For instance, when a servant was loaded with items, the evil gods would step in, helping carry things on their backs.
“Where did the scissors go…?”
“Looking for these?”
“Oh, yes, that’s the one!”
If something was needed, they would dash off to retrieve it in a flash.
“How is it? Is it good?”
“Get out of my way, you newbies! I’m eating all of this!”
“No way, you have eleven mouths, you brat!”
Their playful antics in the kitchen, showcasing extreme reactions when trying out different dishes, blurred the lines between them being evil gods or simple companions.
Honestly, Titi feels like she’s multiplied to twelve now. We could just call them Titi and her kids at this point.
“Isn’t it nice for you, too, to have more companions?”
—Woof!
I stroked Titi, who happily barked, while gazing at the evil gods with their heads buried in bowls.
Yeah, those guys are just Titi’s “kids.” Titi is a precious child gifted by the situation, already swaddled in love from our family and the servants. Even though they can’t speak our language like the others, that doesn’t sever the bond between her and us.
So naturally, I can only see the evil gods as Titi’s accessories, her gaggle of kids. In fact, Titi was majestically controlling the evil gods with her bulk.
“If they misbehave, let me know anytime.”
—Woof Woof!
I chuckled at Titi’s affirmation of comprehension.
Not being able to speak human language isn’t an issue at all. We can communicate at heart.
*
Having completed my pilgrimage to the Holy Sites, we ventured through the Kingdom of Lucen, the Kingdom of Stinie, and the Kingdom of Northgor—collectively known as the winter trio.
Now, I should be heading south to the Kingdom of Rutis or the Kingdom of Bazhen—
“Next, we will head to the Empire.”
Suddenly, I altered our trajectory to head towards the Empire.
It was the obvious choice. Our Lord himself blessed the continent with good tidings, and that very protagonist resides in the Empire. Not only that, but he’s someone I’ve known for three years.
As much as I wanted to rush there the instant I heard my Lord’s voice, I bit my tongue. Since we were already in the Kingdom of Lucen, it was only right to visit all the holy sites there, and since I was in Lucen, I had to visit the other winter countries too. Those three nations, despite frequent exchanges, have always harbored rivalry.
‘I can’t let the future saint show favoritism toward any specific country.’
I had begun the pilgrimage as a means to calm the chaos of the Council, and creating new sources of conflict during the holy pilgrimage would be the epitome of foolishness.
In truth, interest concerning the Council quickly waned, rendering the pilgrimage meaningless.
‘My brother is truly one of a kind.’
A wry smile crept onto my face as I thought of my brother in the Empire. I’ve seen many people as the future saint, but none have been as unique or whimsical as he.
He benignly dons the sky, brutally pounds the nobility, collects every academy graduate, and now seeks to eliminate the continent’s oldest worries and sins. It’s hard to believe that such deeds come from a single person and certainly not the kind of behavior I would expect from someone in a position of power.
But what can I say? He may be peculiar, but he isn’t wicked. He doesn’t seem to be a devout believer, but he isn’t a heretic who denies the Lord either.
He’s just a peculiar fellow, dedicated to his role while causing all sorts of strange events.
…Hmm.
“Dear sister.”
“Yes, brother? What is it?”
“What do you think the kids would like?”
The unexpected question made Sister Alexandria flinch slightly.
“A, a kid… you say?”
“When we visit the Empire, I’ll finally be meeting my brother—who has four children, after all. It’s only courteous to prepare some small gifts.”
“Oh, you mean the Blessed Ones?”
Sister’s expression calmed down at my clarification. She must have been worried I was planning to visit the Empire’s orphanages.
“They are still young, so we should avoid anything rickety or sharp. How about making it something like dolls?”
“Hmmm, that makes sense.”
That’s true. Most toys are somewhat hard; a doll would be perfect for little hands to hold and mouths to explore with.
‘Dolls, huh.’
I imagined an infant cuddling a doll to sleep.
While I don’t have a child like my brother, I have frequently visited the orphanage run by the Sect. The babies there were pure angels.
Even infants unrelated to me were adorable. I wonder how precious children I’m connected to by blood would be.
“I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if I had a baby.”
“Yes, yes!?”
‘Ah.’
At my inadvertent muttering, Sister flinched once more.
Of course, the Sect doesn’t prohibit marriage. If someone remains unmarried, it simply means they’re uninterested in marrying, and the Sect doesn’t pressure anyone on this matter. There have been a fair number of married Popes and Saints throughout history.
But aside from my fleeting feelings for Louise, I’ve never had feelings for anyone and now I’m casually talking about babies. Sister must have seen it as a leading remark, so there’s reason enough for her to misinterpret my intentions.
“Uh, um… Brother? Have you perhaps found a partner unbeknownst to us?”
Just like now.
“Haha, no. I was just curious about what it would feel like to raise children.”
“I-I see.”
Once I cleared up the misunderstanding, Sister nodded frequently while sighing in relief.
I must have put her in a tough spot. Hearing that the future saint was planning to get married would surprise anyone.
*
I got a call from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
It seems that Tannian, who had been on a pilgrimage from the northeastern part of the continent, is changing his schedule to come to the Empire.
‘Damn it.’
It’s a frustrating yet anticipated event. Enen stirred up a buzz across the continent, so of course, the next saint would respond.
‘I need to prepare to greet him…’
I can’t just ignore this since our relationship with the Dawn Sect isn’t light.
As someone who’s lived in the academy with the next saint for three years, who is now a living Blessed, if I don’t welcome the next saint’s visit, it could foster rumors about discord between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom. Just when the tumult of the Council had gotten calmer, I can’t create new sources of chaos.
“Master? Are you heading out?”
“The next saint from the Dawn Sect is coming—”
“Kaieeeek!”
“Run awayyy!”
Just as I finished speaking, the evil gods that had sprawled out on the floor scrambled in all directions.
I hadn’t even planned to bring you guys along.
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