Chapter: 664
Arthur, who was working on the succession to the throne while helping Cecil in Soladin’s capital, hurried his steps as he heard Karia calling him.
A chance to escape the snide remarks of the sculptures, the nagging of ancestors, and the ever-piling work, even if just for a moment! He couldn’t let this slip away!
Passing by various knights assisting in the restoration work, he arrived in an alley and stopped at the sight of men praying around a statue.
If my memory serves me right, they must be Karia’s subordinates, but what are they doing like that?
What’s so special about that statue?
Hmm? Isn’t that the statue of Lucy Allen?
It’s quite intricate.
It must have been made by the Arts Church.
I get that it’s a decent piece of art, but I can’t understand why these rugged men are praying with tears in their eyes.
I could understand if someone didn’t know much about Lucy Allen, but those guys must have experienced her tyranny at least once.
“Third Prince. You arrived quickly.”
“Karia. You’re joking too much.”
“Oh, that? I didn’t order that.”
“Then, were they trying to mock me?”
“No, they’re doing it sincerely. Would they show such earnestness if it were an act?”
Seeing a man who was completely sobbing, Arthur pressed his eyelids down. Am I dreaming right now? I must have overworked myself and fainted, having a nightmare.
“It’s not a dream.”
“…I would have preferred it to be a dream.”
“Follow me, and I’ll tell you why.”
Even while following Karia, he saw people praying here and there.
At this point, something related to the mind must have attacked the capital.
Ugh. Damn it. The reconstruction of the palace isn’t even done yet, and some random idiot is messing around!
“Whew. Huh. Heh-heh-heh.”
Meeting Lina, who was drooling while hugging a crystal ball, Arthur realized that the situation was way more serious than he imagined.
When Lucy Allen is around, she looks like she’s trash. Normally, Lina is a strong person of a considerable level. Being the owner of the forest isn’t given for no reason.
If it’s something related to the mind, and even she’s affected to this extent…
“Third Prince. I understand your worries, but it’s not that kind of thing.”
“It’s not? Then why is Lina in that state? Hasn’t she fallen below animal level?!”
“She often acts like that, you know?”
“That’s when Lucy Allen is involved… No way.”
“I called you here to tell you that.”
The crystal ball, which was made to inform the world of the existence of the Apostle of God, looked no different on the surface.
However, given the sights I’ve seen so far, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“There’s no brainwashing magic or anything.”
“So you’ve preemptively dispelled it?”
“No, I’m telling you, there’s no real brainwashing. It’s just a video that that pervert Prete made with his soul dedicated to it.”
“A simple video did this to the people?”
Isn’t that scarier than brainwashing?
As Arthur pondered what the Apostle of the Goddess had created, torn between curiosity and fear, he ultimately chose curiosity.
“Is it okay if I watch it?”
“It’s fine with what you’re holding.”
“Is there anything else?”
“Apparently, that just happened by coincidence.”
While blinking his eyes, he placed his hand on the crystal ball with a smirk.
In that moment, his vision abruptly darkened.
It must be the magic of the crystal ball. What is it trying to do?
Not long after, Arthur’s eyesight returned, but what was engraved in his eyes was not the scene of the alley.
He stood in the very center of the Jushin Church’s prayer hall, a place he had seen once before.
Startled by the sudden change in scenery, Arthur looked around and felt a warm divinity in front of him.
The girl praying while looking at the statue was someone he knew all too well, but he couldn’t be sure of it.
The Lucy Allen who remained silent while praying looked nothing like the cheeky brat he knew.
– Oh Lord Jushin.
Marveling at the divinity swirling inside the prayer hall, Arthur froze upon facing Lucy, who turned her head.
I never thought I’d say such a thing, and I can’t believe I’m thinking this now, but I must acknowledge it.
Damn it. She’s disgustingly beautiful. Lucy Allen!
After that, Arthur absorbed countless scenes captured in the video.
The priests appearing wherever Lucy Allen passed by.
The knights assisting her.
The choir singing songs of praise.
The cardinals bowing respectfully.
The saintess gracefully stepping aside with a bright smile before the mist that spread outside the prayer hall.
And the moment Lucy Allen set foot down, the mist dissipated, revealing the shining sun in the blue sky.
The many battles the Apostle of Jushin had gone through up until now.
After seeing all that, Arthur returned to the real world, finally understanding why the people outside acted the way they did.
If anyone saw this video, they couldn’t help but praise the Apostle of Jushin.
Even I, who knew Lucy Allen well and went through various trials with her, felt awe.
What would people who only looked at Lucy Allen from a distance feel? And what about those who had only heard rumors about her?
This video wasn’t just to let people know of the Apostle of Jushin.
It was made to elevate Lucy Allen as a hero.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
“I won’t deny that, but I can’t believe Lucy Allen managed to film such a thing. She’s the kind of person who finds others’ attention burdensome.”
“It’s just that she wasn’t used to it. Who doesn’t like being praised?”
Karia’s comment about whether it wasn’t time for her to stop being hated, left Arthur unable to respond.
She had been hated for a long, long time.
Yet she was the same Lucy who risked her life for others.
Who could blame her for wanting to be rewarded now?
“And by the way, the employer was desperately trying to stop her. She was just ignored.”
“…Is it even possible for that guy’s opinion to be tossed aside?”
“It’s possible if the Saintess, Ducal Young Lady Partlan, and her personal maid, along with many others who care for the employer, earnestly request it.”
“That guy is strangely weak when it comes to close people.”
“Regardless of whatever, he’s an endearing person.”
“Even when you tease Karia?”
“I’ll consider that an exception. I really want to hit him.”
From that day on, Lucy’s video spread out much faster than Erginius or Prete anticipated.
The feelings brought about by the video were significant, and the strong recommendations from those who had seen it made a massive impact.
No one should only be aware of the Apostle’s efforts. Everyone should feel gratitude by watching this video!
With this resolve in mind, people acted, and it took just two days for Lucy’s original wishes to come true.
Of course, just because Lucy’s goal was achieved didn’t mean people stopped.
*
Waking up and subtly pulling back the curtains, he saw people kneeling and praying.
The devoutness felt from those who had come to pray in the early dawn, well before the sun had fully risen, was astonishing.
What’s surprising is that with each passing day, the number of people praying is increasing.
Initially, only those who stayed at the holy land visited, but after the video was released, local people began to show up, and now even those from far away are visiting.
Something is off.
My initial goal was simply to persuade the believers under other apostles. Because only with their cooperation could we launch an attack on all locations at once.
But what is this! I’m being treated like a living god, akin to a cult leader!
Why are they praying to me?! They should pray to the Shoddy God! I’m just his proxy!
Aack! Seriously, the inhabitants of this fantasy world are so naive!
Why do they trust that video with all its staged effects!?
Isn’t it normal to think that manipulation and indoctrination are involved!?
Why the hell do they believe it so readily! You fools!
[Why not scold those around you instead? Even I, who is watching, can’t help but be awed by the video. How could one not believe it? ]
“That’s just because Grandpa is old-fashioned!”
[Old… cough. My colleagues would likely show a similar reaction if they watched the video.]
Ah, seriously. What if I get put on the chopping block here?
I had just heard that a part of the island where the hero and Garad stayed collapsed, and a piece of the Evil God was stolen, and I clicked my tongue in frustration.
Sigh. I never imagined I’d miss a society where people were skeptical about everything they saw!
In that place, such things wouldn’t have happened!
[Uh, speaking of which, I hear you’re being equated with Jushin in some regions.]
‘…Seriously?’
[That’s what Erginius told me, so it must be true.]
Normally, if an apostle becomes this popular, the god would get jealous and punish them, but what about our Shoddy God?
Hmm. I think this part is okay. The Shoddy God must be delighted with all the nonsense going on.
[Anyway, hasn’t it turned out the way you wanted? ]
‘I feel like my gut is going to burst because my goals have been overly fulfilled.’
It’s not just the pressure of their expectations that’s a problem. The rapidly spreading faith is an issue too.
As the Apostle of Jushin, the faith directed at me is almost as good as faith towards Jushin himself.
Thanks to that, Jushin’s influence is growing much faster than when the Pope abused Agra’s authority.
If you consider that this madness is bound to amplify rather than diminish with time, it won’t be long before the Pope’s plans come to fruition.
The only silver lining is that this side is preparing for it.
‘Grandpa. Just asking, but what will happen when everything’s over and my achievements are revealed?’
[Wouldn’t you be worshiped as a sage-god? ]
…
Should I just not save the world?
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