“Are you serious?”
Despite the shocking situation, I asked calmly, and Icle nodded vigorously.
“Yeah! My sister is always sincere!”
“…”
Honestly, it was hard to understand. How could you want to be a sister goddess while hating our Goddess so much?
Before I rejected the absurdity of it all, I was curious about the reason. Why would she impose such a condition?
“Why does the Black Sun want to be the Goddess’s sister?”
It was a natural question for me, but the girl seemed puzzled.
“Does there have to be a reason? No, she didn’t teach me.”
“If there’s no purpose, it’s hard to accept.”
“Hmm, just a second.”
Icle asked for my permission and closed her eyes.
Then, crossing her arms and thinking deeply, she opened her mouth.
“If you become my sister’s goddess, you could be seen as an unfortunate evil god, right? Isn’t that interesting enough?”
In the end, it wasn’t some grand purpose; it was just a demand for fun.
It suited her as an evil god, but it didn’t align with the previous Black Sun.
In the past, she would have reveled in plunging people into misery and despair, only viewing the wails as ‘enjoyment.’
But now, she was suggesting conditions with essentially no meaning, as if trying to find happiness in the little things of life.
“Wow… you’ve really changed.”
At this point, I felt I had to completely accept and acknowledge it.
The Black Sun no longer cries out for misery and despair. She doesn’t hate happiness and has simply decided to live freely.
Despite having received all sorts of clues and evidence, a part of me had continued to deny and push away this incredible truth.
But now, I couldn’t bring myself to refute it anymore. I had reached the point where denying it would make me a fool.
“What has the Black Sun gone through?”
What event could diminish an evil god to less than a common villain?
Could it be related to the impersonator?
As various questions crossed my mind, Icle smiled broadly.
Right after, she shrugged and lay on the floor with her chin in her hand.
“That’s still a secret. If you accept my proposal, I might tell you?”
“…Is that so.”
“Now, choose quickly. What will you do?”
“Please give me a moment to think.”
“I’ll accept it.”
I immediately left the rest area with Kelaout. We needed to discuss something important.
“What do you think?”
“To be honest, I’m perplexed,” he continued, squinting his left eye.
“First of all, the malevolence has significantly decreased compared to before. I’ll acknowledge that. However, accepting the proposal is out of the question. No matter how gentle she has become, the evil deeds committed before cannot just disappear.”
A righteous statement worthy of being included in the doctrine book. It was truly the opinion of a seasoned archbishop.
“But…”
Just when I thought it was over, Kelaout opened his mouth again.
“This issue isn’t something we can decide on. We should follow the guidance of the Sun.”
“You’re right.”
Thinking back, that was indeed the answer.
No matter how much every member agrees, if the Goddess casts a dissenting vote, that proposal would be rejected. That was the desirable direction of our order.
“Then I’ll ask her right away.”
“Please do.”
Although she had instructed not to make any requests for a while, I figured it was okay to ask this one thing.
Along with that thought, I closed my eyes and clasped my hands together in front of my chest.
Then, erasing any distractions, I began to offer a prayer with a solemn heart.
“O gentle Sun, there is an evil god wishing to bask in your warm rays, freed from the shadow of the past.”
I had no clue what decision the Goddess would make.
“The evil god who loathed all the happiness in the world wishes to shed despair and walk under the clear sky.”
The deep meaning of the Sun was something I, a mere human, could never fathom.
In fact, it had always been so, even when she was less noble than now. She was someone who always exhibited unpredictable actions and words.
But.
Regardless of the Goddess’s judgment, I thought this.
“I can’t simply reject this sunflower coldly. Knowing the evil deeds committed, I can’t just cast her back into the shadows.”
The Black Sun sought Liam’s love.
During the interview, she treated Seoyoon kindly.
A courtship and kindness that would have been absolutely impossible before. It was an action borne out of being freed from the shadows of the past.
That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to decline the offer of reconciliation extended to us.
“So please grant her a gentle ray of sunlight this time.”
Though she had committed sins, complete salvation was not achievable.
The Black Sun had to pay for her past deeds. Until the day when all divinity was worn away and vanished into nothingness.
However.
Wouldn’t it be okay to give her a chance to live and repent for her mistakes at least once?
Even if everything I had seen and heard until now had been a deception, and she was actually unchanged, it didn’t matter. I had my reasons for believing.
“If the Black Sun is hiding dark intentions…”
I paused my prayer for a moment and continued with a louder voice.
“Wouldn’t the Goddess protect me and my order, even if it’s against her own will?”
“Ahem…”
Kelaout, who had been quietly listening, gave me a knowing glance, but he couldn’t stop me now.
How could someone interrupt the Pope when they were praying to the Goddess?
That would be considered a heinous crime according to our laws. Even our strict archbishop couldn’t touch me at such a moment.
This was why I insisted on praying. I continued to speak, ignoring Kelaout’s throat clearing.
“Honestly, it’s not like the Goddess hasn’t wandered through various worlds saving all sorts of people. There have been cases where she has reformed even villains. They were the worst of the worst, yet they ultimately were converted by her light.”
Ultimately, what I wanted to say was this.
“There’s no law saying that an evil god can’t be reformed. Please become the Goddess who guides even the first evil god without answers to the heavenly path. Isn’t that quite an extraordinary achievement?”
Having said all that, I felt strangely lighter, more peaceful, warm, and grateful. It felt as if a small flowerbed of sunlight had blossomed in my heart.
Thanks to that, I felt so refreshed and clear-headed that I forgot I was praying and smiled brightly.
And then, the entire world wrapped around me. It cradled me while sending praises my way.
No, it felt like I was in a delusion.
Why? I didn’t know the reason, but I continued to smile as I finished my prayer.
“I’m sorry for my dullness. I do not know your profound depths. Please grant me your warm insights.”
After concluding my prayer.
Just as I was about to slowly open my eyes, a noble voice resonated in my mind.
-Do as you please.
It was a message of permission.
I couldn’t believe a decision would come so quickly. It seemed my earnest prayer had worked well.
“Thank you.”
-But you’re quite something too.
Though there was a hint of fatigue, a sense of happiness was also transmitted. It seemed she was in a good mood for some reason.
Soon, I heard the sound of the Goddess clapping her hands.
-Congratulations.
“What for…?”
-You really don’t know?
“Yes.”
-You’ve just achieved harmony. You are finally completely blended.
“…”
I could roughly guess what she meant, so I slowly opened my eyes.
And then I witnessed a faint beam of light emanating from me.
“Pope, that’s…”
Kelaout, with his left eye wide open, stared at me blankly for a moment before kneeling on one knee.
Then, he smiled widely, like a kind grandfather instead of the stern archbishop he typically was.
“Congratulations. The Heavenly Level is now within your grasp.”
Only after hearing those words did I truly realize.
“Have I gotten closer to the level of a demigod?”
Finally.
I had met the conditions to become the demigod I had longed for.
*
“Congratulations. You are now just one step away.”
Kelaout said with a bright face, even though his left eye was slightly bloodshot.
I was grateful he was so happy as if it were his achievement…
But I was still in a bit of a daze.
“Why has this suddenly happened?”
I was happy to be one step closer to my goal, but it seemed too abrupt.
No matter how important mindset is, to suddenly achieve spiritual unity just by praying felt odd.
But was it just my thought? Kelaout shook his head.
“This isn’t sudden. Don’t you understand what you just did, Pope?”
“…I just prayed.”
“It wasn’t just a simple prayer.”
Kelaout extended his hand and gently took mine. Then, he cherished it while slowly infusing it with sacred power.
The peace that filled my heart grew even more.
“Just now, the Pope bestowed mercy. To an evil god burdened with heavy sins. A sublime nature combining the Heavenly Level that mere mortals, including me, could dare not dream of.”
…I merely thought I had become less malevolent than before, so giving a chance seemed plausible.
“And even while bestowing mercy, the Pope did not lose that unique ‘mischievousness’ of yours. Unlike last time when you tried hard to appear noble, it felt normal.”
“Did I do that?”
“Yes. I didn’t say anything since self-discovery is crucial.”
Finally, Kelaout stopped channeling sacred power and stood up.
Only then could I comprehend what had just occurred.
The seasoned archbishop had confirmed through sacred power whether my heart resonated with the level of a demigod.
“Upon direct confirmation, you, Pope, have certainly achieved progress in your level. I will vouch for it.”
“…”
I had nothing to refute. How could I deny the testimony of a veteran priest who had lived as a member since childhood?
Moreover, since the Goddess had congratulated me, the likelihood of this being Kelaout’s ‘surprise hidden camera’ was extremely low.
Thus, I decided to revel in the moment.
“Archbishop.”
“Yes.”
“Am I not very impressive?”
“It is only natural. After all, you are the beautiful Pope.”
As Kelaout matched my mood with compliments, the corners of my mouth went up.
Wanting to enjoy this joy even more, I immediately sent a message through the telepathy chat room.
-(Pope): Everyone, I’m getting close to becoming a demigod!!!!
Unlike usual, I added a lot of exclamation marks, and not long after, everyone replied.
-(High Ranking): ??? Why has your level suddenly gone up while you were out discussing?
-(Guarding Dragon Repenting): Congratulations! I could faintly sense some divine aura from outside!
-(Manager): Demigod? What’s that?
-(Guarding Dragon Repenting): Manager, pick up on the signals! Can’t you see how happy he is?
-(Manager): Whoo, congratulations!
As various people simultaneously sent telepathic messages before my eyes, Icle also sent a message.
-(Not Icle, the Pope’s close friend): So, what about my proposal?
Without hesitation, I replied.
-(Pope): I will accept it.
-(Not Icle, the Pope’s close friend): Oh yeah!
-(Pope): Let’s talk about the details later.
-(Not Icle, the Pope’s close friend): Got it!!
Just as I was absorbing Icle’s cheerful telepathy, Kelaout cautiously asked.
“But why are you smiling at the empty air?”
“…Oh.”
“Come to think of it, the High Ranking Holy Knight, the Guarding Dragon, and the Manager also had moments like that. Could it be that you’re communicating by magic?”
“…”
What should I do?
After a moment of various thoughts, I sent a message.
-(Pope): Hekatrith, you’ve been caught.
-(Guarding Dragon Repenting): Ah.
-(Pope): Please invite me.
-(Guarding Dragon Repenting): Looks like a flood of messages will come pouring in from today onward…
It was time to invite the nagger into the chat room.
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