As I sat in the reception room, I couldn’t help but stare at the two people in front of me, thinking, “Why on earth are these guys considered adults?”
“Make an excuse.”
“I… really have no excuse.”
“I’m sorry, Lucy.”
“I clearly told you to make an excuse.”
I was already sick of hearing apologies. So now, tell me why you’re sorry.
After playing with my friends, my anger had subsided, so I could hear them out calmly.
I stared blankly at the two of them when Mama cautiously spoke up.
“I doubt you’ll believe me, but I didn’t proceed with this matter solely for my own desires.”
“So it does involve some selfishness?”
“…Well, that’s…”
“To think the author, Jushin, would mix his own desires into public matters. I want to let those who praise you know that this is the woman serving Jushin.”
“Uh, Lucy, didn’t you say you’d listen?”
“Then why aren’t you saying anything? If Mama stares at my face like a fool, ugly words just slip out.”
I wiggled my foot and teased them, causing Mama to make a sad face.
Seeing that made me feel a tad sorry, but that was it.
I didn’t want to be lenient until a proper excuse came out.
“Continuing on with the excuse… remember how Lucy received the Authority at the end of the last war?”
That was true. The reason I could have a new beginning was because I received Authority from Mama.
“Lucy is my daughter, and due to the consecutive miracles, she gained perfect qualifications. Now that she has received my Authority, it’s safe to say she’s met the conditions to become deified.”
“…Huh?”
“Moreover, since all the people on the land praise you, Lucy can become deified anytime she wishes.”
“No, no, wait a minute. What? I’m going to be a god?”
“To be precise, you are in the process of becoming one.”
“Basically, that means I will become a god!”
“Didn’t you know?”
“How could I possibly know!”
I could jokingly shout, “Lucy is a god! Lucy Punch! Lucy Punch!” but I had never heard of becoming a real god before!
“There’s no turning back now. Stopping the flow is impossible.”
I understood what Mama meant. From the moment I started in the new world, it became impossible to stop this flow. From that moment on, I was destined to become a god, whether late or soon.
“I’m sorry for not explaining properly to Lucy. I should have given you options.”
“No, that’s fine.”
Whether I knew this or not, the choices I had to make were the same. At that time, that choice was the best one.
If I hadn’t opened a new beginning, I wouldn’t have been able to re-seal Agra.
If obtaining the position of a god could prevent the world’s destruction, then I would gladly do it.
“So how does me gaining a divine rank relate to decorating my territory with my idol?”
“As you know, divine rank has no lifespan. A god dies only when they are forgotten by people. In other words, as long as people remember you forever, you don’t have to fear death.”
“Are you saying you want to shape the territory to make it impossible for people to forget me?”
“Yes.”
“Ha. You’re really worrying about pointless things. With all the disgusting trash in this town, how could they forget me overnight?”
“That’s uncertain.”
So far, Mama had been glancing at me with teary eyes, but this time was different. With her eyes wide open and asserting herself, she carried the dignity of a god.
“Humans are quick to get excited and also quick to forget. I’ve seen that scene plenty of times.”
What Mama was talking about wasn’t just a tale of this world. Having repeated beginnings countless times with the single-minded determination to save the world, Mama must have seen both the good and evil sides of humanity.
“To be remembered by the people, you must engrave something memorable on the land, so they cannot forget you.”
Yeah. If I make the Perverted Crow worship me, the people of the continent won’t be able to forget me even if they wanted to.
“However, regardless of the intention, this is indeed my fault for handling this matter without asking your will.”
Apologizing again, Mama lowered her head. She glanced at Papa, who was also apologizing, biting her lip.
“The reason I deceived you even though I knew this was wrong is that I lacked the confidence to convince you. My desire for Lucy not to be forgotten is also my selfishness.”
Then, she carefully clasped my hand with both of hers and, with a voice laced with tears, shouted at me.
“If Lucy says she wants to die as a human, I won’t know what to do. I don’t think I can bear losing everything again. I—”
I got down from my chair and grasped Mama’s cheeks, lifting her face.
Then I saw Mama’s face, a mess from the tears streaming down.
Embarrassed to show her face, Mama tried to shake my hand away, but I wouldn’t allow it.
“It’s okay. Mama is always beautiful.”
“…I’m sorry. I’m an incompetent Mama who hasn’t even properly played the role of a parent. A selfish woman who only knows how to think of herself.”
“So what? That’s how everyone is.”
A sentient being cannot always be self-sacrificial.
Being sentient means having emotions, and if there are emotions, there will be desires, and a being with desires will inevitably be selfish, in one way or another.
Didn’t I do the same as the past me?
In my reckless days, I wished for everyone in the world to be unhappy just like me and wreaked havoc everywhere.
Papa was the same. During the time he thought he lost Mama, he couldn’t endure his own pain and collapsed, hiding away in his room.
Even knowing how much his daughter would suffer.
“Lucy…”
Selfishness isn’t a bad thing. Wanting something is a natural right of life. As long as one doesn’t cross the line, being selfish is perfectly fine.
“Mama did something wrong, but.”
This time, it slightly crossed the line. I was genuinely angry and shouted, not just joking around.
“I’ll forgive you this time.”
After all, this is within the range I can understand, so I must forgive. No matter what, Mama is still Mama.
“However, if you do something like this again, I’ll put a leash on you and drag you outside.”
“Yes! Yes! I understand! I won’t act on my own again! And I’ll tell them to take all the statues outside too!”
“Ah, that won’t be necessary.”
“…What? But Lucy, you didn’t like those statues.”
“I still don’t like them. But now, I need them.”
Even before talking with Mama, I had already been thinking of using the crows to change my image, but after hearing Mama’s words, I felt more eager.
Think about it. If my statue in a bikini armor starts receiving worship, that means my image will be fixed with that!
If I were to truly ascend to divine rank in that state, I might have to wear bikini armor for eternity!
That’s one thing I absolutely refuse.
Absolutely not!
“Do you dislike that armor so much? I think that armor perfectly showcases Lucy’s beauty…”
“Should I put it on you?”
“…No, I’m fine.”
I know Mama’s preferences are all over that, but why should I sacrifice myself for it?
Back when I didn’t know who I was, and was forced into Mama’s perverted preferences, that might’ve been one thing.
But now, Mama is just a sloppy person who laughs and cries at my every word.
I won’t follow your words.
“I’ll have to let the goddess know. Lucy wants a different design for her statue.”
“Let her design a dress for me as she pleases. Then she’ll handle the work.”
Although I considered this method to perfectly utilize the traits of the Perverted Crow, there was one thing I hadn’t taken into account.
The madness of the crows was far stronger than I had anticipated.
“Alright! Lucy! Let’s try this outfit from here to here! In the meantime, I’ll come up with other designs! I didn’t have time to finish them all!”
As I gazed at the numerous outfits filling the corridor of the Arts Church, I felt my mind going hazy.
They had already made this many designs, and they still have more to create? No, from the start…
“They’re all basically the same. It looks like your creativity has run dry; why are you struggling?”
“They’re not similar! Look closely! They’re completely different! The way the dress flows, the intricate patterns, and…!”
With eyes wide open, the crow began passionately explaining, not discouraged by my poisonous words at all.
…Damn it. I should have just stared at the ceiling.
*
The apostle of the Arts Church, Prete, had recently settled in Lady Allen’s Territory and had been working non-stop.
Like the slaves in the past barbaric era who worked 140 hours a week, Prete was far from satisfied.
The idols created by the goddess were indeed marvelous.
I wondered if I could ever reach that level, even if I devoted my entire life to it.
Merchants and minstrels set up around the streets were selling proper goods under the support of the church, and thanks to the control of the Allen Knights, the atmosphere of the streets was also stable.
From an objective standpoint, the businesses in Allen Territory seemed to be thriving.
Considering the long lines outside the city, it was clear that events in nearby cities would be successful as well.
Yet, Prete could not shake off this unpleasant feeling.
Why? Even though the Young Lady has granted permission, why am I filled with unease?
Was it a phase of boredom? While Prete was contemplating, the goddess appeared beside him.
“Oh, Goddess.”
“Oh, My Apostle! This isn’t the time to be like this! I need your abilities!”
“But Goddess, I’m currently…”
“Silence! Follow me right now!”
Forced to return to the church, Prete faced the goddess Lucy and shed tears.
Ah! Now I understood why I couldn’t be satisfied until now.
I hadn’t yet brought out the true beauty of the Young Lady.
Look! This is a sight worthy of being called a goddess!
I want to move my brush right away!
I want to create a masterpiece!
“This guy really doesn’t change, does he?”
Lucy frowned and retorted, but her words didn’t reach Prete, who had already entered his own world.
