NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 388
Chapter 386
Side Story: Divine
In the Holy Realm, the Sun and Moon rose together. As soon as I heard that, I looked at the Goddess right in front of me. In most cases, when this kind of situation occurs, it would probably be due to Eclipse.
But even Eclipse seemed genuinely surprised. First of all, it wasn’t Eclipse’s fault, which leaves…
“……”
It can only be blamed on me. The only beings capable of moving the very concept of the Sun and Moon, which symbolize the gods in the Holy Kingdom, are either me or Eclipse.
Yet, I hadn’t done anything.
“Goddess, what’s happening?”
“Wait a moment… Um, so… I understand what’s going on. You know that the faith in the Holy Kingdom has significantly amplified compared to before, right?”
“How could I not know?”
It’s happening because of me, so how could I not know?
“If we examine the reasons, we can say that’s the cause.”
Eclipse spread her hands in the air after pulling up her veil. Then she began explaining, folding her fingers one by one.
“First, the faith and divine power of the humans residing in the Raphael Holy Kingdom have increased by a certain degree. Second, those humans are all aware of the existence and purpose of the Holy Realm. Third, the belief in you has also rapidly grown in a short time. And fourth, regardless of the faith growth related to you, my own belief hasn’t diminished at all.”
Her thumb and index finger touched the last folded finger. Then she gently wiggled the remaining pinky back and forth.
“And finally, belief turns into faith and divine power. The combined amplification of faith and divine power has transformed that place into a true Holy Realm. Though it’s slightly weaker than here, it means it has become a place where divinity can reside. Thanks to the faith of the humans serving you and me.”
“…Was that even possible?”
I asked in astonishment. So, to summarize, the faith of the Holy Kingdom people has gathered and their world became divine? I could never have imagined that.
“It’s generally impossible. Generally speaking.”
Eclipse cuddled into my arms.
“For that to happen, an enormous amount of faith and divine power is required, the purity of that faith must also be high, and the target of that faith must be capable of accepting a massive amount of divinity. Just one of those three being lacking makes it impossible.”
Her head gently tapped against my chest as if seeking affection.
“So, I said it’s generally impossible. I couldn’t possibly have created a human with those conditions. Even if the Pope of the Sun and the Pope of the Moon teamed up, they’d fall hundreds of times short.”
Next, she rubbed her face against mine and peeked up to look at me.
“But you’re not general, are you?”
“……”
“You possess divine power, just like me, you are capable of accepting that overwhelming faith, and you have enhanced the faith of the Holy Kingdom people, fulfilling the requirements. You fit all three types.”
“……”
“Because of you, an enormous amount of faith flows in, the belief in the very concept of ‘Holy Realm’ strengthens, and due to you becoming similar to me, this outcome has arisen. I never expected such a future would unfold, but being with you, there’s never a dull moment.”
Of course, it was a bit disappointing we were about to do something even more fun, Eclipse added with a playful stick of her tongue. As I contemplated the explanation, I asked a question.
“So, to put it simply, the faith and divine power of the Holy Kingdom people have become so strong that this has occurred?”
“Yes, that’s correct. There are complex factors like you being able to endure that power and the growth of belief in you, but the core is that.”
I had no idea just how far a single speech could roll into a snowball effect. I pressed my fingers against my brow. My head had started to ache badly. I never expected things would escalate in this direction.
“It’s okay, you.”
Eclipse grabbed my cheeks and pulled me close, resting her forehead against mine. Her face filled my vision, and oddly enough, the throbbing in my head began to calm.
“It can only get better, there’s nothing that could harm you.”
“…So what should we do now?”
“What do you mean ‘what’!? We must declare that your faith and belief have caused this and be revered even more!”
“With all the respect I already have, do you think I can take more?”
Considering how the people of the Holy Kingdom view me, the answer is clear. Receiving more attention than this is a hard pass from my side.
However, Eclipse just smiled sweetly and continued to rub her face against my chest. Am I really supposed to do this? I hesitated for a moment but soon steadied my resolve.
According to Luna’s explanation, the conclusion had already been reached that everything was partially my fault. It all begun as soon as I ascended to the heavens, as they say.
So denying it now wouldn’t really help.
“I just looked at a few futures that existed momentarily and then disappeared. Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. The only difference is that moment has now arrived.”
Eclipse whispered softly, as if to strengthen my resolve.
Well, tracing back the cause, it had been something that was going to happen eventually. As the faith and belief of the Holy Kingdom’s people accrued, the probability would’ve increased as my divinity strengthened. As Eclipse said, the moment is just now.
“Um, you…”
Eclipse hesitated nervously.
“If you go down to the ground and then come back up… you, you can continue with what you were doing… since you were interrupted…”
“Ah, about that.”
I held Eclipse’s shoulders and gently pushed her back. She stepped back, looking at me with a ‘huh?’ expression.
“You can’t lie about Brightest Darkness 5, at least.”
“Wha…?”
“Are you ready to be punished?”
That day, a new legend was inscribed in the Holy Kingdom. The Holy Realm literally became a Holy Realm.
The Raphael Holy Kingdom didn’t rejoice upon witnessing the birth of the Holy Realm. They were engulfed in madness, praying for days on end.
All that happened was the entire Kingdom came to a halt for a week.
Every single human lost consciousness.
“This place is…”
Rustle Twelve footsteps set foot into the flower and grass-filled dirt paths. They were all gazing around with astonishment.
A world where the Sun and Moon coexist, where day and night coexist, and where gods and humans coexist. The place they stepped into was such a world.
“Why aren’t you crying, Pope?”
Kaiquilia asked Luna, who stood there in a daze. Not just Luna, but Floretta, Stella, and Selene as well. All four of them stood still, showing no reaction.
“Your people have stepped into the land of the Sun and Moon, shouldn’t you burst into tears of joy or shout and rampage?”
If you looked at her tone, it sounded sarcastic, but Kaiquilia genuinely felt curious.
What were the positions of Floretta and Luna? They were the Pope of the Sun and the Pope of the Moon. If those two women arrived at the land of the Sun and Moon, they should’ve shown a more ‘intense’ reaction.
But the Popes were merely gazing around with overwhelmed expressions and were quite composed.
“If it were in the past, that would have been the case. The moment I set foot on the land, I might have died from sheer joy.”
“If it were in the past, it would have been so? Are you saying it’s not the case now?”
“It is so. Before I became the Moon Pope ‘Luna’, there was someone I should serve as a human ‘Seraphica Isar’, you see.”
“…..”
Recognizing the meaning behind those words, Kaiquilia turned to the side. A man with black hair and black eyes was talking with Minerva.
“I understand.”
Then she smirked.
Kaiquilia was no exception.
“Water, huh? That wouldn’t be too bad.”
Minerva, who had been creating a simple space with magic, waved her hand. The mana transformed into a blue light and faded away. Her eyes twinkled playfully.
“Hehe, I feel like I’m seeing something new, but that child is really amazing. I never imagined she would be this proactive.”
“What do you mean?”
“Having mixed bodies on the ground and now mixing bodies in the sky, now it’s time in the water…”
“Did you think that was the purpose of creating the Holy Realm?”
“Oh my, was it not?”
As I burst out in exasperation, Minerva couldn’t contain herself any longer and laughed.
“But to raise a child, you must first create one. You know that, don’t you? Even during the week in the Holy Realm of the Holy Kingdom—”
“Thinking back, I remember you didn’t seem to have fully learned the magic I demonstrated.”
Minerva acted as if she hadn’t just laughed and quickly closed her mouth. She then wrapped her hands around her lower abdomen, taking a small step back, as if she didn’t want to be subject to that twice.
After all, there was only one type of magic being referred to here.
“You taught Parnari to express she dislikes pleasant feelings, and now you don’t want that to happen to you?”
Stumped for words, Minerva subtly shifted away. If she, who usually clung more than the Popes, was acting like this, just what kind of sensation was it?
—Welcome, humans.
A voice rang from the sky. Floretta and Luna, Stella, and Selene all jolted and kneeled. The rest just stared blankly at the spot where the voice came from. Kaiquilia was no exception.
‘Finally, it has come.’
I lifted my head. The space between the Sun and Moon warped, and from within, light swirled like a vortex, pushing the nearby space away.
The single beam of light split into dozens, and those segments split into thousands, with each split enveloping dimensions. Each dimension, wrapped in light, formed merely a single step of stairs.
Upon that dimension, someone set foot.
Click, click…
The sound of high heels echoed. As if transformed into a grand ballroom’s stage, the once-light mass became a beautifully adorned staircase, and someone was descending it step by step.
All except the four from the Holy Kingdom who were barely holding on couldn’t withstand it, dropping to their knees. It was time to welcome the guest as a goddess, not Eclipse.
Overwhelmed by the divine force bursting out in torrents.
—I welcome you to my dimension.
Shiver, the Popes trembled. There were no exceptions besides me. Every single person in this place bowed their heads, overwhelmed by the light.
Thus, I couldn’t see Eclipse’s attire or face.
‘…Why is she more embarrassed even though she’s covered up?’
Wearing a black dress coat that reached her ankles, with a white shirt unbuttoned to her chest, a black tie wedged in the valley between her bosom wrapped in black lingerie, and form-fitting formal pants.
And she seemed far more embarrassed than when only clad in three rags.
‘…What on earth?’
I couldn’t confirm Eclipse’s face.