Chapter 7 - Sacrifice (2)
Chapter 7
Sacrifice (2)
『 Translator – Divinity 』
–Gulp…
A nervous gulp, the source unknown.
In the situation where each faction was facing off before the holy war, only two beings were moving.
One of the main forces of the Father God’s faction, who had arrived to wipe out the Black Sun.
And an unidentified man who suddenly descended from the sky.
Everyone present felt confused by the unexpected visitor.
Just who was that man?
Who was he, to be able to deflect the vampire’s attacks so leisurely?
No one knew the answer.
‘I’m a fan.’
Only the man, excited by himself, was facing his follower, hiding his pounding heart.
***
Belladis Locheria.
The brightest star of the army, and the redeemed vampire.
Her top priority was, of course, the whereabouts of the missing Father God.
For the religious order, and for herself.
Because there was nothing else that could quench this endless thirst and bring her true happiness.
Even though His existence was still shrouded in many mysteries, she was confident that she could live on, receiving only His love.
And now.
“Either die, or get out of the way.”
She was truly bothered by this unidentified man who stood before her.
The inexplicable sense of dissonance he had been exuding was tickling her nerves.
What was it?
‘Mental interference?’
The moment their eyes met, she almost lost all strength in her body and collapsed.
Belladis couldn’t accept what was happening to her. That’s why she attacked him with all her might.
–Clang! Clang!
However, the man deflected all her attacks, and despicably, looked down at her with composure.
His gentle smile remained unchanged.
He continued to speak incomprehensible words and tried to engage her in conversation.
She had no idea that it was all a ploy by some guy who had personally come down for a fan meeting.
“You, just who…”
That’s why, the more they conversed, the more the dissonance she had been feeling continued to bother her.
The situation escalated as time passed.
As Belladis’ patience wore thin and she was about to unleash a larger attack—
“….!”
A clear killing intent was felt from somewhere, and Belladis’ body stiffened.
Chills ran down her spine, her senses sharpened.
A familiar presence, the one she hated so much, arrived.
Black Sun.
The power of the god that had plunged Belladis’ life into hell approached them in an instant.
His eyes half-crazed, he foamed at the mouth and moved at a speed difficult to follow with the naked eye.
It was a priest and apostle of the Black Sun who had been granted absolute power.
The Black Sun priestly robes fluttered in the air, the sharp sound of tearing wind accompanying his movements.
“….!”
Belladis reacted and tried to counter, but the man in front of her was in the way.
A moment of confusion settled, hindering her judgment.
And so…
The apostle, backed by the divine power of the Black Sun, broke into her attack range.
The sword strike, enveloped in black flames, tore through the barrier and pierced the man’s chest.
The unidentified barrier, which had remained impenetrable despite all her attacks, was easily dispelled by the apostle’s attack.
–Puwak!
The man’s blood splattered onto Belladis’ cheek.
She was quite shocked by this cruel phenomenon.
Why?
Were they not on the same side? Was the man, as he had said, truly unrelated to the Black Sun?
‘Then why…’
Why had he tried to stop them?
The moment that question arose, a chilling sensation pierced Belladis’ mind.
「Blood Memory (A)」
Her unique trait activated, drawing out a familiar memory from the past.
“…Ah?”
Belladis, with a puzzled expression, wiped the blood off her cheek.
From the warm, still-wet blood on her finger, she faced an unbelievable reality.
The familiar scent, sensation, and memory entering through her nose.
In the hell that unfolded in the basement of the Black Sun religious order in the past, the hand that had saved her.
The existence of a god who had confronted her, along with a goddess who had arrived at his behest.
The rushing memories tormented Belladis.
All the cells in her body awakened, pointing to the presence of her master in this very place—
—at the man who had taken the apostle’s attack instead of her.
This couldn’t be happening.
This shouldn’t be happening.
‘Why?’
Why, why did he have the same scent as her Lord God?
She knew better than anyone that it was a foolish question to ask.
The truth was, she couldn’t accept it.
“…Gasp.”
The blood-soaked wings slowly folded.
The man’s body began to collapse, as if it could no longer hold on.
It was a blow imbued with the power of a constellation.
A mere human could not harm a higher being, but it was different if they had the same rank.
Before reason could catch up, instinct pushed her forward.
Belladis, startled, leaped towards the falling man.
–Thud.
And she caught him.
Belladis supported the man’s body, which was still bleeding.
“Ah, why, no.”
Her trembling lips caused confusion.
Belladis was in a state of complete panic.
Her crimson eyes trembled violently as she gazed once more at the man in her arms, carefully examining his features.
The man was beautiful.
If the Lord God’s presence were to be painted and brought down to this world, wouldn’t he look like this?
Even though his life was fading, he was captivating, elevating this to the realm of decadence.
Belladis’ body was reacting to the man.
She knew this man, she couldn’t deny it.
“Bella.”
From the man’s lips came the nickname she had longed for so desperately.
“How happy I am to meet you like this.”
His face, having lost a significant amount of blood, was considerably gaunt.
As if his breath could be cut off at any moment, the man pitifully took in Belladis’ presence with his eyes.
Belladis could no longer pretend she didn’t know.
“L-Lord God…?”
“Do you recognize me?”
Belladis’ breath hitched.
“How…?”
It is easier for constellations to take on human form than to bestow blessings.
This was a well-known fact, and there were even cases in the long history where constellations had directly become human.
However, it was something that didn’t happen because it was considered too degrading to their authority for them to take on the form of a mere creature.
Such a rare event had happened right in front of her.
Moreover, the Lord God, whom she had loved and wanted to dedicate her life to, had descended himself.
Belladis’ despair didn’t end there.
Her Lord God was severely injured by an outsider.
That reality alone made Belladis’ heart ache as if it were being torn apart.
“Ah, ah…”
Looking at the Lord God’s blood pooling in her arms, Belladis felt a certain urge.
‘Even in this situation, I’m revealing my vulgar desires.’
“I couldn’t bear to see you in pain anymore.”
Ron, Belladis’ Lord God, willingly opened his mouth to convey his will.
“I couldn’t bear to see you hating each other, hurting each other, falling into hell…”
Hoo, hoo.
Exhaling his fading breath, he caressed Bella’s cheek with his hand.
Although it was smeared with blood, further dirtying her face, it definitely conveyed warmth.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaa!!”
A priest of the Black Sun, unable to grasp the atmosphere, rushed at them in a frenzy, but Belladis’ murderous gaze fell upon him.
–Kwaang!
Magic power, controlled so as not to affect her Lord God, flung the intruder far away.
The unconscious apostle showed no signs of getting up again.
「’Incarnation of the Black Sun’ screams while looking at his follower.」
Leaving aside the message window ringing from somewhere, Ron focused on his follower.
‘Wow.’
So charismatic.
The sudden change in the demeanor of the beauty before him was a spectacle, like a renowned actor performing.
One moment she was filled with rage, and the next, when that rage turned towards her, she became like a dog caught in the rain, cautiously watching him.
The whole process was so impressive and lovely that Ron wanted to break character and do cartwheels.
‘Hold on.’
Dissonance, and a dramatic encounter.
The atmosphere was heating up.
Sacrifice, the proper virtue of a constellation.
Each of these things comes together to form leadership, and then returns to him in the form of precious ‘Faith Points.’
「Would you like to use Holy Blood on follower ‘Belladis’?」
Yes.
It has no effect now, but the important thing is to reminisce.
Sensing the change, Belladis showed a surprised reaction once again.
It was the moment that confirmed her suspicions.
“Th-this is.”
“Bella. My love, my child.”
As the final step, Ron decided to give his follower a gift.
The name of the gift was self-love.
Even now, seeing her blaming herself for her desire for blood, Ron felt something.
Now that the game had become reality…
Ron, who was a player in the game, wanted his follower to be happy.
Because that was the only way the religious order, and everyone else, could be happy.
However, there was one problem.
‘So what do I do now?’
He had successfully created a critical and dramatic moment, but he missed the timing to recover and get up.
Ron had inadvertently become a constellation dying in the arms of his follower.
‘Still, I have to do what I have to do.’
“Will you make a promise with me?”
“Lord God.”
“Promise me, that you will no longer hate yourself.”
Ron decided to just close his eyes while he was at it.
「’Incarnation of the Black Sun’ asks what he’s supposed to do then.」
Ah, right.
He was about to close his eyes, but he forced them open again.
If he just went like this, the Black Sun religious order would disintegrate.
“…And one more thing, please stop the holy war. I’m alright.”
“Ah, I understand, my Lord God. I’ll do everything as you wish. So please…!”
Seeing Ron’s critical condition, Belladis acted as if she was about to burst into tears.
“Hoo, you don’t have to worry. I’m slowly recovering anyway.”
To reassure Belladis, Ron showed her his wound.
Indeed, the bleeding had stopped, and the wound was healing on its own.
“So…”
Ron trailed off, and this time, he really closed his eyes and pretended to lose consciousness.
It was partly because Belladis’ embrace was more comfortable than he expected.
As a constellation who had descended to the mortal world, there was nothing that could threaten him.
Ron was simply enjoying himself the whole time.
Holding the unconscious Ron, Belladis lifted him into a princess carry.
‘Ah, this is a bit…’
Ron felt embarrassed by the unexpected position, but there was no way to undo it now.
Fortunately, she obediently followed his words and started on the way back.
–Shuffle. Shuffle.
In the quiet crowd, Belladis calmly opened her mouth.
“Let us return, with our Lord God.”
“Aah…! Father God…!”
“Sob…!”
Sounds of sobbing could be heard from everywhere.
Ron didn’t confirm it with his own eyes, but he could be sure that everyone gathered here was stirred.
With this, a perfect fan meeting had been achieved.
‘Is that enough now?’
「’Incarnation of the Black Sun’ reluctantly nods.」
‘Huh? You’re giving up?’
「’Incarnation of the Black Sun’ hurriedly applauds.」
With everyone winning, the situation was successfully concluded.