13. Showdown
The next morning, I woke up feeling strangely refreshed and had been wide awake since dawn broke.
As befitting a royal palace, the view unfolding outside the window was like a painting.
Should I build a palace of our own while I'm here?
We did have a building similar to one on the cult's grounds, but still.
Then, my shadow at my feet suddenly twitched for a moment.
"...Huh?"
Thinking I'd seen wrong, I looked again, and sure enough, it wriggled like it was alive.
What the hell.
I nearly unleashed a holy skill on the spot but managed to regain my senses and observe the situation.
-Rustle.
The wriggling shadow paused, then gradually took shape.
The first thing that appeared was a pair of red eyes. Then a slender figure in neat nun's robes.
It was our Belladys.
"...Belladys?"
"Father God, were your sleeping quarters uncomfortable...?"
She emerged from my shadow as if it were the most natural thing, casually inquiring about my sleep quality.
"No, I just woke up early... but."
I couldn't hold back my curiosity and asked her outright.
"How long have you been in there...?"
"Since you entered the bedroom, Father God. I've been standing by."
"...Why."
"Because it's by your side...?"
Like it was obvious.
Her expression made it clear, so I had no choice but to let it slide.
I hadn't been in this world long, but the devotees' constant worship was weighing on me more each day.
"...Hmm."
Recalling last night's events brought back a forgotten wave of vertigo.
The princess had an enlightenment. Fine, whatever.
The problem was her constant attempts to get involved with our cult.
Getting tangled with the princess meant drawing the wrath of the psychopath king above her.
And then? I'd end up with a six-star fan meeting and global ostracism.
...Seriously flipped?
But the opponent was Regarium. Dismissing it as a mere tutorial helper nation ignored its immense in-setting prestige.
-Your daughter's gone half-mad from enlightenment, so deal with it yourself.
Her father would just laugh it off and order his knights to lay down their lives.
What a pain in the ass.
I needed some plausible excuse, ideally peaceful, with no harm to anyone.
If I'd known, I wouldn't have come.
Who could've guessed? That NPC everyone drooled over, desperate to recruit—the one with ironclad walls making it a community nightmare—would fall to a single simulation.
Evande.
The cult's image teetering on ruin had to be prevented at all costs.
After spending some time with Belladys in that state, the morning sun rose to a fitting position.
-Knock knock.
A knock echoed on the door just then.
The familiar face of a knight entered.
Knight Commander Ricardo Baltar.
Is this guy bored lately?
A national knight commander personally escorting me felt off—like a maid or butler should've come instead.
Actually, maybe not.
My status wasn't guest; it was potential threat. They were probably being extra cautious with personnel.
"Shall we go?"
I greeted him politely.
"...I'll escort you."
Baltar, still stiff with formality, led the way crisply.
The palace interior matched the game perfectly, but the transcendent liveliness drew my eyes everywhere.
Palaces really are the best.
I held a king-like position among devotees, but the vibe was different.
Belladys had been on high alert since earlier. No traces of harm remained on me, but her resolve shone—no more accidents, twice was enough.
Can you stay calm?
If Father God commands it.
So before leaving the room, I'd laid down insurance to prevent any misguided actions.
"Lively place."
I voiced my honest impression. After modern scenes, facing these exotic sights in person made my heart race.
Busy palace servants, butlers, occasionally noble-like officials—all restrained yet devoted to their roles. A sight to behold.
Would my kids show this back at cult HQ? I looked forward to it.
"...Thank you."
Praise for the palace was praise for him. Baltar replied a beat late as he guided me.
"Has His Majesty been well?"
I wondered how he'd been. At least until I pushed endgame progress, no extinction, so probably fine.
"King Edmund is ever steadfast. Under his rule, Regarium prospers daily."
His textbook response drew an unwitting smile from me.
"Glad to hear it."
No issues in a kingdom I'd viewed favorably wasn't bad. Half the trip was palace sightseeing anyway.
We reached massive doors.
"Enter here."
"This is... the audience chamber?"
"No."
Baltar's tone grew stiffer.
"...Then?"
"His Majesty wishes to meet the Constellation in the council chamber."
Council chamber? The one I knew—where the king held meetings or discussed national matters.
-Rumble...
Passing the grandly opening doors, the interior beyond was lavishly oversized for humans.
...Whoa.
It overwhelmed instantly. Every structure, even dust specks, exuded authority. Inside and out felt dimensionally severed.
-Clank. Clank.
Belladys and Baltar followed.
"Your Majesty."
Entering, Baltar knelt promptly, awaiting the man beyond.
A white-bearded elder radiating age.
Should I kneel too?
With constellation pride, I watched blankly.
"You've come far."
After silence, the elder fixed on me before speaking. His weary, raspy voice carried unique resolve.
Dignity and bearing screaming born to rule from birth.
"You've labored much."
My first meeting with a king left deep resonance.
"An honor to meet you."
I smiled faintly, bowing slightly.
"Dismiss the knight commander."
"...!"
The king—Edmund Carsein—nodded to my greeting, ordering Baltar out.
"B-but."
"No need for worry. Go."
In this vast room: me, Belladys, the king, and commander. Only he could handle emergencies.
Sending him out felt like half-surrendering his life.
"...Belladys, you too?"
The king interjected at my tactful question.
"Your devotee may stay."
"Y-Your Majesty."
"That's an order, Knight Commander."
Against the king, the loyal commander dragged his feet out.
-Boom...
The heavy door sealed, isolating us three.
"Sit comfortably."
The aged king accommodated me as before.
"My thanks for your consideration."
Skipping tedious ceremonies, straight to business.
I walked slowly, sat in a suitably antique chair. Sinking in, I thought, This is nobility.
Entrusting myself to the plush comfort, I awaited his words.
"I heard you descended personally to halt the holy war."
Edmund Carsein cut straight in.
"Indeed."
"We thought you'd abandoned this world. Or withered away, power spent."
I hadn't expected this either. Who'd imagine waking as god-like, exploring a strange world?
-Grind.
At "withered," Belladys ground her teeth beside me. Restraining as asked, it was endearing.
Time to work my magic.
This was key. Charm the king for insurance on princess talks later.
Lay on a blessing?
My heals were body-gold. Perfect tonic for the aged king.
For that, first.
"Someone spread false info to my children."
The one leaking clues of me to Black Sun cult. Didn't know who, but my kids were victims—that mattered.
"Thus, they moved for holy war against Black Sun."
The king listened silently.
"...."
"We averted it by chance, but minor misunderstandings with kingdom forces arose."
I continued regretfully.
"That someone."
The king spoke.
"Unidentified yet, but we'll find them soon. Clearly malicious forces sowing discord between Your Majesty and our cult."
I had the skills and, in the original progress world, everything was in my palm.
"Malicious forces..."
The king cleared his throat, displeased.
"Daring to mock my forces and yours in all this?"
"Yes."
"If we catch the culprit."
"They'll never threaten my children or peace again. A harsh example."
I met the king's gaze calmly. Presence mattered. No leaking inner anxiety—like hypnotizing myself.
"Perhaps."
Edmund pondered long in silence. Conflicts raging: truth or lie? Hostile or trust cult? Princess mixed in.
Even for cold Edmund Carsein, headache-inducing.
"You may already know all and come prepared."
Know everything. Brain spun.
Claim knowledge or confess? Pondering, Belladys leaked suppressed rage.
"Even as a king, doubting and insulting my Father God is unforgivable."
Smiling sweetly, but close enough, I felt it clearly.
Belladys Rozeria harbored clear killing intent toward the king cornering me relentlessly.
"...I lost composure. My apologies."
The king yielded. Insight flashed.
He deliberately dismissed his sole guard.
Threats could've been bolder.
He wants dialogue.
Her warning got compliance—certainty.
Now I could decide.
Yeah. Let's go all in.
"I'm fine."
Calming my growling beauty first.
Smiling faintly again.
"Your Majesty asked if I know everything."
"...."
"In this world—"
Who was I? In constellation hell, the peak one, strongest cult's top authority.
Even a mighty king's object of awe.
"There is nothing I do not know."
Thus, I declared.
"...."
"...."
Heavy silence crushed post my words.
Almost there.
The finale came.
"I have committed a grave sin."
-Thud!!
The obediently listening king rose abruptly, forehead slamming the floor.
"All responsibility lies with me."
"...Pardon?"
Couldn't process the turn.
What the hell?
"As the Constellation knows, I dared. Dared..."
Trembling like his head might roll any second, he forced out the end.
"The false info spread to your cult... was by me. Edmund Carsein..."
The culprit popped up out of nowhere.