Commoner Experience

The Avatar of the Black Sun had defected. One of the constellations that had gathered to usher in a new era on this land had already vanished without a trace.

Even so, it was a cult that had once spread infamy across the entire world. No matter how weakened their forces had become, it was impossible for such an organization to disappear overnight.

The answer was simple enough. But the suspicious part was how cleanly they'd vanished without a single trace left behind. It was eerily similar to the way the tyrannical constellations who'd been oppressing the world had disappeared.

They weren't arrogant despite being constellations; they schemed for the future. They were beings with a fierce drive for survival.

'Go back, you crazy bastards.' If the constellation already in someone's grasp had seen this, that's what they'd have shouted. Unfortunately, the one who could advise them had long since fallen into slavery.

Even amid the grim thoughts, the reward list appealed to me perfectly. My heart, tainted by this world's capitalism, started pounding on its own.

A devotee recruitment ticket. Exactly as it sounded—a chance to gacha a new devotee.

Gachas were always fresh and fun. Sure, there could be bad outcomes, but wasn't "elite" prefixed to prevent that?

If it's elite, it'll raise the floor sky-high. One of the best ways to do it. Nice.

I set the reward tab aside for now and observed the situation unfolding before me.

"Hic... Father! Finally...!"

"I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sorry for all this time, Isella. Forgive this foolish father of yours."

'No. Where'd your pride go?'

Was the king always this quick to submit? At least by my common sense—and the data on Edmund Carsein accumulated from the game—it was completely opposite.

'Calculated what?'

'And that's supposed to be a big deal?'

If he swallowed everything up, what about my leisurely life? Managing each nation, dealing with cultural clashes and disputes—would I even have time left? No way I'd let that happen. Even if I placed reliable people from our side, with me as the final decision-maker, I couldn't turn a blind eye to responsibility.

'Responsibility without pleasure? No thanks.'

'Don't go spouting that crap anywhere else.'

Hoo, it had been a while since rage welled up. Insulting me was one thing, but interfering with my fun? Unforgivable. Now that I'd become a god, I wanted to enjoy everything to the fullest.

"So, the announcement tomorrow... Father?"

"There are still matters to discuss with the ministers, but it won't take long."

"As expected...!"

I decided to halt the father-daughter duo pushing ahead so eagerly.

"Excuse me..."

"What is it, Father God?"

"I'm endlessly grateful for what you're doing for me, but wouldn't it be better to take some time and proceed slowly?"

"You mean..."

The expressions of the father and daughter subtly stiffened.

"I still have matters I need to attend to."

I had matters. So sticking to one place felt off.

'Yeah. Anyway, I have matters.' Please just let me loose.

"We've succeeded in suppressing the Black Sun cult, but the world is still rife with evil gods who delight in others' suffering."

Counting them one by one, there were endlessly many. From minor deities with weak presences to massive religious forces like the Avatar of the Black Sun.

That was why this game had no true ending. There was progress akin to an ending, but it never forced "the end" on players. The constellations' settings made them hard to eradicate completely, scattered like a pyramid scheme, tough to root out entirely.

Here, I decided to turn that very setting and feature to my advantage.

"And there are things to do before that. I need to gather my children. I haven't even properly shared my return yet."

"Ah..."

Princess Isella ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Carsein finally seemed to grasp the situation, her face dawning with realization.

'Time to shore up the home front first.'

I needed to normalize the devotees who'd spiraled into self-destructive devotion because of me. Covering Lisia and Belladys back-to-back from the start was good, but there were other devotees left to handle. Their scale and variety were impressive enough to make me wonder if I'd raised them too lovingly.

'Just wait a bit.'

I wanted to reunite with "them" as soon as possible. And for that...

"...For the time being, I think we should keep the fact that I used Possession under wraps."

"...! Father God, why?"

Isella's face crumpled in distress, while Belladys stiffened rigidly beside her. I could feel both desperately yearning to worship me sooner.

I racked my brain for a good excuse.

'Let me breathe a little too.'

My head started throbbing. What reason this time?

'What?'

Suddenly, one pint-sized constellation started spouting nonsense. But chewing it over, it wasn't a bad idea.

'That's pretty good.'

Arrogance. Backed by immense faith.

'First sensible thing you've said in ages?'

Thinking about it, she was right. Did I even need to make them understand? Issue commands, teachings, enlightenments—and it was up to the devotees to uncover the hidden meanings.

'Was I thinking too humanely?'

I'd momentarily forgotten the significance of my position.

"Huhu."

Regaining my original resolve, I smiled faintly once more.

"For some reason, I have a feeling that's the right path."

"...!"

As soon as I conveyed my will, the two—no, three—immediately backed down.

'Why you too?'

Belladys sneaking glances like a puppy caught in mischief. Her depths were unknowable, so I let it slide. Still, leaving without a word would be rude, so maybe shift their attention elsewhere.

"I can tell you one thing."

I paused dramatically. Timing was key for extraordinary revelations.

"Soon, something good will happen in the Regarium Kingdom."

"...!!"

'Ah. Whatever it is, it'll be something good anyway.'

'Like I know. Just steer any good stuff my way.'

Take it or leave it. This was true pleasure without responsibility.

'Thrilling.'

I ignored the now-silent Avatar of the Black Sun and finally left the conference room. Escorted by the knight commander back to my quarters, Belladys—who'd been keeping her mouth shut until then—approached me.

"Y-You must be tired, Father God..."

"Nah, just a few words exchanged. The real work was done by our Belladys standing by my side."

She trembled and melted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in emotion at my words—a cost-effective reaction indeed.

Now, all that was left was preparing to return to our paradise, the Sanctuary. It was our main base anyway, and I needed to reactivate the many dormant objects there. That way, the devotees could live without wandering lost.

'Want some free time.'

Was now the time to use this? I pulled an item slumbering in my inventory.

"Lord God, that's..."

"Do you know what this is?"

An item. A safely max-reinforced one with top options.

-Swish.

I draped the hood over my head.

"...!"

My presence vanished in an instant, leaving Belladys visibly flustered. Dodging her wavering gaze, I grabbed her shoulder from behind.

"Kyaa...!"

"Pretty neat, huh?"

"I-I can feel you, Lord God, even if I can't see you...! Not seeing you makes my senses sharper...!"

"..."

Hm. At a good moment, I released her shoulder, removed the veil. Now no one outside would recognize me.

"Thinking of wandering around outside with this."

So much I hadn't tried yet. Precisely, the reason I'd entered the palace hadn't been fulfilled. New food! New entertainment! I wanted to experience the game world turned real with my own body.

"F-Father God. But outside..."

"You've got Belladys with you."

"Ah?"

Belladys, who blanked out with a dazed "Muuuh," hurriedly accepted my proposal.

"I'll stake my life on it ten times over...!"

"No need to go that far."

Good that she was on board. "Shall we go?"

Brimming with excitement, I led the equally thrilled Belladys to the room's window. Then, without hesitation, I jumped.

-Fwoosh!!

A pair of wings unfurled like last time, steadily supporting our weight. Glancing at the hardworking folk below, none noticed us at all.

'Weird if they did.'

Unless it was a top-tier archmage, no one could detect us. Even then, it'd be hard to pinpoint. That was the gap between players and game characters in this world.

"Let's check the church first."

Best to handle a bit of work while playing. Once I approached the deactivated Sanctuary, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠things would resolve automatically after.

'Just that much.'

I wanted info on my Possession to spread to devotees a little later. That way, I could move more freely.

'Let's gooo.'

And so, I was about to leisurely savor the scenery of the Regarium Kingdom unfolding before me.

-KABOOOM!!

"Kyaaaa!!"

"Wh-What's that...! What happened?!"

"A m-meteor's falling from the sky!!"

Suddenly, an unidentified holy rock plummeted from above, leaving me to stare blankly at the scene.

"L-Lord God...! Behind you...!"

A star suddenly fell right before my eyes.

...This?