20. Holy Blood, Isella's Endless Love, the King's Devotion, and the Holy Sword's Emergence

Though not everything had gone exactly as I'd planned.

What mattered was that everyone else truly believed it. 'Then let's just make it real.'

So, I decided to embrace it fully.

By locking in my position as this world's Absolute—and one with a benevolent influence—no less, all the good deeds could be credited to me.

'Nice.' A sweet taste spread through my mouth. Not bad at all.

'Oh.' Now I could wander the palace freely. Players who'd failed to raid the treasury would know just how huge that was.

A situation where, if I wanted, I could stroll right up to the national treasury without any interference. And this was my actual body here, not a proxy incarnation.

'Hmm.'

But now, I had no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠desire to loot the tutorial treasury, nor did I want to throw away the trust I'd built.

'Just enjoy it.' The value was simply being able to tour the palace in person. 'Not bad.' Way better than being stiffly escorted before.

So, I savored the moment. I even changed into the palace's signature ornate silk robes.

Glancing in the mirror, my newly formed body was stunningly beautiful. With a premium rack like this, anything looked good.

"Looks good on me, right?" I asked Belladys beside me, but got no reply.

"Huh?"

Turning, I locked eyes with her staring at me like she might drool.

"Uh, ah, y-yes! It suits you perfectly...! Gulp."

Did she just swallow? Anyway.

"Let's go, then."

"...Yes."

With my shiny new ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠palace free-pass, how could I not explore? We started wandering like kids at a theme park.

The Hero stuff? The palace guards had it handled—I'd just check the results later. 'They took her in.'

Guard custody meant official kingdom oversight. Even related constellations and their people couldn't just barge in openly.

So, the top priority was to watch the situation unfold slowly. 'Still.'

For any surprises, I needed to pull back Belladys and her knights. 'Kinda sad.' We'd had fun together, so parting sucked.

But I could always check via system windows, which was some comfort.

"Whoa, check that out."

I kept touring with Belladys. The grand central watchtower for emergencies, the knights' training grounds, the nobles' beautiful gardens. Rare sights impossible in the modern world, making me feel alive here once more.

Our last stop:

"This the place?"

The kingdom's annex where Belladys's holy knights waited.

One locked eyes with me immediately—a burly man in church robes.

As we approached, he gawked like he'd seen a ghost. My church's holy knight dropped to his knees.

"F-Father God. Please look upon this humble servant."

I checked him over quick. Good sleep—healthy skin, no dark circles. Not starved or weak. The kingdom was surely giving my people VIP treatment.

"Settling in okay here?"

"Yes, Lord...! They're treating us so well, providing every convenience!"

"Good to hear."

"P-Please, speak casually to us...!"

"Hmm... Should I?"

His muscled apology wore me down; I dropped the formal speech reluctantly. 'Ugh, awkward.'

First time chatting directly like this post-possession in this world. The gap from my old life hit hard. Belladys and Lisia felt natural due to closeness, but not this buff knight.

'Right. Constellation pride.' I hypnotized myself to shed my human habits.

"I'm always grateful for your hard work in my name."

I placed a hand on his bowed head, granting a light blessing.

"...."

I ignored Belladys's jealous stare. 'You've gotten plenty...'

"Lord...!"

The knight teared up at my blessing.

'Okay.' Max efficiency from a small gesture. Good to see my holy knights thriving.

"Lord, no need to check deeper inside?"

As I turned from the annex entrance, Belladys asked.

"This is enough."

I knew superiors popping up ruined rest. Recalling sun-dried demons, I granted them true downtime. 'They'll move soon anyway.'

This was someone else's house. My forces naturally belonged at base. Friendly or not, lingering troops bred awkwardness.

'Plus the Hero thing.' Minimize contact between factions.

"...."

Well then.

"Something wrong...?"

Turning cautiously, I met the gaze of her lovely face. Regrettable, draining as it was. 'Gotta do it.'

Time to pull back Belladys's forces, far from church turf.

The moment for tough words had come.

"F-Father God."

Belladys froze at my words. Sadness welled in her eyes; lost hands wandered the air.

"D-Did I do something wrong...?"

'No, why would you?'

Sudden confession time—I rushed to stop her.

"N-No, that's not it. Time to withdraw the troops."

Our forces garrisoned here drew global eyes. Eyes bred misunderstandings, which snowballed over time.

"Ah..."

She finally got it, spark returning to her eyes. She'd been seconds from self-loathing shakes.

"You don't think distance means my heart drifts too, right?"

"B-But—"

Time for a reminder. Before and after possession, I always cherished my church. Same in game or now.

'Perspective shift, maybe.'

Possession was more vivid and fun, but I wouldn't ditch duties for kicks—like church rep.

"I don't wanna part from you either, but you have work for me."

"F-For you, Father."

I gripped her shoulders, eyes locked with sincere intent. Not rejection. Her pale face flushed beet-red, dramatic on her skin.

I mentally hit confirm, wrapping my beloved devotee in a temporary blessing buff.

"Ahh..."

Vitality surged from within; ecstasy bloomed on her face.

"You can do it, right?"

"I love you, love..."

"Whoa, what's with her."

"Hah."

I shook her shoulders in panic; she snapped awake like sobering up.

"I'll stake my life—no one left behind—to return to the Sanctuary."

"No staking lives."

I'd monitor via system anyway—no pressure. Distance to base was far, but with Belladys, I trusted them.

'Once back.' Reactivate disabled objects easily. 'Did it reset levels there too?'

Normalize the church fast—before rival checks.

"Oh, and."

"...?"

"Belladys. Want a parting gift?"

She clocked the wish slip I'd tabled.

"G-Gift."

Her eyes glazed—thoughts racing.

"Not now if—"

"N-Now!"

"Huh?"

"Before parting from you, Father... I want it..."

Hands clasped, she forced the words out.

'What gift?' I could provide most here—warehouse intact despite disabled objects.

New weapon? Permanent stat elixir?

"...Blood."

"Blood?"

"I want your blood, Lord."

Her gaze burned resolute.

Blood. Lore-wise, constellation blood was priceless. Bodiless beings—no harvesting possible.

Belladys was my devotee, but a vampire. When I took her in, I'd vowed to end her self-denial.

Eternal blood thirst, deep self-hate. Now, she overcame it, bravely advancing.

"...You."

Overwhelmed, I pulled her into a tight hug.

"Ah?"

"Blood! Right! How much? A whole bottle full..."

"F-Father."

Flustered by my sudden embrace, she pressed on firmly.

"I want the blood you just shed."

"Oh? Sure?"

"...Yes."

Fresh-drawn or stored—same to me, but vampires had their reasons.

Post-stroll, back in the room.

Gulp... Tense, she swallowed hard—my vampire devotee.

We prepped to draw my blood pronto. Guest wants it? Why not.

"Ready?"

She nodded gravely, resolute.

"With your grace alone, I could walk into hell."

'Hell?' I'd quested there once—not fun. Took it as high praise.

"Then..."

Pulled a knife from storage, stabbed my finger without hesitation. Possession body resisted weapons, so I did it myself.

"Next time, yourself..."

Mumbled something pre-dagger? Brushed it off.

Crimson, slightly viscous liquid flowed from the cut.

"Ah..."

Belladys leaned in, ragged breaths, body twitching on knees. Her favorite—Father God's special juice.

"It's okay."

My okay unleashed her eyes' reason-vs-instinct war.

Drip. Drip.

Wasteful— I stroked her hair with my free hand.

"Hurry, or it'll clot?"

Hah...!

Urged, my finger met wet heat.

I slyly triggered our memory skill, ripening the mood.

"....!!"

Ecstasy, longing, weeping, raging desire—all in her. As I eased back, her lips clung instinctively, vulgar greed.

Retracting, one pale finger bore vivid red marks.