Chapter 245
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 245
"The Bishop has been acting strange lately."
"Ah, are you sure you should be telling me this?"
"You’re my teacher, so it’s fine."
"That seems like a bit of a leap in logic."
Gio sat on the edge of the bed belonging to Aram, the Saintess of the Moon Cult.
"If you wish to seek my counsel, feel free to do so at any time. Listening to my student’s worries and helping her find a path to growth is one of my duties, after all."
"Then I won’t hold back. I’ve just been so confused that it’s hard to judge the situation objectively. And it’s not as if I can go around gossiping about the Bishop, the very pillar of the Moon Cult..."
"Ever the dutiful one."
Aram looked as though she was trying to suppress a sigh.
"The point is, the Bishop has changed."
"How so?"
"For starters, she’s excluding me from important events."
"What kind of important events?"
"I was left out of the meeting to plan countermeasures for the new dungeon. I was always called to those meetings before, but this time, the Bishop didn’t say a word to me about it. It was bizarre."
"Perhaps she just wanted you to rest, since you haven’t fully recovered."
"I thought so, too, but..."
As Aram trailed off, Gio finished her thought.
"But something feels off?"
"...Yes. She always used to stress the importance of my health, but this feels like it’s dragging on for too long. Don’t I look much better now?"
"If a child I thought of as a daughter had suffered for years, looking like something neither human nor divine, I would give her a long rest, too. I doubt I’d be the only one."
"Even so, she’s been staring at me strangely. She’ll raise her hand as if to pat my head, only to let it fall. How... how do I describe it...?"
"Hmm."
Gio pretended to ponder for a moment before suggesting, "Unsettled?"
"Perhaps."
The Bishop had always been calm and composed. In other words, she possessed excellent self-control. Lately, however, her expression had been grim.
"She looks exhausted, as if she isn’t sleeping well, and she’s been poring over nearly every text in the Moon Cult’s archives. On other days, she’ll shut herself in her room and refuse to come out... What’s worse is that whenever she looks at me, she seems... uncomfortable."
That was what hurt the most.
"I must be lacking in my training to let such a trivial thing upset me."
"It’s only natural to be upset when someone you were close to suddenly starts acting distant."
"I want to ask her what’s wrong, but I feel like she’s avoiding me—though maybe I’m just imagining things. Her condition seems to be getting worse and worse, and I’m so worried..."
"That is indeed cause for concern."
At that, Gio thought to himself:
She has no idea.
Aram didn’t understand the Bishop’s behavior in the slightest.
She hasn’t even guessed that the Bishop is starting to see her with human affection, rather than just as a child she raised like a daughter. It’s only natural, I suppose, considering the Bishop herself doesn’t seem fully aware of what she’s doing...
If the Moon Cult’s system collapsed, Aram would no longer need to become the next Moon. The possibilities stemming from that premise were what made the Bishop so anxious. The Evil God Arjio had guided her to this point.
Even as he thought it, he found the situation absurd.
Still, for her clumsy attempts at affection to be interpreted as her trying to create distance... that’s a serious problem. The priests of the Moon Cult are completely inept when it comes to social skills. Utterly.
Gio gently patted Aram on the back.
"I’ve never gotten the impression that the Bishop wants to distance herself from you. Perhaps she’s just worried, but her clumsy way of expressing it is coming across as strange."
"If that’s the case, I would be relieved, but..."
"The Bishop has certainly seemed unwell recently."
"Right?"
"I wonder if she’s researching something on her own."
"..."
Aram’s expression fell.
"...I feel uneasy."
"What’s making you uneasy?"
"It feels like so many things are changing. Like I’m standing on the top floor of a collapsing building, or sitting on a tree branch that’s about to snap."
"That’s remarkably specific."
Was this a Saintess’s intuition?
She’s surprisingly perceptive.
How did she know he was planning to tear the Moon Cult up by its roots?
"Do you have any idea why you feel that way?"
"Not really."
"Then?"
"...I think I’m more anxious because my Master’s absence has been so keenly felt lately. He used to leave often, but we could at least have small chats. Now, there’s been no news at all..."
"You sound like a child waiting for parents who’ve gone on a long trip."
"That’s not so different from how it is for me. We’ve been together since I was very young."
"I suppose you’re right."
She had hit the nail on the head.
She may be young, but as the Saintess chosen directly by the Moon, it’s to be expected. Still, the Moon Cult might notice something is amiss sooner than I thought. If so, I’ll just have to take a few minor precautions. It won’t affect my future plans...
Gio grinned.
"Still, I really like how you’ve been looking lately, Aram."
"...Me?"
"The Bishop is an adult. I was far more worried about your condition than hers. You were in a terrible state when we first met, so you can imagine my shock."
"B-back then... I didn’t know it would get that bad, either..."
"I’m glad to see you doing what you want now. Of course, you were walking your chosen path back then, too, but I imagine your perspective is quite different now, isn’t it?"
"...That’s true."
Aram nodded hesitantly.
"I never realized there was so much more for me to learn than I could have ever imagined."
"I know how hard you were trying, but sometimes, it’s good to look outward."
Gio removed his hand from her back. "You should try talking more with your fellow disciples in the Moon Cult."
"Everyone is so busy. I don’t want to bother them for no reason."
"Think of it as another way to share knowledge and wisdom. Didn’t you only realize the joy of eating and the wisdom that comes with it after tasting the rice gruel I made for you?"
"Is it the same sort of thing?"
"Yes. The knowledge humans can accumulate isn’t found only in complex theories and unsolved mysteries. From what I’ve seen, the priests of the Moon Cult are missing out on the most basic lessons of all."
"...I think you’re right, Teacher."
"Aram."
Gio asked gently, "Do you want to become the Moon?"
"Yes, I..."
Though she answered without hesitation, her next words came a beat later.
"...I want to make the world a more peaceful place," Aram continued.
"So that is your dream."
"Yes."
A choice made of her own volition. Her pride.
"I can do it."
"Of course," Gio affirmed. "You can do anything."
* * *
Ater often felt as if his daily life were a lie.
"..."
"What is it? Are you hungry?"
"...You always ask that whenever I space out. Surely you don’t think an empty stomach is the only reason a man falters."
"Judging by that long-winded reply, you’re definitely hungry."
"It is about mealtime, but no, it’s not because I’m hungry... Sigh..."
Even this current situation—trading nonsensical banter with the Evil God Arjio—felt unreal.
"I made this bread a while ago. Would you like some?"
"...It’s fluffy and sweet. Isn’t this something people usually eat for dessert?"
"A little sweetness on your tongue won’t ruin your appetite for a meal. What’s the problem?"
"I suppose there isn’t one..."
And the fact that the bread he made himself was so delicious.
"Is the room to your liking?"
"Ah, yes. I’m doing well, thanks to you."
"If you wish, I could arrange a place for you in the Black Forest or the village of beasts instead of these ruins..."
"As I’ve said before, the Black Forest is too damp, and I don’t yet have the courage to approach that newly created world. This room you’ve provided suits me best for now."
"You’re a brave one."
And the fact that the Evil God had personally granted him a corner of his own tomb.
"I thought you wouldn’t like this place. You don’t have pleasant memories here, do you? Even though I worked hard to refine and repair it, you must have some nerve."
"This was also the place where all my comrades died."
Of course, even now, just thinking about the days he spent trapped in that narrow Crown of Thorns sent shivers down his spine. But that was a past he had to overcome, not run from. Besides, it would take a long time to fully recover his comrades' remains.
Above all, his feelings toward these ruins weren’t entirely negative.
"...To be honest, the best treatment we ever received was when we were exploring these ruins to subjugate you, the Demon King. The memories of chatting and eating with my comrades back then... I can’t say those were bad."
"I am very pleased by your optimism."
"I never expected you to be like this. You’re surprisingly generous with your praise."
Especially given his appearance.
The corner of the tomb the Evil God had given him was comfortable. Though it had to be deep underground, sunlight actually streamed in. When Ater had asked how that was possible, Arjio had simply replied that he had utilized the authority of the sun.
What could have possibly happened while he was sealed?
And taking a human form, no less.
The Evil God Arjio that Ater remembered was more beast than man—something far more wicked and mysterious than any human. That entity, too massive to be taken in at a single glance, had been a fusion of man and monster. His current appearance was a stark contrast.
He did say his personality belongs to the last Saint who was sacrificed. If so, that body must also belong to the Saint... but I don’t understand why he’s going out of his way to conform to human standards.
Yet, the bedding he provided was plush. The meals were warm and delicious, and their conversations were, amusingly enough, quite enjoyable. Arjio was a good conversationalist. He wondered how an Evil God had come to take a form so close to a human.
"..."
But not right now.
"...Thank you for helping me bury my comrades here."
"You seemed completely out of your mind while you were burying them. It looks like you’ve sorted out your thoughts during your time alone."
"I apologize again for my rudeness back then..."
Through divine power, Ater had been restored from a pulp of flesh back into a man. However, even the strong mind of a hero could crumble before the shadows of the past. He would think and act perfectly fine one moment, only to thrash about like a wild beast the next, whenever the memories struck him like a dagger.
Is that why he gave me time alone?
Arjio had returned to the ruins after a long absence. In the meantime, Ater had been preoccupied with recovering his comrades' remains one by one. Fortunately, the Evil God had restored their bodies to a decent state, sparing him a great deal of trouble.
If not for that, I probably would have remained lost in my grief for much longer.
He felt both apologetic and embarrassed.
"...We 'Heroes' are humans of a bygone era. Now that a new age has dawned, it is only right that we are buried in the old one. That’s why I wanted to bury their bodies with my own hands... in the soil of the old era."
"Though I do wonder if the tomb of an Evil God is the right choice."
"I figured it was better than the Black Forest."
That damp, dreadful land would have quickly unearthed any corpses. These were the bodies of his comrades, restored by a god’s miracle. He didn’t want them to be ruined so quickly.
"Then you’ll be staying here for the time being?"
"Most likely."
Gio nodded.
Aram’s condition has definitely stabilized, too.
In truth, she had been cured long ago. Remaining by her side after that had been a product of his own greed. But his recent business with the 'Dream Amusement Park' had made it awkward to stay, so he had simply packed his bags and left.
"Is there anything you’d like to eat today?"
"...Hmm..."
After a long moment of thought, Ater spoke.
"...I’d like some jerky soup."
"I happen to make a very good jerky soup."
"You don’t look the type."
"How could a wanderer who spent nearly his entire life in the Black Forest not know how? But jerky soup... it seems you’re thinking of your comrades."
"Even if it was a bit crude... yes, it brings back memories."
"Dishes filled with memories are always special."
Seeing how easily Gio chimed in, Ater fell silent.
"..."
He couldn’t help but wonder.
...Is that side of him fake, or is it real?
Such a meaningless thought.