False Gods and True Gods (4)
Academy Dormitory
Albus's Room
Albus lay on his bed, headset on, and opened the community.
"……Did I mess up?"
The incident where he distributed Miracle Spring Water to all players.
In truth, he hadn't devised any grand plan or pondered the future before acting.
He'd done it hastily, thinking that if he had the power to save others but delayed, more lives might be lost in the meantime.
As such, he hadn't had time to deeply consider what consequences his actions might bring.
He should've at least consulted Kartesia first.
Right after the First Emperor incident, he'd sworn to live carefully without stirring up danger—and here he was, causing trouble again.
Maybe it had been a needless act.
Was it really okay for someone like him to meddle like that?
Wouldn't the chaos he'd unleashed sow disorder across the continent?
With a heavy heart, Albus scrolled down.
"……Hm?"
Then, drawn to the title of one post, he tapped it.
A post about how a mother, who had only days left to live, was revived thanks to the Miracle Spring Water.
"Me……thanks to me…?"
Albus stared blankly at the post.
A flood of praising comments followed below the post.
Stories of the incurable ill, too poor for priestly healing, now alive.
Tales of congenital disabilities cured.
Even ailments like baldness and erectile dysfunction vanished.
A procession of worship and adoration from those saved by Albus's single choice.
"……."
Albus silently read them all.
It was a profoundly strange emotion.
A choice driven by a fleeting impulse had become someone else's lifelong salvation.
Something felt off in a corner of his heart.
His chest swelled even as his stomach churned with an odd sensation.
Albus felt his eyelids grow wet.
I wasn't wrong.
My choice saved someone.
Then one comment caught his eye.
"……Huh?"
The community's vibe was veering into strange territory.
Worship for GM surged to extremes, breeding resentment toward established gods.
The atmosphere was so heated it felt like holy wars against the Holy Kingdom could erupt any moment, branding them heretics.
"This is dangerous."
He'd given spring water to all to save those suffering real-world 'debuffs.'
If that sparked war in reality, more would die than were saved.
An act to save lives becoming the cause of mass death? Unthinkable.
"No……."
He couldn't let that happen.
He had to stop it.
He needed to quell this overheated frenzy now.
"But how……?"
Communities like this could backfire if moderated too harshly—fueling the flames further.
Heavy-handed control often worsened things.
And he couldn't just log in as GM and say "stop it."
Albus pondered long and hard.
"……No choice, huh."
But no better ideas came.
"For now, have Juttak rein it in. ……If that fails, find another way."
Should he ask Kartesia?
Tap tap tap
Albus messaged the Demon King right away.
A moment later
A notice posted by Demon King Diana.
Based on the message he'd sent her.
He doubted this alone would douse the roaring flames, but it was something.
Leaving the fire unchecked could corrupt even apathetic users, so he had to act fast.
After the notice, inflammatory posts above it were axed one by one.
Diana's enforcement in action.
Soon after she began, the community quieted.
"It's……working?"
Albus was surprised at how quickly the blaze subsided.
He'd been ready to ban hysterical "down with Juttak" users, but no need.
As no more holy war hints appeared, he sighed in relief.
"Phew! Good!"
Yet beneath the surface, the flames morphed.
Suppressed by moderation, the fervor birthed new delusions.
Breeding fresh misconceptions.
The sunken flames sank deeper.
Shifting to the real continent, coalescing into one.
In the shadows, a secret society to protect GM and his faithful, eradicate his enemies—
The birth of the 'Shadow of the Almighty'.
Luddera Southern Continent Beachside
Under a parasol, a woman lounged, basking in the sun.
"Mmm……To think I can enjoy such luxury."
Clink
She tilted an ice-filled glass to her lips.
"It still feels like a dream."
Endless boredom, confined to her realm, forbidden from meddling in the mortal world.
Luddera's emergence had freed her to this warm sunlight—pure bliss.
Then—
"Lady Alia!"
A woman with pure white wings flew urgently toward her.
"Big trouble, Lady Alia!"
"……Haa."
Sighing at the angel seeking her, Alia slowly rose.
"I said not to disturb me."
"F-Forgive my rudeness, Lady Alia! B-But it's such a huge deal, I had to!"
A huge deal?
Angels couldn't defy orders.
Yet she'd come anyway.
Something big had happened.
"I-It is……!"
The angel relayed the continental uproar.
"……What?!"
Alia's eyes widened in shock.