Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Chatting with My 2D Girlfriends
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* * *
After the altar was built and their name was changed to "Elves" thanks to God's Plain Fact.
Erin's group no longer even needed to make any effort to spread the faith.
Because the Elves were coming to them on their own, begging to learn Lord Igugwoden's will.
"××Igugwoden…… ××, ×××! I want to believe!"
"Can we believe in Lord Igugwoden too?"
"I want to receive the faith!"
Their sentences were a bit clumsy and awkward since they hadn't mastered human language yet—
But who would give up on God's little lambs gazing at them with shining eyes just because communication was tough?
"I'll do my very best. So…… ××, ×××! Let's start with the Holy Scripture!"
"Your name is Lepid-nim…… Very well. Lepid-nim, from today, I'll teach you about God's Plain Fact."
As the Elves took the initiative, the number of young priests eager to settle down here naturally grew.
Even those who had come initially just to help the Saintess ended up deciding to stay.
And the most surprising part—
"You're saying you want to stay here, Lengard?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please grant me permission."
Lengard bowed deeply, pleading with Eirene.
"Permission? Your house has declined since you vanished, so you could settle anywhere in imperial territory without issue. The problem is that this place isn't imperial territory……."
"If necessary, I will cast aside my noble title as well."
Eirene's pupils dilated slightly at his words.
The empire's religious influence and authority had grown to unprecedented levels lately, making the nobility's power seem relatively weak—
But in a class-based world, voluntarily giving up a noble title—a position with immense merit—for nothing in return wasn't easy.
Even if he'd lived like a savage for decades with amnesia, and his house had fallen in the meantime—duke was a title not just anyone could claim.
"May I ask the reason?"
"I've lived with amnesia for a very long time. In that span, my duchy declined, my house fell, and all that's left to me now is an empty title. Elves might not understand, but as a human, I'm at an age where dying tomorrow wouldn't be surprising. I want to spend my final moments communicating with new people in a new place. Of course, I've already received permission from your leader, Pibiola-nim."
Lengard said this and bowed repeatedly—
"Please show mercy to this old man one last time, Your Majesty."
Eirene pondered for a moment—
"If that's your will, then so be it."
Then she nodded as if to say she understood.
Her stray side hairs swayed with the shake of her head.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm truly grateful that you've indulged this old man's whims."
"However, since you're relinquishing your title voluntarily without any crime, if you ever wish to return to imperial territory, come find me anytime."
"Pardon? There's no need to go that far……."
"No matter how long you lived as a savage, you are still Duke of Euler— one of my vassals. What's strange about an empress looking after her retainer?"
"Your Majesty……!"
Lengard bowed to his new sovereign, his ocean-blue eyes sparkling as he spoke.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will never forget this grace, even in my dying moment."
After finishing her conversation with him, Eirene approached Pibiola, who was carefully patrolling the village.
"Got a moment to talk?"
"Of course, Lady Eirene. What is it?"
"One of ours, Lengard, will be imposing on you from now on."
"Ah…… I know. I gave him permission. We now know well that you aren't hostile toward us."
"Good. That's actually what I wanted to discuss."
"Yes……?"
"If any human who settles in your village treats you condescendingly, tell me anytime."
"Humans treating our kind that way? I doubt that would happen……."
"No. Looking at the results, we've ended up in a position of 'bestowing' upon you. It's not strange if one or two get delusions of grandeur."
"But I have no intention of treating you as inferiors. As a representative of the empire—of us humans on this continent—I want an equal relationship with you."
"Lady Eirene……."
In the past, she would have persuaded Lengard to keep his title if he'd said he wanted to settle here.
Then, using "support for the duchy" as an excuse, she would have poured in manpower and capital.
After some integration with the local Elves, she would have installed a governor's office and appointed him as duke—governor of the New Continent.
Eirene, ever scheming with plots and intrigues, could easily devise efficient ways to rule the New Continent.
But the current Eirene wouldn't do that.
Forcing living beings into subjugation for the empire's glory was hardly the act of a well-ripened woman.
Eirene's guiding principle was simple—does this action befit a "well-ripened woman"?
"Understood. As I felt last time…… Lady Eirene, you are truly a kind person."
"Not really. I was a foolish woman too. A novice who thought she could move the world despite being unable to embrace anyone— I only truly became able to embrace everyone because Lord Igugwoden taught me at my side."
"Lord Igugwoden, indeed……."
Pibiola carefully bowed her head.
Now she knew.
That Igugwoden was an existence fundamentally different from lowly gods like Dtamuk Thinking Army.
Just as the humans claimed— a being who bestowed boundless love upon them.
"Will the day come when we fully understand Lord Igugwoden's Plain Fact too?"
"Of course it will. For it is God's will to be with you. And God's will—"
—always comes to pass.
That God's will always comes to pass.
Perhaps not even Saintess Erin knew this better than Eirene, who had faced God's Fragment.
Meanwhile—
"As expected of the Saintess…… You foresaw even this without actively proselytizing. I am in awe of her foresight."
The high priestess bowed deeply to Erin in admiration.
In this situation, where Igugwoden cathedrals were naturally rising in the Elves' hearts without building actual church structures or directly spreading the word.
Erin, who had made all this possible, gazed at the priestess with a faint smile—
"No."
And shook her head.
"I am merely a proxy for God's will. If anything has been accomplished, it's not my merit but Lord Igugwoden's. Even if we created beings have any credit— you who have carried out God's will gladly without direct communion with Him deserve far more credit than I."
"Saintess……!"
The high priestess, overcome with emotion at beholding a holy being, couldn't hide it and said,
"I think I understand why His Holiness the Pope sees Lord Igugwoden, the great Sole God, in you, Saintess. Though I am lacking, I will work diligently until the New Continent is filled with Lord Igugwoden's Plain Fact……!"
And so, including Lengard, a great many humans settled in the New Continent.
God's will— to make the new continent Igugwoden's domain.
At least so far, things were proceeding smoothly without issue.
* * *
"Urgh."
I stretched my arms high, then rubbed my suddenly tingling nose.
Instead of returning their name "Ierly," I gave them a racial name meaning "beautiful ears" in their language— Elves.
It was oddly similar to "elf," but hey, fictional languages are just whatever the author arbitrarily decides, right?
At first, I wondered if I'd been meddling unnecessarily…… but seeing Pibiola and the other Elves sobbing, I felt relieved—it didn't seem like a pointless endeavor.
Honestly, from the author's perspective, a bad ending route might have been tempting too.
I thought a happy ending was guaranteed since I'd spent the money, but given the author's stubbornness about their worldbuilding, an unexpected twist was possible……
'Whatever, good is good.'
[ Igugwoden : Kyaa, this is hilarious lolololol ]
[ Igugwoden : Glad the Elves like their new name ]
[ Igugwoden : Humans seem to be getting along with the Elves too ]
It might be a childish fairy-tale ending—
But it looked way better than the world Dtamuk Thinking Army had arbitrarily ruined.
Eirene's attitude was spot on too. Just like my wife, she only said the prettiest things.
Unwise for an empress prioritizing imperial growth?
Hah…… Keep spending money and talk.
If Eirene's at a disadvantage, I just spend more money.
'Ugh…… I hate Igugwoden suffering…….'
If you want to make it grimdark, outspend me.
Of course you can't, Dtamuk Thinking Army!
[ DonatePlease : Thanks to the additional Divine Power you granted, we could change their names without issue ]
[ DonatePlease : Truly grateful ]
[ Igugwoden : Yeah, be very thankful to God ]
[ DonatePlease : Of course ]
And shortly after—
[ DonatePlease : Did you notice? ]
[ DonatePlease : I just bowed deeply to Lord Igugwoden ]
[ DonatePlease : Even if not directly perceptible, you said it conveys indirectly ]
[ DonatePlease : I only hope my feelings reach Lord Igugwoden ]
[ Igugwoden : Lmaoooooooo what is this lolololololol ]
[ Igugwoden : This is hilarious af lolololol ]
[ DonatePlease : Amusing, right? To make Lord Igugwoden laugh— this is the honor of a lifetime ]
'Ugh, this guy's no joke.'
Even reflecting my random nonsense like that……
Well, that's how it has to be to make me want to spend money.
Anyway, with the altar safely built, the Elf village normalization seems mostly complete……
'…….'
Remembering "that thing," I absentmindedly scratched my cheek.
Then took a sip of the Zero Cola beside me.
To a third party, I'd look like a dog desperate to poop, fidgeting by rearranging decorative items randomly—
'……Alright.'
It's not just anyone— it's to the overimmersed Author-chan.
As if shaking off the embarrassment filling my head, I shook my head vigorously—
—Suddenly, a message from my online friend No Future popped up.
[ㅡㅡhey you crazy otaku bastard]
[You wanna die for real? She's my wife, no ㅇㅈㄹ wtf!!! Gerden!!! Stop!!!]
'Hah…….'
Otaku bastard? Honestly, no retort.
What can you say to the truth?
Thinking about it, it's still embarrassing now.
Embarrassing……
But I really, really want to try it just once—
[ Igugwoden : Author ]
[ Igugwoden : Making me laugh is an honor, right? ]
—I cautiously step into the otaku abyss.
[ DonatePlease : Yes ]
[ DonatePlease : Shall I offer an even more innovative bow? ]
[ Igugwoden : Nah, no bows ]
[ Igugwoden : That thing...... you mentioned a while back ]
[ Igugwoden : What Dtamuk whatever did to the Elves ]
[ DonatePlease : If you mean Dtamuk Thinking Army... ]
[ Igugwoden : Yeah ]
[ Igugwoden : I'm getting antsy ]
[ Igugwoden : I wanna talk directly to my girlfriends ]
Busty 2D girlfriends with bigger chests than faces, real-time chat――
Let's go.