Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: God's True Intent
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Turning her head toward the source of the voice—
There stood the Divine Messenger, the Rabbit Lord.
"It took you less time than I expected. You're quick."
"What would take so long? I've already got this whole area mapped out. I'd appreciate it if you didn't underestimate me."
The Rabbit Lord said that, then hopped over to Ophelia's side, hop hop.
"You seem troubled."
"…You're impossible to fool, aren't you."
Crackle, crackle.
Ophelia's lips moved slightly in the glow of the campfire.
"I was just… wondering if someone who can't even memorize a single Plain Fact properly can really serve as a Holy Knight."
"Are you bothered by what that young Bandit Gang leader said?"
"It'd be a lie to say I'm not."
They had reformed, but it was ultimately thanks to the Rabbit Lord by her side.
Without the Rabbit Lord, could she have reformed them with her own hands? With her own strength alone?
Ophelia fell silent for a long while—
Then, slowly gazing into the campfire.
"Perhaps."
She began to confront what she had avoided thinking about.
"I was thinking that maybe I don't have what it takes to be a Holy Knight."
How could someone who couldn't even memorize the words "Plain Fact" properly spread God's will as a member of the Dish of Holy Knights?
"Hoo? Ophelia, are you claiming that Lord Igugwoden's decision was wrong?"
"N-No, that's not it! I…"
Ophelia tried to say something, but couldn't find the right words and lowered her head again.
The Rabbit Lord turned to gaze at the campfire… then hopped in place a few times.
"Even though you don't understand 'Plain Fact'… you're still the only human who can communicate with me, aren't you?"
"That's true, but…"
As the Rabbit Lord said—
Ophelia was the only one who could understand its words.
To everyone else, no matter what the Rabbit Lord said, it came across as simple cries like "Igogodon" and a few others.
"God cherishes you and sent me here, so why are you so lacking in confidence?"
"…"
"Well, I'm perceptive enough. I can guess why you're thinking that way."
Hop, hop.
The Rabbit Lord carefully settled onto Ophelia's knee.
"Rabbit Lord…?"
"Such firm thighs. You can't get legs like these without years of dedicated training. You must have put in tremendous effort."
—I have one question for you.
"What is it?"
"Why did you decide to reform the bandits?"
The priest had called for extermination. But it was Ophelia who suggested trying reform instead.
She pondered for a moment, then looked at the Rabbit Lord with resolute eyes.
"The main reason was that none of the victims had suffered irreparable damage. And… the surge in bandits started after the plague hit the Gracia region, didn't it? It might be presumptuous, but… I wanted to take their circumstances into account."
"I see. That sounds just like you."
The Rabbit Lord hopped on her knee.
Its head bumped into the soft underside of Ophelia's breasts, hidden beneath her robes.
"Ophelia. The desire to reform others, the diligent pursuit even when you don't fully understand, the compassion even for mere criminals… aren't all these things Plain Fact in themselves? You—"
—You are already practicing Plain Fact with all your might, body and soul.
So, was failing to grasp the words intellectually really that important?
"…!"
"This is God's will, Ophelia."
The Rabbit Lord closed its eyes, recalling.
The reason for its birth into this world.
And—sliding slowly down from her knee, it looked up at her and conveyed God's words.
* * *
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: Are you talking about the pet?]
[Igugwoden: Yeah]
[Igugwoden: I want it to be something that can help Ophelia when she's confused about her path.]
[Igugwoden: As for the pet's abilities… just make them worth the price?]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: A pet that follows her around and helps her at all times… From your description, this is a 'Divine Messenger.']
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: I can now grasp how the world's response should unfold.]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: But I have one question.]
[Igugwoden: What?]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: I assume Lord Igugwoden knows that Miss Ophelia lacks the intelligence to understand the term 'Plain Fact.']
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: In that situation, dispatching a 'Divine Messenger' would naturally lead to poor communication, I think…]
[Igugwoden: Does talking to a pet require intelligence?]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: No, it doesn't.]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: It's not in the Holy Scripture, after all.]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: However, as a being born from an overwhelming 500,000 won worth of 'Divine Power'—I, as the Observer, can't rule out unforeseen situations beyond my imagination…]
[Igugwoden: Hmm…]
[Igugwoden: In other words, you're worried Ophelia might not be able to control the Divine Messenger properly due to her low intelligence… something like that?]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: Indeed, Lord Igugwoden.]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: You've precisely captured what I meant.]
[Igugwoden: Lololol what…]
[Igugwoden: Then let's do this.]
[Igugwoden: If Ophelia truly has faithful intentions,]
[Igugwoden: And strives to follow God's words without ever straying,]
[Igugwoden: Set it up so the pet is utterly loyal only to Ophelia.]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: The power is sufficient, and if that's God's will, I can certainly do that.]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: However, if Miss Ophelia fails to meet the conditions, a separate 'outcome' unrelated to Lord Igugwoden's intentions could arise.]
[Igugwoden: Nah, that won't happen.]
[Igugwoden: Ophelia only doesn't know the term Plain Fact, but she's already acting in full accordance with it.]
[Igugwoden: So the pet won't disobey her or anything.]
[PleaseGiveMeMoney: Lord Igugwoden truly trusts Miss Ophelia deeply.]
[Igugwoden: She accepts what she doesn't understand and believes in me.]
[Igugwoden: If I can't trust even one flawed believer after becoming a god, that'd be wrong.]
[Igugwoden: Of course, as a god, I could miraculously fix her shortcomings anytime.]
—God's true will.
[Igugwoden: When we have children,]
[Igugwoden: We don't hate them for being a bit slow or learning slowly; we work together with them.]
[Igugwoden: If Ophelia were seriously injured or traumatized, I'd heal her without hesitation.]
[Igugwoden: But if it's just not understanding the term Plain Fact,]
[Igugwoden: I think the right thing is to let her live well as she is.]
[Igugwoden: At least in the world where I exist as god, I want people with some flaws to live happily.]
[Igugwoden: Ophelia just happened to catch my eye; there must be countless others who are lacking.]
[Igugwoden: Ultimately… yeah.]
—God's 'Plain Fact' is thoroughly imprinted upon the Divine Messenger.
[Igugwoden: I want even somewhat deficient people in my world to live happily.]
[Igugwoden: After all… I can't personally care for each one,]
[Igugwoden: And not everyone can become perfect.]
[Igugwoden: Even if they're a bit lacking… even if they face insurmountable problems, as long as they don't give up and keep moving forward, I want a world where paths open up.]
[Igugwoden: If Ophelia can control the pet as she wishes, that would prove it.]
[Igugwoden: That's what I think.]
* * *
"You are the only human who can understand my words. This is the clearest proof—"
—That your life has not been in vain.
"Lord Igugwoden…"
"Yes. Lord Igugwoden has been watching you closely ever since the moment you were appointed as a Holy Knight."
And, just as God had foreseen—the Rabbit Lord had carried out Ophelia's wish: the reformation of the Bandit Gang.
It was proof that Ophelia had never wasted a single moment and had strived diligently.
Ophelia stared silently into the campfire for a long while—
"Even if deficient, keep moving forward…"
Muttering Lord Igugwoden's words over and over, she stood up.
"Heading out?"
"Yes. Now that I know God's will, I can't afford to despair here."
The Rabbit Lord hopped hop hop, watching Ophelia smile as she spoke.
"No resentment?"
"Resentment?"
"If there's Lord Igugwoden the Sole God's 'Plain Fact,' you could become someone who understands Plain Fact like everyone else. But God chose not to make it so. His will may be noble, but—honestly, doesn't it feel terribly harsh and unfair to you?"
"Rabbit Lord, is it proper for a Divine Messenger to say such things?"
"I was made from God's love. He'd forgive me generously, so what is there to worry about?"
Ophelia straightened her robes slowly—
"Even if God said He'd grant me a miracle to understand 'Plain Fact,' I'd kneel and pray."
"Pray?"
"To please take the miracle away."
"…!"
"After hearing God's words, I have a new goal."
"A goal?"
"To become a symbol."
Ophelia looked up at the star-studded sky with clear, unwavering eyes.
"Even someone who can't understand Plain Fact can become a Holy Knight. Then, couldn't I be a symbol—and a goal—for others like me who are lacking? That's why I'd ask Him to take away the miracle."
—For God to recognize that showing even people like me can do it is the nobler choice.
"To do that, I must stop doubting my own qualities and feeling anxious about not understanding Plain Fact."
If she could manage that—
"Won't God be surprised, thinking 'I didn't expect her to go this far'? My heart races just imagining it."
"!!!"
The Rabbit Lord blinked its sea-like eyes in astonishment.
To think a mere created being could surprise God.
It was an adorably cheeky statement no one who understood Plain Fact would ever utter.
But precisely because she didn't understand—
That's how she could set such a goal.
"If I think that way, this trial must be necessary for me too. Like how a weapon tempered longer yields better results. So, of course I don't resent Lord God. How could I resent Him for giving me the chance to show and prove myself, and teaching me the joy of growth?"
The Rabbit Lord looked up at Ophelia.
The audacious attitude of rejecting God's miracle right before its eyes.
Her golden eyes sparkled like dust catching sunlight.
In the eyes of one ignorant of Plain Fact—Plain Fact shone clearly.
After gazing into her eyes for a long time, the Rabbit Lord worked its small mouth… and conveyed to her what God Himself likely wanted to say.
* * *
"Igogodon."
At the Rabbit Lord's words, Ophelia startled, her face flushing red as she waved her hands.
"Wha…!! S-Suddenly saying that much is a bit embarrassing…!"
"Igogodon."
"No, I mean… I'm still very lacking. To serve close to Lord Igugwoden… I'm someone with far more to prove."
"Igogodon."
"…A-Anyway! We should stop there. It's getting late, and the others will worry, so we should head back."
Flustered by the Rabbit Lord's blunt words, Ophelia hurried away.
And after a few steps—
—Thud!
"…Oof."
She tripped and fell, her ears turning red.
"…Igogodon."
"No need to apologize, Rabbit Lord. It's not your fault. I just… trip a lot."
Ophelia stood right back up, readjusted her circlet, and brushed off the dirt.
So what if she tripped while moving forward, bumping into her limits.
Just stand, dust off, and go again.
If one path was blocked, find another—it was nothing.
"Come on, Rabbit Lord."
"Igogodon!"
Hop, hop!
With the Rabbit Lord perched on her head, Ophelia headed toward the Igugwoden Cathedral where her comrades waited.
The will to shake off setbacks and press on.
The courage to trust others again, even after faith's betrayal.
And the resilient spirit that refuses to give up, knowing full well some lacks can never be overcome.
—Lord Igugwoden's 'Plain Fact' shone intensely once more in this world.