292nd Episode
“Liam, have you ever had any doubts about the power called ‘Status Window’? That force, different from magic and against the natural order, did you just see it as something given to you?”
“Status Window… then, could it be that…”
“That is the blessing of Archbishop Raum. No, it’s more accurate to call it a type of ‘blessing’. Blessings can grow to the level of powers.”
A typical human body and soul cannot accept powers.
Especially in cases like Liam, who has absolutely no talent at all.
However, if it’s a blessing that can grow alongside him.
Or if it’s a power with a similar nature, then he could use it even if his total mana is insufficient.
“That can’t be… such a…”
—Was it Liam? He’s indeed grown quite strong as the rumors say. I’m proud as a successor of the same lineage.
Suddenly, Liam recalled the words spoken by Archbishop Blurans.
The spear technique he used.
And the Status Window that taught him this as a skill.
“It wasn’t a coincidence…”
It felt strange.
He often wondered why the skills that were similarly blossoming had roots in the techniques used by the archbishop.
However, the thought that it might be the power of the goddess never crossed his mind…
As his skills grew stronger, and his stats increased, he could never have imagined that blessings were part of the process to reach powers.
It was unimaginable.
“……”
As Liam trembled with both hands, Vargan chuckled and said.
“Well, I said that, but the truth is, you have no idea what happened after the ending of the original you read. The existence of the Goddess Church mentioned in the novel I read might not appear in what you read. I can’t guarantee peace for humanity.”
“……”
“However, it’s clear that your existence hastened the prosperity of the Goddess Church. The protagonist who killed all the heroines, how impressive, Liam. I want to applaud you.”
“All… does that mean… someone else died because of me…?”
“If I were to list each person who was tied to you and died, I’d be here forever. But in the order the heroines died, there’s Saint Emily, Spirit Summoner Francesca, Spirit Summoner Nikela, and the semi-hero Alicia.”
“…Nikela.”
The shy woman who was in a team with Liam in the past.
She used up her mana trying to save him during the end of the first semester of the first year.
In the end, she had to leave the Academia and return to her hometown due to being unable to use magic.
Having reached the point where using magic became difficult, she left the Academia to return to her hometown.
“…Emily too?”
Currently, Emily is Liam’s lover.
She acts like a mischievous rascal, but in truth, she has a delicate and gentle heart more than anyone else.
Did she die because of him?
“Because of me… Emily is dead? …Really?”
“Yes. She was just used as a tool for your awakening, leaving behind only the bait that she could become a saint.”
“…Awakening.”
—Ding!
Condition: ‘Death of a companion’. Overcoming ‘Extreme Fear’.
By achieving this condition, you have unlocked the use of [Special Skill].
The status window reacted to the death of a companion.
As Liam’s companions were put in danger, and as his inability to protect them raised his anger, the ability grew stronger.
Was it… a power received to protect his companions?
Or was it a ‘reward’ for killing a companion who would have been a threat to the Goddess Church?
“So… Emily was supposed to become a saint, and I prevented that… because she could be a threat to the Goddess Church?”
Although he had not committed the act currently, the reality that it would have happened if not for Vargan sent shivers down Liam’s spine.
In contrast, Vargan, who seemed to be unrelated, casually replied.
“Hmm… It’s not entirely incorrect, but for now, it’s enough that you understand it that much.”
Zzzz—
After finishing the conversation, Vargan moved his mana to restore the world to its original state.
The school, which had been bathed in a sunset glow, was soon enveloped in darkness as night fell.
Liam trembled and muttered with his fingertips.
There were still many things he wanted to confirm with Vargan. However, his mind wasn’t functioning smoothly.
Everything in front of him seemed dizzy, like he had been hit hard on the buttocks with a hammer.
“Liam. You haven’t forgotten what we agreed on in advance, have you?”
“I know. I know…”
“Seeing your reaction, I truly wonder if you do.”
“……”
No matter how shocking the content was, Liam vowed to hold it together.
He corrected the focus of his trembling eyes and said.
“I’m okay.”
“…Well, that’s enough. In the worst case I mentioned, it has already split off, hasn’t it?”
“……”
“Emily lived and became a saint. Nikela, although she didn’t become a hero, returned to her hometown without dying.”
“……”
“Also, Francesca is still continuing her research without any issues, and Alicia has significantly improved her level compared to when you saw her in the original.”
On the contrary, this was a moment to shed tears of joy.
Not as the Archbishop Raum, but as the hero Liam. For you, that is.
Vargan said that.
“……”
And Liam thought.
Yeah, the developments have changed.
The unfolding events now are different from when Arterion was the protagonist.
And probably different from when he himself was the protagonist as well.
A path altered by Vargan.
Amid those, certain incidents stood out remarkably.
‘Bringing Alicia in as a servant to awaken her talent earlier than in the original.’
‘Gathering and nurturing the talents from the Academia as Arbol Frutal.’
‘Saint Diphelia, who became the student council president and played a central role in both the Academia and Rikeion. Now, the foundation for the new church’s powerful students.’
‘The villain Vargan, who has become an archbishop. The massive force he leads.’
Villain Vargan. The massive force he leads.
“……!”
At that moment, Liam finally realized.
What Vargan was planning.
“You… are you trying to smash the Goddess Church from the inside out? So that’s why the Archbishop…!”
Zzt—.
Gradually, Vargan’s body and the space around him started to blur.
It seemed there was little time left.
“It’s been quite a lengthy conversation, but it ends here. I’m a busy person, so I can’t keep playing teacher.”
“Wait a minute…! There’s still so much to say!”
“From here on, interpret and act on your own, you foolish protagonist. It’s enough that I’ve set the table for you. Are you expecting me to spoon-feed you too?”
Zzt—.
The particles that made up Vargan were scattering away.
Seeing him disintegrate rapidly, Liam urgently shouted.
Words he never imagined he would say in this situation.
“At the very least, tell Alicia everything! Ever since you left… for four years, Alicia hasn’t smiled even once!”
“…That’s absurd.”
Truly.
It was so absurd that he couldn’t help but laugh.
Did the thought that he might have betrayed Alicia stir a twinge of guilt?
In the midst of revealing that he was a character in a novel, that guy actually worried about Alicia.
He must be an even bigger fool than in the original story.
“Unnecessary worry.”
Vargan spoke those words just before disappearing along with the space.
*
“……”
Sitting in a chair in the room, Vargan was manipulating mana.
Soon the spell ended, and he opened his eyes.
“…Alicia.”
He murmured.
He exhaled deeply as if releasing cigarette smoke.
After joining the Goddess Church, he hadn’t even brushed against that woman with the white hair.
The truth was, he had been avoiding her.
There was nothing he needed to say, nor a need to say anything.
Hearing news about her was enough. Any further interest was an unnecessary emotion.
—Creeeak.
Vargan exited the room and walked through the long hallway.
As someone with strong authority within the Goddess Church, he bore great responsibilities and had a mountain of tasks to do.
Even if it was late at night and the moon shone the brightest.
He couldn’t afford to sleep.
“Congratulations on your appointment as Executor, Vargan.”
The Archbishop Beris crossed paths with him in the hallway.
She was the Archbishop who had stormed in during the festival days at the Academia, alongside the bishops.
With a scent of rich flowers surrounding her like walking perfume, plants were growing all over her body.
Beris raised the corners of her mouth and spoke in a sultry voice.
“With this, you can wield overwhelming power. It’s truly incredible.”
“…What do you want?”
“Hehe. Do I have to have a specific purpose when meeting a fellow cardinal? I could simply come because I wanted to see you.”
“If you have no business, then leave. I have a lot to do.”
Beris stood in front of Vargan, blocking his path.
With curious eyes, she looked up at him.
“It’s such a beautiful moonlight, and you’re going to just keep working?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with it. You’re an Archbishop. You need to be more honest and direct about your desires.”
Beris extended her finger and gently rubbed Vargan’s chest.
Beris gently rubbed the breast of the gallbladder.
She said there was no business, but it seemed she had something she wanted to say.
“…How is Vargan so beautiful?”
Beris, who pursues beauty, spoke.
In a position close enough to be cradled in her arms, she subtly tilted her head and moved her pale pink lips.
“His sharp jawline and nose are like that too. His eyes are darker than graphite. And his abilities are outstanding! …If he weren’t human, I’d have taken him straight to my bedroom.”
“That’s a lot of nonsense.”
“Oh, true. Since I can use even a fraction of Cardinal Gamigin’s powers, he can’t exactly be human, right?”
A laugh laced with personal emotions.
Beris, exuding a fragrance that entranced men, whispered to Vargan on tiptoe.
“What do you think? Do you want to check today if Vargan is human or not?”
“……”
Vargan looked at Beris and replied without a hint of hesitation.
“Step aside.”
“Cold as ever. Do you have someone special in mind? Ah… could it be that child?”
“That child?”
Beris took a small step back.
With her finger resting on her chin, she pretended to ponder the memory of the past.
“The sister of Salecius… Alicia. That white-haired hero you used to bring around the Academia as your servant.”
“I thought it was something, but was it just nonsense?”
“Is it really nonsense?”
“I’ll take my leave. It’s a waste of time to indulge you further.”
“Are you really going to just leave like this?”
As Vargan brushed past her, walking down the hallway, Beris spoke.
She examined him with a meaningful tone.
“That child… I feel like Cardinal Jephar has been quite anxious to acquire her lately… Don’t you think it’s a shame to lose her? You once said you were keen on bringing her to the Goddess Church.”
“…And?”
“As for me, I absolutely detest losing things. If someone is going to take them, I would prefer to destroy them entirely.”
“Are you suggesting I kill Alicia?”
“No, it’s not something the Executor needs to intervene in. That child has been a hero I’ve already marked with my charm. Though I haven’t seen Salecius’s despair firsthand, I’d love to create a filled expression of despair right before she dies.”
Beris’s face flushed.
The corners of her mouth rose into a sadistic smile.
Vargan, who had been quietly listening, replied.
“Do as you wish.”
“Oh my, how heartless. So, I’ll take that as a directive?”
“However… can you truly do it?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Her eyebrows fluttered.
A small distortion appeared on her face, which had been filled with laughter.
“I mean exactly that. I’m asking if you can match the current Alicia.”
“…Are you looking down on me?”
“No. I hold Alicia in high regard.”
“……”
“I hear she’s ranked 9th in the Hero Ranking now. But I believe Alicia’s current achievements are even greater than that.”
“Why do you think so?”
“That’s a rather obvious question.”
Vargan grinned, without a trace of doubt.
“Alicia is my finest failure, crafted with utmost care.”
