Chapter 54
[Welcome, Seraphim.]
{Welcome. We have been waiting for your arrival.}
Arc Royle and Angel Number 562 greeted me at the entrance.
They naturally welcomed the gods following behind me, whom they had already heard about on their way here.
Shortly after, other small Arcs started to gather.
{Welcome, Seraphim.}
{Welcome.}
{Welcome.}
Even though over a thousand of them gathered around me like chicks flocking to their mother, which I should be used to by now, it still filled me with a sense of deep satisfaction.
Feeling as though I was being slightly healed from all the troublesome incidents that had occurred in a short period, I issued orders to the children.
[Then, I’ll leave these guys in your care, so manage them well for a while. Don’t worry too much; they won’t do anything suspicious.]
[Yes, understood, Seraphim.]
Now completely subjugated, Isiris and the gods, including Moloch, were left to Arc Royle.
After entrusting them to her, I headed directly to the High Temple with Isera, who was the representative of the remaining Baal Church faction and also the one who was once the wife of that guy.
[Sit down.]
{…Yes.}
The High Temple, the most central place in Heaven and my personal abode.
Although I have no need to sit or stand due to the state of my current body, I decided to have a one-on-one meeting with Isera in what could be considered a reception room.
A goddess with a giant body, approximately 70 meters tall.
Even so, compared to my current self, she was actually a bit smaller.
She had green hair and green eyes.
True to her name as the Goddess of Vegetation or something, a green hue permeated her entire being.
She sat in front of me, trembling with fear.
It was only natural when I thought about it.
Although I saved her from a demon, I am still the one who killed her husband.
And even before that, we had been on hostile terms, so being face-to-face like this would never be comfortable for her.
‘Although I don’t have any intention of harming her…’
From what I’ve heard, unlike Ba’al, she stepped away from human affairs and focused solely on her duties as the hostess of the Pantheon.
Despite Baal’s extreme promiscuity and violent behaviour, which heavily emphasized fertility, she endured everything in silence, diligently performing her household duties like a typical virtuous wife.
Of course, one could argue, “What was the wife doing while her husband was behaving like that?” but that’s only possible from a modern perspective.
In this world, it’s the norm for women to be subordinated to their husbands after marriage and unable to go against their orders.
Especially for royalty, such standards are even stricter.
From Isera’s perspective, even if she was displeased with her husband’s actions, she had no choice but to quietly comply.
Given that she couldn’t be held responsible for this series of events, unlike with Isiris, I had no intention of harming or reprimanding her.
Of course, that’s separate from the fact that there were still matters I needed to discuss with Isera, who, as Baal’s queen and their representative, had a role to play in this current situation.
I needed to talk about future plans, such as dealing with the Blackset Empire or how to handle the Baal Church.
Just as I was about to have a serious conversation with her regarding political matters…
– Sssrrkk… –
[…Hm?]
The next moment, the goddess Isera suddenly began undressing in front of me.
Already dressed in thin, Grecian-style robes, she was completely naked in an instant.
Her large and heavy-looking chest, on par with Isiris, and her robust hips that befitted the wife of a fertility god… No, this isn’t right.
[Wha… What are you doing?]
{…Ah!}
I couldn’t help but feel quite bewildered at the sight of her suddenly being naked.
And as she noticed my reaction,
The goddess Isera began trembling in fear.
{I… I apologize… I acted presumptuously as a mere prisoner… U… Unless, did you perhaps want to strip me yourself? I… If so… I will…}
[No, that’s not it…]
Isera hurriedly gathered her clothes, putting them back on.
Watching her do so, I was once again reminded of how deeply the Baal Church emphasized fertility…
In other words, their minds were basically filled with sex.
‘No… If your partner looks like this, wouldn’t you at least check if there’s something attached down there first?… Did she think that just stripping would naturally lead to eating?’
Swallowing my perplexed feelings, I couldn’t help but feel a strange embarrassment as I glanced away from her oddly captivating body.
***
‘Why…?’
After putting on her clothes, we continued our conversation.
I explained that I didn’t summon her to have such a talk.
I was merely here to clean up the aftermath of the incident, so there was no need for her to worry about such things.
However, even as Isera listened to my words, only questions began to pile up in her mind.
A ruler who wins a war taking the woman of the defeated is a rightful act of the victor.
It’s been an absolute truth for hundreds of years, yet Seraphim, who killed Ba’al, was decisively rejecting this.
Although Isiris had previously told her not to worry about such things, Isera had only taken it as comforting words.
And now, being alone with him like this, she thought he would obviously indulge in her to his heart’s content…
But this Seraphim didn’t even touch her and was only seriously talking about future political plans.
[In that regard, make sure to select those who are capable within the Blackset Empire so they can seize power.]
{I will obey your command.}
[Then, have them uproot the Baal Church completely.]
{The church…}
Since the one holding her leash was giving the order, Isera had no choice but to follow.
However, even as she noted and memorized everything he said, her mind was filled with more and more questions.
‘Why?… Could it be… Is it because I’ve never been able to bear a child? No, there’s no way he would know that, so… Is it… Is it really because I’m unattractive as a woman?…’
That’s the only conclusion she could think of at the moment.
Honestly, looking at the bizarre appearance of the being in front of her, she couldn’t be sure where he would insert something into her body, but that was for him to figure out.
If the other side is male… (considering the voice is masculine, at least…) there would be no reason to refuse the prey laid out in front of him.
Unless that prey is truly inedible in his eyes…
‘…Is that what it is? Has my appearance… lost all charm that could stir a man’s heart?’
It had been over 100 years since she last had relations with her husband, so Isera’s feelings of being unwanted as a woman had already solidified.
In this situation, where she was taken as a prisoner by the enemy’s lord, even he rejected her.
In other words, it meant that she was already considered worthless as a woman.
Of course, one could argue that from another cultural perspective, being able to maintain chastity as the wife of a deceased husband could be seen as a positive thing.
However, this was a place deeply rooted in the teachings of the Baal Church, which placed heavy emphasis on fertility.
With her pride as a woman completely shattered, Isera’s heart couldn’t help but sink into deep despair.
‘As expected… someone like me no longer has any value as a woman… There’s no man anywhere who would like this shabby body…’
[Isira?]
{Y-Yes? Yes? … Why… Why do you ask?}
[I’m not sure what you’re thinking about, but I would appreciate it if you could focus.]
{I… I am focusing. So… what was it you were saying about the church?}
[I’m saying that we need to remove the church that has been committing evil deeds up until now… Wait, Isera, I haven’t finished speaking.]
{…I apologize.}
Feeling slightly embarrassed and trembling at his words, which carried a hint of irritation,
Isera blushed, the lingering shame still present on her face, as she looked at Seraphim.
She was being ignored by the very being who held the right to possess her,
The being in front of her who held the right to take her, had turned her down.
Feeling a deep loathing for her pitiful self, like a withered flower that had rotted away,
And at the same time, holding a sense of self-pity, realizing that all she could do now was fulfil her duty in a purely business-like manner.
***
“Damn it! What on earth is happening?”
A middle-aged man’s voice filled with rage echoed in front of the altar.
It was Pope Ahab of the Baal Church.
He was puzzled and confused by the strange phenomena occurring over the past few days.
“Is there… still no word today?”
“Yes… What about you all?”
“…We are sorry, but we have also received nothing…”
“Damn…”
The divine revelations of Baal, which had suddenly ceased a few days ago, were causing immense confusion among the Pope and the core members of the church.
Until recently, Baal’s voice had been giving instructions, both large and small, regarding the upcoming “Great Enterprise,” but now that voice had stopped altogether.
What on earth had happened?
Could this also be a part of the Great Enterprise?
If so, there should have been some prior notice or message given.
Why did Baal suddenly cease communication without any explanation?
Although it seemed unlikely, the Pope and the church members were filled with anxiety, wondering if Baal had cut off communication due to disappointment in them.
Their minds were gripped by doubt, confusion, and fear, feeling as if they were burning up inside as each moment passed.
It was then…
“P-Pope! We have a serious problem!”
“What is it? Don’t tell me… again?”
A high-ranking bishop hurried inside.
Frowning, Pope Ahab opened the letter that was hastily handed to him.
And then.
“These bastards…”
The contents revealed that yet another laboratory… No, “monastery” had been attacked and burned down.
Lately, there had been a sudden increase in these invisible assaults.
The bishops, enraged by this daring attack on the very group that practically ruled the Baro Empire, began grinding their teeth.
“We can’t just leave this alone.”
“I will contact the Emperor immediately. We will find out who dares to do this.”
“Do so.”
With the Pope’s brief approval, the bishops began to move swiftly.
Watching them, Pope Ahab felt a cold fury and made a vow in his heart.
‘Annoying things keep happening right before the Great Enterprise. This must be a test given to us by the God Baal. If that is the case… Please watch over me, O God. I, Ahab, as your servant, will handle this perfectly!’
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Comment