CH 99

Chapter 99 – Brightness And Destiny

Hi, it’s me, Kosuke. I managed to get out of bed to do my business on the toilet. So please, Sister, don’t stare at me while I do my business just because you don’t want anything to happen to me.

“It’s my duty, don’t worry about it.”

It’s okay if you say that and give me a sly, kind smile, but please don’t do it, mainly because it’s cutting into my spirit! Even when I insisted, Sister-san was completely unaffected. She never throws away her responsibilities. She is very strong.

The meal consisted of grated fruit and slightly salty water. It does not satisfy my stomach.

“Since your stomach lining and other parts of your body are weakening to the point of death…”

“No, thank you very much.”

I’m grateful to be served, and it’s because they care about my health. It’s a shame that it doesn’t fill my stomach, but I can’t complain.

Besides, it seems to be true that my organs are dying, and all that comes out from underneath is mostly water. When the patient was unconscious, they made him drink water very frequently to prevent the patient from dying of dehydration. It was truly mind-blowing.

That’s how I spent my time after the saint left the room.

“Come on, talk to me.”

“You’re fast, aren’t you?”

It hadn’t been more than two hours, I thought, but the saint had already returned. She sat down on the chair beside my bed and stared at me, just like before. I didn’t have time to think about it.

Well, you thought I was a God or an apostle because I was so shiny.”

“Shiny… well, yes.”

She didn’t like the way I described the glitter as shiny, but eventually, she nodded to my words.

“Isn’t it just a coincidence or something a little unusual?”

“It’s impossible. You see, a person’s divine energy, or glow, is roughly between a large copper coin and a silver coin in terms of money. There are only a limited number of people who have a glow like a gold coin.”

The saint held up her index finger with a blank expression and began to talk to me as if to say.

“What about the money analogy?”

“It’s easy to understand, isn’t it? But the glitter you wear is like a platinum coin. It’s a different order of magnitude than the others. You are on the same level as me, a precious saint.”

“Am I supposed to be happy that you say I’m a platinum coin, or am I supposed to be disgusted that you unabashedly say you’re a platinum coin yourself…?”

“It’s no surprise that I’m a platinum coin, chosen and loved by God.”

She looks smug despite her expressionless face. What a wonder!

“So, the glow is only visible to you, isn’t it, Saint-sama?”

“Yes, I’m the only one who can see it.”

“Then it must be some kind of mistake. It’s an illusion. You’re tired, Saint-sama.”

“I knew you would say that. That’s why I brought you this.”

The saint then took out from somewhere what looked like an old crown. It’s not the kind of crown you’d expect to see on a king, but more like the kind worn by Hero in a popular RPG. I guess it’s a circlet.

It was made of dull golden metal, like brass, and on its front was a white, cloudy stone the size of a thumb. If the stone had been red, it would almost have been the very thing itself!

“S-saint-sama? This is…”

“Yes, it’s the Crown of Brightness. I took it from the white pig who had carefully stored it away.”

“Saint-sama?”

The sisters in charge of the room and the sisters in charge of accompanying the saint screamed. Apparently, judging from their reaction, this is a kind of ritual tool that should not be touched or taken out of the country without permission.

“This is a relic that transforms the wearer’s glow into visible light. Like this.”

“Whoa, that’s too bright!”

When the saint put on the crown, the stone on the frame shone violently and burned my eyes. My eyes, my eyes!

“It’s so bright, isn’t it? But when I wear it, it’s too bright and inconvenient to use for lighting.”

“Lighting?”

“Then let’s put it on Amalie.”

“Hyii! F-forgive me!”

“Don’t worry; your glow is of the rank of great silver to gold.”

The saint said ruthlessly and put the crown mercilessly on the head of the sister who’s in charge of my room, who twitched her face and begged for forgiveness.

“It’s a little bright, but it’s just right. Just right for lighting.”

“Oh, God…”

The Sister in charge of the room, who was called Amalie, closed her eyes tightly so as not to see the light she was emitting and began to pray, trembling.

“Saint-sama, why is the Sister so afraid?”

“Apparently, for someone who can’t see the glow, this crown that makes her faith ‘visible’ is scary.”

“Don’t do that to her…”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Amalie.”

“N-no… it’s God’s will.”

Amalie opened her eyes fearfully and let out a deep sigh as if she understood that the crown had been removed.

“So, if I put this on you, it will prove that you are clothed in a tremendous glow.”

“No, it’s just a coincidence, isn’t it?”

“I have many years of experience and trust. There is no such thing as a coincidence, so don’t worry. Berta, Amalie, hold him down.”

In response to the saint’s instructions, the sisters at the door and Amalie-san approached my bed, hugged my arms, firmly secured me, and restrained me. Oh, the soft touch… No, that’s not the case.

“Um, hey, I’m in trouble. Can you let go of me, please?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to be covered in that thing, either…”

“Please give up.”

“Ladies, hey ladies! I’m in trouble! Aah! Hey, ladies! I’m in trouble!”

I struggled and tried to escape, but I couldn’t shake the slender sisters, perhaps because the poison had weakened my body.

The moment the crown was placed on my head by the saint’s hand, a white light painted the room. Everything was white. Or rather, it was blinding. I couldn’t see anything.

“It was more than I imagined.”

The crown was removed from my head, and the saint muttered with her red jade eyes dulled. The fact that she is a little teary-eyed is probably due to the fact that she looked directly at me for a moment at close range.

“So, the line that I was mistaken is gone. It’s time for you to vomit.”

“Saint-sama, your language…”

“Under the glow of the sun, reveal the truth.”

The saint reiterated after being warned by Berta. Hmm, what should I do?

Let’s think calmly. Is it bad if I’m found out? Of course, it’s not good.

What’s worse, I don’t know what kind of treatment I’ll get if I admit to them that I’m an apostle of God, a marebito. No, I don’t think they’ll treat me badly, but they might take me to the Holy Kingdom under strict protection.

I don’t think it’s impossible for me to escape if I use my abilities, but it will definitely delay my return to Sylphy and the others even more. Even if I escaped and were caught, I wouldn’t be killed so easily, but it would definitely make it more difficult to escape.

But on the other hand, it is a very difficult situation to cover it up. I have no idea how this relic works, but the problem is that everyone, including the saint, strongly believes in the power of this crown. There’s no excuse for this.

“I have a few questions.”

“Let’s hear them.”

“If I am what you say I am, how would you treat me?”

“Well… You don’t seem to be very religious, so the first thing I would do is to instill faith in you. Except for sleeping hours, you will spend your days memorizing and copying scriptures, praying and devoting yourself.”

“You’re lying, right?”

“No.”

“Hey.”

I couldn’t help but shout at the saint, who said it was a lie without expression.

“First of all, you’ll have to start as my entourage and escort. Eventually, you will marry me and have a child with me.”

“…You’re lying, right?”

“It’s true.”

“You’re lying?”

“It’s true.”

“You’re lying?”

“It’s true.”

“Ugh.”

“It’s…”

“Please, both of you, just talk normally.”

Amalie-san interrupted us, and we both fell silent. It was no use staying quiet, so I decided to start the conversation.

“I have my heart set on someone.”

“I don’t mind. As long as you have a child with me too.”

The saint said without hesitation. No, no, no, no.

It’s not good; it’s not good. I mean, why would you do that?”

“Because I have an oracle.”

“An oracle.”

“Yes, an oracle. It was the night before I left the Holy Kingdom. I will be confronted with death wherever I go. But when I overcome it, I will meet my destiny. God told me to stay close to my destiny and live.”

And just as the oracle said, she found me glowing in the Merinard Kingdom, a thug tried to kill her, I saved her, and I almost died, but I managed to survive… In other words, she confronted death. It’s hard to imagine that the glowing me is not her destiny. I would think so if I were her.

I mean, isn’t it just too convenient? Maybe it’s just God’s way of doing things, but how am I supposed to take this situation?

I was probably brought into this world by a god or something like that and was thrown out into the Black Forest where there are sub-humans. There, I met Sylphy, Isla, and the Harpies. Then I fought with the sub-humans against the Holy Kingdom’s army, was betrayed by Qubi, and met the saint.

She told me that meeting me was destiny. She said she was told so by God.

If the saint’s destiny was to meet me, then why was I thrown out into the Black Forest? Shouldn’t I have been thrown out to the saint from the start? I’ve heard that there’s some kind of glow in the sky, and if I’d been given an oracle or something to get me to meet her, I’d have been attached to her from the start.

Without ever meeting Sylphy, Isla, and the others.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. If I had been thrown into the Holy Kingdom from the beginning, what would have happened to me? I might have joined the army of the Holy Kingdom and killed Sylphy and the others. Thinking about it made me feel nauseous.

“What’s wrong with you? You look pale.”

“No…”

“…This was not the kind of talk you want to have when your mind and body are weak. I’m sorry. I spoke too quickly.”

The saint bowed deeply and apologized to me. Seeing this, I panicked as well.

“No, if I were in the position of the saint, I think I would have carried things out more forcefully. I just want to think things over. Can you come to talk to me again?

“…Are you sure?”

“It’s my line, not yours. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. I’m kind of curious about this whole God thing, and I’d like to talk to you about it…”

“Well, then I guess I’ll be a good counselor.”

The saint broke her blank expression and gave a natural smile. I have to admit; I was fascinated by it.

“Well, I’ll come to see you tomorrow. Please keep your thoughts together. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Amalie.”

“Okay. Thank you, Saint-sama.”

“Eleonora.”

“Eleonora.”

“Yes, that’s my name. You can call me Ellen.”

“Ellen… Ellen, right? Okay. Thank you, Ellen.”

“You’re welcome.”

She smiled once more and left the room, accompanied by Berta. I looked over at her and threw my upper body on the bed.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Yes, good night. God and I will be watching over you, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you…”

God, O God. I don’t know what you think you’re doing… Tell me what to do. Geez.

Damn it; I should have just run back home, even if it was a little dangerous. I don’t know if I can fight the Holy Kingdom from now on.　Will I be able to make a weapon to kill the people of the Holy Kingdom?　As I started to think about these things, I felt nauseous even though I was sleeping. I can’t do this anymore; let’s go to sleep. Don’t think about anything. At times like this, the more I think about it, the more I get stuck.

I concluded and let go of my consciousness.