Chapter 530: I Pardon Your Sins (2)
I flinched at the loud voice that rang inside my head, but didn’t necessarily respond.
I thought Benignore would shield me from what Loren or Garren or whatever-her-name G.o.d would do to me.
It was obvious what would happen if they smacked the head of somebody who was called the ‘Last Hope’ and the ‘Beacon of Light.’
Kim Hyunsung included, it was natural that the deities would gain the wrath and blame of all the heroes; in addition to that, our heroes could start to antagonize their heavenly neighbors.
I could be sure of it just by looking at Kim Hyunsung, who had warily been gazing at the incoming light.
Moreover, harming me would be suicidal for them, who strived for the empire’s continued survival.
It was even more so if one thought of my recruitment offers. Incompetent G.o.ds like Benignore feared that I would join Belial’s side and go to h.e.l.l with him.
Hearing Benignore say that someone from a high position greatly wanted me, what could a low-ranking G.o.ddess like Loren do to harm me? Unless there was something wrong with her head, I thought she wouldn’t do anything to me.
[You imbecile! You human with a disgustingly foul soul!! How dare you!! Make a fool of a G.o.ddess? Don’t you fear divine punishment?!]
With a gigantic light, a huge sound rang in my head. It was such a big sound that I began to shield my head like a turtle.
When I glanced at Kim Hyunsung, he was touching his sword while biting his lips. If I received any more shock than that, he might destroy the holy statue.
‘We can’t do that… endure for a bit more, Hyunsung…’
It was more worrisome to grow any ill feelings with the Vatican than with a G.o.ddess.
The bursting light was too bright to say that the G.o.ddess had forsaken me…
Moreover, I didn’t want to make a scene where the higher beings didn’t accept me. However, that didn’t mean that I would just obey that deity’s orders quietly and do everything she asked me to do.
As usual, I had no intention of yielding. Yielding was what people around me did.
Even as I bit my lips, Loren continued to spit out her nonsense, and the light became stronger. She was way too furious. Hence, at that moment…
‘Ok, sh*t… I’m going to h.e.l.l.’
[Huh?]
‘Alright! I will go just to h.e.l.l if you want me to do that so much. I’m going to go to h.e.l.l.’
[Huh-uh…?]
‘I don’t need forgiveness. I will just go to h.e.l.l, seriously. Belial-nim! Where are you? Belial-nim!’
[Uh… Uh?]
‘Okay, just let me fall as low as I can. And I have nothing more I want to say to you. Do everything else on your own. It’s prohibited to lay your hands on this empire’s creature, so I don’t know where your confidence comes from. Are you sure that you will be able to recover your divine power if you do anything to me? Maybe you’re trying to lose everything again, but don’t you know what will happen if you lose all your support?’
[Believer Lee Kiyoung, that’s not what I meant… You misunderstand me.]
‘Benignore-nim is the same. Who would expect that she just stood by, watching while calling me her lovely, lovely believer? Seriously, why can’t you just accept my sins when I’m trying to gain forgiveness on something that I had no choice but to do to save the empire? I guess it was a lie that if I repent, all sins will be forgiven and that I can go to Heaven and so on.’
[…]
‘Will I even be able to go to Heaven, scared like this? What if someone finds fault with what I did here since my sins won’t even be fully cleansed? You really are too much. In this case, I think demons are at least better. Loren-nim, you can be at peace.’
[Do you think my believers won’t do anything?!]
‘So, what are they going to do if they were to do anything? Are they going to cause miracles? Please tell me. Let’s see who will win. Your reputation on my side is already terrible anyways. Let’s test which is better at shifting public opinions. I will make it the fact that G.o.ddess Loren sold the Union to the demons in a month. You can look forward to it.’
[No one will believe it, you fool!]
‘Will they not believe me? I think you have too much faith in your believers.’
[Lovely believer, Lee Kiyoung! I think you are too overwhelmed… let’s talk for a moment… I will give you all the heroes you want. Um, you know, in truth, it’s not even something you have to get pardoned for. You actually did all that for us. What Loren said isn’t what she meant… We were just taken back that you were trying to get forgiveness for something that didn’t even need to be forgiven.]
‘Ah, Benignore-nim. It’s fine. It’s fine. I’ll just go to h.e.l.l rather than ask for forgiveness.’
[Believer Lee Kiyoung! Believer Lee Kiyoung!]
[Don’t act so pathetically, Unni! It’s because you keep acting that way that the c.o.c.kroach doesn’t realize its low worth and has no fear for the upper beings. It’s time for us to fix his terrible tendencies.]
[Loren, stay still!! Stop, right at this moment…]
[How long are you going to be led by this disgusting human?! This is all for you, Unni! At this point!!]
[Loreeeeeeen!!]
Then, I heard a loud crash. I didn’t know for sure, but it seemed that Benignore had overpowered Loren. It felt like I also lost connection because I couldn’t hear anything. I didn’t know what was happening.
Apparently, the incompetent Benignore had much more power than Loren, and she had tried to stop the worst-case scenario in a hurry.
I didn’t really mean everything I said, but it also didn’t mean that they were impossible.
It might be a bit difficult, but there was a high chance that I could turn Loren into a corrupt, fallen G.o.d. The Union’s religion would easily crack, and the support for the temple would also completely get lost.
What temple and statues could remain after demons raided it?
Considering that many had shed tears while calling out Loren’s name amid the incident, who wouldn’t hold some ill feelings toward the G.o.ddess?
Through just a couple of words, I could turn her into a fallen ent.i.ty who had sided with Belial.
It was easy to create false rumors, but she would have to prepare countless pieces of evidence and doc.u.ments to disprove those rumors. And in that situation, there was no evidence or doc.u.ment that Loren could bring forth to dispel such misinformation.
All she could do was emit light and give some people quests. In the first place, it was a winning game for me.
Benignore must have learned social skills properly to be able to realize that.
‘I raised that G.o.ddess properly.’
Perhaps, because she had interacted with me multiple times, she could read the situation well.
That must be the feeling of seeing a newbie becoming more and more accustomed to their company life.
After a while, I could hear voices that made me realize that Benignore must have enforced the rules of the wild.
[Unni…]
[What are you sobbing for? I don’t have a younger sister like you. Apologize to lovely follower Lee Kiyoung this instant.]
[*sob*]
‘Yes, that’s right.’
[Hurry up!!]
[Unni…]
[I am sorry believer Lee Kiyoung… You must have been really surprised. This kid still doesn’t really know anything yet… I hope believer Lee Kiyoung will be able to forgive her with your big heart since I will do everything you ask of me anyway. Come on, do it.]
[S-Sorry. I accidentally made a big mistake. *sob*… please, I will appreciate it if you could forgive me.]
[Do you feel a bit better, believer Lee Kiyoung?]
‘…’
[Can’t you let this one pa.s.s for me? We worked so well before. Lovely Lee Kiyoung, won’t you want this too, and this may make things a bit awkward even though we may have to work together in the future.]
‘Well… that is true. To be honest, it isn’t really appealing for me to do that, but for you, I will accept this apology. In return, you must forgive my sins. It has to be tic-for-tac. Like I said before, I hope Loren-nim will pardon my sins personally as well.’
[Loren’s divine power is still lacking…I can’t really afford to do it either. I can’t do it personally, but I think we can make the shape with light. Will that be alright?]
“It just has to be something you or Loren-nim can verify. Please do it quickly when you are ready. People are waiting.’
[Of course, I will do it right now since you are the one asking! Of course, I have to forgive believer Lee Kiyoung’s sins before anybody else. Yes! That’s right, but…]
‘You can rest a.s.sured about the aftermath. I will make sure that there’s something in it for you to the best of my abilities.’
[As expected of believer Lee Kiyoung. I am always thankful…]
‘It’s fine. It’s not only for me. It’s for the empire. For the empire, Benignore-nim should also…’
[Alright! T-Then, let’s start!]
In Benignore’s perspective, she probably didn’t even want to mention her contract with Belial ever again.
The light started to disappear as she changed the direction of the conversation.
All the Blue Guild members, including Kim Hyunsung, bit their lips.
It seemed that they had imagined the worst, but their expressions brightened when they saw the light shining again. Not only did light shine, but it even started taking the shape of Benignore herself.
The colorful brilliance in the shape of Benignore didn’t look as lively as the time she appeared with Belial, but somehow, it looked more holy.
It was so astonishing that I could hear joyous voices from everywhere.
“Holy Benignore…”
Tears fell from pope Basel’s eyes.
“Even Loren-nim…”
The holy knights became surprised at even the Union’s guardian, Loren, appearing.
Ahhhhhhhhhh!
I could almost hear the sound.
I maintained my weak expression that looked like I was going to cry at any moment. While emitting their brilliant radiance from their positions, Benignore and Loren spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
[I pardon your sins.]
[Uh… urgh… I pardon your sins.]
It felt as if all the light in the room shrouded me, and I slowly changed my cla.s.s and appearance.
‘Who can blame me, really?’
I did sin, but I felt as if all my little sins had been washed away with their pardon.
That moment made me realize why a lot of religions emphasized repentance.
There was no greater indulgence than receiving words of blessing from a G.o.d after confessing to a sin.
[I pardon believer Lee Kiyoung’s sins.]
My body and mind had begun to feel complete at this point.