CHAPTER 313: THE WOMAN WHO HAS RETURNED

“Inevitable figure.”

By now, I could understand the reason why he—or rather, the gods—specifically had come looking for me.

In stark contrast to before, I was no longer someone who was obstructing and twisting their fate; I was now someone who stood at its center.

“In other words, the protagonist who leads fate.”

To them, I had now become the most indispensable human.

Velas placed a hand on his chest.

Though it seemed to mimic the gesture of a noble’s courtesy, irreverence seeped in his every action.

Slowly bowing his head, Velas whispered a declaration directed at me.

“Our freedom.”

“As always, you just speak as you please.”

I did not even bother hiding my displeasure, yet Velas continued speaking with his head bowed.

“I hope your story has a beautiful ending. And I firmly believe that ending will be our freedom.”

Slowly raising his head, I could see the greed reflected in his eyes —not for wealth or lust, but for the dream of freedom.

“You’ve already twisted many fates, bringing that ending much sooner than it should have come. A story that was meant to last five years has been shortened to barely two.”

“…”

“Much of the ending has likely changed as well. Even we ourselves no longer know the choice you’ll make at the conclusion.”

The protagonist had changed, and the story had diverged.

“O great one.”

With a faint smile, Velas showered me with praise. But the adulation from a god was far from welcome.

“O the grave of humanity and the harbinger of freedom for the gods.”

“…”

“We will watch your end with hushed anticipation.”

Velas’ divine form began to dissipate gradually. Though many words floated to the surface of my thoughts, they sank back down without being spoken.

Ultimately, to summarize, the end of the story was drawing near.

And the choice was now mine to make.

In other words, the fate of the entire continent had now been entrusted to me, who had come to the continent as an outsider.

But for now…

“I’m tired.”

I just wanted to rest, even if only for a short while.

***

“Huff.”

Back in my private chamber in the royal palace, I collapsed onto the bed without even bothering to change my clothes.

Though it was still early evening, worn out from exhaustion, I felt the need to lie down.

Looking back, it seems it wasn’t just because of the drugs.

I realized that the sudden fatigue and the collapse of my body were due to me bearing the fate of a hero.

My rapid, steep growth—so dramatic it could even be called a transformation—left my body, already damaged by the drugs, unable to keep up.

Anyway, Pelestan had returned to the palace with me and was now imprisoned.

Like Luaneth, he too had chosen to take responsibility and accept his punishment, a decision I respected.

Squeeze, squeeze.

I could feel a soft pressure on my thigh.

Stella was giving me a massage, which was somewhat familiar to me now.

Without even being asked, she massaged me diligently, concerned about my fatigue.

[It would’ve been better if I had oils and scents.]

Stella lamented.

[They help loosen up the body more and also bring mental comfort.]

Her words reminded me of the items Lucia had given me previously.

“Would you take a look in the vanity drawer?”

[Huh?]

Opening the drawer, Stella retrieved a small pouch adorned with the temple’s emblem.

Inside it were oils and scents meant for massage.

[…These are top-quality.]

“It would not be a bad idea to use them someday. After all, they are just taking up space right now.”

I postponed using them for a proper session as I wasn’t in the mood for it presently.

Yet, for some reason, Stella eyed the pouch with a subtle expression.

[Why do you even have this?]

“Lucia gave it to me. She said I looked tired and suggested I use it.”

[She offered to do it herself?]

“…”

Stella returned the oils and scents back to their place and resumed the massage, pressing a little harder this time—just enough to sting.

[Should I stop?]

“I already told her I was fine.”

[That’s fine, then. But you should never allow Lucia to do this.]

“…”

[Between a dead Saintess and a living one, obviously, the living Saintess wins.]

Stella puffed out her cheeks and continued massaging me. Sneaking a glance at her expression, I somehow felt my exhaustion start to drain away.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something.”

In any case, I wanted to clear things up.

“It is not because you are a Saintess that I am with you.”

[…]

“I am with you because you are Stella.”

Stella’s hands momentarily paused upon hearing my words. Her puffed cheeks deflated, and a smile that she was unable to hide peeked out.

Then, as if finishing the massage, she crept closer to me and asked,

[Can I go and brag to senior about what you just said?]

“…Do not do that.”

[Why noooot? Hm?]

As Stella lay down beside me and began whispering in my ear, my body started to warm up pleasantly.

I could feel the tension in my body being released as the warmth from the goddess of fire and hearth spread through my entire body.

[Sleep well.]

As she gently patted my head, I gradually closed my eyes.

***

“Mmm.”

Dark surroundings greeted me as I slowly opened my eyes. Even through the windows, only darkness seeped in, making it hard to see.

Yet, I could feel a distinct weight on both of my arms.

Stella and the Dark Spiritualist, I presume.

Stella, who had ascended as a god.

And the Dark Spiritualist, who had succeeded Luaneth and become a being of inevitable figure.

Neither of them could be called mere souls any longer.

Especially given the tangible weight I was feeling now.

“Dark Spiritualist, Stella. Move aside.”

Having just woken up, my body didn’t have the strength to move properly. And so, I asked them to move, but the sensation felt somewhat different.

Once I managed to gather my wits, I realized the weight seemed too real to attribute to Stella or the Dark Spiritualist.

It felt almost human.

“Well, well.”

Hearing a familiar voice to my right, I instinctively flinched.

Though it was little more than a sigh, the displeasure behind it was unmistakable.

“It seems you’ve become quite accustomed to sleeping with women on both sides, haven’t you? Even calling them by different names?”

“…”

“Huh? Master Bastard?”

From beneath the veil of the darkness, a faint blood-red glow from her eyes pierced through as they stared at me.

It was Findenai.

“Then, the one on the other side…”

Turning my head slightly, I saw a woman with black hair curled up, fast asleep.

It was Deia Verdi, who should have been in Norseweden.

Unlike Findenai, she seemed to be genuinely asleep from her soft breathing.

It took me a moment to understand why this scene was happening.

However, Findenai didn’t give me the luxury to think.

“Huh? Master Bastard. Did you decide to anger me on purpose after meeting me for the first time in ages? Even if I said I’d tolerate you mingling with other women, it looks like you decide to turn into a playboy now, huh?”

She seemed genuinely upset that her long-awaited reunion had been ruined, and her hand, which was previously resting on my chest, began crawling like a spider.

“I need to check something first.”

Her hand climbed down my chest, poked at my navel, and reached for my belt.

Clink, clink.

And the way she skillfully unbuckled my belt with just one hand was truly remarkable—so much so that it felt like there should be a competition held for it.

“Enough.”

I tried twisting my body to escape, but my strength wouldn’t cooperate.

The moment I felt her hand slipping into my pants, I was prepared to summon mana and blow her away when…

“He said enough, didn’t you hear that?”

A cold hand grabbed hold of Findenai’s wrist from the other side.

Deia, now awake, glared at Findenai with killing intent.

Had she been pretending to be asleep all this time?

Her acting skills were truly top-notch.

“No wonder you two are siblings; you even talk the same.”

“Shut up.”

The two began bickering immediately. Deia extended her leg to push Findenai away, but Findenai resisted without much effort, almost as if mocking her.

The problem was that I was caught in the middle of their fight, making things quite uncomfortable.

“Before I use magic to throw the both of you out the window, get off now.”

Only after I seriously roused my mana and issued a warning did they finally get off the bed.

Findenai turned on the lights, illuminating the room.

What I hadn’t noticed in the darkness became clear: Stella and the Dark Spiritualist were sitting on a guest sofa, glaring at me with their chins resting on their hands.

[It seems Fluffy III here is in a rut.]

[…]

The Dark Spiritualist, who was referring to me by a strange name, and Stella, glaring at me sharply.

I decided to ignore them for now and turned my attention back to Findenai and Deia.

“You arrived rather quickly.”

“Of course, I came quickly. Who knows what trouble you’d get into that might need me?”

Though her tone was playful, her sincerity was evident, especially since she knew I was entangled in a conflict with the trading company over drugs.

Feeling a bit guilty for causing her worry, I offered a soft smile as I replied.

“I have merely declared war. I was letting the fruits ripen until you returned.”

I had deliberately been waiting so Findenai could take the lead upon her return.

She seemed pleased on hearing that, flashing me a wide grin.

“Good job. Knowing how weak Master Bastard is, it’d be dangerous without me around.”

While she was not wrong, I didn’t feel like responding, so I turned to Deia.

Without me asking, she started speaking defensively.

“I-I wasn’t planning on staying for long, so I just shared the room with you. I was tired, and the bed was wide, so I just laid down and fell asleep!”

“No need to get worked up. I did not say anything.”

“You ba—”

Deia barely swallowed her curse and let out a long sigh before getting back to the main point.

“I’ve brought proof that the drug manufacturers in the Clack Republic were colluding with the Wellington Trading Company. I also managed to secure a witness.”

“…”

“And if Findenai had come alone, she wouldn’t have been able to explain it properly.”

That, too, wasn’t wrong.

If it had been Findenai, she’d have given a rough explanation before wandering off for a smoke.

“While the Wellington Trading Company might have cleaned up well, it’s rare for criminals to destroy their records completely. They usually keep them hidden as a last resort—either to bring others down with them or to sell out their associates.”

Deia shrugged her shoulders casually.

She seemed eager to storm into the Wellington Trading Company right away and shove the evidence she’d brought right into their faces.

“Anyone who toyed with Illuania and Sevia should pay for their sins properly.”

“Good job.”

There were several other unresolved matters that still demanded my attention.

And although the issue with the Dark Spiritualist had been more or less settled, the situation with the Wellington Trading Company remained unresolved, complicated further by their ties to the religious sects.

And then, of course, the so-called god visited me, entrusting their freedom and fate to me before disappearing.

Though complicated, I could sort it all out step by step.

First, I needed to set my priorities.

“Findenai.”

The immediate task at hand.

“Contact Professor Fel.”

“Huh?”

“I need an artificial body.”

It was time to meet Aria Rias, who was hanging out with Eleanor.

***

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