[Weren’t you a bit too harsh?]
[I have to agree with Senior.]
While I was assisting Professor Fel with the calculations, the Dark Spiritualist and Stella approached me, speaking softly.
The two, who had been watching Professor Fel closely, continued to speak with a tone of regret.
[You also know that she was just trying to help us, right?]
[It might have been a bit excessive, but it was still an act of goodwill.]
“But that does not mean I can accept her proposal.”
There was no room for compromise on this matter. Professor Fel’s suggestion wasn’t all that different from resurrecting the dead.
[Ugh.]
The Dark Spiritualist crossed her arms, unable to think of a response, but Stella stepped forward.
[Aren’t you stuck on your own conviction a bit too much?]
On hearing those words, I unconsciously turned to face her. Though Stella wore her usual gentle smile, there was reproach aimed at me behind it.
[Deus, I do agree with your conviction. Resurrection is a concept that even religion cannot support.]
In the current continent, religions that entertained the notion of immortality or resurrection were considered to be heretical.
Due to the presence of Dark Mages who manipulated the dead, most religions focused more on the afterlife instead of resurrection or immortality.
[But you’re letting yourself be affected a bit too much by that conviction. While Professor Fel might have overstepped a bit, I don’t think that means you should reject her research entirely.]
[...She doesn’t even have horns on her head right now.]
The Dark Spiritualist, wide-eyed with surprise, stared at Stella, clearly not expecting her to come at me so strongly.
Ignoring the Dark Spiritualist’s reaction, Stella’s gaze remained fixed on me.
[There are other ways to utilize her research that don’t involve resurrection.]
“...You are correct.”
I put down my pen and nodded without much hesitation. She was right.
I had hastily cautioned Professor Fel, thinking she had crossed a boundary that shouldn’t be breached.
But indeed, there were other ways to use her invention and I had prematurely cut off all those possibilities.
I felt a pang of guilt for having reacted emotionally to something I was especially sensitive about.
I guess I can’t say I lack emotions any longer.
I wasn’t exactly overflowing, and compared to others, the waves of emotion were still relatively shallow, but it was no longer as calm as before.
As I lived on this continent, I, too, was clearly changing as a person.
[It’s okay; that’s not a bad thing at all.]
Stella smiled warmly to comfort me, as if she knew the exact thoughts running through my head.
I did wonder occasionally if she could read minds, but it was probably the result of her experiences as a Saintess, offering counsel to countless people. ?α??оВE?s?
“Thank you.”
I was truly grateful for her critique of my mistakes and her encouragement of my personal growth as a person.
I realized how much I relied on Stella in many ways. Perhaps the greatest counselor on the continent had been accompanying me all this while.
To my gratitude, Stella responded playfully.
[We don’t have much time left, so I have to get everything off my chest, right?]
[Wow...]
The Dark Spiritualist gasped, her mouth agape, clearly not expecting Stella to be this blunt.
Though we all knew we would eventually part ways, we were yet to say it out loud.
And Stella had just shattered that unspoken rule as if it was nothing.
However, knowing that she did so to teach me something, I didn’t feel the need to point it out.
Heeding her advice, I stood up and headed toward Professor Fel without hesitation.
She had been crafting something more intricate, almost like a mannequin, at my request.
“Professor Fel.”
“Cough! Y-yes!”
My sudden appearance startled her, and seeing her overreaction, I was now certain that I had been too harsh earlier.
“I apologize for earlier.”
“Pardon?”
She blinked in surprise and asked me to repeat myself, clearly not expecting an apology from me. I repeated it sincerely.
“I realized that I belittled your efforts and research earlier by only focusing on one part of it. While I am still opposed to the idea of resurrecting the dead, I now see that your research has other broader applications.”
As I spoke honestly, Professor Fel blinked a few times before smiling brightly and adjusting her glasses.
“Oh no! No, it’s okay! I made a mistake too! Reviving the dead... it’s something that shouldn’t be done at all, and it could lead to accusations of heresy. I now see that the risks far outweigh the benefits!”
I wasn’t sure if she was pleased because I apologized first or if she was relieved that our relationship, which could have turned sour, was mended.
However, she reminded me of a puppy rejoicing at the sight of snow.
“Then, Professor Deus, can I use some of my research in crafting the item you requested? Well, I actually need your help with it.”
What I had requested for was a mannequin that could be controlled remotely, with the ability to share vision and be manipulated through mana.
It was essentially a robot.
If a passage to the underworld were to be created inside the general store, I would not be able to enter or leave the store anymore.
That was why I needed a puppet to deal with the abnormal situations that would arise when I couldn’t physically enter the space.
There was no need for me to use it. While it was currently being worked on by hosting a soul, later on, when I would use it, I would just need to infuse it with mana and use it in a kind of connecting format.
So, I felt like I needed to correct her, as ‘going inside’ wasn’t the right term.
“Never mind, it’s nothing. I guess I’m having weird thoughts because I’m tired.”
Deia waved her hand dismissively, brushing off the words she blurted out. I found it a bit strange but didn’t press further. I had been cooped up underground for so long that my mind felt clouded as well.
“I will step out for some fresh air.”
“Ah, sure. I’ll brew some coffee.”
Leaving Professor Fel behind, I stepped outside. Following Stella’s advice, it was clear that her research could lead to applications that could help prevent death, rather than bring people back.
While the thought intrigued me, I couldn’t help but wonder how far this research would go.
“Do you really think that’s possible? I don’t think Master Bastard will like it.”
“I’m genuinely considering a way where everyone can be happy. From my perspective, it’s a compromise.”
“Bullshit, I’m the one who is going to win this.”
“I never said I was giving up either.”
As I walked outside, I could hear some familiar voices mingled with the night breeze. Following the smell of smoke, I found Findenai staring at the moon, smoking, while Erica sipped coffee beside her.
Erica had been bedridden due to the injuries she sustained in the Rometiu Forest, but it seemed she was now fully healed.
“What are you two up to?”
As I interjected with a sudden question, the two of them flinched and shrank back.
Were they discussing something they shouldn’t have in my presence? Poking Findenai in the side, Erica forced a smile.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
But of course, the other person was Findenai.
“Master Bastard, this crazy bitch is suggesting that we split you up and share you among ourselves!”
“Findenai!!”
“...”
Startled by Findenai’s immediate tattling, Erica raised her voice unceremoniously in surprise.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Truly confused, I asked again, and so, Findenai extinguished the long cigarette she was holding before speaking again.
“She means that since we both like you, we should share you, Master Bastard. Concubine, don’t tell me you still don’t know what that means?”
“Erica.”
I looked at her with a frown, genuinely disturbed by what I just heard. Erica seemed at a loss for words, her lips trembling.
“Uh, no, that’s not...”
“Huff.”
An involuntary sigh escaped my lips.
Doubts about her previously steadfast character began to bubble within me.
“Well, it seems like there are a lot of people who care about you more than you realize...”
Erica lowered her head, fidgeting with her hands, and I noticed tears welling up in her eyes.
She looked helpless, her face flushed in embarrassment toward herself.
“Griffin practices monogamy.”
The king didn’t take concubines, so being a vassal, I couldn’t either.
Just like I had to eventually part ways with Stella and the Dark Spiritualist—It was unfortunate, but I wouldn’t be able to reciprocate everyone’s feelings.
“See, I said you wouldn’t accept it in the first place. Also, I can’t imagine you holding two women in your arms.”
“That’s... true for me too.”
Erica agreed softly, and Findenai boldly declared.
“And while I often say I’m an adulteress, sorry, but I don’t like that sort of thing. Why should I share Master Bastard’s dick with another bitch? They say even men have limits.”
“...Findenai.”
I tried to warn her to tone it down.
“How many times can you do it? Ah, I should’ve just asked Iluania.”
She started rambling on her own like she had lost it completely. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, I spoke again.
“I told you to stop messing around without any proper experience.”
I thought she would back down this time as well, but Findenai, embodying the spirit of no retreat in battle, confidently took a step forward and declared boldly.
“Go ahead, try it again if you can! But I’m warning you.”
“...”
“The moment you challenge me, I won’t back down, Master Bastard. So if you’re ready to take responsibility, then you can go for it.”
I never expected her to be this brazen. Just from that one experience. Caught off guard by her unexpected advance, I found myself at a loss.
Having already experienced a humiliating defeat back then, she acted brazenly as if she had practiced this situation several times.
“Um.”
Unfortunately for her, Erica probably wasn’t there in her imagination, right?
“I’m your fiance?e here, you know.”
With a flushed face and slightly puffed out cheeks, Erica tugged at my clothes, exuding an innocent charm that belied her age.
“You /genesisforsaken