Chapter 153

Precognition

…There had been all sorts of chaos until now, but in the end, if I looked only at the conclusion.

It was true that things had been resolved rather smoothly up through Act II.

I didn’t know what would happen right after this, but the very fact that I had cleared the Main Quest without suffering any major damage had to be considered good news.

‘…Originally, the final chapter comes after Act III.’

If things had followed the normal course, that would have been the case. But it had already been quite some time since the scenario’s “normal” progression had flown off the rails.

The fact that someone like Bailey, who was supposed to appear in the final chapter, was suddenly striding about right in front of my eyes was proof enough. The progression had already derailed, and it was clearly running wild to the point that even I couldn’t begin to guess how badly it might twist from here on out.

‘…Then all that’s left is strengthening myself.’

My fundamental ability was, in the end, the power to rip other people’s skills away without hesitation, and the only reason I had survived until now was entirely because of that.

As quickly as possible—

‘Now that I think about it….’

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I had already taken nearly every skill that could be obtained within human limits.

Katya, Noel… When it came to those who could wield the strongest power within the “human” category inside the scenario, it would be fair to say I had already taken everything from them.

If there was a side whose abilities I hadn’t properly obtained yet, then it would be this.

-System Log

■ Omnipotence

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■ Origin

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■ Divine Descent

Acquire more ‘Remnants’ to unlock this trait! [2/3]

…This was it.

Abilities related to the divine authorities that resided in the heavens.

I calmly scanned the sentence written before my eyes.

In truth, even while resolving Act II, I had undoubtedly received a great deal of help from this side. There had been several situations where things would have gone terribly wrong if I hadn’t been able to use abilities connected to divine authorities at crucial moments.

And when it came to beings like that, the person who would likely know the most was standing right in front of me.

“In short.”

The Pontiff looked at me as if I were absurd.

“You’re asking me to tell you how to seduce the gods in heaven?”

“……”

…I had never used such a vulgar expression.

I had merely asked him to tell me how to make them take a liking to me.

I looked at the Pontiff with that sentiment in my eyes, but upon receiving my gaze, he instead slowly covered his own body and glared at me.

“You—wasn’t it enough that you went after human women? Now you’re even targeting ghosts like me and the gods in heaven—”

“…Could you please shut up?”

If he had still been alive, I wouldn’t have dared utter such blasphemous words. Fortunately, in the Mental World, no matter how much we argued and fought, it had no real effect on the physical world.

It seemed he had quickly accepted that fact, because instead of retorting, the Pontiff quietly stroked his chin and began to immerse himself in the topic I had brought up.

“…It’s difficult to even make contact with them in the first place. The fact that their very existence is recognized by someone like you is what’s strange.”

“…Is that so?”

Come to think of it, even when a god had been present, it had felt like I was the only one who could directly see them.

“For starters, there are hardly any who can converse with them. Aside from me, maybe the priestess of the Great Plains at most. Going beyond merely recognizing their existence and actually perceiving each other like people do—there’s probably no one but you.”

“……”

…Hmm.

If that was the case, wasn’t it almost absurd to expect advice from this man?

When it came to them, perhaps there was no one who could make contact better than I could. It might even be difficult to receive help from anyone at all.

As I was thinking that, the Pontiff continued calmly.

“They’re like children. All of them.”

“…Pardon?”

At his peculiar choice of words, I tilted my head, and he let out a faint chuckle before continuing.

“There’s something… pure about them. Maybe it’s because they’ve experienced everything and become detached.”

As he said that, he stroked his chin again.

“Still, a god is a god. Their insight is far from ordinary. It feels like they see everything that can be seen.”

“……”

“In front of beings like that, I think trying to scheme this way or that would only be meaningless. So rather, it’d probably be better to face them as honestly as possible.”

Hmm.

Contrary to my expectations, that was quite helpful.

‘…Honestly.’

I had already been feeling confused since they looked just like the humans around me, so being told to treat them honestly was useful advice.

Didn’t that simply mean I should confront them exactly as I felt when I saw them, without filtering anything?

As I mulled over my resolve to try that the next time I made contact, the Pontiff folded his arms and stepped a little closer to me, speaking in a subtly curious tone.

“By the way, let me ask you something.”

“Yes?”

“What do the gods look like when you see them in person?”

Seeing his eyes suddenly gleam, it seemed that he truly was a priest by nature.

After all, hearing about the beings he had served his entire life must have piqued his interest.

With that thought, I let out a faint laugh and answered readily.

“They look like you.”

The moment I answered honestly, the Pontiff froze in place.

His eyes went wide and round—so unlike the expression he usually wore—that it was rather amusing.

“You resemble them as well. To be more precise, they looked like Katya.”

In the first place, the Pontiff himself looked like Katya after a few years of aging, so it wasn’t exactly wrong to put it that way.

The atmosphere I had felt when I met Sia in person had definitely been closer to Katya than to the Pontiff.

…How should I put it?

If you took Katya’s uniquely willful and lively nature and layered maternal warmth on top of it, that would be the exact feeling.

It was strikingly similar to the atmosphere the Pontiff had exuded when she offered up her entire body to lift the curse placed on Katya—

‘…Huh?’

…Just now, it felt like I had grasped an extremely important clue about the gods.

But before I could dwell on that thought, another voice cut into the middle of my consciousness.

“…Is that true?”

In front of me, the Pontiff spoke with a pale face.

Judging by her expression, it seemed she had realized something even more concrete than the vague insight I had just sensed….

“…Yes, for now.”

“Lady Sia looks exactly like Katya?”

“…?”

The more I watched, the stranger her reaction became.

It was as if she was saying that couldn’t possibly be true.

“What about the others? Have you perhaps seen what another god looks like?”

At the urgent question that burst out of her, I stroked my chin and replied.

“I did meet someone presumed to be Lady Karva. She looked exactly like Dame Noel.”

And the moment I said that.

The already pale face of the Pontiff turned even whiter.

Rarely showing such irritation, she raked her fingers roughly through her hair before rapidly beginning to turn something over in her mind.

All sorts of theological interpretations and knowledge must have been racing through her head….

After standing there in silence for quite some time, pacing faintly, the Pontiff finally approached me with a resolute expression.

And then.

Smack—she hit me on the head.

“……”

…What was that?

Before I could even feel anger or pain, I was too bewildered to react, and I simply stared blankly at the Pontiff. Abigail III grabbed my shoulders tightly and said,

“…Make my daughter happy. If you fail to take care of her, consider yourself dead.”

“…Pardon?”

“…You’re going to have a hard time too, but it’s the kind of hardship most men would want to experience at least once.”

“…Pardon?”

“Take good care of Lionhearted as well. She’ll have it rough too. Yours will be physical hardship, and hers will be emotional.”

“…………Pardon?”

No.

I truly had no idea what she was talking about.

As I stared at the Pontiff with that confusion plainly written on my face, she turned her head sharply as if she didn’t want to say anything more and quickly walked away.

…Despite her pale face, the tips of her ears were bright red, making it look as though she had imagined something rather improper.

“Are you done talking?”

Meyer, who had been watching the whole scene from the side, spoke up.

From my perspective, it was honestly hard to even answer that.

“…I don’t even know what we were talking about.”

…Seriously, that was the only impression that came to mind.

It did seem like we had touched on the fact that the gods were somehow clearly connected to the people around me.

‘…Why am I the one who’s going to suffer physically?’

Was there really anything like that…?

No matter how I thought about it, when it came to me and the other women, well.

As for physically exhausting hardship in that sense… there wasn’t really anything that came to mind….

“Idiot.”

“……”

“I feel sorry for the ones who got reeled in by you. She practically spelled it out right in front of your face and you still didn’t get it?”

“…………?”

“Looking at that dumb expression makes me want to hit you. Your brain works fast when it comes to other things, so why can’t you understand this?”

At the sudden stream of insults, I turned to look at Meyer, but as if he had no intention of explaining further, he drew the sword at his waist.

“Enough of that. Get out here. You’ve slacked off on training lately, so let’s roll hard.”

“I was going to anyway… but why don’t I see a familiar face?”

Teresa, who should normally be here with us around this time, was nowhere to be seen.

She had shut herself in before, saying she was developing some kind of technique, but if it had taken this long, I couldn’t help growing curious.

‘…I did hear it was almost finished.’

Thinking that, I glanced downward.

Of course, this wasn’t a space governed by physical laws, so there wasn’t actually anything on a lower floor to look at. I simply couldn’t think of a more fitting gesture for looking toward someone holed up in the ‘deep consciousness.’

‘…Just what is she trying to make that requires her to stay shut in for so long?’

She had been buried in there long enough to naturally spark curiosity, but I had no intention of stopping her.

After all, it was Teresa who possessed tremendous talent in guidance and instruction—enough to raise Noel to that level. If someone like her was putting in that much effort, then something extraordinary was bound to come out of it.

“Oh, that?”

When I asked Meyer in case he knew something, he gestured for Reaver—who was standing nearby with a sullen expression—to come closer.

“She said she’s bringing something perfectly tailored to your trait. A real masterpiece.”

“…My trait?”

“You know. The one unique trait of yours that anyone can see.”

If I had one… then yes, I did.

Buying affection from the people around me and tearing away their skills.

If not others, at least Meyer and Teresa definitely knew about that ability, since we had shared that information.

What on earth would be perfectly suited to that?

“Something fitting for a devilish playboy who can even seduce gods. So she said you should seduce as many as possible before she finishes developing it.”

“……”

“She said you can look forward to it.”

…Ah, is that so.

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