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Great Igguoqueden!

The mere fact that they discovered where he is seemed to elevate them even higher.

Evolution. Recognizing the God, transforming into a higher-dimensional existence!

Igguoqueden!

—Everything is to fulfill the word of God.

The word of God must be fulfilled.

However, there was still too much to prepare before ‘fulfilling the word of God.’

In a situation where they couldn’t even properly manipulate the world’s time, it was only natural they couldn’t dare to encroach upon the realm of God.

To actualize such an incredible endeavor, their learning, their divine power was still lacking.

Once it becomes clearer. Once they gain even more power… someday, they will surely be able to make the word of God a reality.

That God willingly grants ‘divine power’ means sacrificing himself to bestow the world upon us.

The more they feel their existence becoming clearer through that power, the more they realize how warm and magnificent God’s love is.

—All they wish for is the continual support of God.

What is needed to fulfill the word of God is only divine power.

As long as God continuously provides ‘divine power,’ there is no need to go against his will.

They expressed mutual agreement.

It was more a concept of resonance than mere expression.

—So that Lord Igguoqueden may hold our world dear.

So that Lord Igguoqueden does not forsake us.

—Long live Igguoqueden!

Everything is solely for the sake of Lord Igguoqueden.

* * *

The fateful day.

The day they recognized the existence of Lord Igguoqueden and realized that he cherished and loved them.

Eirene was repeatedly reflecting on the moment that completely transformed her.

She does not deny the existence of God now.

God exists, and we creatures revere him as ‘Igguoqueden.’ To Eirene, he is a little more special—a master.

The only being who can possess her.

It felt as if she had just woken from a sweet dream, but Eirene didn’t want to think of it merely as a sensation within a fantasy world.

‘Could it really have been… an illusion?’

Even now, when she closes her eyes, it feels as vivid as yesterday.

On that rainy day, the moment they held hands and exited Igguoqueden Castle together.

When she was being carried and heard the compliment that she was well-cooked, her face flushed deeply.

The time spent at the monastery upon their arrival, the happiest and most peaceful moments of her life…

Eirene could indeed recognize, as soon as she returned here, that those were illusions.

Yet, what she still feels is emptiness.

Even now, she could clearly feel Iggon’s breath brushing against the depths of her heart, but if that was just part of a ‘divine experience’ shown to her by God—

‘…!’

In that moment, a thought flashed through Eirene’s mind like lightning.

‘That’s right. Perhaps… it might still exist…!’

When a thought arises, one must act on it.

Eirene immediately rose from her throne and hurriedly took steps forward.

* * *

“We have just exited the castle gate, Your Majesty.”

At the words of her aide, Eirene, aboard the carriage, nodded and said.

“We are not far from here. Continue as instructed.”

“Yes!”

Her decision was to directly find the Aigerdeng Monastery.

Because the Emperor’s movements entailed various annoying matters, she waited for the dark night when the sun would set. Dark was more comfortable, especially for a secret expedition.

Even though it was dark, the monastery was not so far from Igguoqueden Castle.

Having only visited once, she naturally remembered the way. It was a path she could not forget, having walked it with none other than Lord Igguoqueden—Iggon.

After climbing a few hills, Eirene halted the procession, dismounted from the carriage, and commanded her aide.

“Stay vigilant and wait around here. From here on, I will go alone.”

With her chin slightly raised and looking down in a commanding way, the soldier bowed his head and shouted loudly.

“Yes! Understood!”

The reason she decided to go alone was simple.

So that she would not show any disorderly appearance before her soldiers.

Indeed, just coming this close—her heart as a woman was racing uncontrollably.

Thump, thump.

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“You are looking well-cooked.”
“How could I possibly be disappointed? In fact, it’s quite good! It’s a beautiful resonance that can only be created with time.”

Just thinking about that voice made her stomach flutter.

Her legs couldn’t help but tremble. That gentle voice dug deep within her.

It surged into her, leaving a vivid proof that he had once existed here.

Iggon, Lord Igguoqueden was a God. She inherently knew he was an existence that was impossible to meet.

And yet… why was her heart racing so much?

‘I miss you… Lord Igguoqueden…’

After a moment’s deep breath, she resumed her steps.

Once over this hill and to the left, the scenery would appear—

‘…!!’

Eirene stopped dead in her tracks, unable to move forward.

How could this be?

There was… nothing.

No trace of the monastery could be found anywhere.

Only a few trees. Standing beside the place where she set up a food stand during her time volunteering with Iggon.

Confirming that tree shattered her doubts about her memory.

‘…’

Eirene wandered the empty site aimlessly.

—I had anticipated it.

That this was a fantasy world.

That it was a kind of magic realm created by God to grant her enlightenment… I knew that much.

When she came to her senses, Erin, who had been counting on her faith, was the biggest proof.

Yet, what was the reason for her coming here?

What was she expecting?

Having been fortunate enough to receive God’s love, realizing his existence, and revering him as her master—the only part of her creature’s desire.

Why was she running all the way here… to search for his trace…?

“……”

Tears welled up once more in Eirene’s eyes.

Truly, truly, it felt wretched that she had never cried, prompting everyone to point fingers at her for being cruel.

But when she thought only of Lord Igguoqueden, tears flowed helplessly.

Her only master. A being she wanted to serve with all her body and heart…

‘Iggon… Lord Igguoqueden…’

In the empty site, Eirene quietly prayed.

Thank you for loving me.

From now on, I will live for Lord Igguoqueden in this lifetime.

Collaborating with the Guoden Church, until the moment the pure fact of Lord Igguoqueden spreads throughout the world—

‘…Huh?’

Then the sound came.

A quiet yet distinctly audible sound.

—The sound of water flowing.

Following that sound, Eirene moved her steps.

Pushing through the thicket and trees, where the sound led her—

‘…!!!!’

…was a massive hot spring.

She didn’t even understand why it was here.

And it wasn’t her first time seeing this hot spring. After all, she had—

“……Your Majesty?”

“!!!”

Turning around at the sound of a woman’s voice—

There stood the chosen maiden of God—Saint Erin.

“Saint…?”

“How did Your Majesty come to this place?”

“Well, um…”

In a complete daze, Eirene was momentarily lost in thought before Erin broke into a very pleasant smile.

“Would you join me?”

* * *

With a splash—

As the two women entered, the water of the hot spring spread as if it might run dry.

But it was clear it wouldn’t run dry; this place was no ordinary hot spring.

Saint Erin. Could it truly be said that she was chosen by God? She possessed an overwhelmingly divine power pouch, something beyond compare among her peers.

Pure white skin and hair shining as bright as platinum had a holy beauty that, even to an unknowing person, clearly screamed ‘saint.’

And beside her, the empress of the empire—Eirene von Einsberg.

Despite her age, she bore skin that could rival Erin’s.

Moreover, perhaps because of her age, her figure was both voluptuous and exuded pressure.

Her chest, truly enormous to an astonishing degree, rivaled the grand divine power pouch of Erin.

A congregation of women chosen by God with remarkable physiques.

Surely, if God were to gaze upon this sight, He would surely let out a chuckle.

“Is that truly the case, Saint?”

“Indeed. This hot spring is a place granted to me by Lord Igguoqueden.”

As Erin spoke, it seemed that by praying to Lord Igguoqueden, the water of the spring flowed to overflowing.

Had she brushed it off as the ramblings of a religious person before, now Eirene knew very well that Erin was not one who would tell lies.

“I see…”

“Perhaps because this place is blessed by God, until now, no one has known of its existence. Only I could perceive this location.”

Indeed, there was not a single trace of presence around.

At the same time, she instinctively felt that no one could absolutely come here. It was a phenomenon that couldn’t be explained by anything but the phrase ‘will of God.’

“However, Your Majesty’s arriving here… perhaps…”

—It means that Your Majesty, too, is chosen.

“I… am I chosen?”

“Yes. Just like me… you are proof of receiving much love from Lord Igguoqueden.”

Erin slowly approached Eirene… and gently tucked away a damp strand of her hair.

“I am glad that you, too, receive God’s love. Hehe…”

“……”

When she spoke of God’s love, it meant Iggon’s… Lord Igguoqueden’s love.

Once again, Eirene’s heart began to race.

“Saint… I wish to ask you something.”

“Please go ahead.”

“If God… the pure fact that you shared with me—was it all just an illusion?”

Was her deposition.

Being a sacrifice for a new era.

And that God temporarily manifested to prevent that…

“Was it all just… an illusion?”

Erin closed her eyes in silence.

She then clasped her hands together and prayed.

A saint’s prayer—perhaps the only prayer that could reach God.

“God exists.”

“Yes. I know that now.”

“I am a mere representative, so I cannot know how your experience was, Eirene… but whatever it may be, it cannot be simply covered by the word ‘illusion.’ As proof—”

—You entered this hot spring, didn’t you?

“……!!!”

That’s right.

This hot spring… the one where she watched the starry sky pouring down, certainly exists just like reality!

Then, what she experienced was all… truly happened.

“Everything is God’s will, Lady Eirene.”

“Saint…”

Eirene realized once again how a part of her heart was warming.

This is pure fact. A plate full of Lord Igguoqueden’s purest, most sincere essence, invading her body and mind even at this moment.

“……Until I confirmed the countenance of Lord Igguoqueden in the portrait, I couldn’t bear to know. Whether I could believe in God, and beyond that—whether I could trust people.”

“!!!”

“But now it’s different. Since meeting Lord Igguoqueden, I can now trust people. Even if betrayed by that trust, believing in someone isn’t a sin… Lord Igguoqueden taught me that.”

“When someone can trust, they can move forward…”

Eirene looked up at the sky.

Countless stars twinkled brightly.

Stars were embedded in Eirene’s azure eyes. One star for trust, another for love.

“I will establish the Guoden Church as the official state church of the imperial family.”

“……!”

“I plan to announce it promptly tomorrow. So that the pure facts of Lord Igguoqueden can spread across the world…”

Eirene turned her head, smiling at Erin, who was like her benefactor.

It was a smile with resonance. It was an incredibly beautiful and warm smile, one that could never have formed without the realization gained through 36 years of solitude.

“I look forward to working together, Saint.”

Without a word, the saint smiled and took her hand.

It was the moment when the greatest barrier to spreading the words of Lord Igguoqueden was overcome.

* * *

Indeed.

This moment was surely the moment to break through the barrier.

For Erin, whose greatest purpose was to convey the will of God and even make the Emperor her ally, this was a deeply significant moment.

Yet Erin couldn’t enjoy this moment without reservation. She couldn’t simply rejoice and think about what lies ahead.

With the expression of a love-struck girl, she’d spoken the words.

“…I couldn’t know until I confirmed the countenance of Lord Igguoqueden in the portrait.”

You confirmed His countenance?

Did the Emperor… face the countenance of Lord Igguoqueden directly?

A face of Lord Igguoqueden that I don’t even know?

Why…?

“Give it all to me.” That was the word of God. Erin never once thought to go against it.

And yet, a phrase continued to linger in her mind—

—Why, before me… has Lord Igguoqueden revealed his face to someone else?