Chapter 605: Troubles of a Lifetime (3)

Honestly, I didn't think it would be something to be troubled about.

Of course, there were many advantages in siding with Benignore if I carefully examined each of them.

First of all, wasn't the greatest merit the fact that she had been working with me for a long time? She also agreed with the way to handle the continent's affairs and was moderately swayed when necessary.

Sometimes I could even force her to move in the direction I wanted.

We had been through lots of difficulties together so far, but whenever I thought about those events, it was so perfectly sorted out that I could say that everything went well.

If I just focused on our closeness, it wouldn't be wrong to say that I had to raise my hand to Benignore's side unconditionally.

But from a slightly different perspective…

It wouldn't be too much to think, 'is it really better to work with Benignore?'

Being close didn't make it any easier to pick a side in the industry I was in. I hadn't really grasped the goddess Nelia yet, but didn't she seem capable even at a glance?

[If you need to use more than a certain amount of divinity to influence the continent, we will inform you in advance at least. If there is anything else we can do or help, I would like to inform you ahead of time as well that we will do our best to support it. Of course, this is…?]

It was heartbreaking that Benignore was in a difficult situation, too, but wasn't everything her fault?

In the end, it was Benignore who stamped the contract with the demon, and it was also Benignore's fault that she didn't notice Lucifer's entry into the continent.

'I mean… what kind of god has a contract with a demon?… It's Benignore's fault.'

Would that be all?

I couldn't list all of them, but there were dozens of rules that Benignore had broken.

Among them, the bankruptcy case was so embarrassing that even I couldn't defend her. It was definitely her fault that she went bankrupt while borrowing divinity from another dimension.

Although she had the advantage of being relatively flexible in thinking, how could she overcome Nelia's competence?

'Was Benignore eventually stained with darkness…?'

Nelia's voice echoed in my mind, answering the question to myself.

[That's currently being checked. I can't tell you in detail, but the possibility is high… that's what the upper level judged.]

'Sigh…'

[I understand that you are heartbroken, Lee Kiyoung. You've been working together for a long time with her, after all. But sooner or later, you will be able to forget. No, I will do my best to make you forget.]

'Won't it take a long time to reform the religion?'

The work itself wasn't difficult.

It was a shame, but shouldn't I prepare to say goodbye to Benignore, stained with darkness?

It seemed like the right choice, both for Benignore and for myself.

'Believer Lee Kiyoung… Believer Lee Kiyoung…' I felt like I could hear her voice.

[A Common-grade forced quest has been activated.]

[I will… I will definitely repay you, Believer Lee Kiyoung. You… know that I love believer Lee Kiyoung, right? Y-You know I love you, right? We were good together. You're not throwing me away, right? Right? (0/1)]

I could actually hear it.

'What the hell?'

[What?]

I instinctively looked around.

I then looked at Nelia's expression. She hadn't seemed to know that Benignore had contacted me, and I didn't know how she did.

Perhaps she was secretly calling from a place that was similar to a detention center.

I wasn't exactly certain what she could give me, but I wasn't strong enough to save Benignore from the darkness on my own…

[A Common-grade forced quest has been activated.]

[I-I'll give you everything… everything you want. So you can't abandon me. Hic… Believer Lee Kiyoung, don't throw me away. I'll prepare everything you want. (0/1)]

Not enough…

[A Common-grade forced quest has been activated.]

[A-And if you go with this, it won't be good for you too. I-If there is a precedent, there could be a problem when you come up later… (0/1)]

…That might be the case, but it would be better to go with the one that required the least amount of effort.

We had accumulated memories over the years, so how could I turn my back on Benignore?

She and I weren't simply in a relationship between a believer and a goddess.

We were the stakeholders who cared for each other more than anyone else. A drop of tears fell from the statue of Benignore behind Nelia.

No wonder Nelia's comfortable smile had begun to look abominable.

[If you don't like me, I can bring someone else in my place, Lee Kiyoung. But I'm telling you under my name that I will never let you down. If you trust me and entrust me with this job, even if I become a wreck…]

'The only one I need is Benignore.'

[What…?]

'What the hell are you talking about right now? No, do you think it makes sense to do things this way in the first place? I'm only going to work with Benignore.'

[Ah…] magic

'I can understand the investigation, but does it have to be right now? I'm aware that Benignore goes too far sometimes, but she made an unavoidable choice to protect the continent. Strictly speaking, isn't she the one who sacrificed for the continent until now? If you think one is contaminated by the darkness, it is natural that the first step is to purify the darkness… How can you think of execution right away… Is this your way of doing things?'

[No, it's not that… We're only investigating first…?]

I immediately noticed she seemed to think that something had gone wrong, that it wasn't the reaction she was expecting.

Rather than being disconcerted, it would be the correct expression to say that she was thinking about how she could lead the conversation. Perhaps the line 'is this your way of doing things?' was conclusive.

As much as she considered recruiting me, she would need room to think about it.

'I don't think you don't know what's happening on the continent right now. Isn't this the right time for everyone to join forces and get out of the crisis? I don't know what's exactly going on above, but I think there are some power struggles within the faction.'

I needed them to give me Benignore back.

' Benignore is the one who gave up a lot for the continent. Her pride, her faith, and everything she has done were never for herself.'

[There seems to be some misunderstanding, Lee Kiyoung. It wasn't because of fights or factions… and if you take a closer look at Benignore's divinity use history, you won't find any association with the situation on this continent…]

'I don't want to hear any of it. Please call Benignore.'

[Think about it one more time…]

'There's no longer anything for me to think about. Let me talk to Benignore.'

[She is currently under investigation, so it'll be difficult to call her.]

'She hasn't even been proven guilty yet. It is unreasonable to blindly drive her as a criminal without even considering the principle of presumption of innocence. Has Benignore even officially appointed an attorney? I'm worried as a believer about whether she's being pressured in the investigation… Sigh…'

[After the investigation, we will take action for her to officially return.]

'Isn't that an investigation under detention? She isn't a sinner yet. If there is anything to be investigated, you will have to conduct it while she's doing continental work. She can, of course, appoint a lawyer. No matter how suspicious, such treatment… To me, the way humans deal with this looks more rational.'

[There seems to be some misunderstanding, Lee Kiyoung.]

'I'm already telling you that if you don't release Benignore from detention right now, I guarantee you that it will be difficult to get my cooperation. This is not a threat, Nelia. I know that the way the holy people think is different from the way we humans think. I know you can't understand what I'm saying. But this is not the right way. Even in my humble eyes, the way it is now doesn't seem proper.'

I made a face showing that I had been truly disillusioned. When I remembered that Benignore was struggling, pure tears began to wet the floor unbeknownst to me.

As soon as my tears started flowing like a waterfall, Nelia sighed and slowly nodded.

I could then see Benignore popping out with a whooshing sound.

[Believer Lee Kiyoung… Believer Lee Kiyoung…]

The way she hugged me as soon as she ran toward me could be labeled as a very touching scene. I didn't know what choices the superiors exactly made, but I was over one hump for the time being.

[Believer Lee Kiyoung… sniff… Believer Lee Kiyoung… I believed in you… I believed. I believed that you would not abandon me…]

'How… could I abandon Benignore?'

I didn't know if I had brainwashed myself too much, but Benignore's face looked beautiful.

As I hurried to come to my senses, I saw Nelia staring at me with bitter eyes.

'Has it all been solved?'

[No. Based on your claims, we have only nullified the detention of Benignore and other continental gods. There are against Benignore, and further investigation and treatment… will be decided through a little deeper conversation and discussion.]

'Thank you for understanding, Nelia.'

[It's fine. I was just telling you what the superiors decided. Sooner or later, we will be meeting again regarding this matter. Benignore, too.]

[…]

[Until then, this is goodbye. I look forward to seeing you again, Lee Kiyoung.]

'I look forward to seeing you as well.'

With a nod, Nelia disappeared.

Benignore kept crying. I wanted to ask something, but I couldn't figure out what to ask first.

Rather, seeing her anxious face made me anxious too.

I naturally wondered if I made the right choice at the intersection of my current lifetime.

Sure… Benignore's insistence that there shouldn't be a set precedent was correct.

It didn't mean that I had nothing bothering me at all, however. We didn't know what could happen, after all.

I thought it would be right to go to Lucifer, but there was a chance that things would get twisted, and I would end up joining the light. Assuming that I was going with Kim Hyunsung, wouldn't the goddess's side be a more likely choice?

If that time came, it would be quite annoying to me if other factions had been bent over.

'It's better to be careful even in the current situation…'

If Benignore was convicted…

'Fuck… It's getting more and more complicated.'

I had research to do at the 5th District, find the holy sword's user, and I even had to look after Benignore.

Unlike the first and the second, the third wasn't affected by time and space, but…

'I have to maintain the memory loss gimmick.'

If I kept fainting all the time, there was no way Hyejin would be still.

A blow came in when I thought my brain would explode with all of the work I had to do for the continent. As if she noticed that I was in a bad mood, I noticed the lump of light watching me.

[Sorry… I'm sorry, believer Lee Kiyoung.]

Fuck.

"Raise your head, Benignore. You are not a sinner yet."