The World I Was Supporting Was Real

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“……!”

“Count, my lord!!”

Thud.

Rayfield simply collapsed right there.

What does it mean to be obliterated?

It means to vanish― to be annihilated.

For instance, when one with a physical body is wounded, they sense their existence through the pain in that area.

The blood spilled and the disorientation of the mind are akin to a loud declaration of their presence in this place.

The mere ability to die – that is the greatest proof of existence.

Even in the unavoidable death that follows pain, as long as someone remembers that they existed in this place, their soul becomes immortal; thus, death is a privilege reserved for those who exist.

However, Rayfield did not die. No, he could not die. The soul contained within that vessel had been obliterated.

Thus, this is not a corpse. It is not a body that could serve as proof that something once existed.

This is merely a shell. Just a vessel. Something that resembles a human form but contains nothing.

As the shell limply rolls on the floor, everyone— even the non-believers— cannot help but realize the true meaning of God’s existence— that being stripped of even the right to die!

Eirene stood there, staring blankly at all this… slowly, her gaze turned to the back of Iggon, who stood tall before everyone.

‘……!!’

Others might not understand.

But Eirene, as someone chosen by God, could comprehend.

―Believe in God.

All of this was possible because she believed.

Simply by ‘believing’ in Iggon… she realized that this absurd event had occurred.

“I-I can’t believe this……!! My lord……! Please, please come to your senses……!”

At that moment.

The soldier was enveloped by a fear as if struck by a hammer.

The name of the Count… I cannot remember.

Instead, my mind filled with an unknown voice. The voice of God.

Tap.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap……

Iggon lifted his head and looked at the soldier closest to him.

“Eeep……!!”

The frightened soldier instinctively sensed it.

He did not know what the word ‘tap’ meant. A creature cannot dare grasp the thoughts of a god.

The moment he understands it, he would go mad. Someone who, like Saint Erin, is not loved or chosen by God knew the thoughts of God… that person would inevitably be crushed by the weight of an incomprehensible truth.

So, it is only natural that they do not know what it means.

Yet there was one thing he could understand.

The moment that man, no, God uttered the word ‘tap‘……!!

“Run, run away!!”

“Aaaah!!!”

The soldiers began to throw down their weapons and flee.

With a shining gaze, Iggon raised his hand high to the sky and slowly watched the scene until the soldiers disappeared from view, then he gently lowered his hand.

And—

Thud.

He collapsed to the ground.

“……Iggon!!!”

Eirene rushed to Iggon, who had fallen.

His face was… pale.

“Iggon, Iggon……! Pull yourself together……!!”

“Eirene…….”

Iggon looked at Eirene and once again donned a charming smile.

A smile that seemed like it would shatter with the wind.

“I… I deceived you, Eirene.”

“What……?”

“Just as you deceived me, I also… deceived you.”

“I’m not Iggon… that doesn’t mean I was using a pseudonym or anything like that. I am—”

―I am not human.

“……!!!!!”

God.

I am a god.

“To be precise, I am a vessel created in the image of a god….”

“One who shares thoughts with the god but cannot become a true god… a fragment of God, made for the purpose of God….”

Eirene, who never believed without firm evidence, didn’t think about any of that now.

She listened to Iggon’s words.

“God loves you, Eirene…….”

“What……?”

Before she could speak of how only the Saint could be loved by God.

[Motto… What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is mine]

“What’s yours, what’s mine… everything is God’s… that is God’s will. And with God’s power, nothing is impossible….”

As if he had read her mind, his claims of being a god added further evidence.

“Because He loves you, He hoped you wouldn’t stray. If you spend time here not believing anyone… you would be harmed.”

“In the end, you would become a sacrifice despised by everyone… a being that unifies all through sacrifice.”

As a fragment of God synchronized with Him, Iggon knew.

The catastrophe awaiting her in the Great Hall— the final moments.

If the Emperor continued to oppose the religious sector, the fate they would meet.

Iggon slowly placed his hand over Eirene’s.

And—

“!!!”

In Eirene’s mind, an image of the future that had not yet arrived came to her.

The future that would greet her after being sacrificed.

After a new political system completely different from the previous monarchies takes hold, in the final moments, engulfed by the flames of a purging fire while atoning for the sins of the old era.

Was Rayfield’s talk of needing that for a new era referring to this?

As her intuition guided her, she realized her fate was to fade into history along with the old era.

And the only reason she could avoid that fate— God’s interest and love.

Only then did she realize.

The Iggon before her was a being embodying God’s interest and love for Eirene.

“And, at the very last moment… you believed in me, Eirene.”

—Eirene, who could not be believed by anyone, believed in God.

“The moment that happened, God’s desires were fulfilled, and that’s why I could borrow His power.”

If she had been taken away by Rayfield, Eirene would surely have endured a harsh ordeal.

Knowing that well, she could not dare say anything reckless.

God’s will— because Eirene’s faith in God was realized, Iggon, a fragment of God, was able to use divine power but—

“—in the end, being merely a fragment of God means it’s impossible to fully digest that power. So… this might be the last.”

From his mouth came the words that this would be the last moment… blood spilled red.

The price for a fragment daring to wield divine power.

Eirene did not respond with “What does that mean?” or “Don’t say such nonsensical things.”

Instead, she gently stroked the face of Iggon, tarnished with blood.

“……Iggon.”

“Eirene……?”

“I honestly don’t know what it means to be a fragment of God. I don’t think you’re deceiving me… Even now, I still don’t fully understand God’s will. From why revealing a woman’s chest is so important to everything else, I still have many things I can’t grasp.”

Still.

“The fact that you are here… And that you believed in me and saved me, that is a clear truth. So….”

You being Iggon. The person who believed in me, even while deceiving me.

“Even if you are a fragment, you are very precious to me….”

Drip, drip.

Tears from Eirene fell onto Iggon’s face.

His bright eyes, once shining, were now dimming. The flame of life, the proof that he had existed was flickering out.

“Do you… love me?”

Iggon slowly nodded.

“……God loves you, Eirene.”

“Is God’s will your will?”

“Yes… everything I say is the word of God….”

Both the compliment and everything else.

The words God has given to Eirene.

“If that’s the case….”

Gently,

Eirene embraced Iggon while he lay collapsed.

“I too, love you.”

“If you are God… then I will also willingly love God.”

You are the first to tell me it is okay to trust someone.

The first to teach me what it feels like to have my heart race,

The being who revealed what it means to be born a woman and to love, everything…

“I will believe in God. And I will love the God Igguoqueden with all my being.”

Upon hearing those words, Iggon slowly raised the corners of his mouth.

And, he raised his hand… wiping the tears from Eirene’s eyes.

“Thank you, Eirene. Thank you for loving me.”

“Thank you for believing in me, God. This isn’t a farewell… it’s merely a preparatory stage for the moment where Eirene and I… can peacefully coexist.”

—Someday.

The moment when God manifests in this world will come… and we will meet again.

“……!!!”

At the end of those words, thud.

Iggon’s hand fell to the ground.

The brief life of the divine fragment that has fulfilled its role came to an end.

“……A-ah… aah… aaah…!!!”

Certainly.

I knew Iggon’s words were not lies.

That it was not the true death or end of God—Iggon, merely a fragment disappearing.

Yet, the fragment who had extended a warm hand to me certainly existed here.

As proof… dripping with red blood, struggling even in great pain to fulfill its duty.

As a creature, Eirene could only weep bitterly. Because even if it was for a brief moment, clearly, this was a parting.

“Iggon… Iggon…!!!”

Thus, she wept and wept while holding the fallen Iggon for quite some time.

Tears were flowing, but her heart no longer felt empty.

She realized it was because Iggon’s love, God’s pure facts had filled her up… she could acknowledge that now.

How many minutes had passed?

Exhausted from crying, Eirene slowly got up and turned to look back at the monastery.

‘……?’

This was… a compulsion.

As if something absolute was calling out to her.

Unknowingly, she took slow steps towards the monastery.

Passing through the dark corridors of the monastery, she arrived in the vast worship hall where she had cleaned alongside Iggon… and what came into view was.

“……!!!”

Only then.

Only then did she realize everything.

What Iggon had said, why her heart was overflowing.

Why this was happening, and why she became able to trust someone.

What came into view was the portrait of God.

The portrait depicting the face of the singular deity Igguoqueden.

The very portrait that the fragment Iggon had prayed to.

Eirene gazed at the portrait as if her soul had been taken away.

The portrait was glowing. Only this portrait could shine with its own light in this world.

And the image of Iggon, God that entered her sight was――

* * *

――Drip, drip.

When Eirene became aware of the hot tears flowing down her cheeks.

She recognized that she was sitting upon the throne of the Igguoqueden Royal Castle.

In front of her… was obscured.

Not that her eyes could not see. Something was blocking her vision.

――The Bible. The book holding the words of God, the most sacred book in the world.

Erin gently lifted the Bible that had been touching Eirene’s forehead, slowly distancing it from her.

With a captivating smile, she spoke to Eirene in a teasing tone.

“How about it……? God Igguoqueden’s pure facts… isn’t it thrilling…?”

――Ah…

What on earth have I done.

Denying the existence of that man Iggon―― of the singular deity Igguoqueden, how foolish I must be……

Eirene slowly stood from the throne.

And she looked up at the Bible held by Erin while kneeling. It was a sign of submission.

A heartfelt reply to the being who willingly loved her, even as a non-believer, and taught her the value of faith.

The utmost expressions that someone whose body and heart were devoted to God could muster.

“……My Lord……♥”

Eirene von Einsberg.

At the age of 36, both body and heart have fallen into piety.