At that moment, just as Felton had predicted, Seiden encountered something enormous that couldn’t possibly be compared to a rockdragon or any other monster.

“Foolish one.”

A massive resonance that shook his head, heart, bones, and flesh echoed from above Seiden. Doubting his ears, Seiden looked up at the sky. At the light stretching through the rippling clouds.

Seiden had heard a similar resonance before. The demon god fragment from beneath Rubert’s bedroom. It was the same kind of resonance. However, what now shook his entire body was far more enormous, holy, and terrifying than that.

So this voice that was resonating through his entire being was…….

“Have you come to claim the saintess, daring to risk your worthless life?”

It was God. Upon realizing this, involuntary chills ran down Seiden’s spine.

God.

What had been waiting for him in the Forbidden Land wasn’t something like a rockdragon. The instinctive reverence that had been carved into his blood and bones since birth finally met its distant object and bloomed into an unbearable fear.

Nevertheless, Seiden lifted his head and faced Him without hesitation. His reason for coming here wasn’t due to some petty selfishness to possess Bellota or futile desire. He had come here for something more holy, eternal, and worthy.

“I came to save her.”

Remarkably, his voice emerged clearly without the slightest tremor. Hearing his answer, God fell silent for a moment. It was a silence that suggested He had never heard such an answer in His long existence.

In that silence, cold sweat seeped down the back of Seiden’s neck. God’s holiness was truly tremendous. Just hearing God’s resonance without form made his legs weak. Yet Seiden stood firm and continued looking up at the sky.

After a brief stillness, the massive resonance shook the ground beneath Seiden’s feet again as it questioned:

“Foolish one, you speak amusing words. Do you dare suggest that you can save the saintess, my most precious child? You who can do nothing but temporarily suppress the saintess’s curse once every fortnight.”

At that question, Seiden’s brow, which had remained steadfast even while facing God, immediately twisted. Hot anger surged within him. Unable to contain himself, Seiden demanded of God,

“You knew all this and still abandoned her? You knew your most precious child was being toyed with by demons?”

Another vast silence descended. That silence angered Seiden even more.

“Why? Why didn’t you help the Saintess?”

Seiden’s voice was crushed with rage.

In truth, Seiden was infinitely unworthy of the honor of personally facing God. Though he had chosen to become a holy knight and sworn to dedicate his life to God, he didn’t actually believe in God. He didn’t respect or cherish Him.

However, Seiden revered Bellota’s noble faith. He respected, worshipped, and loved everything that came from her firm belief. And now Seiden was finally confirming the reality of the God she had believed in all her life.

God was holy but not merciful as Bellota believed.

God was wondrous but not loving, even to His most precious child.

God knew what suffering Bellota was in, and while watching it all, didn’t extend a generous hand.

Thinking of Bellota, who must have prayed to and relied on God every day, made him feel like his insides were turning over. It no longer mattered that He was God. If only he could drag down that stupid voice’s existence and beat it thoroughly.

“Why don’t you answer why you just watched it happen!”

Even to Seiden’s anger, God still didn’t respond.

As God remained silent even to his arrogant anger, anxiety arose within Seiden as he trembled with rage. It was an urgent anxiety that God wouldn’t give him what he wanted. Had something gone wrong? Was coming here not the answer? He couldn’t guess at all what God wanted.

Seiden swallowed all that anxiety and composed his face again. He knew how to provoke proud and cold beings to get what he wanted. This method had to work. He had nothing left but this selfish God.

Having made his massive decision, Seiden let out a sardonic laugh as if realizing something.

“Now I understand.”

Through lips that had been spewing rage just moments ago, a cold voice tinged with derision flowed out.

“You don’t have the ability.”

As that low murmur emerged, Seiden felt the air around him gradually grow colder. Though knowing it was God’s anger at him for finally crossing the line, Seiden didn’t stop speaking.

“You don’t have the ability to break Bellota’s curse and save her from suffering—Bellota, who believes in and loves you most.”

After finishing his words, Seiden glared at the sky as if asking if his words were wrong. As if challenging Him to prove it if they were wrong.

Several seconds passed. However, God didn’t punish the arrogant one who dared defy Him. Instead, His voice settled like a prophecy over the cold air.

“An excellent provocation. However, unfortunately for you, I do possess the ability to grant what you desperately desire and seek. With just my gesture, I can save the saintess from hell, and likewise, I can take the life of an arrogant creature like you.”

At those words, the anxiety painfully knotted inside Seiden instantly dissolved. The words added afterward didn’t matter at all. He had long forgotten any fear of death. If that unpleasant God had the ability to save Bellota, that was enough. He would make God save Bellota no matter what.

“I also possess the ability to give you the saintess.”

As God’s words ended, Seiden’s vision blurred. As he staggered from the sudden dizziness, a vision he had seen before unfolded before his eyes.

It was completely different from the visions shown by things like the fragment of the demon god. Seiden… he was completely immersed in perfect happiness. He vividly felt the sensation of Bellota, who had tearfully welcomed him back after returning alive from the Forbidden Land, falling into his arms. Was it an illusion? It must surely be an illusion. However, Seiden couldn’t shake off Bellota, who was crying in his arms and confessing her love.

The overwhelming relief of having safely returned to Bellota’s side again welled up in his throat. Seiden realized that at this moment, he desperately wanted this. To return to Bellota, leaving all these trials and fears behind.

Soon the ground he stood on spun dizzily. The vision changed to a different scene. This time, the image of him, having earned the right to possess Bellota, marrying her amidst blessings was reproduced with surprising clarity.

“Seiden.”

At the sensation of Bellota calling his name and falling into his arms, his heart swelled with a happiness so intense it felt like it would burst. More profane visions followed after that.

Seiden was now on a bed. It was their first night. He and Bellota were engaging in an act filled purely with love, not something done to suppress the curse while hiding in places like towers or chapels. Seiden held Bellota. Just as he had done countless times before.

The hazy sensations were reproduced with dizzying stimulation. All the guilt and feelings of sacrilege he had felt while holding Bellota until now had cleanly disappeared, and what settled on him as he moved without restraint was pure ecstasy.

Bellota’s moans as she sobbed beneath him penetrated his ears. Pleasant chills ran down Seiden’s back at her touch as she embraced his neck, as if determined never to let go of him despite her struggle. Seiden knew this was heaven. This place filled with unbelievable happiness could be nothing but heaven. This place where he felt no pain, anxiety, or guilt…….

As Seiden kissed Bellota and frantically explored her, that distant voice reached his ears again.

“If you promise to return without seeking anything more excessive, I will give you this heaven.”

This heaven to me…… Seiden’s red eyes sank distantly.

“I know that this is what you ultimately want. I know that all you want is to possess the saintess without any guilt and simply fulfill your selfish and base desires.”

Though the words seemed reproachful, the voice resonating in his ears was utterly monotonous. As if it were natural. As if humans were originally made that way. As if it were therefore not at all Seiden’s fault that he was having his heart, body, and even soul stolen by this heaven.

“I will give you what you want, considering it admirable that you came all this way.”

As he heard God’s voice, Seiden looked down at Bellota. At Bellota who lay in his arms with an overwhelmed yet happy smile. At her face that was tearful as if she desperately wanted him even while being held like this.

“So take this glory in your hands, return, and possess the saintess.”

Somehow, a bored voice devoid of any expectation quietly urged Seiden. That urging echoed hazily in his ears.

Forever like this…….

If he gave an answer agreeing to that, he could wander forever in this sweet illusion.

Forever with Bellota…….

As Seiden was falling into that distant ecstasy, he suddenly felt doubt.

But what about Bellota? Would Bellota also remain in the same heaven as him? While still trapped in a curse that could never be broken?

A powerful doubt sharply struck his heavy back that was soaked in sweet stimulation. Seiden gritted his teeth. As if wanting to confirm something, just as he was struggling to stop the act, that languid voice echoed in his ears again.

“The saintess’s curse will not be broken. But what does that matter anymore? Right?”

It was an infinitely benevolent voice, as though He knew exactly what Seiden was worried about. Soon, as if to prove those words, petty thoughts infiltrated his mind.

Yes, what does that matter now?

His sharply straightened back settled softly again.

Even if Bellota’s curse wouldn’t be lifted, he who had finally earned the right to have her could stay by her side forever. He would take responsibility for all her full moons from now on, just as he had until now. Wasn’t that why he had despaired when Geril proposed to Bellota? Because that man could have taken over his role if he married Bellota.

This utterly selfish and comfortable self-justification crushed his softened brain. But…….