Chapter 78: [She] Doesn’t Care

Just as Elysia said, when only one Herrscher was left to face, people gathered their courage and began to work hard.

After all, they have reached the [bottom of the level], and as long as they beat it, they will have cleared the level, right? They should cheer up a little bit... Although they know that they have a high probability of not being able to beat it, at least... at least they can get some information for the people who come after them, right? At least they should leave enough for the people who come after them, right? In this way, they might be able to defeat [Honkai].

What's more...what if? What if it really passes? Right?

At this time, most of the fusion warriors were called away by Mei and the others. They had to prepare for the final battle and think about how to leave a legacy for future generations.

Nozomi, on the other hand, became idle, because everyone knew that no one could force him to do something. Only the "God" he mentioned could instruct him to do something.

At this time, Nozomi was staying in an extremely simple church—this was a privilege he had earned by having a good reputation and completing missions continuously. Although it was just converted from a room, it was enough at the moment.

Nozomi knelt in front of 'Her' statue, the scripture given to him by 'Her' spread out on his lap, and faced with the obscure words on it, Nozomi still read it with difficulty...but this time, he couldn't bear it.

"sigh..."

He exhaled slightly, forced himself to calm the emotions surging in his heart, closed the scripture, hesitated for a while, and finally made up his mind.

Interlock his fingers, wrap the pendant's chain around his hands, hold the cross tightly, bow his head, and then gently raise his hands so that the cross rests on his forehead. Recite the prayer softly and pray to 'Her'.

Nozomi felt his consciousness beginning to move away from his body, and in a trance, it seemed as if a holy light was falling... He knew that it was [Her] guiding him.

Floating to where [She] was, Nozomi closed his eyes and knelt before [Her]'s throne.

Pray to 'Her', and ask 'Her' questions.

"Lord, why has the world become like this?"

"You Should Know Yourself."

"Lord, why does life end like this?"

"You Should Know Yourself."

"......"

Nozomi remained silent.

"Do you have anything else you want to ask?"

"......"

Nozomi moved his lips slightly but didn't know how to express himself.

"You still have something to ask for."

"…Lord, please forgive my sins."

Nozomi lowered his head and prostrated himself before Him.

"What crime have you committed?"

"I am so greedy that I dare to ask you to spread your love and mercy and save this world."

"Even if I am responsible for the world being like this?"

"...…"

"Even if the world is like this because of me?"

"...…"

"Even if I guide you to do something disgusting?"

"I beg you to show me... mercy again."

Nozomi just said so.

"Can."

[She] said this as if it was a matter of course, and then, [Her] words became meaningful.

"Then what do you plan to exchange for salvation in this world?"

Here is the revised text with all your requested changes:

"Everything."

Nozomi was as determined as before and did not hesitate.

"But everything about you already belongs to me."

"Yes, this is greedy."

"What will you do then?"

"I beg you to show me mercy."

Nozomi just said so.

"...…sigh."

You can hear a sigh coming from 'Her' in front of the throne.

"I really don't know what to say about you, so loyal, so honest, so pious, and yet so rigid, so... stupid."

[She] stood up from the throne and stepped on empty space.

"After ordinary people find power, they will become more or less presumptuous, just because they hold the power in their hands and have their own inner needs to be satisfied. Few people have kept the promises they made to me."

"And you, my devout and foolish believer."

Words with a hint of blame lingered in his ears.

"You only act according to my words. Apart from that, you completely suppress your own emotions and desires. You put on unknown shackles for yourself and made yourself... a different kind of non-human."

[She] walks before you, and an indescribable fragrance lingers around your nose.

"You have seen ignorant believers being carried away by fanatical beliefs and finally committing heinous crimes in madness."

[She] walked past him, and 'Her' fingertips lightly tapped on Nozomi's shoulder.

"You know that doing nothing will lead to bad consequences and misunderstandings, but you restrain yourself from taking action and ignoring it."

"You know that some of your actions will inevitably be considered evil by everyone and will inevitably be misunderstood by everyone, but you still resolutely do it, just because it is my will. You have never explained it, just because I have never agreed to it."

[She] walked behind Nozomi, brushed his face and hair with 'Her' fingertips, then walked around him and stopped in front of Nozomi.

"But have you ever thought that my will is also wrong? Have you ever thought that I have never loved anyone?"

"......"

Nozomi opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

If God does not love humans, then... is she still God?

"To me, you are nothing more than interesting creatures. Faith and worship are just your spontaneous actions. I have never needed these, nor have I ever wanted them. The end of a person has never had anything to do with me."

"I don't care about it, and I don't need to care about it."

"I communicate with you only to admire your spirit, your piety, and your heart that yearns for goodness and peace... I am disappointed by your ignorance."

[Her] tone became calm, then stern.

"You are already a sinner."

"Even so, do you still think you are qualified to ask for my mercy and love?"

The flames had already climbed up his body, using sin as fuel, burning his body and tormenting his will.

"Yes, I beg you to have mercy and save the world."

But Nozomi's words were still so firm and without hesitation.

"It's really... stupid."

[She] seemed angry.

"but..."

It seems helpless.

"Your devotion in persisting to this point is both worthy of contempt and... praise."

[She] stretched out her hand, lifted up his hands that were tightly clasped the cross with one hand, and lifted up his face with the other hand, making Nozomi face [Her].

Nozomi closed his eyes tightly and let 'Her' play with his body.

"For your piety, I can take you to my side and save you from the sufferings of worldly disasters. For your sins, I can throw you into a terrible hell and make you suffer from eternal damnation. For your promise, I can also play with you like a doll. In any case, you have already lost the ability to pray. Even so, do you still want to do this?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"To make up for my mistakes, to atone for my sins, to save this world."

"Even if it's too late?"

"Yes."

"You're begging me to save this world?"

"Yes."

"But...what if I refuse?"

[She] stroked his hand gently, her fingertips sliding back and forth on the cross he were holding tightly, and her tone became frivolous.

"......"

"Hehe..."

Seeing Nozomi become embarrassed and speechless, [She] also chuckled twice, seeming to be much happier.

[She] gently pushed her hands, and Nozomi felt the cross resting on his lips and also felt [She] leaning down and approaching him.

"I'm glad that you can take off the non-existent shackles, become yourself again, and pray to me again as your own self, my devout but foolish believer... No, the young one who will soon come to our side..."

[She] said this softly.

'I could feel the fire in my body fading.'

'I can feel the fragrance approaching rapidly.'

'I could feel the cool and soft touch of the metal cross on my lips.'

?!

Nozomi opened his eyes subconsciously in surprise, but he could see this pure white land, the empty throne not far away, and "She" shrouded in light, close at hand, the silver hair fluttering at her side, and... the vague face of "Her", similar to his own, but quite feminine.

It's just like looking in a mirror.

No... it should be that I am similar to Her...

(TL: Wait, what?! She's actually a guy?? Ugh, I thought he was a girl. I even swapped 'Him' to 'Her'. This sucks sorry for the inconvenience.)

"You can use this power to make up for our mistakes and atone for our sins."

His words rang in my ears, bringing with them a mother's comfort and a girl's joy.

"Remember and act according to your heart."

"Remember, always be kind."

[He] stepped back gently, and with his fingertips, he hooked away the cross pendant that was tightly held in his palm.

"Remember, from now on, you are your own god."

Everything disappeared with "Him". When Nozomi came to his senses, he had returned to the church, but the cross pendant in his hand fell to the ground not far in front of him.

Someone walked past him, picked up the pendant, and handed it to Nozomi.

"Father, your pendant fell off."

It was Aponia. She was a little worried about Nozomi's condition, so she came to find him.

"If you do not hold the token tightly when you pray, you will be punished by [Him]."

As she said this, she slowly took Nozomi's hand and placed the cross pendant in his palm.

But at this moment, Nozomi held her hands back, intertwined his hands with hers, and together they held the cross pendant.

"Father?"

Aponia was a little at a loss for a moment. You know, ever since he changed "Twilight Street," Nozomi seldom took the initiative to contact her, and the way he addressed her also changed from her original name to such a general name as "Nun." Even if they met, their interactions and contact with each other were just superficial.

"Fine."

Nozomi responded softly, but the emotions contained in his words made Aponia slightly dazed.

"That's fine for now... that's fine..."

"…Is that so? I understand."

Aponia nodded and had no objection.

After receiving a response, Nozomi simply pulled her hands slightly closer. Aponia did not resist and even moved forward a little obediently.

Nozomi held her hands in front of him, lowered his head, and placed his hands against hers.

"......"

Silence, just silence. Nozomi did not speak, and Aponia did not ask any questions. The two people who were favored by God did not need too many words to each other. Although they would sometimes feel strange about each other's actions and behaviors, they would also understand each other - after all, they were both favored and guided by God.

Only...

"Father?"

Aponia felt a wet touch on her hand.

"I'm sorry... I'm... so sorry..."

She could hear the guilt in his voice, could feel the apology emanating from him... all the emotions he had buried deep in his heart since he dedicated himself to Him until now burst out at this moment.

"…its nothing, Father."

Aponia said softly, moving slightly forward, reaching out, and pulling him into a hug.

"I am by your side... Everything you do is determined by your destiny. However, the end has not yet come. This moment is just a small node on the road."

"You will definitely be able to overcome it, and you will be able to continue to move forward with determination... I will be by your side and walk with you."

"I will watch you until the end."

Aponia said gently.

"You are walking on a long road full of thorns and difficulties, but please keep moving forward firmly... you will eventually reach the light."

"If you feel tired on the road... don't worry, I will come to your side. With me, you can forget all the troubles in the world and the hardships on the road. With me... take a short rest, and when you are ready again, you can set off again."

Aponia comforted him softly, smoothing out his long-storing emotions until his slightly twitching shoulders calmed down again, and his breathing became steady again.

"…I am sorry to have shown you an embarrassing scene, Sister."

After a long time, Nozomi moved slightly, and broke free from Aponia's arms, and the expression on his face returned to its previous calm.

No, it's a little different from before.

The corners of his mouth were slightly raised as if he was maintaining a polite smile, and his eyes were much more lively, with a clear self... All this familiarity reminded Aponia of the original Nozomi, who was willing to help others and would smile for others.

"its nothing, Father."

Aponia laughed, a very happy laugh.

"We are partners on the road together. We should help each other, support each other, and depend on each other."

She was very happy that she had helped Nozomi this time. Even if it was just a small help, she was happy enough.

This time... the temperature of her palm... slightly caught up with his, right?

"However, I still need to deal with this situation... The guilt caused by me should also be resolved by me."

Nozomi said this and then stood up with the scriptures.

"Sister, please... witness everything and judge me."

"Well, my eyes will stay on you forever."

Aponia nodded in agreement, and Nozomi also understood and turned to leave.

"...Ah, Father, you should wear your pendant."

Seeing Nozomi was about to push the door and leave, Aponia suddenly remembered something and quickly pointed to the cross pendant in her hand as a reminder.

"The token [He] gave you should be carried with you…"

"No need."

Nozomi turned around, smiled, and spoke softly.

"I no longer need [Him]'s token."

After saying that, he left with determination and faith.

"......"

Aponia was speechless, her eyes wandering between the direction he left and the things in her hands. Finally, she put on the cross pendant and let the cross hang in front of her chest.

She raises her hand, holds the cross pendant in hrt palm, and she can feel the warmth coming from it.

Like the warm sun in spring, like a bonfire on a snowy night.