Path To Divinity

It took quite a bit of time, but with the two of us, Cottontail and I eventually managed to decimate all of the slavers. The losses, however, were quite considerable. Over five hundred dead among the slaves. This was the price to pay for freedom. Unable to celebrate the end of the slavers' control, it was in a heavy atmosphere that the survivors spent the next two hours gathering their dead, in order to give them a proper departure.

"Is this all of them?" I asked, staring at the stockpile of corpses in front of me.

"Yes," a young woman muttered in a small voice.

It was Clarice. Seated on the bare ground, she was caressing the cheek of Gale's corpse, her face full of grief. He had been one of the first to be killed, along with Troy, when I executed the slavers' leader.

"He looks happy," Leven noted, trying to lift the young woman's spirits.

Clarice looked up at us, displaying a forced smile.

"Thank you," she said. "You've done enough, we'll take care of the rest. We'll bury them in this valley, where they fought for their freedom."

The other slaves nodded in agreement. As I watched the sad expression on their face, I couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty.

Ah… For fuck's sake. What am I doing? Not your problem, Aileen, not your problem. But those people pretty much died because of me… So I guess I'll make an exception.

"Step aside, everyone," I requested, a resigned sigh escaping my mouth.

The slaves all gave me an inquiring look, not understanding my demand.

"Step aside," I repeated.

This time, the slaves complied. Despite the confusion, they all moved out the way, without asking questions.

My eyes casted down on the pile of corpses, I let out a second sigh. I probably shouldn't be doing this but well…

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting my mana expand all around me. It quickly dispersed, enveloping the bodies of the fallen slaves.

Alright. I've done this before. There are just five hundred times more bodies than before, but it shouldn't be so complicated. It's going to be fine. Their souls haven't departed yet.

"『Rise』."

Light suddenly erupted from the fallen slaves corpses, as I ordered the [Word System] to bring them back. Blinded by the sudden light, the other slaves looked away, covering their eyes. When the light finally subsided, there was no longer any trace of injuries on the corpses. They had been completely healed, and, additionally, they were no longer corpses. Blood started to rush again through the fallen slaves' veins, slowly warming up their cold bodies. Soon, the first returnees started to rise.

"Wh-?!"

"Oh my goodness!"

A wave of surprise quickly spread among the survivors. But the initial shock didn't last, as relief quickly took over. It didn't take long before the first survivors rushed to the returnees.

"Dad!"

"Oh, gods, honey you're alive!"

"Thank gods!"

In the middle of all the happy reunions between the surviving slaves and the returnees, one man was left confused. Completely disoriented, Troy brought his hands to his neck.

"I… I remember, I was…." he muttered, as he couldn't feel a cut on his neck.

"If it weren't for your son, I would've left you for dead," I told him.

Troy looked up at me with bewildered eyes.

"My son…?" he repeated. "My son… Oh, Axis… That's right… I still have Axis…"

"Since you know that, don't die so easily next time. You're all he has now."

Suddenly realizing the consequences of his actions, Troy lowered his head in shame. Blinded by rage, he threw away his own life, leaving a son behind.

"Right… I have… Axis. I have Axis…!"

Tears formed into his eyes as he kept repeating his son's name.

Thinking about the poor boy, I couldn't help but sigh. He's already lost his mother, but at least, I could save his father.

As I was about to leave though, Troy called me out.

"WAIT!" he shouted, before burying his face onto the ground. "I…! I will never be able to thank you enough for what You've done!" he said. "I will forever be grateful for this second chance You have bestowed upon me!"

His sudden behavior naturally attracted attention as all the slaves around turned their eyes on us.

"Ah…"

"Uh, well…"

Remembering everything I've done, the slaves exchanged confused looks, unsure what to say.

I sighed.

"Just to be clear," I loudly announced, "I did not save you guys. You just happened to be there when I enacted my revenge, alright?"

The slaves were even more confused.

"But you didn't have to bring us back," Troy pointed out, raising his head. "You brought those slavers justice by killing them; you freed the slaves and you brought back the fallen ones. Your benevolence is limitless! You truly have the heart of a Goddess!"

Uh, well… No…

"A Goddess?"

"So what he said was true?"

"Well, she killed those slavers so easily… And she brought our brothers back from the dead…"

"It's like… a Goddess of Life and Death…"

"I, Troy, will dedicate my life to honor your name!" Troy suddenly declared, burying his head onto the ground one more time.

However, before I could ask him to get up, another slave kneeled down in front of me.

"Uh, me too…"

And another one.

"Me too!"

And another one.

"I will worship the Goddess of Life and Death!"

And soon, a swarm of people started kneeling in front of me. Until no one was left standing.

"The Goddess Aileen saved us all!"

"She is the Goddess of Life and Death!"

"She is good, she is great, all hail Aileen!"

"Praise the Goddess!"

Ah… Yeah… I knew this would happen.

As I turned around, I noticed Leven on the ground.

"You too…?"

He gave me a teasing smile.

"Praise the Goddess of Life and Death!" he beamed.

Ah… Whatever. It's not like I'll ever meet any of these guys again anyway. I'm out of here.

You have earned 5,343 believers.

Uh…

Congratulations !

You have unlocked a new achievement: [Started a new religion]

No, wait…

All the required conditions have been fulfilled.

You have unlocked a hidden quest: [Path to Divinity]

…

Oh, for fuck's sake.