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Chapter 16
Before her words had even finished, Raiden’s eyes flashed sharply. Seiri had seen many expressions from the Emperor, but never one as piercing as this. His deep blue eyes carried a coldness, almost tinged with a hint of killing intent.
Yet the sharpness vanished almost as quickly as it appeared, and his composure returned, as if nothing had happened.
“If you cross rivers dyed in blood and walk over mountains of corpses, any doubt about the existence of gods naturally disappears.”
Even while speaking such heavy words, Raiden smiled lightly.
“The foundation of this Empire was not made by gods, but by me and those who follow me. If the reason I am revered by the people is because I brought prosperity to the Empire, then why should I worship gods? Can you answer that, Great Saint?”
Seiri was somewhat taken aback.
Humans are unstable and weak. They naturally worship and rely on beings from higher planes, whether gods or demons.
Moreover, leaders who are revered and depended upon by the people often have nowhere to lean themselves, so they cling obsessively to invisible powers.
Seiri had heard countless stories of emperors, kings, and clergy in the human realm being enthralled by minor gods or demons, ultimately ruining their nations. That was why she had always regarded humans as weak and pitiful.
But this Emperor was different. He did not rely on gods; he achieved what he wanted purely through his own strength and continues to do so even now.
The humans here all called her the Great Saint, expecting her to do something for them—but the Emperor had never held such expectations from the start. Putting everything aside, this human was strong.
“You’re not bad for a human.”
On top of that, the fact that someone who looked like Ferdinando did not think highly of Ferdinando himself was satisfying in its own way. It was a kind of camaraderie—a sense of shared sentiment. That feeling alone made Seiri see the Emperor in a new light.
“My wife’s positive evaluation is greatly appreciated, but it does not answer my question.”
Huh?
Seiri thought she had heard something highly inappropriate… but she convinced herself either she misheard or his words were twisted somehow.
“Why should I worship Ferdinando? Don’t. If he’s displeasing, just throw him away. Why cling to a useless god who doesn’t even toss you a morsel to eat?”
“Are you speaking sincerely?”
That was not something a Great Saint would say. At least not within the Empire. This was unthinkable anywhere inside.
“Is the Great Saint who manifested in the Garden of Gods telling the Emperor to abandon gods?”
Her words were rough and direct enough to make one doubt her saintly title, but telling him to abandon gods was on a completely different level.
“I don’t speak words I don’t mean. Don’t. No need to worship. Just throw it away. Burn it if you like.”
As Seiri hammered her point, Raiden could no longer hold back the smile spreading across his lips—it burst out.
His long-dormant excitement surged, and at the same time, he was deeply curious how the priests, ministers, and others who had spent their lives serving gods and the Great Saint would react to hearing her rebellious words.
He even imagined his father’s disappointed expression—the father who had given everything to gods and the Great Saint yet never allowed even the smallest crack for his own son. Too bad that father was dead; he would have loved to see that reaction.
Raiden, still clearly enjoying the moment, maintained his smile.
“Then, by your words, we should abandon the gods. Governance of the Empire can be handled by just the two of us.”
Governance? Was he proposing they rule jointly?
As Seiri briefly imagined the Maelstrom’s Idess living in the human realm as she did now, Raiden watched her intently and asked again:
“And there’s one more thing you haven’t answered. Why did the gods send you here?”
“I don’t know why Ferdinando sent me here. When I opened my eyes, I was underwater.”
“So your coming here wasn’t your own doing.”
Her tone suggested disbelief. If it wasn’t forced, why would anyone come to such a place?
“Of course.”
“Then do you wish to return to where you were?”
Seiri stared intently at Raiden’s face.
What was that expression?
Unlike the pale, lifeless god, the Emperor’s face was alive, moving with emotion.
It wasn’t smiling or angry—more like a look of sympathy, something difficult to describe. It made Seiri hesitate to answer.
What even is this?
Not wanting to overthink and get more confused, Seiri quickly responded.
“Not yet. I plan to do something called ‘good deeds’ here first.”
“I’m glad our intentions align. Even if you wanted to leave now, I wouldn’t allow it.”
“Hah. You think you can keep me here? Do you really think that’s possible?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
At that, Raiden leaned his upper body toward Seiri, radiating heat. She didn’t flinch, but the hand she had placed on the floor was now almost touching her shoulder.
“You said you wanted to know if I am truly strong. Shall we find out now?”
Her relatively small stature made his body feel enormous and heavy, as if he had grown even larger.
The confidence and ease of someone with real strength radiated from him. Curiosity surged.
How far does his power go? Could anyone absorb all my strength and still remain so composed?
As Idess of the Maelstrom, once ruler of the demon realm, she had the urge to test such a strong opponent—but…
“No. I don’t want to fight in front of a child. Kids are easily scared and cry quickly.”
As she spoke, his warm breath brushed her nose, tickling it, and Seiri pouted in annoyance.
“But why have you been laughing all this time?”
“Looking at you makes me laugh.”
Raiden spoke honestly. If she were an ordinary noble girl, her heart would have skipped a beat.
Could any woman remain composed before the Empire’s most handsome man, hair glinting gold, smiling dangerously close?
But…
“You say I make you laugh?”
Unfortunately, the person before him was Idess, the strongest of the Maelstrom, or now unwillingly, the former strongest—Seiri.
“Am I funny?”
“What?”
“I said, am I funny, you—”
As always, the rest of the sentence never came.
“…Heh.”
His unexpected reaction made Raiden chuckle, his shoulders shaking.
She had never had a conversation like this in her life—not even with her closest mother.
And more than that, telling the Emperor to abandon gods and then glaring at him as if to ask if she was funny—who in the world could do that?
The strangest thing was that none of this made her truly angry.
The real problem was that the person before Raiden was furious.
‘Wow, is he mocking me again?’
The good impression of the Emperor she had just acknowledged vanished, leaving only the mocking human. Her irritation flared.
The image of Ferdinando’s victorious grin behind Raiden fueled her anger further.
Seiri forgot Kanan sitting in front of her and threw a punch—a reflex from old habits.
Just before her fist struck Raiden’s face, she realized her mistake—but it was too late. Her punch had been faster than she thought.
“You’ve always been told you’re exceptional, but I really can’t read you. You’re more unpredictable than when surrounded by enemies.”
‘Damn it!’
Before she knew it, her arms were around the Emperor’s neck.
‘Unbelievable…’
Like before, she could do nothing but blink and turn her head. She often wondered what went on in the mind of this “rubber god.” She wanted to reach inside and see.
This insane person had clung so tightly. Was she supposed to wait another three minutes like this?
“Just like last time… do you like it when I smile? No matter how I think, no other answer comes.”
Seiri’s eyes sparked.
“Who said I like it! I’m not doing this because I want to!”
“Seems your body acted before your mind did.”
Hah, never mind. Seiri shut her mouth and mentally cursed Ferdinando once again.
Ferdinando, you perverted bastard! What was your goal, making me hug someone who looks exactly like you? Was that face of yours… really starved for affection? Is that why all this happened, you damn fool?
She tried to push him away, but the tighter she held, the stronger he clung.
Sigh…
Better to give up. Staying still was the best option.
Closing her eyes to regain composure, Seiri felt Raiden gently support her waist, making her comfortable.
Knowing all resistance for the next three minutes would be pointless, she silently wished for the time to pass.
Raiden turned his head slightly, looking down at Seiri resting against his shoulder.
