Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 44: The Angel of the Night

There are many gods on the continent. During my adventures with Yurinel, I realized that the gods aren’t so different from us humans.

From small guardian deities protecting a single village to mountain gods guarding sacred mountains, and various local deities worshipped by each region and race. Where there was faith, there was also divinity.

Of course, the most populous race on the continent is us humans, and the five main gods worshipped by the majority of humans are the great gods who command all those divinities and hold the position of the main gods.

The three goddesses, often referred to as the Three Goddesses, who are essentially like the queens of the gods.

And the powerful evil god and heavenly god who are so strong that they cannot even command them.

All five of them are human gods who care for humans. If other races like beastmen wish to worship them, they do not reject that faith, but they do not actively bestow grace upon them first.

Ancient gods...

The more I listened to the explanations of Mr. Layton and Her Highness, the more complicated my mind became.

Doesn’t the explanation I’m hearing really sound similar to my Lord?

The vague feeling that my Lord seems somewhat different from other gods is not something I’ve had for just a day or two. Even though I’ve never faced great beings like the Three Goddesses, I have encountered wicked gods like local evil gods or evil spirits a few times.

Gods who are closer to evil spirits than gods, who have gained divinity through inhumane methods like human sacrifices. Those who must be vanquished, like disaster gods or plague gods.

Even if they are inferior to human powerhouses in terms of strength alone, because they are gods, special caution is required when dealing with such beings.  Perhaps they are even more troublesome than the Demon King, and we have only encountered one of them.

Anyway, they all commonly craved and demanded faith. They wanted belief to come to them in any way possible. Their attitude was different from my Lord, who is indifferent to faith.

If my Lord is perhaps an ancient god who is the law of this universe itself, and therefore does not need the faith of us humans.

Then it would explain how He can receive the faith of just me alone and bestow divinity upon me. After all, His power would come from Himself, not from faith, in the first place.

But is that really the case?

“As I said before, we really can’t help but ask about this matter very seriously. If the one you serve is truly an ancient god, I would like to make contact with the one you serve at any cost.”

Mr. Layton asked me again, unable to hide his impatience, but I also couldn’t help but ask myself. Is my Lord the law of this universe?

A law is a law because it simply exists without meaning or will. Is my Lord such a being?

No matter how much I thought about it, this didn’t seem right.

He may appear to maintain absolute neutrality at a glance, but in fact, He helps many people through me. Between this world and us humans, He takes our side.

Of course, nothing is more meaningless than trying to figure out who He is.

I shook my head. My Lord may or may not be an ancient god.

What’s important is not that, but whether we can help them with the Lord’s power. If it’s to that extent, I think He would probably answer if I asked.

“I see...”

Mr. Layton seemed to misinterpret my reaction and looked at me with eyes that didn’t withdraw suspicion. So I explained. I don’t know who my Lord is or why He helps us.

He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. If it was really necessary, He would have told me first. Or, an angel would have delivered a letter as a messenger.

“I can only ask and petition the Lord. If what you want to tell the Lord is that you wish to escape the curse of the sun, I will convey it to the Lord.”

Mr. Layton, who seemed to think I was talking in vain and didn’t react, only opened his eyes wide and looked at me when I put my hands together and began to pray.

“Um, if you’re really praying, may I ask one more thing?”

Right now? In the middle of praying?

Ah... Please speak for now. Preferably quickly.

Several angels are passing by in front of my eyes right now.

“Ah, of course, I’m not saying I have any complaints about the Duchess.  Don’t misunderstand. She...Is a good person(?) Even though there are times when I can’t understand her... it’s hard to find a superior as competent as her.”

The main point, please, in three sentences or less.

“But sometimes, very rarely, when working, there are times when I want to be guaranteed autonomy in my work. And there are times when I want my privacy to be guaranteed. But since we are bound by the power of domination from birth, it’s difficult. Can I ask if your Lord can listen to this work-related hardship, or if it’s okay to ask if I can tell Him?”

Don’t beat around the bush like that! I have no idea what you’re talking about.

I’ll convey it exactly as it is without changing a single word, but it’s not my fault if the Lord ignores it. Anyway, remember that I did my part...

Thud.

But how long has it been since I prayed? The speed of the carriage gradually slowed down and soon came to a complete stop. Mr. Layton frowned and shouted at the coachman.

“Why did you suddenly stop? Is there an obstacle ahead?”

“M-My Lord...These horses just won’t listen! Hey, you bastards. Go. I said go forward. Hey, why are you looking at the sky for no reason? The sky... the s-sky is...?! Ahhhhh?!”

At the sudden scream, we rushed out the door without hesitation. When I checked the pulse of the coachman who had fainted in the driver’s seat, I could feel his heart beating properly.

Fortunately, it seemed he had merely fainted. Even in the midst of this, the four horses pulling the carriage were only looking at the sky without any disturbance.

“The sky? What’s in the sky...”

I saw Mr. Layton’s expression turn pale for a moment as he looked at the sky.

He staggered for a moment as if he had seen something he couldn’t handle. Even after barely regaining his posture, his legs trembled uncontrollably. He seems to be trying to say something, but his voice doesn’t come out, and he only points his finger and wildly gestures at the sky.

That composed person, that relaxed person,

There is something in that sky that makes him lose all calmness and be consumed by fear.

“W-What... on earth...”

Her Highness boldly looked at the sky, then shrank for a moment.

She was able to continue speaking only after a while, but she stammered severely. She tried to draw her sword, but her hand trembled and she missed the hilt several times. Suddenly, something tightened around my leg, and hugged it tightly.

Roka’s tail, trembling, wrapped around my leg.

I could see that Roka, who was frowning heavily at the sky like a growling dog, was actually frightened.  I could tell well enough just by the fact that her ears were shaking uncontrollably.

“I, I will protect, M-Master...”

Who’s going to protect whom?

The one up there is probably someone I know.

Thinking that, I raised my head. Indeed, it was someone I was already familiar with.

The sky hadn’t changed at all. The vast night sky was embroidered from one end of the horizon to the other.

But if you observe just a little more closely,

You can see that there is no moon or clouds in that night sky.

And yet, countless stars twinkled in the vast expanse. However, this wasn’t our sky.

A giant hovered above us. Something large enough to cover the entire sky was standing tall and looking down at us.

-Apostle. Rejoice, for the Lord heard your pleas.

Another angel serving the Lord.

The Angel of the Night has come to deliver the Lord’s words.

I met him once when I received my most powerful miracle, the “Blossoming Starfall”,  and this is our second meeting. Back then, when I was standing guard, he suddenly appeared and startled me.

I didn’t know I would see him again like this.

His appearance is flashy this time too. Unlike other angels, he manifests through the night sky.

-However, the Lord will not grant one of your two requests.

Yes. I also thought the second request deserved to be rejected.

Because even I, who offered the prayer, couldn’t figure out what they were asking for.

-Hear, hear, Apostle. Pay heed to the Lord’s answer to your plea.

But that was just my thought,

Indeed, the Lord’s will was something I couldn’t understand with my small mind.

Your wish can be made manifest through your own power.

-Such was the Lord’s will. Apostle. Our Lord judged you capable of solving this dilemma by yourself.

It was the second prayer, which I didn’t even know the meaning of, that the Lord actually granted.

-The Lord’s will regarding your second prayer is as follows.

Oh, ye who yearn for freedom. Should you swear to respect the freedom of others as much as your own...I shall gladly bestow upon you your desired freedom.

Mr. Layton’s expression changed drastically. He made a complicated expression and closed his mouth.

-Apostle. The Lord has given you a new miracle. Whether to use that miracle or not depends on your will.

The Miracle, the Bell of Enlightenment.

Ring it once to bring light to this world.

Ring it twice to enlighten the living.

Ring it thrice to bring freedom.

The miraculous bell that shatters any shackles of bondage.

The power of a new miracle has settled within me.

......Though I don’t really know why it did.

Woooooong-!

Then, the giant angel as vast as the night sky, began to crumble like a mirage.

He must not have truly been a substance and was probably just briefly revealing his presence through something like an illusion or projection. Having finished his business, he now disappears.

Even before disappearing, and even after disappearing, the night sky remained black and dark.

As if nothing had changed. As if nothing had happened.

However, it was clear that it was not just an illusion. Not only the four of us, but even the coachman and horses saw him.

And yet, his parting whispers reached my ears.

-Apostle. You are the Lord’s representative on this earth. You can do more than you think. Therefore. Before seeking the Lord’s aid, look back on yourself.

Having received the angel’s final words, I offered words of gratitude, and only then did I look around.

Everyone was blankly staring only at me. As I quietly offered a prayer of thanks, Mr. Layton hesitantly asked.

“Priest...”

For some reason, his voice was trembling.

“What on earth are you serving...?”

Ah...

Well...

That...

Hahahahahaha.

I don’t know?

*****How joyful was the woman in that brief moment when she saw hope?

But now, she desperately regretted the past. It was as if the welling guilt was whispering to her. As the light began to appear, shadows that had been hidden in the darkness until then were revealed.

You want only your son to get better, after driving so many children into hell?

It was as if someone was whispering in her ear. No, it wasn’t just as if.

It’s not a hallucination or a delusion. They were truly whispering. There was nothing she could do but beg for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I’m truly sorry...”

The Duchess ordered to cull the deformed babies, and she and her husband did not refuse the order.

Who was it that snatched the babies from the arms of the common-rank vampires who gave birth to them and abandoned them in the mountains? Who was it that suppressed the wailing parents with the power of domination?

Only after giving birth to a deformed baby herself did she understand their hearts a little.

She understood the feelings of parents who had to bid eternal farewell to their newborn child. The memories of driving them into hell and killing the crying babies to bury them in the mountains vividly resurfaced.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

It may be selfish, but she never wanted to let her son end up like that.

She held her son and merely wept silently. So that the sound of crying wouldn’t reach the baby’s ears.

Humans rely on gods at times like this, but vampires don’t even have such a place to escape to. No god listens to their prayers, and they can only believe in themselves.

Knock knock.

The knocking sound on the door continued at the same intensity, neither getting stronger nor weaker.

No, now it was coming from right in front. Whatever was knocking on the front door earlier was now knocking on the closed bedroom door right in front of it. One thing was certain.

That thing was definitely not a vampire. Not a hint of blood resonance could be felt.

-̵̤͗W̶̜̿o̸̻̅n̴̠͛'̵̭̈t̷̯͊ ̶͙̈́y̵̜͋o̶̖͌ǘ̸̲ ̴̣̓w̴̦̉ē̴̗l̵̏͜c̴͚̊o̵͎͒m̷̟̃ė̵͈ ̸̦͋ṳ̷̀s̷̼͒?̶̳̇

Lyla panicked.

And yet,

The knocking sound outside the door stopped, and a voice was heard. It was one voice, yet not one was there.

͔̳̮̪͎ͤͬͤW̙̰͍̻̹̜̟͙͕̋ͩ͐ͪ̎̄̆̚i̠͔̞͗̔͒̐̏́l͙̬̞̥̠͔̞̔͒̐̏́l͙̬̞̥ ͇͉̬̆ͫ̈́͋̉ͅy̬̣̥͍̦̩̱ͦ̇͊̔o̘͇̩̞̗ͯ̋ͭ͂uͦ ͕̰̒ͨ̈́r̯̠̦̩̲̦͚̙ͨ̌̑e͕̬̝̝̱̔͛͌ͧj̞̫̲̦͚̙̽ͭe͕̬̯͍̱̔͛͌c̟͕̠̜ͩ̈́ͯ̾͊ͅt͓̙͔͊ ̗u̗͓̜̥̭ͦ̄̈ͪͧs̲̬̝͕̍ͭ̓ͦ? ͔̳̮̪͎ͤͬͤW̙̰͍̻̹̜̟͙͕̋ͩ͐ͪ̎̄̆̚i̠͔̞͗̔͒̐̏́l͙̬̞̥̠͔̞̔͒̐̏́l͙̬̞̥ ͇͉̬̆ͫ̈́͋̉ͅy̬̣̥͍̦̩̱ͦ̇͊̔o̘͇̩̞̗ͯ̋ͭ͂uͦ ̖ͥf̥̖̗̥͍̦̩̱̔o̘͇̩̞͕̰ͯ̋ͭ͂̒ͨ̈́r̯̠̦̩̗͓̜̥̭ͨ̌̑̄̈ͪͧs̲̬̝͕̍ͭ̓ͦà̜̫͍̣͖̑̉ͧ̿ͣ̇̋ͨk͈̲̲̦͚̙̂̋̍̌e͕̬̔͛͌ ̗u̗͓̜̥̭ͦ̄̈ͪͧs̲̬̝͕̍ͭ̓ͦ à̜̫͍̣͖͍̺̖̑̉ͧ̿ͭͪg̻̰̹̥͕͊͛̊ͭà̜̫͍̣͖̜̟͙͕̑̉ͧ̿̎̄̆i͗n͎̦̜̻͈͊͒̀?

It was as if countless babies were babbling at her. The voices continued without pause. Only then could she understand what had come to find her.

This wasn’t a benevolent entity as she first assumed.

This wasn’t Hope.

No....

It was something else.

“It’s you...”

Karma had come to find her, borrowing the form of a god.

A knocking sound began in her head. Something was riding on top of her, knocking on her head.

Tears of blood flowed regardless of her will, and her head was paralyzed with fear to the point of numbness.

Evil God...

A class of gods that are wicked and bring calamity.

Another type of personified god that was born from feeding on not faith, but evil thoughts.

A more fundamental calamity to intelligent beings than the Demon King. The true enemy that all denominations, including the Trinity Church, fear and hate even more than demons. When and how was such a thing born?

There’s no point in asking.

What will happen will simply happen.

The god... we created.

The woman, hugging her child tightly in fear, only then saw that the child had opened its eyes and was looking at her. Those eyes were no longer blind. Because it was no longer a vampire.

“Mommy.”

Seeing it babble and speak, Lyla screamed and dropped the child.

But it lands lightly on two feet and toddles over. The thing possessing the child slowly approached.

͔̳̮̪͎ͤͬͤ”W̙̰͍̻̹̋ͩ͐ͪ̚h̟̪͇͉̬ͮ̆ͫ̈́͋̉ͅy̬̣ͦ̇͊̔ ͔̤̽͒̓̇d̼̪̫̙̜̟͙͕̔̎̄̆i͔̤͗̽͒̓̇d̼̪̫̙̔ ͇͉̬̆ͫ̈́͋̉ͅy̬̣̥͍̦̩̱ͦ̇͊̔o̘͇̩̞̗ͯ̋ͭ͂uͦ ͣ̇̋ͨk͈̲̜̟͙͕̂̋̍̌̎̄̆i̠͔̞͗̔͒̐̏́l͙̬̞̥̠͔̞̔͒̐̏́l͙̬̞̥ ̗u̗͓̜̥̭ͦ̄̈ͪͧs̲̬̝͕̍ͭ̓ͦ?”

The lights went out, and the glow darkened.

In the darkness, only the evil god’s eyes shone quietly.

This may be confusing, but the Evil Good Omerta and the Evil God's such as this one are diff.

Omerta is a legit good who operates on faith, even through he is called The Evil God, he is more like the Heavenly God's conterpart in this setting. His opposite. While these entities are more like evil spirits who were created in a process similar to God, but are naturally wicked.