Eliana von Etherion suddenly felt haunted, remembering the tragic past of what had transpired regarding her husband's death that was roughly nine to ten years ago.
Turning around, trying her best to compose herself, Eliana asked about what her daughter had just said to make sure she didn't hear wrongly.
"...What did you just say?"
"Ha... Mother, stop acting like that. I'm not ignorant about it anymore."
Elizabeth, whose light green eyes were like those of a dead person, spoke in a serious yet somewhat mischievous tone.
"I see... It seems that woman told, not just you, but also the others some ludicrous things. Don't believe whatever word she-"
Bam-!
"Mom! I'm f*cking tired of your lies! Is there anything wrong in knowing the whole truth?!"
Elizabeth reflexively stood up from where she was sitting as she smashed heavily the long mottled table, causing some cracks to appear on it and making the long mottled table to be on the verge of breaking.
Eliana's words were cut off as she looked at her daughter with bewildered eyes. Although she knew that her daughter was not the usual princess that could be found in a children's book, Eliana never expected her daughter to speak a profane word in front of her.
But considering the truth or issue that Elizabeth wanted to know so badly, she couldn't blame the burst of emotions that were coming out of her daughter.
"Calm down... Elizabeth."
This time, Eliana slowly approached her daughter that's on the verge of crying as the princess' light green eyes were becoming somewhat crimson.
"S-sit down first, alright?"
With trembling hands, reaching Elizabeth's shoulder, Eliana gently sat her down before she did the same beside her daughter.
"L-let me ask you first... Where did you hear something like that?"
At this moment, Eliana realized that there was no going back — that she needed to tell her daughter the truth. Although Elizabeth seemed certain already, it was still a different case when the truth came out from the mouth of the one truly involved about what had transpired. But first, Eliana became increasingly curious about where did Elizabeth hear or came to know such a truth, that's why she couldn't help but ask.
"..."
Taking a light breath for a moment, Elizabeth finally opened her mouth without looking to her right side where her mother was sitting, looking at her worriedly.
"From the Administrator of the Tower of Growth. That's why I have no doubts and told you to stop dodging my question because it was vividly played in front of me. Then at that moment, I came to remember everything — what happened, who erased part of my memories, and... Mom... I was given a wish and used it to know the identity of the one who killed father."
"W-what...?"
Eliana's mouth slightly trembled upon hearing the words, especially the last line, that came out of her daughter's mouth.
Elizabeth then recounted everything and looked at her mother with an expression that demanded affirmation.
"I'm sorry, my dear... I'm truly sorry..."
At this moment, Eliana's tears flowed down from her light green eyes as she hugged her dear daughter. But it also caused her heart to feel lighter, but strangely heavier for some reason.
"Mom... I'll get revenge for father in the future."
Elizabeth firmly declared to her mother and herself. Somewhat similar to Eliana, her emotions seemed to feel lighter upon confirming the truth, but... for some reason, she felt like something was amiss.
Elizabeth had recalled the words of the Administrator.
'Seek my story...'
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't fully grasp what the Administrator meant behind those cryptic words.
It could be that she should move forward and get revenge against the Space Insectoid called Muzak or there might be something more, hiding behind the veil of mysteries.
Feeling something was strange, Elizabeth broke herself free from her mother's embrace and looked at her with an inquisitive look.
"Mom... About the woman who attacked us, why is she resentful of Samantha's father...?"
'It's probably just my mind. I'll find it on my own, maybe not now, but certainly in the future.'
Elizabeth asked her mother as she inwardly renewed her resolve. She set aside, for now, the strange feeling she was having regarding the case of her father's death. After all, it involved an evil goddess that claimed to be a ruler of space.
"About that... I-I apologize, but I can't tell you, my dear. Let us handle it ourselves and you focus on becoming stronger, alright?"
"Alright, Mom."
Elizabeth accepted her mother's words and didn't press the matter since it was something that was not related to the death of her father.
With that, the conversation between the mother and daughter, in the middle of this cold night, ended.
***
"For now, you'd be my companion, little moon."
Instead of going to her bedroom, Elizabeth teleported to the peak of the Royal Palace.
Casually sitting in a lotus position, she looked at the bluish moon that was hanging above the starry night sky. Its serenity was something that was in harmony with how she was feeling at the moment.
"Little moon, it's funny, isn't it? I pressed for the truth to come out of my mother's mouth, but in the end, I feel like something is amiss.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm more than delighted to hear the truth from my mother, but what should I do to move forward? Be strong, get revenge, then what's next?
"Haha, this is hilarious, me talking to a little moon. It seems I am becoming crazy or more mature to talk with myself."
Elizabeth faintly smiled as she mocked herself. After a moment, she muttered in the air.
"Seek my story... That's right. That's another way for it."
Seemingly achieving some sort of enlightenment, she came to a conclusion about what she should do from this new day onwards.
And before she teleported to her bedroom, she took something out of her Dimensional Inventory.
It was the artifact that Russell had gifted her, Alakin's Heart.
***
After a few days since Elizabeth confronted her mother regarding the truth about her father's death, and after Freya's birthday, the twenty-fifth of December arrived, but unlike from the Old World, the occasion this day was called "Star Winter Blessing."
The old holiday celebration that was on that particular date in the Old World was abolished after the Emergence, and after the System started to guide humanity.
Apart from that, the religions of the world were now different from what they were used to. But the main one was the Church of the System, which believed that the System itself was the guidance that would lead humanity towards salvation — both physically and spiritually.
Furthermore, the faith of one was extremely dependent on the nature of the Constellation, God, or Goddesses. But all in all, throughout the Orion Continent, there were only around three orthodox religions; The Church of the System, the Wanderer Church that's founded based on Rumia's mother's Constellation, Wanderer of Cosmos, and last, but not least, there was the Church of Nobility, which was based on the Constellation of the King of Cassiopeia.
In other words, apart from the Church of the System, the Wanderer Church and the Church of Nobility were founded not because they voluntarily wanted it as an act of faith and gratification, but rather because the Constellation had asked them to do so.
And at this moment, sitting on the rooftop of Russell and Freya's home, after the small celebration for the Star Winter Blessing as the year's end was nearing, Amelie told Russell and the others a shocking revelation, which the latter never expected to hear.
"...So, the Lady of the Shaded Spade, your Star Contractor, wants you to found a church?"
Russell asked, feeling a sense of apprehension and challenge at the same time.
Amelie nodded with an embarrassed expression. And before anyone of them could make a response, she continued:
"Ah! My Star Contractor also said to me that she can recommend a Constellation for Ken, but with a cost — Ken will serve as an Inquisitor for the church."
Russell couldn't help but rub his forehead upon hearing what Amelie had just said.
"W-what? Inquisitor?"
Ken reacted in wonder, to which Amelie then responded with an unrelenting smile.
"Yes! Inquisitor or someone who tortures others."
Freya and Amery seemed to feel chills running down their spine as they looked at Amelie, who said those words in a nonchalant way.
'Her contractor is someone I only saw in my vision, but I don't really know her because she doesn't exist in my unpublished novel.
'I don't know if she's somewhat evil, but considering she's on the Goddess of Night's side, as a subordinate also, it probably isn't the case.'
Russell thought, glancing at the incredulous expressions that were painted on them except the smiling Amelie as though she found the upcoming adventure or the idea to found a church as interesting.
Pondering for a moment, Russell interjected.
"Amelie, apart from founding a church, is there anything she said?"
"Uh... About that..."
Amelie shifted her gaze upon remembering what she would eventually tell them.
"Uh... Yes, s-she said to destroy the Church of the System."
Russell's jaw dropped at the bombshell after bombshell he was hearing tonight.
In a world where the higher beings had at least made their presence known, it was one hundred percent impossible for religion or sets of beliefs and principles to not exist.
And with guidance from the System, the humanity had considered it as above of them all, which turned out to be the largest religion throughout the Orion Continent, and here, at this moment, Amelie just told them that she was told to gradually destroy it completely.
'This will be a f*cking crusade.'
Russell seriously thought as he let out a sigh before he asked another question that was at the back of his mind.
"When will the church be founded, then?"
"About that, I received various instructions, but I was asked to establish it on December 31st before the year ends."
"Okay...?"
***
Clink-! Tink-
"Oi girl, got a problem?"
In the Black Cat Pub, Czerina von Elydine smashed the bottle of liquor she was just drinking a moment ago.
"Worry not. I'll pay for it."
The bartender just shook his head because Czerina was an important asset of the Shadow Guild. In other words, he wouldn't be able to do anything to her even if he attempted to.
A few moments later, thinking about where to find the elusive Russell because it had been some time since she had been bothered by him, by simply saying to her to "go home" and by handing to her younger sister, Celiya von Elydine, the Personal Weapon she lost when she killed him.
'It's impossible to be him. He's dead.'
Czerina thought as the door of the pub opened. Sir Britz, the well-built man that previously encountered Russell and Amelie, entered with a delighted expression.
"Alright, folks! Everything is on me!"
"Woaah-!"
"Thank you, Sir Britz-!"
The other drinkers inside the pub cheered at the words of the man.
Approaching Czerina's spot, Sir Britz nodded before he handed her an envelope.
"It's the reward for successfully retrieving the Orb of Truth."
"This is quite generous. Is it that important? I know you told me not to pry about it, but with this, I'm becoming more curious."
Czerina didn't hesitate to get the money.
"Hahaha-! Don't worry about it. All I can say is that it would strengthen our guild.
"Regarding your job, what did you do to the previous owner, the one who bought the orb at auction?"
Czerina, who was trying not to be reminded of that mysterious existence, frowned, but she casually answered.
"I killed him."
Her words were normal in the ears of the other people within the pub as there was no reaction from them.
"Hahaha-! You merciless brat.
"Alright. The news about the Orb of Truth will be known soon, at least within the guild, so just wait about it.
"Be glad since your contribution is remarkable."
"Ha... Whatever. I'll just wait for the news."
Czerina brushed off Sir Britz's words, just again being reminded of where to find Russell.
***
"They are not fools, it's just that I know better."
Alone in his bedroom, after Amelie's revelation, Russell remembered the Orb of Truth as he muttered coldly in the air.
Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m fr𝒆ewebnove(l).com