𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟑: 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐢
Turning my back on Lulumia, I thrust the sacred relic into the ground.
It is twice my size, resembling a thin, rusted clothesline.
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Strangely, I feel no weight at all.
The rusted lump at the top, pointed towards the sky, appears merely dirty at first glance. But I feel my soul tremble.
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The snake — Kami-sama, is squirming against my chest.
When I pull my collar and look inside, it’s coiled up with its eyes closed. It seems Kami-sama is also at its limit.
The hustle and bustle around me grows distant.
I can feel my mind becoming sharper.
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That’s right. I am Charlene.
In my previous life and now, with the same blonde, fluffy hair, the shape of my hands and feet, the shape of my face are all the same.
Kami-sama tells me every day that my orange eyes, like the dazzling sunset scooped up, are beautiful.
No matter how many times I hear it, I never get tired of it.
I was born as myself, died as myself — and again, I was reborn here.
The world is crap, irrational, and I could never say it was a place I loved.
But I only know that way of life, and I don’t need anything else.
And over and over, I will continue to love the same Kami-sama.
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— My memories haven’t fully returned, but an absolute conviction fills my heart.
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Before I know it, the sacred relic has turned into a shiny ceremonial sword. On the handle, the intertwined patterns of white porcelain, modest gold decorations, and a snake, and on the straight blade, the name of the first Saint is engraved.
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SHARLENE HIRAETH.
It is my current name, as is.
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I place my left hand on my chest where Kami-sama is, and with my right hand, I strongly raise the staff to the sky. The affection overflows. I know what will happen next.
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“Kami-sama. I returned as myself because I wanted to see you. Show me your true form next time. . .”
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—Kaya.
The moment I say the name, I begin to hear a rumble from beneath my feet.
The crowd starts to panic.
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“What, what’s happening?!”
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The ground splits, light overflows. And it happens suddenly.
With a roar, a pillar of the shimmering silver spiritual spring extends straight into the sky.
While spreading warm droplets all over, the water current reaches high into the sky, piercing the rainbow, is a large dragon rising pleasantly to heaven.
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“. . .Kaya. . .”
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The snake squirming in my chest has disappeared.
I am just dumbfounded, looking up at Kami-sama who has regained his true form.
The sacred sword in my palm crumbles and vanishes.
For Kami-sama, it was a wedge that pierced his body and nailed him to the hill.
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“The contract with the first leading saint has ended. . . Freed from the country. . . You’ve returned to your true form.”
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Even the snake form was a weakened form for Kami-sama.
His true form was a dragon that became a god, the spiritual spring itself filling deep underground of the continent.
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With Kami-sama’s roar, all the swords tremble and vanish.
Just with Kami-sama’s side glance, the orcs disappear, and the entire cathedral evaporates and vanishes.
With the droplets of the spiritual spring pouring from Kami-sama, the wounded people are healed one after another. The burning buildings and the destroyed buildings also return to their rightful state.
Suddenly, I realize my field of view has risen.
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I had returned to my 18-year-old Charlene’s form. Even the clothes I’m wearing have adapted to my body. It’s a shiny white fabric dress like I’ve never seen before.
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“This. . . this is the matching outfit of what Kami-sama always wears. Just a different color.”
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There are no seams that can be removed. It’s a structure that humans would never make. — Thinking about Kami-sama’s trial and error, a smile inadvertently leaks out. He probably imitated the leading saint’s attire.
I looked up at the sky.
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“. . .You were this beautiful. . .”
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Kami-sama floating in the sky was an incredibly divine existence.
Just by looking, it’s clear that the deity who beguiled the second prince is of a different class.
It was a majestic, dreamlike sight.
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Surely from anywhere in the kingdom, this beautiful sight can be seen. Wavering faith must be returning. Certainly, Kami-sama will become the pillar of people’s hearts again.
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“. . . . . . That’s right, Kami-sama isn’t just mine, Kami-sama is. . . . . .”
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I was staring at Kami-sama with a refreshing feeling.
Somehow, I felt a faint sad premonition that I would be separating from Kami-sama as it is.
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“Goodbye, my own Kami-sama.”
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The moment I muttered so.
The sky’s Kami-sama turned its eyes towards me. Golden pupils approach with the force of fear.
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“H. . . . . . ?!”
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Just when I thought Kami-sama’s eyeball filled my vision, the figure of Kami-sama returned to a splash. From the sky, the usual Kami-sama fell in a free fall, clad in water droplets. With a straight face.
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“Eeeeeee.”
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Collision! I braced myself and closed my eyes.
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For a while, I didn’t hear any impact of falling water or heavy sound.
Before I knew it, I was tightly embraced by Kami-sama.
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“Charlene.”
“. . . . . . Ka, Kami-sama. . . . . .”
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His face is close. Realizing this, I remember that I had returned to my 18-year-old form.
From a higher position than me, who is rather tall for a woman, Kami-sama was staring at me with golden eyes. He isn’t smiling. With a strong grip in his arms, Kami-sama says in a low voice.
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“I’m your husband. I’ll go if you call me, I’ll be by your side.”
“I, I understand that.”
“So why.”
“Hi.”
“I want you to tell me. The intention of saying goodbye, the feelings that prompted it.”
“W, Well, you see, you’re everyone’s Kami-sama, out of consideration and all.”
“Do you want to get away from me, Charlene.”
“But! Ah, after seeing such a strong, cool, and beautiful figure, I’ll be intimidated! Is it okay to make a single human your wife!”
“. . . . . .”
“Are you shy?”
“A bit.”
“Cute.”
“. . . . . . I am Charlene’s husband, her partner. That’s the absolute truth, my only wish.”
“. . . . . . I get it. I lost. Please always be my Kami-sama.”
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It’s a little embarrassing to say it face to face. I cut my words a little, and continued.
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“I love you, Kami-sama.”
“. . . . . . I’m happy.”
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When Kami-sama smiled faintly, his eyes returned to the usual pitch black.
We’ve returned to where we should be. Even if I can’t put it into words, I feel satisfied in a way, and I reached up to kiss him. Kami-sama flinches a bit.
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“Is it okay?”
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To the surprised Kami-sama, I squinted and smiled.
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“I was finally able to kiss you. It would have been odd staying as a young girl, right?”
“. . . . . .”
“Haha, you’re surprised, aren’t you.”
“Charlene. . . . . .”
“I love you. I really love you, Kami-sama. Whether I die or live or get reborn, no matter what form I take, stay with me. Forever.”
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I confessed and kissed him, something I couldn’t do when I was a young girl.
I closed my eyes, surrendering to Kami-sama who held me tightly.
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ーーIs everything still a mess around?
ーーWhat about the second prince? Mauricio? Lulumia? The country? The church?
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I don’t care.
I’ve done my duty as a saint, the rest is for those important people to clean up.
I’m a saint with a bad upbringing, a superficial saint. The rest is up to you.
