“Our time is short, so let’s get straight to the point, shall we?”

Although I had suspected it from the fact I met her, my head spun a bit when my suspicion was confirmed. I took a deep breath and nodded at the Goddess’s words.

The Goddess, with the Saintess’ benevolent face, sat calmly with her legs crossed and continued speaking.

“You wondered why I made Sylvia a Saintess, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It’s because of your existence.”

“…You mean because of me?”

I made Sylvia become a Saintess?

I frowned, not quite understanding the Goddess’s words, but she nodded silently, unconcerned.

“Because you came to this world, that child lost her place.”

“…So you’re saying it’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault, child. It’s the fault of the one who sent you here without saying a word.”

The Goddess didn’t seem to hold any grudge against me. But even so, I couldn’t help but worry.

After all, she’s a Goddess. Isn’t she a being who could easily crush a mortal like me without even lifting a finger?

“I understand what you’re worried about, but I’m not such a narrow-minded Goddess.”

“…I apologize if I gave that impression.”

“You too have become my child since you entered this world. Since it wasn’t your will to come here, I have no intention of holding you accountable for that.”

“That’s a relief.”

If she were to forcibly banish me back to my original world, I’d have nothing to say, but if she took more extreme measures, I wouldn’t be able to cope.

As I inwardly let out a sigh of relief, the Goddess chuckled as if she found my reaction amusing.

“Anyway, everything I’ve said was a measure to protect you and Sylvia.”

“…I understand what you mean.”

It wasn’t strange considering the future that had changed due to my existence in this world. No one knows how far the butterfly effect I created would change the future.

“We don’t have much time left.”

The thing I had been wondering about all along was the mist surrounding the Goddess. It felt like it was not to protect the Saintess but to protect us.

As evidence, the mist had now thinned considerably, and the Goddess was looking at it with concern.

“Was it to protect us?”

“Yes, even if I dwelt in my daughter’s body, if you and Sylvia had looked at me directly, your minds wouldn’t have remained intact.”

“Then”

“It’s about time for me to go back now. Hurry and ask one last thing.”

I had little time to think, so I quickly racked my brain and found a question.

“Could the changes I’ve made to this world possibly lead it down a bad path?”

“…Child. That is the choice of all mortals. Whether the world goes down a bad path or a good one.”

The mist was gradually thinning. As I frowned, feeling a headache just from looking at the Goddess, she stood up and placed her hand on my head.

“It’s not all your fault. It’s simply the choice of everyone.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

When the Goddess placed her hand on my head, I felt the headache ease considerably. She was looking at me with a faint smile.

I felt something leaving her body as my eyes met her black ones. Realizing the end had come, the Goddess left her final words, slowly but urgently.

“Go to Duke Geyrus. Most of your questions will be answered there.”

“…I understand.”

“Child.”

“…Yes.”

The focus gradually disappeared from her black eyes. Despite this, the Goddess continued speaking and gently stroked my head.

“I really like the story you’re creating.”

“…”

“So, don’t worry.”

With those final words, the Saintess’ body collapsed. I caught her body as it fell like a puppet with its strings cut, took a deep breath, and looked around.

The mist that had hazily enveloped the room when I entered was completely gone.

After carefully seating the Saintess back in her chair, I held my dizzy head and continued my thoughts.

Sylvia became a Saintess because of me. It wasn’t the Goddess who sent me here. Because I came here, Sylvia lost her place.

My mind was complicated, but it all led to one conclusion.

“Duke Geyrus’ house…”

I need to go there. Only then did I understand the message Duke Geyrus had left for me.

A reason for me to seek him out had arisen. As I ran my hand through my hair and exhaled deeply, feeling overwhelmed, the Saintess’ body, which had been lying half-dead on the sofa, began to stir.

“…”

As her eyes, which had started to move, opened and met mine, she finally grasped the situation and sat up straight.

“Um, hello?”

“Yes, hello.”

I calmly received the Saintess’ awkward greeting and slowly stood up. Now that she had regained consciousness, I had no reason to stay any longer.

As I stood up, she quietly watched me. Seeing that she seemed to have something to say, I stopped moving and spoke.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, I’m fine. Now that I’ve experienced it once, the second time is easier to adapt to.”

“…This wasn’t the first time?”

Is the Goddess treating the Saintess like her avatar, coming in and out as she pleases?

I asked back, feeling dumbfounded, and the Saintess shook her head with a broad smile.

“It’s only happened twice. It’s also a big burden for the Goddess, so she doesn’t do it often.”

“… That’s a relief.”

I had intended to ask something simple, but feeling like the conversation might drag on, I had no choice but to sit down again.

Seeing this, the Saintess smiled broadly once more.

“When was the first time she borrowed your body?”

Since I was sitting anyway, I decided to ask what I was curious about.

She eagerly answered my question.

“It was when it was revealed that some high-ranking people in the Church were committing corruption. She immediately borrowed my body and scolded them so loudly that the Church people were afraid of me for a while after that.”

“… That’s a bit different from the image I had in mind.”

“Right? You’d think a god would bring down divine punishment or something, but she said it’s not actually that easy.”

Contrary to her quiet and calm impression, the Saintess was quite talkative. Or rather, it felt like something that had been suppressed until now had suddenly burst out.

“So she was like… ‘You fools!! Did you think I gave you holy power for this?!’ and shouted at the top of her lungs…”

“Wait a moment.”

While the Saintess’ story wasn’t uninteresting, and I had been listening and responding quietly, I cut her off because I felt a sense of déjà vu somewhere.

The Saint, who had been excitedly chattering away, blinked slowly with wide eyes at my voice.

“Do you remember everything that happened when the Goddess dwelled in your body?”

It doesn’t make sense otherwise. The Goddess wouldn’t have directly told the Saintess about that story.

“Of course, it’s my body after all, isn’t it? It’s not like my consciousness falls asleep. It’s more like the main consciousness is pushed aside for a moment… That kind of feeling.”

“…Then.”

“If you’re asking if I remember all the conversation between Brother Felix and the Goddess, yes, I do.”

Oh my.

I couldn’t help but slap my forehead and let out a deep sigh. Seeing my reaction, the Saintess tilted her head and looked at me closely.

“So you know that I’m a person from another world?”

“That’s right.”

“And you don’t have any particular thoughts about that?”

“Why not? Some people remember their past lives, and some can foresee the future. Isn’t it stranger to think that reincarnation or other worlds don’t exist?”

Perhaps because she’s in a position to serve the Goddess directly, her way of thinking is incredibly open.

As she calmly answered my questions, I was unsure whether to feel relieved or wary. At that moment, the Saintess smiled brightly again.

Placing her index finger on her lips, she lowered her voice and continued speaking.

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone about this.”

“…”

“Um, you’re not thinking about something like murder, are you? Even if it’s you, Brother Felix, that’s something the Goddess can’t forgive.”

“How could I?”

Murder, what a frightening thing to say so casually.

The Saintess who had said such a thing stretched nonchalantly and giggled.

Seeing her somehow relieved expression, I blinked, and she playfully replied.

“I’ve been bottling things up for a while. I don’t have anyone to talk to so openly like this.”

…I see.

She must have been lonely as well.