"Noona."

Late in the night, I called Isabella out privately. She came hesitantly, watching my reaction. Despite her sharp appearance, her demeanor was like that of a cat.

"W-What's going on?"

"Let me see your hand."

"M-My hand?!"

She looked down at her hand and quickly hid it behind her back.

"No."

"Why?"

"U-Ugh, no naughty stuff. I'll scold you."

"Huh? Just let me see it. I promise it's nothing inappropriate."

"W-Well, in that case..."

I quickly grabbed Isabella's hand.

"...Haah."

She covered her mouth with her free hand as I carefully examined her hand. The Stigmata must be somewhere…

Could the Stigmata be on a different part of the body?

"Could you take off your clothes a bit?"

"H-Here? No, absolutely not! I'll really scold you!"

"Stay still for a moment."

"N-No, but... oh no... if you push further... I can't allow it..."

I gently rolled up her sleeve. Not here either...

Is it on her back?

"Noona."

"Be gentle..."

"Where is the Stigmata?"

"...Huh?"

She glanced at me, then cautiously lifted her robe.

A cute belly button was revealed.

But there was no Stigmata.

"It's not here?"

"...Below here."

I stared below her belly button. I see. That's what it was.

[You're still such a scheming brat.]

This god is a complete pervert.

"...It's not all the way at the bottom, right?"

"...It's around the lower belly."

"Then let me lower the clothes for a moment."

"W-What are you..."

She pretended to resist, but didn't really oppose it. Instead, she subtly pushed her stomach forward.

"Oh god... please forgive me..."

Her excited breathing was mixed with a certain warmth.

I looked around just in case.

No one was here. Hmm. That’s a relief.

If the Snake Cult guys had seen this, it would have been chaos.

"I just want to clarify that I don't have any ulterior motives."

"...Not even a little?"

"Well, I'm human too, so maybe just a little?"

"......."

Isabella averted her eyes slightly and then asked belatedly.

"But why are you interested in the Stigmata?"

"I need to discuss something with the god connected to Noona."

"Huh?"

"You'll understand if you wait and see."

Let's go meet them then.

"Oppa."

I opened my eyes.

Someone was shaking me.

A small hand gently nudged me—it was a girl who seemed much younger than me.

"...Han Seo-ah?"

I shot up, unable to forget that face. There was no doubt. Those chubby cheeks.

It was Han Seo-ah, looking just as she did before she was on the brink of death.

"You... why… why are you here..."

Wait a moment.

What on earth happened?

I frowned and rubbed my face. Han Seo-ah was dead. She wasn't supposed to exist in this world.

And bringing her back to life was part of... the deal with the Sun God Ra.

"Damn it."

I glared at Han Seo-ah.

"This isn't funny. This kind of stunt, ‘Naga’."

"Eek."

Han Seo-ah stepped back. More precisely, the 'shell' wearing Han Seo-ah's form retreated.

"S-Sorry. I just wanted to see your reaction... to find out who is most deeply embedded in your memories... and, and... added a respectful title at the end..."

"Do you want to die?"

"Eek..."

"Take it off right now. Or I won't hold back."

"I-I'm sorry..."

Han Seo-ah's form began to dissolve with a squirming motion. The scene was so grotesque I couldn't help but frown.

A small woman, nearly eye level with my current height, stepped out as her silhouette gradually grew larger.

Her clothes barely concealed her skin, and dark circles loomed heavily beneath her eyes, giving her an undeniably eerie appearance... definitely eerie...

"Pl-please don't look..."

She hugged her chest, and it was so substantial, it truly warranted being described as 'hugging her chest.'

"Hmmm..."

"Wh-why..."

"I think I understand why the Snake Cult worships the god despite how they are treated."

"Ugh, ughhh..."

I clapped my hands briefly to change the atmosphere, then extended my hand to her.

Gently.

Kindly.

I resolved to maintain my gentlemanly demeanor until I had taken full advantage of what could be gained.

"Would you like to take a walk for a moment?"

"Ah... uh?"

Naga glanced at my hand and then pointed around the room.

"This is the only place we've prepared... we can't go for a walk."

"Then let's just spin around the room."

"Huh?"

"Light exercise is said to aid thinking. Come on. Quickly."

"If that's the case..."

She took my hand. We began to slowly spin around the room.

"You look even prettier in person."

"Wh-where did you hear about me?"

"I heard from Lord Ra. Is the white hair genetic?"

"I didn't have any parents from the beginning... I've had it since the beginning of time..."

"Your eye color is beautiful. Are you from abroad?"

"Actually, I'm not even from the same world as you..."

I shifted the mood with some light teasing. Seeing the tension fade, I quickly got to the point.

"Is Priest Isabella okay?"

"What?"

"I mean, is it okay for us to meet like this?"

"Of course!"

Her usually droopy eyes suddenly sparkled with energy.

"Isabella is fine! She's someone dear to me! Yes, that's right... I called you to say thank you. Initially, I was going to contact you through Isabella, but for some reason, you came to see me first..."

"Because I wanted to see you."

"...Wha?"

She froze.

"Did you say... you wanted to see me?"

"Of course. I was curious, too."

"But... you're a follower of Ra..."

"Is that not allowed?"

"Well, it's just... from the beginning, meddling with someone else's follower is... a serious crime..."

"Feelings aren't that simple, you know."

I gently touched the back of her hand.

"But I like you."

"H-Huh..."

She flinched, glancing at me several times. I tried hard not to laugh.

Easy. It's so easy.

I could get a lot out of this.

"But, Lord Naga."

"Yes, yes?"

"I liked you, but I don't think I can go that way. Lord Ra has too much affection for me..."

"I-Is that so..."

Her eyes blinked as if unsure how to handle me, but her shoulders subtly slumped.

I firmly clasped her hand and flashed my eyes.

"However, if you think about it differently, isn't there a way?"

"Yes, yes?"

"My body belongs to Lord Ra, but... I also wish to embrace you, Lord Naga."

"H-Huh?"

"Could you share a little of Lord Naga's grace with me?"

"...Uuh?"

Naga's eyes spun around in confusion.

"But... Ra will definitely be angry..."

"I'll cover for you."

"In a human body, having traces of two gods is against the law of causality..."

"But I don't want to let go of you, Lord Naga."

"Wh-why to that extent..."

"Because you're the first god I've met whom I like this much."

Indeed, it's true.

It's the first time there's been a god this easy to win over.

Ra, from the start, wasn't the easy type to conquer.

"I have to save this world. Lord Naga, don't you have some idea?"

"It's my first time hearing this."

"...You can hear more about it from Lord Ra later. Anyway, you will agree, right?"

"Still, this is all so sudden..."

"Oh."

I quietly released Naga's hand.

"I see."

"...What?"

"No, it's nothing."

I smiled, though my eyes smiled, my mouth did not.

"I was just thinking about who it was that saved Priest Isabella's life."

"A... ah?"

"And it’s almost like the members of the Snake Cult are alive because of me too."

"Hah... huff..."

"Yet this so-called god saved the lives of the followers and rescued them from danger... and does nothing in return."

I looked at Naga sideways.

"That could happen, right?"

"No, that's not..."

"No, no. I made an unreasonable request. I almost committed a huge discourtesy. Our Lord Naga is remarkable! I almost made a god angry! Isn't that right?!"

"Uh... ouch..."

"I made a huge mistake! Imagine insulting a god as another's follower! It's entirely my fault! Truly!"

"No, it's not that..."

"Lord Naga."

I gently patted her head.

"I like you, Lord Naga. You know that, right?"

"Yes, yes..."

"That's why I don't want to be apart from you. You understand that too, don't you?"

"...Yes..."

"And I am fully deserving of some compensation. I am the one who saved Lord Naga's cherished followers, right?"

"Y-Yes..."

"So, I can persuade Lord Ra, and the fact that lives were saved means there's enough justification... Now, the only thing left is that there has never been a precedent for a human body having two Stigmata, right?"

"I guess?"

"Precedents are meant to be broken, aren't they? If I become the first case, maybe that too will become a natural thing. Don't you agree?"

"Is that... so?"

I held her shoulders as she tilted her head in confusion. I leaned in and whispered sweetly into her ear.

"Lord Naga."

"Y-Yes?"

"I don't want to part with you, Lord Naga."

I brushed her cheek with my fingers and playfully tugged at her snake-like tongue.

"What about you, Lord Naga?"

Her eyes were swirling as if she had no resistance to the man, and there was a distinctly alluring scent in the air.

"Um... well... that is..."

"How about it?"

"This... is my first time experiencing something like this... so..."

"I want you, Naga."

"D-Don't whisper like that..."

Naga flinched and, with glazed eyes, slowly leaned in for an embrace.

"W-Warm... I also... don't really... want to part…"

"Right? Then what should we do?"

"Uh... uh..."

She murmured in my arms.

"Imprint the Stigmata?"

"No, that alone might not be enough justification."

"T-Then what?"

"Appoint me as an Apostle of the Snake Cult. As Naga's most favored person. How about it?"

"...What? B-But that's..."

"It's okay. I'm planning to leave the Sun God Religion eventually and create a new sect. It's not a problem at all."

"T-That's not the issue..."

"Naga."

I held her chin gently.

"Will you stay with me?"

"Ah... ouch... hmm..."

She squinted her eyes shut, then quietly nodded.

"Yes, yes..."

[Class is changing]

[Species is changing.]

[Stigmata (B) -> Mixed Stigmata (A)]

[Divinity (B) -> Mixed Divinity (A)]

[Jahad Balton] [Level: 42]

[Species: ???] [Job: ???]

[Job Unique Skills]

Love of the Sun God: Skills related to the Sun God grow quickly.

Grace of the Sun God: Divine power recovers rapidly.

Blessing of the Sun God: Can handle the Sun God's sacred objects without risk.

Prayer of the Sun God: Immune to mental contamination.

[Job Unique Skills]

Love of the Snake God: Skills related to the Snake God grow quickly.

Grace of the Snake God: Divine power recovers rapidly.

Blessing of the Snake God: Can handle the Snake God's sacred objects without risk.

Prayer of the Snake God: Becomes immune to status effects.

[Possessed Skills]

Mixed Stigmata (A): Repels all evil. Can grant stigmata to others. Subordinate priests are melded, and some body parts may become twisted. (5/20)

Mixed Divinity (A): Two kinds of divinities are combined. The methods of use have become more complex, and it cannot be detected by standard divinity detectors.

Healing (B): Can perform healing and battle simultaneously. Commonly referred to as the 'Immortal's Fight'.

Blessing (B): Greatly increases resistance to status effects and can maintain composure except in special circumstances. Physical abilities are significantly enhanced, and divine power temporarily surges.

Holy Fire (B): Creates sacred flames. Purifies evil and can partially burn what cannot be burned. The size and limits of the flames are proportional to divine power.

Prayer of Fire (C): Maintains body temperature for a certain time when praying. Enhances physical abilities.

Holy Water Production (C): Imbues water with divinity. Activates the body's healing abilities and increases resistance to evil.

Holy Wall (B): Can block certain areas. Can be thinly applied on the skin to encompass fire. Demonstrates power akin to armor and mitigates impacts below a set threshold.- Whisper of Fire (B): Enhances weapon performance. Flames descend upon the weapon, which can also be bestowed on others' weapons. Provides resistance against magic.

Purification (C): Drives away curses and purifies contaminated things.

Sword of Condemnation (B): Derived from the basic swordsmanship 'Song of Fire' of the Sun God Religion. Unnecessary parts have been reduced, and the swords of the Inquisitors have long been known for their lack of mercy.

Meat Cooking (C): Cooks meat deliciously.

Crown of Ashes (EX): Offers tributes to raise the rank of skills related to the Sun God.

"Uh... huh?"

She suddenly opened her eyes. Naga trembled and mumbled.

"My, the causality I built up... saved for hundreds of years... where... all disappeared..."

Where else could it have gone?

Thank you for the meal.

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