Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2041: Like a god

"Thanks for accepting this meeting."

I offered a simple nod, though my facial expression clearly showed my discomfort.

Truth be told, this wasn't a faction I cared to encounter frequently.

They weren't evil individuals by any means; it was simply that we didn't mesh well together.

Blending in with them proved challenging since they were all devoted zealots, yet that very devotion turned them into my strongest allies. They were aware of my ties to the deities, and their unwavering belief in those gods led them to back me fully.

Still, that identical devotion often grated on my nerves the most.

"First off, we'd appreciate your thoughts on a certain issue." The pope from the Solista Religion uttered this with a grin, one that sent chills down my spine.

I was well aware of the topic he meant, and I'd dodged it for ages, but now he was raising it directly. When the pope himself pushed the subject, brushing him off became nearly impossible.

Especially since all the other popes were present too.

With the summons coming from the Holy Council, turning down the gathering was out of the question.

"Do we really need to go there?" I inquired, clinging to a sliver of optimism.

The pope's face shifted right away upon hearing my words, and he replied in an fervent tone, "Absolutely, it's essential. We've anticipated this response for ages. It concerns a vital decision for our Holy Empire, so we must address it without delay."

Letting out a heavy sigh, I glanced over at the item their local envoy was displaying.

Upon viewing it, a bitter smile crept across my features.

After all, encountering a sculpture modeled after oneself wasn't an everyday occurrence.

They had dispatched this not long ago after learning of my exploits with the blades.

The Holy Empire caught wind of it, and promptly ordered and delivered this likeness.

They'd evidently invested considerable work into crafting it, as it captured a lifelike resemblance, though I truly hoped they hadn't bothered.

In the end, I could only mutter, "It resembles me."

I aimed to withhold excessive approval, knowing outright denial would backfire. Without some recognition, they'd surely resort to extreme measures to resolve it.

The popes appeared unperturbed by my ambiguous reply, all nodding with pleased expressions.

Upon hearing that, the Solista Religion's pope declared, "Excellent then. That allows us to proceed with placing the additional statues."

"Additional statues? What exactly do you mean by that?" I questioned immediately after his words.

The Solista Religion's pope flashed a broad grin while explaining, "Based on the stories we've gathered, we've concluded that the Holy Son has attained demigod level. Therefore, it's fitting to honor you within our places of worship."

My expression began to contort the instant those words reached me.

I stared at him, silently praying it was merely a jest, but their serious gazes confirmed it was no joke.

Regarding matters of faith, these folks took everything with utmost gravity...

"Where precisely are you setting up these statues?" I finally inquired.

The popes rose abruptly following my question, and the view shifted.

I hadn't focused much on their meeting location before, but now it hit me that they were in an unfamiliar spot compared to before.

As they adjusted the camera, I saw they were inside a temple featuring an odd effigy.

The second my eyes landed on that effigy, an eerie sensation washed over me.

It resembled a statue I knew, yet it differed from the one I'd come across earlier.

It echoed the likeness of the God of Creation from when I claimed the legacy, but lacked the vibrant essence of that prior version. This piece carried none of the sacred aura the other possessed.

Yet that wasn't the key detail.

The crucial part was the presence of yet another figure before this massive depiction of the God of Creation—one seemingly in the process of being positioned.

This matched the model they'd forwarded to me, only scaled up larger than the prototype. Still, it paled in size next to the towering God of Creation statue.

From the installation method, it was obvious they intended to venerate my statue alongside the God of Creation's.

It felt as though they regarded me as a deity...

This was never anything I'd desired, yet here they were, carrying it out.

They continued setting it up with evident joy, oblivious to the terror etched on my face.

"Halt that immediately." I commanded in a resolute tone, though they showed no sign of heeding me.

Actually, I was certain they could hear perfectly. Thus, I realized they were intentionally tuning me out to erect the statue.

Were I there physically, I'd have smashed that sculpture to bits and lashed out at them. But in this situation, I was powerless to act.

It looked like a visit to the Holy Empire was necessary to handle this mess...