Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2042: A strange connection

Ultimately, I found myself completely unable to halt their advances.

"We welcome you anytime, Holy Son."

They clearly intended to overlook key elements of my statements all the way through.

Because of that, preparations were essential for handling this issue upon reaching the Holy Empire.

At the moment, I pushed those thoughts aside without dwelling on their intentions. Right now, my attention turned fully to the statue offered before me.

Destroying it stood as my sole outlet for the building frustration.

"I can handle this however I please, correct?"

The Holy Empire's envoy nodded decisively and replied, "Naturally. We've crafted this gift specifically for the Holy Son."

Evidently, they insisted on calling me Holy Son rather than Your Majesty. My position among mortals held no interest for them any longer; only the divine perspective on me mattered...

Without question, this route carried grave risks, yet I remained helpless against it.

Fanatics' convictions proved notoriously difficult to sway, after all.

Once they fixed their beliefs on something, persuading them to shift became an uphill battle for me.

Hence, no actions lay within my grasp at present.

My focus shifted instead to the statue nearby, driven by the urge to shatter it and erase the nagging reminder.

Yet as I drew nearer, an odd sensation washed over me regarding the statue. It felt like some profound link tied it directly to my essence.

Though unclear in nature, the bond seemed undeniably personal.

This realization halted my steps abruptly, prompting me to squint at the statue with scrutiny.

Following a prolonged pause, enlightenment dawned.

"It's channeling divine energy to me?" Confusion gripped me at this revelation.

Nothing about the statue suggested it ought to perform such a feat. From my time alongside Haley, I recognized its composition all too well.

Eventually, the truth crystallized.

"Could this be the power of faith?" I pondered aloud, gazing at the statue with a perplexed expression.

With this insight secured, I pivoted toward the Holy Empire's envoy and inquired, "Have you been utilizing this statue?"

Startled initially by the query, the envoy's eyes soon gleamed as he explained, "Prior to erecting the grander statues, we've relied on this compact one for our prayers to the Holy Son."

His words drew an even odder glance from me, though I opted against pursuing the matter.

Still, his affirmation validated my suspicions.

Apparently, their devotions were funneling divine energy my way...

Such a phenomenon belonged solely to deities.

Far from divine myself, it struck me as bizarre that I could draw divine energy like this.

After contemplating the statue briefly, I spun on my heel to depart, sensing the envoy's growing wariness.

Revealing this secret posed too great a peril to allow.

Should they uncover the tie between me and their crafted likeness, they might produce endless replicas. Worse, they could spiral into wild excesses, convinced I ranked among their revered gods.

As allies, they proved steadfast, provided boundaries held firm.

Fanatical devotees, however, harbored unpredictable extremes when driven by zeal. Knowledge of the truth could imperil not just me, but the whole racial alliance.

Midway through my retreat, I declared, "I'll set aside time for a visit to the Holy Empire. I'd like to inspect the statue you've made in my honor."

The envoy's gaze sparkled at these words.

After all, this announcement aligned perfectly with their deepest hopes.

He assured me of their readiness to receive me at any chosen moment in the Holy Empire.

Under ordinary circumstances, I'd avoid such a move, as it might fuel their escalating notions. Yet an additional intuition compelled my decision.

Subtle though it was, the feeling persisted.

Without the insight from this minor statue, detection would have eluded me entirely.

The link mirrored the smaller one's, yet stretched across vast distances. Strangely, it supplied an even greater flow of divine energy despite the separation.

Its origin remained unknown, but deducing the source proved straightforward. Moreover, the abundance of divine energy from there felt entirely fitting.

"That location teems with devoted zealots, after all." A quiet sigh escaped me as the thought surfaced.

Priority lay in uncovering the reason for this bond and seeking a means to sever it...