Chapter 445 - 443: A God Appears
"As for right now," she said with a soft laugh, "I’ll let you experience what it’s like for a fan to meet her idol. Oh, and I’ll even have your God give you a personal autograph." She amused herself as she said it.
Lily Paxton didn’t quite understand what Celeste Grant was saying. She reached up to scratch her head, and seeing Celeste laugh, she started to giggle foolishly as well. Madam Forrest’s daughter was certainly a beautiful girl.
’She could just imagine it. If the villagers saw the God they’d always worshipped suddenly appear before them, they’d be ecstatic. The comparison was perfect—what was this if not a fan meet-and-greet?’
Just then, Celeste Grant sensed a subtle ripple in space, along with a familiar aura.
It was Javier Sinclair’s aura.
’He’s here.’
At this thought, she lifted her head toward the night sky and murmured, "He’s here."
The moment she spoke, the clouds began to turn red. Against the bright, clear moonlight, a black-and-red vortex materialized in the sky.
「At that very moment.」
A voice cried out.
"Quick, look at the sky!"
"What is that?"
The villagers were singing and dancing around a bonfire when one of them happened to glance up and couldn’t help but cry out in surprise. At the sound of his voice, everyone else looked toward the sky and saw the same incredible sight.
They stared in shock at the vortex in the sky, some with expressions of deep unease. Not knowing what was happening, they were filled with a mixture of fear and curiosity toward the unknown.
"The clouds are turning red!"
"That black-and-red vortex... It’s like there’s a whirlpool in the sky."
The villagers huddled together, whispering amongst themselves. None of them knew what was happening, and their faces were etched with confusion.
As the murmurs spread, Celeste Grant had already stepped forward into the open clearing.
While the villagers stood there in confusion, a figure emerged from the vortex. The man was tall and slender. Bathed in moonlight, he was dressed in black robes, his ink-black hair draped casually over his shoulders. As he hovered in the air, his clothes billowed in the wind. His face was handsome, yet possessed a hint of wicked charm.
The moment this figure appeared, only one thought crossed everyone’s mind: ’Has the God revealed himself?’ He possessed an innate, divine majesty that prevented anyone from daring to look at him directly.
「Under the moonlight.」
The God had appeared. He had descended.
The villagers who looked up at the sky now stared with wide eyes. Those who had been singing and dancing had frozen in place. In that moment, it was as if the crowd gathered around the bonfire had forgotten how to speak.
The clearing fell silent, the only sound being the crackle of the bonfire. In the stillness, one person’s grip went slack, and the bowl in their hand CLATTERED to the ground, rolling a few times.
The sound finally jolted the villagers back to their senses.
They stared, dumbfounded, at the man who had appeared in the sky.
That build... that face...
Having worshipped their God for so many years, how could the villagers not recognize him? This was the very God they had always prayed to. His statue was enshrined in the village’s ancestral hall even now.
Finally, one of the village elders was the first to break the silence.
His expression was emotional, his gaze devout, as he murmured, "The God has revealed himself."
"He really has revealed himself." The elder’s hands trembled, his face flush with excitement as he continued, "The God hasn’t forgotten us! The God has revealed himself!"
At his words, the villagers of Kheris looked as if they were waking from a dream. In an instant, they all dropped to their knees in unison, their faces a mixture of excitement and piety. Entire families prostrated themselves, bowing toward him.
"We greet the True God!"
"We pay our respects to the God!"
"May the God protect us."
"May the God protect us."
Everyone in the village knelt except for Celeste Grant. Even Lily Paxton, who had been staring wide-eyed and dazed beside her, immediately dropped to her knees, crying out for the God’s blessing. Her eyes shone, just like a fan meeting an idol she had adored for years.
’If seeing the God in the Ancient Mirror before felt like an unreal dream, then this had to be real. The God appearing in the sky... this was definitely real! It wasn’t just her; every single person in the village had seen him.’
’AAAAAAAHHHHHH!’ she shrieked internally.
’The God, the God, it’s really the God!’
’The God I’ve worshipped has actually revealed himself!’ It was impossible to describe the mix of terror and excitement she felt.
Hovering in the air, Javier Sinclair’s gaze swept over the villagers. A flicker of barely perceptible awkwardness crossed his otherwise cold face.
Javier Sinclair: "..."
’May the God protect us?’
’God?’
’Heh.’
’Since when did I get into the business of protecting people?’
Javier Sinclair paid no mind to the villagers’ excitement. Their so-called "God" only had eyes for his wife.
Javier Sinclair’s gaze bypassed the villagers and settled on Celeste Grant. The moment he saw her, his cold expression softened, and a smile touched his eyes.
’Whatever. These villagers aren’t important.’
’I can see my wife now.’
"My wife."
His voice was deep and low, and everyone could hear it. They all wondered who this "wife" he spoke of could be.
Celeste Grant, standing not far from the village’s ancestral hall, lifted her gaze to Javier Sinclair. Their eyes met. She smiled, waved, and called out to him.
"My husband."
Celeste Grant’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to the kneeling villagers’ ears. Suddenly, they felt as if their minds couldn’t keep up. The voice belonged to that young woman, Claire, who had recently arrived in their village. They had even greeted her before.
’She had spoken with them! At this realization, the villagers drew a sharp breath. ’The young woman Claire, the one who’s been talking with us and has such a beautiful smile... what did she just call the God? My husband!!! She’s the God’s wife? Have we all been blind?’
’No wonder! From the first day Claire arrived in the village, we thought her beauty was unreal. How could a mortal possess such looks? So, it’s because she’s the God’s wife.’
Of course, Celeste Grant had no idea what the villagers were thinking. If she had, she wouldn’t have been able to hold back her laughter.
She then called out to Javier Sinclair again.
"Javier Sinclair."
Hearing Celeste Grant call his name, the corners of Javier Sinclair’s lips curved upward. He smiled, and in the blink of an eye, he was standing before her.
Seeing him, Celeste Grant smiled faintly.
"You’re finally here, Archfiend," she murmured.
Javier Sinclair didn’t say a word.
Looking at the person he had been longing for, Javier Sinclair stepped forward and gathered her into his arms. His arm circled her waist, wanting to hold her tight, yet he kept his embrace gentle, mindful of her belly.
"My wife, I’ve kept you waiting." As he spoke, he lowered his head to rest against hers. "I’m here now," he murmured.