Chapter 729: A Changed Promise

[Context: This scene takes place roughly 9 years after the main story and shows Isabel’s perspective. As many of you may remember, Pandora promised to give her a very "unique" experience if she built the church dedicated to Pandora’s worship. Now, you’ll finally get to see what she meant!

Also, I’d like to apologize to anyone who was confused by the "Segments" Chapters. These are side stories. For the most part, they are not connected to one another.

Don’t expect any specific order or chronological sequence. One day you might get a Chapter about the omnipotent Pandora, and the next one could suddenly be about Velvet. There isn’t a fixed order, and there won’t be one, because these aren’t part of the main storyline—they’re parallel stories that I write whenever I remember something I should expand on or answer, or whenever there’s something I think readers would enjoy seeing!]

"...So, Isabel? Have you decided?" Pandora asks me as she came to fulfill what she had promised. It took a long time, but she finally had time to come see me and offer me this.

"...Pandora, I’ve thought a lot about it... and... I... I don’t want it anymore." When I say that, Pandora looks more intrigued than irritated.

"You really don’t want it? You spent years growing this church and my religion, you gained millions of loyal followers, and you made it the second largest religion in the world, just below Delphina’s religion because mermaids exist in droves and they all give their faith to Delphina."

"...Can I talk to you about this?" I ask, and she gives a nod. I ask her to follow me to the window of the immense church in her kingdom. I open the window so she can see everything.

"Look... I built all of this with a lot of help. Alone, I never would have made it this far. And it all started when you saved me and gave me a goal for the future, even if the goal was for you to fuck me."

"It was kind of a stupid goal, but I was a teenager, I was young, I was desperate... and that goal was everything to me. But after years of working on it, trying my best..."

"I realized I already have someone I love..."

"Mikaela, right?" Pandora says, already knowing.

"Y-Yes... she’s always been by my side, and despite her split personality problem, she’s wonderful, and she likes me too. And I was at a crossroads — choosing love, or choosing to sleep with you."

"Choosing both felt wrong to me, because it would hurt Mikaela... so I don’t want it anymore. I’m really sorry about that. I would have loved to have something with you, I would have been so happy, and just having you touch me would have been a dream."

"But between choosing that and choosing to respect what I’m building with Mikaela, I thought respect was better. Pleasure is fleeting in the end, and hurting Mikaela didn’t feel right." I kneel down in an apology to Pandora.

"It’s fine, Isabel. You can get up. I already figured this would happen. I’d even thought about sleeping with both of you at the same time, but since you’d rather respect your beloved, I’ll respect that."

"I’m married myself... to several girls and one guy. I understand what it means to respect someone we love." She strokes my head, and her attitude catches me off guard.

"Really? You’re just going to accept it?... I... I thought I’d be punished."

"I don’t punish people for choosing what’s best for themselves. And there’s also the fact that you did well. I like your work."

"Currently, Isabel, my current followers number around 346,378,529. My religion is at an intermediate level. The power extracted from the faithful stands at 114,200,097 out of 185,138,984, and the accumulated power of the faithful is at 299,045 out of 342,159,843, with my System Authority at 50%."

"All of this is concrete data delivered by the system, showing your glorious work in creating my religion. With that, you have every right to decide this kind of thing. It’s just a shame I can’t reward you the same way as our old promise."

"...Do you want anything?" When Pandora asks me that, I grow thoughtful.

"I-I want to propose to Mikaela... c-could you show up at the wedding? I-I’d like you to be the authority figure who stands at the pulpit, says the things about marriage, and legally validates the wedding."

"Hmmm... sure, that’s a reasonable request. But Mikaela hasn’t even been proposed to yet. You’re putting the request ahead of the timing. Go make the proposal first. If it works out, send me a letter at the castle and I’ll do it." Pandora jumps out the window as I gaze outside.

I feel a little disappointed. I waited anxiously for years for Pandora to do something with me, but I guess I gained things more important than just pleasure.

"...It’s not like I’m not grateful..." I stand up and walk over to a chair, sitting down on it. I don’t know if refusing my goddess was the smartest move, but I guess that’s how it is, right?

When we grow up, our goals change. Back when Pandora found me, I was sixteen, I was young, immature, suffering abuse, and I didn’t know much about the world. Being saved was wonderful, but the goal that drove me wasn’t the best of the best.

Now that I’m over twenty-five, I’ve thought a lot about everything, and Mikaela, who has always been by my side, was the girl who ended up stealing my heart, even though it took me a while to realize it.

"Isabel-sama!!" I hear Mikaela’s voice, and soon the door swings open. I stand up, looking at her with a smile.

"Mikaela, I’m so glad you’re here. I’d like to invite you on a date tomorrow night." It’s enough time for me to prepare a date, buy a beautiful ring to give her as a gift, and propose to her.

"Really? I want to go! Also, I heard that Goddess Pandora was here — I came to help with anything."

"Ah, she already left. She went out less than three minutes ago... but we had a great conversation," I tell her, and she seems excited.

"What a shame!! What was your conversation about?"

"...About an old promise, but one that’s no longer necessary, so I asked for something else." Mikaela knew about the promise, but I let her know I exchanged it.

"Why did you exchange it? You seemed like you really wanted that."

"It’s because I grew up. My desires changed. Obviously, I still adore Pandora a lot and I’m very grateful, but I have other things I want more than a night of pleasure. I want something more permanent." Having Pandora at my wedding would be having a goddess validating my marriage. There’s no more religious way to certify a marriage.

Besides, having Pandora there will make her part of that important memory, and that’s better than a night of pleasure.

"Now, could you clear everything from my schedule for tomorrow? I need the whole day free tomorrow. Today, I’m going to do a lot of things!!"