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

Previously on Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure...

The racial alliance representatives gathered for a meeting, their faces etched with exasperation as they anticipated the protagonist's latest involvement in the unfolding crisis. Discussions centered on the production of weapons against the forces of Destruction, with smaller nations eagerly inquiring about quantities, only to receive vague assurances that testing with Queenie's divine energy infusion was ongoing. Larger empires proposed prioritizing the first batch for vulnerable smaller countries, a motion most supported despite the Solar Kingdom's unexpected insistence on claiming its full allotment per alliance rules. The session concluded on a tense note, as reports confirmed no signs of the Destruction forces, leaving everyone wary of their hidden preparations.

"Thank you for agreeing to this meeting."

I nodded in acknowledgment, yet my facial expression remained far from cheerful.

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

They weren't evil individuals by any means; it was simply that I struggled to connect with them.

Connecting with such fervent devotees proved challenging for me, though their zeal also rendered them staunch allies. They were aware of my ties to the divine beings, and their devotion to those gods compelled them to back me fully.

Yet, that very devotion often grated on me the most.

"Before we proceed, we'd like your thoughts on a certain issue." The pope of the Solista Religion uttered this with a grin, one that sent chills down my spine.

I recognized the topic he meant, having dodged it for ages, but now he raised it himself. When the pope himself initiated the discussion, dismissing it became nearly impossible.

Especially since all the other popes sat present as well.

With the summons coming from the Holy Council, turning down this gathering wasn't an option for me.

"Is that truly necessary?" I inquired, clinging to a sliver of optimism.

The pope's face shifted right away upon hearing my words, then 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 on-site envoy displayed to me.

Upon viewing it, a bitter expression crossed my features.

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

They'd dispatched this recently, upon learning of my exploits with the blades.

The moment the Holy Empire got wind of it, they apparently ordered and delivered this statue promptly.

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

Ultimately, I could only remark, "It resembles me."

I aimed to offer minimal endorsement, knowing outright denial might provoke an even stronger backlash. Should I refuse to recognize it, they'd undoubtedly take extreme measures to resolve the issue.

The popes appeared unperturbed by my ambiguous reply, each nodding with pleased smiles.

Hearing my words, the pope of the Solista Religion 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 catching his statement.

The pope of the Solista Religion 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 countenance began to contort the instant those words reached my ears.

I stared at him, silently wishing it was merely a jest, but the seriousness in their gazes made it evident they meant every bit of it.

Regarding matters of faith, these folks took things with utmost gravity, leaving no room for humor...

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

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

I hadn't focused much on their calling location before, but suddenly it dawned on me they were in an unfamiliar setting compared to before.

As they adjusted the perspective, I noticed they stood inside a temple featuring an odd sculpture.

The second I laid eyes on that sculpture, an eerie sensation washed over me.

It struck me as recognizable, yet distinct from the one I'd come across earlier.

It resembled the effigy of the God of Creation from when I obtained the legacy, but lacked the vibrant essence of that prior version. This piece carried none of the sacred aura the original possessed.

Still, that wasn't the key detail.

What truly mattered was the presence of yet another figure positioned before this towering depiction of the God of Creation. It looked like workers were setting it up even now.

This matched the sculpture they'd forwarded to me, only scaled up larger than the prototype. Still, it fell short in size compared to the immense God of Creation statue.

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

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

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

They continued the setup with evident joy, paying no heed to the dismay etched across my face.

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

Truthfully, I was certain they could hear my voice clearly. Thus, it was apparent they chose to disregard me on purpose, just to erect the statue.

Were I present physically, I'd have smashed that statue to pieces and attempted to thrash them. But in this instant, I possessed no means to intervene.

It looked like a visit to the Holy Empire was unavoidable to resolve this situation...