At the sound of his voice, Seitenshi trembled slightly.
She hurriedly raised her head.
Her gaze met Haimo's.
At that instant.
Seitenshi felt the stinging in her nose, which she had only just managed to suppress, well up again.
Only this time.
It was no longer because of her inferiority.
"Thank you... Lord God..."
"You don't have to be so humble all the time, Miss Seitenshi."
As though he had anticipated what Seitenshi would say, Haimo interrupted her.
"As a member of my Familia, you no longer need to worry about all those complicated formalities in front of me."
"A god's Falna merely gives tangible form to what is intrinsic to your souls."
"This is your own achievement."
"[Falna], at the end of the day, is only a key."
"Everything it can draw out already exists in the depths of your own soul."
"If you hadn't held fast to that almost stubborn ideal of coexistence in a world like that, suffering out of your desire to share others' hardships."
"Then these incredible spells-[Gensokyo] and [Utopia]-could never have manifested."
"So."
"Miss Seitenshi."
At this point.
Haimo paused, his gaze passing over Seitenshi's still faintly trembling shoulders, and his voice grew serious.
"This is power you earned yourself."
"Your own years-long wish to build a paradise was what answered you."
"So."
"Hold your head high."
"As a member of my Familia, you are someone who will make the gods take notice."
It wasn't just Seitenshi.
There were the others, too.
His attitude toward them was the same.
As long as they were members of his Familia.
Then, as a god.
He ought to give them guidance with absolute equality.
Hearing Haimo's affirmation.
Seitenshi froze.
Deep in her heart, it felt as though a warm hand had squeezed her hard.
A hot surge