C423. The Pathfinder (2)
After a brief silence.
[…Isn't the information wrong?]
The Father of Maggots still couldn't erase his doubt.
Shinhyeong tilted his head.
[Regarding this, there is no possibility that the information is erroneous.]
[Then, is it really true that the Burning Tree and those Divine Bloods, who had gone to kill the Star Eater, changed sides immediately to protect him?]
[…That is correct.]
At that answer, the Father of Maggots moved his lips without realizing it.
[Is the Star Eater's ability perhaps something like hypnosis or brainwashing…?]
[I don't know for certain, but I highly doubt it is that.]
He nodded as well.
It had been a deduction born from thinking about why the Burning Tree would have allied with the Star Eater, but he himself knew how absurd his thought was.
No matter how much the Star Eater was a being that defied all expectations, he was still a human.
A simple vessel that the Divine Bloods used as a tool.
And were those Divine Bloods, creatures of higher dimensions, going to fall hypnotized or submitted by such a human?
It was impossible.
[…What the hell is going on?]
The Father of Maggots' bewilderment only lasted for an instant.
[Excuse me, but I think perhaps there is no reason to worry so much.]
The Divine Blood spoke cautiously.
[Why?]
[As you know, there are many Divine Bloods who wish to receive the guidance of the Great 'Rotten Mouth'. Even if the Burning Tree and those Divine Bloods protect the Star Eater….]
[Will they not be able to protect him?]
[Exactly. As I said, there are many who wish to receive the Rotten Mouth's guidance. Besides…]
[Besides?]
[That guy has moved.]
[If you are referring to that guy…?]
[I am talking about the Darkness-Eating Sword.]
At the Divine Blood's faint smile, the Father of Maggots let out a ‘hoh’, impressed.
The Darkness-Eating Sword.
Among the fallen Divine Bloods, he was one of the few situated among the most powerful.
Even the Father of Maggots, comparable to him in abilities, as well as the Burning Tree, avoided facing that being directly.
Because although he was a Level 1 Divine Blood, he had one foot inside Level 2.
That is why—
[If the Darkness-Eating Sword has moved, there is nothing to worry about.]
[That is correct.]
The Father of Maggots, who a moment ago was consumed by irritation, now moved in the air with satisfaction.
[I will limit myself to waiting calmly. While I diligently gather the instruments to advance to the next level.]
He drew a vile smile, as if everything was pleasant to him.
Inside the mental world, where the galaxy stretched out in fullness.
—You say that you can now create a God?
—Yes!
Alon was stunned for an instant upon seeing Kalanon's confident expression, but he immediately came back to his senses.
—I appreciate that you went straight to the point, but this sounds too exaggerated.
—Ah, did I lack explanation?
—More than a little.
Kalanon made a thoughtful “hmm~” before continuing.
—I thought you already suspected at least a part of it.
—And on what do you base that?
—Well… in that your Divine Power changed.
—……You also felt changes in your Divine Power?
At Alon's question, Kalanon showed a somewhat ambiguous expression.
—In my case, strictly speaking, rather than changing… I simply followed the flow. That is the most correct expression…
—Following me?
—Of course! From the beginning, I—whether I want to or not—am destined to receive direct influence in matters like this.
She wasn't wrong.
—Fine, I would like you to explain everything from the beginning. Is it possible?
—Since the change of the Divine Power?
—Yes.
—Alright. Besides, that was what I planned to explain first.
Kalanon organized her ideas for a moment and began to speak.
Some time later…
—That is everything I discovered.
Alon summarized.
—In other words: since the Divine Bloods fell to the world, my Divine Power changed.
—Rather than changing, I would say it… evolved.
—Evolved…?
Kalanon had given him three key pieces of information:
First, that Alon's Divine Power had changed after the fall of the Divine Bloods.
Second, that this change was not corruption, but evolution.
And third—
—I understand almost everything, but… the last part is hard for me.
—Ah, regarding the location of the missing Divine Power?
—Yes. How is it that my Divine Power is still in my body? Even if I try to perceive it, I no longer see it.
Kalanon affirmed that Alon's Divine Power was still in him. But when Alon checked, he found no trace whatsoever.
There only remained a small amount acquired after killing a Divine Blood some time ago.
He was confused.
Kalanon added naturally:
—It is normal that you do not see it. Because your body, my Lord Marquis, has become the container of the Divine Power.
—…My body?
—Yes. That is why you can no longer see it when looking inside yourself. All the Divine Power has permeated into your body.
—Even so, I can no longer use it.
—Well, that requires practice. But you will master it soon. Because I am here —said Kalanon, clearing her throat with pride.
Alon nodded slightly and remembered the phrase she had said at the beginning.
—Then, what was that about being able to create a god?
—I will explain it now.
Kalanon cleared her voice.
—As you know, normally there is only one way to become a god.
—Acquiring faith, right?
—Exactly. Receiving the faith of humans. Without the faith of many, one cannot become a god. To become one, you need multitudes and their belief.
Alon nodded, although it all seemed too obvious to him.
—It is the norm.
—Yes. Becoming a god through the faith of many… everyone knows that. But with the evolution of your Divine Power, a part of that premise can now be eliminated.
—A part?
—Yes, exactly…
Kalanon raised a finger with an enigmatic smile.
—…the “many” part.
She whispered that. A phrase that made Alon open his eyes wide.
—…That means…
—Just as you understood it. To be a god, countless believers are needed… but if you believe in someone—
—Can they become a god?
—Yes.
—Is that… possible?
At the suspicion on Alon's face, Kalanon replied:
—Normally, of course not.
—Then, how?
—I told you that the Divine Power evolved.
—…Thanks to that, then.
Kalanon nodded and opened her hand.
Uuuuuung—!
Something like an entire planet appeared on her palm: solidified Divine Power.
—As you know, Divine Power takes forms according to faith, large or small. And once created, only its owner can use it. But…
Kalanon used her other hand to detach a fragment of that divine planet. A small sphere formed.
—Ours doesn't work like that.
—…You can separate it at will?
—Exactly. And also hand it over. In other words…
—Can we create gods at will?
—That is correct.
—But then, will everyone who receives divinity be able to use the same abilities as me?
—No.
—Then?
—You know that the power born from faith… depends on the way one believes.
—Meaning, what I share is… a “seed”.
Kalanon smiled.
—Correct. What flower will emerge from that seed is different for everyone. And when it blooms…
With absolute confidence:
—They will form an army of gods that will only follow us.
It was a crucial truth.
The Darkness-Eating Sword had crossed the coast to enter the Allied United Kingdoms with the objective of killing the Star Eater. As soon as he set foot off the shoreline, he found the Burning Tree in front of him, as if he were waiting for him.
[Burning Tree, huh?]
A voice like scratching the abyss.
The countless skulls attached to his cape emitted macabre sounds.
[…Darkness-Eating Sword.]
The Burning Tree murmured his name in a low voice.
But the Darkness-Eating Sword didn't even take him into account and murmured:
[I see, so the Piercing Eye told you.]
He guessed why the Burning Tree was there and nodded.
And without further conversation, he brought his hand to his torso, hidden by the shadows of the abyss.
Choeoeok—!
The sound was nauseating.
A grotesque sword emerged from his abdomen.
A blade entirely encrusted with skulls: an ominous sword.
The Darkness-Eating Sword held it without a word.
[I heard you are protecting a simple insect.]
[…That being is not a simple insect. If you listened to his words, you too would want to join the ‘Star Root’.]
[Star Root? Did you form a ridiculous group? Is that why the Divine Bloods haven't been able to capture that insect until now?]
Ridiculous.
At his murmur, the Burning Tree replied, trying to persuade him:
[Don't you want to hear the story?]
[I only have two things to say to you.]
[Either you stop protecting the insect and step aside…]
KWAAAAANG!!
[—or you die here.]
The Darkness-Eating Sword cut the sea with a slash.
[…I suppose there is no other option.]
The Burning Tree adopted a combat stance.
And behind him appeared two Divine Bloods.
[…The ones acting with you.]
Even so, the Darkness-Eating Sword did not lose his composure.
Two were not enough to intimidate him.
[Reinforcements of only two? They mean nothing.]
But as soon as he pronounced that—
THUMP!
[?]
Two more Divine Bloods came out of the forest.
Now there were five.
[…]
Even so, he did not flinch.
Among the fallen Divine Bloods, he was undoubtedly one of the three most powerful.
[…Five are not—]
But when he was about to finish…
THUMP—THU-THUMP!
Another two Divine Bloods appeared.
[7…]
Now there were seven.
The Darkness-Eating Sword tensed up for the first time…
THUMP!
…but he didn't get to prepare himself.
[???]
Another two walked out.
Nine.
And as if they had agreed—
Another two more.
Eleven.
The Darkness-Eating Sword, realizing he was in a 1 vs 11 situation, said:
[…Hmm.]
[….]
[Suddenly, the Star Eater…]
[Is that being… your friend?]
[…I am suddenly interested in meeting him. Can we talk?]
He put the sword away into the abyss with complete naturalness.
The wise attitude of one who knows the universal truth:
In a gang beating, no one can win.
