## C515
“So—”
Cale summarized the words that the Seventh General Hinari had blurted out.
“You realized that the Second Emperor of Wednesday and the one from Friday were different, and that the Great General’s soul is trapped inside the body of the Second Emperor of Friday.”
*Gulp.* Staring intently at Hinari, who was swallowing hard, Cale finished speaking.
“Appearance, voice, way of speaking. Everything was the same between Wednesday and Friday, but one thing was different?”
“… Yes.”
At Cale's gaze asking what it was, Hinari replied without hesitation.
“The gaze.”
Ha!
Archie, from the Whale Tribe, let out a sigh as if it were something absurd.
“What... with something as imprecise as that—”
“It is different.”
However, Hinari was firm this time.
“Really, it is different.”
General Pery of Island 16, who had been listening silently to her words, opened her mouth.
“General Hinari's judgment must be correct.”
“Are you saying that because the gaze is different, it is correct that the person is different?”
When Archie showed disbelief, Hinari said:
“Yes. That's right. I am good at seeing those things.”
She turned her head to look at Cale. Her eyes were full of conviction. At that moment, her brother Ashifrang, unable to contain his anger, said as if chewing the words:
“Does someone who sees those things so well ally with the one who is going to stab her in the back?”
Ashifrang flinched after letting out those words. It was because his older sister, Hinari, was looking at him with indifferent eyes.
“The Great General's gaze is like that of an old tree. Like the old tree that supports this vast ocean, it was very dense and solid. The Great General was looking for someone like an old tree to be his successor.”
Hinari remembered the last time she looked in the mirror. Her gaze was not like that of a tree. After that, she removed the mirrors and did not see her own gaze again.
“…….”
Hinari, who observed the gaze of General Pery—who, as always, remained firm like a tree pointing towards the sky—continued speaking with an indifferent tone.
“I cannot be like an old tree. So, to overcome that incredible old tree, I would have to cut it or burn it.”
Cale, who was listening to her words while she still could not look directly toward the bed where the Great General lay, asked:
“Is the gaze the secret of why you were evaluated as someone with exceptionally outstanding insight?”
“… Yes. When I see eyes, I feel that atmosphere.”
Hinari was someone who identified people through those eyes, through that gaze. Cale suddenly remembered the Mercenary King Bud after a long time. That guy was someone capable of doing something similar with the ancient power of the wind.
“So, what is the difference between Wednesday and Friday?”
“If the Wednesday Second Emperor's gaze was cold but soft, the Friday Second Emperor's was cold and hard.”
Archie shook his head from side to side as if he didn't understand what that meant. But, seeing Cale's expression, he backed away stealthily. The corners of Cale's lips were raised to the maximum, as if he were enjoying himself.
“Tell me your guess.”
Hinari, knowing that Cale was listening to her, opened her mouth with a sigh.
“Based on the fact that she is a puppeteer and that her gazes are different, I considered that the Second Emperor does not move her own body, but rather makes dolls move in her place.”
Both the Second Emperor of Wednesday and the one of Friday are dolls.
“Additionally, I thought she put souls inside those dolls, turning the doll itself into a prison.”
“I see.”
It was quite useful information. Therefore, Cale had to confirm something.
“Ryeon. Do you have anything to say about this?”
Because the expressions of the Wanderer siblings Cho and Ryeon were strange. Unlike the other Wanderer, Mujeon.
“I saw the Second Emperor wounded.”
“And?”
“It was definitely the body of a person. It was a serious wound on the arm and I could see down to the bones.”
The Seventh General Hinari refuted Ryeon's words.
“That can't be! Or maybe, you met the original body!”
“… It wasn't once, I saw the Second Emperor's wounds several times.”
Ryeon sighed and continued speaking.
“My brother and I didn't have a faction of the Third Emperor to follow specifically, so we always traveled through various places, and because of that, we encountered the Second Emperor quite a bit. That's why I could see him.”
After hesitating for a moment, she opened her mouth.
“… However, now that I think about it, the Second Emperor certainly suffered many more wounds on her body compared to the First Emperor or the Third Emperor.”
“It can't be—”
The Seventh General closed her mouth tightly, unable to say more. It seemed her thoughts had become complex. The expressions of those present in the Great General's bedroom, including the **Heavenly Demon**, Choi Han, and **Alberu Crossman**, also became quite serious.
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
At that moment, Cale tapped the armrest and spoke.
“A puppeteer. An external appearance that is identical in everything except the gaze. And that appearance is the body of a real person.”
*Smile.*
Cale said to the Seventh General with a smile:
“Either your insight failed—”
“T-that's impossible!”
“Or Ryeon understood something wrong.”
“…….”
Cale, who observed Hinari speaking hurriedly and the silent Ryeon, turned his head.
“?”
When Alberu, with whom he suddenly crossed gazes, showed surprise.
“Raon.”
The small black dragon appeared in the air.
“What's wrong, human?”
Cale was still smiling.
“Contact Mary.”
“¡……!”
At that moment, Alberu's eyes widened and, without realizing it, he jumped up from his seat and muttered:
“Managing the body of a human with the same appearance as if it were a doll—”
The necromancer Mary could create and manage monsters with the same external appearance using the bones she possessed.
“Also call Eden Miru.”
And the Bone Dragon that Mary created. The soul of the **Dragon Half-Blood** Eden Miru had permeated into it, moving as if it were truly a living being. Certainly, the Bone Dragon was alive.
“… A puppeteer who handles souls—”
Alberu sat down again and looked at Cale.
“Mary and Eden Miru will know it well.”
Two beings who had handled bones and whose soul had resided in another being. Cale nodded at Alberu's words.
“Those two will be the ones who best identify the Second Emperor among us, right?”
Especially if it was Mary. Cale thought that Mary was necessary from the moment he heard the words "puppeteer" and "body of a living person."
*‘Extremes meet’.*
A situation where they only knew that she possessed the ability to devour and use souls. In a state where information about the Second Emperor was very scarce, Mary was needed, as she best knew the subject of death.
At that moment.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“They have arrived.”
Cale felt the need to organize the place at the news that those he expected had arrived.
“Good, those who must leave, leave, and those who must stay, stay.”
*Click.*
At that moment, the door opened and Cale could see three people entering. **Beacrox**, the team leader **Sui Khan**, and **Choi Jung Soo**.
“Seventh General.”
Cale spoke toward Hinari, who was being escorted out by General Pery and the Whale Tribe.
“The Great General will live.”
“…….”
Hinari's eyes trembled. Cale knew there were many emotions contained in her gaze, but he didn't bother trying to know them. He didn't care about the feelings of someone who had stabbed her own family in the back.
“Then.”
The Great General's bedroom. Both the doctor and the servants had left. Outside the door, Choi Han stood guard, and on the terrace, behind the curtains, the **Heavenly Demon** watched the surroundings. Cale observed everyone who was in their respective places—**Ron**, **Beacrox**, the 10-year-old group—and finally, after looking at Crown Prince **Alberu Crossman** and the Great General's youngest son, Ashifrang, he opened his mouth.
“The descent of the **God of Death** begins.”
As soon as those words finished, **Choi Jung Soo** and **Sui Khan** moved.
*Shuaaaa—*
A thin cloth was spread in the center of the bedroom, and the body of the Great General, who slept with his heart stopped, was moved onto it. Of course, Alberu and Ashifrang moved the body.
“…….”
Ashifrang bit his lips, but his expression was not good. In the end, no matter what happened, the being that would enter his father's body was not his father.
*Glance.*
He looked at Alberu, who was standing on the opposite side. There was nothing reflected in his expression.
*‘How can he be so calm?’*
He wanted to ask, but held back.
“Step back.”
Choi Jung Soo spoke with a serious tone and gave a visual signal to Cale and Sui Khan.
“The descent ceremony is not complex.”
The three people formed a triangle with the elderly Great General in the center. In the hands of Choi Jung Soo and Sui Khan was a small bell. Cale stood at the head of the old man.
“It is not the descent of the god's main body, but a temporary descent through a medium.”
Choi Jung Soo explained kindly to Alberu and Ashifrang, given the importance of the moment.
“However, three things are mandatory.”
The Great General.
“A medium.”
Additionally, two important things.
“An object created through divine touch. A Holy Item is needed.”
Cale took the mirror from his chest. It was the most recent Holy Item created by the **God of Death**.
“Also, three beings who have directly heard the voice of the **God of Death** are needed.”
At those words, Ashifrang's eyes widened. Beings who directly hear the voice of a god.
*‘Isn't that something difficult even for some Popes, Saints, and Holy Maidens?’*
But had the three people in front of his eyes directly heard the voice of the **God of Death**?
*‘Are they the Pope and the Saints?’*
No. The three people did not look like people from a church.
*‘Ah.’*
Ashifrang soon realized something.
*‘Three beings.’*
Three beings who directly heard the voice of the god. Those words didn't necessarily mean they were people from a church. It also didn't mean they were humans. They just had to be something that had held a direct conversation with a god.
*‘… It can't be—’*
Passing by Choi Jung Soo and Sui Khan, there was Cale standing holding the Holy Item. Ashifrang's pupils trembled as he looked at him.
“Then, we will begin the ceremony.”
Choi Jung Soo looked at Cale.
“Does the **God of Death** say he is also ready?”
“!”
Ashifrang flinched at seeing Choi Jung Soo speaking with respect to him and the Crown Prince, but speaking informally to the god.
“Mmm.”
Cale tapped the mirror.
*Ting!*
*- I'm ready!*
Seeing such an restless message, Cale's face turned to disgust.
“Yes. He says yes.”
*Ting!*
*- Let's start at once!*
“He says to start at once.”
Choi Jung Soo and Sui Khan nodded with faces that indicated they already imagined what kind of words would have been said.
“Ah.”
Choi Jung Soo spoke looking at Alberu and Ashifrang, specifically at Ashifrang.
“Even I only know the procedure of the **God of Death**'s descent process, but I haven't actually experienced it. Therefore, I warn you in advance that various situations may occur due to the descent of the god.”
They were words mentioned beforehand just in case.
“However, nothing will happen that harms someone or destroys the environment.”
*Ting!*
*- It's no big deal. It's not crazy like the descent of the God of Chaos.*
Cale spoke in his place.
“He says it's no big deal.”
*Ting!*
*- It's not that I'm taking all the power of my original body, but I'm hiding for temporary refuge, so it's not even a third of my original body's power. Therefore, the world won't have much to endure.*
“He says that since he descends with approximately one third of his original strength, the world won't have to endure—”
Cale stopped for a moment. Endure the world? Why mention something like that?
“… He says the world won't have much to endure.”
Anyway, he conveyed all the words.
*Ting!*
*- In any case, since the descent is within the Marine Union, there will be nothing that changes between before and after the descent!*
“He says there will be nothing that changes between before and after the descent.”
Good. Then it's fine. Cale felt relieved to know that no one would be hurt and the environment would remain the same. This was someone else's house; he couldn't destroy it.
“Then, we will begin the ceremony.”
Along with Choi Jung Soo's words, there was silence for a moment. The one who broke that silence was Choi Jung Soo.
“Since with the beginning of life comes the beginning of death—”
*Ting-lang.*
The small bell in Choi Jung Soo's hand emitted a sound.
“The moment when it is thought to be the end will be another beginning—”
*Ting-lang.*
The small bell in team leader Sui Khan's hand emitted a sound.
*Gulp.*
Ashifrang swallowed hard. Because the bells moved without Choi Jung Soo or Sui Khan shaking them. Finally, Cale opened his mouth. The words announcing the start of the descent ceremony that was about to unfold.
“The end of life.”
*Ting-lang, ting-lang.*
The bells of Choi Jung Soo and Sui Khan began to vibrate rapidly.
“May true death come and reside.”
*Ting-lang!*
Both bells rang loudly in unison and stopped.
*Ting!*
At that moment, Cale saw the last message that arrived.
*- I'm descending!*
With those words, Cale could finally realize what kind of being the **God of Death** was.
“!”
He raised his head. The bedroom ceiling is seen. Nothing special is seen. But Cale could feel it.
The sky.
Something is coming down from the sky.
“Kehug!”
Ashifrang collapsed to his knees without realizing it.
“Kugh.”
Alberu barely stayed on his feet. However, Cale didn't have time to deal with them.
It's coming down.
Something is coming down from the sky. Something immensely giant. And it was different from the tide of countless pupils that the God of Chaos possessed.
It is not seen. But it is approaching.
No one was hurt. Nothing was destroyed. Not a single person died.
However, it approaches. It descends.
Like a human who sees his own shadow for the first time and feels fear at the black shadow that sticks right under his feet and follows him, no matter how much he flees or runs to the end of the world.
Something fearsome is over me.
Even Cale. The **Heavenly Demon** and Choi Han outside the bedroom. No, all the beings of the First Island.
*Shuaaaa—*
No. Marine Union. All the beings who were in the entire area of the central sea near the First Island looked at the sky.
The death that is found at the end of life. That was near all humans. However, humans never realize that death.
The death that is felt from the sky. However, humans did not perceive what it was that was coming down. They simply felt something fearsome and more fearsome.
Humans only felt that something they could not see, hear, or touch was approaching.
*Piiiiii——*
The sound of a game system notification reached the ears of Alberu, who was trying to stay on his feet no matter what.
[An emergency situation has occurred!]
[A system error has occurred in the Marine Union field whose rank cannot be established.]
[All users, please proceed to log out until the system stabilizes.]
[We inform you once again.]
[An error whose limit cannot be established has been discovered. Users, please leave said field or log out quickly.]
The descent of a god. Even if he were in a weakened state, a god was a god. And the **God of Death**... was by no means a weak god. On the contrary, he was a god who was in the top ranks if the five ancient gods were excluded.
*Piiiiii—*
*Piiiiii——*
An unusual phenomenon occurred throughout the Marine Union. Both the NPCs who lived in this world and the users who heard the urgent system alarms. No one could do anything against the energy approaching from the sky. They could only collapse and look at the sky.
That's why everyone felt it.
“!”
“……!”
That giant something stopped. It stopped moving while coming down from the sky.
*Shuaaaaaa—*
And at the moment the wind blew.
*Ting-lang.*
In the moment the sound of the bell reached their ears.
“!”
“……!”
The energy moves. It was felt even if it wasn't seen. What dominated over the vast sea of the Marine Union moved slowly.
*Ting-lang—*
It headed to a place. Everyone turned their heads in that direction. They didn't want to face something so fearsome and terrifying, but strangely they couldn't ignore it. Just as happens with death.
*Ting-lang—*
The First Island. The island where the Great General who dominated the Marine Union remained unconscious. Toward that island something headed: death.
