Chapter 99: [] (3)

The grand chapel filled with countless believers.

At the request of the Saintess, all the key members of every diocese were summoned.

Under the declaration of a state of emergency by the Saintess, everyone—whether they were cardinals or religious leaders—sat with stern faces.

“My lord…”

Watching their faces, the Saintess recalled her encounter with Albus at the academy a few days ago.

The enemy of her lord had become her lord himself.

It was hard to believe, but…

“I would do anything for my lord.”

The Saintess, clutching the small capsule given to her by Albus, stepped onto the platform.

[…]

The massive form of the [System], frozen by a power.

Though she could feel the consciousness of the [System] clearly present within it, he did not respond to Albus’s question.

“Let’s have a conversation.”

An invisible hand, born from Albus’s power, wrapped around the [System].

Crack

[What do you want, human?]

As the grip tightened, the [System], which had seemed unwilling to speak, finally opened its mouth.

“I want to know. Why did you try to destroy a world you’ve never even seen before?”

[…]

The [System] stared silently at Albus.

After what seemed like a long time of sorting his thoughts, he spoke again.

[To eliminate the irregularities that pollute and disrupt the order of the universe.]

“You’re saying I’ve disrupted the order of the universe?”

It was a story similar to what the [System] had said during their first encounter.

“Now that I think about it, you said I created a world at random, thus breaking the order. But I don’t get it. Even if I did create a world, it’s just a game. How could creating a game possibly harm the order of the universe?”

No matter how much the game influenced reality, it existed separately, within a server.

If creating such a world within a game was enough to make him a target for annihilation, Earth would have been destroyed over and over again by the countless games released every day.

[Creation is a divine power, and only those formed through proper divinity are allowed to create worlds.]

The [System] continued.

[Not a false world that exists only in the virtual realm, but a world that properly exists somewhere within a dimension.]

‘…Wait.’

[A mortal can only create a false world that exists within electronic devices, but the dimension known as Rudera was different.]

It was only then that Albus realized.

‘The world I created… actually exists in a dimension somewhere…?’

The world he created wasn’t just a virtual one within the game.

[The kind of world that only the main god of a dimensional system could create—Rudera took on the form of a complex dimension, where many dimensions converged.]

‘The reason it affected reality… is because Rudera exists somewhere in this world?’

So, accessing Rudera wasn’t entering a virtual reality, but rather sending his consciousness into another world, like dreaming?

[Something a mere mortal human should neither create nor achieve.]

It wasn’t a completely unexpected realization.

It was a theory he had considered when he discovered Rudera’s influence on reality.

But no matter how much help he had from a dragon, it didn’t make sense that an ordinary human who couldn’t even properly use magic could create something like that. 

So he had pushed the thought aside.

[It is something that should not exist in this universe. As the universe’s overseer, I must annihilate it.]

Rumble

The world trembled.

Divine energy began to spill out of the [System].

“Isn’t it fine to have at least one exception?”

Suppressing the [System] with his power, Albus asked.

[Even a single violation denies the fundamental order of the universe. If the denial continues, it will break the balance of the universe, leading to its collapse.]

The universe collapses just from breaking that rule?

Is that why he tried to erase Rudera and the continent?

“Who made that rule?”

[No one made it. It has been so since the birth of the universe. Just as no one questions who created the laws of physics.]

I understand the [System]’s position, to some extent.

If something that breaks the laws of the universe is created and allowed to exist, it could cause the universe to collapse.

I don’t fully understand it, but if that’s the law of the universe, it is what it is.

It’s probably similar to why gods like Deus and Alia can’t fully interfere with the mortal realm.

So, all I have to do is not break that law?

“Then I just have to become a god.”

If only gods are allowed to create worlds…

If a human creating a world is harmful to the universe, then all I have to do is become a god.

“I have divine energy within me, thanks to the faith of my followers. I can ascend to divinity with this, right?”

[You want to become a god?]

Rumble

The grip of his power was beginning to weaken.

[Rudera itself is a flawed, profane world. There’s no way you could become a proper god with faith from such a world!]

Boom! Boom!

Explosions erupted from the hand restraining the [System].

Rising from the crumbling grip of power, the [System] stood tall.

[Any loophole that bypasses the law will be annihilated!]

Kwoooom

A powerful wave of energy surged from the [System], now ready for battle once more.

Kaaaaa-boom!

However, when Albus extended his hand, the wave of energy collided with something invisible, as if there was a barrier in front of him, and was neutralized.

“Who said it came from Rudera?”

-Master! Everything is ready!

A report from the guide came at the perfect time.

“The faith I was talking about.”

-Infinite reverence!

-Oh, GM, protect us…

-We pray… Holy one…

“It’s faith from the real continent.”

Kuwaaaa

A massive amount of divine power flowed through Albus’s body.

He could hear the voices of countless wishes pouring into him.

[How is this possible…]

‘Good. Everything’s going according to plan.’

It was a part of the operation deliberately entrusted to Carthesia.

That was to make the entire population of the continent the audience for the battle against the [System].

The faith of intelligent beings becomes divine power, the source of a god’s strength and essence.

If he could increase that faith explosively, he might gather enough faith to become a god.

If the GM himself was seen fighting off and resolving the catastrophe, the faith of those who witnessed it would surge beyond belief.

During the preparations for the operation, he had asked Deus, “If I broadcast myself fighting as the GM against a great evil threatening the continent, would I be able to gain divine power from the continent’s people?”

Her response had been positive.

Especially given the recent disasters that had plagued the continent, there was a deep-seated faith and trust in the GM, making it more than possible.

Thus, he decided to broadcast his confrontation with the [System] to the entire continent to gather faith.

Of course, the broadcast alone might not have been enough.

In addition to the guide and Dua, he sought help from others.

The Saintess, who could mobilize her believers with Deus’s help.

Fortunately, when she came to the academy looking for him, he was able to ask for her assistance.

It had been difficult to convince her, due to her memories from previous cycles, that the GM should be seen as an object of faith, but thanks to her unwavering trust in him, she was able to accept that the evil god was the [System] and that the current GM was a righteous god.

The Empress who could unify the people of the empire.

Though she had been dispirited due to the rampage incident, she was filled with determination after he reassured her of his need.

The beastmen were led by their king, the undead by Akuham, the republic by Leighton, and the demon kind and the community residents by the head moderator.

Those who only watched the broadcast and didn’t know about the outside world were under the care of the sub-moderator.

The rest, including dragons, elves, and dwarves, were guided by Carthesia.

Everyone was led to watch the broadcast, witnessing the GM save the continent.

Through the immense faith and divine power flowing into him, Albus could see it.

The image of Empress Rebecca, gathering the people of the empire before the imperial palace and leading them in prayer.

The Beast King assembling his people and leading a worship ceremony.

The Saintess, gathering the believers of the Holy Kingdom, pleading with them to pray to the GM.

The elf queen, explaining to the elves and dwarves why they should put their faith in the GM.

The Demon King conducting a ritual with his demon kin.

Leighton, always lukewarm in his duties, actively uniting the Republic at this critical moment.

The sight of all the intelligent beings of the continent coming together, watching the broadcast, and sincerely praying to him.

As a result—

-GM, please protect our continent!

-Our savior, GM!

-Lord!

The people of the continent, united in mind and heart, believed in him.

Even though he didn’t know how far the broadcast had reached, the fact that the GM was fighting to prevent the continent’s destruction had been made clear.

All of their wishes were gathering toward him.

Overflowing power.

“So, this is what it feels like.”

He felt omnipotence wrap around his entire body.

A sensation that made him feel like he could do anything.

This was no longer the power he had once used to create small spheres after learning from Dua.

It was an overwhelming force, capable of creating and destroying entire worlds.

Strictly speaking, the faith wasn’t gathering toward Albus as a person.

It was gathering toward the god of Rudera, known as the [GM].

In other words, the faith wasn’t being directed at him, but at his avatar.

If he disconnected, he would return to his human body.

[How could such faith…!]

But it was enough to deceive the [System] in front of him.

From its perspective, it would seem that he had fully ascended to godhood.

“So, is this enough?”

Albus smiled as he turned to face the [System].