Ch.121Chapter 121

“So you’ve reached that far.”

“What exactly do you mean by that…?”

“The realm where an Outer God appears human, Lord Tanthyn.”

The Saint said with a somewhat excited tone.

I was merely discussing possibilities.

It seemed I had inadvertently touched upon an actual theory.

Hmm.

But how does the Saint know about such a theory?

“I-I wasn’t suggesting that I’ve reached that state.”

“But you’ve glimpsed it before, haven’t you? Isn’t that why you asked such a question?”

I tried to brush it off casually, but the Saint was already looking at me with eyes that suggested he had made up his mind.

It meant that even if I were completely blind, he believed I had seen an Outer God as human.

Perhaps I should have approached the topic more indirectly.

As I was slightly regretting my approach, the Saint took a deep breath and looked at me with a serious expression.

“That realm is one I haven’t reached yet either. I’ve desperately wanted to attain it, but despite my best efforts, there are limitations. However, considering that you remained sane even after reading The Chronicler’s writings, it’s rather strange that you haven’t reached that level yet.”

Well, no.

That was something I had to do out of necessity to proceed with future matters.

I wonder how much benefit I’ve gained thanks to my coward mode.

I found myself newly impressed in my heart.

“Seeing an Outer God as human. In truth, such information cannot be found in any ordinary book. That’s why people generally perceive Outer Gods as evil monsters. Yes, in conventional texts.”

The Saint said this and then pulled out a book.

It looked quite thick, but what was strange was that there seemed to be an effect around the book, as if tiny flowers were evaporating into the air.

Considering how coward mode censors things related to Outer Gods, this was an ominous sign.

“That book, could it be…?”

“Yes, it is.”

The Saint placed the book on the table and removed the gloves he had been wearing, presumably for protection.

“It’s a book written by an Outer God. I was able to obtain this book when I had just started studying mysticism and visited the library for research.”

“…I can already feel an unusual energy from it.”

As the book rested quietly on the table, its beautiful energy grew stronger.

To be able to read an Outer God’s text that emits this level of energy when one has just begun studying mysticism.

Seeing this, it was clear that the Saint was also an incredibly talented mystical scholar.

“The contents of this book are so radical that they completely overturn what ordinary people have understood until now. And I could also see that most of the history books provided to us have been distorted.”

History books.

I had too many urgent matters to attend to, so I hadn’t bothered to read them.

At most, I had only picked up a few stories from The Huntsman or The Princess.

As I looked at the Saint with wide, innocent eyes as if I knew nothing, he smiled contentedly.

“My, it seems you’re not very familiar with history.”

#

There was an Emperor.

The Emperor’s rule was magnificent.

There were no rebellions due to discontent in the empire, which possessed vast territories.

Considering how nearly impossible it is to monitor public sentiment in every corner, the Emperor could be considered almost superhuman.

Additionally, the Emperor was young, handsome, and of good character.

Because of this, many noble women lined up to marry him.

But the Emperor had one problem.

He was a person who sought stimulation.

That’s why he wasn’t inclined toward love with humans.

There was only one thing that gave him stimulation beyond his threshold.

Mixing with Outer Gods for no reason.

Extreme disgust always returns as extreme stimulation.

So the Emperor took a Greater Outer God as his wife.

She was a being so dangerous that merely perceiving her could cause mental collapse, but the Emperor didn’t mind.

No, rather, some ministers felt that the Emperor’s face seemed more vibrant when he was with the Greater Outer God.

Contrary to people’s concerns, the Emperor got along well with the Greater Outer God, and their relationship was good enough that a half-Outer God was born between them.

But after that, there was a sudden rebellion by the Greater Outer God.

In the process, the Emperor died, and naturally, the empire entered a period of decline.

The brilliant empire collapsed due to the Emperor’s mistake.

#

“…This is the content of the history books as commonly known.”

After listening to the story that the Saint had briefly explained for me, I felt something was strange.

I knew from The Princess’s story that she was a half-Outer God, and that the Emperor had a child with an Outer God.

But the Outer God suddenly rebelling?

Why had the story about the giant on the snowy mountain completely disappeared?

Seeing my puzzled expression, the Saint nodded as if he understood.

“That’s right, Lord Tanthyn. There are many strange points. This book explains them in detail.

#

Yes, this is what the people of the Rondan territory typically know.

And it’s true that there are no lies.

But saying there are no lies can also mean that some truths have been omitted.

And it also means making the error of describing something that ‘could appear that way’ as if it were definitive.

I completely refute the history books in Rondan.

First, it wasn’t that the Emperor had strange tastes.

Because at that time.

Outer Gods appeared in human form.

#

“No, no, wait a moment.”

“…I completely understand that reaction.”

I interrupted the Saint in surprise, but he just nodded.

Well, from my perspective, there were a few things I could infer.

A prime example was that when Asti was exchanged with The Advisor’s body and gradually found human form, the way I saw Asti and the way others saw Asti was the same.

But they appeared in human form to other people too?

“You must have many questions, but let’s continue listening for now.”

#

And that Greater Outer God did not commit rebellion.

No, it was rather a justified action.

Because the Emperor secretly took a concubine to satisfy his possessiveness.

Later, the Greater Outer God noticed the Emperor’s infidelity.

That Greater Outer God was as powerful as The Chronicler and was an Outer God who governed life.

The Emperor couldn’t even properly respond to such an Outer God and died instantly.

Perhaps we should be grateful that the world didn’t end at that time.

There were two daughters born between the Greater Outer God and the Emperor. The child who grew up receiving passionate love and affection gained the power to save lives, while the child born when the Emperor’s love had cooled gained the power to drain life.

That was the story of humanity now.

#

Fortunately, the rest of the story was almost the same as what I already knew.

“Anyway, this story indicates that Lord Tanthyn is getting closer and closer to the truth.”

The Saint smiled and said, ‘You can be more pleased,’ but I felt more complicated.

Because the story ended on an unsatisfying note.

Yes, I understand that Outer Gods might have appeared in human form to everyone in the past.

But all the details about that, and how people came to see Outer Gods as they do now, were completely omitted.

An Outer God should know everything.

“Saint, have you still not heard anything about the Observer?”

“Well, no. It’s a term I’ve never seen in any text.”

…A being that even Outer Gods keep silent about.

A being forgotten by humans.

Despite being so powerful, not even causing a rift in the world.

Perhaps the existence called the Observer could be the plug for this story that seems to have holes.

Even the image of a certain woman that keeps trying to surface in my mind lately.

There was still much information to discover.

And to face such powerful Outer Gods, I would inevitably need to become stronger.

“Thank you, Saint.”

“I’m here to help whenever you need it.”

“Then perhaps you have a book about how Outer Gods grow stronger?”

“Ah, that’s over there.”

I went to where the Saint pointed.

Though things were still unclear, gaining this much knowledge was already meaningful.

It might be a good idea to find that old man who keeps talking about the Observer and ask him about it later.

#

I gained quite a lot of good information by coming to the library.

Perhaps because of that, I felt like I was gradually moving toward an end.

The people of Rondan have suffered for too long.

It’s time for them to be happy.

And I will personally win that happiness for them.

As I was making that resolution, suddenly someone clung to my arm.

“…?”

Glancing over, I saw The Huntsman naturally linking arms with me and trying to walk somewhere.

“H-Huntsman? What are you doing?”

“I heard your conversation with that Saint. It seems you’re both too deeply steeped in Outer Gods.”

W-what?

What does that have to do with this!

No, it does connect!

As I was flustered, Asti approached and gently pulled my arm to prevent me from being dragged away.

“This is clearly an act of kidnapping.”

“If there’s mutual consent, it’s not kidnapping.”

“You can see he’s refusing right now.”

“If I get consent later, it becomes an agreement.”

That insane confidence that I would eventually agree!

Marinated in fear, I was barely able to escape from that place with Asti’s help.