Ch.15149. Only My Dignity Disappeared. (3)

In the beginning, there was chaos.

From chaos were born the God of Darkness and the Goddess of Night, and from their union came the Goddess of Day and the God of Air. They were connected as couples of darkness and light, establishing the foundations of the world.

…….

In the beginning, the Heavenly Lord created the heavens and the earth. Chaos, emptiness, and darkness were deep upon it, and the spirit of the Heavenly Lord moved over the waters. The Heavenly Lord then said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

…….

The Heavenly Lord of the Irenis faith, our master and eternal Lord, our Father, created the world in one week and then rested.

But the gods they speak of—

Their gods who created the world, gave birth to and molded all living beings, did not rest.

The Heavenly Lord and His only begotten Son of the Irenis faith are said to cherish and love us above all else.

But to them, humans—their creations—were sometimes companions, partners, and friends.

Yet fundamentally, we were servants and livestock.

Slaves and… tools.

Saddened by this, a god who cherished and favored humans gave them fire, which led to the advancement of civilization. But the god who bestowed fire incurred the wrath of the chief deity and was condemned to eternal punishment—having his liver pecked by an eagle daily, enduring this torment with his immortal body.

As humans gradually developed, they became arrogant and undisciplined, so the gods decided to test them one final time.

In the end, except for one couple who passed the test, the rest were drowned in a flood—a mythical tale very similar to the ark story told in the Irenis faith.

“An oracle has come. For now, I shall treat you as a guest. You must properly worship the Endekatheon. Follow me.”

Following the large man for a while, I soon discovered an imposing ancient temple standing proudly.

Was this type of temple called an Acropolis?

Leaving the dwarf and beasts outside, I followed the large man through the massive entrance and into the interior.

And upon seeing the enormous bronze statue of a deity inside, Kariel finally began to understand.

Polytheism.

At last, Kariel could recognize the identity of the gods these people worshipped.

Once, there was a great empire.

The empire called Vera was said to have conquered virtually the entire world.

And before that, there was Crick, a confederation of city-states considered the origin and center of development for all knowledge, including magic and philosophy.

It wasn’t just the name of a kingdom but also referred to an entire region.

Currently, while the Crick Peninsula was known, the exact extent and boundaries of the ancient Crick region remained unclear.

Nevertheless, Crick and Vera had a clear commonality:

Their religious origins and roots of faith were the same.

And the gods they worshipped were none other than those they had revered and exalted.

They were…

“Once, they defined a year as having 13 parts, but when one of the pantheon sank into death, they divided the year into 12 parts to honor that void.”

In response to Kariel’s muttering, the large man pointed with his thick fingernails on his red skin and said:

“You know the old teachings. But we still divide the year into 12 parts.”

At the man’s words, Kariel recalled again.

He had clearly said:

Dodekatheon (δωδεκάθεον).

Not the 12 gods.

Endekatheon (Έντεκαθεον).

That is, the 11 gods.

“……”

The statue depicted a middle-aged man with an exposed upper body.

His bushy beard was even more abundant than his bushy hair, covering not only his face but extending to his chest, sculpted so exquisitely that it seemed to capture a truly living form.

“……”

A form that perfectly embodied the characteristics of a great god as described in books.

Suddenly, despite being indoors, the sound of the sky roaring seemed to reach my ears.

KWAAANG!

As if lightning and thunder had struck outside the temple, a powerful reverberation shook the ground like an earthquake.

“God of the Sky.”

While we, influenced by the Irenis faith, cannot casually call upon our god,

These people are the opposite.

They enjoy, encourage, and heartily welcome calling upon their gods with reverence and worship.

Of course, since I only know this from books, it might not be entirely accurate…

“Iovis Pater.”

In their terms, Zefs.

-You are mistaken, mortal. I am the successor to Him. With His void, the pantheon fell to ruins, and we were scattered.

“…?”

He’s speaking to me.

This being claiming to be a god.

Or is he a deceiver pretending to be a god?

-Do not doubt, mortal. Though we are descendants of the fallen pantheon, our essence is not so superior to you mortals.

“Then… what is your divine name?”

As if entranced, I asked, and the voice responded.

-Zefs. Carrying on the name of Zefs, the father of all gods since ancient times, is like our mission. Therefore, if you wish to address me, call me that with reverence.

“…Did you summon me? For what reason?”

Outside, lightning and storms continued to rage.

Over the barren land filled with silence and emptiness, thunderbolts accompanied by sudden winds and rain poured down.

Yet none of it affected the temple.

This was merely a display of power.

-I know why you have come here.

Reason?

-Do you not seek to uphold the will of our ancient enemy?

“…?”

This is news to me.

I’m starting to realize that things have been incomprehensible since entering this area.

-I can give you what you desire. If you wish to become my apostle, you can obtain what you want immediately.

“……”

Isn’t it said that when bait is too tempting, something is amiss?

For someone like me who rarely has things go well, that offer sounded more like a poisoned chalice.

-Do not doubt. What we need is someone who will lead achievements that will revive our greatness and majesty across ages. Someone who will be remembered for generations to come. The 11 chief gods wish to choose you as that agent.

“Why me specifically?”

-You ask needlessly. Do you still not know your mission and mandate? Are you not the calamity that has befallen this world? Child of Chaos.

“Child of Chaos?”

-We too originated from chaos in the beginning. Going back further, even our distant ancestors initially came from chaos.

“Is that relevant right now?”

-You truly do not know, it seems.

He says.

-Originally, there were 12 divine seats. And currently, one seat remains vacant.

And.

-After overcoming tasks and trials, you will come to occupy that seat. No, you are already halfway there.

“Are you saying… that I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you? That I can reach such a position?”

-Precisely. For that, you will return to your homeland as a challenger, defeat your enemy, and become the vanguard announcing the revival of our era once more.

“I don’t understand. I really can’t comprehend what you’re saying…”

-You have long possessed the qualifications to become a challenger. Am I wrong?

“No, but how exactly did you reach that conclusion…”

-Why are you silent? Is he not your successor and candidate whom you have guided?

“……”

This isn’t directed at me.

As Kariel turned his head, a low clicking of the tongue was heard from beside him.

The golden girl finally spoke with a tone of exasperation.

-Hey, Kariel. I never dreamed of such a thing, so don’t get any wrong ideas. Whatever misunderstanding this being has is another matter…

He speaks.

Again, this question wasn’t directed at me.

-Did you not guide him? Were you not by his side as his companion and chooser?

-…? What nonsense are you spouting, you grave-tender who follows dead gods? Do you think I’m on the same level as you? How impudent.

…Except for when we encountered Grandeus, I wasn’t used to seeing her unleash such vitriol toward someone other than me.

Surely, the Demon King was now hurling consecutive insults at this being, whether it was a god or an impostor pretending to be one.

-And if you want to lead the revival of your pantheon, the seat of the 12 chief gods should go to this guy, not you. That would be more appropriate, wouldn’t it?

-…Are you suggesting that we give the seat of a chief god to one who hasn’t even shed the shell of a created being?

-That’s the minimum justification needed for him to return to his homeland and cause all sorts of trouble under the title of Demon King. Don’t you agree?

“……”

No, I don’t agree at all.

Originally, I wanted to gain overwhelming power to teach a lesson to the humans who defeated my father and caused him to rage, while avoiding harming innocent victims.

Also, I wanted to be freer than anyone else, without any constraints or restrictions.

In that sense, why would I voluntarily cooperate in making the ridiculous accusation of “Demon King” a reality?

“But what you say isn’t wrong.”

However, am I only entangled with this accursed Demon King for a day or two?

I pretended to go along with her intentions.

“But neither direction is what I want. I will do what I want to do. No one can order or command me to do otherwise.”

That includes.

“Even the Heavenly Lord of our world is no exception.”

Trials, pain, merciless hardship without mercy—

None of these align with what I want.

Endure pain and trials to become a great person?

I hate that.

I really hate it.

If I could have properly endured that…

…I wouldn’t have collapsed under mother’s coercion and obsession.

I wouldn’t have despaired and resigned myself to the harsh treatment from those around me.

I would have long since lived up to those expectations and rightfully enjoyed a glorious position as the descendant of a hero.

…But now, all of that seemed terrifying to me.

Is there really a person called “me” in that position?

In that severe position where I must desperately act and cultivate and manage myself to follow someone’s expectations, the public’s expectations, and an ideal image.

…What, I ask, is the true me?

“I will obtain freedom. I won’t allow anyone to control my fate, and if such a being exists… they will certainly pay the price, whoever they may be.”

Therefore.

“…Instead of useless proposals, make a more reasonable offer. One that would allow me to worship you as a god of this world.”

Since ancient times, no human who became entangled with them had a good outcome.

In Crick and Vera mythology, humans or created beings involved with gods always had to embrace misfortune and despair.

-Beyond disrespect, this is blasphemy. Had it been our father, your flesh would have been shattered, and even in the netherworld, you would have endlessly suffered and been tormented.

-Is that netherworld even functioning properly? Hasn’t it been at least 1,000 years since all the prisoners were stolen by the hell across the way, making it practically useless? How do I know? If the demon realm is the area closest to the netherworld on both sides, hell, the underworld, and the abyss, wouldn’t it be abnormal for me, the king of that place, not to know?

-…

-A god whose name is forgotten is pitiful. So pitiful. But don’t feel too bad. I personally don’t dislike you netherworld folks because you have more class than those damn demons.

The Demon King raised and lowered her opponent with her mouth and eyes, while also unleashing a terrible laugh.

It was a laugh that Kariel himself had rarely seen—a cold sneer and mockery mixed with compassion, consideration, and familiarity—a miserable yet terrible laugh.

-You who wander for eternity. Your situation is more miserable than ours, yet why are you so proud?

The eyes of the statue turned blood-red.

They say that when anger reaches its peak, it becomes ice-cold before exploding, and that’s exactly how it felt now.

“……”

By the way, looking around, neither the person who brought us here nor Zora was anywhere to be seen.

That’s understandable—if they had been around, they would have caused a commotion long ago.

But this is a temple.

In other words, it’s the god’s inner chamber and courtyard.

So if the being addressing me is truly a descendant of a great god or a comparable entity…

…This level of manipulation would be nothing.

-I have nothing to desire. So I have no reason to be pathetic.

Somehow, a familiar excuse? Answer?

Anyway, the words that the Demon King always used with Kariel himself once again tickled his earlobe.

-How is that different from being stagnant and dead?

-How naive. Right and wrong aren’t what matters, foolish wanderer. Everything is decided by me, taken responsibility for by me, and endured by me. What’s wrong with that? Why meddle in others’ affairs when you don’t even understand? You who have barely lived.

…What’s certain is…

This conversation was truly enlightening me about many things.

In the end, if fate doesn’t change, there’s a strong possibility that I’ll become a Demon King in some form, whether I want it or not.

And…

…I’ve come to think that the Demon King might not simply be an earth-bound spirit or ghost.

I’ve never considered it before.

Could she be…