Ch.25Chapter 25 – Origin (2)

Azazel sighed deeply as she looked at the sleeping people.

This monastery was located in a treacherous area that even the northern dwarves rarely visited.

They had managed to survive until now thanks to an anonymous benefactor who would visit the monastery bringing food and money.

Could someone be following him?

“Of all people, to think they were guided here by that sister of mine. How ridiculous. Is she trying to play family now?”

Azazel felt irritation welling up as she thought of her detestable sister who resembled her. The tentacles writhing behind her back reflected her mood.

– Azazel, that man. Isn’t there something strange about him?

Just then, a voice like scraping metal reached Azazel’s ears. It was the voice of Morgidian, the Outer God she had contracted with.

Surprisingly, he was an Outer God who was favorable toward humans. Such beings were as rare as finding a needle in a desert.

It was also the Outer God’s consideration that allowed her to put everyone to sleep by amplifying her abilities without having to dirty her hands with blood.

“What? Lord Morgidian, what’s wrong?”

The Outer God had noticed something strange and spoken to Azazel.

– I can’t see through what dream he’s having. This is the first time this has happened. A being that can resist an Outer God’s authority…?

The white-haired man sleeping soundly at Azazel’s feet. As she looked at him, her tentacles trembled as if resonating with something.

“Could my sister be behind this? After all, succubi can naturally resist erotic dreams…”

– No, this isn’t such a simple matter to begin with. That man’s blood vessels are completely filled with ‘something.’ As if warning external forces not to intrude.

“What does that matter? He’s sleeping just fine, trapped in the dream I created.”

Azazel had secluded herself in this remote monastery to win back the love of Kang Si-woo, who had abandoned her and chosen her sister.

She just wanted to return this twisted world to nothing and start over, to meet and fall in love with Kang Si-woo whom she had liked from the beginning.

By now, she had grown strong enough to tear apart and kill all the people from the papal office who wouldn’t recognize her as a saintess,

And she was confident that she could penetrate people’s hearts to a degree that even her sister Gabriel couldn’t approach, but…

– No, this is equivalent to another Outer God marking its territory.

Crack, crack!

As if proving Morgidian’s words, her tentacles immediately froze when they attempted to approach Bing-yeon even slightly.

“This can’t be…”

This was the first time Azazel had seen such a thing. Outer Gods were chaos from beyond this universe, beings beyond human comprehension.

Who could possibly emit such cold that would freeze an Outer God’s divine body?

– Besides, look at the children this man brought with him, Azazel.

At those words, Azazel looked at the other collapsed people.

A black-haired girl wearing Eastern clothes and a blonde girl wearing cloth garments typical of a rural village.

Looking at Bi-wol and Verdandi, she could tell they were around her own age.

– One inherently possesses the energy of evil, while the other inherently possesses the energy of good, making them beings that cannot coexist.

“Like… a demon lord and a hero?”

– Yes, the blonde girl even has the protection of lesser beings, while the black-haired girl harbors the killing intent of a ferocious star…

Wriggle, wriggle.

Unlike with Bing-yeon who rejected their approach, the black tentacles gently settled on the girls’ heads, and Morgidian seemed to be reading information and relaying it to Azazel.

Normally, other Outer Gods would extract brains or drive humans mad with insanity.

– Honestly, even I couldn’t find a way to handle this peacefully without putting them to sleep. If they had resisted an Outer God’s authority and drawn their swords, I’m not sure who would have won.

Unlike others, Morgidian was a benevolent Outer God who tried to minimize harm.

The reason he gave power to Azazel in the first place was because he sympathized with her story: “Your sister stole the man you had a crush on?”

He only wanted to give Azazel a chance to meet Kang Si-woo before her sister did by turning back time.

But what was this situation now?

Bi-wol, bearer of the Star of Heavenly Murder and Heavenly Demon.

Verdandi, the Hero of Justice.

Including Azazel, the Outer God’s Saintess.

If they were to grow, these three gathered in one place could potentially slaughter this world.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Morgidian trembled slightly with fear. At least with Azazel, he had a contract ensuring she wouldn’t harm him.

– I don’t know where he found these monstrous children who could all reach the realm of god-slaying.

He glimpsed the possibility that future versions of Bi-wol and Verdandi could actually kill him.

“Are they really that powerful? They look like ordinary children to me.”

Azazel asked Morgidian with a puzzled expression. Aren’t they just innocent sleeping children? If we’re talking about threats…

“Ah, I did glimpse a strange future. But that future will never come to pass.”

A future where she and these children, as adults, tied that white-haired man to a bed, blindfolded him, and prepared to violate him.

Azazel was firmly resolved that such a future would never come to pass, as she still hadn’t given up her feelings for Kang Si-woo.

– I agree. A master having relations with his disciples, how horrifying such a relationship would be.

Morgidian spoke to Azazel while retracting his black tentacles. He too understood how socially condemned such teacher-student relationships were.

– But how can that man travel with children who stand at such opposite ends of good and evil?

A sudden question arose. Normally, they would be desperate to kill each other.

One is a hero said to be directly chosen by the God of Light, the other a demon lord-like being with a star that destines her to kill in order to survive.

– Now I understand, that man is an existence that should not be.

Shudder.

Morgidian seemed to have realized something after looking through Bing-yeon’s body. The ominous energy blocking all his blood vessels.

“What does that mean…”

– How can one consider human someone who is being closely watched by those higher than myself?

“He looks like an ordinary person to me.”

Azazel assessed Bing-yeon and stated her judgment, noting he had no special features or weapons.

When one thinks of dangerous people, doesn’t one usually imagine someone more rugged and menacing?

The children who appeared to be his disciples did seem threatening, as the Outer God said. One of them had even pointed a holy sword made of light at her.

But,

– How could you not feel fear upon seeing an ant that speaks human language and is adored by them?

The Outer God’s judgment differed from hers. Morgidian conveyed his thoughts to her in a very cold tone.

There was only one type of being that surpassed Great Old Ones like himself.

“Do you mean those referred to as cosmic origins…?”

– Yes, beings of an entirely different dimension from me, who am merely classified as a Great Old One.

Outer Gods.

Beings who operate beyond the outer universe, in the absolute abyss, called absolute and ultimate gods.

A man favored by such beings was right before them.

– It’s like saying that when humans love ants, they cut off their legs and burn them in sunlight. How could a mere ant understand that?

Their ecology is so unique and incomprehensible that even this comparison falls short.

This is why Morgidian, who is favorable toward humans, is considered an unusual existence among Outer Gods.

“……”

– That man is dangerous. He shouldn’t be killed, nor should he be left alive. We must pretend not to know and move on.

“Are you saying we should abandon this place? No! Si-woo said he would come find me someday!”

Azazel shook her head vigorously, expressing her intention not to move a single step.

This place was where she first met Kang Si-woo, who was playing a hero character—a place of precious memories.

A place where they said goodbye with a promise to meet again someday.

Not wanting to forget or erase those memories, she was struggling with all her might.

– Azazel, I’m sorry, but we need to flee quickly. We don’t know what will happen the moment they discover we’ve interfered with that man.

Morgidian tried to move Azazel’s tentacles to get her out of the building.

“Then, why don’t we delve into his mind and find his weakness?”

Stopping the Outer God, Azazel came up with a scheme. She would enter the white-haired man’s dream to see his thoughts and peek into his past.

This was the orthodox method by which succubi enthrall humans.

– Absolutely not. All my senses are in turmoil.

Morgidian rejected Azazel’s proposal. As she said, other people’s dreams were transparently visible even to Outer Gods.

Bi-wol’s dream was about being with Bing-yeon and living a happy life, and Verdandi’s dream was about becoming the most famous and righteous hero recognized by people.

– The moment you try to steal a glimpse of that man’s dream, you will certainly die.

Like something frantically scribbled over with a black crayon, nothing but emptiness itself appeared before the Outer God.

The moment Azazel stepped into Bing-yeon’s dream, she would either fall into endless darkness and go insane or beg to be killed.

“Then what should we do? You said we can’t kill him, but we can’t leave him alive either!”

Azazel jumped up and down in frustration.

A saintess cannot kill people to begin with. Nor could she run to the papal office and tell them this man is a human favored by Outer Gods.

She wasn’t an officially recognized saintess after all.

Born as a demon with holy power—a half-baked existence. In Azazel’s life, only Kang Si-woo, the game player, had understood and loved her.

– If we accept that man’s offer, we might buy some time. Outer Gods are capricious and finicky beings.

“Absolutely not! I love only Kang Si-woo, I follow only him, and I will pledge eternity under him alone!”

While Azazel and Morgidian, connected through the black tentacles, were engaged in this verbal battle, there was a rustling sound and signs of someone stirring.

“…Damn it. Of all dreams, it had to be that one.”

The owner of the voice, who cursed roughly and sighed deeply, was the white-haired man they feared most.

“Ah, you… you’re awake…?”

“Yes, thanks to someone, I slept really well.”

It was Bing-yeon.

As soon as he regained consciousness, he looked around and confirmed that his disciples had fallen asleep. The last resorts he had prepared were utterly foiled.

“Excuse me, are you human? No one should be able to maintain their sanity after experiencing the power of Lord ■■■■■…”

Azazel attempted to subdue Bing-yeon again by mentioning the Outer God’s true name. However, unlike before, he seemed completely unaffected.

“Have I been deceived all along? My name is Bing-yeon. I’ve come all the way from the East to save you.”

He was now taking a step forward, closing the distance between himself and Azazel.

Could he really be blessed by an Outer God? Azazel’s shoulders hunched as her body naturally moved backward.

“Azazel. Won’t you become my disciple and consider leaving this treacherous place? When winter comes, you won’t be able to go down to town and will have to spend months here alone.”

Bing-yeon attempted to persuade her.

“I refuse. If you insist, then you’ll have to subdue me by force.”

But Azazel’s attitude remained unchanged. She was willing to give her life to protect this place.

“…Then I’ll take you by force. The person you’re waiting for will never come.”

Bing-yeon took a stance, emitting a chill, ready to take Azazel who was waiting for a protagonist who would never arrive.