Ch.278Solution (1)

“So, what do you plan to do?”

We can’t just keep taking hits. Llewellyn thought this, and the God of Dreams agreed with that sentiment.

But he didn’t know exactly what Llewellyn intended to do. In fact, no one could possibly know.

“The enemy is enormous. They’re called Transcendents, aren’t they? I’d like to hear how you plan to take the offensive against such an enemy.”

Llewellyn looked at the God of Dreams with an unusually somber expression. A face suggesting that he had never directly told him about it.

The God of Dreams felt somewhat smug at the young god’s expression.

“There are ways to know everything. It’s somewhat obvious, too.”

Visiting a friend’s grave to strengthen one’s resolve is typically done when one has made a decision or needs corresponding courage.

The God of Dreams read determination and resolve in Llewellyn’s expression, and believed that in this situation, there could be no other will and resolve worth putting forward.

“I only have vague thoughts.”

“Vague, you say.”

That was both Llewellyn’s strength and weakness. He didn’t hesitate to borrow others’ wisdom and knowledge rather than deciding on his own, allowing him to gather diverse opinions to determine his path.

But to some extent, he gave the impression of lacking autonomy, making his decisions slow. At least now he had made up his mind, so if the direction was right, his momentum would be swift.

The God of Dreams considered even this his role. As the king’s advisor and a god who had reached ruin before others.

After brief contemplation, the God of Dreams spoke.

“Tell me. I’ll listen and see if we can discuss methods… No, it’s obvious.”

He lost a friend to the Transcendent’s offensive. And that wasn’t all. He lost many of his people too.

Compared to the scale of the attack, it was a modest sacrifice, but it was obvious how painful even such losses felt to him.

Even without entering his dreams, it was evident from his expression. Because of this, the God of Dreams vaguely knew what Llewellyn planned to do.

“You intend to accelerate Netel’s process.”

Llewellyn showed a surprised expression, and the God of Dreams knew he was correct.

“Because if the world closes quickly, the Transcendent’s attacks will cease. But wouldn’t the opposite thinking also be correct?”

“The opposite?”

“That they’re attacking because we’re trying to close the world. Even if you accelerate the process, you’ll only face more attacks.”

Llewellyn saw reason in those words. As he quietly closed his mouth and his expression darkened, the God of Dreams awkwardly smiled from his perched position.

“There must be many approaches to a solution. Quietly closing it, blocking the interference itself, creating diversions…”

“How would you do that?”

“I won’t confidently spell everything out here, but considering they’re ultimately outside this world… I can envision a framework.”

Llewellyn’s expression brightened slightly. Though still gloomy, his face relaxed at the possibility of hope.

From that expression alone, the God of Dreams knew Llewellyn lacked confidence in his original plan. Thinking that a person’s strengths and weaknesses indeed don’t change easily, he met Llewellyn’s gaze.

“First, I’d like to ask. What do you think Netel was to us?”

Netel. The will of this planet and a Transcendent who existed long before even the gods.

Though the only Transcendent that could be called friendly, that was only true for Llewellyn who knew the truth.

To ordinary people and gods, Netel was…

“A dangerous evil god… an ancient god… something like that?”

“Similar. More precisely, it was like a sleeping dragon that shouldn’t be disturbed.”

A sleeping dragon. Though an unfamiliar expression to Llewellyn, the worlds were different.

A dragon is certainly more dangerous than a sleeping lion. Llewellyn understood, and the God of Dreams spoke naturally from atop Llewellyn’s hand that had picked him up.

“Even the God of Fire didn’t disturb it. Rather, the God of Fire earned the right to stand above the gods only after establishing that rule.”

“And before that?”

“Many gods disappeared after disturbing it, or even before they could disturb it.”

It was obvious how the gods must have reacted then. Netel was a Transcendent who existed simultaneously across so many time periods that time itself lost meaning. Whether it spared beings with ill intentions toward it was uncertain, but Llewellyn knew he couldn’t use himself as an example.

Llewellyn was merely an exception; Netel tended to be merciless to other beings.

Perhaps it had some awareness. Like how a person swats at a mosquito bite that itches, it might have struck down gods that bothered it because they were irritating.

Though a human analogy, there was no other way to understand a being beyond human comprehension.

“So, why did you ask that?”

“Doesn’t it strike you as odd that even Netel couldn’t properly perceive us?”

Despite this being a new revelation, Llewellyn agreed.

Even the Star not only recognized Llewellyn but also significant figures like the Blazing Void who now lay prostrate from overexertion, and almost everyone else.

It had even recognized Ethan, the former owner of the now-broken “Star Blade,” lending him power, and seemed to recognize all humans with potential.

And it wasn’t just the Star. Llewellyn recalled the nameless Transcendent that was the origin of his Star Cluster, and the Night God who had wielded the night sky against him.

They all recognized Llewellyn. Not just him, but they also recognized and counterattacked his companions.

To this, the God of Dreams offered this answer:

“There’s a saying that one cannot see beneath one’s own nose.”

“…The darkest place is under the lamp.”

Though the God of Dreams looked puzzled, he continued.

“In short, I believe they can perceive us precisely because they are outside this world.”

It made sense. Though there weren’t enough cases to be certain, the possibility was considerable.

“Then what’s the method?”

“There are two.”

The God of Dreams unconsciously tried to move his body, then remembered he didn’t have one and became dejected.

“Hmm. One is to draw them into this world. It’s like sleeping under a beast’s paws, but at least we’d be safe if we stay out of their perception.”

In other words, if one is perceived due to physical distance or recognized for possessing many things like Llewellyn, they’re in danger.

That wasn’t all.

“I thought they might perceive everything around me because of my existence.”

“Hmm, that’s possible. In that case, this first approach would be… quite radical and essentially forced suicide.”

Then it’s dangerous. As long as more than just his own life rested on Llewellyn’s shoulders, that option shouldn’t be chosen.

“Then what’s the second?”

Llewellyn asked, and the God of Dreams replied as if he’d expected the question.

“To use their enormity against them.”

With a voice faintly tinged with conviction.

*

“Ah, Llewellyn.”

As Llewellyn left the grave and headed into the Pantheon, Melody, who had been sitting on a rock swinging her legs as if waiting, greeted him.

It was unusual for Melody, who was always busy and found it difficult to spare time.

Normally, around this time, Melody would be drafting documents or bustling about managing the Pantheon.

Llewellyn embraced the small girl who strode toward him and hugged him tightly.

The warm body temperature filling his arms and the scent it dispersed felt pleasant.

“Today’s perfume is… citrus?”

“Citrus… ah, yes. That’s what you called it? Yes, that’s it.”

Melody smiled softly with a gentle laugh. Llewellyn stroked her head and lightly rubbed her forehead.

Melody, seemingly conscious of it, awkwardly moved his finger from her forehead to her cheek.

But she didn’t remove his hand. She silently allowed him to stroke her head while staying close to him.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Mmm, really. I wanted to savor this a bit longer.”

Even as she said this, Melody acknowledged that Llewellyn’s guess was correct.

Melody was someone so busy that she could hardly spare time like this unless something was happening.

Still embracing him, she naturally linked arms with him and walked alongside Llewellyn.

“The Dragon King has requested a meeting. He wants to discuss the fate of his race.”

The Dragon King and the dragon people.

A race that was essentially destined for indirect extinction due to what was not quite a curse.

The Dragon King had particularly believed necromancers were the cause and came seeking answers, only to learn that wasn’t the case.

It must have been devastating. Llewellyn had requested that he have proper conversations with the necromancers about this matter.

He had also demanded honest responses from the prophet, who, though still lukewarm toward Llewellyn, didn’t refuse his wry request.

“Is the conversation over?”

“I suppose so. It ended in a somewhat ambiguous way.”

Llewellyn had been hoping that the Dragon King and his people’s problems would be resolved so they could join the Pantheon.

Apart from the dragon people and their king being exceptional forces, considering they were the masters of the martial arts that had saved Llewellyn’s life multiple times.

He also genuinely wanted them to survive.

Originally, there are no beings in this world who deserve to die. While Llewellyn wondered if this mindset was excessively arrogant, he truly believed it.

Perhaps even this was evidence of his becoming a god.

If so, he should possess the corresponding responsibility and autonomy.

Llewellyn walked with these thoughts, following Melody’s lead through the Pantheon.

He saw injured people healing their wounds and others showing delight at seeing him.

No one had collapsed in despair or faced a tragic death. That was because there were no ordinary people in the Pantheon.

Observing them, Llewellyn also thought that the Pantheon shouldn’t forever remain a refuge only for extraordinary people.

Although Ulrich had remarkable qualities and lived a tragic life, he had wanted to live ordinarily.

If only extraordinary people were admitted, life there would become something extraordinary.

For it to be a place where one could live an ordinary daily life, it needed to be a suitable place for that.

So Llewellyn spoke. To the elf who was quietly concealing her presence and watching people.

“Esha.”

As he addressed her in passing, the elf blinked. She tilted her head, and Melody, while tightening her linked arm, wore a puzzled expression.

Only the God of Dreams hanging on his back remained expressionless.

“Go gather everyone. After we determine the fate of the dragon people, we’ll discuss the… offensive we’ll take from now on.”

Offensive. The enemy was obvious. Esha bowed her head with a deep smile, while Melody beside her gaped in surprise.

But she soon realized it was time.

They couldn’t just keep taking hits. Being passive didn’t suit their temperament.

In truth, who would it suit?

Llewellyn headed toward the Pantheon’s meeting hall with Melody.