Ch.28Ep.28 The Obtuse Father

“I need to find a weapon that can kill Cthuga in one strike without him noticing.

In terms of destructive power, an axe, sword, or spear would work.

After continuous exposure to the fire rain, Radios had reached a state where he had no strength left to move.

Then all that remains is arrows, but…

Even if Elysse buys me time, someone like Cthuga could dodge arrows.

‘In that case…’

Before realizing the existence of Outer Gods, people of this world developed scientific civilization and created weapons of destruction.

The name of such a weapon is ‘gun.’

A gun is a weapon that uses the explosive power of gunpowder, the expansive force of compressed air, or the elasticity of springs to fire one or multiple projectiles—bullets.

Its instantaneous velocity approaches the speed of sound.

Especially sniper rifles, as they’re called, far exceed the speed of sound.

In other words, if I shoot when Cthuga is distracted, I can definitely kill him.

Why didn’t the people of this world use guns?

Because bullets didn’t work against beings with magical power.

Then conversely, what if I create a gun with magical power and make even the bullets out of magical power?

“This is essentially my last chance.”

Attempting to change the nature of Astrape.

Radios embarked on this absurd endeavor and stepped into a new world.

He infiltrated magical power into the molecular structure of magic that maintained its form, disrupting that structure.

He breathed in the form he desired as an imaginary shape.

As the endless tug-of-war continued between the force trying to maintain and the force trying to change.

“Urgh… cough!”

Radios didn’t give up even as he coughed up blood.

Soon the Sword of Judgment would be released, and Elysse would lose her strength to fight.

That means the situation would become optimal for Cthuga.

“I can’t… let that happen!”

If magical power is insufficient, he’ll create more to use.

Without hesitation, Radios unlocked the seal on his ‘magical power source’ gathered in his heart.

“Nnnngh!!!!”

All his uncontrollable magical power is released at once.

Like a vehicle that has lost its brakes.

With magical power flowing endlessly, Radios felt pain that made him feel like he would pass out.

‘Not yet..!’

The life force that filled Radios’s body is converted into magical power, maintaining his body’s form.

At the same time, as the molecular structure maintaining Astrape breaks down.

It begins to transform into the shape Radios desires.

Once a noble silver-tinged sniper rifle was created.

He sent a telepathic message to Elysse.

-Elysse! Draw Cthuga’s attention!

-Understood.

As Elysse terminated her execution mode, Radios grinned.

Cthuga, sensing something was wrong, hurriedly turned his head, but.

“Gotcha.”

Bang!

The bullet he created—later to be known as the God-Killing Bullet, which would establish Radios’s ultimate technique and fame—

[Gyaaaaaaah!!]

Pierced through Cthuga’s core.

“You’re still not dead…?”

Rumble rumble rumble.

But Cthuga began to expand his body while howling in pain.

“Quickly, the next bullet—”

Stagger.

Radios tried to steady himself to fire another shot, but.

His head spun, and he lost his balance.

In fact, he was using a gun for the first time and had carelessly positioned himself without understanding the concept of having to withstand ‘recoil.’

With accumulated fatigue and the recoil hitting him, he suffered unbearable internal injuries.

To make matters worse, Astrape had returned to its original form—a spear with lightning flashing around it.

“Cough! Cough!”

[Gyaaaaaaah!]

“Haa… haaaa…”

Radios was coughing up blood frantically.

Cthuga was expanding uncontrollably.

Elysse was in tatters from the aftereffects of execution mode.

‘Just the 4th level… if only the 4th level seal would break!’

He desperately wished for the seal to break at this moment.

But the seal was not something he could control.

“Weeack! Kuhurgh!!”

He vomited an enormous amount of blood exceeding lethal levels.

Let’s check his physical condition for a moment.

His magical power had long since hit rock bottom, and he was converting life force into magical power.

In this process, the blood vessels throughout his body were damaged by unmanageable waves of magical power.

Additionally, failing to control the recoil of the bullet caused the muscles on the right side of his upper and lower body to rupture, dislocating his clavicle and shoulder.

Though it had stopped now, the fire rain from the sky had burned his entire body.

His body, unable to release sweat, attacked his bones, making them soft.

Even though the consumption of life force had ended, his shattered body had become incapable of circulating blood.

In fact, his condition was so bad that he could die at any moment.

‘Not yet… not yet..!’

Yet he still moves.

Because he couldn’t die in a place like this.

Because he couldn’t disappoint his comrades who had gathered together believing in him.

‘Just once… just one more time..!’

If only he could land one more blow on that damn bastard.

Even if it meant making a deal with the devil, he would do so without hesitation.

[Do you really intend to make a deal with the devil?]

“..!”

A voice he had never heard before.

However, the only emotion felt in that voice was curiosity.

To Radios, who kept his mouth shut due to the extremely suspicious feeling, the mysterious voice spoke again.

[I asked if you could make a deal with the devil.]

“Who… are you…”

Thud. Rumble.

Was it because of the abnormal pain surging in?

Radios could speak relatively easily.

However, contrary to his expectations, the mysterious voice did not reveal its identity.

[I am an entity that has been with you since before your new life began.]

“What does that…”

[I’ll ask one last time. Will you take that hand, even if it’s the devil’s?]

The curiosity in the voice begins to diminish.

Feeling this, Radios quickly racked his brain.

Whoever the owner of that voice was, they probably weren’t an enemy.

Then the voice must want something from him.

Radios threw a thoughtful question at it.

“What do you want…”

[An interesting question. But I asked first.]

“I don’t care about anything else! Cough! Kuhurgh!! I don’t care if it’s the devil! Give me power!”

The light returns to Radios’s dying eyes.

What did it matter if it was a devil or an angel?

Radios had already been betrayed by the god he served and by his comrades.

Was being betrayed once or twice such a big deal?

Well, it was only once or twice, but still.

The only emotions Radios had left were protection and revenge.

And unfortunately, Olympus was not included in that protection.

The mysterious voice, understanding Radios’s sincerity, spoke with satisfaction.

[The contract is established. Let me give you an advance payment first.]

“..!”

Woooosh.

A blue tidal wave rose from Radios’s entire body, and his physical condition began to return to normal.

Before fighting Cthuga.

To that state where his magical power overflowed and he had not a single wound.

“I-impossible… what are you doing?”

[Cthuga will explode if he continues like this. And it seems this space can no longer be maintained.]

“That explosion again..?”

[Since I’ve given you an advance, let me give you a few more gifts.]

As Radios tilted his head at the voice’s words.

With a sensation of something separating.

[W-what is this!!]

“Hmm. This level of power is still insufficient for full strength.”

Radios, transformed into a soul form, was pushed out of his body, and the owner of the voice had taken possession of his body!

As if to prove this, his two eyes changed from a deep black to a fierce red reminiscent of sardonyx.

[What have you done to my body!]

“Stay still. I’m only trying to help.”

[Hey! Hey!!]

Someone who had taken control of Radios’s body approached the expanding Cthuga.

Elysse found this suspicious but didn’t speak up.

She was a woman dispatched to protect the proxy under the orders of the Underworld King.

Further intervention would violate her mission.

[Gyaaaaaaah!!]

“Living flame. That’s what you were named… but you gave yourself a different name.”

Why?

Radios sensed a feeling of bitterness from the mysterious being who had taken control of his body.

What was bitter about it?

Why would he say such things while looking at the monster called Cthuga?

‘Could it be… a force of the Outer Gods?’

No. That can’t be.

If he belonged to the forces of the Outer Gods, the aura of the Outer Gods should be felt.

But why? Why does he show a regretful expression along with that bitter emotion?

“Child who wished to become a flame but failed.”

[Shut uuuuup!!]

“It’s time for you to return.”

[..!]

Cthuga, who had been writhing in pain, suddenly froze as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.

[I-impossible! How! Hoooow!!]

“You’ll only harm yourself if you resist.”

[How could youuuuu!!]

Whooooosh.

As the being who had taken control of Radios’s body stretched out his hand.

An unimaginable suction force activated and began to absorb Cthuga.

The creature flailed about, muttering incomprehensible words, but.

The more he struggled, the faster he was sucked in.

[Ah… b–]

Before he could finish his dying words, he completely disappeared.

“Living flame. You were destined to be extinguished someday.”

[I-impossible…]

As if nothing had happened.

The mysterious being who had taken control of Radios’s body had absorbed all of Cthuga’s power.

Is this even possible?

A Great Old One, and one who was an executive at that, subdued so easily?

“Don’t be surprised, child. This is something you too will be able to do.”

[M-me?]

“The advance payment should be sufficient. I will be watching over you always, wherever you are.”

[W-wait!]

Just as he was about to ask who the being was.

Radios realized he had returned to his own body.

Ding.

With a ringing sound, a sentence appeared before his eyes.

“W-what is this? N-no way?!”

Radios was completely dumbfounded by the text that appeared.

And for good reason.

The displayed message read:

[You have received the attention of the Blind Idiot God.]

[The Blind Idiot God bestows his power upon Radios Magnum.]

[Power: Outer Devouring.]

[Congratulations!]

[You have become an apostle of the Blind Idiot God!]

Forces of the Outer Gods.

And he had become connected as an apostle to the leader of those forces!