Ch.293Mountain Wisdom. Layer Archive (3)

[Control authority transfer confirmed. Current controller: Victor Walker.]

“…completed. You are now the librarian of the largest and deepest library across all 13 continents.”

“Librarian… that would suit Simon better than me…”

Victor smiled faintly as he granted Simon access privileges and transferred all authorities except control transfer to Apostle Michael.

Since he was clearly more of a conqueror and warrior, he decided to leave it to the experts.

However, the moment he gained control, even Victor—who could no longer be categorized as human by any stretch—was momentarily consumed by tremendous greed due to the enormous knowledge that flowed into his mind.

Such vast knowledge. Such overwhelming wisdom. The technologies accumulated by humanity over the distant span of 300,000 years were enough to turn even the gentlest person into a tyrannical ruler.

But Victor overcame it.

Because he knew that while this knowledge was being accumulated over 300,000 years, two individuals had to suffer in eternal flames and coldness above.

The knowledge and wisdom under the sun will now be used to replace the sun itself. Glory to the sun.

“Quite an intense experience, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. Are you feeling alright, sir?”

“A bit dizzy, but I’m fine.”

Victor took a sip of water brought by his wife and continued.

“I’ve accepted control authority, but you should still consider yourself the actual administrator. I need to complete my pilgrimage.”

“Understood… ‘Your Majesty.'”

“Ugh… drop that ‘Your Majesty’ business. I haven’t even had a coronation yet—it makes me sound like someone with delusions of grandeur.”

Victor grimaced, and Michael rose from his seat and asked about their next destination.

“Now that you’ve achieved your goal, will you be leaving?”

“Ah. I plan to stay until February 3rd.”

“If I may ask… why that date?”

“February 3rd is my birthday.”

“What.”

Upon hearing the word “birthday,” Michael practically jumped like a spring.

Three days… only three days left!

“How… how do you plan to celebrate your birthday…?”

“Well… I was thinking of keeping it simple. I’ve been too busy to properly celebrate until now. Or would you like to take charge?”

“M-m-may I really have such an honor…!”

“Hahaha. It’s just a birthday party. Don’t feel too pressured.”

“I… I will do my absolute best…”

The members of the Iron Walker Party experienced a profound moment of realization as they witnessed the spectacle of an Apostle—an incredible human resource—being used merely for a birthday party.

They knew they could speak casually to Victor only because of their position as his companions, but now they truly felt his overwhelming presence as someone who could use God’s earthly representatives as mere attendants.

“Boss…”

“What?”

“You’re really going to give us official positions, right?”

“Of course. If you want, I can even give you a continent, so don’t worry.”

“What… what did you say you’d give?”

“A continent. Take your pick, except for Centrum.”

“…No… I think I’m fine without an official position…”

Hawkman waved his hands dismissively.

They knew the scale was different, but this was not what they had wanted.

*

“Move quickly! We only have three days left!!!”

“Invite famous musicians! Preferably those who have performed before the Apostles!”

“Is price important right now!? Advance a hundred years’ worth of budget if needed, but bring the best and freshest of everything!”

Unlike the incredibly calm (by Victor’s standards) Iron Walker Party, the Archive’s diplomats and staff were running around until their feet blistered.

Welcoming an Apostle was a big task, preparing a birthday celebration was a big task, and showing proper respect to a god was a big task—and this time, it was all three.

There must not be the slightest deficiency in the feast celebrating the birthday of this mighty being who was the greatest of Apostles and the least of gods.

A god is literally someone who can kill with mere words—they knew better than anyone that people could die just from hearing the power commonly called “divine command” imbued in language.

Fortunately, amid the misfortune, they could easily obtain the resources they needed.

Due to the Archive’s special nature, they had connections with an enormous number of cities and countries.

Besides, when Victor might say, “Is this all you can do for my birthday?” it was obvious that the Archive’s staff would die trying to excuse themselves with, “We tried our best, but other countries wouldn’t help us.” To prevent such unnecessary trouble, international cooperation was established.

“Chefs!!! Bring all the renowned chefs from the city!!! This is a national emergency!!!”

“Prepare the finest carpets and curtains! Rent the largest banquet hall!”

The city of Layer could not escape the storm either.

Disabled people (including bald ones) were all confined to facilities to prevent Victor from feeling uncomfortable, and streets were immediately repaired to remove potholes and stuck gum.

Snow-covered trees were neatly pruned, and clotheslines hanging between buildings were ruthlessly removed.

“Anything else…! Anything else that needs fixing?! If he finds one fault, we might die!!!”

The fear of possibly dying was more vicious than the fear of certain death.

It was like a magic spell that prevents people from giving up until death because of that sliver of hope that they might survive… or perhaps it was false hope… anyway, something like that.

While Victor was thoughtlessly nuzzling his wife’s cheeks, these people had watched the live broadcast of him ascending in Belka and turning the dark gods into grilled eel, making them fear him more than anyone.

How could anyone dare to upset someone who could boil and evaporate seawater just by frowning?

And he even resurrected after dying? He’s not an Apostle but actually a god?

And that god is the most powerful sun?

“Take down all the Four Gods’ temple signs on buildings!!! From today, Layer’s state religion is the Church of the Solar Month!”

And to survive, people were prepared to abandon even the faith they had kept for generations.

*

Crack, crack.

This was not the sound of potato chips breaking but the sound of dried-out Layer civil servants’ lips cracking.

Having prepared everything within just three days, they were sprawled out like corpses, and as if to comfort those sleeping deeply where no one could see them, the clock pointed to February 2, 1203.

For some reason, as the day that seemed like it might repeat twice approached, curtains and carpets were laid in the banquet hall, and all kinds of ingredients for delicacies began to arrive at the airport.

One more day.

In just one day, it would be proven whether their dedication and hard work would be rewarded, or whether it was woefully inadequate.

For some, February 3rd might be just another ordinary day passing by, but in Layer right now, it was the most important day of all.

Even if it were the last day to see a dying mother, a more important person had arrived.

And as if representing all those countless civil servants, Apostle Michael managed the massive administrative requirements and completed the grand birthday celebration scheduled for tomorrow.

Despite the impossibly short time, he had poured everything into it and thus wore a rather relieved expression.

“Great One. The festival for tomorrow has finally been prepared.”

“A festival, is it? Is it that large in scale?”

“I understand that the concept of a birthday party may be unfamiliar to your incarnation, but our Archive officials have worked hard. Please attend and grace us with your presence.”

“Of course I will. Who else would attend my birthday feast if not me?”

Victor smiled and patted his shoulder.

Having eyes and ears, he was not unaware of what Michael and his subordinates had done over the past two days.

As Michael said, the concept of celebrating a birthday was indeed quite foreign to Victor, which is why he was secretly looking forward to his birthday party tomorrow.

Come to think of it, isn’t this the first proper birthday party I’ve ever had?

At least for Victor specifically, that was the case. Although it had been almost three years since he began his adventure, he had no memory of having the kind of celebration that people typically think of when they hear “birthday party.”

“I’m looking forward to the party.”

“Yes. Please do look forward to it.”

And of course, this put even more pressure on Apostle Michael.

The first proper birthday party for a god in his life… if he messed this up, his career as an Apostle would literally be over.

Not in a figurative sense, but in a very physical one.