Chapter 358

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The sun is a massive star, the source of all energy, and the origin of life.

It shines serenely from the unreachable heights of the sky, dividing day and night, so people have revered the sun since ancient times.

This can be found in various myths and cultures, and the Four Seasons, worshiped by the Order, are often called sun gods. 

Four gods take turns being the sun: 

The God of Creation becomes the sun in spring, the God of Will in summer, the God of Healing in autumn, and the God of Justice in winter. 

According to their theology, the sun’s power strengthens and weakens depending on the gods’ attributes, thus dividing the seasons.

…I’m suddenly spouting nonsense, but the point is simple.

Among the Supernaturals blessed by the Four Seasons, some are reminiscent of the sun.

Eugene is a prime example.

His technique is even called Sun Sword.

Awakening as the Chosen One physically divides day and night, making him no different from a sun god.

Yoo-seong is the same.

When he unleashes his Supernatural Ability, golden radiance bursts forth.

With all his might, he illuminates all creation evenly, like the sun itself.

And there was one more.

Someone else was likened to the sun.

“M-Michael…”

I murmured his name.

The soft utterance stirred the heated air.

Am I hallucinating due to mental contamination and burning pain?

I blinked, but nothing changed.

Light.

A pillar of light piercing the earth.

A manifestation of the sun I had never seen but had seen countless times.

How on earth? He must have died over a century ago? Was he actually alive? No, if he were, Yoo-seong wouldn’t have been lonely. 

Even retracing Lucia’s memories, there’s no twist that Michael was alive. Then how should I accept the advent of the sun unfolding before my eyes?

‘Ah!’

The answer quickly emerged. If my hands were intact, I would have applauded. Too bad I don’t have them. I flailed my fused stump of an arm instead.

‘Azazel! With her Supernatural Ability…!’

Divine Descent.

The Supernatural Ability of the 5th Division Captain.

With her ability, she could summon Michael’s soul. Since she descended Michael, she is now the Godlike One. The brilliant sunlight was a miracle she created.

I let out a dry laugh. Yes, a miracle. 

What are the odds of Azazel summoning Michael? Among the hundreds of millions of regressions, Michael’s descent could be counted on one hand.

That’s why I was so dumbfounded at first. Because something close to impossible, something only theoretically possible, was happening. 

It would be more realistic to win the lottery you bought for fun, joyfully go to collect it, get struck by lightning from a clear sky, survive unharmed, collect the winnings, and then get hit by a meteorite on the way back and die.

Azazel cannot summon Michael.

It’s theoretically possible, but the theory remains just that.

There’s no particular reason; it’s just that Azazel’s level is insufficient.

She is a Captain-level Supernatural.

As one of humanity’s pinnacles, she is by no means weak.

If she is weak, there is no one who isn’t weak in this world.

It’s just that Michael is too strong.

Beyond Azazel’s Supernatural Ability to reach.

That’s why even in Lucille’s repeated regressions, Azazel summoning Michael was like actually plucking a star from the sky. 

Only when aiming for a mutual destruction, willing to perish, and using her Supernatural Ability would the chances slightly increase. Slightly. It was truly slight. 

Did Karma die? Did the 4th Division Captain die? I wouldn’t expect Azazel to use her ability to the point of self-destruction unless she witnessed his corpse…?

‘…Did you guys do this?’

Four Seasons? Did you reach out? Did you drag a star that could never be reached down to earth? Is that why Azazel’s Supernatural Ability reached Michael… and another sun is shining? 

That’s strange. Weren’t you originally laissez-faire? Even if humanity is driven to the brink of extinction, you only stand by and watch. If Lucille hadn’t sacrificed herself, humanity would have perished long ago. Yet why are you, who always just watched, now…?

‘Was Eugene getting his body stolen that shocking? You should have done this from the start?’

Come to think of it, when Eugene’s body was stolen, you tried to intervene in the world using me as a medium. You even summoned the sealed Yoo-seong. 

Only when an unprecedented event like the Chosen One’s body being stolen occurs do the Four Seasons intervene. 

In other words, you stand by unless it’s an incident of that magnitude. Perhaps the Four Seasons are… no, this isn’t the time to ponder the Four Seasons.

With the unique thought acceleration of someone close to a god, I sank into deep thought for a few seconds, but hey, I’m falling right now? 

I’m diving towards the ground? I don’t have limbs, so I can’t even land properly? My head and the ground will have a violent high-five. My head will go splat like a watermelon. 

Huh? Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad?

But my head didn’t get crushed like a watermelon.

Before the fall, something snatched me up.

It wasn’t a person, and I couldn’t see it. Understandably, what caught me was the wind. How can you see the flow of air? I floated through the air like a leaf, carried by the massive current. What a shame. I wanted to be a headless corpse for the first time in a while. But relief was greater than regret.

I was prepared to overuse Belial’s power, which I shouldn’t use anymore. I was even willing to gamble by jumping into Surtr’s mouth… but I don’t need to anymore. 

He came. Michael came. I don’t need to worry or fret anymore. Today was a series of disasters, but at least nothing more will happen.

Because the ‘Godlike One’ has come.

Embracing the familiarity and trust that was mine but not mine, I slowly closed my eyes.

I was sleepy.

◈

If you could do this, I wouldn’t have needed to worry from the start.

The words were right at the tip of my tongue, but Azazel didn’t say them out loud.

She had borrowed the power of many souls, but never on this scale.

Transcendent power that pierces through monsters in a single strike.

A spectacle of light that even she, wielding it, was astonished by.

Right now, she even had a grounded confidence that she could put up a good fight against the Commander.

That bastard grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and threw me into the workplace.

He instantly saw through my hidden abilities and made me a Captain.

Should I take this opportunity to pour out all my resentment and smack him in the back of the head? Ah, he’s sealed. Too bad…

Prioritize the fire giant, or prioritize Ere?

She and Michael had briefly argued over that issue. But what is this? The argument was meaningless from the start. 

He skewered the fire giant with a single strike. Then he should have dealt with the fire giant, the obstacle, and rushed to Ere. He made me worry for nothing.

…She wanted to say that, but Azazel didn’t.

Not because she restrained herself, but because she had no choice.

A tremendous pain surged through her in an instant.

“Hueeeck…?!”

She thought her body was breaking apart.

She hurriedly groped her own body.

The illusion of being an egg that was cracking open sent shivers down her spine.

]I’m sorry.]

Michael said with a bitter voice.

[It may be painful. If it hurts, just bear with it.]

“You should have said that sooner……!!”

The current Michael is already dead.

What’s here is a soul summoned by Azazel’s ability.

And Michael’s soul has long been shattered by his actions in life.

Naturally, he was weaker compared to his prime.

His fragmented soul was forcibly stitched together.

If he exerts power beyond a certain point, it will break.

That was why Michael was discussing priorities.

If it were a Michael in his prime, monsters would be no cause for trouble. If two Demonic Beasts and a Devil God had ganged up on him, that might have been something, but in a one-on-one fight, it wouldn’t take much time. 

But his soul state was causing problems with output, so he had to move cautiously.

[The more I use my power, the more unstable my soul becomes. The aftermath will go straight to you.]

“So you should have said that before starting!!”

He unleashed a pillar of light and then told me belatedly, what am I supposed to do!

Were you in the Karma Department too?

Speak, speak!

[I tried to adjust to a range that wouldn’t burden you, but…]

The situation in the present world was more serious than Michael thought. He felt sorry for Azazel, but he didn’t think he could afford to consider her.

The current Michael is similar to Belial. The soul’s damage is harming the vessel. Moreover, Michael’s standards exceed those of a supernatural. The backlash was greater than Belial’s. If Azazel weren’t a Captain, she would have been dismembered by just that one strike.

“This… if it gets worse, it won’t end with just the body, will it?”

[…That’s right.]

“Haa…”

Azazel sighed. Michael’s power was a well-founded one. The closer she got to Michael’s full power, the less her body could withstand it. 

Even her soul. Probably, if she spammed that technique again, her soul would be damaged with high probability. Soul damage leads to death.

“…Well, fine. This isn’t the time to be childish.”

Azazel gathered ‘light’ once more.

“I’m pretty tough. I’m a Captain. Don’t worry about me and give me more power.”

Who is like a god?

I’ll show you what that epithet means?

Bring it on!

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Today’s author’s note is…

Well,

What would be good?

Yes, yes.

None!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
We were doing so well for like 3 chapters, stop omitting!!!!

Translator Note