Ch.393Clark (2)

After Kate left for the underground temple, I slowly organized the content for the next volume and the side story.

The next volume deals with the aftermath of the war, Lilly’s worsening condition, and Jin and his companions’ desperate attempts to cure her.

The great demon Diabolos, in his final struggle, drove a wedge into Lilly’s vessel, destroying it. Unfortunately, the wedge pierced her heart, creating a situation difficult even for gods to resolve.

It’s not impossible to solve, just difficult. The problem is that the solution inevitably includes Lilly’s death.

Since the vessel is already corrupted beyond repair, they must extract her soul, preserve it, and transfer it to a newborn child.

However, this would result in the tragic loss of all her memories. That’s why they’re trying to save her as she is, but even this isn’t working well.

If they leave Lilly as she is, her entire body will become corrupted, turning her into a demon. This is how demons are born, and it’s a corruption that even the World Tree couldn’t withstand.

Moreover, even if they could resurrect someone, is it right to manipulate human life so freely?

If all memories disappear, even with the same soul, can we truly call it the same person?

Both practically and philosophically, this situation presents many problems, causing Jin and his companions to fall into deep contemplation.

Paradoxically, to save Lilly, they must kill her. But then she wouldn’t be Lilly anymore, but someone completely different.

They fought to save people, yet in the end, they must kill their companion.

Naturally, faced with this tragic reality, the protagonist’s group began to argue among themselves. Xenon was half resigned, while Jin insisted they must save her somehow.

With no proper solution in sight, time passed relentlessly, and Jin stayed by the collapsed Lilly’s side without sleeping.

But as time passed, Lilly’s body gradually turned black starting from her heart, and Jin, unable to bear it any longer, made a big decision.

Little did he know this would be the beginning of another tragedy.

‘If only there hadn’t been corruption, we could have preserved her memories.’

One might wonder why Lilly can’t retain her memories when even I could maintain memories from my previous life.

The reason is simple. I didn’t need purification, but Lilly, being in the process of corruption, requires it.

Purification cleanses the soul completely, leaving no trace behind. In other words, it creates a blank slate.

Of course, my transfer to this world was also an accident with unavoidable consequences.

Luminus once told me that the gods of Earth protested strongly, saying Earth’s natural order was completely broken and causing them trouble.

Honestly, the gods of this world must feel quite wronged. It wasn’t them but demon worshippers who caused the major accident, yet they received all the blame.

Nevertheless, had Clark not twisted the summoning ritual, a demon war would have broken out, so it was an unfortunate situation all around.

‘I’ve established the story through to the conclusion, and what remains is…’

The insurance side story and the recently conceived side story. These two. The insurance side story is more like an “IF” scenario rather than canon, so I can think about it slowly.

But the recently conceived side story, based on Clark, requires quite a bit of planning. The most important aspects are the protagonist and the time setting.

I’ve already conceived the protagonist’s end. The protagonist who struggles to leave hope versus the Seven Deadly Sins who have lost all hope and wish for the world’s destruction.

The difficult part is deciding which of the Seven Deadly Sins they’ll encounter. The candidates are Wrath and Envy.

Both lost everything precious in an instant and wish for the world’s destruction. Conversely, the protagonist desperately struggles to preserve a glimmer of hope.

‘Should I include both of them?’

That wouldn’t be bad either. Though victory might not be achievable, it would be enough to demonstrate the side story protagonist’s strength.

The interesting point is that Clark single-handedly defeated the highest officials of the demon worshippers. In many ways, he could be considered more extraordinary than fiction.

Of course, since the underground temple was important to the demon worshippers too, they likely couldn’t use their full power. But that doesn’t diminish his combat prowess.

As I was contemplating the overall structure, my father, who had been watching me intently, quietly spoke up.

“Issac.”

“Yes?”

“Are you thinking of smoking too?”

I must have been deep in thought. I blinked at my father’s question and shook my head.

I didn’t smoke in my previous life, and I have no intention of starting now.

“No, that’s not it. I was just curious about what kind of person Grandfather was.”

“Hmm. I see.”

“Besides being a heavy smoker, what else was he like? His personality or hobbies?”

“His personality… well, it’s awkward for me as his son to say this, but he was a difficult man. As for hobbies, surprisingly, he kept a diary.”

“A diary?”

“Yes. But he burned everything before he left, so nothing remains. Probably to erase all traces of himself.”

I looked surprised. Usually, people who keep diaries have philosophical tendencies.

By repeatedly examining their life journey, they can understand what they’ve experienced, what mistakes they’ve made, and how they’ve grown.

Moreover, diaries record events of the time, making them historically valuable.

The fact that he burned such diaries was quite regrettable, but it gave me a general idea of what kind of person Clark was.

“He must have been a thoughtful person.”

“How do you know that?”

“The very act of keeping a diary means recording oneself. Do you know how tedious it is to write a diary every day?”

“Hmm…”

Father seemed to ponder my words before looking at me. My face was reflected like a mirror in his golden eyes.

Eventually, he chuckled and gently stroked my head with his thick hand.

Though I’m fully grown, in my father’s eyes, I must still appear as his young youngest son.

“Perhaps you’re right. Even before he left, he said he was sorry for not being a good father.”

“…”

“If he returns, I’d like to have a heart-to-heart talk. There’s so much I want to say.”

His words revealed lingering attachment to Clark. I listened silently to my father’s words.

Grandfather erased all traces for my father’s sake, but in doing so, failed to convey his true feelings.

Father suspected Grandfather had his reasons but couldn’t find evidence, so he kept it buried in his heart.

I hope this opportunity resolves the estrangement between father and son.

“I’m sure he had his reasons. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have trained you at all.”

“I suppose so. Now that we’re on the subject, let’s go train.”

“Ah, but I need to go write…”

“Haha. Do you think that excuse will work? No more talk, follow me.”

In the end, I couldn’t write at all that day.

******

Around the time Issac began receiving special training from Hawk, there was a slight change in the underground temple where Clark was waiting.

Originally, the investigation team had attacked Clark, considering him a monster without hesitation. But as time passed, they could somewhat grasp the situation.

This skeleton was very different from other specimens. Even when attacked, he only knocked them unconscious rather than taking their lives.

His manner of speech was somewhat rough, but his actions themselves were rather courteous. No one could consider him an evil being.

Thanks to this, the investigation team gradually calmed down and could engage in “conversation” – not physical confrontation, but the real dialogue Clark had been waiting for.

[This is the Biography of Xenon?]

“Yes. That’s right.”

Clark looked at the book placed on the floor, the Biography of Xenon. Apparently, they brought it to avoid boredom during breaks.

Incidentally, a knight was still being used as a chair beneath him.

Normally, he should release the knight too, but the knight’s rebellious behavior was so vexing that Clark left him as is.

The other investigation team members wanted to rescue the knight but couldn’t. Clark was unbelievably strong, so they couldn’t risk provoking him in any way.

[Sigh.]

Clark picked up the first volume of the Biography of Xenon that the archaeologist had brought, with a cigar in his mouth. Smoke rose and dispersed in the air.

He could see without eyes, hear without ears, and breathe without lungs.

The same applied to taste. With one deep inhalation, the sophisticated flavor of the cigar penetrated deep into his lungs.

For some unknown reason, he could still experience all five senses. Clark leisurely smoked while looking at the cover of the Biography of Xenon.

[This should have been published when I was alive…]

Clark clicked his tongue, genuinely regretful. Though he hadn’t read the Biography of Xenon, he knew how the world had changed through this book.

It had forcibly dragged the demon worshippers from beneath the surface and achieved other remarkable accomplishments.

Particularly satisfying to Clark was the part about defeating the corrupted Cardinal. Because of that one person, the faction Clark belonged to was completely destroyed.

At the time, no one could have imagined that even a Cardinal would be corrupted. They only had the common-sense thought: how could God’s apostle join hands with demons?

But the demon worshippers were far more cunning and methodical than Clark had anticipated. That’s why they fell one after another.

[Before returning to dust, I should read all of this.]

Just as Clark was about to start reading the Biography of Xenon in earnest.

Buzz- Buzz-

The underground temple suddenly became noisy. The investigation team, who had resumed their investigation after learning Clark was docile, was becoming loud again, and there must be a reason.

Clark sensed the commotion and shifted his gaze from the book to look ahead.

He narrowed his eyes at the powerful energy emanating from the exit of the underground temple. More precisely, the golden light within his eye sockets narrowed.

“You mustn’t fight. This skeleton is different from other specimens…”

“He defies the natural order established by God. Besides, didn’t he ask to meet Lord Issac and Sir Hawk? He must have impure intentions.”

A woman’s voice filled with hostility, and a man’s voice desperately trying to dissuade her.

Clark sighed and quietly closed the book. It seemed like a disturbance was about to occur.

But that was fine. Her energy was a bit strong, but like the others, he could subdue her if necessary.

And so…

“Is that him?”

“Yes, yes. But…”

God’s faithful apostle and…

[Hey, chair.]

“Y-yes!”

[Go over there for a moment.]

The skeleton resurrected by God’s blessing met each other.