Chapter 126: Title (10)

A few hours ago, having figured out what the demon was aiming for, I urgently summoned Deus and Alia to discuss countermeasures with the guide and Dua.

Even though I called them without prior notice, both of them came running to the system room without any sign of discomfort, as if it were natural.

“I couldn’t have imagined such a thing was happening.”

Alia’s expression hardened as she listened to what had happened.

“I don’t believe there’s a pure reason for making me a god.”

The demon’s gaze, though directed at me, seemed to look past me, towards something behind.

Since it was my own body, I could tell even more clearly.

“Is it possible to turn me into a god and place another consciousness inside me?”

Alia frowned.

“If the demon is trying to make me a god and then take over my divine body…”

“Impossible!”

She cut me off and sprang to her feet.

“Impossible. When a sentient being accumulates enough virtue to transcend mortal limits, they shed their old flesh and ascend to divinity. You would know, having experienced it.”

She spoke as if declaring it unacceptable, as if not following this path would be an intolerable violation.

I recalled the moment I became a god in the midst of my battle with [System]. 

The aspirations of the continent’s people had gathered to bring me to divinity.

Although I hadn’t fully felt it, as it was only an avatar within Rudera, it seemed that my original body disintegrated, and my spirit matured, evolving repeatedly.

So that’s it!

That’s why it’s impossible to seize my body!

“It seems you’ve realized. Yes. One is reborn around their spirit.”

Seeing my reaction, Alia relaxed, sitting back down with a relieved expression.

To ascend to divinity is to break free from the flesh; the spirit, the soul, is the true essence of a god.

If I were to ascend, the divine essence itself would become my soul, making it impossible for a new ‘me’ to be established within.

It seemed that Guide, as an artificial intelligence rather than a spirit, had been repeatedly overtaken. 

Or perhaps it was due to its connection to the Rudera system.

“So, it’s impossible for the demon to implant a new consciousness within me! …But then, what exactly is the demon after?”

While I no longer feared losing control of my own body, the demon’s intentions remained a mystery.

“No, wait. There is… one thing.”

At that moment, Deus, absorbed in a mini-game gacha with a hazy look on her face, interjected.

Alia’s expression stiffened.

“There is?”

“Alia just doesn’t want to admit it.”

Deus chuckled, speaking with an ease that felt jarringly out of place from a god who usually grumbled whenever I looked.

“If that’s true, then our junior wouldn’t be able to be with Alia.”

“What?”

I couldn’t keep up with Deus’s words and ended up questioning her reflexively.

“Don’t say useless things.”

Alia growled in a low voice.

“Haha, are you planning to keep denying it?”

“Deus.”

“Still denying reality like a child, even after becoming a god? You know what the demon wants, don’t you? And what Albus’s true identity is.”

“Deus!”

Alia stood up abruptly.

Her divine aura whirled violently, crashing down towards Deus.

Boom.

The divinities of the two gods collided.

Rumble.

The system room shook violently.

For a moment, I’d forgotten, having only seen Alia being friendly and Deus living indulgently, engrossed in games. 

Both were monsters who had risen to the highest ranks of gods on the continent.

‘They’re strong.’

Though they fell short of GM’s authority, having their support felt incredibly reassuring.

‘I’d rather they not fight, though.’

The atmosphere was too tense, making me wonder if I should intervene to calm things down.

“It’s already too late. The demon is moving. If things continue, your dearly beloved will be devoured by his past self. Are you just going to stand by and watch that?”

“I…”

“If he’s your beloved… if he’s the one you love, protect him. Find a way. You can’t just lose him like this.”

“I…”

“…”

Alia lowered her head deeply.

With clear internal conflict, she sat back down, looking troubled.

“I’m sorry for the disgraceful display, Albus. …Thank you, Deus. Thanks to you, I was able to pull myself together.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. It’s only natural to help a friend with their romantic matters. Besides, I like Albus too, after all.”

“Please, just… shut up… Haa.”

Was everything okay now?

For reasons I didn’t know, it seemed that Alia and Deus had reconciled. 

I had no idea why they’d fought in the first place, but perhaps the mindset of gods was just different from ours.

“I was so terrified at the thought of Albus being in danger that I almost ran away. But I can’t do that. No. Denying it and running away won’t solve anything. I have to resolve this situation.”

Alia raised her head with a resolute expression. 

Her spirit seemed denser, like she had achieved some kind of inner growth.

‘If I’m being honest, this goddess is probably more of a main character than I am.’

Born at the lowest rung of society, she roamed the battlefield, building her legend and rising above the gods. 

To think that, as a god of war, she continued to fight and grow, eventually becoming a great deity, and now, she had reached yet another realization.

Compared to her, who had risen through struggle, I was fundamentally different—a being who had gained power through unconventional means.

“Albus.”

“Yes… Ah, yes, Lady Alia.”

“I’ll tell you everything. What the Demon God is after, and why you are in danger.”

Hearing Alia’s explanation, my mouth hung open in shock.

“Ever since the continent and the Demon Realm merged, the Demon God has been obsessed with this being. I couldn’t fathom why such an ancient and powerful god would lose their sanity to an obsession… but I never would have guessed it was because of their son.”

Alia’s tone softened, but I was too absorbed in the shocking truth to notice.

So I am… the Demon God’s son.

Or, to be precise, it seems that my past life—a life before even my previous life—was the son of the Demon God.

‘Or perhaps it was even a life before that. Who knows?’

It had been ages since the Demon God lost her son. 

Who could say how many lives I’d reincarnated through since then?

It wasn’t a complete surprise. 

The Demon God had called me “son” before, so I’d suspected there was a reason. 

As someone who had consumed stories, movies, and games, I’d naturally wondered, ‘Wait, do I have some secret of birth or something?’ 

It was just a passing fantasy, though. 

I never expected to actually be the Demon God’s son.

– Long ago, Carthesia said that only I could create Rudera.

Was it not because of my experience on modern Earth, but because of something special about my soul? 

Even after discovering my hidden origins and learning that my existence was unique, I didn’t feel thrilled or happy.

It wasn’t good news for me.

“If I become a god… and if my past life’s persona is resurrected according to the Demon God’s plan, then what will happen to me?”

“…”

Alia, who had resolved to be open, hesitated at this part.

“If your past persona is resurrected, the you of today will be erased.”

Normally, someone becoming a god wouldn’t lose their persona or have a past life’s persona take over. 

But I was a rare case—a peculiar one who, after dying as the child of a god, drifted across dimensions and returned. 

Because of that, if I became a god, only the original divine persona would remain, and my current self would be erased.

“So the task I was trying to accomplish involves killing my own self.”

My guide’s face hardened with shock; he had intended to turn me into a god to prevent [System] after my return.

“Dad…?”

Dua seemed to shrink back, frightened at the idea of my erasure.

“The Demon God has been deeply involved with Rudera. Every one of those acts was to turn you into a god and revive her son’s soul from within yours. We must stop this.”

Yes, we had to stop it.

Now, I could see the direction I needed to take.

I had to prevent the “Title Quest.”

The Title Quest chosen by the Demon God to make me into a god.

“Dad! Dua will help too!”

“…I’m here too, master.”

“Given the danger, it’s only natural for me to step in,” my junior added.

“…Besides, I don’t want Rudera to fall. And I need to save my friend’s husband.”

The Demon God was indeed a formidable enemy, but this was Rudera. 

Here, I was an absolute GM, far more powerful than any godly being.

“Your orders, my god.”

I’d confirmed that the Demon God intended to trap my apostle, Zenith, in the [Dark Space] and grant her the Title. 

With that, I ordered the former princess, Rebecca, now an apostle, to rescue Zenith.

I wanted to avoid strengthening my own divine influence, so I refrained from intervening directly, opening a path using my GM powers. 

Rebecca leapt in heroically among the monsters, rescuing Zenith as she held her close.

‘The Demon God’s attempt to awaken Zenith has been thwarted. I won’t let her gain the Title.’

Just in case, I even froze the Title system.

Now that I fully understood the Demon God’s intentions and methods, it was time for a counterattack.

A hero saving the heroine, just like in the movies.

Zenith’s face was visibly red.

…But, wait, hadn’t Rebecca stabbed Zenith before?

Was it okay for them to be like this?

Stockholm syndrome? 

No, that’s not quite it.

If I had to put a label on it… maybe “knife-love” would fit?