Chapter 274

Chapter 274. Privilege Built on Reputation (6)

“I was planning to tell you once you raised your status a bit, but it’s perfect timing.”

There was nothing to gain by prolonging the conversation, so the idea was to talk while walking.

Gilenios, adding a few more words, started moving first.

As I followed, staring intently at his back, a somewhat lengthy story began.

“Listen carefully, Karlos has no intention of going the extra mile to save us, the Biharin you talk about. There’s a being with authority close to Creation, and just seeing the state this world is in tells you everything.”

I certainly heard what Gilenios said.

But it didn’t mean I understood it.

“… What exactly are you talking about? Why Karlos? What is authority close to Creation?”

Karlos was evidently involved with me inheriting of Palao’s divinity.

Wasn’t that about saving the Biharin lives?

“That’s… Ah, man, where should I even start…”

Gilenios, scratching his head a step ahead, organized his thoughts briefly and then reopened his mouth.

“Let’s talk about gods first. Among the 7 Great Gods, the only one deserving to be called a true god is Karlos. Because he’s the only one who can perform ‘Creation’ at the price of divinity. Just like the gods on your side created the game.”

The reason is that Karlos uniquely exists without going through the birth process.

“The other six were born in the material world. They accumulated status and grew to the extent that they had to be directly observed by causality beyond the material realm.”

The six gods born within the boundaries of causality of birth can perish to the extent of dying.

But Karlos is different.

“Should I say he’s a being who existed somewhere flowing with this world, this dimension, and one day suddenly gained self-awareness?”

Although he doesn’t meet the conditions of causality of birth, he undoubtedly existed.

“He’s the closest being to immortality. To kill him, you’d need the dimension itself, which is his root and origin, to disappear. Only then can he achieve complete annihilation.”

A being that cannot be killed unless an entire dimension is destroyed.

Karlos and the Damned System were exactly such beings.

“And Karlos has longed for annihilation for a very long time.”

Because it’s the only thing he couldn’t have.

“He has no idea of thinking about others or caring. It makes sense, considering he’s existed for thousands, tens of thousands of years without any interaction with other lives.”

It wouldn’t have been strange if he had already destroyed this dimension and vanished.

But Biharin had been maintained so far, and the reason is.

“Because of Palao.”

Apparently, Karlos was lenient on Palao.

“Whenever any others tried to speak to him, he wouldn’t even pretend to listen. But because Palao asked, he would still grant some requests. Perhaps it’s because Palao was the first among the six gods to reach his status and touch upon Karlos.”

The first being Karlos had ever interacted with, leaving behind all meaningless things.

For Karlos, the meaning Palao held seemed pretty complicated.

“From the start, it’s because Palao dragged him around amongst the Demi-humans that he became a god amongst them even though he didn’t know joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.”

I concentrated on Gilenios’s story as it unfolded.

“Well, even such a Palao was insufficient in completely suppressing Karlos’s longing.”

Karlos knew irregular entities approached Biharin, and he could have stopped it in advance.

“Just look at your world. You’re busy trying to protect what’s inside, right? Initially, beings that originated from the dimension can affect the dimension itself. They can block any unwanted things from entering as much as they wish.”

Indeed, the system wasn’t opening the path but blocking the Hole.

On the other hand, Karlos just…

“As long as Palao asked him not to, it seems he won’t destroy the dimension directly. Even with the situation as dire as it is now, he’s doing nothing to help those beyond the standards?

But not to the extent of stopping the Biharin’s destruction due to external factors.

“And another thing, abandon any expectation that he would personally create a passage to save us. For him to create something, he has to feel unhappy himself, but there’s no room here in this situation for him to feel such unhappiness.”

Only then did I notice the contradiction I’d missed all along.

Karlos could also release the shackles bound to the Biharin, but…

There’s no reason why he should make me succeed Palao’s divinity to achieve it.

Karlos isn’t making me succeed Palao’s divinity to save the Biharin.

‘Then why on earth?’

When I questioned that part, a surprising answer came back.

“I don’t know for sure since I haven’t directly seen it. I just suspect there was some deal between Palao and Karlos.”

“A deal…”

Karlos had already postponed his eagerly awaited vanishing because of Palao’s request.

But with the invasion of beings beyond the standards, that wish was right in front of him.

Would he have gone along with it just because Palao asked again?

He might miss the chance for annihilation if he did, wouldn’t he?

‘The possibility he might have just ignored that request is higher.’

It seemed that Palao got help from Karlos in a different way from the beginning, wary of that point.

“The inheritance work doesn’t help elongate this dimension’s life at all. So Karlos agreed to something to that extent, didn’t he?”

“……”

“Palao, in her way, tried hard. To find a method that could grant both Karlos’s wishes and her own.”

Gilenios’s golden eyes glanced back, as if implying that I was the solution Palao had found to the problem.

My cheeks twitched, and a bitter sensation churned inside.

‘In one word, they used me as they saw fit.’

Whether now or then, palao never appeared in any favorable light.

“And you know, without consent from your side, they can’t create a path accommodating millions and millions to cross over.”

The conversation circled back to an ultimately impossible conclusion.

The unexpected revelations received along the process were shocking.

But it was impossible to remain stuck in that shock.

“We can’t just do nothing. We have to find a way as soon as possible…”

“Who said we’re doing nothing? There’s already a method, which is why we’re not worrying. Actually, the reason Karlos isn’t acting is primarily due to that. If you leave it be, everything will be resolved.”

“There’s a method?”

Shouldn’t he have said that first?

I looked at Gilenios’s back with sharp eyes.

Feeling something, Gilenios scratched the back of his head.

Simultaneously, he began explaining the method he had in mind.

“There’s one more passage. The place Angramoti is stuck.”

It felt like we were running in circles, and that brought out a snappish tone.

“Look, the System doesn’t care one bit about your life and death. It plans to block anyone born and raised in Bihar from crossing to Earth. Do you think it’ll allow you all to use the Gate?”

“What’s that matter? You’re here.”

Frozen footsteps seemed to stop as Gilenios’s words continued.

“Even if the divinity you obtained is from Bihar, you’re still a part of that world. Your roots are there.”

Thus, when you gain status and divinity outside, you inevitably belong to your dimension.

Is it easier to think it’s like becoming a rich person in Korea through foreign earnings?

“If you’re creating a new hole, it’s a different story, but using one that’s already there is something even you can do. All you need is to keep that passage open until you qualify for it.”

As long as Angramoti remains present, the System cannot close that Gate.

Since they can’t see beyond the Gate, it wouldn’t be a big deal to commence activities and conceal them afterward.

“Unlike your god, you intend to save us, so what’s the problem?”

After hearing that explanation, I felt somewhat empty.

‘Just like Gretman did, this one too firmly believes I’ll save them.’

Of course, it was true that I intended to, and it was true I was running around here and there to do so.

But openly treating me like a lifeline wasn’t pleasant.

Even though I wasn’t doing this for any rewards from anyone.

The choices I made were burdened with countless things I decided to endure.

Regardless of my agony and torment.

Taking it for granted that I’d save them all was their assumption.

It felt somewhat heartburning, somewhat suffocating.

I knew if I ruminated over it, only dark and musty thoughts would result.

Thus, I wanted to shake it off, but unconsciously controlling such thoughts wasn’t easy.

Under typical circumstances, with brief effort, I could redirect my thoughts in other directions.

Yet, this time it was unusually hard.

I knew too much already, and that meant there was much more I could assume.

For instance, the reason the number of Gates increased to two.

‘When the Biharin side lost track of that Angramoti, the System had to open a new Gate.’

That’s why the game’s launch was delayed.

Reflecting on what Gilenios mentioned earlier in his story.

I should conclude it was all part of a plan that the first Gate was blocked.

Thinking about it that way made it impossible to suppress the simmering insides.

“The one stuck in the Gate right now, they let it escape on purpose.”

And ultimately, I ended up hissing those words.

“Honestly, I can’t deny it. I’m suspicious too.”

Instead of spinning obvious lies, Gilenios openly stated what he knew.

Even though he hadn’t directly taken part in the incident, he suspected something.

“I think Palao intervened.”

To pave a way for the Biharin to exit.

Even before I got entangled in this game, orderly preparations to use me had been underway.

Feeling bitterness inside is what one would say for moments like this.

“Do they so desperately wish to live?”

With my mood unsavory, the sarcasm naturally trickled out.

Cooperating with the System to buy time, while also trying to find ways to escape Biharin with my help.

Unlike Karlos, Gilenios didn’t seem to have any desire to end up buried with this dimension.

“Exactly, didn’t I tell you? I’m dying to live, truly desperately. So I’m floundering.”

“……”

“Honor or shame had been discarded long ago. I refuse to die helplessly, swayed by the gods’ decisions.”

I learned a surprising truth in a most random moment.

“Did you hit the back of Meferoseta?”

Could it be, the apostle of Meferoseta who predicted my visit and died…?

“Yes, that’s me.”

Using authority, seeing Meferoseta’s doings, he’d reached a point he could no longer stomach it and switched sides.

‘That explains how he obtained the authority to utilize spacetime’s gap.’

The experiences accumulated during his time as Meferoseta’s apostle traversing spacetime to see the future had crystallized into his unique ability.

“I went to Karlos and threatened him, saying I’d quickly take everyone here and get out, so cooperate with us. He readily agreed. Seems like he really wants to die.”

Huh, Gilenios snorted and abruptly turned around.

“This should be enough explanation.”

Then with a nod, he gestured behind him.

In the pitch-black darkness, a golden halo swirling vividly marked the location.

We had reached our destination.

There wasn’t any need to hesitate, so I decided to enter the trial immediately.

Passing Gilenios, I took just three steps when I heard a voice clamping onto my ankles.

“If you let us leave this damned world, I’d even lick your feet.”

“Please, I’m begging you.”

Having said that, Gilenios gulped audibly.

It was merely an assumption, but it sounded as though the words he swallowed were heard.

Please save me, the desperate voice of someone struggling to live echoed excessively vividly.

Nonetheless, I walked on, wearing a cold expression without sparing Gilenios a glance.

“In accordance with Palao’s arrangement, the entry of the Inheritance Candidate is authorized.”

“The most fitting trial is being prepared for the Inheritance Candidate.”

That guy or this guy, they’re all truly unbearable.

Damned System