Chapter 342

Chapter 342. Origin and Meaning of Divinity (1)

As soon as the battle ended, the barrier collapsed, and those waiting outside rushed into the school.

Palao guild members, additional support from the association, and the aftermath processing team came in to handle the corpses and assess the damage and casualties.

When dozens of people gathered in one place at once, the surroundings became chaotic.

In that chaos, the first person to approach me was Ahel.

“If I had known you were inside, I would have just waited.”

“…… The timing was just right.”

Seeing the traces of blood at the corners of his mouth, it seemed he had his own struggles outside.

‘It looks like his mana twisted when trying to break the dome.’

His pale complexion suggested he had done his best from his position.

I intended to express my gratitude to him, but Ahel, who came looking for me, wasn’t looking at me.

I checked where his gaze was settled, and unsurprisingly, it was on ‘Severius’.

Although my enemy, he was once Ahel’s mentor.

‘I have no regrets about killing him.’

Even if we hadn’t crossed paths today, I would have killed him eventually.

However, I understood that Ahel might feel complex emotions about it.

So, I decided to give him some space.

“If there’s anything you need to sort out, now’s a good time. The body will soon be handed over to the apostles of Finelpenia.”

“I have nothing left to say. I already spat out every curse possible on the day he decided to go.”

Ahel shrugged his shoulders in response, but I had already turned my body.

A faint murmur came from behind me shortly after.

“You look quite satisfied now.”

It sounded like a sneer, or perhaps bitter self-mockery.

When I glanced back, I watched as Ahel squatted down in that spot.

And it seemed he brushed a hand over Severius’s face.

He likely closed the eyes of Severius, who had died with his eyes wide open.

It reminded me that, no matter where people lived, they were all the same.

Recalling those words once again, I headed toward the school.

Moments ago, Ethan’s golden barrier, which had stood firm, had already disappeared.

‘Would it have withstood a true authority?’

The Trait used by the Platinum-rank from Temoria and the authority used by an apostle are not entirely identical.

Thus, when it clashed with my authority, the results could vary.

‘There might be a chance of facing Temoria.’

It wouldn’t be bad to call Greg and experiment once.

‘I should be more cautious until I’ve gathered enough data.’

Improper use could harm my allies as well.

I imprinted caution under the exhilaration of having completed my status.

As I pushed my thoughts aside and approached the school building, Ethan was the first to greet me.

“You’re back.”

I clasped the hand he extended and embraced him tightly.

The favor I owed him today would not be forgotten.

“You’ve done well. I am truly grateful.”

“Then maybe someday K can save me instead.”

Following that, he intended to repay the favor himself.

Just as I was about to respond to Ethan’s words, I realized something.

“Next time…”

Every time he met me, he had spoken of a next time.

Perhaps this was Ethan’s own resolve and hope.

“Yeah, if it means saving you, I’ll do it over and over again.”

I decided to support his hope with a faint smile.

After finishing my conversation with Ethan, I looked at those standing behind him.

Jinwoo and Kim Yul.

Jinwoo, perhaps due to his legs giving way, was sitting on the ground, shaking slightly.

Kim Yul was lying on his back, his hands neatly folded over his stomach.

Both hands present and accounted for.

Looking at Kim Yul’s arms and hands, which were intact, despite his torn and worn-out clothes and armor, I crouched down.

“Are you alive?”

Kim Yul, who had been laying still, sprang up and responded.

“Yes, Platinum Rank Kim Yul, reporting alive!”

I couldn’t understand what made him so cheerful after barely surviving.

Kim Yul even took an exaggerated saluting pose.

‘Is he trying to act like a soldier?’

He seemed to be trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, but I didn’t want to spoil it.

Taking a deep breath inwardly, I said,

“At ease.”

Players, upon responding to the conscription order, become exempt from certain obligations imposed by their country.

In Korea, military exemption is a prime example.

“Oh.”

“If you wish to go, there’s still the option of volunteering, but……”

“Oh, please, someone of your education should know better! That was a slip of the tongue!”

Kim Yul, being as friendly as always, made my chest feel tight.

However, I didn’t want to show it.

So, I roughly messed up Kim Yul’s hair and said, trying to keep my voice ordinary,

“Thank you so much.”

“Oh, come now, between us. In the end, everyone is safe, it turned out well! And look, I’m in one piece!”

The bold young man looked at me cautiously and muttered.

“And that’s a holy water, isn’t it… sorry for making you use it.”

I decided to act as if I didn’t hear that.

Acknowledging Kim Yul, who had rushed over to this place as soon as he assessed the situation, was my best way of thanking him.

‘Moreover, I was in a panic at that time.’

I didn’t even think to receive calls meant for me.

In contrast, Kim Yul handled everything more rationally than I did.

After messing his hair a bit more, I turned my gaze to Jinwoo.

“You too.”

“Huh?”

And I said, patting Jinwoo on the head as well.

“Thanks for buying time.”

If Jinwoo hadn’t intervened, Kim Yul would have been dead when I arrived.

Knowing this fact better than anyone, I was grateful to Jinwoo as well.

If Kim Yul had died during this incident, it would have been a burden I would carry for a long time.

And I wouldn’t have forgiven myself easily.

More importantly, we managed to keep a crucial asset that would immensely help in this war.

Stepping up and facing fear would not have been easy.

Not because he’s my brother, but I genuinely think he did an amazing job.

“Well done.”

Jinwoo nodded, looking downwards with a somewhat complex expression.

I didn’t know what he was thinking, but I decided to wrap up the situation first.

“Wait here, I’ll bring Yeonwoo.”

“Okay…”

Leaving the three behind, I entered the classroom where an entire section of the wall had been completely destroyed.

The desks and chairs were a mess.

Despite having a proper door, there was a gaping hole in the wall.

Beyond it, the children were huddled together.

Most of them had tear tracks yet to dry, their hair was disheveled, and their clothes were either crumpled or dirty with dust.

These small details made the chaos of today more vividly evident than the ravaged building or the corpses of monsters.

I swallowed a sigh and turned my gaze.

Finding Yeonwoo among the kids wasn’t particularly difficult.

Amidst all the kids, Yeonwoo looked especially pale and was trembling noticeably.

“O-Ora-bang…”

The moment she saw me, she began crying miserably.

And before long, she dropped into unconsciousness like a stringless puppet.

She wasn’t usually someone to collapse like this.

‘She figured it out.’

She must have realized that this attack was targeted at them.

She must have experienced immense psychological pressure, given she hadn’t even attempted to use the artifact I had given her and was holding it tightly in her hands.

I sighed softly and gently picked up the sleeping Yeonwoo.

I heard whispers from the children gathered in the corridor.

Thinking there was no benefit in staying longer, I was about to step away when a small voice stopped me.

“Hyeonwoo oppa…”

Turning my head, I saw a familiar face amidst the children.

“Sung-ah.”

A friend who had been close with Yeonwoo since elementary school.

I remembered seeing her face occasionally thanks to that.

“It’s been a while.”

“Y-Yes. How is Yeonwoo…”

Sung-ah, who was clutching a familiar bag to her chest, hesitantly inquired about Yeonwoo’s condition.

“She’s just sleeping. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Kim Yul, I mean, since the hunt finished quickly, only one came up, so, I mean, we didn’t suffer much damage. But Yeonwoo… the school…”

The intent behind her question wasn’t hard to grasp.

And there was only one answer I could give.

“It would probably be hard for her to continue attending.”

With her identity exposed, there’s a risk of assassination, and today’s event might happen again.

‘This time, it seems only player casualties occurred.’

Next time, innocent civilian casualties might happen.

She must refrain from regularly staying at specific places for long.

“You can reach out later; I don’t intend to meddle in your personal calls.”

“Yes…”

Sung-ah nodded, surprisingly calmly.

And she handed over Yeonwoo’s bag.

“I packed her stuff roughly since there wasn’t any movement at all…”

“Thank you. The association’s follow-up team has arrived, so just follow their guidance. There’s a basic counseling program, I’ll make sure they pay attention, so don’t skip it.”

“Yes… and, um, thank you very much. I, I’m rooting for you and the players a lot too.”

I ruffled Sung-ah’s hair as she shyly bowed her head, and I calmly said.

“No need to worry, so don’t slack off in your studies.”

Only then did Sung-ah, who looked as pale as Yeonwoo, manage a slight smile.

At that moment, I knew.

This child’s smiling face would spur me on again in the future, anchoring my thoughts.

‘It will remind me of my position and reaffirm my duty.’

Though not entirely welcome, it didn’t feel entirely cumbersome either.

The weight settling on my shoulders felt like it kept me grounded instead of swaying aimlessly.

Breathing in to get accustomed to the somewhat suffocating weight for a moment, I left, memorizing Sung-ah’s face.

Glancing at the familiar schoolyard, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘Why is it that among the Kang siblings, none of us graduates from here properly?’

Thinking silly thoughts naturally led to a silly laugh.

I lightly shook my head and left the school.

The sudden attack that had started out of nowhere reached its end just like that.

* * *

After the school situation was settled, I burned all the black roots spread across downtown Seoul.

Those struck by destructive thunders could no longer regenerate and turned to ashes.

Thanks to that, Korea became the first to be free from the threat of the black roots.

Requests for assistance started pouring in from around the world, and I began coordinating schedules related to that.

‘Of course, there’s a matter to handle first.’

First things first: recalling events in sequence and sorting out the facts.

‘Since I achieved divinity.’

The first thing I experienced upon realizing divinity was being expelled from the material realm.

It meant I fell to a place where the principles of causality didn’t apply.

There was an existence waiting for me in a place devoid of anything encompassed by causality.

《System Message》

Congratulations, Kang Hyeonwoo!

You’ve finally achieved status!

For the first time since the character was regenerated, the system showed up.

Unfortunately, as I once wished, I didn’t get to punch it in the face.

With my siblings being attacked at that moment, I didn’t have the luxury for such thoughts.

So, I grilled the system instead.

The system, in turn, provided a method to manifest in the material realm, instead of wasting time.

And it handed me a book.

《System Message》

I may not have much free time for a while, so if you have questions, please refer to this.

The title of the book was quite something.

「What It Means to Live as a God」

At the unpleasant feeling upon seeing the title, I felt like tossing the book away, But as soon as I returned home, I thoroughly read through it.

Thanks to that, I gained a lot of information I hadn’t known before.

‘According to this, a being who achieved divinity faces significant resistance when interfering with the material realm.’

This fact aligns with what I previously knew.

Gods must pay significant costs to have a physical form and presence in the material realm.

But I, only I am free from that restriction.

Damned System