Chapter 378

### Chapter 378

### Chapter 67: Rewards from the Past (4)

Rice Cake’s pupils slowly turned golden.

It was the same transformation the previous apostles had undergone.

I had succeeded in making Rice Cake an apostle.

Now, the only thing left was to teach her how to use authority.

‘Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it directly.’

In this area, I was thoroughly incompetent.

To me, authority was a power that I could use naturally and at will.

If I was to put it another way, it was part of me.

Hence, I couldn’t teach others how to use it.

It was like someone with normal vision trying to explain how they saw a scene before them.

All they had to do was open their eyelids, and their visual organs would capture the information naturally.

For me, that was exactly what authority was.

As a result, the first wave of apostles had to learn how to use authority on their own.

Thankfully, that transitional phase was over.

This meant I could find a good teacher for Rice Cake.

“K.”

Rashar, who appeared with Gilenios, was the teacher.

Sitting on a nearby rock while waiting, I greeted Rashar with a smile.

“You came quickly?”

“Others said they would finish up there, so I left early.”

With Gilenios disappearing and Rashar drawing closer, she stared fixedly at me.

“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re going to bore a hole in my face.”

“…… I’m just relieved you’re safe.”

I wondered what she was talking about out of the blue.

She seemed to have heard of the battle that happened in the city center.

“Did you already hear about it?”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know? The whole world is buzzing about you.”

“Well, you might find a person or two if you look hard enough.”

Even though I said that, I couldn’t deny that news about me spread quickly.

Even Lily and the association were fanning the flames.

‘They went ahead and even distributed my videos.’

I chuckled softly as I spoke.

“Thanks to that, divinity is gathering well.”

“…… How is your injury? I saw you coughing up blood.”

From the way she spoke, she seemed to have seen the video or a picture of the event, not just read about it in the news.

Apparently, some brave soul had stayed to film the battle instead of running away amidst the chaos.

‘Incredible, truly incredible.’

I felt an urge to applaud their dedication.

Yet, alleviating Rashar’s concerns took precedence.

“It wasn’t a severe impact. In fact, I kind of held my ground.”

“…… All you did was flee.”

The word “flee” prompted me to speak faster, bristling as I retorted.

“Hey, there’s the word ‘evade,’ so why say ‘flee?’ That sounds weird. It’s not like I ran away like a scared kid. I did manage to subdue it in the end, didn’t I?”

Even though I spoke lightly, Rashar’s expression wasn’t entirely bright.

So, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her in a bit closer.

“If you’re so worried, why not check for yourself?”

Before she could protest, I placed her hand directly on my shoulder.

“How about you check if there’s any injury yourself?”

With a smirk pulling at one corner of my mouth, I said, Rashar’s jaw dropped, and she stuttered.

“W-what are you doing…?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? Of course, I’m flirting.”

Seeing Rashar’s face flush was quite amusing.

I chuckled quietly and wrapped my arm around her waist.

As I pulled her in a little closer, a soft scent and warmth came over me.

They were the sorts of things only felt from a closer, more intimate proximity.

‘Nice.’

Sitting and looking up at her like this was quite pleasing.

It tickled my heart a little.

“Since we’re on the topic, how about a real check-up? I was too distracted to check my injuries.”

With a smile, I urged Rashar, and slowly, hesitantly, her hands started to move.

Softly, they brushed back my hair, exploring gently.

From the forehead, down to the cheek, neck, and shoulders.

The touch that glided gradually downward paused near my chest.

‘It could go a little further.’

Feeling a bit disappointed, a mischievous streak rose within me.

But just as my thoughts formed, a loud snort interrupted.

Rice Cake suddenly huffed decisively between me and Rashar.

It was intentional, no doubt, so my brows naturally knitted together.

However, Rice Cake, pretending not to see my displeased expression, began wedging her large head between Rashar and me.

“No way?”

The atmosphere had been really nice, yet here I was, being interrupted.

I thought about saying something but held back.

After all, the reason I’d called Rashar here was for this creature.

‘I can’t just leave her to stand by forever.’

I could always spend more time with Rashar later after taking care of things.

With a short click of my tongue, I stroked Rice Cake’s head.

As if on cue, Rashar, who had stepped back a couple of steps because of Rice Cake’s intrusion, muttered.

“Those eyes……”

I nodded and explained.

“Yes, as you can see, she’s joined as an apostle, and she needs your help.”

“Because of authority.”

“It’s nice not to have to explain too much. I’d like training to start as soon as possible to handle authority.”

I made my requirements clear, hoping she could be ready for combat as soon as possible.

After a brief consideration, Rashar asked.

“Is communication a problem?”

The twins and Kim Yul spent a considerable amount of time with Rice Cake.

Rashar, however, had only met her a few times in passing.

It made sense that she was hesitant.

“She understands everything.”

Barely waiting for my answer, Rice Cake raised her head and puffed out her chest fur.

As she seemed to be flaunting herself, I couldn’t help but laugh.

It seemed Rashar also found it cute.

“Since we’ll be together henceforth, I’ll formally introduce myself. I’m Rashar.”

With a smiling face, Rashar reached out as if to pet Rice Cake.

“Snort.”

But Rice Cake snuffed and turned her nose away.

She didn’t waggle her tail enthusiastically and greet Rashar as she did with me.

Even so, I didn’t reprimand Rice Cake.

“Let it be. She’s quite picky about people.”

“Ah.”

“She won’t be rude or reckless. I’ve warned her not to act insolently towards others.”

If she didn’t enjoy meeting others, who was I to force her?

Some find blending with others delightful, while others find greater pleasure in solitary reflection.

Thus, as long as she wasn’t obviously rude or snapped at someone, I let her be.

Thankfully, Rice Cake had never crossed the boundaries I set.

She had never bitten anyone or any creature, causing an incident.

‘At most, she’d merely snub people slightly.’

After her non-greeting with Rashar, Rice Cake once more started fussing around me like a child.

This time her antics seemed even more frivolous than before.

“Why are you acting up like this today?”

I muttered quietly, and Rashar, watching me and Rice Cake, asked.

“…… Is she female? I’ve heard of beasts that don’t welcome demi-humans of the opposite gender.”

“Well……”

I halted reflexively before answering.

I was somewhat akin to Rice Cake’s owner.

Yet, I didn’t know much about Rice Cake’s species.

However, I strongly suspected she wasn’t a species distinguished by male or female.

“Her gender may be uncertain, but that’s not why she’s selective.”

Rice Cake’s favoritism extended to Kim Yul, Yang Taeho, and the twins alike.

“I think it’s simply because I’ve been her provider, so she’s quite attached to me.”

“You’re like her surrogate parent, then?”

“Probably.”

I shrugged, and Rashar didn’t press further.

I then directed Rice Cake’s head towards Rashar.

Obediently responding to my gesture, the moment Rice Cake turned her gaze towards Rashar, I lightly smacked her head.

“Please guide and encourage her, and greet her properly.”

“Snort.”

Though Rice Cake huffed in annoyance, she bowed her head slightly in a gesture of respect.

‘That’s something, at least.’

I closed the matter there and nudged Rice Cake towards Rashar.

“Now go learn.”

Only for a moment did Rice Cake look sad, but she soon sighed heavily and nodded.

With her ears drooping, she watched as Rashar began to walk away, then promptly followed.

‘See, she’s obedient when told to.’

I watched them recede into the distance until eventually.

《System Message》

Kang Hyunwoo, what happened on Earth? It seems chaotic.

Trait activated, and the system emerged.

“An Omby doll showed up.”

My casual response elicited quite the reaction from the system.

《System Message》

! Are you alright? Are you injured?!

“I’m fine……”

Before I could finish my sentence, I felt hands probing my body.

It was as if someone was kneading dough mercilessly.

“Sigh.”

The person I would have liked to touch me hesitated, whereas this one mauled me senselessly without a hint of reservation.

“Get off!”

I brushed the system’s presence away with a click of my tongue.

“By the way, how’s the search for Finelpenia going?”

In response to my question, the system’s tone turned somber.

《System Message》

Still elusive. Though we found more traces of battles, Finelpenia herself remains unseen.

Perhaps, as Kang Hyunwoo suggested, she may have already been consumed.

“Continue searching regardless. There’s a difference between the possibility and certainty.”

《System Message》

Understood.

If she’s already perished, that’s that.

However, if she’s somehow survived tenaciously and is hiding somewhere?

‘I’ll devour it.’

Until Finelpenia’s demise was confirmed, I couldn’t give up on her.

‘I should have postponed reclaiming the apostle’s status a bit longer.’

If I had retained Finelpenia’s apostle.

When she perished, the disappearing authority would have allowed me to discern the circumstances.

It seemed I had rushed things with a single-minded focus on clearing the tasks at hand.

‘What’s done is done.’

I soothed my regrets and pondered.

‘In the worst-case Scenario, Finelpenia is already gone, and her authority has passed to Omby.’

From now on, the corpses of players or apostles must be meticulously retrieved.

Moreover, there was a larger issue at hand.

‘I currently have no more divinity I can forcibly seize.’

Does causality dictate that gaining must come with an equal loss?

Instead of ways to find Omby, the opportunity was lost.

‘Damn it.’

If worst came to worst, and I wouldn’t be able to absorb Finelpenia’s divinity, what remained for me now?

Pondering intently for a while, I opened the status screen after what felt like ages.

Kang Hyunwoo – Irregular

Divine Name: God of the Battlefield

Authority: Guileful Lightning

Believers: 820,482

「View Player Information」

Beneath the section about divinity on the first page, there was the button to view player information.

Pressing it brought up the player status window, filled with complex text and numbers.

Following my eyes downward as I skimmed through, I soon found what I had been seeking.

Trait: Barbarian, adaptability, tenacity, purification (lv.max), Palao’s Inheritor, second Inheritor

While others often boasted one or two at most, I had six traits.

The most recent trait was:

“Second Inheritor…….”

Initially, the detailed page was filled with question marks, but now things were different.

Now, rather than question marks, there was a short message written clearly.

「Come to inherit the status」

The progenitor god of Biharin, Karlos, was calling me directly.

Damned System

**New Elements and Characters:**

– 백설기, Rice Cake (she)

– 길레니오스, Gilenios (na)

– 라샤르, Rashar (her)

– 칼로스, Karlos (he)