episode_0376

I took the stairs and walked up to Sky Lake.

I can see the murmurs and looks of many people.

It was thanks to Dantalian’s power.

It seemed to me like a star shining on the ground.

‘Can you serve these monsters even if you know the truth?’

Soon we reached the Daran Sky Lake.

I felt like I was walking through an aquarium surrounded by transparent glass.

The swimming drill fish were all several meters long and had wing-like fins, but they just swam constantly like fish.

In addition, there was something like a killer whale swimming around and waving at me.

They come together one by one and stick their heads out from the jelly-like wall and make whining noises, or stick out their fins and touch me.

The eyes are full of curiosity.

When I grabbed the outstretched fin, the startled orca quickly retreated back like a fried shrimp.

But even for a moment.

It approaches at a frighteningly fast pace, fluttering its fins out of the water.

I accepted the numerous requests for handshakes and climbed the stairs.

‘cute.’

How far did you climb like that?

Eventually we reached the top of the lake.

Drilling fish swim beneath your feet, and the capital of Romaria is visible below.

The ripples that spread out every time you step feel like throwing a stone into a lake with every step.

─It is a beautiful place.

If Jules had been to a place like this, he would definitely have been happy.

Above, instead of the setting sun, a bright moon and stars rise, and the orange-colored clouds are reflected, creating a spectacular view.

“You don’t look like you.”

A middle-aged man with his arms resting on a round table that looked like crystal reached out his hand to me.

It was a man with blue-green eyes and black hair.

“I’ll wash you first.”

The water rises through my body and instantly removes waste.

···This is a cleansing that Edeline often did.

How is he doing?

I just wondered if she was smiling and living.

“How on earth is this food so delicious that you make such a fuss?”

“Okay, this is it.”

Well, let’s take a look at what that ultimate sweetness is.

Neptune smiled and placed it on a transparent plate…

“Fish eggs…?”

It is an orange-colored egg the size of a baby fingernail, similar to a salmon egg.

···The ultimate sweetness is just fish eggs?

It’s absurd.

“You’ll know that when you try it. Sit here.”

Neptune creates a chair made of water.

“The perforated fish was created purely for eating. That egg, that meat.”

“A life created to be eaten is truly barbaric.”

Even if it is a living creature that needs to eat, eating something from a person who does not need to eat is killing.

That’s what I felt as a hunter.

Neptune waved a spoon made of water, scooped up a large hole-in-the-wall fish egg, and shoved it into her mouth.

Todog! Tododog!

Neptune made a hungry noise, a twisted smile forming on her lips.

“Mmm~! It’s delicious.”

“···Do you need to eat food?”

I thought the servant wouldn’t eat the food.

“Of course. A weakling like Lu doesn’t want that, but servants eat things too. Now, take a seat.”

“I didn’t come here for a meal.”

“I don’t understand. I eat this because it’s delicious. Do you think I’m barbaric for enjoying gourmet food?”

“Yes.”

Neptune looked at me while stroking her chin, and then burst out laughing.

“The body and soul are separate. The physiological desires and emotions you experience are simply a function of your body, and have nothing spiritual to them. I hope you don’t attach great meaning to being alive like Dantalian does.”

okay. I guess it is for you.

The self that remains after death is ultimately not a soul.

“If you think that way, why did you create the world and why do you serve the demi-humans?”

“Why? I did it because my father wanted it.”

Neptune sat down on the chair and crossed her legs.

“The drill fish has no soul. The egg has no soul and will never hatch. It can be said to be the optimal sweetness for the barbaric you.”

Neptune smirks and waits for my reaction.

…I sat down on a chair, scooped up a large hole-in-the-wall fish egg, and put it in my mouth.

A bouncy rolling texture.

Chewed it.

Todog!

“···───━━!”

“Hehehehehe!!!”

─Delicious!

It was so delicious that Neptune’s loud sneer didn’t even bother me.

The first taste was refreshing sweetness.

Next is the slightly salty contents and the peel that becomes lighter the more you chew it.

When I scooped it up again, put it in my mouth, and chewed it, the taste didn’t change at all and it impressed me just like the first time I put it in my mouth.

I just can’t stop spooning.

“I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“In your memories… the place where your father came.”

Unreadable turquoise eyes stare at me.

“What is religion like there?”

“Religion is religion.”

“I am asking how they perceive religion.”

Religion on Earth?

I can answer that very subjectively from my perspective as an atheist.

“In my opinion, it is the source of discord.”

“Hoo. I see.”

“Religion must disappear. The number of victims of wars waged thanks to religion is probably greater than that of the demi-humans of Pangea. Me too to you…”

“What you said is the answer.”

···.

“My father did not want religion to have a large place in people’s hearts. However, it was for the sake of the sub-humans… more specifically, the human species. The same soul resides in all things.”

Neptune looks at me intently.

“Your father was hypocritical like you. That’s why we created Ajin. I wanted my father to respect all living things. But my father recognized Ain as a human just because he could communicate.”

“···Is that so?”

“Okay. In the end, it didn’t matter to my father as long as it was an organism that could get along with humans. So there is no need to have such great illusions about living organisms. The body is nothing more than a complex machine made of meat.”

“I don’t want to transcend that much.”

“That’s good too. Like a drilling fish that has had all its senses and thoughts castrated under your feet and only lays eggs as it excretes itself.”

Neptune shoved the drill fish egg into her mouth again.

Todog—!

I see

If they just say one word, Ain will be able to crawl on his own.

That’s why they don’t do anything.

Ceres said to me:

It’s something Maal doesn’t want to do.

Maal didn’t want people to take care of things, but he was a ‘person’ who didn’t like religion getting attention.

Who on earth is Maal?

“Sprinkle the bone powder you have here and go. I will personally send it all over Pangea.”

“Thank you.”

I shoved another spoonful of drilled fish eggs into my mouth.

Neptune looked at me intently, and then turned his gaze to the shining capital of the Romaria Empire on the ground.

“Under me, the religion of Pangea began, and humans and demi-humans, who were naked and no better than animals, achieved harmony. Do you know why?”

“I don’t know.”

“This is because religion is a projection of the bond between A-humans.”

This is incomprehensible.

What kind of human bond does religion project?

“Religion is not a bad thing as you think. It’s the same as nonsense, but it’s a human lie. Just like Dantalian.”

Although we only exchanged a few words, I understand the servant’s intentions.

They never come forward directly.

If all six servants thought this way, none of them would organize this group of humans and lead the demi-humans.

“···These are truly lovely things.”

Still, I love you.

Although I couldn’t read emotions, I could tell that Neptune’s voice was mixed with affection as she looked down at Benjis.

“I lowered my legs to the Ain who worshiped me. You served them what you were eating and sent them down. I also went down.”

The gaze that was taken from Vanges eventually turned to me.

“If things continue like this, a war will break out just as you think. Somehow, some way, those cute things will one day eat each other like monkfish. This land can handle all the demihumans.”

Why are you looking at me like that?

You are still a god, right? Why even you…

“Even though you were outdone by the dragon, it will be possible for you to minimize the sacrifice.”

Are you making a face like you want to leave it to me?

“Are you calling me to ask for that?”

“Okay. I called to ask for a favor. Please don’t let those cute things eat each other.”

Todog!

Neptune, who had finished eating the fish’s eggs, returned the bowl and spoon to the water.

“When I see them eating each other, it’s so disgusting that I lose my pride.”

I can’t tell if I like it or not.

In fact, it’s good, but you don’t like to show off?

After finishing the meal, the utensils made of water changed into the shape of a cup, and water began to gush out of the cup.

“I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“How can I get rid of the soul? And what is hell?”

Neptune chuckles.

“I don’t think I’m very happy with what you accepted.”

“Yes. I don’t like it.”

Normally I wouldn’t have thought anything about it, but Jules is sleeping inside of me.

A child who hates Hosott seeped into him?

I drank the water that Neptune had brought out.

The water Neptune made was fresher than any water I had ever consumed, and it was the sweetest drink.

“I feel like I want to get rid of it right away.”

“That black soul picked up by the hell hidden in your body is karma. Karma continues. It is impossible to eliminate it. Hell is a dump where all such karma is stored. You are a walking trash can.”

“Why did Pluto plant hell in my body?”

“To purify karma.”

Whose soul it purifies, that is certain.

I have no intention of letting you do whatever you want.

“Are you planning on eating it?”

“It was created for the public interest. It’s not for something as personal as you think.”

“This is my older sister. I will never hand it over to you.”

“Anyway, Dantalian holds that soul. Dantalian will respect your wishes.”

Dantalian is not someone you can trust, but he is at least more trustworthy than other servants.

···According to Neptune’s words, Juul is also an ‘up’.

Not Daum, but my job.

“The spirit of the dead white wolf was crazy for 13 years, but it became calm after meeting me.”

“Didn’t I tell you? It is said that karma continues. Depending on where you direct that karma, it can be purified or rotted.”

In other words, he tells me to change the heart of that tanned child.

Otherwise, Juul’s soul may become ‘karma’.

I don’t really know how children think.

However, I was afraid of the innocence of children.

Purity is endless cruelty.

The child even asked why he didn’t kill Jules and Jur.

If I had revealed that I was their friend, they would have tormented me severely.

‘Where on earth did you pick up this trash?’

“The soul attracts similar things to each other. If you use that nature well, you might be able to purify that black thing that is trying to eat your sister.”

“Is there a karma hidden within me that has a common denominator? ”

“There is. If you want to understand the exact nature of hell, the Laobian Empire that Lu burned… Head there.”

Laobian Empire?

Isn’t that place right in the center of the Hibi Desert?

“···Okay.”

“When you arrive in the Laobian Empire, you will definitely see something there. But you should never, ever deal with it. Don’t make eye contact or talk to me. You can’t smell it, and you shouldn’t touch it. Even if he chases me, even if he makes eye contact on purpose…”

Neptune smiled mischievously.

“You must not open your mouth.”

I get chills.

An alarm bell rings in my head that it is definitely dangerous.

“···Why?”

“Because at that moment, you will not be our horse, but the horse of hell.”