Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 269
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-3. Lust
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With Metatron's command to stop, Organ's body froze in place. Even as he lifted his foot to step forward, it wouldn't move. Instead, some force pushed him back, making him retreat.
"Don't butt in and get yourself hurt. Step back, Organ."
"But...!"
"There's no need to worry. You're too valuable a child to die in a place like this. Do you think I'd throw you into harm's way just to test your faith?"
"...Yes, Holy King."
At Metatron's words, Organ bowed his head once and withdrew. Sian watched the scene without doing anything. He simply slipped his hands into the pockets of his suit pants, smirked by lifting one corner of his mouth, and shifted his gaze to Metatron.
"He seems like a waste, doesn't he?"
"Of course. The same goes for you, doesn't it?"
"No. If he were dying at someone else's hand, I wouldn't have stepped in. But dying by the hand of you, the Holy King? That's a different story."
"Whether by my hand or another's, the result is the same, isn't it?"
Sian shook his head, frowning.
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained. If you try to kill him yourself again after today, you'd better be prepared. That day will be when I descend upon the Heavenly Realm—and the day the Heavenly Realm collapses. This isn't a joke; it's a warning, Metatron. Don't rile me up."
"Fine, if your descent would be a problem, I won't do it."
"Wise choice."
"...But I'm curious. What exactly are you plotting?"
Metatron's question.
Sian didn't answer. Instead, he posed a riddle.
"Who knows. Maybe the salvation of you pitiful ones."
"Salvation?"
Absurd nonsense. Metatron's brow furrowed.
"What kind of salvation are you talking about, that you'd bestow your blessing and protection?"
It was famous not just in the Demon Realm but in the Heavenly Realm too that Sian had only ever bestowed his blessing on a handful of people. The most famous among them was Lucifer, known as the Fallen Angel and said to be the strongest of the Seven Deadly Sins, Pride.
There were a few others, but they lived so quietly following Sian that their presence was faint. And yet, there was one more right here.
When Metatron had descended here via Organ, he knew the moment he saw Judah. That he bore Sian's blessing. It was so faint and natural that no other apostle or Holy King would notice. Only Metatron, who had clashed with Sian countless times, didn't miss it.
And that's when everything made sense.
Why he hadn't noticed the one gathering fragments.
Why he couldn't detect the situation until Bel-Terza descended.
Why this human had evaded his <Eye>.
If he was under Sian's blessing and protection, it was entirely possible.
"You're not answering?"
"Same as before. Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand."
"That's quite the insulting remark."
"......"
Metatron walked past Sian toward Judah. Sian merely turned to watch him pass, making no move to stop him.
"Judah Arsher!"
He called his name. Judah, who had been quietly watching from behind as the top figures of the Demon and Heavenly Realms conversed, furrowed his brow. What should he say?
"...Why!?"
He hesitated, unable to use honorifics now, and shouted. At that, not just Metatron but Sian too widened their eyes in surprise before chuckling.
"Hahaha!"
Metatron burst into laughter, apparently dumbfounded.
"You're consistent, alright. If you're under the Sovereign's blessing, you need that kind of guts."
"Why'd you call me?"
The wings of light spreading behind his back shimmered softly, rippling as they deliberately blocked Sian from view.
"Become my apostle."
"What?"
Metatron watched Sian's reaction from behind more than Judah's startled reply. Even after openly declaring he'd take the one he'd blessed, Sian just wore an intrigued expression, as if observing whether he'd go along with it or not.
'Or maybe he's certain he absolutely won't.'
Thinking that, Metatron continued.
"If I'm uncomfortable for you, choose another Holy King. I'll speak to them. Holy King Gabriel, Holy King Jophiel. It doesn't matter which one you become an apostle of. Then continue gathering fragments as you have been. We'll help you."
"No, becoming an apostle is fine, but you helping is not."
Sian, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
"Becoming an apostle is okay, but intervention is not?"
"That's right. I don't care who you become an apostle of, and I have no intention of restricting that. Naturally, once you've gathered all of Pernell's fragments and inherited his power, you can stay in the Demon Realm, Heavenly Realm, Middle Realm—wherever. I won't interfere. However."
Sian paused.
"The existence of a Holy King directly intervening is a problem."
"Your Demon Realm Sovereign has already intervened, hasn't he?"
"If you're talking about Bel-Terza, he descended by expending his own power through a contract without any sacrifice."
Metatron shook his head side to side, wearing an expression that said he knew Sian knew.
"No. You know I'm not talking about that. Do you think I wouldn't know about the other Sovereign moving while evading my eyes?"
"...?"
Metatron snorted at Sian's reaction.
"Don't play dumb. You know the Seventh Sovereign, Artemisia, has been making moves for a long time, don't you? There's proof of it right below us."
When he pointed out Asmodeus, the Seventh Deadly Sin on the fourth underground floor, Sian smiled.
"Impressive. However. Unlike Artemisia using Asmodeus, the influence Holy Kings have on the Middle Realm is too great. From humans, elves, dwarves to beastkin. You can exert influence over most races occupying two continents, can't you? The starting points are different, and the balance is off."
"Oh? Then it should be fine if we Holy Kings don't step in directly but send angels or have apostles act independently. This isn't direct revelation, after all."
"If you want to do it that way, go ahead."
"Interesting. So, Judah Arsher. What will you do? According to Sian, it doesn't matter which side you choose. If anything, becoming an apostle of our Heavenly Realm would make your actions easier."
Choose a faction?
It was a tempting offer for Judah. Metatron had said if he was uncomfortable, pick another Holy King, so becoming Gabriel or Jophiel's apostle would undoubtedly make gathering fragments much easier from now on.
Organ watching from behind would likely become a comrade following Holy King Metatron's words. But following the path Cain had taken felt off.
'The game had multiple endings, including a bad one.'
And not by anyone else, but by Metatron.
Still, a future like that could be changed. It had to be changeable.
"If you gather the fragments as my apostle and inherit Pernell's power, I can gladly yield a Holy King's seat to you. You'd be the fourth Holy King."
Noticing Judah's contemplation, Metatron made an offer. He probably thought it was a sweet deal, but it wasn't much of a reward for Judah. He was starting to think settling in this world after gathering all fragments wasn't bad, but he also wanted to punch Sian in the face and return to his original world, even briefly.
So becoming a Heavenly Holy King or Demon Sovereign could be decided later.
"......"
Judah looked at Metatron, halo softly glowing behind him, and sighed.
The rational, reasonable choice was to take Metatron's hand. But in this world, the Heavenly Realm wasn't purely good nor demons purely evil, and he didn't want to be bound already. Metatron would surely meddle nitpickingly.
"I heard something back in the day."
-?
"I don't remember what the angel gave, but the devil gave man a beauty, meat, and sex. And I really like that. Beauties are great, meat is delicious, sex is fun..."
"How rude!" Organ muttered from behind.
"I'm already too corrupted to live suppressing desires elegantly like angels or that apostle over there."
-......
"Sorry, but I'll politely decline the offer."
Judah forced a smile as he replied. His heart raced, thinking it was a dangerous choice, but strangely, there was no regret. Metatron let out a scoffing laugh.
"Really. I don't know how many times you'll say that, but you're consistent, you bastard."
========== Author's Notes ==========
1)
[......Please mind the volume, author. Put settings in the settings section.]
Caught red-handed.
But I'll post settings, story, and tips in the main content. It counts as content!
Hahaha! Still, I'm uploading at least 10kb of main text each time.
2)
Went to morning class, came back in the afternoon thinking whether to write more and upload, but if I did that, it'd be uploaded in over ten hours from now, so uploading and off to sleep...
3)
Q. Is Metatron female or male? Referred to as 'he', so male..?
A. Male. He's burly.
Q. This is full-on rebellion! How dare a puny angel...!
A. Metatron doesn't know Judah is the Creator!
Q. I started main story marathon late, can't Judah eat god-tier items like Se Ryu?
A. Genitals?