A Goddess's Voice Echoes
A storm of qi erupted from Herman's entire body.
“You just said something you shouldn't have.”
“Ho! You're still full of energy?”
“Blasphemy against the divine is a greater sin than anything else! You deserve to be judged!”
“Heh. Now you seem worth fighting.”
“Do not seek atonement. Welcome the judgment!”
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuung!
A blinding orange light shot straight at Jin Chen.
Jin Chen, meanwhile, unleashed his own demonic energy and pushed back hard against Herman's power.
Kugugugugu— The ground trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Both forces swelled, wrestling each other as their combined strength sent the bandits and mercenaries scrambling away in panic.
“Grit.”
Herman's teeth clenched as he poured out every last drop of his qi.
Jin Chen, on the other hand, kept his face calm as ever.
“I wasn't expecting it to be this rough already?”
“That arrogance of yours will only push you straight into the grave! The goddess's final—”
Herman began to cast his ultimate spell when a woman's voice rang out.
“Stop!”
The sudden order made both demonic and holy energies vanish without a trace.
Jin Chen's eyes lit up as he turned toward the sound.
From the farthest carriage stepped a figure in a gray robe.
Her face was hidden by the hood, but her figure and tone screamed woman.
A satisfied grin spread across Jin Chen's face.
“I was starting to wonder when you'd show up.”
As if on cue, the woman slowly lifted the hood from her face.
A gasp escaped the bandits and mercenaries.
“Eek!”
“What the—!”
Herman's eyes widened in shock.
The woman's beauty was half orc-like in its rugged strength and half elf-like in its breathtaking elegance.
“Belong in the carriage! This place is no place for you——”
“It is the divine will.”
Herman's eyes bulged as he stared at her.
Jin Chen released his grip on her neck and spoke to the woman.
“The divine? Are you saying you're a god?”
“Exactly. The Goddess of Dawn has something to tell you.”
“Perfect. I was about to ask those so-called gods a few things myself.”
“She is the light that first pierced the darkness and the one who guides the light. I hope you receive what you desire.”
The woman bowed her head slightly in a calm tone, and Jin Chen clicked his tongue.
This is ridiculous. I'm the bad guy here.
As Jin Chen thought that, the woman slowly raised her head.
A strange resonance poured from her body.
Tuuuuuuuung.
The world itself seemed to stop.
Jin Chen looked around and muttered.
“If this isn't a real god, then what is?”
Before the words even left his mouth, a massive presence descended from her body.
—I am Belena, the Goddess of Dawn, from another dimension.
“What the—?! You've got to be kidding. I've seen bigger kids!”
—This place is a different world from the one you once lived in.
“You dragged us here?”
—Your existence is something even the gods could not foresee…….
“Yeah, weak gods can't predict much.”
Snap.
A vein bulged on her forehead.
At the same time, a torrent of vicious curses exploded from her mouth.
—Weak?! What kind of worthless brat dares speak like that?! Me, Belena! I was once a goddess who ruled over both darkness and light! This is insane!
“...Are you really a god?”
—What are you going to do about it?! You brat! You think because the gods of light and darkness have grown weak lately you can insult me and get away with it?!
“If you're angry, then fight me.”
—Hah. You're insanely arrogant.
Kuuuung.
The world changed in an instant.
A crushing pressure bore down on Jin Chen.
It was nothing like Sibel's gravity magic.
A real god was pressing me down.
Nothing but that thought filled his mind.
He could do nothing.
Thud.
Jin Chen dropped to his knees.
—Repeat what I said. What did you say?
Jin Chen's shoulders started to shake.
“Heh heh, hehehehehehe.”
—Look at this guy?
“Ah! Sorry. I just got too excited.”
—Excited?
“Yeah.”
—What is there to be excited about?
“If this is all it takes, I could probably take down a real god.”
Tuuduudu.
Jin Chen slowly stood up, his entire body emitting loud cracking sounds.
He didn't stop.
Thump!
He towered over her and said.
“My teachers once told me that the martial arts I mastered last time would be enough to kill a god.”
—What?
“I didn't believe it at first… but now it seems worth testing.”
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuung!
Jin Chen's will burned fiercely, pushing back the god's overwhelming pressure.
Step.
Kwaduduk.
The moment his foot touched the ground, cracks began to spiderweb across the frozen world.
Step.
Kwadududududuk!
The fractures spread wider and wider.
“I feel lucky. Meeting a dragon was hard enough, yet here I am with a god.”
A look of genuine bewilderment crossed the Goddess of Dawn's face.
—Are you challenging even a real god?
“Anyone who touches me first gets no mercy.”
—You touched my executor!
“Bandits are just guests in my territory.”
—What kind of pathetic brat are you?!
“I'm not pathetic, so come on! Let's do this properly!”
Hwaaaaak!
Jin Chen's will burned even hotter.
—What a stupid brat!
The goddess's shout echoed as the frozen space snapped back to normal.
“Aaaaaaaaa.”
The woman collapsed where she stood, laughing.
“Saintess!”
“Saintess!”
Herman and the gray-robed figures rushed over to support her.
Jin Chen narrowed his eyes and muttered.
“Gotcha. Tsk.”
Herman and the others shouted in fury.
“We will not forgive you!”
“Everyone, stop!”
The figures rushing toward Jin Chen froze at her command.
“Calm down. She has given her blessing.”
“B-but what does that mean? She gave her blessing?!”
“Hah. There is something I must tell you. Please step aside for a moment?”
“But—”
“It is the place where the goddess's will is to be conveyed. Please understand.”
“Ugh… fine.”
Herman stepped back, unwilling. The gray-robed figures followed suit.
“Chaeju Hyeong! What should we do? Just keep beating them?”
Geunyuk-i shouted from where he stood apart from the middle-aged man.
Jin Chen stared at the woman for a moment, then shook his head.
“Everyone, rest up. These guys feel different from the ones I expected.”
“Then I have to fight this old man alone? My leg still isn't broken.”
“Grrk! You tricked me!”
The middle-aged man exploded with anger.
Geunyuk-i didn't care at all.
Jin Chen was the same.
“Just leave them alone. They might need to be sent somewhere.”
“Sigh… okay.”
Jin Chen sat down heavily on the ground, ignoring the disappointed click of Geunyuk-i's tongue.
Baek-i immediately rushed over at terrifying speed and circled him protectively.
As if to say, “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Kid, did you feel it too?”
Krurrung.
Baek-i trembled slightly.
The others probably didn't notice, but he definitely sensed the god's presence.
Not a bad kid.
Jin Chen stroked Baek-i's neck and spoke to the woman.
“What did you want to say?”
“First, let me introduce myself. I am Chloe, the saintess who serves the Goddess of Dawn.”
“I'm Jin Chen. As you can see, I'm a bandit. Got it?”
“Ah… yes.”
Chloe smiled awkwardly and continued carefully.
“The goddess asked me to deliver a message.”
“The right time for that would have been never. Tsk. Tell me. What was it?”
“It's… um……”
Chloe hesitated, struggling with her words.
Jin Chen guessed what was coming and spoke again.
“Don't overthink it. Just say whatever it is. I've seen what kind of person you are.”
“Then… I'll deliver the message exactly as spoken.”
Jin Chen nodded. Chloe took a deep breath and slowly began.
“You arrogant brat! If I hadn't manifested as a god, you wouldn't even have a chance to scream! And—! How many gods can even manifest?! Because I'm weak, I was able to borrow a body like this! Hey… should I continue?”
“Better to stop now.”
“Ah, then I'll keep going.”
Chloe took another deep breath and continued.
“Stop being so arrogant! No matter how strong you are, you can't kill a god. A god is no ordinary being. Humans can never possess what a god has, which is why they are gods! So never provoke the other gods. Because I'm merciful to you, other gods would have already turned the world upside down!”
“Hold on. Suddenly curious, so excuse me.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“Is that temper only for me, or is it your usual self?”
“Phew! Ah, sorry.”
“I won't answer if you don't.”
What kind of god has a broom in its mouth.
“Hey, we're not done yet……”
“Ah, continue.”
“Especially watch out for the gods of corruption and death. They're… on another level. They were among the largest fragments of the primordial chaos.”
Jin Chen crossed his arms and watched Chloe quietly.
Under his steady gaze, Chloe's cheeks flushed as she quickly looked away.
This was the first time a man had looked at her so openly since she became a saintess from childhood.
Even though the man in question was the one she served.
“U-um… why are you looking at me like that?”
“Why did you specifically mention the gods of corruption and death?”
“I'm not sure either. That was all the goddess asked me to convey.”
“Just nonsense?”
“It can't be. The Goddess of Dawn is one of the gods who has existed since the beginning. She doesn't speak without meaning.”
“Nonsense is nonsense. If you don't know what the listener is saying, it's nonsense. Even if it is a god, that's still nonsense.”
“Ah, no… she wouldn't speak without thought……”
Chloe's eyes widened as if something had just occurred to her.
“Perhaps it is connected to where we are going now.”
“Where are you going?”
“The region where the plague is spreading. The goddess told me to go and save those who are being sacrificed innocently. To rescue the unfortunate souls who have become bait for death.”
“Bait for death.”
Plagues were sudden and deadly.
Jin Chen had barely paid them any attention until now.
Time and place… both seemed to match her words too perfectly.
Jin Chen smiled coldly and slowly stood up.
“I guess I have to deal with this Sibel guy first?”