Chapter 546: Burning(2)
Chapter 546: Burning(2)
What does a god need most to exist?
Overwhelming divine power?
Authority that transcends magic?
The holiness that symbolizes that god?
No. What a god needs most to exist is none other than the 'faith' of their believers.
If no one believes in a god, that god's existence becomes meaningless.
Even a god famous for being a cruel tyrant must first make their existence known.
Therefore, even if all other conditions are met, a god cannot exert any influence without the faith of their followers.
So, what happens when those things—excluding faith—dwell within the body of a mortal?
In such a case, one of two things happens. First, the mortal's body cannot withstand it and they pass away.
"Cough! Cough! Ugh..."
Second, they have to endure every kind of hardship imaginable to fully digest it. Fortunately, I belonged to the latter.
Last time, while I was talking to Luminous, Mora barged in, causing me to suffer from what is commonly called 'divine fever.'
It was a fever caused by the clashing divinities of two gods. But this time was different.
I had directly consumed a 'divine fragment'—albeit a small one—that had come from Mora herself.
Divinity is the concentrated essence of divine power. Shoving an amount of divine power that a mortal can hardly handle all at once into a vessel is dangerous.
While it was the same divine fever, the symptoms lasted much longer than before, and I felt as hot as if I were submerged in lava.
If I weren't someone favored by the gods, or if I hadn't received pure authority from Hirt, I would have left this world long ago.
I really feel like I'm going to die...
It wasn't an exaggeration. Having suffered from this fever for a full fortnight, I felt like I might return to the gods' embrace at any moment.
If that happened, the gods of Earth would see it as their chance and invade this world. From the perspective of the gods here, they had to do everything in their power to ensure my soul didn't depart.
"Are you alright?"
"No..."
"Just bear with it a little longer. Your fever has subsided a lot compared to the first day."
Just like Kate, who had rushed over to nurse me the moment she heard the news. She placed her hand on my burning forehead and made various diagnoses.
Today marked exactly two weeks since I became bedridden. According to Hirt, it would take a fortnight to digest, so it should be over soon.
I can't even describe how much I suffered during that time. The pain was one thing, but I couldn't even release my stockpiled chapters, let alone write anything new.
"Lady Cecile. Has Lady Mora said anything?"
Kate, who had been examining me with dejected eyes, turned her head and asked Cecile.
Just as Kate was favored by Luminous, Cecile was a believer favored by Mora.
Furthermore, since the divinity I consumed belonged to Mora, it wasn't strange for her to be by my side nursing me.
"...As I told you before, even the gods cannot read Isaac's future. In other words, no one knows what will happen."
"Can you not tell me why Isaac's future cannot be read?"
Through this incident, Kate also learned that the gods could not glimpse my future.
However, the detailed reasons were not disclosed to her. It seemed to be because, unlike the other women, Kate had not yet been joined with me.
"...It's difficult right now. Not until you are fully connected with Isaac, Lady Kate."
"Even though I have sworn to receive his seed?"
"..."
At Kate's words, Cecile looked down at me with somewhat terrifying eyes. I forced out a cough in response.
I had no choice; I had delivered the finishing blow after carefully building up to it. Besides, I needed her for my future works.
Moreover, there were already more than one or two women I was connected with. Realizing this, Cecile let out a sigh and answered quietly.
"I will tell you then. For now, Isaac's condition is more important."
"Yes. I understand."
In fact, thanks to their devoted care, I was able to overcome several dangerous moments. There were times when my fever momentarily spiked over 40 degrees Celsius.
My body even coughed up blood because it couldn't withstand the divinity. I believe I fainted several times back then.
I was able to survive until now because they stayed by my side 24 hours a day without leaving.
I think I heard that sex wouldn't help because I consumed divinity...
I thought I heard something like that. While the previous divine fever could be alleviated through sexual intercourse, it wouldn't work this time.
Kate had explained that because such a massive amount of divine power was being transferred, it might just result in having two patients instead of one.
It sounded absurd when I heard it, but it also meant it was just that dangerous.
"Papa..."
In my delirium from the high fever, a small voice squeezed into my ear.
I managed to turn my head through my dizzy mind. Though my vision was blurry, red hair and golden eyes that looked exactly like mine shone clearly.
The culprit behind all of this, yet a sweetheart I couldn't possibly hate: Ariel. She was looking at me from the edge of the bed with a worried gaze.
Even as cold sweat poured down my face, I forced the corners of my mouth up the moment I saw her.
"What is it, Ariel? Do you have something to say to Papa?"
"..."
Despite my question, Ariel only hesitated and didn't say a word. It was understandable.
She was the one who had embedded divinity into a cookie just to make me happy. Looking at that alone, she was a literal unfilial daughter of fire.
However, the problem was that she had touched someone else's property without permission. Even if it was for my sake, it was undeniably a morally wrong act.
So, as soon as I collapsed, she was scolded severely by Mari. I heard she received discipline for over three hours.
On top of that, she was punished by having to kneel with her hands raised high. I heard Ariel cried her eyes out after realizing the gravity of the situation.
I should have seen her crying; it's a shame I missed it. Still, she'll grow from this experience, so I suppose it's fine.
"...Papa."
"Yes."
"Is there anything Ariel can do to help?"
I gave a weak smile at her cute suggestion. I wanted to say yes, but I refused.
"Are you going to pour cold water on Papa's face again?"
Last time I said yes, she poured a whole bucket of water on my face. Since my body was as hot as fire, she thought pouring cool water would solve it.
It was also dangerous when they were changing the sweat-soaked blankets and sheets. She almost knocked me off the bed because she failed to control her strength.
Other than that, she tried to put cookies in my mouth instead of nutritious food, and so on. She truly showed off her 'unfilial daughter of fire' traits.
She stopped taking direct action after getting scolded by Mari each time, though.
"No... it's just... Papa's body is hot."
"It is."
"But Ariel's body is normal... so wouldn't it be okay if I hugged you?"
She had a point. The divine fever I was suffering from wasn't a plague, so there was no risk of contagion.
The same went for any potential transfer of divine power. She wasn't a mortal; she was an angel—a transcendent being.
Besides, the fortnight Hirt mentioned was just around the corner. Since the crisis had passed, I could accept that much affection.
"No. Papa is very sick right now, so Ariel, don't do anything."
Just as I was about to give permission, Mari appeared and stopped Ariel.
Perhaps because of the havoc Ariel had wreaked so far, Mari was stopping her actions whenever possible.
Ariel knew that, so she didn't protest much. She only pleaded with Mari in a begging voice.
"...Not even a hug?"
"No. What did Mommy say? Helping someone when you don't know what you're doing can actually cause harm."
"..."
"Papa will be better by tomorrow anyway. So let's go."
Mari put her hands under Ariel's armpits. Knowing what she had done, Ariel let herself be picked up without a word.
"No. It's okay."
"Isaac?"
"I'll sleep with Ariel today."
"...Papa?"
I gave my permission just before Mari could carry Ariel away. Both mother and daughter blinked and stared at me.
As Mari said, I was expected to be fully recovered by tomorrow anyway. Nothing major was going to happen in the meantime.
With that, I barely managed to lift the blanket to make space for Ariel to climb in.
"Now's my chance!"
Ariel scurried inside. She wiggled around under the covers before her head suddenly popped out.
Naturally, our faces were close together. My own face was reflected like a mirror in Ariel's golden eyes.
"Hehe. Papa."
"Yes, yes."
Ariel rubbed her cheek against mine, making happy little noises. I responded with a loving smile.
Seeing us like that, Mari put her hands on her hips and then chuckled as if she couldn't help it.
Kate and Cecile, who were nursing me, were the same. They watched us with the warmest smiles.
Ariel was truly a child you couldn't hate even if you wanted to. Who could hate this lovely child, even if they had to scold her?
"Sigh... it is a nice sight, though. Fine. Mommy loses."
"Thank you, Mommy."
"But you can't cause trouble like last time, okay?"
"Okay!"
Ariel hugged me tightly as she said that. I already felt like the wind was being knocked out of me.
Regardless, Ariel clung to me, pouring out all the affection she had been holding back.
Since I didn't even have the strength to lift a finger, I received her charms to my heart's content.
I'm getting... sleepy...
Even though the sun was still high, my sense of time was a mess due to the high fever. My eyes slowly began to close.
The people nursing me seemed to realize I was falling asleep and quickly became quiet.
Ariel also just stayed stuck to me like a barnacle, without calling out to me or being noisy.
When I get better... I'll send out the stockpiled chapters first... and then... to Mari...
My consciousness sank further and further, and soon, it vanished completely.
*
I don't usually dream often. Dreams occur during light sleep, not deep sleep.
Lately, I've been so busy that once I fall asleep, I rarely wake up.
Perhaps that's why my lovers often hug me or play pranks on me while I sleep.
If you're wondering why I'm saying this, it's because it felt like I was having a 'lucid dream' right now.
I had a lucid dream when I met Grandfather Clark, but never once since then.
Moreover, the lucid dream I was having now was different from that time.
[What do you intend to do now! Because you snatched a soul from our world, the natural order has been thrown into chaos! If you have something to say, speak!]
An old man with a full beard shouted, his face obscured by a light so bright it was blinding.
Uniquely, that roar didn't come from his mouth but felt as if it were delivered directly into my head, a bizarre resonance.
Furthermore, two people stood beside the old man, both with appearances that seemed familiar.
Though their faces were hidden by the light, one had shoulder-length hair, and the other had short, curly hair.
Finally, all three wore loose-fitting clothes and exuded an aura that naturally commanded awe.
[What that soul was meant to do was like a ripple caused by throwing a stone into a calm lake. That small ripple was destined to become a giant wave and swallow the world.]
[But since the soul that was to cause that ripple has crossed over to that side...]
Hmm. I couldn't understand a word they were saying. But I could tell it was something serious.
In this incomprehensible situation, I shifted my gaze to where the three were looking. Three people were standing on the opposite side.
No. I wasn't sure if they were standing or floating in the air. Regardless, they stood there with dignity.
Wait, those people are...
I felt like I'd seen them before. No, beyond seeing them, I had met them.
The Mother of Nature, who seemed like the personification of nature itself: Hirt.
The Goddess of Darkness and Rest, reminiscent of a dark and beautiful night sky: Mora.
And finally, the God of Light and Hope, reminiscent of brilliant sunlight: Luminous.
Even though their faces were obscured by light, I could tell who they were instantly.
Why am I having a dream like this... Don't tell me those people...
It was just as I was unable to get a handle on anything due to the confusing situation.
[Hmm? Supreme God. Look over there...]
[What is it? Hmm?]
The gods who had been roaring and expressing their dissatisfaction turned their heads toward me. The moment our eyes met, my body began to tremble involuntarily.
Then, the old man with the full beard let out a sigh and muttered words I couldn't understand.
[To think you would go so far as to change the very rank of his soul. Child.]
Then, the old man reached out his hand and spoke in a firm voice.
[Let us meet again soon.]
At that moment, my consciousness in the dream plummeted downward.
"..."
I blinked. Currently, only the dark ceiling filled my vision.
It had been so vivid that I couldn't tell if the dream just now was a lucid dream or just a random one.
Above all, nothing hurt. All the pain that had tormented me for a fortnight had vanished, and my body felt so light I felt like I could fly.
...Am I all better? But what was that dream just now?
After blinking for a while, I slowly sat up. Looking outside, the curtains were completely covering the windows.
It was a dark space where not even moonlight could pass through. But strangely, my vision was as clear as if it were morning.
Normally, it would take a long time to adjust to the darkness, but there was none of that. It was just bright.
What is this? Is it because of the divine power?
I rubbed my eyes a couple of times and then suddenly felt a presence beside me and looked over.
"Zzz..."
Ariel was fast asleep. Come to think of it, she had been hugging me before I fell asleep.
I stared at her sleeping cutely and then chuckled. Then, I slowly lifted my head.
"Mmm..."
Mari, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion while nursing me, was sitting in a chair. It seemed it had been her turn for the night watch.
But unlike Cecile or Kate, Mari was just an ordinary person. An ordinary person who was far from any kind of rigorous training.
She must have volunteered for the night watch to nurse me somehow, but it must have been physically taxing for her. That made her even more precious to me.
First, since my body is all better, I should tidy things up.
I moved carefully, fearing I might wake Ariel. I started by straightening the blankets.
But something was strange.
...Was Ariel always this big?
I had the illusion that Ariel looked bigger than before I went to sleep. No, she actually was bigger.
I carefully lowered the blanket and checked Ariel's overall appearance.
Perhaps because I had fully digested the divinity, my vision was clear even in the dark night, as if it were morning.
"...Huh?"
I couldn't help but widen my eyes. She really had grown. Her entire frame.
Ariel, who hadn't looked older than five, had now grown to be around ten years old.
"Mmm..."
While I was wondering what on earth had happened, Ariel, sensing my presence, woke up.
"Yaaaawn..."
She let out a long yawn as she woke up. She still seemed sleepy, as she blinked her eyes repeatedly.
"Mmm... Huh? Papa?"
Ariel called out to me with a groggy face. I didn't say anything and just stared back at her.
"When did you wake up?"