Chapter 549: Burning(5)
Chapter 549: Burning(5)
I returned to the mansion to greet my parents and, at the same time, to ask Grandfather Clark to oversee Kate’s training.
My parents let out a sigh of relief the moment they saw I was perfectly fine. I suppose they couldn't help but worry, given how precarious the situation had been.
They were also quite startled to see Ariel, who had returned with me. It was only natural, considering a child who looked five had suddenly grown into a ten-year-old.
Still, once they realized Ariel was an angel, they brushed it off, figuring such things were possible for her kind.
Afterward, they fussed over me as usual, asking if I was hurt anywhere and telling me to contact them immediately if I felt any discomfort.
Accepting their greetings filled with love and sincerity, I went to find Grandfather Clark.
As I mentioned, my plan was to ask him to train Kate, and he readily accepted.
Apparently, he had been itching to intervene because Kate had more than a few shortcomings. He seemed quite pleased that I had bridged the gap for him.
[My funeral keeps getting pushed further away.]
"Talk to me after you put down the Baduk stones."
[Ahem. Ahem.]
"Grandfather, would you like to play a match with me?"
[Oh! I’d love that.]
While Grandfather Clark and Ariel played their match, I headed toward the Temple of Mora.
As everyone knows, our territory houses both the Temple of Luminous and the Temple of Mora.
In fact, the territory itself is so close to being a sanctuary that committing a crime is nearly impossible, and Demon Worshippers can't even approach it.
In this vast world, the Maishal Territory is the one place where I can roam to my heart's content.
"Meow! Meee-ow!"
"Woof! Woof woof!"
"Chirp! Chirp chirp!"
However, the moment I stepped outside, I was bombarded with a relentless barrage of affection from animals.
At the dormitory, only birds had clung to me, which was manageable, but now all sorts of animals were swarming.
Cats and dogs were a given, and even the sparrows sitting on the roofs joined in. Fortunately, there were no rats.
That was thanks to the strict hygiene management implemented once the Maishal Territory was designated as a cultural city.
"Hey, guys. Could you give me some space? I'm actually quite busy."
"Mew!"
"Bark! Bark bark!"
Of course, they didn't care. Every animal passing by was too busy trying to snuggle up to me.
A cat had already claimed the top of my head with an impressive jump, and small, cute sparrows had perched on my shoulders.
Finally, a puppy was clinging to my leg as if begging to be picked up. It was a sight you wouldn't easily see anywhere else.
[Pet me! Pet my head!]
[This place is really comfortable. I shall make this my home from now on.]
[Want to sing together? It’ll be fun!]
Those were the voices of the dog, the cat, and the sparrows, respectively. Even with their voices ringing out all at once, it didn't make my head spin.
In the end, I gave up and headed toward the Temple of Mora. I just picked up the puppy that wanted its head patted and carried it with me.
It was lucky that I liked animals; if I were someone who hated them, I would have probably had a fit.
"Isn't that Lord Isaac?"
"I think so... Did he always keep so many pets?"
"That's strange. That cat usually hates being touched by people."
I could hear the residents whispering at the bizarre sight I presented.
Even though they were whispering from a distance, it was as vivid as if they were right next to me. I wasn't sure if this was also an effect of my divinity.
Still, this appearance kept people from approaching me easily. If I had boarded Line 1 in Seoul looking like this, I probably would have been dubbed the "Druid Guy."
"I'm going into Lady Mora's temple now. You guys aren't going to follow me in, right?"
[Tch.]
[You have to come back soon!]
[Let's go over there.]
As I arrived in front of the Temple of Mora, the animals seemed to take the hint and finally detached themselves from me.
The cat on my head landed lightly on the ground, and the puppy hopped down on its own after licking my face a few times.
Finally, the sparrows that had been singing on my shoulder flew away, and I was finally a free man.
I watched the animals go their separate ways with a complicated expression, then let out a sigh and stepped inside the temple.
Because I had been showered with love by the street animals, I had no choice but to wash up before proceeding.
[...Hello?]
'Hello.'
This was my first meeting with Mora since the Ascetic Incident. As soon as we connected, she greeted me in a cautious voice.
I calmly accepted her greeting, which was thick with complex emotions. As time had passed, my hostility toward her had long since vanished.
So, I wanted to tie up loose ends properly and move toward a mutually beneficial relationship.
Since I planned to write a book based on the gods' past soon, I needed to slowly solidify my relationship with Mora.
'I assume everything has been fine? Aside from getting scolded by Lord Hirt.'
[Yeah... nothing much happened.]
Her tone was completely different from usual. Her voice was much lower, and she was clearly walking on eggshells.
It seemed it would take a long time for her to return to her old, lively, and mischievous personality.
Still, I felt relieved that she seemed to feel genuinely sorry. At least it didn't seem like I would be disappointed.
'Don't be too discouraged. I said some harsh things to you as well. While it might be hard to treat you exactly like before, I do like your lively personality, Lady Mora.'
[But... I caused you harm. If the God of Earth hadn't protected you, we might have done something even worse.]
'Hearing you say that actually makes me feel more at ease.'
I had thought about that myself—that they might have done something worse if the God of Earth hadn't protected me.
But that didn't happen, and they were deeply reflecting on it. Even if they had tried, Hirt would have desperately stopped them.
Rather than dwelling on this any longer, I needed to focus on practical matters.
'Just be careful from now on. Understood?'
[Yes. I'll be careful.]
'Then...'
Shall we dive into the main topic? First and foremost, the story of Luminous and King Morgan.
Since Mora likely knew what had transpired between them and me, I asked the core question first.
'You've given your permission as well, right? For me to write a novel based on your past.'
[Yes. You can write whatever you want. My brother and I will assist you with all our hearts.]
'Are you really okay with that?'
It was the same question I had asked Luminous. To the people of this world, the gods' past would be a source of terror and shock.
Not only did they commit acts of disgrace to family morals, but they also destroyed the world once. In my previous life, such things were common in mythology, but not here.
If handled poorly, it could severely shake people's faith. From the gods' perspective, it was something they should normally want to stop at all costs.
[It's fine. From the moment science develops and people begin to traverse the seas, they will naturally seek the truth. Just like the Kingdom of Gerios did in the past.]
'And then the Demon War broke out. Could it be that this time as well...'
[That won't happen. That bastard Morgan... Ahem. Ahem. Sorry.]
Mora cut herself off mid-curse.
Just what did King Morgan do to earn such poor reviews from both Luminous and Mora?
He was a remarkable figure in his own way. It was a wonder he managed to remain in the living world even as an earthbound spirit.
[King Morgan accused us of abandoning the kingdom, but it wasn't quite like that. You know we ordered the elves to send an envoy, right?]
'Yes. I heard they were told to abandon sorcery and embrace magic and religion.'
[King Morgan refused for political reasons. At the time, sorcery was the heart of the Kingdom of Gerios. Besides, we had exhausted our strength suppressing the rebellion of the angels.]
The ancestors of the elves—the angels—had committed a sin, torn off their own wings, and fallen to the earth.
Actually, that was a setting I had put into the Xenon Biography, but most people believed it. I realized once again how strong my influence was.
It was also true that the angels had rebelled. According to Mora's explanation, the angels also had a god they believed in.
During the War of the Gods, Luminous had annihilated most of the gods, which triggered the rebellion. Even then, they were split into two factions.
Those who wanted to drive out the gods, and those who wanted to protect them. Naturally, the latter won and became the elves.
'Are angels really that strong? Strong enough to drive out the gods?'
[There were gods who survived even after the war. My brother's power became so overwhelming that another war broke out.]
It was a phenomenon that frequently occurred in human history—civil war breaking out to check a power that had become too strong after a war.
The problem, however, was that Luminous was the God of War.
'Could those gods also be...'
[Those gods weren't completely annihilated. They were the gods who created the beastkin and the dwarves—my younger siblings. As long as the beastkin and dwarves don't go extinct, their divinity remains valid. It's just that their followers don't know they exist, so they can't gain power.]
In that case, just how strong was Luminous, who had even slaughtered the followers? He had succeeded in a project that even Nazi Germany had failed at.
[Fortunately, my brother came to his senses then and settled for erasing the records. Otherwise, the beastkin and dwarves would have...]
'...'
[I like my brother the way he is now. Back then... his eyes were rolled back with rage and hatred. Even I, the Goddess of Peace, couldn't stop him.]
War and peace are like oil and water, yet they coexist. The fact that even Mora couldn't stop him meant the situation was dire.
The madness of war that even the Goddess of Peace couldn't halt. I wondered what exactly had driven Luminous into such madness.
'...May I ask why he was like that?'
[I'll... explain that slowly. It's a very complicated story. Above all, the Father of the Sea—our father—was also a kinder and more mature person than anyone at first. Until the God of Earth arrived, that is.]
'...'
It might have been my imagination, but I felt a faint trace of anger from Mora when she mentioned the God of Earth.
It was understandable. They were living perfectly fine when an outsider suddenly showed up and provided the source of all their troubles.
They were like the Europeans who crossed over to the Americas. If they had helped each other, it would be one thing, but they had dropped off an ideology worse than a disease and vanished, so it was natural to be furious.
'...Can you not say anything about this part?'
[I told you. If you look at the root of it, the reason you were brought here is because of the Earth gods. The Earth gods reflected on this, which is why they didn't invade.]
It was quite a sight to see them all screwing each other over. The fact that they were so human was a bonus.
'But if the God of Earth could cross over to this world, does that mean you all can cross over to other worlds as well?'
[For now, only Earth is possible. And even then, we need permission from the other side. For us to explore unknown worlds, we absolutely need the help of mortals. We need the population to grow and science to advance so we can reach into space. The mortals' field of vision is our field of vision.]
'I think I understand, but I also don't.'
Earth's population had long surpassed 7 billion, and space flight technology had developed extremely rapidly through the Cold War.
There were still many shortcomings, but from the gods' perspective, it must be more than just impressive—it must be adorable.
I realized once again just how powerful the Earth gods were.
'Then, coming back to the present, Lady Mora, you know what kind of problem I'm facing, right?'
[That cat from earlier was cute. Why didn't you bring it with you?]
'Don't try to change the subject. Can you explain it to me? I feel like I've become a druid.'
Being a druid was one thing, but the lack of control was the bigger issue. It was incredibly distressing to have all sorts of animals clinging to me every time I went outside.
It was highly likely due to the 'Pure Authority' I received through Hirt, but I wondered if there was another reason.
Moreover, I was curious about how the Earth gods were reacting. In my dream, they had clicked their tongues, saying my very essence had changed.
'Before that, you didn't try to feed it to me on purpose, did you?'
[Absolutely not. That was strictly an accident. Didn't you also try to return the divinity to me?]
I asked just in case she had some other motive, but Mora answered instantly. She sounded slightly aggrieved.
Since they couldn't read my future, the gods had no choice but to treat it as a major accident.
Ariel was also a child with a clear sense of self, not just a servant following the gods' orders.
She had simply fulfilled her duty as an Unfilial Daughter of Fire(...); it wasn't as if someone had intervened.
[Anyway, the reason animals are clinging to you is, as you suspected, because of the authority Mother gave you—the Pure Authority. It's already an authority that is loved by nature, and now that divinity has been added to it...]
'Is there no way to control it?'
[Unfortunately, there is no way to control it. It's the same principle as how a god's descent to the mortal realm always leaves a significant impact on the surroundings.]
Does that mean I have to live being loved by animals for the rest of my life? I felt a sense of dread.
Being loved by animals wasn't bad in itself. As I said, I liked animals.
The problem was them snuggling up to me at all times. I wasn't some Pied Piper, and it was inconvenient to be dragging all sorts of animals around.
[It's not that there's no way at all. It would be fine if Mother took the authority back. But you're not going to do that, are you?]
'No.'
[Then it might not be a bad idea to raise a reliable and strong pet so that other animals can't easily approach. Something that would keep them at a distance.]
'Hmm...'
Hearing Mora's explanation reminded me of when I visited the Navy Knights. Leo, the base tiger, who frequently hunted monsters.
It wouldn't be bad to have a tiger the size of a house by my side. But it felt wrong to take away a precious comrade from the Navy Knights.
In the end, I had no choice but to think about it slowly. I might as well enjoy it for a while, since I could talk to the animals.
'I'll have to think about this slowly. It's not something that can be solved immediately.'
[Do that. Oh, there is one thing. Wait a moment.]
Just as I was about to move on to the next topic, Mora spoke up as if she had remembered something. Then, there was a long silence.
It seemed she was going to ask someone else for their opinion. Was it information so precious that it required consultation?
Around the time I was thinking that, as soon as we reconnected, she spoke.
[I mentioned it earlier, didn't I? That there were the creators of the beastkin and dwarves, my younger siblings.]
'Yes. You did.'
[I'll tell you more in detail when you write the book later, but originally, beastkin could transform into animal forms.]
'Really?'
It was the first time I had heard this. I was startled and focused on her words.
[Yes. Just as divine power is used for various abilities, beastkin could use divine power to transform into animal forms. But when the angels rebelled and the divinity weakened, the beastkin lost that ability as well.]
'Hmm...'
[If the beastkin find their god again, it might be possible for that child, Leona, to transform into an animal. But it's better to talk about that when the time comes.]
Since they had already decided to be in the same boat as me, the gods were freely revealing the truths they had hidden. Thanks to that, I could trust them a little more.
Anyway, to think that beastkin could transform into animals. The more I peeled back the layers, the more fascinating things popped out.
If Leona were to transform into an animal, she would naturally turn into a lion. And lions are widely known as the king of beasts.
Since her own martial prowess was already considerable, things would become easier in the future.
'I understand. It's not something that can be done right away.'
[That's right. Is there anything else?]
'Anything else... I'm curious about how the Earth gods are reacting...'
[I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that. Opinions are still divided even now. At the very least, it's nothing you need to worry about.]
She was firm about this part, if nothing else. I smacked my lips in disappointment.
Instead, the old man called the Supreme God in my lucid dream had said we would see each other soon, so it wouldn't take long.
'That's a relief then. I was worried the Earth gods might be furious.'
[From Earth's perspective, your soul's status has risen, so it's not entirely a bad situation. Any other questions?]
'Not really, but... can you tell me if anything is happening to those around me?'
The gods couldn't see my future. But they could see the future of those around me.
Of course, their futures also changed fluidly based on my choices, but at least a 'choice' was possible.
[Hmm... there's nothing immediately dangerous. The problem is that child, Mari...]
'...Mari?'
Was something going to happen to Mari, whom I planned to propose to? My heart felt like it was sinking.
As if reading my mind, Mora eased my worries in a slightly hurried tone.
[It's not that a big problem will occur. It's just... I don't know if you'll be able to overcome your desires then.]
'Ah. I'm expecting that much.'
If I propose, we'll obviously be all over each other. I had already reserved a place with that in mind.
I planned to spend a night that would be no less than a first night—a night so burning that everything would be reduced to ashes.
However, I would definitely use contraception. It would be troublesome for both of us if she had an unplanned pregnancy.
At the very least, I wanted to have a sweet honeymoon first.
[Hey.]
'Yes?'
[That... no. I shouldn't.]
But Mora's reaction was strange. It was the reaction of someone who had a lot to say but couldn't bring themselves to say it.
I raised an eyebrow at that. I wondered if this woman—no, this goddess—was truly reflecting.
[It's not like that. It's because that one choice will significantly shift the axis of the future. As much as your status has risen, I can give you advice, but I cannot 'force' a choice on you.]
'Force? You've never forced me before.'
[It's because it's advice that borders on force. Regardless, you'd better choose well. Do you understand?]
I gave a lukewarm reply to Mora, who was speaking with a stronger tone than before.
'...I'll follow Mari's choice.'
[Do that. It's not bad to leave yourself to fate. That child, Mari, will be overjoyed as well. No matter which choice you make, it's a fate that will make her happy, so don't worry.]
'Then it's fine.'
As long as Mari was happy, that was enough.