Chapter 34 - I Am Not an Outer God
I Am Not an Outer God
Translator : Elizabeth
The sound of the Southern Admiral's fleet busily launching landing craft toward the shore echoed in the distance. However, Kang Jin-ho’s gaze was fixed on the Kraken visible beyond the broken walls.
"Kueooo..."
If he left this massive calamity as it was, the landing allied forces would surely be turned into a bloody pulp. Even if it was lighter than Mammoth Prime, it was still an ancient demonic beast. As its size suggested, its mass and raw strength were lethal weapons in their own right.
Whoosh—!
One of the Kraken’s long tentacles, which had been destroying its surroundings at random, finally appeared above where Kang Jin-ho stood. A massive shadow falling over the debris of the ceiling filled the space above him. It was the moment a house-sized sucker was about to crush the crown of Kang Jin-ho’s head.
Snap.
Kang Jin-ho reached out without even looking. The overwhelming mass possessed by the Kraken already meant nothing to him. The strength that had created the 'Flying Kraken' and the 'Kraken Missile' intercepted the tentacle with ease.
Kang Jin-ho lightly gripped the tip of the tentacle.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Kang Jin-ho’s low voice vibrated. In that instant, the Kraken’s massive pupils dilated as if they would pop out. A familiar sensation. No, it was the return of a fear engraved deep within its bones.
'Th-this...!'
The nightmare from a moment ago revived vividly in the Kraken’s mind. That overwhelming grip that had forcibly dragged it out of the sea to show it the sky. That absurd raw strength that had hurled it far away. The culprit was this tiny microorganism right in front of its eyes.
"Kie-kieeeek?!"
The Kraken shrieked. It was terror. The arrogance of viewing humans as microorganisms was long gone.
'That isn't a microorganism! That's a monster!'
Overwhelmed by survival instincts, the Kraken instinctively struggled to pull its leg back. But no matter how much strength it used, it was useless. Rather, the more it struggled, the more Kang Jin-ho’s fingers dug into the flesh of the tentacle, delivering horrific pain.
Tremble, tremble.
The Kraken’s mountain-like body began to shake like an aspen tree. It had never felt more regretful about not being able to speak human tongue. If it could speak, it would have slammed its head into the ground right now and begged, 'If you just spare me, I will live as your slave for the rest of my life.'
'This is a human? Nonsense!'
The Kraken wailed inwardly. During the hundreds of years it had been in a deep sleep, what on earth had happened on the surface? In the past, humans were nothing more than weak prey that fled in panic at the sight of a single one of its legs. But what was this individual before it now? This was a monster in a human mask—no, something even greater.
"Hmm."
Kang Jin-ho smacked his lips as he watched the trembling Kraken. His mind was filled with thoughts of how to handle the beast—or more accurately, 'how to cook' it.
"The seasoning might be a problem since it's so big."
He gauged the thickness of the tentacle. Just cutting one leg would provide enough for a feast for the entire South.
"Butter-grilled is the standard, but I have no idea how much butter would go into a portion this size. It might get greasy and tiring to eat."
His gaze turned toward the Kraken’s smooth mantle. It was a bizarre shape, a mix of a squid and an octopus, but in Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, it was just fresh seafood.
"As expected, squid should be eaten with chogochujang (vinegared red chili paste)."
Kang Jin-ho clicked his tongue. The food culture of this world wasn't bad, but it decisively lacked gochujang. That taste of dipping parboiled squid into spicy-sour red chili paste—the fact that he couldn't reproduce that nostalgic flavor made him depressed.
"Ah, damn it."
Homesickness felt like it was about to wash over him. Shaking off the feeling, Kang Jin-ho spoke.
"Tsk. I’ll have to give up on boiling and eating it. Should I just dry it and make jerky?"
Did the Kraken hear his muttering? As an ancient demonic beast, it possessed considerable intelligence. Thus, given the current atmosphere, it could understand that this monster was debating how to eat it.
The Kraken’s eyes shook even more violently. A predator that had never once been prey—it was now enveloped in the terror of a victim.
"Kieeeee..."
The Kraken desperately attempted body language. It twisted its remaining tentacles together and assumed the most pitiful posture possible. It was expressing with its whole body: 'I am fishy and taste bad,' 'I am tough,' 'Please just save me,' 'I will be your subordinate. I’ll be very useful.'
Of course, there was no way those gestures would work on Kang Jin-ho.
"What are you saying? Stop squirming like a live octopus and stay still."
Kang Jin-ho, looking annoyed, swung his other hand and struck the tentacle he was holding. As the impact spread through its entire body, the Kraken’s breath hitched in terror. Even though it was a light hit, the shock was no joke.
'Please, someone save me!'
And there were two people watching this bizarre spectacle: Verdo, the Guild Master of Charon, and Malak, the priest of the Followers of the Abyss. They were staring at Kang Jin-ho and the Kraken with dazed expressions.
"I-is that... even possible?" Verdo muttered, trembling.
Hundreds of years ago, the Kraken was called an irresistible calamity of the sea. Yet that very Kraken was now trembling as docilely as a scolded puppy. Furthermore, the Kraken’s reaction to looking at Kang Jin-ho was clearly one of utter terror.
"……."
Malak’s eyes darted quickly. He was a priest who had served an Outer God for many years. His common sense could not explain this situation. The multi-billion-gold curse made by breaking the Core of the Abyss hadn't worked. Physical attacks, the Outer God's curse, and even an ancient demonic beast were useless before this man.
'Can a human be like this?'
Even for a powerhouse who surpassed the realm of a Sword Master and was called the Fist Emperor, this was too much. If so, there was only one answer.
"Ah...!"
An exclamation burst from Malak’s mouth. He knelt like a seeker who had attained enlightenment.
"I see...! That was it!"
"Pr-Priest? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?"
"Guild Master! Open your eyes! Look at that person!" Malak pointed at Kang Jin-ho with eyes full of madness. "That person... is not human!"
"Pardon?"
"He is wearing a human body, but his essence is the Great Being we have been searching for so desperately! He is an Outer God!"
"An Ou-Outer God?!"
Verdo also gaped in shock. But thinking about it, all the puzzle pieces fit.
'The reason the curse of the Abyss didn't work? Thinking about it, it’s obvious! If he is the one who bestows the curse or an even higher existence! No, he is definitely the Outer God himself!'
The reason the Kraken was trembling in such fear was also explained. The ancient demonic beast had recognized the absolute predator.
'His martial power that transcends human common sense makes sense now!'
It was only natural because he was an Outer God, not a human.
"Ah... no wonder! How foolish we have been!"
Verdo also knelt following Malak. Terror instantly turned into blind awe. They firmly believed that the being they intended to serve had descended before their eyes. They couldn't accept this nonsensical reality otherwise. It was a terrible conclusion born of cognitive dissonance.
"O Outer God!"
"To think the Great Master of the Abyss has personally descended in a humble physical form!"
The two began to bow, slamming their heads against the floor.
"These lowly insects attacked their master without recognizing him! Please, have mercy!"
"Forgive our ignorance! Oh, Great Outer God!"
It was a sudden change of stance. Kang Jin-ho, frowning deeply at the loud noise, turned around. He had been contemplating squid recipes while holding the Kraken’s tentacle, only to have a cult meeting suddenly erupt behind him.
"What's with these guys? Have they suddenly gone insane?"
Kang Jin-ho was disgusted. The guys who had been foaming at the mouth to kill him just a moment ago were now bowing and pouring out praises.
'Outer God? Master of the Abyss? What kind of bullshit is this?'
What kind of ghost-story-nonsense was this? No, here, it should just be called bullshit.
"For crazy people, the rod is the medicine."
Kang Jin-ho raised a threatening fist. An ordinary person would have been terrified and fled or begged. But to the two who were already in 'Fanatic Mode,' even that threat was perceived differently.
"Ohhh! You are going to resolve our sins with the rod!"
"It is an honor! Please, purge our sins with a severe rod! O Outer God!!"
Malak, shedding tears, shoved his face toward Kang Jin-ho’s fist. He had never seen people work so hard to earn a beating. Kang Jin-ho was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even manage a hollow laugh.
'They really are crazy. They said they were fanatics, but they've lost their minds in a truly strange way.'
They were in no state to be reasoned with. Logic and threats do not work on fanatics with twisted convictions embedded in their brains. In that case, there was only one solution.
"Fine. Glad to hear it’s an honor."
Kang Jin-ho balled his fist. For those with whom conversation is impossible, physical therapy was the answer. The fact that 'the rod is the medicine' for crazy people remained unchanged.
"Then I’ll do as you wish. Stop talking and go to sleep."
Flick—!
Kang Jin-ho’s finger struck Malak’s forehead. It was a simple flick. He had the power to blow the head off, but he adjusted it just enough to knock him out.
"Kyuuuek!"
Malak fainted with a look of bliss, his eyes rolling back. Verdo, beside him, was also sparkling his eyes as if waiting for his turn.
"Please grant me the chance to atone through the rod as well...!"
"Yeah, you go to sleep too."
Flick—!
"Kueok!"
Verdo collapsed as well. In an instant, it became quiet inside the fortress. Once the two noisy fanatics were out, Kang Jin-ho shook off his hands with a much more relaxed expression.
"You should have been quiet from the start."
He turned his gaze to the Kraken, which was still watching him warily. Startled, the Kraken covered its own eyes with one tentacle and poked the bridge of its nose with the tip of another. It was an attitude that seemed to ask, 'Should I faint too?'
It seemed it was choosing to faint rather than die.
"Yeah, you’re noisy too, so go to sleep."
Kang Jin-ho slammed his fist into the bastard's glabella (?) once more.
Thwack!
"Kyuuuuuu..."
The Kraken, confirming that it wasn't being killed right away, slumped to the floor in relief. Finally, perfect silence arrived. Kang Jin-ho nodded with satisfaction.
"I’m telling you, the rod is the medicine."