The Bestowal
Unlike when Berik had been embedded in its forehead, the giant wolf’s eyes now shone with unmistakable intellect and clarity, gleaming like the morning star.
Though its fangs remained bared, the beast clearly harbored no intention to fight. Lowering its massive frame to bring its gaze level with mine, it resonated a voice directly into my mind.
—At last, we meet face to face. Arrangement of the Goddess.
"……"
Here I was bracing for Phase Two, only for the damn thing to strike up a conversation. Caught entirely off guard, I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.
"Well, look at that. A corpse that talks. Or were you never truly dead in the first place?"
Since I didn't sense an ounce of hostility, I answered with casual nonchalance. At that, the beast pulled the corners of its maw back even further, exposing a truly terrifying set of molars. A single tooth was the size of my entire torso. Are we sure this thing isn't hostile?
—You are sharp. How much have you deduced?
"Not a single solid fact. Just a bunch of guesses. If you're willing to explain, I'd appreciate the rundown."
—So I shall. Arrangement of the Goddess.
"First the World Tree, and now you. Just call me Alzen."
—Understood. Alzen.
There was a peculiar weight to the creature's steady, resonant voice—a calming cadence that naturally drew focus and settled the nerves. Finding it curious, I stared up at the behemoth and took a swig from my bottle. The giant wolf fixed its gaze intently upon the liquor.
Its massive pupils contracted to pinpricks as it stared with such burning longing that drinking alone suddenly felt awkward.
"What? You want a sip?"
—If possible. Though it feels shameless of me to ask.
"...At least you know you're being shameless."
When I shot him an annoyed glare and a sharp grin, the beast fell silent and offered a bitter smile. Of course, a wolf offering a bitter smile merely looked like a predator baring every lethal tooth in its jaw to threaten you.
"Go on and drink. I'm not petty enough to hoard booze."
—I thank you.
"Problem is, how the hell do I give it to you? Aside from the volume, you're the size of a mountain. I don't even know where to begin. Can't you shrink down a bit?"
I looked up at the colossal bulk, but the beast slowly shook its head.
—What I can accomplish in this state is limited. What power could a corpse possibly wield? This is merely a temporary vessel, a fleeting moment of sensation.
"Hmm. Guess I'll have to climb onto your skull and dump it in?"
"I'll do it. Hand over the bottles."
Weller suddenly chimed in, raising her staff with a prim, composed expression. Surprised by the offer, I stared at her, prompting her face to contort into a ferocious scowl.
"What? What are you looking at?"
"No... it's just, what's gotten into you, big sis? Volunteering for chores like this?"
"Back with the World Tree, I had to play dumb so I couldn't meddle, but now the cat's out of the bag, isn't it?"
"Ah, is that how it works?"
"Of course. Besides, who knows? If I score some brownie points right now, maybe a divine reward will fall into my lap."
It was such a shamelessly mercenary answer—thoroughly in character for her—that I chuckled softly and gave Muriel a nod. Without missing a beat, Muriel reached into the Subspace Pouch and smoothly hauled out armfuls of liquor bottles.
"Hup."
Pop-pop-pop-pop!
With a single sweep of Weller's staff, the corks blew out in unison with crisp, refreshing snaps. The liberated liquor flowed into the air like living liquid, weaving through the empty space.
"Whoa... Telekinesis?"
"Similar, but not quite. I'm simply enveloping the alcohol in mana and guiding its trajectory."
"...Looks like the exact same thing from where I'm standing."
"Ignorant bastard."
"……"
I shot her a sideways glance, but she merely snickered, utterly unbothered. Soon, a sphere of swirling alcohol roughly the size of my torso drifted upward and hovered over toward Kubel.
—My gratitude to you, clever child.
"...It is an honor, O deity who once walked upon the mortal realm."
"Look at you putting on airs."
Seeing Weller drape herself in polite, noble decorum made me snort in disbelief. She snapped her head toward me, glaring like a venomous viper as she silently mouthed, Shut up, before guiding the floating orb of liquor straight into the beast's maw.
Gulp!
Taking the torso-sized mass of liquor into its mouth in a single mouthful, the beast swished it around several times to savor the bouquet and flavor before swallowing it whole. Well, damn. He definitely knows how to drink. Back when he was alive, this guy must have been a legendary drunkard.
—Khhh...! Exquisite spirits. It has been an eternity since I partook of an offering, making this all the more precious and delightful.
"...Partook of an offering? That's a rather loaded choice of words."
Licking his chops with an enormous tongue, the beast nodded at my comment.
—This form is already dead, so consuming physical sustenance is mere imitation. However, thanks to the Saintess's holy power and the authority of the Demon King providing the bare minimum vessel, I am able to experience the taste and aroma.
"Hmm. Fascinating stuff."
Pondering his words, I struck a match, lit a rolled cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. Almost instantly, the beast flared its colossal nostrils and inhaled the drifting smoke, visibly relishing the scent. Just as I suspected—he enjoyed tobacco, too.
"This is getting amusing... Honestly, I'd love to sit down and have a proper drink with you."
—Regrettably, we do not have much time.
"Is that so? That's a real shame... Then shall we get down to business?"
—Of course.
"First of all... you're Kubel, right?"
—Indeed. Kubel, the Beast God—that is the name by which I am known.
"Right... Figured as much."
With his identity confirmed, I took another slow drag from my cigarette and spat the words out like grit between my teeth.
"So, why the hell did you pull that crap on me?"
—...I will not attempt to cloak my transgressions behind words like misunderstanding or error. The karma and the guilt belong entirely to me, and for that, I offer my deepest apology.
Kubel bowed his massive head so low his snout brushed the earth.
I squinted at him in exasperation. First the Goddess, and now Kubel—these divine beings were entirely too humble for their own good, and it was getting awkward. When an ancient god prostrates himself like this, hurling profanities at him just makes me look like the villain.
"...I'm gonna need an explanation."
—Originally, I had not the slightest intention of meddling in your life or guiding your choices. Yet, through twisted causality and diverted destiny, an unprecedented opportunity presented itself. To let such an occasion slip by would have been pure folly.
"Speak in plain English. Stop hiding behind bullshit about causality and destiny."
—Hmm. To put it in terms you might easily grasp... The journey that brought you to this point was made possible because the 'Bad Ending' predestined for this world was erased.
"...The predestined Bad Ending? You're saying that was set in stone?"
—It was. Originally, the culmination of this world was nothing but ruin and total annihilation. Yet now, the future is shrouded in thick fog, utterly unknowable. Due to that distortion, this corpse of mine—which should never have seen the light of day again—was dragged out from Annus's rotting storehouse. Thanks to that very twist, I have finally gained the chance to intervene in the material realm and bestow an offering upon you. All of this is your achievement, Alzen. A monumental stride worthy of praise from the gods themselves has begun, entirely because of you.
"An offering...?"
I tilted my head. In short, he was looking to give me something? Whatever it was, judging by his tone, it meant I was stumbling down the right path. While that brought a sliver of relief, my chest was still tangled in a messy knot of lingering anger and deep-seated distrust.
"...Is the Goddess involved in this too?"
—She is not directly involved, but she is fully aware. The Goddess also rejoices greatly at the prospect of granting you an offering.
"Can I assume you and the rest of the deities in the Divine Realm are all on the same side?"
—You may. We revere and extol your deeds. If necessary, we would willingly sacrifice ourselves for your sake.
"The flattery is flattering, sure... But how the hell am I supposed to trust your words? How do I trust any of you?"
—I can offer nothing more than a plea for your faith.
"Tsk... Fine, whatever. So what's this 'great opportunity' you were talking about? What are you trying to give me?"
—An opportunity to be of aid to you. An opportunity to etch my name into your glorious path.
"Would it kill you to just say it outright?"
The beast nodded, opening his massive jaws once more.
—Stanasila Alzen. Kang Han-gil. 'Hunt' this body.
"...Ha."
The moment the weight of his words registered, my hand moved instinctively to rub the right side of my chest. Engraved there was the primal outline of my Shamanic Ritual Tattoo, completely unfulfilled, waiting to absorb its first feast.
"You're telling me you want to be my 'prey'?"
—I am.
"Don't tell me you orchestrated this entire lunatic circus from the very beginning just for this?"
—I did.
"...Hijacking Demon King Annus's scheme couldn't have been a walk in the park. Not to mention humiliating as hell."
—It shaved away a portion of my divine origin, but I deemed it a necessary sacrifice. Besides, if this corpse was doomed to be exploited anyway, was it not far better for its true master to put it to worthy use?
"Relying on a mere mortal to this extent... aren't you ashamed to call yourself a god?"
—I have no excuses. Forcing such an unbearable burden upon your shoulders is our collective sin. I can only apologize.
"……"
I took another pull from the liquor bottle, staring unblinkingly into the beast's clear, untainted eyes to weigh the sincerity behind them.
"Mmph! Mmmph-mmmph!!"
Over in the corner, Berik was pinned flat by Muriel and Rebecca, thrashing about with bloodshot, bulging eyes. I ignored him entirely.
"Hmm... I still don't buy it. How can I possibly trust this? What if it's another trick? What if I hunt and absorb you, only for my mind and body to get hijacked by an ancient god?"
—I can only ask that you believe me.
"...You keep repeating that same damn line. As if that's supposed to convince anyone."
—Then... what if you place your trust in that which dwells within your left arm?
"What?"
The unexpected suggestion completely knocked the wind out of my sails.
"You want me to trust that lunatic bitch?"
I waved my left arm—wrapped tightly from wrist to shoulder in the Silk of Atonement—giving him an incredulous look. Kubel merely dipped his massive head in agreement.
"Are you seriously suggesting that? Weren't you two mortal enemies?"
—Mortal enemies, without a doubt... Yet, the Rubias of the present stands on your side. Her fascination with you has yet to cool. As such, she will move heaven and earth to preserve the integrity of your flesh and soul.
"...Well. That actually makes sense."
I didn't trust Rubias for a second, but I had absolute faith in her obsessive madness. If it meant keeping her favorite plaything intact, that crazy demon lord would tear through reality to protect me.
"...Fine. Let's do it."
—A wise decision.
"I can hunt you however I damn well please, right?"
A thoroughly wicked smirk spread across my face as I flashed the Absolute Ring Set gleaming on my fingers.
—...If possible, I would appreciate it if you could make it painless.
"Hate to break it to you, but that's entirely out of my hands... Besides, isn't this your chance to back up your pretty words? From a divine standpoint, consider it a trial."
—That... is fair. If this is the price required to earn your trust, it is a cheap bargain indeed.
"Glad you're prepared. No point wasting time, right? I'm starting right now."
—Come.
Focusing my consciousness on the Absolute Ring of Taunt, I unleashed its effect. Instantly, Kubel's eyes flared with blinding crimson light.
—ROOOOOAAAAR!
Shrouded in a terrifying mantle of aura—or perhaps pure divine authority—his massive claws ripped through the air at an imperceptible speed, hurtling straight toward my skull. But I had already triggered the Ring of Absolute Evasion.
Whooosh!
Phasing through the lethal strike with the ring's eerie, reality-bending evasion, I immediately invoked the Absolute Counter Ring, reflecting the force of his own strike straight back at him with precisely double the destructive power.
CRRRR-AAAAASH!
Three massive trenches ripped violently across Kubel's shoulder, spraying fountains of thick, pitch-black blood across the earth.
"Now then..."
This was where the real test began. Watching Kubel grimace in agony, I focused my mind once more and triggered the Absolute Ring of Taunt.
—ROOOOAAARGH!
Under the ring's inescapable compulsion, Kubel's eyes rolled back again, and he lunged with mindless ferocity.
"...Haha!"
The reset condition for the Absolute Ring Set depended entirely on the target's underlying hostility. If the target harbored genuine, deep-seated malice toward the wielder, the rings could not be triggered consecutively. But if the target bore no innate ill intent, the condition reset instantly, allowing the sequence to be executed over and over again.
In other words, Kubel truly harbored zero malice toward me.
"Impressive... Let's see if you can keep that pure heart until you drop dead, Kubel."
—KRRRR-AAAAAAH!
Flowing smoothly from the Ring of Absolute Evasion into the Absolute Counter Ring, I blasted his devastating strike straight back into his flesh. Without missing a single beat, I focused my intent back on the Absolute Ring of Taunt.
I had no intention of stopping until this ancient god was completely dead.