Chapter 562: God and Devil, and the Human Between Them (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 562: God and Devil, and the Human Between Them (1)
An archdemon threatening the throne of God.
The story was both thrilling and dizzying.
A demon could become a god?
As if reading my mind, her voice echoed.
[“A deal between a demon and a human over desire and soul. Is that not a common trope in the fictions spun by mortals?”]
[“Do you think they seek human souls merely for amusement?”]
That’s… probably not it.
[“The souls contained within not just humans, but all living things, possess great power. By devouring them, demons fill the void in their own status and aim for the throne of God.”]
So, Dantalion is raising his status by using the Im family as sacrifices?
[“Circumstantially, yes. Judging by the fact he's only dealing with a limited group, his condition must not be very good. This is a perfect opportunity.”]
"Not in good condition" meant his power wasn't at its peak.
In other words, the deal with the Im family was just a means to replenish the bare minimum of his strength.
Of course. The number of souls he'd need to devour to become a god must be countless.
So the fact that he was only making deals with the Im family must mean he wasn't yet ready to make a major move.
Good.
Perfect timing.
So I asked.
What are this Dantalion fellow's characteristics?
[“He possesses a book called the Book of Dantalion. It is a truly priceless treasure among treasures, containing the world's past, present, and future.”]
My expression hardened.
He knows the past, present, and future?
That meant he was seeing through this entire situation from right where he was.
How was I supposed to fight and win against a guy like that?
A quiet laugh trickled out from within me.
[“Hahaha… How unlike my Apostle. Are you getting scared before we've even begun?”]
…It’s not that I’m scared. If what you’re saying is true, then there’s nothing I can do, is there?
Her reply came.
[“As you say, the Book of Dantalion is indeed formidable. But doesn't it seem strange?”]
Strange… what is?
[“If he possessed such a magnificent item, shouldn't he have already claimed a throne for himself by now?”]
That’s… true.
To know the world’s past, present, and future was to be truly omniscient.
Why hadn't he become a god despite possessing such a broken ability?
It had to be one of two things.
Either possessing the Book of Dantalion came at the cost of his other abilities being pathetically weak…
Or… the Book of Dantalion wasn't as perfect as it seemed.
I heard her laugh again.
[“Hehe… As expected of my Apostle. I tell you one thing, and you figure out… well, not ten, but at least two.”]
That’s good enough for me.
Seeing as she was only praising me and not giving a straight answer, it looked like I'd have to find out for myself whether it was the former or the latter.
No problem.
Either way, I'd learned that he wasn't invincible.
After finishing my conversation with her, I turned to Chairman Im Cheol-ho, who had been standing there silently watching, and spoke.
“Alright. Let's try to break the curse placed upon your family, Chairman. But I have a condition.”
“Name anything.”
“The aftermath must be handled exactly as Na-eun wishes.”
It was what you'd call the price for a life.
Not that you can really put a price on a human life.
But if you had to, the more expensive, the better, right?
At the same time, I left him with a warning.
“If you break this condition… well, go ahead. If you don't mind the entire Im family being reduced to a pile of ash overnight.”
I was half-serious.
Wouldn't the world be better off without a family that had prolonged its own life by sacrificing its own members?
He flinched, then quickly nodded.
“I understand. I will do as my daughter says.”
“Good.”
I started walking again.
Then, a question popped into my head.
“By the way, Chairman.”
“Yes.”
“Why was Na-eun chosen as the sacrifice out of everyone? Was it because she was born out of wedlock, so she was more disposable?”
At that, Chairman Im Cheol-ho stopped walking, turned, and looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“…Na-eun is not an illegitimate child. She is my daughter, born of my wife and me, just like my other children.”
“Oh, um.”
…She wasn't?
“I understand. We raised her while hiding her identity, so it's no wonder you would misunderstand.”
He continued, his expression bitter.
“It was decided from the moment she was born. The instant my wife became pregnant, he told me. That the next deal would be for that child.”
“…Is that why you hid her? Because she was a child who would one day disappear?”
Im Cheol-ho lowered his head weakly.
“It is shameful, but yes.”
That made sense, now that I thought about it.
He could see the past, present, and future, after all.
It must have been written in that book.
Something like Im Na-eun's soul being the most nutritious or valuable.
Since they knew they'd have to give her up one day, they hid her identity and probably gave her less affection than their other children.
And they must have been strict with her.
“…So that’s why.”
Maybe that’s why her personality developed the way it did.
Her thirst for love must have grown over time, making her desperate to be loved in any way possible.
Poor thing.
I guess I'll just have to love her with all my heart from now on.
As her master, of course, just as I always have.
“Let's go.”
I quickened my pace.
After a silent walk down a long corridor, we reached a temple of magnificent size.
It felt similar to Gula's sanctuary.
But it was far more grotesque.
Sheesh, why did all these statues have different faces?
As we approached, the massive temple doors opened on their own.
Krrrrr…!
As if it knew I was coming.
Torches flickered on every pillar.
At the end of a path lined with a red carpet stood a being that was massive in many ways.
Both its body and its presence.
The most surprising part was its head.
“…Just how many are there?”
One, two, three, four… No, forget it.
I realized counting was pointless.
The shape and number of its constantly rotating heads were changing in real time.
He could probably create or destroy as many as he wanted.
Finally, a middle-aged man wearing a crown, who occupied the foremost position, opened his mouth.
“I have been waiting.”
Dantalion spread one arm in a welcoming gesture.
In his other arm, which he kept at his side, he held a massive book.
So that was the Book of Dantalion.
“You've done something interesting to this child's body.”
Where he pointed, Im Na-eun was suspended.
Chained by her arms and legs, she hung in the air, her slender neck bowed.
Is that any way to treat someone else's property?
I suppressed a surge of anger.
Anyway, something interesting… Did I do something to her body?
Gula's voice echoed.
[“Did you not place a mark on that child?”]
“Ah.”
Right. I did place the Stigma of Greed on her.
I remembered she'd said it was a way to prove someone was my follower.
[“As it happens, that mark seems to have interfered with his ritual. If not for that, the child would have been devoured long ago.”]
A chill ran down my spine.
To think the situation had been that critical.
I couldn't believe a mark I'd placed just to prove she was my woman would actually be helpful.
Dantalion spoke.
“This child's body was promised to me from the moment of her birth. Therefore, I shall give you an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“Withdraw the energy you have placed in her. Do so, and I will grant you one piece of knowledge you desire.”
“Knowledge, huh…”
For him to say it so smugly, it had to be something incredible.
Of course it would be; it was the power of a demon who could see the past, present, and future.
“Can you tell me anything I want to know?”
A smile formed on his lips.
“Of course. There is no knowledge that I, Dantalion, do not possess.”
Is that so.
I asked the self-assured bastard.
“How long do you think you're going to live?”
Because I'm thinking it ends today.
I asked out of pure curiosity.
But it seemed he didn't take it that way.
“Kekeke… For a mere human, you are far too confident.”
His benevolent-looking face twisted into that of a fiendish demon, radiating killing intent.
At the same time, his presence began to swell.
It was boundless. So deep I couldn't fathom where it began or ended.
It was enough to make one question if it was even plausible for a human to harbor thoughts of resisting such a being.
Of course, that only applied to ordinary humans.
“Hmm…”
Watching my opponent display his full presence, only one thought came to mind.
“This might be manageable.”
The feeling that this would be more manageable than I thought.
My opponent became enraged.
“I will tear you limb from limb.”
Hmm.
Looks like he has anger management issues.
* * *
Her mind was sound.
Her chained hands and feet ached a little, but that was all.
But she couldn't bring herself to lift her head.
Why…
Why did you come?
Didn't I already push you away once?
Didn't I firmly refuse your indirect offer of help?
But why…!
She despaired.
After facing the being called Dantalion, she had lost the will to live.
She had realized it.
That she had been chosen by that unknown being.
That from the moment of her birth, her life had been caught in a spider's web from which she could never escape.
So she chose the best option she had.
All I have to do is die alone…!
To die alone.
Because he was not a being a mere human could oppose.
She had tried so hard not to be a burden to others, especially to Kim Do-jin.
“Why on earth…!”
A pained groan filled with resentment seeped through her clenched teeth.
Someone answered her mutter.
“I brought him here.”
It was Im Cheol-ho, who had moved during the heat of the battle.
Her sharp gaze turned to her father.
“Why did you bring him? Did that monster say that one daughter wasn't enough for him?”
She had tried not to resent him.
But this time, she couldn't help it.
Because Kim Do-jin was more precious to her than her own life.
Im Cheol-ho answered calmly.
“It felt like fate. I thought that if it was that man… he might be able to sever our family's terrible curse.”
She scoffed.
“Ha…! You were the one who said no human could face that monster, Father. Have you already forgotten?”
“Yes. I thought so, too.”
He raised his index finger and pointed.
The battlefield, filled with the sounds of a human clashing with an unfathomable, unknown being.
Astonishment was written all over Im Cheol-ho's face as he watched.
“But… there is one. A human who can face that being.”
Sensing an unusual aura, she finally lifted her head.
And she saw it.
“Th-This is…”
The sight of a mere human facing off against an unknown being.
No.
“Keuk…!?”
It was the sight of him overwhelming it.
Pointing his sword at his opponent, he spoke.
“Hurry up and open your book, you bastard. Check and see how much time you have left.”
The sight of his boundless arrogance suited him perfectly.