Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Chapter 80 After Everything Ends
I first found a suitable alley where I could hide from the gazes of people around me.
I didn't want to be seen talking with Constellations.
And I used Odin's magic through Transcendence Limitless Path to completely block the surrounding sounds so that voices couldn't leak out.
'It's definitely convenient now that my divine authority has returned.'
If I tried to do the same thing with martial arts, it would take longer, and I could even be wiretapped by higher-level opponents, but with divine authority, there was no such worry with just a single click.
"First of all, everyone. To get straight to the conclusion, I have no intention of making any contracts right now."
Looking at how they proposed Apostle contracts instead of Constellation contracts, they all seemed quite heated up, but unfortunately, I had no intention of contracting with them at all.
'The moment I choose one of them, the rest will relatively lose interest. That won't do.'
I would need to form various relationships with more Constellations to be able to prevent the disaster that would come in ten years.
[Most of those from Pantheon and Pandemonium express disappointment.]
I knew this kind of reaction would come.
That's why I need to become a superstar.
"Of course, I mean 'right now' for the moment. My mind can change at any time. Contracts aren't only possible on the 11th floor, are they? And... aside from contracts, are there any Constellations who would like to invite me?"
At that question, countless invitation requests arrived again.
[Earth God invites you. Will you accept the invitation?]
[ Yes / No ]
[Zeus invites you. Will you accept the invitation?]
[ Yes / No ]
[Baal invites you. Will you accept the invitation?]
[ Yes / No ]
.
.
.
All the Constellations who had proposed Apostle contracts earlier sent invitations as they were.
'Is this some celebrity fan meeting or what?'
There were truly as many Constellations who wanted to meet Han Yeong-min as stars befitting that name.
But I couldn't meet them all.
To prevent indiscriminate meetings with Constellations, the Tower had set the number of meetings to five times per week.
So I had to select from these and postpone the rest for next time.
"I'm truly grateful that you all sent invitations, but there's a limit to the invitations I can accept. I'll select arbitrarily, so I hope those who aren't chosen can meet next time."
Using the new function given from the 11th floor, I block the gazes of all Constellations.
'Now I won't have to worry about being voyeuristically watched even when I don't want to show something.'
Indeed, up to the 10th floor, there was too little privacy except for the waiting room, which was problematic.
And the first one I chose from the received invitations was the invitation from Earth God, Estelle.
The moment I pressed yes, this time my main body didn't move spiritually but my vision changed as it was.
What I could see was Estelle's dwelling that I had visited in spirit form just before.
There, she was there with a very familiar and nostalgic face, but one that seemed somehow full of dissatisfaction with me.
She walked over step by step, grabbed my chin, then looked toward my lips and asked.
"...Did you enjoy it?"
"Uh..? What..?"
What could she be asking if I enjoyed, to someone who had just come from rolling around like crazy in Hell difficulty of the Testing Floors?
But the atmosphere around her was too dark and scary to ask about it in detail.
Incomparably more so than Necronomicon.
But I didn't need to ask because she continued with an explanation.
"I asked if you enjoyed kissing the clone that imitated me on the 8th floor of Hell difficulty so much. Just now."
First of all, I was definitely being obtuse, but I could instinctively realize what answer I should give here.
"No? I thought that might be the way to clear the trial, so I accepted it, but I didn't enjoy it at all."
Lies are bad, but sometimes you have to tell white lies.
"Is that really true..?"
"Of course."
When I said it without a moment's hesitation, this time she attacked from a different angle.
"Then are you saying that the kiss you had with me, perfectly implemented by the Tower, felt bad?"
"Uh... that's..."
'Which tune am I supposed to dance to here?'
Estelle had learned Taijiquan while I wasn't looking.
I had no idea how to deflect this, when Estelle burst into laughter and spoke.
"PUHUH... I'm joking. I know it wasn't something you did because you wanted to, so would I really do that?"
Estelle's joking skills had definitely improved a lot.
I thought it was UFC until just now, but this was WWE.
"WHEW... You surprised me. I was really flustered."
She opened her mouth with a quite serious attitude as if the joke was over.
"Actually, I felt very sorry for you while watching the 8th floor trial. You're just an ordinary human who wants to enjoy such daily life too, but I felt like I made you carry too heavy a burden."
Earlier I could feel it was somewhat a joke, but this time only sincerity was contained.
She was truly sorry to me.
Then I should also answer with sincerity, not as a joke.
"...To be honest, it would be a lie if I said it wasn't heavy. When you say that the lives of 7 billion Earth people depend on my shoulders, the pressure is no joke."
I don't intend to save everyone.
That's not something possible for me.
But my heart wants to save as many as possible.
Every time I make a little more effort, the number of people I can save keeps increasing, so I couldn't stop.
"Even aside from that, just trying to protect the people around me wouldn't be enough with my current level. I need the power to protect someone even while making enemies of the forces of countless gods."
I became much stronger by clearing Hell difficulty.
To the extent that I think I could somehow win even if dozens of me from before entering the Tower attacked simultaneously.
But even with this kind of strength, it was woefully insufficient to protect my people against the forces of countless gods.
'If it's just me surviving alone, it might be somehow possible.'
Thinking of the abilities I've gained so far, surviving selfishly alone might be possible.
But what meaning would there be in surviving in such a world?
Abandoning all Earth people, abandoning all my people and surviving alone would have no meaning at all.
A person can only be said to truly live when there are people who support them, who are with them.
I learned that living alone isn't really living while spending time alone in the tutorial.
'If all the people who passed through my life hadn't existed, I would have given up long ago.'
But there were people who stayed by my side.
"But this situation didn't arise because you wanted it, right? The Tower's laws forcibly brought Earth's members. And there are good things too. I met countless people I originally couldn't have met."
Baek Ran, Baek Ryeon, Estelle.
All the other people I met in the tutorial would have been people I originally couldn't have met.
But through the tricks of fate, we met like this.
The ordinary college student Han Yeong-min became a hero who could save countless people, and there were people who supported me until I became that way.
Among them, Estelle, who especially stayed by my side until the end, had to be more special.
74 years of life, and among them, she who shared 50 years with me.
"So don't feel sorry. Without you, I couldn't have come this far. And as you saw on the 8th floor, you're necessary for the daily life I want to enjoy."
This was my sincere heart.
What came out in the 8th floor trial wasn't just daily life.
Among countless figures, Estelle specifically appearing meant that her existence was that large in my unconscious.
There was no need to feel sorry at all.
"...If you think that way, I will also do my best to help you meet the daily life you desire."
Estelle's expression contained determination along with a small smile instead of sorry feelings.
"Yeah. That's enough."
When we're both looking in the same direction, there's no reason to feel sorry or anything.
"And what to do in daily life after that... we'll have to discuss after everything ends."
"We'll have to. Probably."
We want the same thing, but the time remaining for us to enjoy it was very tight.
The moment the plan fails, there would be only destruction for both me and her.
After 10 years, if we win, there will be truly a lot of time, so when that time comes, we'll be able to do everything we wanted to do.
"Still, a little should be okay."
I grab Estelle's hand and interlock our fingers.
She was momentarily surprised but didn't refuse my hand.
And leaning on each other's shoulders, we shared many stories about what we should do going forward.
"First of all, thanks to you Han Yeong-min, the number of people who made Constellation contracts with me have increased. And your companions also became my Apostles, so my divinity has risen a lot."
While talking, stories about companions also came up.
"Ah, did everyone clear the trials before me?"
Since the time spent in Hell difficulty was so long, it wouldn't be strange if other people had climbed to the 11th floor first.
"Yes. Yoo So-eun cleared Nightmare, Baek Ryeon and Baek Ran each cleared Supreme difficulty and received many rewards. And at this rate, I think I'll reach Highest-Grade God within 10 years too."
It was good news to hear.
Both that companions were succeeding and that Estelle was approaching Highest-Grade God.
The number of Earth people entering will keep increasing, so maybe she'll reach it in the not-so-distant future.
"My plan also seems to be progressing smoothly. While progressing through the Testing Floors, I found quite a few places that could be helpful besides the forces that were in the original plan."
Sichuan Tang Family, Shaolin, Elarion, etc. - quite a few people who might become my allies appeared.
"Then that's fortunate. But already time is like this..."
"I know. Why does time go by so fast?"
[Time remaining until return to residential space: 0 hours 0 minutes]
The time you can stay through Constellations' invitations is 30 minutes.
While sharing various stories, it had almost all passed by already.
"Please give me a hug before you go."
"Yes. Goddess."
Like we used to do in the tutorial, I embraced Estelle in my now larger arms.
Then she made a mischievous smile, grabbed my neck, pulled my head down, and pressed her lips to my mouth.
CHURUP.
And going one step further, she lightly mixed tongues, then looking at me who was dazed, she pulled away her lips and whispered lightly in my ear.
"...To be honest, I was jealous. Of my clone."
At the same time as those words ended, my vision changed and I was back in the residential space.
"Uhuh..."
'She said she'd do it after everything ends, but she makes such a sudden acceleration..?'
I really don't understand even when I think I do.
A woman's heart.