Chapter 99
Chapter 99
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Antichrist
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A massive explosion erupted right in front of me.
Fortunately, no one at the airport, including myself, was hurt.
"Whew, good thing I came prepared."
Just before the blast, I'd taken off the coat I was wearing and used it as a shield.
Originally a bulletproof vest, but modified with an enhancement potion into a Defensive Coat, it blocked the explosion perfectly.
'From my tests, it could withstand up to a ton of TNT, right?'
The Antichrist's suicide attack didn't pack even that much punch.
My knowledge had grown.
'Lucky it was in the corner.'
I'd gone to the smoking room to light up a cigarette, and I was the only one there. Since the room itself was tucked away in a corner, no one else got hurt.
"Get Down!"
Of course, getting mistaken for the terrorist was par for the course.
Clearing up the misunderstanding was easy. Just flashing my business card—with "Resolver" printed in English—sorted everything out in an instant thanks to my status.
"Oh, sorry about that. You're a Resolver, huh."
If that hadn't worked, I'd have just called the Foundation.
"Isn't preempting danger the police's job? I'm fine."
The Australian accent was a bit tough at first, but I adapted quickly and could converse without issue.
'Bombs right after arriving.'
Antichrist.
Pretty dangerous bunch.
'They knew I'd interfere with their plans.'
No way info leaked from Eastern Hell or Lucifer Company, so they must have anticipated my arrival ahead of time.
"The prime example of the Antichrist is the Second Beast, called the False Prophet."
How could a being that prophesies falsely, declares itself a false savior, and deceives with false resurrections actually predict the future?
'Must be the entity's power.'
Products from Lucifer Company, prioritizing function and output over appearance or post-use cleanup.
Sadly, when I asked Baal what items they'd given him, he said it was too long ago to remember.
[I'll check, but records from back then were mostly destroyed due to the shock value, or buried deep in storage. It'll take time.]
[Can't search for it?]
[As I mentioned before, everything in Hell is manual labor.]
[Ah.]
No contact yet, so I shouldn't get my hopes up.
"Modern warfare is information warfare. Whoever holds the intel wins."
With an info advantage, even inferior forces can pull off a victory.
I didn't know the Antichrist, but they knew me. To break this deadlock, I had no choice but to use methods they couldn't predict.
"Or get some help."
I contacted the Foundation.
The guy I reached, Kim Dong-wook, promised immediate dispatch of agents.
-We'll be right there. We have a portal in Australia too. Sydney, right? We'll arrive within the hour.
I waited in my hotel room for the Foundation agents.
'The night view's stunning.'
Current spot: top-floor VIP suite.
Gazing at Sydney's skyline, I made a request to Sarang.
"Sarang, hack the hotel's CCTV."
『Should I monitor for suspicious individuals?』
"Please do."
『Commencing now.』
This would detect any intruders.
Soon after, a hotel staffer arrived with room service.
"Mr. Seunghoon Lee? Your order's here."
"Thanks. Here's a tip."
Did they take tips in Australia?
I handed over ten bucks, but the staffer didn't leave—instead, they just stood there, smiling blankly at me.
"Hmm."
"Could it be...?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Antichrist."
She laughed at my words.
"You're as impressive as the rumors say. Most people wouldn't ask outright—wouldn't they keep it secret?"
"No reason to pretend and deceive when I can just ask."
I opened the silver cloche and pulled out the steak inside.
"And I believe conversation is the best way to resolve issues, so I'm glad you opened the door first."
"You're saying we can pretend that explosion never happened?"
"I can't erase what occurred, but I can let it slide generously."
"You've got fire in you. Fine, since you want to talk, we will. It's easier for us if we can cooperate rather than antagonize you."
She performed a graceful curtsy in greeting.
"Hello. I'm Jezebel, saint and false prophet of the Antichrist, and high priestess."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"May I sit?"
"By all means."
She took the seat across from me.
"By the way, is that your real name?"
"Yes, it is. Why? Weird?"
Under the table, her toe began brushing against my leg little by little.
"I heard Jezebel was a queen who worshipped Baal in the past—a wicked woman."
"The first part's true. That's how it was back then. Plenty of people believed in demons, not just me. The god of that era was an utterly pathetic, impotent almighty being."
"Impotent almighty?"
"Not a metaphor—literal. Anyway, enough ancient history. It never ends. I've lived long enough for that."
Her toe climbed my ankle, past my calf, up to my knee.
"But you're not surprised. I admitted I've lived since then. You don't think it's a lie, do you?"
"I believe you. I know your kind's exploits."
"Oh? Really?"
"Bringers of calamity through human history. Spillers of rivers of blood, corruptors of humanity—demons of the present world."
"Thanks for the compliments."
"As I said, I see dialogue as the key to solutions. So tell me: what's your goal, and why do such things?"
I flicked away her foot as it tried to burrow into my inner thigh.
"Enough games. Answer my question."
"......You're no ordinary man. Not falling for my seduction."
"Not into jumping into bed with an attractive woman I just met."
She laughed.
The inverted cross around her neck swayed between her breasts.
"As for why we do it? To achieve our purpose. And if you ask what that is, I'll pose a question first."
"What is it?"
"Do you know what threats loom over this world?"
"If you're talking about the horrific hells awaiting after death, planets that could drive humans mad at any moment, monsters constantly eyeing humanity, entities beyond human comprehension, beasts lurking beyond the cosmos—then yes, I know them well."
After finishing the steak, I sipped the accompanying tea.
"I'd say I know them better than anyone."
"Then why aren't you doing anything about it?"
"I think I'm working pretty hard in my own way."
"That hard?"
Her eyes flushed slightly.
Not from swelling—her irises turned red.
"Humanity's on the brink of extinction at any moment. The Foundation upstarts did okay for a while, but even they crumbled before a millennium passed. Human power can't handle the world's threats—we're just steaks waiting to be devoured."
"What's your point?"
The redness faded.
Beyond her dark, night-sky eyes, her conviction shone.
"Humanity's salvation."
It resembled the Chief Justice's zeal.
But grander, more majestic—a belief for a far greater cause.
"Summoning a true transcendent to protect and nurture humanity in place of the petty, incompetent current creator."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
God is petty.
A phrase that pops up often in online debates about God, especially the Christian one.
[Yahweh's so petty. Tests faith by making people sacrifice their own kids?]
[Humans live a little loose, and boom—merciless wipeout ending lol. What kind of god is that? Evil god lol.]
[Bible demons' kill count <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Unbridgeable gap <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Yahweh's kill count.]
It reflected the era's context and how people back then viewed gods.
Of course, back when gods didn't actually exist.
Now, in a world where they do, interpretations differ.
"Transcendents often defy human understanding. Isn't Yahweh one such case?"
"You're not one of those free will devotees, are you? Thinking the creator's some pervert who wants genuine obedience over forced submission?"
"I don't subscribe per se. Just that free will lets humans be human."
"I don't hate it either."
Yahweh is a transcendent.
Not your average one—powerful enough to create worlds.
In a world with multiple mythologies, unclear if he made it solo, if it's mythic misunderstanding, or separate worlds merged.
"But he does nothing. Wants obedience, tests humans for grand plans, even sent his son to atone for original sin—but that's it. No further intervention."
"Isn't that free will too?"
"Free will? Watching his creations get slaughtered by other transcendents and doing nothing?"
From our talk, she seemed to gauge my stance and stood.
"Then we'll drag the creator down with free will. And that day isn't far off."
"So that's the goal. Toppling the creator, summoning a new guardian god for humanity."
"Yes. Our future master adores humanity."
She gripped the inverted cross at her neck and bid farewell.
"Shame you can't join us. I hope our paths end here."
The door closed, leaving me alone.
"Sarang, any movement outside?"
『Police are approaching. Foundation agents seem to be following.』
"She didn't just leave quietly, huh."
『Shall I show footage?』
"Yes, please."
Video lit up my smartphone.
But it wasn't quite what I'd expected.
"......That's a lot of manpower."
Practically a counter-terror SWAT team.
'Not a small hit squad through underlings.'
Some high-up Antichrist scheme?
No, Sydney police already see me as a Resolver—impossible.
『Mr. Seunghoon, the Foundation agents' conversation sounds off.』
"Tell me."
I heard the voices of Foundation agents near the hotel computers.
『Requesting capture operation for entity designated Seunghoon Lee. Abilities unknown. Exhibits extremely human-like behavior, self-identifies as human.』
『Also, special notes...』
『Damn! Jamming!』
The agent's voice cut off.
Seemed like top-tier agents, not grunts.
"Extremely human-like entity? Like there's such a thing."
『Mr. Seunghoon, civilian chatter too.』
"What's this time?"
『News.』
Sarang switched it on without prompting.
Breaking! Criminal Seunghoon Lee is holed up in the top floor of a Sydney hotel! Korean name: Lee Seunghoon. Here's the sketch!
He's a horrific criminal! Charge: "World's Greatest Trouble Maker"! Causes every problem under the sun—citizens, stay away!
My passport photo aired on Aussie public TV like a wanted poster.
How did this happen?
I'd secured Resolver status through the great novelist's legacy.
『His true nature is the most horrific criminal!』
Ah.
Now I get it.
"Non-human entity."
How the situation was spinning.
"Not a Resolver—Trouble Maker."
They'd flipped everything about me on its head.
"In one fell swoop, I've become the world's enemy."
Just like the inverted cross I held.