The Free-Spirited Saint God

-...This is beyond even calling you a conscience-shredding free-loader. That's way too tame a description.

Cheonma let out a hollow chuckle at the contribution points settlement notification.

His expression was like that of an old monk who'd achieved enlightenment after years of arduous meditation.

-I half-jokingly called you the apostle of the Freebie God, but that was wrong. You're not the apostle—you are the Freebie God itself. Hey, you really need to exercise more.

"Why bring up exercise out of nowhere?"

-So you don't drop dead suddenly like me and get preserved as a guaranteed Patron Spirit. A 10-star Freebie God Patron Spirit? 100% locked in. If you don't wanna end up as an NPC, take care of your health.

"...Got it."

It was advice from someone who'd been through it, so he couldn't just laugh it off.

"...How long is this gonna keep ringing?"

Even as Carpe and Cheonma bantered, the alert windows kept popping up and vanishing in a loop.

So many quests. And every single title sounded ominous—calamity, destruction, chaos. Always some negative word crammed in.

"Ugh, guess he really was a top-tier villain."

-Hmm. First time I've seen a guy like that, though. Someone that deeply tied to the Last Savior lore should've crossed paths at least once... Huh? This quest was connected too? No wonder the chimera popped up out of nowhere...

Cheonma nodded or tilted his head at the rising alerts, piecing together connections to what he knew.

"But hey, bro. Just checking in case... "

-That dramatic buildup means you're about to drop another conscience-shredding line.

"All these quest rewards linked to that mad scientist are dumping straight to me at once? The alerts give off that vibe."

-Sigh. Yeah. Your predictions never miss.

Cheonma let out a deep sigh.

If sighs were rated 1 to 10, this was an 8 or 9.

Meaning Carpe's conscience-shredding level was sitting at 8 or 9 too.

-Don't talk nonsense. Dozens of quests have popped and vanished already. Even for a key NPC, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you think they'd hand over rewards from tens of quests just for offing one villain?

"...Yeah, figured. Nah, that'd be too broken anyway."

-It's right there in the alerts. Quests tied to that guy aren't auto-clearing—they're changing. No way they'd give full rewards without you actually completing them.

But since Carpe had kicked off a massive snowball effect, the concept of quest contribution points had emerged.

-Told you a few times, right? Epic-grade quests or items can alter the world lore. This is exactly that. You've changed the Last Savior storyline.

Cheonma had seen it a few times in past regressions. Not on this scale, though.

-Usually, your final rewards get upgraded, or you snag some bonus items.

"Hmm. Makes sense."

-Yeah. With ties that deep, plenty to look forward to. At least Epic-grade items, probably...

"Special NPC? What the— Whoa!"

Boom!

A massive pillar of light crashed down from the cave ceiling right in front of Carpe with the alerts. The ground shook violently too.

Carpe looked up in panic.

"Whoa..."

He couldn't help but gape in awe.

The light pillar had vaporized the entire cave ceiling, revealing the blue sky above.

And from that sky, a man slowly descended, stepping down as if on invisible stairs.

Thud.

The man landed smoothly right in front of Carpe.

Mid-20s maybe? A cheerful young man with long, flowing golden hair.

He was wrapped in what looked like a massive toga, straight out of ancient Rome.

He smiled at Carpe, looking thoroughly pleased.

"Saw your whole performance. You nailed it. Haven't seen a human this impressive in ages."

The familiar aura radiating from him confirmed it for Carpe.

This presumed special NPC's true identity.

A man descending from the heavens with a divine presence. His energy matched what Carpe had felt from ancient gods.

"...An ancient god?"

"Yep. They call me Saint God Luhal. Not ancient—neutral god, though. Haha."

The man laughed with a friendly face.

Saint God Luhal.

Founder of the continent's superpower, Saint Ru Hal.

And the first Hero, deified as a god.

"So, what's your name?"

"Uh, Carpe."

"Right, Carpe. Got it memorized. No need to be so stiff—relax. Call me 'bro' if you want. You've earned it. Speak casually too."

"...Huh?"

Saint God Luhal was way too chummy. Zero divine dignity.

"What? Disappointed I'm so human?"

"No, just... more free-spirited than expected."

"See? You get it. Those stiff Holy Nation folks drive me nuts. Told the last Pope to call me 'bro' and he freaked."

Luhal giggled, clearly still amused by the memory.

"Anyway, not the point. You did amazing. That guy you took down? Major headache. Left alone, he'd have summoned a demon army. You saved the continent from chaos."

By lore, Saint God Luhal was the Hero who'd repelled a Demon Archduke and founded his nation.

He harbored infinite hatred for demons, so he couldn't help but like Carpe for nipping one in the bud.

"For your merits, I'll reward you personally. Get excited—I brought good stuff."

"Ooh."

A god-guaranteed reward? Carpe felt faith blooming out of nowhere.

"Ah, rushed down here and forgot to grab it."

"...Pardon?"

"Sorry. Got excited coming to the mortal world after so long. Can't be helped. I'll tell my kids—pick it up from them."

"..."

Saint God Luhal was far stranger than Carpe had imagined.

"Met the Saintess, right? I'll oracle her, so get your reward from her."

"...You could oracle the reward—why come down yourself?"

"Gotta see the mortal world sometime. Man, this air hits different. Divine realm's stuffy and boring..."

"...You really are free-spirited."

"Praise? Anyway, message delivered—I'm out. Gotta try mortal food. Oh, say hi to the Saintess."

"Wait, hold on."

"Catch you later."

Luhal waved and vanished.

"..."

Luhal was way, way stranger than Carpe had ever dreamed.

Before heading to the Holy Nation, Carpe detoured to Luisillan's capital in Lunderia Kingdom.

One loose end remained.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Forge Street guildmaster.

The one who'd shoved Luisillan's poor into the mines as laborers.

Like Frantic, he was another shadow behind this mess.

Carpe rushed back to catch him before he bolted, but...

"...Pardon? Executed?"

"Yes. King's men beheaded him personally."

The guildmaster was already dead. Not what Carpe expected.

"Turns out that friendly guildmaster was a demon worshiper. Missing miners? Demon sacrifices. Golem rampage? Demons too. All his doing... Can't judge a book by its cover, huh."

The guild administrator shuddered in disgust.

"Anyway, no need to chase causes now. Here's a humble token for your troubles."

Carpe pocketed the reward and left Forge Street.

"...This reeks. A prime suspect suddenly executed?"

-Obvious as day.

The guildmaster's rank? Just a baron.

No low noble pulls off demon summons or chimeras solo.

Someone higher up ordered it.

-Classic tail-cutting from above. Sacrifice one to bury the incident.

"Yeah, that's my read. Damn, this kingdom's rotten to the core."

Someone had caught wind of Frantic's death and covered tracks.

And as if confirming Carpe's suspicions:

"...Level 200?"

-Huh. Lunderia national corruption chain, so high start. You'll hit it in a year easy.

"Can't wrap it up quicker?"

-Nope. Kingdom-shaking quest? Level 70 ain't touching that.

"Fair enough..."

Carpe warped to the Holy Nation after.

By the time he reached the Great Temple where the Saintess was...

It was total chaos.

"An oracle! An oracle's come down!"

"Lord Luhal himself oracled!"

"The Hero's here!"

One of the Holy Nation's highest figures, the Saintess, greeted Carpe barefoot in a frenzy.

"C-Carpe? What in the world happened?! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What's your deal with His Holiness?! Why'd he oracle himself? This is a once-in-a-century event!"

"Just bros."

"Whaaat?!"

The Saintess's shocked face was priceless.