Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Part 2 Chapter 11: Tell Her I'll See Her Soon (3)
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"Ormr?"
"That's right."
Ormr.
The word meant 'serpent' and referred to the underlings commanded by Yormungand.
After all, Yormungand herself was the mightiest serpent.
Even so, this was astonishing.
A mere Ormr capable of such power?
This wasn't magic.
Not even the ultimate transformation spell known as Polymorph could achieve a change on this level.
Magic could only alter outward appearances in the end.
But this transformed her down to the cellular level into something entirely different.
In other words, the girl known as Nirvana hadn't merely changed her shape—her very inherent nature had shifted to match her current form.
It was the ability called Infinite Form.
Yormungand—the most intellectually superior among the three great familiars created by Diablo Volpir.
Infinite Form was the special power Diablo Volpir had bestowed upon her.
A force that allowed her to transform into anything in existence, one even the 12 Gods had feared.
"I understand your surprise. Infinite Form isn't something easily wielded, even if one inherits a fragment of his power."
Even her speech patterns had changed.
There was probably a man somewhere in the world who looked exactly like this.
No matter how infinite the form, she couldn't become something that didn't exist.
"Of course. I created Yormungand, after all."
"Haha. True enough. I can't match Lady Yormungand's versatility, but I'd say I've done pretty well with this, haven't I?"
"Expecting praise?"
"Everyone loves a compliment."
"Are you even human right now?"
"For the moment."
Nirvana brazenly held out both hands as she replied.
True to her words, she had transformed perfectly down to the cellular level into a human.
No matter what her true essence was made of.
"Yormungand must value you quite a bit."
"I got lucky."
"How is Yormungand doing?"
Before inquiring about the thirteenth divinity, Jamie first asked after her well-being.
Nirvana's eyes widened, then she clasped her palms together with a gentle smile.
"Lady Yormungand will be delighted."
"What do you mean by that?"
"She has always missed you. How could she not be happy that you're worried about her?"
Jamie recalled Yormungand, who—unlike her appearance—had always been openly affectionate with him.
He had turned her into a familiar, but compared to the others, she had followed him devotedly.
He hadn't specifically designed her that way.
It was just her nature.
Memories of the past brought a bittersweet pang.
"Enough of that nonsense..."
"My apologies."
"Never mind. Where is Yormungand, then?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Why not?"
"Because if the two of you made contact, it would disrupt the plan."
"Not planning to tell me about this plan, I take it."
"My apologies. As atonement, take my head."
Nirvana extended her neck, as if humbly accepting death.
"Cut the crap."
"Yes, sir."
Jamie dismissed her nonsense, and Nirvana straightened up—clearly not serious in the first place.
Her audacity was exasperating, but not entirely unpleasant, so he let it slide.
Jamie summoned a chair from the ground and sat down.
"What about a seat for me...?"
"Make your own."
"I'll stand."
"Smart choice."
Jamie crossed his legs, pondering where to begin.
He rolled the broken rosario around in his hand before speaking.
"Yormungand made this, right?"
"Yes."
"She created a divinity...? That girl did? But how?"
Jamie looked at Nirvana expectantly.
"You won't say you can't tell me this too, will you?"
"What would you do if I did?"
"Well. I'd crack open your skull."
Nirvana gave an awkward smile at the casual threat.
"You have a good sense of humor."
"Humor?"
"You're serious."
"I'm always serious."
Nirvana looked troubled but had no desire to lose her skullcap.
Fortunately, she had permission to discuss matters related to the divinity.
Had she not, Jamie would have pried it open.
For a moment, she was grateful to Yormungand for considering her an important subordinate.
"So. How did she make it?"
"The divinity was forged from your black mana."
"...What?"
Jamie froze, staring at Nirvana, the rosario still in his hand.
Nirvana continued.
"I assumed you'd know, so I'll explain. Fragments of Diablo Volpir's power are scattered across the continent. We've found quite a few, but many more remain undiscovered. Our side managed to acquire some of those fragments."
"And used them to create the divinity?"
"Yes."
"Even so, that doesn't make sense..."
No.
It did make sense.
There had already been a precedent.
Jamie slowly drew out his holy light with his right hand.
The power born when his black mana reached its zenith and was reborn as its opposite attribute.
That was holy light.
But holy light is different from divinity.
Nirvana gazed at the holy light.
"It's light, but a different kind."
"Different kind? Do you know what this power is?"
"The light created when your other great familiar, Black, resonated with your black mana... isn't it?"
"No one knows that. Explain how you know. Or I'll really have to open your head this time."
Jamie issued a chilling warning.
Only he and Black knew the truth of holy light. And Black still slumbered.
Currently, Jamie was the sole keeper of that secret.
Undeterred by the killing intent, Nirvana replied calmly.
"You wouldn't know this, but the moment Black created the holy light, it resonated with the divinity we were developing."
"Resonated?"
"Yes. We don't know exactly why, but we suspect it happened because they share the same foundation."
She didn't seem to be lying.
Besides, she had no reason to deceive him.
To Nirvana, Jamie Welton was no different from a god.
"Both powers originated from my black mana, so they resonated."
"Not certain."
"Probably right. I understand that part. But the rest doesn't add up."
"Which part?"
"Yormungand..."
Jamie glanced at the broken rosario.
"She started a religion?"
He could accept that she made a divinity from his black mana.
He'd seen it himself, so denial wasn't an option.
But divinity required faith to sustain it.
Especially the one inside the rosario—it was far too vast to call minor.
Not on par with the 12 Gods, but enough to require a substantial following.
Nirvana answered.
"That's beyond my clearance."
"I see."
"My apologies. Lady Yormungand will explain everything to you later."
"Yormungand."
She was a familiar he had created himself, yet her thoughts often eluded him.
No.
Not eluded— he simply hadn't cared.
Back then, his mind had been consumed with killing the 12 Gods.
Jamie toyed with the broken rosario before tossing it to Nirvana.
She caught it effortlessly and looked at him.
Jamie spoke.
"Tell her I'll see her soon."
Nirvana bowed with a smile.
"Until next time, great one."
With that, she vanished.
Left alone, Jamie leaned back in his chair and muttered.
"When everything's over... this time, I'll pay more attention to my children."
He would give them what he hadn't in his past life—and more.
The sun was rising.
Having finished their preparations, Jamie and Jin left the inn.
Jin, wearing his travel mask, asked Jamie.
"Business all wrapped up?"
"Tied it up neatly."
"Impressive. But why depart at this early hour?"
"Just felt like it. The dawn air is nice."
Jamie quickened his pace as he spoke.
Jin eyed him walking faster and muttered to himself.
"What's with him?"
The two headed silently toward the village entrance.
There, an unexpected figure stood waiting.
Spotting Jamie, he waved enthusiastically.
Jamie stopped, and Jin gave him a gentle nudge.
"Go on. Looks like he's waiting for you."
"What are you doing out here at this ungodly hour?"
Jamie chuckled helplessly and approached Pivion.
"Brother!"
Pivion greeted him with a beaming face.
Jamie spoke worriedly.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping more? Why come here?"
"I had a feeling you'd leave early."
"What if we'd left late?"
"Nothing I could do about it."
"You rascal. Making me feel guilty."
"More importantly..."
Pivion rummaged in his bag and pulled out something.
It was a small leather pouch, worn and frayed.
He handed it over carefully, as if it were precious.
"Take this."
"What's this?"
"Money I've been saving bit by bit."
Jamie blinked in mild surprise.
"I thought all your earnings went to feeding your family."
"I set aside one copper each time, just in case. It's all for you, brother. Thanks to you, my family has a future. It's all because of you. But I'm poor, so... this is all I have."
Inside were just six rusted copper coins.
For Pivion, who could barely earn three coppers a week, it was a fortune.
Jamie looked pityingly at the naive boy.
He placed a hand on Pivion's head.
Pivion gazed up questioningly.
"Pivion."
"Yes?"
"My going rate is way more than this."
"Eh...? B-But this is all the money I..."
"I mean, at least a few dozen gold to get me moving properly."
"D-Dozen gold?!"
Pivion's pupils trembled.
It was money he'd never even glimpsed.
Especially for someone like him, scraping by on grueling labor—gold was a distant dream.
Pivion fidgeted anxiously.
"What do I do...? I don't have that kind of money..."
"Hm. There is one way."
"What is it?!"
His eyes lit up at the prospect.
Jamie grinned.
"Live diligently for your mother and sister from now on. That'll do it."
"...Brother."
"Buy your sister something nice on the way out, kid. Stay healthy. If you get sick, it'll be hard to take care of your family. So keep strong."
"Hic... Waaah..."
"Save your tears too. You're the man of the house. A man doesn't cry easily. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"Good."
Jamie smiled at Pivion, who nodded vigorously through his tears.
What a good kid.
Without his family's troubles, he'd have grown into a fine noble.
He couldn't live that life anymore, but a boy with such promise from childhood was bound to shine as an adult.
"I'll claim my reward when you've become a true man. See ya."
Jamie ruffled Pivion's hair and walked past.
Jin, watching, smiled contentedly and fell in step beside him.
"You can say some cool things."
"I'm a cool guy by nature."
Then Pivion's shout came from behind.
"You have to visit us! I'll save a spot for you! By then, I'll be a fine man and treat you properly!"
Jamie waved without turning back.
That was answer enough.