32
Chapter 32
Gods are born, survive, and meet their end through faith.
By that, I mean a god is born when the faith of many people gathers, maintains eternal life by consuming that faith, and faces the end when that faith scatters.
This applies to all gods, except for the Sun God—the Lord—whose existence is the only one that remains a fact besides the presence of holy power, and gods like the Demon God who act against the heavens.
No scientist could provide an explanation for such a strange phenomenon. In the first place, the idea that the belief of living beings could create something from nothing made no sense.
But what can you do? It is an undeniable reality. The world is full of supernatural things that cannot be explained. While scientists refuse to acknowledge the Birth of a God, most living beings believe it to be a fact.
However, there were two people who came up with an idea regarding this supernatural phenomenon of the Birth of a God that no one had ever thought of until then.
The first was the Emperor of the Empire. The only genius I acknowledge, and the man who possesses the greatest brain on the continent.
He came up with the idea that a god could be created artificially, and he established a group of believers within the empire.
Using his power, the Emperor gathered thousands of people with weak wills. This is because those with fragile minds tend to show a more fanatical obsession with something.
The Emperor subjected them to various forms of brainwashing and mental education, creating an environment where they had no choice but to believe in a fictional god he had envisioned. His authority and capital fully supported his ability to execute this.
Of course, his experiment sparked massive ethical controversies. How dare a mere human intentionally violate the sanctuary of a god! Everything from petty churches to other nations among the Seven Nations, and even the gods themselves, rebelled against the empire.
But the Emperor's execution is the best on the continent. He ignored all opposition and pushed the project forward, even throwing out a legendary ultimatum to the gods: If you interfere, I will wipe out all your believers and temples.
The result was a grand success.
An unprecedented event in the history of the Heavenly Realm, the Demon Realm, and the continent occurred. The first god created by, for, and only for the empire was born.
It was an event that clearly demonstrated the arrogant, self-righteous, cold, and brilliant values of the human known as the Emperor.
The second person was me. Around the same time, I had a similar idea to the Emperor.
However, there was a slight difference in the method and the goal.
If a god is born from faith, then perhaps a lowly and wretched creature could be turned into a god through faith.
If a gutter-dweller, treated as less than an ant on the street and pointed at by everyone as bottom-of-the-barrel trash, could be turned into a god at the top of the food chain whom everyone looks up to.
If the hierarchy of species and innate class were reversed, and a future where a goblin looks down on a dragon and a demon is looked up to by a magical beast became a reality.
Wouldn't that be the greatest magic of all, an unprecedented feat of magic across the past and future, East and West?
I thought.
Afterward, I immediately caught a goblin. A pathetic goblin that had no letters or language and could only make sounds like Ssshhh...
Then, I brought that goblin to the Duke's residence and began to believe with all my might. That the goblin was a god.
The size of the belief is what creates a god. The Emperor created a god through the faith of thousands. The point is, I just needed to believe more greatly and desperately than those thousands of people.
Everyone scoffed.
Everyone laughed at me and insulted me.
They told me that if it was something an individual could do, anyone and everyone would be doing it, and that I should stop fooling around and snap out of it.
But who am I?
The clown who performs miracles. Joker. My vocation is to make a losing war a victory, to freeze what should burn, and to make the impossible possible.
Truly, I believed with all my strength. I believed with everything I had.
I even brainwashed myself, swearing that I would burn my own hand if that goblin didn't become a god. A thousand days passed like that.
To start with the result, I failed. It's not that my plan or design failed.
It was because as the goblin reached the state of a Half-God Half-Beast, the gods swarmed in in large numbers.
Numbers win every time. When a bunch of thugs calling themselves gods swarmed me and threatened me to stop immediately, how could a single demon hold out?
I still had some backbone, so I tried to fight, but after fighting for about seven days and nights, I was beaten to a pulp and defeated. Those bastards called gods were cowardly enough to gang up on me. When Odin's Gungnir and Thor's Mjolnir struck simultaneously, my head started spinning.
There was also a fundamental problem. That goblin was just too pathetic.
If I had at least brought an elf, I would have succeeded, but the vessel of a goblin, classified as the lowest monster, was narrower than I had imagined.
Anyway, a plan I had spent three years meticulously crafting went down the drain. When only the goblin, who had become only half a god, remained, I discarded it with tears in my eyes.
I made a firm resolve. From now on, I would never ever set up something as damn near as a plan.
Every plan in the world is perfect. But most of those plans fail. Because variables exist anytime and anywhere.
It was around that time that I began to acknowledge the Emperor, even though I had never acknowledged anyone in my life.
While I was struggling just to stop the gods appearing before me, the Emperor had thought one step deeper and threatened them by taking the believers hostage. In the end, he even succeeded in creating a god.
Why am I suddenly telling you this story?
Because right now, in front of me, a demon is being framed as the culprit in much the same way as that goblin I mentioned.
A culprit created by me.
Clink, clink—.
A being composed entirely of various vegetables and plants from head to toe is surrounded by Demon Realm Police, with handcuffs and leg irons shackling its limbs.
Behind him, the body of a young demon with a clean appearance and long flowing hair was being carried in a coffin. Of course, that body was also bound by handcuffs and leg irons.
These are the clone and original body of Southern Duke King. It has probably been nearly ten thousand years since that original body last appeared in the world. At least, that's how I know it.
"Clear the way-! We are transporting a prisoner-!"
The prisoner at the front shouted in a booming voice toward the crowd that was buzzing around the escorted King.
"My god, did the Southern Grand Duke really kill the Lucifer family's second son?"
"I heard the Southern Grand Duke's mask was found there. It's a well-known fact that no one has entered that lonely place for decades."
"But why would the Southern Grand Duke kill the Lucifer family's second son? Wouldn't the Grand Duke be the only one to lose out?"
"Who knows? Maybe there was some trouble we don't know about."
"You lot! Why aren't you moving! Blocking a transport route is a serious crime in itself!"
King was chuckling, finding something quite amusing. In truth, if he actually revealed his power, breaking the bindings and escaping would be easier than chewing gum.
"There's no reason for that."
"Hmm? What did you say, Oscar?"
"It's nothing, hehe."
"...I see. Still, refrain from laughing so frivolously."
Adela, who stood beside me like a statue, spoke. Her expression remained stiff, radiating a cold fury.
"Even though he was your rival... a brother of the same blood has died."
"Yes, Noonim. I made a mistake. I'll be careful."
"Thank you."
Following her sorrowful command, I wiped the smile off my face, but internally, I was grinning ear to ear.
Because this situation is simply too enjoyable and ridiculous.
Just then, King, walking with the police, passed by me. He was looking down at me, rolling his tomato eyes downward.
I silently mouthed the words.
"(How is it, Duke? Do you like the gift I prepared?)"
King seemed to understand what I was trying to say. I could tell because his aged voice soon echoed in my mind through a mental link.
- Ho ho ho....
"(I see you like it. To show such a wonderful hearty laugh. I'm glad my sincere preparations weren't in vain.)"
- Can you truly handle it, if you make an enemy of this old demon?
The tone of the voice was chilling, unlike King's smiling lips.
He is currently seriously contemplating whether to kill me or not.
"(Oh, what a scary thing to say. My knees are shaking.)"
- I am not joking.
"(Please show your broad generosity and understand. There was no one else I could frame but you, Duke.)"
Originally, I preferred to leave cases unsolved after causing an incident.
Watching the police—whether they be the Continent Police or the Demon Realm Police—rack their brains for a long time over a single cold case was always a pleasure.
But I stopped doing that after meeting a certain righteous hero who dug up and uncovered even the cold cases from decades ago. That hero eventually made several of my fake identities unusable. He was a truly tenacious bulldog.
Anyway, after that, I always created a culprit after starting an incident. Just like now. Because no one cares about a case where the culprit has been clearly identified.
- No matter how much of a regressor you are... this old man has lived for millions of years. Are you daring me right now?
"(Oh boy, if I trick him any further, a real bloodbath is going to happen.)"
- ...Tricked me? Is that what you said?
"(Duke, think about it. You're the only one who knows I'm a regressor, so do you really think I'd frame you?)"
- You stole a mask from my manor and left it at the scene of the crime.
"(Yes, I took it from your 'manor.' But just because something is in your manor doesn't mean it belongs only to you, right? I just left a clue; why do you assume the culprit is you? Even if every other demon believes it, the wronged Duke shouldn't be so hasty.)"
- Why? Because in this dukedom, there is only me....
King's voice trailed off. He seemed lost in deep thought.
I gave a sly smile, positioned where Adela couldn't see.
- ...No way.
"(Hahaha, I'm sorry for making you lose such a precious subordinate. I'll find you a much better one later.)"
The sentient monster living in the Southern Duke's Mansion.
Frankenstein.
He's dim-witted and will follow any order as long as the Duke gives him meat, so there couldn't be a better fall guy. He's also strong enough to handle the likes of Leonard and Retavis with ease.
- Did you plan this... from the moment you first stole the mask from my manor?
"(The mask? Ah, this one?)"
I stealthily pulled an item from my pocket. Then, I waved it back and forth in front of King, whose tomato eyes had grown wide like apples, as if shaking a puppy's tail.
- ...! How did you get that! Surely, that was with the officer until just now...!
"(I pickpocketed it when the officer passed by me with the evidence. It would be a waste to throw away such a great design.)"
- P-pickpocketing? You mean the kind of thievery common street thugs do?
"(All crimes start from something small, don't they? Thugs, crooks, laborers... who knows if they'll become heinous criminals, heroes, or godfathers later? In that sense, I mastered pickpocketing, the foundation of all crime, long ago. Hehe.)"
- Hah....
I had even swapped a similar-looking mask into the officer's sleeve.
"(Just frame Frankenstein. He's a monster who'll give a false confession if you offer him meat.)"
- Losing a single monster subordinate is nothing....
After pausing for a moment, King spoke in a tone that sounded like a slight growl.
- It's a bit wounding to my pride that you've made a fool of this Duke. I've given you plenty, but taking this without a word is crossing the line, isn't it?
Yes, that's the reaction I wanted.
"(Haha, that's why I told you. I'll definitely find you a better subordinate. I've never looked down on you for a single second, Duke.)"
- ...Right, you did. Then I'll hold you to that. Please find one as soon as possible. I do need a servant to handle the housework.
"(Yes! I'll bring you one in no time!)"
Of course, I won't. I never specified 'when' I would get one.
If he comes to complain later, I'll just argue that the definition of 'in no time' is subjective.
Believing he had secured a firm promise that was actually vague, King walked away with the police.
Usually, the victim of a scam doesn't even realize they've been scammed, and it seems an Old Demon who has lived for millions of years is no different.
Or maybe he's just more susceptible to scams because he's old? Old people usually fall for those tricks. King's cognitive abilities don't seem to have declined, perhaps due to his power, but who knows.
Maybe those millions of years were wasted.
Clink, clink—.
King fades away with the police. The gaze of the demons followed him like flies, but none dared to obstruct the Duke's path, even if he was a prisoner.
- In the end, you've even stolen my Frankenstein from me.
King's self-deprecating whisper pierced my mind. Since I couldn't show my face to King as he walked away, I couldn't answer.
Actually, I've planned to use him this way since the moment I first saw Frankenstein. As long as I don't get caught, it's not intentional. Therefore, I am innocent. I am a model demon who has never committed a single crime.
King seemed intent on giving a full statement once he reached the station. Of course, it would be a false testimony framing Frankenstein, as we agreed, but a lie becomes truth when those who know the truth keep their mouths shut.
Alright, now that the situation is settled, let's go. I have a lot to do.
First, I need to leave this tedious Northern Duke Family, enter the Demon Beast Forest for closed-door training until the Saint is born, and before that, stop by an auction house in the Western Demon Realm to buy a beastman.
I need to get a beastman with the grand bloodline of the King of Wolves, before Lilith Clanaein beats me to it like she did in my previous life.
Deciding this for the future, I reached out to grab my Noonim, Adela.
Swift, swift—.
Hmm?
Why... am I grabbing nothing?
Grab—.
Ah, thank goodness. I caught her. Phew, my heart almost stopped for a second. I thought I'd lost my foolish sister in a place crowded with demons.
"Who do you think you are! Why are you touching my butt! Do you want to fight!?"
"Waaaah! I-I'm sorry!"
"Hmph! I guess you know a pretty face when you see one...."
"I didn't touch you because you're pretty, and you aren't even that pretty... But wait. Where did my sister go?"
"How should I know about your sister? Watch where you're going!"
In the spot beside me where Adela should have been, there was a female demon I'd never seen before. Did she really get swept away by the crowd? That's not good.
"Stop."
Fortunately, Adela's characteristic serious and commanding voice soon reached my ears. Ignoring the angry woman, I turned my head toward the sound.
"I said stop."
Adela spoke as if issuing an ultimatum.
She had boldly blocked the path of King and the police—a path that no one had dared to interfere with.
......Blocked?
"N-Noonim! Why are you standing there!"
"Stay still, Oscar. This is my business. Do not get caught up in this."
Dammit! When did Adela go over there! What is she planning to do by blocking the police!
Surely she isn't doing this to avenge some family grudge? Knowing Adela and how much she treasures her family, it's entirely possible.
However, if that's really her mindset, I'm going to be in a very difficult situation....
"Southern Grand Duke, King."
A menacing aura erupted from Adela's body, as if she were ready to reveal her murderous intent at any moment.
As her sharp, space-dominating pressure descended upon the road, most of the demons, including the police, were forced to their knees.
A red glint flashed in Adela's eyes. A threatening current flowed violently like a waterfall, trailing across the ground. Adela's long, black hair billowed in the air.
At this moment, this space was Adela's domain. There was no one present who could stop an Absolute Strong One who had released her power based on a rage that had risen to her head.
"Seeing this violent and massive demonic energy, I assume you're the daughter of that child, the Northern Duke. Was your name Adela? I've heard that name a few times."
Except for one person, King, who was also an Absolute Strong One.
While everyone, including me, was barely holding on with our knees bent under the overwhelming gravitational force, King stood calmly and spoke. Though this was a clone, there was a reason King held that nickname among 'King, Queen, Jack, and Joker.'
The oldest living demon in the Demon Realm, the primordial demon, King. In the Demon Realm, where hierarchy is determined by power, the mere fact that he held the position of Duke—the rank second only to the Demon King—for so long was proof enough of his skill.
"The deceased Leonard is my brother."
"Ho ho...."
"I, Adela Lucifer, the eldest daughter of the great Northern Duke Family, must take a bloody revenge for my fallen kin."
"Are you daring to ignore the law now? This Duke is currently being escorted by the police?"
"...I know. Therefore, I politely request this of you."
Adela clasped her two hands in front of her. Inside her grip, as if holding an invisible pillar, a crimson energy began to gather.
The energy took shape in various colors. A handle and a sword guard of a familiar design were forged from the red light. Soon, a sharp blade began to unfold beneath that guard.
Adela instantly drove the forged crimson sword into the ground and placed both hands on the hilt. With a posture as steadfast and dignified as a great mountain, Adela murmured.
...No way, right? King is an opponent whom Adela might struggle to beat even if she gives her all. No matter how much she cares for her kin, she wouldn't jump into something where she might die....
"I request a Life-and-Death Duel."