Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Abandoned by God
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* * *
"……."
The Observer, who had been gravely watching Erin's group's journey, cautiously sat down and let out a long sigh.
―So, what do you make of it? Do you understand why this has happened?
"……I don't know. I still don't get it."
In the sudden emergence of a new continent, the Observer's strongest emotion was bewilderment.
After all, a new continent? It was unheard of. If such a thing truly existed, even they wouldn't be unaware of it.
The observable world—the 'universe' granted to them—should have been limited to the place where Erin, the girl chosen by God, existed.
It seemed that not only the created beings and God were taken aback by this abruptly appearing New World.
However, setting aside the confusion, there was one undeniable fact—
Crunch, munch munch!
―It seems this is the 'other world' we've only heard about in stories.
The Observer cautiously consumed the 'Divine Power' to sustain her life.
Munch munch crunch!
"It does seem that way."
Given that the concept of 'sponsorship' applies, the place they said was reached decades ago from the perspective of the world they observe was probably—where our kin had exerted influence.
It was undoubtedly a fragment of the 'world that made contact with another god,' one we'd only heard about.
The connection between two worlds that would never normally meet was surely—
'The influence of 150,000 won worth of Divine Power……'
An enormous amount—the moment they received the sponsorship of 150,000 won.
A blinding white flash poured into this place, where only a pillar of light existed amid utter darkness.
Even for an Observer who had gained life, there wasn't much she could do in the face of the overwhelming torrent of Divine Power cascading down.
She could only desperately reach out to gather as much of the pouring power as possible.
Since gaining a living body, even her forehead had grown 'arms,' limiting her movements, so her companion was collecting it up to her own body.
In any case, considering the human who regained memories at the exact moment the light engulfed them—
It wasn't hard to guess that this situation had been created then.
Though unprecedented, Divine Power was an overwhelming force capable of anything.
It wouldn't be strange if it turned the impossible into possible, would it?
'Balloon……'
The Observer carefully mulled over the word 'balloon.'
From the conversation with God, it seemed God knew what it meant.
There was one predictable possibility.
The kin observing that world had, like them, attempted communication in 'God's domain.'
They were beings who could do nothing without Divine Power.
To appeal to the gods in God's domain, they used their language and disguised themselves as something they would like.
In truth, calling it 'doing' was inaccurate. It was simply how they were born, like innate camouflage that had always existed.
So—
"……Please give me some money."
―?
"That's my name."
Unaware that 'Please give me some money' was her name, she simply became 'Please give me some money.'
That was the camouflage granted to them to appeal in God's domain.
Then, just as with their names, the 'balloon' existing in that other world was something similar.
As the Observer sat lost in thought, it spoke to her.
―What are you worried about?
"Is this really okay?"
Was it truly fine to observe this new continent—the New World—and show it to God?
In the history of their kin, unprecedented as this was, were they allowed to reach out?
Sensing her doubt, it answered.
―If it's a possibility newly opened by Divine Power, there's no need to doubt. The world's response represents Lord Igugwoden's will, so this must be the 'new path' God desires.
"I know that much."
―And you must not forget that the very fact you've become a living being is something that absolutely could not happen.
"……Pfft!"
Hearing that, the Observer couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Letting out a hollow laugh at such a silly remark was proof of being alive.
―What's so funny?
"Nothing. Just…… you're right, I guess."
Though she replied that way, the Observer's mind was complicated.
Was this sudden connection to another world truly something they could handle?
If not, what would become of them?
They were mere Observers, yet as Observers, they could control their world.
If the New World exceeded the scope they could handle—what then?
Nothing could be guaranteed—
'……It'll be fine. God's will must be fulfilled. This is just something similar.'
God's command—'Entrust everything to the world's response, without breaking the absolute rules of this world.'
Whatever the outcome, since this was essentially God's will, she, as an Observer, had to act without doubt.
The Observer tried to ignore that worrying about future events without blindly accepting God's will stemmed from gaining self-awareness.
Realizing and accepting that she was increasingly questioning the world's response instead of unilaterally following it—
For an Observer still immature as a living being, that was far too fatal.
* * *
Erin's group, arriving at the new continent, headed toward the village under Rengard's guidance.
Though quite some time had passed and the amnesia period had been too long, making memories hazy, his sunken eyes guiding the way held a strange confidence.
As if every event felt vividly like it happened yesterday.
And finally, they reached the village.
―Or more precisely, what had been the village.
The sight before their eyes—
Houses and house foundations reduced to ashes, as if burned, and……
"Th-this can't be……!"
"Your Majesty! Please don't come closer!"
"Eek……!"
"Priestess, you must stay calm!"
―A few scattered skulls and bones.
Seeing bones very similar to human ones strewn about, Luca turned pale and muttered.
"What in the world is this……"
"It's horrific. It looks just like ruins abandoned for decades after being destroyed by bandits."
At Ophelia's words, Erin shuddered.
Just as she said…… this landscape resembled her hometown village before she was chosen as Saintess, where everything had collapsed.
The difference was the skulls. Back then, what Erin faced wasn't skulls but the prior stage—rotting corpses.
The trauma igniting her heart with dreadful memories made Erin's breathing ragged for a moment—
'……No, Erin. Lord Igugwoden is by my side now…… I can't break down here.'
Strangely, the moment she realized Lord Igugwoden was acting right beside her closest self, she regained composure at an astonishing speed.
Steel-ing her resolve not to hesitate anymore, Erin cautiously asked Rengard.
"Duke, is this truly the location of the village you remember?"
"Y-yes……! The position, the surrounding scenery—it's definitely here……"
Rengard, equally incredulous at the desolation, scanned the surroundings with trembling pupils.
"That tree! We ate with them under that large tree. And the house foundation to the right had a building presumed to be a religious facility! I'm certain! This is the place!"
"However……"
Had a war broken out, perhaps?
Just as they worried about encountering hostile newcomers or clashing with another group.
"Th-Saintess! Come here, please!"
The voice belonged to Luca, who had been boldly scouting around with Ophelia.
Approaching where her call came from—
"This is…… a tombstone?"
In the ruined space where everything was shattered, one unusually pristine tombstone stood out.
Engraved on it were letters carved as if with spirit…… but since the script was entirely different from theirs, they couldn't decipher the content.
"No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem like mere decoration…… Perhaps a memorial stone?"
"For a memorial, there's no sign of ashes being collected."
"True……"
"If we could just check the content, it'd be simple, but I can't read it at all…… Duke, did you ever learn writing from them?"
Rengard bowed deeply toward Erin, looking extremely apologetic.
"Regrettably, communication was possible only because they unilaterally used an ability called 'Qi'…… I'm sorry."
"Saintess. Shall I take a few priests who can use white magic to scout that forest?"
At Ophelia's suggestion, Erin pondered.
Just as she debated searching the area more as suggested—
"Um…… Saintess. I might be able to translate it."
"……Ah!"
The speaker was Karen, the being Plain Fact had manifested in human form.
Even Saintess Erin instantly grasped what she meant.
"You're going to use Plain Fact, right?"
"Yes! The power God left behind still exists…… I think we can interpret it with that! Of course, assuming this text isn't just a random arrangement of shapes……"
"It seems worth trying. Please do."
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
Karen approached the tombstone cautiously, closed her eyes, muttered something, and extended her hand.
The moment her hand touched it…… a white light began to bloom faintly.
Plain Fact. The great Divine Power that makes all things possible.
"……!"
When Karen opened her eyes, her brown pupils flashed with light.
And at that moment…… the text entering her mind gradually transformed into sentences they could understand.
Karen slowly parted her lips and read the first line of the tombstone.
"To whoever discovers this horrific ruin. A warning to whoever reads this. God exists. And absolutely do not believe in God."
"……???"
Don't believe in God?
Though utterly unexpected, the shock came from the very next line.
"I warn you once more. God definitely exists. But—"
――God has abandoned us.