Chapter 74: Whispers of the Love God (Part 13)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: Whispers of the Love God (Part 13)
"Where am I...?"
After the exhilarating sensation of having his soul yanked through ten consecutive roller coaster rides, Muen realized he had arrived in an unfamiliar space.
He looked up, scanning his surroundings.
Endless red earth stretched toward a horizon beyond the reach of his sight.
Desiccated plants, parched of all moisture, were scattered pitifully across the landscape like the thinning hair on a middle-aged programmer’s scalp.
Aside from that, there was no sign of life.
A scorching wind blew past, carrying a nauseating scent of blood. It bit at his skin like the edge of a blade.
And high above in the heavens, amidst the infinitely burning crimson flames, a single, massive, and hideous eye floated silently.
Around the eye was a silhouette like a solar corona, radiating outward in layers like a kaleidoscope. But when Muen focused his gaze, he realized that the dizzying corona was actually composed of countless withered hands, clustered together and swaying in perfect unison.
"Holy shit, what is that?"
Shocked once again by this sanity-blasting sight, Muen instinctively looked toward the culprit: the Black Book.
The Black Book flipped rapidly through its pages. Records of the past flickered by, finally stopping on an entry from long ago—one Muen had almost forgotten.
That record contained the Honorable Name of the being before him.
God of the Fusion World.
Lord of the Crimson Sun.
Withered King.
In short:
Yet another Evil God.
This being had briefly appeared in an assassin’s prayer, demanding the heart-blood of a hundred children in exchange for power. A single wisp of the crimson flame He bestowed had been enough to suppress even Celicia’s blizzard!
And now, he was standing right in front of this Evil God!
Muen was so stunned by this fucked-up reality that his vision went dark for a moment. He grabbed the Black Book and shook it like a madman, hissing through gritted teeth:
"I told you to find a way to save An, not to find me another Evil God! What, are you trying to play the 'drive the tiger to swallow the wolf' card so we can reap the spoils? Believe me, before the tiger even gets here, I’ll have a heart attack and die right in front of you!"
The Black Book, naturally, did not respond.
However, as if disturbed by Muen’s commotion, the Great Withered King finally noticed this uninvited guest. The eye shifted, its hideous pupil narrowing as it gazed down at this insignificant ant.
The moment he was watched, countless maddened thoughts rushed into Muen’s mind like a school of fish swarming toward bait.
So hot...
So burning...
I want to burn something...
I want to plunge the world into a sea of fire...
I want to lose my mind...
Flip, flip, flip...
The sound of pages turning rang out, like a cool breeze blowing away the sweltering heat.
Muen regained his sanity.
But before he could feel any joy, he looked at the Black Book with even greater terror.
Look at that.
I can’t even handle a single glance from Him. How do you expect me to play this?
The fact that Muen could still maintain his sanity seemed to cause a flicker of surprise within that hideous eye.
But it was a minuscule amount of surprise.
It was like finding a slightly larger-than-average ant in one’s home.
Yet, on this eternally desolate red earth, even a tiny ant seemed enough to pique the Withered King’s... interest?
And so.
Like the simultaneous tolling of countless great bronze bells, a majestic yet eerie voice echoed.
The sounds flowed, intertwined, and shifted across the red earth, finally transforming into a familiar language in Muen’s ears.
Human speech.
【Human】
The Withered King spoke with terrifying majesty.
【Dost thou desire power?】
"Huh?"
Muen was stunned.
His mouth hung open so wide he could have fit a goose egg inside.
He hadn't misheard, had he?
A high-and-mighty Evil God had actually initiated a conversation with him?
For a moment, Muen felt a bizarre sense of being starstruck, as if an idol had spoken to him kindly.
He’s so gentle, I think I love Him.
Wait, no! An Evil God asking if you want power is the start of a very bad plot development!
He was standing there with nothing to his name; he had nothing to pay the price with. He couldn't exactly sell his soul—or his body—could he? Eluka’s cautionary tale was still fresh in his mind!
"Is this your idea of 'salvation'?"
Muen looked at the Black Book, feeling more and more that this thing was utterly unreliable.
"Are you for real, sir? I know only magic can defeat magic, but what’s the point of driving away one Evil God only to have another one take over the lease?"
Wouldn't An still end up being consumed?
The Black Book vibrated slightly, as if in response.
Unfortunately, Muen couldn't understand it at all.
Then, it suddenly floated up.
The pages flipped, and one sheet actually detached itself, drifting toward the hideous eye.
Finally, it hovered before the Withered King’s throne.
The Withered King seemed curious about what kind of chips a mere human could offer, and He cast His gaze upon the page.
In the next instant, that curiosity turned into... disgust.
Yes, pure disgust. It was the look an honest man gives a notorious deadbeat who has come back to borrow more money with a promissory note he never intends to honor.
Hey buddy, lend me a bit.
Aw, come on, it’s not like I won’t pay you back.
Why are you being so stingy?
When I have it, I’ll definitely return it.
I promise, here’s the IOU to prove it.
In Muen’s imagination, the Withered King must have recognized a deadbeat of legendary proportions, because that look of disgust was incredibly vivid and human.
Muen half-expected the Withered King to wave His countless swaying little hands and deliver a massive bitch-slap.
Fortunately, He didn't slap them, nor did He fly into a rage and incinerate the Black Book—or crush Muen, the little ant who had wandered into His home for some "outdoor exposure."
Instead, He seemed to be considering something.
The Withered King fell into deep thought.
It didn't take long; only a moment passed.
A withered hand suddenly reached out from the void and snatched the page.
The majestic voice rang out once more.
【The exchange is struck.】
The Withered King looked at Muen.
【I can lend thee power without charge.】
【However...】
A hint of playfulness suddenly appeared within the hideous pupil.
The Withered King’s gaze pierced through Muen, as if seeing through everything he was.
Even his soul held no secrets.
【Dost thou truly wish to accept?】
【To accept the power of what humans call... an Evil God?】
"..."
Muen fell into silence.
The power to change everything was right before him, yet he hesitated.
He had to hesitate.
He wanted to live, and more than that, he wanted to find happiness.
That was the small goal he had set for himself after transmigration.
But.
Evil Gods were the source of the greatest misfortunes in this world.
Getting involved with them rarely ended well.
Even if he obtained an Evil God’s power and didn't have to pay the price immediately because of the Black Book...
The karmic bond between him and the Evil God would become impossible to sever.
He would be branded with the mark of an Evil God.
It was something like destiny, nearly impossible to escape.
He might lose all chance at "happiness" forever.
Even "living" might become harder than he could imagine.
...
"But do I even have a choice?"
Muen said with a faint, self-deprecating smile.