Chapter 103 – Conviction Towards Salvation

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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We left Bakumsia.

There were countless reasons for it.

However, there are times when even if the head understands, the heart cannot accept it.

To the point of hesitating even though the god they serve and attend to ordered them to do so.

In fact, there were some who disobeyed the order to evacuate.

“Where are we going, leaving this place behind?”

“Grandpa, the place you can stay is by Star Creation’s side. Even if you stay here, it will be useless if Star Creation leaves!”

“Star Creation is right here, where are they going…”

“Well, they say Star Creation is leaving with us!”

There were also those who deliberately closed their ears, not wanting to turn their backs on the settlement they had barely managed to build.

This was the reason why those who volunteered as soldiers ran between the ruins and tents, raising their voices.

“Follow the line and evacuate in an orderly manner!”

“The Godfather of Stars has commanded us to leave this place! Those who stay will not receive his protection!”

The problem was that the reactions were lukewarm.

I need to clearly show them a sign that I’m leaving this place.

This was the conclusion I reached after looking around the city for a moment.

Originally, I intended to wait until everyone had left, but if they weren’t moving because of this, it would be putting the cart before the horse.

I approached the blast furnace in the square covered in winter-light molten iron and dipped my hand in.

To retrieve the star burning with vengeance, Deductive Constellation.

“Stay in the sky for a while.”

Deductive Constellation, retrieved from the molten iron, answered by fading away.

With that, the molten iron that had been illuminating and heating various parts of the city through the drainage channels rapidly cooled down.

The blast furnace heated by the power of a star lost its meaning the moment the star departed.

This city was the same.

The moment I leave, it will merely be exposed defenselessly to the malice of the Black Sun.

[“If you wish to remain, then remain.”]

And since sacrifice was certain.

[“However, I will not stay in this city.”]

The decision to save as many as possible was correct.

It was a divine word filled to the brim with this resolve.

This time, I struck it directly into their minds so that the excuse of not having heard would not work.

If they still refused to evacuate even after this, I would not answer their prayers either.

Fortunately, no one was that short-sighted.

Realizing that my resolve was firm, the people stopped their complaining.

“This is enough, Father. Let’s go now.”

“Oh dear. Where are we going again…”

“Won’t we get less rations if we go late? This is no time for this!”

Ultimately, only after my declaration could the journey begin.

I could have scolded them severely, but I didn’t bother to do so.

Because I understood the people who were forcing their steps dripping with regret.

It was understandable, given they were leaving a shelter they had painstakingly cultivated for a harsh land.

Because in the end, what people need is a comfortable place to lay their bodies.

Out of consideration for them, I would have liked to operate an expeditionary force and a city separately, but that was impossible.

Dividing our forces would only aid the enemy’s ambush.

In particular, the mobility issue was huge.

Unlike my halo, which was still merely a pseudo-sun, the Sun God’s halo was indisputably a real sun.

While my brilliant light only extended to protecting our surroundings, the Sun God’s dark radiance could transport demons freely at will.

In such a situation, dividing the people in two meant we would undoubtedly lose one side.

Even before we could attempt anything.

Fortunately, the people who had followed me for a long time faithfully obeyed my decision.

As I floated in the sky looking down at the people, I heard familiar voices.

“The 10 members of the reconnaissance team will take turns scouting ahead. 10 each for the vanguard and rearguard. Remember that we are the strongest force. Our job is to deter ambushes. Understood?”

“Yes, Commander!”

“And don’t act too arrogant just because you are holy knights. We must act with the thought of assisting Captain Ryugen. We can’t block everything.”

“Is there anyone acting arrogant?”

“Who is upsetting the Commander…?”

The holy knights were agitated and murmuring.

The cause was none other than Shek.

Since I had personally created his heart, Shek’s ability to utilize divine power was exceptionally outstanding.

And utilizing divine power well meant being the strongest among the holy knights.

No matter how reckless a person might be, it was difficult to be reckless with someone stronger than them.

Given this situation, the holy knights treated anyone who crossed Shek as a madman.

Even though Shek himself was flustered and waving his hands.

“It was just a figure of speech, a figure of speech. Everyone heard, right? Dismissed!”

“”Dismissed!””

Shek didn’t show any signs of tearing up or hesitating in front of the holy knights.

Compared to before, it’s a truly remarkable transformation.

I noticed him visiting Ryugen frequently lately, so it seems he took Ryugen’s advice deeply to heart.

Since the holy knights have a strong military character, the words from a former soldier must have resonated with them.

For me, it was a good thing.

I was worried what would happen if the holy knights clashed with the militia or the army and turned into a factional fight, but if those in charge of important roles are close, it relieves my concerns.

Of course, he wasn’t the only one who felt the weight of the responsibility he bore.

The timid Nesaro was also gradually gaining confidence while leading people.

“Everyone from the tent alleys is here… among the people from the shanty alleys, what about Edram’s family who lives with that elderly father?”

“The elderly father was being stubborn, and they only just came out. My friend is checking the surroundings and coming now.”

“Tell them it will be hard to be considerate from next time. We have a long way to go, so it’s hard to take care of everyone individually. We have to worry about the rations too… got it?”

“Yes, I will definitely tell them!”

I didn’t bother to read his thoughts.

Even if he’s fragile on the inside but tough on the outside, I’m just pleased to see him much firmer than before.

The people who had only been running away were finding their places one by one.

Although they had lost many things, holding onto the hope that they would gain even more someday.

The journey began like that.

The people formed a long, sluggish line and advanced into the world.

After complaining so much about not wanting to leave, in reality, not a single person looked back.

Thank goodness for that.

The people didn’t see what kind of end the desolate city they left behind met.

Beyond the eastern horizon where the Black Sun rises, a place my halo cannot illuminate, shadows squirmed.

The forest covered in bare branches, the sparsely gouged mountains, the turbidly sinking river were all being obscured by black clouds.

[God Who Makes Stars, maggot of the end of days.]

The erected walls were no exception.

Every place except the alleys still protected by my brilliant light was swept up in pitch-black clouds and disappeared.

Even though the Black Sun sunken below the horizon hadn’t revealed its appearance.

[Just because you remain at the eastern edge does not mean you can block the sun forever.]

“I know.”

[Because you’ve only lived for an instant, you obsess over an instant of time. If you covet my authority that much, you will have to learn how to use a pathetic flock.]

The familiar voice was always mixed with contempt.

What the Sun God intended to say was always the same.

A god must be exclusively a god by its existence alone.

But I thought differently.

I chewed over the memories built up when I was an ordinary gamer.

Why I enjoyed playing Last Comet, why I couldn’t let go of that manic game.

“You may have been a god from birth, but I wasn’t.”

Even if I can shatter mountains, even if I can divide seas, even if I could split the sky in two.

Even with transcendent power, if there are no people calling me a god, it is utterly useless.

“Building sandcastles entirely by yourself and destroying them is just empty. I stand with them.”

[No different from a young child bringing dust and giving it a name. However, a child’s time always passes quickly.]

In an instant, the world began to churn.

But what caught my attention was the subtle remorse dwelling in the Sun God’s voice.

[Child, enjoy it to the fullest and stand before me as an adult. It is the final mercy I show. I will not twist a child’s wrist.]

Suddenly doing something unprecedented.

Alongside surging wariness, a thought of ‘could it be?’ arose.

Could there be room for persuasion somewhere in one corner of its heart?

…If I hadn’t usurped the Deceit That Builds Up, I would have been completely fooled.

A god’s intuition.

That intuition, developed into precognition, was ringing the alarm bells incessantly.

It was the authority of the Exchanged Knowledge.

The most precious legacy left by the god for the world until the very end was urgently warning me.

Map. The moment I brought up the map recording all the information held by the Exchanged Knowledge, I realized the reason.

-Warning: Number of recently destroyed shelters: 13.

-Warning: Number of recently murdered divine names: 7.

-Warning: Number of recently murdered survivors: 942.

The symbols marked on the map were disappearing precipitously.

Not just the star marks symbolizing divine names, but every blue dot symbolizing survivors as well, not to mention shelters.

…..

[God Who Makes Stars, run. Run with your own two feet to herald the sunrise and proclaim my descent.]

My head went freezing cold.

I saw exactly what the Sun God was plotting.

So…

So I had no choice but to be even angrier.

“You.”

[Last God, know your existence. You are not a god of salvation, but a god of the end of days.]

The Sun God took a drastic measure to eliminate me, who was blocking the sunrise of the Black Sun.

By massacring every surviving person.

There was no need to ponder over the means.

Because the Celestial Church, free from constraints, existed.

The Sun God, ready to rise below the horizon, declared in a flat tone completely devoid of laughter.

[The savior charade is over, child.]

***

A crude altar built by stitching together leather.

Even though it was defiled and ominous with browned, caked bloodstains, the people gladly laid their children upon it.

And then, amidst muffled, choking sobs, reverent prayers echoed out.

“Clean body and soul shall illuminate the world, our flesh and blood shall bring the light…”

A woman holding a jagged stone knife was approaching the altar.

With her face hidden by a stained porcelain mask, she stroked the child lying on the altar.

Sad eyes and a cold touch.

It was enough to make the child instinctively shrink back.

But they knew what they had been placed on the altar for.

“I, is this okay?”

“….”

“Mom! Can I do it like this!?”

To the question demanding reassurance, to the child’s desperate scream, there was no one who answered.

The people merely hung their heads, unable to say a word.

That sight made the child tremble even more.

“Say something…! Why isn’t anyone saying anything!”

“….”

“Uncle, Uncle Den! You’re watching!”

“….”

“Why isn’t anyone saying anything!!!!”

The child’s desperate wailing only intensified the sobbing.

It was when the child’s face, stained with copious tears and snot, contorted.

A vivid radiance, something never seen in this dark underground cave, began to approach.

=The reason they cannot answer is that they are not certain.=

The newly appeared existence approached softly, gliding without making a single footstep.

A scarlet halo and a pure white porcelain-like face, bringing forth soft hands from within luxurious sleeves.

The child could tell even though seeing them for the first time.

“…A-angel.”

=You’ve managed to muster up courage, child.=

The sad eyes and cold touch were removed.

What came instead were eyes filled with joy and delight, and a warm touch.

=Do not fear. Your courage will save your flesh and blood and all life. Rebuilding the Great Pantheon is your stepping stone above all else.=

“Mom, my mom too?”

The angel with the scarlet halo turned its head towards the crowd kneeling and praying.

Crowd. Yes.

They were merely a crowd, offering their flesh and blood and observing, wishing for their own salvation.

The angel looked at the child again and declared without any guilt.

=Of course.=

“Th-then.”

=Do not be tense. Breathe comfortably. Hold my hand. When it is over, the Sun God will take you.=

“Heuu heuu, hooo hooo.”

=Have conviction.=

Conviction towards salvation.

The moment the angel said that, the woman holding the stone knife squeezed her eyes shut.

Even so, the thrusting hand did not miss.

Bloodstains were overwritten upon bloodstains.

The faint trembling writhing could not lead to a pulse, held by the angel’s touch.

Knowing what it was doing, the angel did not let go of the held hand.

[Let them offer themselves.]

So that the Sun God, who had turned its back on the world, could look upon the world once more.

[Offerings must be made until the great Sun God is satisfied.]

The mad god, Serving Moon, was scrutinizing each and every angel.

[For that is the path that leads to salvation, true world-saving.]