Chapter 118 – Road to the Underground

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Just as people are all different, there is no god where everything is exactly the same.

A representative example is the afterlife paradise Elysium.

It depends on the church and the divine name one follows.

Still, by looking at which church a god belonged to, one could deduce the atmosphere of their Elysium.

Because there were occasionally testimonies left by those who had memories of their past lives or glimpsed it through revelations.

People rigorously left related records while wondering what kind of fate awaited them after death.

Thanks to that, the records about Elysium that had been accumulated step by step became an important milestone for people who lost their way and agonized.

Even just listing the most representative characteristics of each church, there are quite a few.

The Elysiums of the gods belonging to the Armed Church are famous for constantly being given tasks.

A believer belonging to the Armed Church could infinitely grow while competing and cooperating with others of a similar level.

Although they eventually hit the limits of mortals or humans, around that time they were permitted to reincarnate by petitioning the god they served.

While harboring the conviction that someday they could serve the god by their side or become a god themselves, that is.

On the other hand, the Elysiums of the gods belonging to the Church of the Cycle mostly have a quiet and calm atmosphere.

It’s the exact opposite of the Armed Church, which promises infinite growth and abundantly hands over opportunities to challenge again.

The Church of the Cycle’s Elysiums focused on comforting and soothing the lives that inevitably had to be fierce.

It was also an insidious place that helped fulfill emotions or grudges that couldn’t be resolved while alive.

However, being insidious doesn’t necessarily mean it is mysterious.

When it came to being mysterious, there was the Celestial Church.

Unlike the Armed Church or the Church of the Cycle, which were closely related to life, it was probably because there was a lot of vague talk catching clouds.

The Celestial Church received relatively less attention compared to the aforementioned two churches, and perhaps because of that, it also had the fewest related records.

What is known is extremely rare.

It is said that the Elysiums belonging to the Celestial Church are full of splendid and magnificent lights.

A soul that set foot in that place could sever negative memories or emotions they absolutely couldn’t shake off during their lifetime all at once in a single breath.

An intense light that no threat dared approach made them lay down even their agony.

It is said that a soul that realized it was insignificant by seeing the light filling the Elysium like this made two main choices.

One was to completely give up on life and melt into the light of Elysium, forgetting even the memories of their past life.

The other was to reincarnate in order to ascend, chasing the envy of wanting to become a star.

Before the world collapsed, the paradise before the end of days was like this.

Then what would the new paradise that newly appeared in a world facing the end of days look like?

Although they might not speak of it, it was a curiosity everyone had harbored at least once.

What does the afterlife paradise promised by the Nebula Church led by the god after the Pantheon, the Godfather of Stars, Star Creation, look like.

If it were up to the people’s feelings, they would want to catch the angels popping out of Elysium and interrogate them.

Unfortunately, Star Creation didn’t particularly like talking about paradise.

To the extent that even someone with no tact would vaguely notice it.

Especially the holy knights who had formed a deep relationship with Star Creation through the Oath of Twin Stars considered mentioning anything related to Elysium like a taboo.

This was what Shek, the commander leading the holy knights, intended.

Whenever someone who couldn’t hold back their curiosity occasionally asked a question, Shek returned the exact same answer every time.

“But Commander, you’ve been with Lord Star Creation for a long, long time. Wouldn’t it be fine to just lightly ask what Elysium is like?”

“Lord Star Creation does not want it. It’s better for you not to talk about it either.”

“How dare we guess the intentions of a god? Who knows, if we ask, he might surprisingly answer simply.”

“Then think carefully.”

And then, if there was someone persistently asking like beans sprouting in a drought, he reminded them of a casually overlooked fact.

“Has Lord Star Creation ever promised you a trip to Elysium first?”

“Well, that’s.”

When it reaches this point, the moment they are about to nod their heads saying it’s obvious, they end up realizing.

How prominent the difference between Star Creation and the existing gods was.

Even while saving or helping people, even though it would be the easiest way to gain faith, Star Creation had never once promised the afterlife paradise first.

He was different from the existing gods who threatened that one couldn’t go to Elysium if they didn’t live according to doctrine.

Rather, the impression was strong that he reluctantly brought up stories related to Elysium only after a person persistently asked.

The holy knight who was biting and hanging on couldn’t help but be startled and ask back.

“Could it be that Elysium is a bluff?”

And a rap on the head returned before an answer.

The question only stopped after a power capable of crushing dozens of plywood boards in a single breath struck the top of his head.

“Just how on earth did you become a holy knight? Why do you have so little piety?”

“Ouch, ouch, ouch…”

“Stop exaggerating. Seeing you spouting nonsense, I need to inspect your armed state once.”

“Ugh.”

When he raised his fist, they got scared beforehand and ran away in a flurry.

Shek held his tongue while watching the retreating figure of the fleeing holy knight.

The reason the Nebula Church didn’t proselytize by putting Elysium at the forefront was because Star Creation didn’t want it.

And why Star Creation didn’t put Elysium at the forefront was a problem entirely dependent on the will of the god, which one shouldn’t dare demand an answer for.

“It might be different for philosophers or theologians, but a holy knight shouldn’t say such things. Absolutely not.”

The revelation came during an unannounced inspection right after chasing away the questioning holy knight.

Shek was busily grilling them, pointing out every trivial detail he usually let slide.

“We use the Light Star, so why are you carrying around a scabbard? And what’s this name written here.”

“Ah, that. A person I saved gave it to me out of gratitude…”

“I don’t argue about private matters, but shouldn’t you still distinguish between public and private…?!”

A neat barracks made by draping cloth over wooden pillars.

Shek was definitely strolling beneath it and looking at a holy knight in shabby clothes.

However, the moment he blinked once, everything changed.

Shek’s eyes were still looking at the interior of the barracks, but what Shek saw was a completely different scenery.

A stream embraced by clear, warm, and soft sunlight.

Unknown flowers growing beneath the transparent dew formed on the leaves of sparsely grown trees.

The surrounding forest was dense but bright and sunny without a single feeling of being shaded.

Despite its considerable depth, the flowing stream water captured and painted both the sky and the bottom like a glass bead.

Even from far away, he could see everything from a single scraped pebble to a tiny fish squeezing through a crevice.

However, what caught Shek’s attention wasn’t nature with a neat and bright feeling.

Familiar voices from past years and buried memories were coming from among the nostalgic backs.

=Look, I told you Den goes well with trees.=

=Geron, you’re a woodcutter. Are carpentry and woodcutting the same to you?=

=If you handle wood, it’s all the same.=

=Forget it. What’s the point of talking to you. More importantly, Beryl, are you okay not seeing him?=

Stories that only the parties involved knew smoothly came out.

=What for, a fully grown man. He’s a guy who used to dart away like an arrow if I said I’d smack his bottom. He’s a guy who’s an expert at running away, so I wasn’t even worried.=

“Brother? Is it you, brother?”

Did it not reach because he raised his voice with an urgent heart.

Shek’s question seemed to scatter emptily.

The nostalgic figures with familiar voices were just rattling on with their own words, let alone looking back.

=Now it looks like your younger brother is going to beat you up.=

=Aren’t you scared you’ll get hit if you meet him?=

=Tsk. If I had received miracles like that, I wouldn’t even be here.=

=If you really can’t bear to see him, at least say a word.=

“Brother, are you listening?!”

Ultimately, only after he shouted stiffly while popping the veins in his neck did a meaningful reaction return.

It were words fitting for a brother who didn’t give a single word of praise to his younger brother.

=Shek, at least wake up promptly in front of Den even if you’re tired. What’s with a fully grown adult whining about sleep in front of his nephew?=

These words were the last.

Because his vision blurred and crushed, the moment he blinked, everything had returned to normal.

A barracks without the warm sunlight, the clean stream water, the sunny forest, or the nostalgic voices and familiar backs.

Shek wiped his tears with his sleeve over and over again, but nothing changed.

It wasn’t just Shek.

All the holy knights who had been shrinking their shoulders until just a moment ago were crying while muffling their sounds.

“M-Mom. Mom, when did you gain so much weight.”

“Yuro… If Yuro grew up, he would look like that.”

It was at this time that Star Creation’s revelation was heard.

[Holy Knights, take a combat stance immediately right now. There is a dragon boss nearby.]

One must not dare disobey or guess the will of a god.

It was also the moment Shek, who had been shouting like that towards the holy knights until now, inadvertently cried out.

“Star Creation, O Star Creation. What is it that we just saw?”

The patience of an existence being considerate towards insignificant creatures lesser than themselves is inherently fragile.

Even a benevolent god could change their mind at any moment and pour down the most cold-hearted punishment.

Star Creation was not merely a generous god either.

Perhaps he might be enraged at the sight of choosing to ask a question rather than obeying immediately.

Even knowing that, Shek cried out rather than blaming his own foolishness for ending up shouting.

[You did not merely look. You saw and heard. You stayed by the side of those you might perhaps meet.]

And the god answered this earnest request.

[Because this is the sole proof of the promise I will make to you before driving you into a deadly place. Holy Knights, you must resolve yourselves for death and miserable pain.]

Koo-roo-roo-reung-.

The pillars supporting the tent shook all at once.

Those who were standing staggered, and the furniture prepared with much effort began to rattle and shake.

A few of the holy knights kicked off their seats and stood up before they even had time to wipe their flowing tears.

“Is it an ambush!”

“There was a word to take a combat stance! Commander, your orders!”

Amidst this confusion, Shek was the only one who heard the subsequent words.

[I will open the road to the underground.]

***

Catching a bug that has dug into fruit flesh is exceedingly difficult.

Normally, throwing it away is the correct answer, but if you must eat it no matter what, there is only one answer.

Find the area the bug dug into and carve it out.

Not hesitating feeling it’s a waste for no reason, and just cutting and cutting it all away is the only answer.

Thankfully, it was a bit better than ordinary cases.

* Authority Manifestation, Dividing Earth.

The scars left behind as the Forging Power Star fell were not just one or two.

The myriad fine cracks engraved on this vast grassland.

I felt the sensation of inserting my fingers between them… and manifested the usurped authority to my heart’s content.

Woo-doo-doo-doo-deuk.

The recoil of forcibly throwing open a closed door was transmitted to my fingertips.

At first, I wondered if my fingers would break, but conversely, the ground began to fester and crumble.

However, the earth was definitely hard.

Only the outer surface crumbled like sand; the inside was incredibly solid like tightly packed fruit flesh.

Hoo-doo-doo-deuk…

Earth and sand flowed down through the gaps of the dividing earth.

Below that pitch-black bottomless pit, I could see a milky-white earthworm getting startled and running away.

A scout sent by Cooling Breath.

I put more strength into the hand grabbing the ground and declared.

“Try fleeing deeper.”

I had thought of a way to deal with fallen dragons a long time ago.

I just had to set up defensive measures so the people I protected and cared for wouldn’t get hurt.

“Even if I have to dig through the entire ground, I will drag you out.”

Koo-roo-roo-reung.

The sound of lightning striking came from the ground, not the sky.

I was not the type to have great lingering attachments to bug-eaten fruit.

Rather, I was the type of person who would grind it completely whole, feeling disgusted at the bug that ate the fruit.