Chapter 30 – Dim Possibility

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Santiom, the stopover selected to draw out the Holy Mother of Stillborns.

Unexpectedly, many supplies remained in Santiom, which made a living out of the forestry industry.

Like wood that could be easily whittled into wooden spears or made into obstacles right away.

The refugees who flocked to Santiom took this as good luck, but they couldn’t just rejoice.

Because they had already seen what kind of end the residents of Santiom met.

“They must have been done for as soon as the sun was dyed black.”

Only Ryugen, who lived half his life as a soldier, could roughly guess.

Ryugen let out a complex sigh in front of the numerous food ingredients remaining in the abandoned houses.

The others who went out to search were the same.

While rejoicing at the fact that supplies remained, they chewed over what kind of things the original residents might have suffered and felt fear.

However, the biggest problem began the moment they joined up with the other refugees.

While my attention was briefly drawn to looking after the people searching the surroundings, a fierce shout was heard.

When I checked what was going on, refugees who came from elsewhere were pointing their fingers at Bartol.

“Don’t play tricks! What, share with each other!?”

“Did you not say that you would be with Star Creation.”

“That and this are separate matters! We lack things for our own people to eat, yet you want us to share with your side? Are you out of your mind?”

The reason the refugees opposed Bartol was exactly one.

It was because the scope of ‘us’ they each spoke of was different. Bartol, who had lived as a priest, thought of them as ‘us’ as long as they served the same god, but the opponent didn’t.

Bartol’s proposal to exchange necessary supplies was ignored in a single breath.

Not only that, even the proposal to band together was lightly rejected and conversely produced an opportunity to drift apart.

“If we feed you guys, we will starve to death first. We are sorry, but let’s live separately.”

“The side with a lot of people should solve it on their own, really…”

“Old man, about the god you serve. Is it even a proper god in the first place? I’ve never even heard of the name Star Creation. Think carefully too, old man.”

Their opposition even headed towards me.

The reason for their distrust was the fact that my existence was not in the pantheon before the world was ruined.

The newly arrived refugees turned their backs and left Bartol while feeling sorry and frustrated.

Bartol tried to recite the contents of the scriptures to hold onto them.

“Star Creation is a god from after the pantheon. At the very end of the scriptures!”

“It will be of no use, Bartol.”

“…Were you watching?”

Hearing my voice, Bartol looked up at the sky.

And as soon as he checked this side, he dropped his head deeply as if he had no face to show.

However, it was not Bartol’s fault. It was natural that the scope of ‘us’ was narrow for people who had no room to spare.

The reason the new refugees even doubted my existence was also exactly one. It was because they didn’t want to give up what they had.

Appeasing and persuading people who had no such thought multiple times would only bring about adverse effects.

Even before I came to this world, just looking at the people who committed all sorts of disturbances in the name of evangelism showed me that.

“Such things are bound to happen since unbelievable things have occurred one after another.”

“I thank you for your understanding, O Star Creation.”

Fortunately, not everyone distrusted Bartol and me.

It was because the yearning towards the light was greater than the hostility or wariness towards a new group.

Although a not small number acted perversely, the majority willingly joined this side.

“So… you’re saying this esteemed one made the stars in that sky?”

“Honey, let’s take this chance to change the main god we serve.”

“Honey. Even so, to so easily change the one we have served since grandfather’s generation.”

“They have to accept prayers for us to serve them! While you treat the deceased well, is it okay to ignore the words of your wife right in front of your eyes like that?”

“Uuuuuum.”

Among them, there were also those seriously considering conversion.

The pregnant woman with a swollen belly and her family were representative. They moved their hearts after hearing the story Bartol told them.

Looking at her husband standing beside her, the woman, who raised her eyebrows, stroked her swollen belly, soon to be full term.

“Even if the world is like this, our child should be born in the light.”

“…”

“Honey.”

“…I am sorry. You are right. Yes. Since I will tell my grandfather I am sorry, let us both convert.”

“Thank you, honey.”

The husband pulled his beaming wife into an embrace.

Bartol, who was scanning the surroundings after finishing his sermon, was floating a pleased smile at the sight of the harmonious couple. That was until Hwen approached his side.

“What’s making you grin happily, old man.”

“Ahem, ahem. As a priest, I should smile when the number of people wanting to convert is increasing.”

“Tsk. Have your sides been feeling cold lately since you ran away from home?”

“Hehehem!”

A smell like sweet cupcakes spread out.

The people found hope in the light I scattered. They were not people with exceptional talents or mental strength.

Just ordinary and weak people were doing everything they could for the next generation even under the dark night sky.

I must do so as well.

To salvage the people from a harsh fate, I had to do everything I could.

And… it wasn’t just me and the people who started doing our absolute best.

The precariously wavering starlights were forewarning an incoming attack soon.

Before the Black Sun rose, the monsters created by the demons would surge in.

I clenched both my fists and inspected the surrounding terrain of Santiom.

A huge forest casting a dense shade and obstructing the view. A large river flowing while winding slowly. Relatively intact walls.

The memories of the dead were dyed with fear and panic, making it difficult to grasp the detailed circumstances.

However, it was easy to guess how Santiom fell. The heterogeneous creatures created by the Blood-Soaked Mud probably rode the water currents and struck them.

It was probably an attack that accurately pinpointed the human blind spot that it would be safe if the river flowed.

There was a need to prepare.

Very thoroughly.

***

Hwen and Ryugen faithfully followed the instructions I gave.

“Get away from around the riverside! It is the recommendation of Star Creation!”

“Gather towards the center of the inner keep as much as possible! Do not throw a tantrum just because you don’t like your neighbors!”

I couldn’t just recklessly abandon them because they didn’t follow me.

In a world where each and every person’s life was precious, even if I couldn’t act coercively, I had to at least throw out some room for thought. The vigilantes following Hwen and Ryugen’s soldiers went around every nook and cranny shouting.

I could have done it myself, but there were too many things to do right away.

What worried me the most above all was the combat power of the people.

This time, there was a high possibility I would not be able to wipe them out in an instant. In the end, the people had to hold out with their own strength, but if they lacked this and that experience, they would entirely die.

They had to be able to at least persuade people, count their numbers, and organize them… to survive.

For Hwen’s vigilantes, who started from the bottom, this experience was quite dense.

The vigilantes cultivated their eye for observation by setting out to find the people situated everywhere. And they also gradually adapted to the task of grasping the numbers.

“Over there, there’s more people over there. They really hide well.”

“If they were bad at hiding, they would be dead. …Hey there, is there an uncle or an elder! We are just going to count the numbers and leave, so if you are really worried, then just have one person speak!”

Excluding a wary minority, everyone willingly cooperated.

Although they acted sharp due to starvation and exhaustion, they were people who regained stability even with just a single soft ray of light.

The yearning for the light was that great. To the point that even the unbelievers who didn’t trust me gathered around the scattered light.

It was just that a few truly stubborn ones rejected my recommendation and the light, and headed towards the riverside.

“That’s all a trick to draw us out. Get away from around the riverside? Ridiculous nonsense.”

“Have you ever seen Corpse Demons cross the water? I knew it from the start when he claimed to be a god despite his name never once being heard in the pantheon.”

“Tsk tsk tsk tsk, acting so foolishly.”

These people rather turned their backs to the light and kept getting further away.

Even at a low estimate, 60 people.

In my heart, I wanted to tell them to stop trolling and follow me, or to protect them up to the riverside.

However, this attack would be on a different level from before.

I couldn’t protect everyone with a half-hearted resolve. Only by minimizing the range to protect would the casualties also decrease.

Up until now, we somehow managed to come well without a single casualty but… I couldn’t guarantee it this time.

I felt certain that we would not be able to win just by me doing my best alone.

Fortunately, the people who were with me burned their will fiercely instead of resigning and giving up.

“What are we going to do if you hold the nail like that. I’ll show you how to hammer, so try copying.”

“W, what are you going to do if I make a mistake and smash it?”

“This bastard… He became a total coward after meeting Star Creation once.”

“Try getting hit. You’ll be crying your eyes out because it hurts so damn much.”

“How can you be worse than your own nephew. Look at Den, he’s doing a great job hammering away.”

“U, Uncle Shek has a good eye for observation instead.”

“To think you’re getting embarrassed. …Shek, you ought to feel a little embarrassed.”

Ad, who was active as a former lumberjack and a carpenter.

Ad was passing on how to hammer to the coward Shek and other people.

“Debra, what is that?”

“Little Star Creation! Hehe, I asked him to protect Uncle.”

The little girl Debra rubbed against her mother’s bosom and proudly lifted a grimy bundle of cloth.

Looking closely, she had somehow skillfully drawn eyes, nose, and a mouth with something like pitch-black soot.

And with wiggly skills fitting for a child at that. Thanks to that, I could chuckle for the first time in a while amidst the serious atmosphere.

This was the last moment of peace we could have before the attack came.

From the dim night sky, beyond the shadows the starlight couldn’t entirely push away, malice began to squirm.

[Behold the benevolence that severs the fetters of infinite birth and death to save them from mortality.]

The sunless night was originally the time of demons.

As soon as they confirmed that people had gathered in Santiom and settled in to some extent, the bastards were moving.

In response, I also orbited the stars inside my flesh.

-Star Protection miracle, Comet Tail

-Star Protection miracle, Barrier

-Impartment miracle, Stability

Wrapped the surroundings of the shelter with starlight, and overlaid golden barriers several times over the flimsy obstacles.

The people who saw this miracle for the first time were merely fascinated, but it was different for those who had already experienced it.

“I, it’s a miracle.”

“An attack is coming! Everyone, snap out of it!”

“What? An attack?”

Some of the panicked ones hurriedly looked up at the sky, but only their doubts multiplied.

Because to the new refugees, it was common knowledge that attacks only came when the Black Sun rose.

[Behold the hypocrite scattering starlight that failed to become a sun, pushing you into the pit of mortality.]

At this moment, one of my common senses shattered as well.

No… I finally remembered the other existences I had forgotten about until now.

Within the pitch-black darkness, swaying fireflies were seen.

It was not the deep blue ghost fire seen among a swarm of Corpse Demons. Conversely, it was the red and bright light wielded only by those who protected their lives.

[Behold, they are receiving the starlight that will never head towards you.]

Only then did I realize who the Holy Mother of Stillborns was talking to.

Broken armor hidden by frayed surcoats, and festering souls inside injured bodies.

“It’s light, it’s light…”

“Fuck. Fuck.”

They were the defeated soldiers who dealt with the Holy Mother of Stillborns.

Not the Lion Shield Legion, but the ones who repeatedly committed human sacrifices to survive.

The defeated soldiers were blankly looking at this side holding chipped blades and cracked shields.

Even though they struggled so much, the majority of them were degrading into Corpse Demons. She burst into laughter, mocking the unfortunate sacrifices captivated by the contract.

[Do you understand now? Only this mother can embrace you. Even so, if you wish to defy this mother, pity your families embraced in this mother’s bosom.]

The defeated soldiers gritted their teeth at those words and stood still.

That was, until the one with half his face ripped off shouted.

“Legion, raise your spears and swords! The target is…”

The one who had to have once been in an honorable position lowered his visor to hide his viciously distorted face and shouted.

“The target is the ones receiving the starlight!”