Chapter 39 – Riding the River

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The pantheon of [Last Comet] was largely divided into three churches.

They weren’t carbon copies just because they were all celestial beings. Not only their alignments but also their appearances were slightly different.

Among them, angels could be easily distinguished by the color of their halos.

Though ordinary people just saw their humanoid appearances and overlooked them thinking they were all the same angels.

The angel I met at the bell tower had… a platinum-colored halo.

If it’s a platinum-colored halo, it’s an angel belonging to the Armed Church.

Perhaps that’s why it was quite strong. Although I didn’t get to hear its name, considering the situation it was in, it actually fought well.

Taxculi was a famous demon whose name was recorded in the Book of Demons.

Although the Holy Mother of Stillborns didn’t feed it an Elysium, due to its disposition, it didn’t stand out much. Originally, Taxculi was adept at employing subordinates rather than fighting directly.

Its main body’s combat power wasn’t very weak either, and it rarely let its guard down.

Fighting such a demon right after recovering from a severe injury was by no means something to look down upon.

If it had been in a state where it realized my Divine Name, or if it hadn’t performed human sacrifice, I would have accepted it.

Probably, if it was in normal condition, it would have boasted combat power in the top 10% of angels.

An angel of the Armed Church was actually fine. No, it was rather on the lucky side.

What I was worried about was if the angel of Ranium belonged to the Celestial Church.

“So, you’re saying if that ring-like thing above the angel’s head is bright yellow, we have to run away?”

“Not bright yellow, but orange.”

I repeatedly requested earnestly to Ard, who kept getting confused.

Perhaps knowing it was awkward himself, he scratched the back of his head and stealthily averted his gaze.

“A slightly yellowish white is the Armed Church, a bright yellow like a petal is the Church of the Cycle, and an orange like vivid sunlight is the Celestial Church. Nesaro, focus. You have to memorize this and inform the people. Nesaro, you can memorize it.”

“Hey, why are you doing this so diligently making a person feel awkward…”

On the other hand, Nesaro was endlessly memorizing it right next to him while walking in circles.

Perhaps comparing himself with Nesaro who was desperately memorizing, Ard also let out a sigh.

“I may be an ugly bastard, but seeing that sight, I can’t just sit still. I will try my best to memorize it.”

Seeing the passionate Nesaro, Ard also quietly headed to a corner. While constantly memorizing what he heard, that is.

Those who had already memorized it had headed to their respective positions.

The first to return among them was Ryugen. Ryugen showed me a soldier-like salute as soon as he came.

Chuck, chuck.

He brought his clenched fist to his chest, showing his respect.

“I told you not to do that.”

I hated the military.

It was a good memory, but not an itch-inducing memory that I would particularly want to reminisce about.

“Yes, sir! However, the soldiers were very surprised. I just didn’t show it either. So the angels also had characteristics according to their churches. I didn’t know because I had never seen one.”

“I would like it if I didn’t have to meet one either.”

“As you say. …O Godfather of the Stars, everyone is stiff at the fact that angels can be hostile to survivors.”

It was not particularly surprising.

Serving Moon.

The god who followed the Sun God who turned his back on the world merely acted befitting his reputation as a deranged lunatic.

Serving Moon was a fanatic who believed that if they purified the world before the demons, the Sun God would illuminate the world again.

And that purification meant punishing all the humans who disappointed the Sun God.

Naturally, I couldn’t hand over the people I painstakingly saved to such a lunatic.

“Do not worry. Even if dozens of angels come, I can win.”

And definite confidence was bound to stabilize the surroundings. Belief sprouted not from miracles, but from one’s usual words, actions, and attitude.

I even bluffed with things I didn’t have so they wouldn’t feel anxious.

“Is there anyone among you who died while being with me?”

Only after hearing these words did the anxiety and wariness finally disappear.

A bright smile returned to Ryugen’s shadowed face. For some reason, he also sharply straightened his drooping back and shoulders.

“…There is none. There was no one. I apologize, O Godfather of the Stars. We dared to doubt you!”

“Do not worry and help the people pack their luggage. It seems the enemies won’t be attacking for the time being.”

“As the Great One wills!”

Ryugen pleasantly left this place.

I firmly suppressed ominous words until not only Ryugen’s, but everyone’s attention was diluted.

If a god’s intuition developed, it became foresight.

Although it hadn’t reached foresight yet, intuition was telling me something ominous was happening.

I had to move.

Including the newly born babies, a total of 782 people.

Everyone was packing their luggage and leaving Santiom.

Some packed them tightly saying the mushrooms were a waste, and some only plucked a few petals off the Starflowers.

The beginning of a long journey heading to a place where the Dark Light was faint.

Having to take steps without knowing when the end would be, it was natural for worries to suddenly spring up.

Even though many problems were solved, people were still worried.

The first was the problem of how to go to Ranium.

“By the way, won’t we get attacked while going from here to Ranium?”

“Is Ranium that far?”

“No, when there was a ferry, we could just take a boat so it’d be quick. But there isn’t one.”

“That’s true.”

It was just as they said. Let alone a boatman, even the boats to row were all smashed.

Whatever was left would have been swept up in the chain explosion caused by the Atonement Star and turned to dust.

The question of how they would go was considered quite seriously among the survivors.

Because as the numbers grew, the pace inevitably slowed down.

Sure enough, Hwen and Bartol, who had been silently listening, began to call me.

“O Star Creation, I am ashamed. We must move our steps even a moment sooner…”

“No. I know. It is by no means a problem to overlook in vain.”

Every time the sun rose and set, the world got a little closer to destruction.

What maintained the world were the contracts concluded mutually between the Great Demons and the Sun God, and the handful of living people left.

Naturally, as time went by, the Dark Light in the east only got darker, and the influence of the underground and the abyss increased accordingly.

Before we were overtaken by the pitch-black Dark Light, we needed a means to move the survivors as quickly as possible.

“I am merely amazed by your broad generosity.”

“Old man, praising is good and all, but.”

It seemed Hwen found Bartol, who spouted flowery words endlessly, unreliable.

Hwen was poking his ribs with his elbow.

Of course, I possessed the authority to solve this serious problem.

“Do not worry. There is a method I have thought of.”

I just hadn’t used it until now to prepare against an unreasonable surprise attack from Blood-Soaked Mud.

If I gained power, I should use it fully to the core.

I called each representative and had them gather the people near the riverbank.

Instead of leaving the walls of Santiom, that is.

Although everyone was puzzled, they obediently followed since it was the word of a god.

“Why the riverbank?”

“I think I know what it is.”

“What?”

“I’ve followed him ever since Catabria. I saw Lord Star Creation handle river water. So, pababat! He’ll spread his arms and make the river part. And we’ll cross.”

“Ooooh. We’re walking across the riverbed!”

There were also those who somewhat guessed the miracle I would cause.

Though it was an answer slightly off the mark.

A long time looking at the direction the river flowed while floating in the sky.

Finally, everyone packed up their luggage and gathered tightly in front of the riverbank.

“O Star Creation, everyone has gathered!”

Murmur, murmur, murmur…

Everyone talked, each making their own guess about what would happen.

As soon as I heard Bartol’s shout that everyone had gathered, I used the usurped authority.

-Exercise of rights, Freshwater

The blue comets inside my flesh gathered to my fingertips and formed a bright halo of light.

Even though the volume had decreased a lot due to the chain explosion, it was still a huge river. It was unreasonable for people to cross with their bare bodies.

People seemed to think I would part the river water… but there was a much better method.

“Ooooh…! Th, the river water is shining!”

“Waaaaah!!!”

Everyone let out cheers at the river water being dyed in golden light.

Among them, there were also those who smiled and hopped around.

However, when the river water didn’t part no matter how much time passed, everyone began to feel bewildered.

“…Huh?”

“What’s this. Why is it only shining?”

“Is he thinking of another method?”

“Shhh. Wait quietly until Lord Star Creation speaks.”

People whispering to each other.

Pointing at the river water with my fingertips, I smiled towards them.

“Do you remember the water droplets I made for you. It’s exactly the same. You won’t fall in even if you step on it, and you won’t get wet, so step onto the river water.”

What returned to these words was silence.

It was not an unpleasant matter. It was normal for anyone facing something outside of common sense to act like that.

Even if it were me, if someone told me to step up saying I could step on river water, I would curse them calling them a crazy bastard. They were at least keeping their mouths shut because it was a god.

…It was not like these people lacked reverence to that extent, though.

Only the faint stench of fear drifted over slightly; it was not to the point of a nausea-inducing foul smell.

It was inevitable to hesitate.

In the end, they would barely move only if someone pushed their backs, but a completely unexpected figure was dragged out.

“U, uh?! De, Den! Ki, kids! Stop!”

“Uncle, he said it’s exactly the same as the water droplet! It’s not scary!”

“Mister is a coward~.”

“Kids, people die if they fall into water!”

“We didn’t die even when we fell into the water droplet! Bleh~.”

Den, reborn as a rascal, was dragging the coward Shek along, joining forces with his peers.

Den, full of excitement at the thought of stepping on the river water together, was merely stomping his feet.

Shek twisted his body not wanting to go, yet deliberately didn’t use all his strength.

Half feeling reluctant, and half wanting to indulge the children’s whining.

“That’s because that was a water droplet! The river is deep! Wai, uwaaaat!”

Eventually, Shek ended up stepping onto the river water together with the children.

“Wow. It’s soft and fluffy.”

“…Huh? I, I’m not falling in. I’m not falling in. Uh, heuheuheu.”

“Lord Star Creation said we wouldn’t fall in. You just don’t trust God.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t trust him, it’s just. A person can’t easily change when they have experiences.”

Shek tapped the river water with his foot several times as if he couldn’t believe it.

It was the same for the others whose jaws dropped open.

I showed off my triumphant appearance to them to my heart’s content.

“We are riding the river.”

Now, when the attacks had stopped, was the opportunity.

The starry night sky was also moving sluggishly.

It was because I delayed the Black Sun’s rise as much as possible.

The Black Sun also seemed to have realized that he could not defeat me just by continuously striking.

He seemed to be preparing some sort of trump card.

Fortunately, the people didn’t notice my serious atmosphere.

Even though the people were excited riding the river water flowing like an escalator.

“Wow! It moves even if we just sit!”

“Phew, how will we walk around later.”

They even clapped for each other and sang merrily.

However, the humming stopped in an instant.

“Huh?”

“What’s this. Something….”

Flash-.

For a while I thought they were twinkling passionately, but the stars that observed the situation first were moving.

The place the stars looked down upon was a city protected by crumbled walls.

-Star Protection miracle, Protection of the Sentinel Star

-Star Protection miracle, Dawn of the Consoling Star

-Star Protection miracle, Falling Tear of the Ever-Weeping Star

Amidst the wildly dancing streaks of light, a sharp metallic sound overlapped countless times.

Ordinary people might not have heard it, but I could hear the sound even from this distance.

Aaaaaak, run away, please save me…

The foul stench of fear crept up.

Ranium was being attacked.