Chapter 81 – Star Creation’s Army

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Star Creation, having decided to create an army, continued with surprising actions.

Watching from the side, Bartol pondered how to express it and barely came up with one thing.

Uncharacteristic of a newly born young god.

A cleric with some degree of study knew that even if gods seemed infinitely omnipotent, they had limits.

The difference in knowledge and experience originating from the difference in age was a representative example.

In a mythical fight where victory or defeat was decided by how one utilized authority, Star Creation skillfully utilized his Divine Name.

Was that all?

In this world, gods with foresight could be counted on one hand.

Even looking at the Armed Church, where the majority were combat-oriented, they were inexperienced in feeling the emotions of believers, and even if they had foresight, it was bound to be limited.

Knowing the future was a special power possessed only by a very few even within the Church of the Cycle and the Celestial Church.

And when one thing was outstanding, another was lacking.

A god with excellent combat abilities had fewer types of emotions they could feel.

A god proficient in feeling the emotions of believers fell behind in combat abilities.

A god with far-seeing foresight frequently engaged in incomprehensible words and actions.

However, the god after the Pantheon, Star Creation, was free from all these cases.

Especially in ruling believers and leading an army.

[The enemy you must fight easily chews up helmets and tears armor. You must avoid them with agile movements, but you must not fear wounds.]

People ignorant of theology or divine power wouldn’t know.

Just how great of a miracle Star Creation, who was reciting divine words then, was showing.

The training ground where people gathered.

Star Creation was laying hands on each Holy Knight kneeling before him and pouring out countless miracles.

Bartol clearly watched what shapes the stardust emitted by Star Creation drew as it danced.

Great miracles that only a god could unfold were engraved on each of those small shapes.

‘Enhanced reflexes, accelerated time perception, maximized regeneration upon incapacitation, once-limited attack nullification.’

It was comparable to the protections gods used to bestow to make their favored humans into heroes back when the Pantheon was intact.

Bartol, who had unthinkingly thought so, changed his mind upon seeing the continuously following miracles.

‘Visual enhancement including night vision, granted evil detection ability, healing ability, strengthened bone and muscle hardness, and on top of that…’

If a martial artist wishing for a lofty state had been there, they would have immediately prostrated and begged.

To give just one of the protections being bestowed right then to them.

Bartol, who watched until the last miracle bestowed by Star Creation, couldn’t help but click his tongue.

‘Even telepathy. To allow them to coordinate without talking. Godfather of Stars, are you sure about this? Bestowing this much power to all of them.’

However, he was the only one who completely saw through all these wondrous miracles.

The Holy Knights simply accepted them with a reverent attitude, not knowing how great the protections bestowed upon them were.

Unlike Bartol’s complicated feelings, Star Creation merely laid hands on them and divided them in order.

[You are my army that will advance under the starless shade. I will forgive defeat and retreat. I will also understand feeling fear and hesitating. However, I will not permit giving up.]

When he finished the last laying of hands, Star Creation warned in a firm tone instead of the soft voice he had kept until now.

[Even so, if there are those who step back out of fear of being killed and dragged away while fulfilling your calling, I promise you now.]

It wasn’t just the Holy Knights who heard these words.

Not only those gathered at the training ground to watch but everyone in Bakumsia heard these words.

[You will surely return to my embrace. And you will enjoy the warm day when the sun rises.]

Was there any human who wouldn’t be shaken before the promise of a new sun?

While everyone looked up at Star Creation, Bartol captured the stars sparkling in that sky and looking down on the people in his eyes.

‘When I first saw him, I just thought he was a kind young man.’

The moments he crossed all sorts of adversity together with the god suddenly came to mind.

It was when Bartol woke from his reminiscence and lowered his head again that the answering refrain was heard.

“”Godfather of Stars, young father. Fill the night sky with stars as you will, and illuminate a new heaven with your sun.””

It seemed Bartol wasn’t the only one feeling a surge of emotions.

Each of the Holy Knights answering was firmly clenching their lips and solidifying their resolve.

Star Creation slowly scanned them and quietly murmured.

[Forgive me for driving you to the deadly frontlines.]

***

I poured out all the miracles I could.

All the miracles I knew but didn’t bother using.

The reason was precisely because of the three laws forced upon the world.

…The soul of the dead belongs to the one who killed them.

Being a Holy Knight was no exception.

Considering the meaning humans hold in this world, using humans in war was close to high-risk, low-return.

Angels were fine as long as they didn’t become fallen.

Fundamentally, as celestial beings, even if the distance was far, I could retrieve their souls if I just exerted a little power.

However, humans were not.

If they died in a place away from me, they were dragged straight into the abyss or a demon’s stomach.

Moreover, the enemy became stronger by the number of deaths, and the Sun God’s descent was hastened.

Above all, if killed, the Holy Knights would have to howl in pain amidst an indefinite wait.

Their only sin was one.

That they challenged demons with a more faithful heart and firmer resolve than anyone else.

This was the reason I gritted my teeth and didn’t try to put people on the frontlines.

However, this appearance was bound to be perceived as favoritism by someone.

Someone familiar with divine power and miracles noticed how much attention I was paying and began to envy them.

“How nice. If I was bestowed such miracles, I could easily catch dozens of demons too.”

“Ceciel-nim. Those miracles are only valid for humans. Holy Knights are weaker than us even with those miracles.”

Even from that far away, I could hear everything in my ears.

It seemed she fell apart thinking about before I became strong, but unfortunately, it was an incorrect prediction.

Ceciel barely stopped whining only after Anniel was shocked out of her wits and coaxed and soothed her.

“…Who says I don’t know? I just, wish Star Creation-nim would care about us too.”

“Ceciel-nim, you must know. Star Creation-nim is someone who personally walked upon the fallen world after the Pantheon. Naturally, he can’t have a good opinion of the stars of heaven who abandoned their duties and fled. Rather, we should be thankful he accepted us.”

“I’m just saying because I, I could do better too. It’s a shame. I can do well too.”

“I understand.”

I thought they had stopped.

It seemed I really neglected the angels too much.

Since I was starting to use humans in earnest anyway, there was no need to save the angels.

However, a full-scale ritual to strengthen angels required preparation.

If I conversed with the lingering thoughts of Exchanging Knowledge, I could significantly reduce that preparation.

I was done preparing to leave my seat.

There was no reason to hesitate anymore.

I looked around the training ground where silence had fallen and found a familiar face.

“Shek.”

“I-I am listening! G-Great One!”

“I still remember the beating sound of your heart. You made a brave decision.”

“No, I didn’t!”

Shek answered while forcibly squeezing out his trembling voice.

He still looked timid, but if he were simply timid, he wouldn’t have even come here.

Unlike his trembling voice, his pupils were looking this way sharply and clearly.

“One who is only brave is reckless. One who is only timid is indecisive. However, one who overcomes with courage shall be prudent.”

“…”

“Shek, I grant you the authority to command the Holy Knights. When I am away, join forces with the angels and protect the people.”

“…Yes? T-That’s.”

Indeed, he couldn’t hold back his agitation at these words.

Shek began to look around instead of looking at me at some point.

The way to shake off that delusion was very simple.

I approached Shek and naturally placed my hand over his solar plexus.

Then, under his clothes, under the thick skin and ribs, the protected heart began to shine brightly.

“If anyone asks the reason, tell them this.”

“Huk, huuuk…!”

“That you were chosen because you yourself are a living witness of a miracle.”

Shek was once driven to the brink of death after being attacked by a Corpse Poison Bug.

At that time, I completely crushed the parasitized heart and created a new heart for him.

Now, there would be almost no one who brought it up.

Showing this much was enough.

No one would be able to doubt Shek’s authority.

As I withdrew my hand again, the shining heart also slowly returned to its original state.

With his mouth wide open, Shek fumbled his chest and repeatedly exclaimed.

“Oh my, oh my. My goodness!”

“Shek. Divide the Holy Knights into two, have one patrol the perimeter. Have the other look around the sleeping people and guard against attacks from succubi.”

“Yes? Ah! Y-Yes, sir!”

“Ceciel and Anniel, divide yourselves and assist the Holy Knights. You will be deployed after preserving your strength as reserve forces.”

I prepared for a really long time.

To the point where there would be no problem even if I left my seat.

Normally, I would have had to drag all the people around groaning, but just having beings I could entrust my back to made my actions leisurely.

I looked at the Holy Knights and the angels watching from afar, and let out a sigh.

Good. With this much, I should be able to buy time until I returned.

“Then, I will head to Whinisten. If there is any problem, hope for the protection of the stars.”

As long as the Black Sun didn’t rise, it was enough.

Thanks to the stars in the night sky bravely sparkling, I could put my mind at ease.

***

…It was a given, but the Sun God and his allies were extremely wary of the Armed Church.

It was obvious how it would be, especially for a Divine Name that was practically the main agent leading the resistance.

I had guessed to some extent.

Whinisten, which I took the trouble to fly to and check, had turned into a desolate ruin.

Except for the collapsed city walls, it was truly a place covered only with flat ground.

The inner castle and watchtowers had all collapsed without exception, so the temple couldn’t possibly be intact.

Even if there was luckily an underground temple, if it was ruined to this extent, wouldn’t it have sunk into the pile of debris.

I landed softly on the city that had turned into an open field, and was lamenting without realizing it.

“I knew it. There’s no way the Sun God would leave it alone.”

It seemed I rushed here without weighing the pros and cons upon hearing it was a city that served Exchanging Knowledge.

I couldn’t bring myself to leave immediately, and stood blankly, hesitating in despondency.

[It is as you worried. Also, it is as you expected.]

…Until a faint voice was heard from behind.

A figure resembling a human covered in tightly written notes was approaching me.

Having met him through the memories of Pleasant Oblivion, I immediately recalled his name.

“Exchanging Knowledge? How?”

[The Sun God is thorough but captivated by arrogance. That point was merely the only gap we could aim for.]

Exchanging Knowledge opened both arms and pointed at the city turned into a wasteland.

[This is a city dedicated to me, so it is a temple itself.]

“Didn’t the Sun God know that and destroy it? No, didn’t he?”

I first changed to a polite tone since he’s a senior god.

Exchanging Knowledge began to burst into laughter, seemingly pleased by that appearance.

[God who creates stars, it is as you say. However, even if only one cornerstone remains, if reverence is gathered and prayed upon it, that place is also a temple.]

But that laughter didn’t last long.

Exchanging Knowledge looked around the flattened city and sighed.

[However, I cannot just be happy because we caught the enemy off guard.]

“It’s a pity.”

[That’s not it, young god.]

The moment Exchanging Knowledge opened his hand, I knew the reason he sighed.

A hologram-like map drawn over his hand.

The memories of playing [Last Comet] were telling me the true identity of that map.

It was a map containing everything in this world.

Ruins that were once cities, surviving shelters and survivor numbers, and of course, the territories of the Great Demons that divided the world.

It was a map that even indicated the surviving gods and their locations.

[The Sun God’s actions are restricted, but the horde that serves him is free.]

…And the star-shaped symbols representing surviving gods were disappearing one by one from the map.

68, 67, 66.

It was quiet after that, but the fact that they were decreasing was clear.

[God who creates stars, I send praise to your wondrous struggles. But please understand that there is no time to rest.]

I looked at Exchanging Knowledge with a stiffly hardened face.

“The Celestial Church is seeking Elysiums to offer to the Sun God.”