Chapter 85 – Nebula Church (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Among all things in the world, the most precious was the human soul.

Everyone had a craving for the dust that could become stars, the nebula.

Not only the gods and angels fixed in heaven, but even the demons stuck in the abyss and underground.

Even the wondrous power and rights possessed by gods were fundamentally derived from humans.

The origins of demons were lives that threw themselves into the abyss and underground, captivated by selfish desires.

Naturally, demons were always captivated by a thirst for power and coveted the status of gods.

However, the stars of heaven were strictly keeping a lookout, and humans who voluntarily came into contact with the abyss were infinitely few.

Soaring demand and absurdly lacking supply.

It was inevitable for demons to fight over goods that everyone desired but could not be distributed fairly to everyone.

They did not yield an inch of compromise for their own factions and goals.

After a struggle that lasted thousands of years at the shortest, or since the creation of the world at the longest, all that was left was old hatred.

Because of this, even if the Sun God suppressed them with absolute authority and power, the limits were clear.

What returned to the Dream-Shedding Eye, who appealed for help even throwing away its pride, was only mocking sneers.

Even though it put forward its own grounds to hide its despicable inner thoughts.

[The god who creates stars, has killed too many. My kin, needs rest. My kin is terrified.]

Cooling Breath presented the fact that it suffered the greatest damage during the last raid as its grounds.

Actually, the Fallen Dragons died in swarms due to the unexpected attack by the god who creates stars, Star Creation.

If it had made a slight mistake, its entire Elysium would have been snatched away.

Even just making excuses, Cooling Breath was being considerate in its own way.

When the Dream-Shedding Eye turned its attention elsewhere, what it heard was a high-level rebuke.

[You proudly lay out your incompetence. Even I sigh at the low-intelligence appearance befitting those fascinated by the abyss. Even if I am like this, how miserable must the master of the world have felt. I am just devastated as I cannot dare guess his feelings.]

There was no warmth in the silver radiance emitted by the head of the Celestial Church, Serving Moon.

Serving Moon merely poured a cold sneer like icy water.

Being snobbish and drawing a line, saying ‘I am different from you.’

To the point where even Cooling Breath, who was listening quietly, snorted fiercely.

If it stayed silent even after hearing such a rebuke, it did not deserve to be called a Great Demon.

The Dream-Shedding Eye immediately discarded its humble attitude and growled with murderous intent.

[…Do not be so haughty just because you are the Celestial Church. Aren’t you all eventually hunting fallen stars by borrowing the power of the abyss too.]

[We are different. We have not forgotten our noble mission, do not equate us with the snobbish desires of you trivial kin.]

[At least we are honest. The dragons, and they too, are not crazy. We just lacked power.]

Even Cooling Breath, unable to hold back, aimed an arrowhead.

However, Serving Moon did not yield to the pressure from both directions and rather spread both arms as if it was dignified.

With a reverent attitude like a priest waiting for the rising sun.

[Foolish things, since you still have not understood that the treasonous thought of daring to challenge the sun with lacking power is a crazy act in itself, I call you low-intelligence and lowly.]

[Even though you have set foot in the abyss, you don’t challenge the sun?]

[How can you equate us, who keep the noble heavenly commandments, with your kin? How can one fascinated by the abyss to oppose the sun and one handling the abyss to serve the sun be the same?]

Serving Moon’s thorough obedience and firm faith made even fellow demons sick.

It was natural considering most demons fell chasing selfish desires.

Because none of them had ever fallen for the sake of faith.

Paradoxically, the Celestial Church, which had the most noble faith and birth, was killing survivors in the most wicked way.

The Dream-Shedding Eye shuddered at its contradictory attitude and fanaticism and stopped talking.

Raising its voice here would only waste precious time against an incomprehensible guy.

The Dream-Shedding Eye stepped forward to persuade, lowering itself to its eye level as much as possible.

[If so, shouldn’t we stop the last god who handles light and challenges the sun? If my incompetence is unreliable, you should be the ones to take the lead in stopping the forces of the god who creates stars from growing.]

[…Are you finally doing some contemplation. It is as you say, one captivated by the abyss. I too consider it right to punish the antagonist and pretender who dares to challenge the Sun God, but.]

It was natural to have expectations at the first positive tone returned.

However, what the Dream-Shedding Eye focused on was the ambiguous ending.

But.

Sure enough, Serving Moon firmly decided while waving its hand.

[The Great Master, the sublime Sun God has not permitted it, so I am merely obeying his command.]

[It is as Serving Moon says. The Sun God does not permit it. We cannot help. Not that we won’t help.]

Even Cooling Breath changed its attitude and joined in, thinking this was its chance.

The reality of the hastily formed alliance forced by the Sun God was much more miserable than expected.

The Dream-Shedding Eye alternated its glare at the illusions of the two and suddenly realized.

[You colluded.]

It was one who had been a king.

The Dream-Shedding Eye felt a conspiracy amidst the cold gazes returning to it and the Sun God’s silence.

[Just because the Sun God said not to confront him, we shouldn’t? Then, are my subjects and I not allowed to even resist once against the god who creates stars?]

It was a cry full of despair.

Cooling Breath felt mutual sympathy and kept its mouth shut, but the other one was different.

Serving Moon harbored a chilling smile.

The most fanatical follower of the Sun God began to emit its ominous silver radiance even more intensely.

-To completely drive out the Dream-Shedding Eye’s influence from their territory.

[If that is the will of the sun.]

[Are you going to confine us in the abyss again?!]

[Foolish king, you turned your back on the sun yourself wishing for immortality, and now you wish to walk under the sun, could anyone be more shameless than this.]

[The Sun God must have known what kind of place the abyss is! He knew everything and stayed silent! If he had at least spared my subjects.]

[Do not pretend to care for your subjects now. Furthermore, they are not innocent either.]

The Dream-Shedding Eye’s desperate outcry did not give any inspiration.

Serving Moon tapped its forehead with the index finger of its right hand, bursting into laughter.

[The price for the sin of believing in a king more foolish than the sun. Shouldn’t they pay it for an eternity.]

By the time the Dream-Shedding Eye tried to use its power, it was too late.

The silver flash that burst out deflected all of the Dream-Shedding Eye’s influence.

Before it knew it, the Dream-Shedding Eye was not in the illusion, but on the throne in the desolate audience chamber.

Only then did belated regret wash over.

[…Even after seeing the Sun God’s meticulous offensive, I didn’t predict this. Even knowing how proficient he is at trickery, I naively followed his command.]

From the beginning, the Sun God had no intention of leaving the Dream-Shedding Eye and its subordinate succubi in the present world.

That was natural, but it never dreamed he would simply abandon them while facing the god who creates stars.

The dagger of betrayal stabbed all at once at a completely unexpected time.

Even though it was a relationship where not even a speck of trust had built up, it was full of thoughts of being betrayed.

The Dream-Shedding Eye could not cast away the surging sense of guilt.

If the Sun God had at least pushed forward a negotiation proposal, it would have gladly accepted it.

[If he had permitted even just one person.]

If only it itself could stay in the present world, it would have complied with anything.

They were loyal and pitiful subjects who followed the Priest King until the end.

Considering their loyalty, wouldn’t it be enough if the one to remain in the present world and remember them was itself.

Unfortunately, the Sun God did not even tolerate this.

The Dream-Shedding Eye repeatedly groaned while sitting on the throne.

The god who creates stars, Star Creation, was no longer just protecting survivors.

He was training them into an army and trying to face the demon forces.

While generously pouring out miracles that a hero from a legend might barely have possessed one of.

The Nebula Church.

What should it do to face them?

After pondering for a long time, the Dream-Shedding Eye finally found the answer.

[The back of a hand stained with salt.]

=Please command me.=

Another voice heard in the gloomy audience chamber.

It was a succubus that always roamed around without a form.

Although the Dream-Shedding Eye only had a piece of flesh stuck to a mirror and one eyeball left now, it showed an authoritative appearance befitting one who had once been a king.

[Call in the mages. Along with the ones to be used as sacrifices.]

Among them, its hatred and desire for revenge towards the Sun God was directed at one person.

[The Heresy Inquisitor who belonged to the Celestial Church.]

=It is Ched. He was protecting a noblewoman and spreading the existence of the god who creates stars.=

[Make sure to bring that one. I will bestow the most terrible pain I can inflict.]

Instead of kneeling before its king, the formless succubus showed humility.

=I shall do so.=

With a smile dyed in sadism.

***

Jingle jingle-.

The sound of a bell ringing from somewhere had a mysterious attraction.

To the point where one would unconsciously try to lift the cloth in the shelter hidden by planks and straw mats.

If another person hadn’t grabbed him from behind at that moment, he would have done so.

“Shh. What are you doing.”

“No… without realizing it.”

“Be careful. Seeing how it draws people out, it’s not ordinary. Has everyone heard a bell sound? If you get lured there, you’ll just die.”

The fierce-looking man heightened the vigilance by repeatedly striking his neck with the side of his hand.

Olden, who unhesitatingly revealed his background of rolling in the slums, was actually a very cautious man.

Thanks to that, he had saved their lives dozens of times.

Dryden, who almost revealed himself, gulped and awkwardly sat back down.

The only one who showed disagreement was the old woman Ineris, who tightly grabbed a crude piece of wood.

“No. The divine aura dwelling in this bell sound can never be imitated by demons.”

“Hah. Old lady, have you still not come to your senses? They say all the gods are dead. I’m telling you my gut feeling is warning me.”

“Ahem! I say there is a living god!”

“Yeah right. Better yet, turn off the candle. Just how long do you plan to waste a precious candle?”

Olden grumbling with a prickly tone.

However, Ineris did not care and spread her hand open.

A crude piece of wood placed on her palm.

From the figure of a man wearing a tattered robe carved with clumsy hands, light was seeping out along the wood grain.

Only then did Olden and Dryden realize that the light illuminating the shelter was different.

It wasn’t a red light.

Starlight that a blue morning star would harbor.

Ineris mumbled her wrinkled mouth and began to tremble.

“Even with this… will you say there isn’t?”

“O-Old lady. What on earth is this?”

“Are you a living god? Which god are you?”

The answer came from outside the straw mat that hid the shelter.

“Praise the Great Godfather of Stars, the young father.”

Rustle.

It didn’t take long for the camouflage to be peeled off.

Startled, Olden awkwardly raised his wooden club, but stealthily put it down when he realized outside the tent was brighter.

They were people clutching white shining lightsabers.

He noticed the whole situation only after seeing the bell hanging on their waists blinking blue.

“Y-You people.”

“The one who will fill the night sky with stars again has guided us to you. Now, come out and let’s go together.”

“Are you perhaps the Celestial Church? Did you come all the way here from Salutaris?”

Dryden, who had picked up quite a bit of information, asked a question, but what returned was a denial.

“You will soon be thankful for the fact that we are not the Celestial Church.”

Before long, the three safely rescued people learned of the existence of the new god.

Because the Holy Knights who came to find them answered softly one by one.

The Nebula Church.

It was also true that they felt like they were tricked hearing it was an unheard-of church that never belonged to the Pantheon.

However, the moment they arrived at Bakumsia, all their doubts were completely washed away.

Jingle jingle-.

The bells hanging on the waists of the Holy Knights gathering from all directions were blinking blue.

Like fireflies strolling on the ground.

At the end of it, they saw the only city that began to sparkle in the dark world.

The aura of life they had never faced even once since the sun was dyed black.

Thrilled by it, the Holy Knight firmly declared towards the three people who couldn’t say anything.

“You have come under the protection of the last god who will complete the world after the Pantheon.”