Chapter 88 – Deployment

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Objectively, the number 600 was by no means a lot.

It was natural considering that there were over dozens of cities where tens of thousands of people lived.

However, considering that the survivors scattered after the world fell to the Black Sun and demons, the story was different.

The survivors who have survived until now wouldn’t exceed 100,000 no matter how generously you estimate.

Since time passed even after I started my activities, it probably decreased even more.

Beyond simple numbers, if we only consider the ratio, it becomes even more terrible.

The survivors I barely managed to keep by my side total 1640 people, but I drove 600 of them to the battlefield.

It was the number excluding those too young or too old among those who wished to fight.

Contrary to the devastation I felt, they themselves seemed happy about the fact that they could also contribute.

People willingly dipped their hands into the winter-light molten iron harboring the power of the Forging Power Star and recited prayers.

“We will be together by the side of the merciful father who takes care of us.”

“With the melting candle wax, we will solidify the world to step on.”

“The promise will be fulfilled. The nebula will surely become a star. Even if it takes infinitely long.”

The winter-light molten iron flowing along the drainage channel did not harm people despite its hot heat.

On the forearms that should have normally burned, blue-silver chainmail and helmets, spears and crossbows were simply wrapped around.

Charcoal kilns, hard anvils, or sweat-stained quenching were all unnecessary.

That didn’t mean they fell behind in terms of quality either.

They were armaments smelted, cast, and popped out from the Star’s Blast Furnace.

Even the blacksmiths who had only hammered all their lives let out exclamations looking at the armaments they pulled out out of curiosity.

“Look at the chain links. They are intricately connected without a single pinch mark.”

“The blades of the swords and spears are the same too. Auspicious wave patterns… To have both elasticity and hardness.”

They even sighed deeply while gripping the hilt and raising the tip of the sword to aim.

The blacksmiths wore the armaments they pulled out on their bodies just like that and let out self-deprecating laughs.

“I guess there won’t be any need to hammer swords anymore.”

“Are you going to put down your hammer for good?”

“No way.”

At the end of the pile of armaments dripping with winter-light molten iron, a huge hammer was following.

“I can’t do that because it’s a waste of my forearms. I’ll hammer somewhere else.”

“Acting all high and mighty with those thin forearms.”

The blacksmiths also each picked up a weapon they liked and started to step forward.

Towards the awkwardly swaying formation among the drainage channels where the winter-light molten iron flowed.

They were all people who expressed their intention to fight and were armed with armaments smelted by the Forging Power Star.

The blue-silver chainmail and plate armor the people wore swayed, reflecting the starlight.

It looked as if small stars were squirming and advancing on the ground.

Those who decided to stay were guarding both sides.

Standing split to both sides of the formation advancing towards the outside of the city.

Clink, clank.

The sound of chain links clashing and armaments swaying.

The jingling bell sound mixed within it naturally makes people kneel.

People were maintaining a bizarre sense of unity even within this subtle off-beat.

No fancy trumpet sounds or boisterous applause were heard.

Everyone just closed their eyes to keep a reverent silence and quietly put their hands together, only praying inwardly.

It was at this time that the awaited voices were heard from the side.

“Star Creation-nim.”

“Godfather of Stars.”

Ceciel and Anniel.

These two angels also went through a lot of hardships.

The bright yellow halos were dyed deep blue, and their outer appearance, which had perfectly imitated humans, also ended up resembling me.

Stars busily circulating replacing the blood vessels in their flesh.

Skin that became too transparent and dyed pure white to be called living creatures.

An appearance focused on drawing out a mysterious awe rather than familiar loveliness.

But what’s important in the world trapped under the Dark Light was not familiarity but strength.

Instead of receiving the complete love of the people, the two angels chose to protect them.

I couldn’t dare treat Ceciel and Anniel, who made such a decision, poorly.

“The reason I called you is to entrust you with an important duty.”

“Please command us. We are listening.”

“The two of you must protect those remaining in Bakumsia.”

“Yes? What about you, Star Creation-nim…?”

“I will lead them and fight the Dream-Shedding Eye directly to pressure it as much as possible.”

In leading the people, there was no other option besides a personal expedition.

A clumsy attack only increased damage.

The one dominating the world was that side, the one who could attack at any time was also that side.

The only strategy I should take in the collapsed balance.

Pouring overwhelming power to give the opponent no room to play other tricks.

A quick war and a quick decision.

For this, I needed the minimum reliable defense, and I chose the angels.

“What I am concerned about is the Black Sun and other Great Demons.”

“Other Great Demons…”

“The Great Demons have already started cooperating. There is a possibility that the underground dragons and the Celestial Church might move.”

Of course, it’s impossible for just the two of them to block all attacks.

Even if I pressure the opponent with overwhelming force, if the opponent attacks with the resolve for mutual destruction, I would have to bear the damage.

Because that was what war was.

And to win a war with minimal damage…

One must possess the cruelty to expect and prepare for sacrifices.

Only when I, not anyone else, became cruel could I end it with the least amount of damage.

I looked back at the two angels and performed a miracle again.

<<>>

The outline of my hands was crushed.

A new heaven created under the sky.

I made the stardust swimming within it clash and clash again, and clearly stared at the angels.

“You have already run away once. Nevertheless, the only reason I accepted you is because you regretted the fact that you ran away.”

“”….””

You turned your backs on the believers who only looked to you, and preserved your own lives alone.

It was a mistake that the angels, who took pride in being stars more than anyone else, should never have committed.

And I instinctively hated fleeing gods and angels.

I didn’t know if it was because of my origin or the memories of playing [Last Comet].

But towards Ceciel and Anniel, my expectations were greater than my hatred.

“Protect Bakumsia. Protect those who cannot fight. Prove that you are regretting, that it was a mistake.”

I forcefully grabbed the nebula right before it pulsated to become a new star.

This time, it wasn’t to create a star.

It was a miracle that inflicts pain so that an existing star can shine even brighter.

-Do not immerse yourself only in creating stars.

Words repeatedly emphasized as countless voices overlapped in my head.

I followed those words.

Instead of making the nebula a complete star, I made it a comet and a meteor that would burn and disappear.

“If you show the will, I will gladly provide you with the lacking power.”

Collisions birthed pain and collapse.

However, colliding stars entangled into one to become a larger star, spewing out an even brighter light.

At this moment, I finally understood the words brought up by Bearing Responsibility.

A star had not to fear suffering to emit a brighter light.

Even if it meant facing death.

Ceciel and Anniel also realized the question contained in this miracle and hardened their faces.

However, they did not hesitate.

The two angels kept their places until I shot the meteor and it crashed into them.

Whooooosh-!!!

The physical bodies containing their appearances from their lifetimes could not withstand the heat, burning and melting down.

Painful screams that failed to become sounds rang out loudly in my head.

“If you cannot endure it, you may put it down. Sleep within my Elysium and enjoy peace.”

Re-Star Creation was a truly cruel miracle.

Who could overcome the trial to endure the temperature of a star?

It wouldn’t be strange if both Ceciel and Anniel failed.

However, at some point, a new light was squirming under the melted outer skin.

At that moment, the words Happy Fortune told me came to mind.

-Angels were refined as pure pawns of heaven. They willingly endure any sacrifice to receive God’s favor, and do not harbor any doubts.

It was exactly as he said.

The angels were showing a clear will even amidst spitting out screams.

We cannot disappoint the god we serve and be abandoned.

Watching the angels holding out with this single thought, I naturally frowned.

“What a truly terrible world.”

I waited while firmly pressing my forehead with my hand that had regained its outline again.

To welcome the stars that would shine even brighter.

***

World ruined by the sun’s betrayal.

In a land where even the gods of the Pantheon hid their traces to survive, a new faith emerged.

The last god born in the dying world under the Dark Light of the Black Sun.

After the Pantheon, the ones serving the only active god who creates stars called themselves the Nebula Church.

While putting forward a bright blue color that is soft and bright enough to feel pure white at first glance.

While the black-dyed sun and its allies ruled, the things the Nebula Church could do were extremely few.

Of course, it was a world trapped under a dark night sky.

They were just busy scraping together the survivors.

They just groaned, finding it too much to even preserve their lives.

The moment a raid approached, it was routine to tremble and hide.

Days of gauging time with melted candle wax because the sun rose and set as it pleased.

These are sights that had become natural at some point in the world submerged in Dark Light under the starless night sky.

Today, this natural common sense began to shatter.

Jingle jingle-.

The bell sound heard from all over the city sparkling with starlight.

Holy Knights with bells hanging on their waists took the lead and strode forward.

Those who only stayed around torches or braziers no longer feared the night or the outside.

And it wasn’t only the Holy Knights who drove away the fear.

Clink, clank. Clank.

Those who were permitted to fight followed behind the Holy Knights.

These ordinary and helpless people were even matching their footsteps at some point.

Their number is 600.

If it were a normal world, one would snort, but they were merely encouraged by the presence of the person next to them whose shoulders touched theirs.

But no matter how high-spirited the army was, they couldn’t ignore the mountain range lying right before their eyes.

Especially if it was made up of those who lived as ordinary people, not soldiers.

“Are we going to cross that?”

“No way. Wouldn’t we detour a bit?”

“It’ll take a long time…”

While disorderly voices overlapped, the Holy Knights kept silent.

Because they noticed what was going to happen next.

The bestowed Luminous Spirit Star, the miracles that even the old heroes dared not receive, were fiercely resonating.

Among them, Shek’s tension was the greatest.

Thump, thump, thump.

The heart made of stardust was beating as it pleased.

It was because it dared not defy the undulating wave of divine power.

‘It’s coming.’

At that moment, it was natural for Shek to squeeze his eyes shut.

The world that was only dark was instantly dyed in a bright white.

A mysterious color that someone might call platinum, and someone else might call golden.

Before the luxuriously overflowing amount of light, everyone turned their heads or raised both arms.

Screams, groans, and exclamations were all meaningless before the light that surrounded everything.

The only thing that could be felt was tears bursting out.

-It was exactly at this time that a gentle but firm voice was heard.

[We neither cross over nor detour.]

Only then did they lower the arms they had raised one by one.

[Advance endlessly. Show your will.]

The sky people looked up at was a clear blue color.

A radiant color fitting the sky, truly faced after a long time.

What the golden radiance that accurately crossed the center of it left behind was not only longing.

Far away, the vaguely visible mountain range was unnaturally erased.

Not a single piece of gravel remained where the sunlight passed.

The sight shown by the clear sky and the golden pillar resembling the sun ended all distrust and anxiety.

“Th-The, mountain is.”

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

“For he guides us to the golden path that will not change.”

People overwhelmed and unable to move.

Facing the slowly setting sunset, the first to step forward was Shek.

[If you only show the will.]

“He will gladly provide the power as much as you want.”

Jingle jingle-.

The bell hanging on Shek’s waist rang loudly.

The Holy Knights moved following Shek without saying anything.

The backs of the calmly advancing Holy Knights made the people stand up again.

The sunlight that crossed the sky brought in longing and resolve.

And, even the vigilance and fear of the enemies.