Chapter 112 : Chapter 112

Chapter 112 : Audience (7)

The terrain where I stood hadn't changed.

This place was similar to the cave that Everchen, Bea and I had entered.

But it clearly felt like a different place.

This was now the world of the God of Peace.

I had entered the world of a god.

And the man kneeling before me smiled benevolently.

“Yes, I am Peace.”

He was kneeling, but he didn't look servile or weak at all.

“Child, recognized by the one who was once the God of Death, you have brought peace to the former apostle.”

Former apostle?

I didn't understand what the God of Peace meant and as I pondered, information flashed through my mind.

“Was the guardian we fought perhaps the former apostle of the God of Death?”

“That’s right. He faithfully carried out Death’s words and protected me from the Demon King’s attack. Even after the age of myths ended and his life was over, he did not stop his duty.”

Only then did I understand the situation when we fought the guardian.

‘No wonder. Neither Maron nor the Light Arrow could damage him at all…’

The God of Death, Maron, had now become the World Tree.

I didn't know the reason why Maron had become the World Tree from the God of Death, but it seemed that the power based on him could not damage the former apostle of Death.

“But how did the God of Death become the World Tree?”

“It would be better to ask Death directly for the answer to that question. To do that, Death must regain his power.”

“...Yes, that’s right. Lord Maron needs to recover his power, and it seemed he believed the God of Peace had the way.”

I stared intently into the eyes of the God of Peace and said,

“Could you share your power with Lord Maron?”

“No, that is not my role.”

The God of Peace flatly refused my proposal.

But despite the refusal, the God of Peace was smiling brightly.

It was a smile that looked as pure as a boy's, for a god with the greatest influence in the world.

That's not to say that the God of Peace looked weak.

A noble aura overflowed from him.

Even though he was kneeling on the ground, not a single speck of dust was on his white clothes, which were like a shroud.

‘The Holy Order’s ship, and Itilus’s knees when he prayed. It seems things don’t get dirty when imbued with divine power.’

Even in such a strange detail, divine power showed its mysterious effect.

But it was more important to achieve the purpose of my visit than to feel the mystery while looking at the God of Peace.

“Why won't you help the God of Death?”

“I was once a follower of Death. After he was finally defeated in the final battle against the Demon King, the God of Death transferred most of his divinity to me and entrusted me with the future.”

“Can you not return that power? Could it be… that the way to return the divinity that Death handed over has disappeared?”

“That’s right. As the age of myths passed, the power of gods became greatly restricted.”

“Then, is there a way…”

“There is a way. If you, Death’s new apostle, are revered by many, people’s faith will be conveyed to Death.”

I see.

So, in the end, I have no choice but to become stronger and make a name for myself.

Of course, I will become stronger.

But it can’t be too late.

The dome surrounding Myeolji was about to break and the Empire was showing ambitions to unite humanity.

It wasn't entirely disheartening.

Working hard was what I did best.

Gaining strength and recognition from people was the path I intended to take anyway.

“I understand. As I always have, I will do my best to become stronger and make a name for myself.”

The God of Peace smiled once more at my vow.

But that smile looked bitter, unlike before.

“Do you know the God of Death well?”

“...I do not know him well.”

“The God of Death was a shining one. To explain him, I must also speak of the primordial god, the Demon King.”

The God of Peace explained about the God of Death and the Demon King.

The Age of Myths.

It is spoken of as a peaceful and ideal era, but all gods were divided into classes.

With the King of Gods, the Demon King, at the top, they were divided into high-gods, mid-gods, and low-gods according to their divinity.

No god was free from the Demon King’s command.

The Demon King, the primordial god, had the power to rule the entire world.

The God of Death, Maron, lived as a low-god in that age of myths.

It is not known what his original name was.

Maron had been called ‘Death’ instead of his original name ever since he killed a mid-god who persecuted him.

The God of Death was the first to kill a god in the age of myths.

He was the one who showed that even gods could die.

The age of myths, led by the Demon King, began to crack with the appearance of Maron.

In the age of myths, where the concept of death did not exist, the impact Maron brought was immense.

There were countless gods who wanted to avoid death and just as many who wanted to kill someone.

Thus, many gods feared Maron.

Thanks to this, Maron quickly amassed enough power to rival the Demon King.

However, the Demon King, as an ancient god, had ambitions.

Because of this, he created various ways to counter death, such as necromancy and the creation of undead.

“The Demon King changed, Death changed and the age of myths itself changed. Perhaps we were the ones who broke the order. Would the world have been less painful if the Demon King’s influence had continued?”

“It is neither the fault of the God of Death nor the God of Peace. Are you not both reflecting on the present world, without forgetting the past that has already gone by?”

Hahaha…

The empty laughter of the God of Peace echoed in the cave.

“I will do it.”

I vowed and helped the smiling God of Peace, who was still kneeling, to his feet.

I no longer wanted either Death or Peace to be trapped in the past, living as sinners.

As if he had read my mind, the God of Peace did not refuse my help in getting up.

“I will sever the remnants of the former Demon King and the greed of the new Demon King.”

The God of Peace, supported by me, rose and said, “I, too, will help you.”

“How?”

“I will appoint you as the apostle of the God of Peace and pass my power on to you.”

“The apostle of the God of Peace…”

I stared at the God of Peace, utterly surprised.

If it were revealed that I was an apostle appointed by the God of Peace, I would gain immense prestige.

Moreover, that power would also be a great help in my future endeavors.

“Will you be the apostle of Death and of Peace?”

I nodded.

“I don’t know exactly why the God of Death and the God of Peace were defeated. Perhaps the power of Death alone was not enough to overcome the power of the Demon King, who sought to make this world his own.”

“...”

“As the apostle of both the God of Death and the God of Peace, I will defeat the Demon King.”

The God of Peace smiled once more.

But it didn't look as lonely as before.

“You resemble your ancestor, Adjak. He did what Death and I could not. He killed the Demon King.”

“But I am also well aware that a new Demon King has been born.”

“Yes, a much more ferocious one than the primordial god, the Demon King. Can you handle him?”

As an apostle of Maron, and as a human living in this world, I said proudly,

“I will put an end to the old stories. I will erase both the remnants of the former Demon King and the new Demon King from this world.”

The God of Peace held my hand and said, “Death found peace by becoming the World Tree. He is sharing much light with the world. I, too, was defeated, but I still reign as a god. I am placing a heavy burden on you.”

“I am just doing what I must.”

“You will now be the apostle of Death and of Peace, but I hope that both death and the peace that death brings will come to you late.”

As soon as the God of Peace finished speaking, I felt a new power settling within me.

The God of Peace smiled brightly.

And I felt myself moving away from his world.

But the aura that emanated from the God of Peace was swirling around me.

Divine power.

That power had now settled within me.

***

I returned to the cave where Everchen and Bea were.

Time seemed to have stopped at the moment I had touched the insignia of the god.

“Lord Polarin?”

Bea looked at me in surprise.

I soon understood why.

The divine power that had been present in Everchen was now rising from my body as well.

Everchen, also sensing the change, returned his sword to its sheath and stood up.

“Have you perhaps… met the God of Peace? A powerful divine power momentarily brushed past this place.”

“Yes, I have met the God of Peace.”

Everchen’s eyes widened in surprise.

But at the same time, he couldn't take his eyes off the insignia of the god in my hand.

It seemed that the most important thing to Everchen right now was the medicine to cure the Saintess.

As if he couldn't focus on anything else, his gaze was fixed on it.

“Then let’s take the insignia and leave.”

Everchen nodded and held out the white cloth he had brought.

I took the cloth and carefully wrapped the insignia.

Before leaving the cave, I looked at the guardian, which had completely lost its light.

‘The former apostle of the God of Death.’

The guardian must have been protecting this place since the age of myths.

The age of myths had ended long ago.

The guardian must have stood in one place for a long time, until the God of Peace it tried to protect disappeared into the world of gods, until the God of Death it followed became the World Tree, and while its own body was petrified and hardened.

‘May peace be with you.’

I offered a short moment of silence to the guardian’s remains and then left the cave.

***

“Huh, why is it morning?”

Bea was flustered as soon as she stepped out of the cave.

And for good reason.

When we arrived at the cave, the sun was just about to set.

The battle with the guardian was not very long.

After that, I had been transported to the world of the God of Peace and appointed as an apostle.

I had told Everchen and Bea that I had met the God of Peace.

But for them, it was time they hadn't experienced at all.

Everchen, in particular, was very flustered by the sudden change in time.

“…Whatever it is, let’s move quickly.”

“Let’s.”

Everchen quickened his pace with a hardened expression.

Following him, Bea and I also started running.

We soon arrived in front of the Aquiris Temple.

The Paladins and priests who were busily moving in front of the temple spotted us and shouted,

“Lord Everchen!”

“Yes, we’re back.”

“Did you get the insignia? Ah, no. Please go inside quickly. Lord Itilus is also waiting!”

“Lord Itilus has already arrived?”

“He came yesterday. Everyone is waiting for you, Lord Everchen!”

It seemed that more time had passed than we had thought.

No matter how fast the ship they had taken, the journey to get the Pobes ore was not a distance that could be covered in a day or two.

Everchen’s face turned pale, and he ran into the Aquiris Temple.

Inside, I saw a lot of anxious clergy.

Even the renowned Itilus stood up abruptly and welcomed us.

“Polarin, you…”

Itilus noticed the change in me.

But there was something more important than explaining it.

“How much time has passed?”

“Five days have passed since the Saintess collapsed.”

Damn it.

I didn't know the reason, but too much time had been delayed.

The limit I had initially calculated for the Saintess to hold on was only three days.

“Is the Saintess… still alright?”

“She is still breathing. But…”

I examined the Saintess’s face.

It was now harder to find the parts of her face that were not petrified.

It was a great thing that the Saintess had held on for more than three days.

“Give me the ingredients.”

“They are already prepared.”

The ground unicorn horn and the Pobes ore were already in a bowl, a holy relic of the order.

Everchen also poured the insignia he had carefully brought into the holy relic.

“How should the medicine be prepared?”

“Do you have water? Holy water would be even better.”

“Bring holy water!”

Unlike in other games, in Tune World, medicine wasn't made just by gathering ingredients and pressing a combination button.

Thanks to that, I had experience making medicine directly, even if only in the game.

I sprinkled the holy water I received on the three ingredients.

And I drew Maron.

If there had been something like a pestle, I would have used it, but there was no time to wait for that.

I crushed and mixed the three ingredients with the hilt of Maron.

Seeing me do this, the clergy each began to pray.

The white powder of the ground unicorn horn, the Pobes ore crushed into a blue powder.

The insignia of a god was mixed in as well.

Three different colors were mixed in the holy water.

But mysteriously, a thick, white powder medicine was created.

It seemed to be a success.

The curse of petrification I had seen in the game had the exact same light.

I looked at Everchen and nodded.

He carefully took the holy relic bowl containing the powder and approached the Saintess.

And Everchen carefully poured the medicine into the Saintess’s mouth.

“───, ─, ────!”

The unintelligible prayer sounds of the clergy also grew louder.

‘Please wake up. You’ve held on so well until now.’

I also prayed.

The format was different from the desperate prayers of the clergy.

But the earnest wish for the Saintess to live was the same.

And then, divine power erupted from my body as if exploding.

Some of the clergy were startled, but their earnest prayers did not stop.

Twitch, the Saintess moved slightly.

Soon after, a change occurred in her hardened face.

The grayness on the Saintess’s face receded, and color returned.

As the Saintess let out a faint breath, her hardened face also relaxed.

“Saintess!”

“We thank the great God of Peace. Thank you so much for saving the Saintess!”

Only now did the clergy speak in a language I understood.

Tears welled up in Everchen’s eyes.

But he did not let them fall and looked at the Saintess, no, at his sister.

“Everyone has worked so hard for me.”

The Saintess said as she sat up.

She swayed for a moment and Everchen, surprised, supported her.

It seemed she was weak from having been unconscious for so long.

The Saintess, as if to say she was fine, pushed away Everchen’s arm that was holding her tightly.

“I saw God when I was at the threshold of death.”

“You saw the God of Peace?”

“Yes, God gave me the strength to endure.”

“Ooh…”

The Saintess smiled benevolently at the joyous clergy.

“More importantly, there is something I must announce first.”

“What is it?”

“The God of Peace has sent us a new apostle to act as his proxy.”

As she spoke, the Saintess suddenly turned her head to look at me, and her eyes met mine.

I met her deep eyes, which were no longer hardened.

“Polarin Adjak is the new apostle of the Holy Order.”

As soon as the Saintess’s declaration ended, the gazes of everyone in the temple poured onto me.

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