092. Foreign News (2)

The only human history remembered by humans is that of the Empire.

All human kingdoms originated from the Empire, and the Empire calls the founding emperor its first monarch.

That is the known history.

Therefore, it was suspicious.

If all those words were true, there was something that could not be explained.

“Then why did fate bestow its favor upon the Empire? For a thousand years, the only god of humans was fate. It took good care of us, and now suddenly…”

[Do you really think it took good care of you?]

“…What?”

[Look back. Was there anything in human history that couldn’t have happened without the goddess of fate?]

I parted my lips.

I looked back at the great saints and listed their achievements.

Only then did one fact become clear.

‘…Was there?’

Suddenly, I was dazed.

When I thought about the achievements, merits, policies, or systems of the saints, there was nothing that they could have done because they were saints.

At least in that regard, divine revelations were not helpful.

So,

“You just pretended?”

[Yes.]

It was merely voyeurism.

In other words, it was a reconnaissance act of infiltrating the enemy’s camp and looking around.

[A thousand years is short for a god. Moreover, it is enough time to prepare something.]

The model now reflected the empire.

[Fate hates the empire. She is a woman who would do anything to bring down this empire. For that reason, she carefully planned her actions. Most horrifically, to avenge the hope that betrayed her.]

My brow furrowed.

Because I felt a chilling level of malice from what I saw.

[She established a religion in the human empire. She made herself and hope the state religion. No one remembers the mythological era, and hope could no longer stop her.]

A grand temple was built, and threads intertwined above it.

Thin, delicate hands moved the threads.

[The diocese hindered the empire’s growth. Their policies were beneficial in the short term, but they prevented the empire’s technological level from exceeding a certain threshold. The knowledge of the new era was thoroughly blocked. It was an unauthorized truth.]

Ice models discussed various bills.

There were even famous historical events that I knew.

‘…The Forbidden Era.’

The diocese prevented the study of history before the empire, calling it an era that defiled faith or only revealed human misery.

That policy is still in effect today.

[Moreover, how many talents were there in a thousand years of history? How rare were those who blossomed among them?]

Someone unknown died in a guest room.

Someone hanged themselves, and another was murdered.

[It was a thousand years to starve them to death. Look at it. Has there ever been a golden age beyond the founding period in the empire? Despite so many stars rising and falling over a thousand years, there has never been a time that surpassed the founding period.]

The spirit’s words were true.

The greatest emperor was the founding emperor, and the grand master in history was the only one until the current crown prince achieved it.

Isn’t that enough to know?

[It was the most fateful method. It had to be so.]

According to the goddess’s divine will, it was the most fateful decline.

It was a path that no one could doubt.

Thus, I realized what fate could gain.

“…Reinstatement.”

The hated empire disappears.

But humans do not disappear.

What humans will cry out for in that land is not a hero.

Like in the distant past, and like in the days of slavery.

They will…….

[They will cry out for fate. This time, only fate, not hope.]

“…….”

I glared at the spirit.

The spirit smiled brightly and said.

[But, a variable has arisen.]

The model illuminated someone in detail.

It was a man I knew all too well.

“The Crown Prince.”

[The blood of the godslayer continues. Even if it withers, it blooms brilliantly at some point.]

“Is it really a variable?”

There were words that came in, making it more than just a simple variable.

And there was this guy’s ‘arrangement’.

The spirit’s smile deepened.

[It is a variable. At least to fate.]

I pondered the meaning of those words.

Then who would have struck the back of fate’s head?

It was something that made me laugh involuntarily.

“Silence, my foot. It’s gloomy. Even hope.”

[Let’s get back to the story.]

This time, the model depicted the entire continent.

[In the end, it’s a game of moves. It’s a matter of how much each side can anticipate the other’s moves. Kallios was born. And brilliant talent grew in a background that could not harm the same era. Fate had to choose. Whether to wait another thousand years. Or to use drastic measures.]

“The latter, I suppose.”

At least if they felt the arrangement of hope, they wouldn’t have used the uncertain method of waiting for a thousand years.

By this point, it was starting to become clear.

“So, is this why you did it?”

[Yes, and moreover, the Outer Realm is the best environment to create minions. A land where the gods have no interest. A land where faith has crumbled, isn’t it?]

“What about the races of the Outer Realm? Are they just watching their fate unfold? One of the ones who killed their gods?”

[That’s the key.]

Saaa—

The spirit erased the model.

Then it shrank its body to the size of a human and met my eyes.

[Profit and loss don’t only exist among creatures. If what they desire aligns, ‘transactions’ can exist between gods and creatures too.]

“What does that mean…?”

[Isn’t it simple? Fate can be explained that way.]

In the following words, I felt a spine-chilling madness.

[If you join my cause, I will return your gods to you. I will allow you to restart the war of myths.]

“…!”

[Isn’t it sweet? If you just help bring down one human nation, you can challenge the already lost war again.]

My eyes widened.

I couldn’t believe such an absurd thing would happen.

But the spirit cut off such denial at once.

[Fate is like a child. Pure, capricious, and selfish. The future of the world doesn’t matter to it. Just as it left humans alone in the mythic age, just as it laughed at the enslaved humans. This time, its target includes both this land and the divine realm.]

My fist clenched tightly.

I closed my eyes and organized my thoughts.

The stories I heard created causality.

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It was a long story that made my head ache, but to sum it up:

‘So what?’

I understood.

But what mattered to me wasn’t that.

It was how to solve the impending issue.

Not ‘why did this happen,’ but ‘how do I solve this.’

“…What should I do?”

The spirit also had a plan.

I had to ask how the first Pharos knew such a spirit and what its relationship was with this incident.

Isn’t that so?

Based on the facts I know from before the regression, it was the spirit’s wrath that brought down Heiron.

But if I only consider what I’ve heard now.

The spirit was far from unleashing such wrath.

[Ah, yes. I should tell you that.]

The spirit spoke, looking somewhere beyond the hall.

[I made a promise to your origin. If you came here, I would tell you this story. Also, if a crisis arises for the child who will bloom on this land, if it threatens the empire, I will personally erase and stop it.]

“Are you talking about the Grand Duke?”

[In fact, if you had been a little later, I would have erased all the humans of the snowfield.]

It was an endlessly emotionless statement.

As if it was just a matter of handling overdue work.

“…Not because the Grand Duke tried to use spiritual power?”

[I have no intention of ascending to divinity. If I had wanted to, I could have done so before the empire even began. What I want is one thing. To become the winter of this land and watch the world flow.]

Then the events before the regression could be explained that way.

‘This was an attempt to kill the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke knew that. The Grand Duke took responsibility and died together.’

My expression frowned.

The spirit spoke as if making an excuse.

[If you hadn’t come. That was the premise of the story. You reached me like this, and we can find a better path. Isn’t that enough?]

The spirit sighed and then placed a hand on my shoulder.

[Let’s go back to what we were talking about. I already told you that my spiritual power has reached divinity. That is why your origin came to me, and that is why fate played tricks on this land. My spiritual power opens divinity. And, that is actually happening. By the dream demons.]

“What…?”

[I said dream demons. There are dream demons on this land, and they took Heiron’s child as a host, using my spiritual power as a medium to resurrect the outer god. The first outer god has come to this land. The mother of all dreams will paint the night.]

What kind of crazy talk is this?

If such a thing is happening outside right now…

Thud!

“…Hey, get me out of here.”

I grabbed the collar.

Coldness seeped into my hand.

There was no time to fuss over such things.

As I spoke threateningly, the spirit gripped my shoulder more firmly.

[Calm down. It’s not time yet.]

“It’s not the time to be relaxed…”

[I am not being relaxed. I am fulfilling my covenant.]

The expression disappeared from the spirit’s face.

He flinched at that.

[The eye of the guide, the branch of the world tree, and the contracted blood. You have everything. I have conveyed all the stories I need to the promised one. Understand and judge. That is your role.]

The spirit’s voice began to resonate.

[After a thousand years of waiting, I shall pronounce my judgment.]

Rumble―!

The space resonated together.

An irresistible force was felt in all phenomena.

It was the moment when I clenched my teeth as my breath was choked.

The spirit smiled gently.

[I will return what I have kept.]

Whoosh―

Light burst forth.

It was a level of purple brilliance that paralyzed the retina.

My vision and then my mind went blank.

My mouth hung open, and I felt like all the senses in my body were disappearing.

Something seeped into my skin.

There was something overlaid on the path of my mana, and that path connected to my eyes.

Astonishment surged.

I know this.

This energy, this form…

[It is the rank. The rank your ancestor entrusted to me. It was a power that only I could keep on this land.]

…It was infinitely similar to divinity.

It was the radiance of a god.

Even in the midst of this, a question arose as to why this was bestowed upon me.

“Why are you giving this to me…”

The godslayer is the crown prince.

Then, this power should rightfully be given to that human.

Amidst it all, a voice was heard through the only sense that remained intact—my hearing.

[The blood of the Godslayer is still young and immature. An ungrown beast cannot bare its fangs. Therefore, a cradle is needed. A guide, a teacher, you are needed. Without this, no matter how strong it becomes, the Godslayer cannot be complete.]

“What…”

[I’m sorry, I can’t tell you more. We made such a promise, and the answer must be found by you alone for it to hold any meaning.]

I had never used such power in my life.

Unlike destruction, it was not violent at all.

Rather, despite its stillness, its presence was so immense that it felt like it was crushing me.

Even standing on my two feet felt overwhelming.

As I struggled to regain my balance, the spirit embraced me.

[Inherit it. All that you rightfully deserve to hold.]

A whisper arose.

[Only then will the answer be revealed. For now… yes.]

The energy stabilized.

[Defeat that invader. It is something only you can do right now.]

Hwaak—!

It was right after my physical senses had completely faded.

When I came to my senses again, it was like this.

“…Ah.”

I was sitting at the entrance of the snowy mountain, and a different world was etched into my retinas.

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