Chapter 20

Chapter 20. Oh, GOD! (2)

"Shin Si-woo. Is he truly a god?"

US President Bill Johnson.

He had broken out in a sweat accommodating every one of Jesus's outrageous demands.

He had held a press conference to officially recognize a second god appearing in the world, and simultaneously made the absurd declaration that he himself — as President — would make the Republic of Korea a brother nation.

'Even at the cost of the great America's national standing...'

South Korea was a nation with the Patriot as its one trick.

A mere small nation, not remotely comparable to America.

'Even with the appearance of Shin Si-woo—'

Granted, he had displayed a sacred power, but that didn't make the problem of those vile demons from earlier disappear.

Moreover, the President still couldn't shake the suspicion that Shin Si-woo was the hidden hand.

"Jesus, Shin Si-woo is too suspicious. Every point of connection leads back to him!"

Having accommodated such arbitrary demands, the least he deserved was an answer.

But Jesus merely clutched his cross and kept repeating, 'Oh, GOD!'

From every angle, it looked like he was flat-out ignoring the President's words and replaying Shin Si-woo's footage on infinite loop.

Bill Johnson let out a sigh.

Only then did Jesus speak.

"Bill, I do not die. You know that, right?"

Jesus.

There were countless reasons he was revered as a god throughout the world.

One of them was his immortality.

About eight years ago, tearing through the eternal snows of Alaska, 'Necropolis—the Nest of the Undead' had appeared.

The liches born there fired rays of death, attempting to destroy the world.

In a single stroke, the undead annihilated half of Canada and invaded the American mainland.

—Weep not, my people. I, Jesus Christ, shall drive out those demons—.

At that moment, Jesus had faced the liches alone.

Death rays annihilated Jesus's body hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of times.

'Jesus, the immortal god.'

And yet Jesus kept resurrecting.

The endless undead — every single one of them killed off by a single superhuman.

When Jesus swung his cross, liches were torn in half, and the undead land that had corroded the continent was purified by holy power.

Necropolis, their stronghold, was a structure larger in scale than Washington D.C.—

—Clap!

A structure that immense was erased by a clap of Jesus's hands.

A world of bones spilling purple demonic aura was flattened and vanished with a single clap.

—Jesus Christ!!!

After this incident, Jesus officially became the sole god of both Catholicism and Christianity.

The possessor of a might that couldn't even be expressed as "Transcendent."

Simply, a god.

There was no other word to describe him.

And that Jesus was now saying:

"Bill, I cannot kill Shin Si-woo. No — 'unable to kill' would be a more accurate expression."

Jesus's tone and expression had shifted.

A grave tone, and a hardened expression.

He looked like a perfectly ordinary, rational person.

"...Oh, my god!!!"

President Bill Johnson was stunned.

It was the first time he'd heard the word 'cannot' come from Jesus's mouth.

Moreover, he had even revealed his true self…

'Just what the hell is Shin Si-woo, really—'

That was how tremendous the power Shin Si-woo possessed must be.

"Behold the golden dome surrounding South Korea."

The sacred greatsword had vanished.

But the miracle the sword had created remained.

"That's why it's a miracle. The trace of a god's presence lingers upon the world."

"…I see."

Bill Johnson understood the supreme will of heaven.

'A man not even a month into his Awakening, wielding such a power!'

Considering that even the Jesus before him had taken three years to reign as a true god—

"He may grow stronger than me."

Shin Si-woo might become a monster surpassing Jesus.

"Even so... is that acceptable?"

"I attempted to kill him taking that into account, but it was impossible. That sword, and Shin Si-woo himself — the Caliber is on a different level."

Jesus's mind turned quickly.

A being he could not kill, with staggering growth potential.

That was Shin Si-woo.

In that case, remaining on friendly terms was the best course.

Jesus returned to the main subject.

"He too is, without question, an immortal being."

Vvvng—.

Jesus produced a pink headband.

A cute, jagged-spiked headband — this was Jesus's 'Divine Item — Crown of Thorns.'

"Even with this, I cannot kill Shin Si-woo."

A Divine Item of the living Jesus that invoked the 'Holy Day of Judgment.'

Even this mighty artifact, which served as a suppressor against China's ambitions, did not work on him.

"So that's why he is your brother."

"There's no need to draw a blade on one who will not become my enemy. Bill, mark my words. Shin Si-woo's existence will itself become another suppressor holding back China."

"A—men."

Leaving President Bill Johnson in prayer behind him, Jesus gazed into the distant sky.

At the corners of his eyes, moist droplets had gathered.

The meaning of the tears was reminiscence.

Memories of the relentless trials he had endured.

'Those days when I had to live an endless life of salvation, becoming a man without desire…'

Jesus's omnipotence had bloomed through such a path.

Which was why he believed Shin Si-woo, who possessed the same divinity, must have undergone similar experiences.

* * *

—Why did my broken arm heal in a single day?

—??? My grandma has dementia. But this morning she suddenly called me by name? By lunch she'd forgotten again, though.

—During the Ansan Gate incident, a monster chewed off both my legs, right? But it feels like my legs are growing back a little... so this wasn't my imagination?

Only a single day had passed.

South Korea was in an uproar.

"Hohhh... I thought it'd gotten easier to do my business!"

Senior Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin, who had been suffering from kidney stones, gave me a strange look.

Next to him, President Lee Seok-hyeon was feeling his bald crown.

Naturally, my eyes followed his hand—

"Huh?"

A few faint strands of fuzz had grown in.

"Th-the miracle of God!!!"

The President widened his eyes and cried out to me.

Yes.

The 2nd Sword had vanished after 4 seconds, but the miracle I had created — [Supreme Heavenly Cradle] — still enveloped the entirety of South Korea.

The duration was a full 30 days.

It was a Transcendent skill — a god-tier technique — that the 2nd Sword Yuria had crafted to prepare for times she had to leave the Holy Nation.

"It increases the recovery of everyone inside the cradle for 30 days, and throws up a barrier over the entire territory! Good heavens, am I understanding this correctly?"

"Yes. That's already the fourth time I've answered…"

I had given him a brief explanation of the skill, but apparently it wasn't easy to accept.

After fielding two or three similar questions, I was finally able to get to the main point.

'Something's off with the Baby Sword.'

『Sword Master, Shin Si-woo Lv.4』

—Skills: [Single Slash—Horizontal Cut] [Lord of Blood] [Infinite Divinity]

—Summon Sword (Authority):

Status—Baby Sword / Name—Undecided (Lv.4)

Alignment: Chaos. 66:34

Sword Form: Holy-Demon Sword.

—Summon Ego Sword (Authority):

[Communication Ability] [Sword Master's Dominion]

1st Sword, Reinhardt Euclid. [4/100]

2nd Sword, Yuria Lanestia. [8/100]

3rd Sword, Jun. [0/100]

4th Sword, Muratan. [0/100]

5th Sword, Iris Ruzbella. [5/100]

6th Sword, Bellatrice. [0/100]

'It went up again?'

Yuria's number had risen to 8.

Ever since I obtained the 2nd Sword's [Infinite Divinity], my divine power had been increasing just from breathing…

That was probably the cause.

Because of it, the Baby Sword's 50:50 ratio had broken down.

'Heading to Japan in an incomplete state is a bit worrying.'

To obtain the Baby Sword's 'Scabbard,' I would have to deal with the root of the Red Sea — Gye Man-hwi, the Cult Leader of Gaecheonji.

The bastard was likely something related to the demon worshippers.

The fact that he grew Gates through human sacrifice was highly suspicious in itself.

There was another problem too.

'South Korea without the Patriot.'

A full week had already passed.

In that time, I had handled nothing but the Red Sea and a single small Red Gate.

I had a feeling that not only my own affairs, but domestic Gate management too, must have been thrown into disarray.

After much deliberation, the question I voiced was this:

"Gates. Are they in a dangerous state?"

The Patriot alone handled as many as ten large Gates per day, and in my estimation, South Korea's Hunter forces couldn't hold out for a month — they couldn't even hold out for a week.

But the answer I received was completely contrary to my concern.

"South Korea is fine."

"Si-woo, your growth is the highest priority. We can handle domestic matters ourselves."

As if in rehearsed agreement, the two of them answered.

'Lies.'

Ever since I had used [2nd Sword, Yuria Lanestia], I had developed a strange sense for judging 'truth or falsehood.'

Only after gaining this power did I understand why Yuria had been so indiscriminate in executing people.

'It wasn't just a tantrum, was it?'

"Did you kill him?"

"N-no, I didn't!"

"Lies."

—Sgeuk!

In [Raise a Sword], Yuria would ask just one question before passing judgment on every criminal.

There was the minor issue that most of the criminals had been married couples or lovers, but they had probably all been criminals.

'It was possible because she had a lie detector strapped to her.'

Anyway, I was able to hear the truth.

"You really do feel like a true Transcendent now, Si-woo."

Senior Prosecutor Kang let out a heavy sigh and cautiously began to speak.

"The truth is, the Gate problem is serious. The high-grade Gates that Lord Patriot used to handle add up to ten a day. We're plugging those with A-ranks and S-ranks, so the pace is slow."

The Patriot worked 24-hour shifts, six days a week.

And the Gates he handled were, without exception, high-grade, large-scale Gates.

And that Patriot had failed to emerge from the [Black Gate] that had appeared in Korea.

"I really hate to say this, but…"

South Korea had about ten S-rank Hunters, and the rest were all A-rank or below.

"And with SS-rank Hunter Sword Emperor going missing in the Tower, the situation has gotten even tighter."

The President added the supplementary explanation.

"We are already preparing a full reserve mobilization order. If we deploy the military as well, we can hold on our own. So—"

He was saying I should focus on my own growth.

It was an undeniable fact that the period right after Awakening was the most advantageous for growth.

On top of that, I was an unprecedented being in South Korea — an Awakened who had debuted in a Transcendent state.

"Just your presence in this country alone, Lord Si-woo, is of enormous help."

"Even if you abandon this land, your growth is the top priority. Seol-a is fluent in Japanese and will support you well, so don't worry — go at your own pace."

I pondered briefly.

'The Scabbard is important, but—'

The state of the 'Baby Sword,' whose golden balance of 50:50 had broken, concerned me more.

Just as tending to one's health takes precedence over buying clothes for a child, I judged that I needed to increase the Evil ratio.

'With any luck, Iris's number will go up too.'

The [Ego Swords]' Manifestation values.

These weren't simply handed out as rewards.

I could be certain of it now.

[1st Sword, Reinhardt Euclid] was a sword of diligent cultivation.

The reason the very first sword was stuck at 4.

I had never once devoted myself to training, so his number wouldn't rise.

'Yuria and Iris are different.'

When I fed the Red Sea to Iris and delivered her blood, she grew.

In Yuria's case, she performed a miracle and received the praise of all, and infinite divine power welled up from my body.

'1st Sword Reinhardt is the center, and the 2nd Sword Yuria and 5th Sword Iris balance each other out.'

I intended to push the [5th Sword, Iris Ruzbella].

So I asked,

"Is there, by any chance, a special-grade Gate with something grotesque and terrifying in it?"

* * *

Kuguguguguung—!!!

The world of swords.

The domain of the 5th Sword, Iris, shook.

"Haha! The Sword Master desires Us."

A small girl fluttered her dress made of blood.

The blood scattered, and from it a demon appeared.

"Bear Us."

An enormous head atop a small body.

The bright-red-skinned demon bent down before Iris.

The small girl climbed onto the demon's back and headed for the domain of the [4th Sword, Muratan].

"Would it be all right for Us to pass through?"

"About that promise to get me iron... ho! Was there metal such as this?"

A short, stocky dwarf stroked his beard as he gazed at Iris's demon.

"They are Our subject."

"Didn't you say you'd get me iron?"

"We are not an Empress who abandons Our subjects."

"…How is entrusting iron to me abandoning them?"

The dwarf asked, and Iris tilted her head.

Faint though it was, she had supped on blood, and her mind's eye saw through the dwarf.

"You, a sword yet a blacksmith."

"That is right. I am a blacksmith who forges swords with a sword."

"If you were to hammer upon Our subject, what would they become?"

"They'd be reforged into the hardest iron."

In truth, the demon was a being Iris could discard at any time.

For once it fed on blood, it would be born anew.

'How foolish.'

Haha! Iris laughed and left one of her demons behind.

Reaching the 3rd Sword's domain—

"……"

She stepped directly into the space of [2nd Sword, Yuria Lanestia].

Two figures were there.

"…Is the Sword Master a lover of men?"

"That could not possibly be! The Sword Master is a person who takes no interest in men or women alike!"

Iris narrowed her eyes at the foolish 1st Sword and 2nd Sword.

"You are insolent before Us."

The small girl straightened her back and shouted.

Only then did the old man and the blonde-haired saintess look at Iris.

"Demon, why do you keep straying from your own domain?"

The 1st Sword Reinhardt leveled his blade.

Iris giggled 'Haha!' and replied.

"Hath the Sword Master not said he would grant this maiden an opportunity?"

From "We" to "maiden."

Iris gazed at the heavens with ecstatic eyes.

She could see the Sword Master's world.

He was heading somewhere thick with the scent of blood.

"…Were it not for the Baby Sword, there would be no reason for you to be called forth, wench."

Reinhardt glared at Iris with a stern expression.

And Yuria—

"You, too, must be a sword that has seen the end of its world?"

"That is so."

Posed a question to Iris.

"Did you, too, learn some peculiar training method, like the Oath of the Chaste or the Juvenile Abstinence Cultivation?"

A rather strange question.

"To ask a question of Us, one must have their tongue cut out. But Our mood is fine, so We shall answer specially—"

Iris gave a rather bewitching smile.

Though her body was that of a small child and her face that of a maiden, there was a hint of the allure from her prime in that smile.

"—We received a special interdiction that We must become the final human of the continent."

At those words, the 2nd Sword Yuria dropped down onto her rear.

"S-so then… does that mean you shared affections with someone before becoming alone?"

"Hmm, in those days We had no interest in such things."

"So did you share them or not?! Answer quickly!!!"

"You fixate upon strange matters. Hmm—"

Iris tilted her head.

Then she spoke.

"Come to think of it, there was not a single one. When Our world reached its end, not a single person remained in the world."