Chapter 348: What the hell are these humans? (5)

Is it really the God of Death that Cale Henituse is talking to right now through the Sacred Object?

The ten Beast People of the planning committee. They had gathered from all over.

That’s why there were some who had been with Cale, like the White Snake Wisha, but there were also some who had dedicated their lives to secretly protecting the Beast People, or who had been fleeing and fighting against the Heretic Inquisitors.

‘It can’t be…!’

One of the Beast People muttered without realizing it.

“…False-”

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Tap.

A hand touched his arm gently.

“……!”

Upon seeing who was motioning for him to be quiet, he realized that he had let his thought slip out.

Moreover, he felt a shiver down his spine.

The person who had touched his arm was the elder who had stood up and shouted that Cale Henituse’s words were blasphemous.

Gulp.

This elder had been the first to suggest that Lock be the Pope, and he was currently disagreeing with Wisha and her group.

He looked down.

The elder who had touched his arm. His hands were trembling slightly.

He was afraid.

‘…Why?’

The elder felt a clear fear towards Cale Henituse.

And not only that.

He realized that some of those who were with him had their mouths shut and were sweating cold.

‘Ah!’

Now that he thinks about it, all of them had fought alongside Cale Henituse in the ‘Battle of the Five Colors’.

The Battle of the Five Colors.

That was the name of the battle they had fought against Dragon Lord Neo’s group.

A name inspired by the five-colored light that had enveloped the entire continent of Aipotu.

‘……!’

As he looked around, he discovered something else.

Wisha’s group.

Those who had also fought alongside Cale Henituse in the Battle of the Five Colors had their mouths shut and didn’t move a single muscle.

‘It’s true-’

They were really afraid.

How is that possible?

Ten members of the planning committee.

These Beast People hadn’t truly feared Dragon Lord Neo. Although they had hidden or fled to save their lives, the lives of their tribe, or the survival of their species, they hadn’t truly been afraid.

‘But-’

Why are they afraid now?

Their eyes unconsciously went to Cale Henituse.

‘That human-’

What is that human, who just by his appearance makes them so afraid?

Is he really capable of talking to the Gods so casually?

Why are these who had challenged Lock, the wolf who used the power of the great God, the Blue Wolf, afraid of a human named Cale Henituse?

He couldn’t understand it.

But those who had seen Cale Henituse fight didn’t believe there was any deception in his actions.

Talking to the God of Death?

‘It’s possible.’

No.

Wisha corrected that thought.

‘If it’s Commander Cale, it’s natural.’

He is someone who communicates even with an entire world.

Dragon Lord Neo.

The image of Cale fighting against him.

The bright five-colored light that saved this world, Aipotu. Cale Henituse, who led that five-colored light.

After witnessing that, Wisha couldn’t help but believe in everything Cale did. “Ha, ha, ha-”

The image of Cale, smiling as he looked into the magic mirror.
Wasn’t he… completely relaxed?
“Should I break it?”
…!
Wisha’s pupils trembled.
Unbothered, Cale continued casually.
“If I throw this mirror… won’t it break?”

“!”

“……!”

A Sacred Object that looks magical at first glance.

Cale took it and tapped it against the table.
Tap, tap.
Wooong—
Wooong!
Wooong, wooong, wooong!
The mirror vibrated violently, as if pleading not to be broken.
The ten Beast People couldn’t quite understand what was going on, but they felt it—a strange, desperate emotion radiating from the Sacred Object.
It was as if the mirror was begging him not to break it.

Tap, tap.

But Cale, calmly, tapped the mirror several more times, and then placed it on the table with an indifferent gesture.

Wooong-

<You’re crazy…!>

Cale read the message and said naturally.

“Then, stop complaining.”

<Damn.>

The God of Death, after saying that, was sending messages quickly.

<Do you think I have nothing better to do?>

<Do you think I only have eyes for you?>

<Do you know how difficult my job is now? Huh? The God of Chaos, the God of Balance, I’m about to go crazy! The Divine World has split in two, and cooperation isn’t working! Really, I’m so tired!>

<And instead of helping, you just think about exploiting me?>

Cale, who was calmly observing this, took the mirror and hit the table.

“Should I break it?”

<…>

The God of Death stopped complaining.

Cale didn’t care about the Divine World’s affairs that the God of Death was telling him.

Isn’t it true that he is suffering the consequences of what those in the Divine World did?

“Ah...Seriously, I’m getting annoyed just thinking about it.”

At Cale’s words, the mirror trembled.

It definitely wasn’t a vibration.

Everyone in the meeting room was looking at Cale and the mirror.

‘That got scared!’

The mirror definitely got scared.

While everyone was thinking that, Cale was really starting to get annoyed.

‘No-’

Think about it.

‘The worlds always thank you with gifts after solving a problem!’

Especially the World Tree and the source of this world, Aipotu!

Huh?

Isn’t it true that those good kids, even though they had nothing to give in return, gave everything away crying?

Their appearance, full of apologies for the reward, which was insufficient compared to saving the world, was excellent.

Jungwon, that guy, also did everything he could.

(TL Note: The Central Plains is referred to as "Jungwon”.)

And what about this God of Death?

Wooong, wooong-

<Cale, Cale->

Wooong-

<Calm down. Let’s talk. Okay?>

Huu.

Cale took a deep breath.

“I have a limit for patience.”

Wooong.

<Yes, yes. I know you’re working hard. I think I’ve gone crazy for a moment. I’ve been working non-stop for 73 hours.>

Huh?

73 hours?

Working for three days?

“73 hours without sleep?”

<Yes. Ha, ha!>

…It’s understandable that he would go crazy.

Cale recalled his experience working late when he was Kim Rok Soo, and he suddenly felt like he wanted to help the God of Death.

“I get it. You’re going through a tough time too.”

<Right?>

“Yes.”

Cale took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the mirror.

It was a white handkerchief that Beacrox had given him.

Polish, polish~

Cale wiped the screen of the mirror and said indifferently.

“Cheer up.”

It was a rough phrase, but full of sincerity.

Wooong……!

<…!>

The God of Death was genuinely moved.
Letters slowly appeared on the trembling mirror.
<...Sniff, sniff.>
Cale pretended not to notice.
‘Now that I think about it, this guy does have his own dignity.’
He recalled their first meeting, in a space that felt like an office. The God of Death had an elegant appearance that truly suited his divine title.

‘…But if he’s been working non-stop for 73 hours-’

Even a God would be a mess.

‘Tsk.’

The unluckiest God of all.

Cale waited for the mirror to stop vibrating.

The mirror stopped vibrating a moment later and began sending messages again.

<Is the Blue Wolf’s Sacred Object the problem?>

As always.

The God of Death is always watching Cale.

“So, you’re aware of what we’re doing?”

Cale asked.

<I know the main parts, but not everything.>

The God of Death gave an unexpected answer.

<In the Mortal World, I can locate the location of a Sacred Object. But nothing more.>

The meaning of those words was simple.

‘The Demon World.’

It means that he doesn’t know what’s going on there.

‘…Virtual Reality.’

It means that he doesn’t know what’s going on there either.

The corner of Cale’s lips rose unconsciously.

He had more information.

It was a pretty good situation for Cale.

“Why is the Blue Wolf rejecting the Sacred Object?”

He got straight to the point.

Gulp.

He heard someone swallow, but he ignored it.

<They said the Blue Wolf’s divinity had weakened, right?>

He had already heard that.

It’s probably a result of the Forgotten God confronting the God of Chaos.

<If the divinity has weakened past a certain point, even the Divine World can't detect it anymore. That’s how far it's fallen.>

<He’s probably sleeping deeply.>

<In his hiding place, where other Gods can’t find him. A God with weak divinity isn’t truly alive.>

The God of Death paused for a moment and added.

<The Forgotten God confronted the God of Chaos, who is considered one of the strongest among the Gods. He probably lost a lot of his power. Because he was an entity that was barely maintaining his existence.>

Hmm.

Cale realized that the Blue Wolf’s condition was more serious than he thought.

‘I feel a little guilty.’

Isn’t it true that he became like that to save us?

Unlike the other Gods who had appeared so far, the Blue Wolf had fought with everything he had.

‘Hmm.’

Cale swallowed.

‘I feel guilty…!’

Cheapskate, who rarely did so, let out a sigh.

- He’s a good God.

Even the guy who said that if he was a God, he would kill him immediately, said something kind.

Wooong-

At that moment, the God of Death continued sending messages.

<The Blue Wolf isn’t rejecting the Sacred Object.>

“He’s not rejecting the Sacred Object?”

Does that mean the Sacred Object isn’t wrong?

Cale’s eyes shone, and the Beast People’s attention was focused on him again.

<Yes. It’s very likely that he can’t even maintain the sacredness that should be placed in the Sacred Object.>

<Think about it.>

<My body is in a coma now. I’m having trouble surviving, would I have the strength to share some of my power and place it in a Sacred Object?>

Of course not.

<Moreover, since he’s sleeping deeply, his instincts, which maintain and expand his divinity, only move in that direction, so he’ll probably ignore the Sacred Object.>

The God of Death hesitated for a moment and then wrote.

<…But I didn’t know that his divinity would collapse so much.>

It was the God of Death who said that they should create a temple and a Sacred Object to bring the Blue Wolf back to Aipotu.

It seems that even he didn’t know the Blue Wolf’s condition well.

‘It’s understandable.’

Isn’t it true that he’s disoriented by the God of Chaos?

<Even though the Blue Wolf is a Forgotten God, the God of Chaos seems to be stronger than I thought.>

The God of Chaos.

Cale remembered the gray wave that God had created.

“…He’s strong.”

Yes.

He’s very strong.

A lot.

“Then, what’s the solution?”

He already understood the situation.

So, what’s the answer?

<There are two.>

First.

<Wait.>

“Wait until the Blue Wolf’s divinity returns to its level?”

<Yes. Anyway, the temple is already being built, and a sacred place has been created. So, the worship of the Blue Wolf will increase in the future. His divinity will recover.>

“But it will take a long time.”

<Yes. A minimum of decades, a maximum of centuries.>

First, wait.

That will take a long time.

<But if this method is chosen, it’s safe. No one will get hurt, they just have to pray and make their existence known.>

Cale shook his head.

“What’s the other method?”

The Beast People required the Blue Wolf’s Sacred Object for purposes beyond marking their revival and honoring the Blue Wolf.

‘Wild Transformation, that is, the Berserk State.’

Unlike Cale’s world, here the Berserk State is performed stably and safely only through the Blue Wolf’s Sacred Object.

‘And now, what the Beast People need most is the Berserk State.’

Why are they trying to enthrone Lock?

It’s not just because he brought down the Blue Wolf.

Lock, like the Tiger Gashan who came with Cale, transformed into the Berserk State on his own.

That seemed incredible to the Beast People.

‘These Beast People must also seek a way to transform themselves, but they have no idea.’

That was what Eruhaben told him.

‘No one has experienced a complete and perfect first Berserk State.’

And neither Lock nor the Tiger Gashan could teach it to them.

‘Simply-’

‘It happens on its own.’

The Beast People in Cale’s world knew to some extent how the first transformation occurred, but they couldn’t explain how to do it perfectly and completely, because it was something that occurred naturally by doing it.

‘Gashan says he’s researching.’

Gashan and the Whale Witira were thinking together about this problem. But it’s not something that can be solved immediately.

‘Eventually, another method is needed.’

Waiting is difficult.

Lock could be stuck in Aipotu forever.

<The second is->

The God of Death hesitated for a moment and wrote.

<Steal the divinity.>

“Steal the divinity?”

The individuals who had been observing Cale with eager anticipation halted upon hearing those words.

Cale, not caring, continued to look at the mirror.

<Yes. divinity is unique to each God, so stealing it is almost impossible.>

<But the divinity that isn’t the God’s, but that an Ancient God placed in a Sacred Object a long time ago, is very likely to have lost some of its unique characteristics.>

<Especially if it’s a memorial Sacred Object that isn’t used often in a cult.>

An ancient Sacred Object.

<If the divinity it contains is stolen and given to the Blue Wolf, with his ability, he will be able to embrace that divinity as his own.>

<However, the divinity can only be influenced by the Blue Wolf’s divinity if its unique characteristics are significantly diluted, nearly to the point of being considered 'null'.>

Wooong~

<But that kind of ancient Sacred Object is difficult to find, and even if you find it, stealing it and extracting only the divinity is something that requires fighting against an entire cult. It’s not easy.>

Wooong~

The God of Death seemed hesitant.

<It might take longer than waiting, and blood might have to be shed. Moreover, you could earn that God’s hatred and have to face a curse or a war.>

Wooong~

<It’s not the method you prefer.>

The God of Death said it because he knew Cale’s character.

<I advise that you wait.>

<Your companion Lock? If you’re worried, I’ll create a portal here so Lock can go back and forth freely between Roan and the sacred place.>

<That way, Lock won’t feel so pressured, and the Beast People can wait more peacefully.>

The God of Death, who was sending messages non-stop, felt a strange feeling.

<…Hey.>

Cale had a subtle smile.

<…What are you thinking about now?>

Tap, tap.

Cale tapped the table with his index finger and spoke.

“Waiting for the Blue Wolf’s divinity to recover, which could take decades, or even centuries.”

The eyes of the members of the planning committee widened. Their pupils moved aimlessly.

Tap, tap.

Cale continued speaking.

“Or stealing the ancient Sacred Object of another God-”

Jumps.

Everyone looked at Cale in surprise.

"The diminished divinity, essentially a near negligible essence, shall be presented to the Blue Wolf. There are precisely two methods available for this purpose."

Ha~

The corner of Cale’s lips rose higher and higher.

“Hey.”

<…Why? …Why are you making me nervous?>

The God of Death’s message trembled slightly.

Cale, not caring, said.

“I’ll give you two methods.”

<…I’m not interested in knowing what they are…….>

“First.”

All eyes turned to Cale.

“The God of Chaos, he’s an Ancient God, right? Then, among his Sacred Objects, there will be many ancient ones, right?”

<…!>

Ten thousand years have passed.

As he is a God who existed even in ancient times, if it’s a Sacred Object from that era, it’s likely to have lost much of its unique characteristics and be almost ‘null’.

“Steal that guy’s Sacred Object.”

If that’s done, the Blue Wolf’s divinity will recover. And the God of Chaos could also be hit.

“And second.”

<Is there more, is there more?>

<I’m scared; I’m scared!>

Cale ignored the God of Death’s words and continued.

“What if a Sacred Object with the characteristic of ‘null’ is created from the beginning?”

<…Huh? …Is that possible?>

This could be an assumption or an imagination of Cale.

But it seems possible.

“I’m not sure. If it’s possible or not. But I want to ask anyway.”

<…How?>

A Sacred Object contains the unique characteristics of a God.

How can it be made ‘null’?

There are no Gods with the characteristic of null.

Cale remembered his experience as Kim Rok Soo. 

That place. 

Yes, in that place, anything could be created. 

Cale's clear words, indicating the second method, came out of his mouth. 

“Item.” 

To be more precise. 

“Game item.” 

Game item. 

There are many that are similar to Sacred Objects. 

Cale thought about the AI derived from the system of the game Raising My Precious Absolute God. 

“I think it could be possible if an agreement is reached—” 

An item that only contains divinity without attributes. 

It seems possible. 

“Haha.” 

Cale laughed. 

Wooong~

And the mirror—the God of Death—trembled.

Silence fell over the meeting room. 

No. 

“Human! Why are you laughing again? Are you planning to smack someone in the back of the neck?”

Only Raon spoke to Cale with an excited face. 

“Haha.” 

But Cale just laughed. 

‘The God of Chaos—’ 

That bastard’s Saint is also inside the game. That means his temple and Sacred Object could also be inside the game. 

“Interesting.” 

Cale, who spoke with a gentle smile, seemed very happy. 

But the Beast People looked away slightly due to an inexplicable feeling of coldness. 

<…Will it be okay…?>

Only the mirror that the God of Death had created trembled non-stop. 

-----

P/R Comments:

Cale doesn’t do brunch. He does existential crises—for gods and Beast People alike. ☕😈

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]