Chapter 409: The Night and the Light (5)

– Sniff. Sniff.  It's the first time I've smelled something like this.

The legendary thief, the Sound of the Wind, couldn't hide the excitement in her gruff voice.

She was full of enthusiasm.

– Sniff. Sniff. Not even the divine artifacts of the God of the Sun gave off a smell like this. This is on another level.

Ohhh...

What kind of divine artifact would make the Sound of the Wind react this way?

"……."

"……."

"……."

Following Cale, the Heavenly Demon and Alberu walked confidently, disguising themselves as ordinary priests.

Of course, they only took secret routes.

"Huh?"

Cale suddenly stopped.
The divine artifact.

An object for the Blue Wolf God of the Beast People Tribe.

The god who, among all the gods Cale had met, was the closest to a true god—
the one who had protected them from the God of Chaos.

Lock, from the Blue Wolf Tribe, was waiting in Aipotu for the divine artifact and Cale.

That's why Cale intended to get the divine artifact.

A pretty good one.
Useful.
He intended to get it.
And this was the perfect place to do so.

...Are we really going there?

The Sound of the Wind answered Cale’s question.

– Sniff! Yes, there! Sniff!

Her tone was full of certainty.

Cale glanced toward the direction she indicated.

...That's the Primordial Night.

The sanctuary of the Primordial Night—
the very heart of this city, and practically the core of everything that mattered. The Sound of the Wind pointed straight toward it.

– An incredible smell comes from there! There's a legendary-class divine artifact!

A place heavily guarded before the ritual — one that Cale’s group couldn’t easily approach.

If they revealed their identities and tried by force, Cale would enter that sanctuary, but.

"Ugh—"

Is there really a divine artifact there?

Hmm.

For some reason, he felt a chill down his neck.
Apart from that, his heart was pounding.

The Sound of the Wind spoke.

– We can completely steal it!

Of course.

Whatever it was, if there truly was a divine artifact there—

Smile~

The corner of Cale's lips began to rise.

The Heavenly Demon's expression filled with interest, and Alberu quietly swallowed.

Whoosh.

Cale moved towards the back of the building.

Then, with the wind wrapping around his ankles, he leaped onto the rooftop.

With movements that avoided the guards’ gaze, Cale reached the roof and looked toward the sanctuary.

From a high place, he could see the sanctuary well.

The Primordial Night.

It lay within a small basin—
like a natural stadium sculpted by nature itself.

The place that became the stadium was the center of the basin, a flat piece of land with green grass.

Yes. There's life there.

And around that land, a gentle hill.

There were chairs and various objects.

There, the followers would observe the competition and the death of the sacrifices, offering pleasure, joy, and worship throughout the night.

– Sniff!

The only place brimming with green grass and full of color.

In the very center of that natural stadium was a small lake.

[You have discovered the Primordial Night.]

The mission window told Cale exactly where he was.

The Primordial Night.

The center of the Primordial Night.

– There!

The Sound of the Wind indicated it.

The altar in the center of the small lake.

There, the saint performed the ritual with the sacrifices, and as a result the sacrifices fought each other to the death.

On the altar.

...There's nothing.

There was nothing on the altar.

Swish!

But the Sound of the Wind immediately answered.

– Beneath the altar.

The altar floated on the lake’s water — a strange, mysterious sight.
The smell came from beneath the lake.

She insisted there was a divine artifact beneath the water.

– It's a divine artifact with immense power.

In her low voice, there was a burning longing.

– Let's steal it.

The Blue Wolf.
One of the few decent gods he’d ever met.
And, thankfully, on their side.

Since we're going to get a divine artifact—

Cale had a hunch.

The rituals that have been performed so far.

Furthermore, the descent of the God of Chaos.

If that place was the ground prepared for that...

Where will all the energy accumulated from performing the rituals have gone?

The divine artifact.

It must be in the divine artifact beneath the lake.

The empty altar was nothing more than an illusion.

Let's steal it.

The moment Cale made that decision—

– Hey, Cale—

A strange voice echoed in his head.

– Hehe, he!

Someone trying to hold back laughter, barely able to speak.

– Cale~

It was the Cheapskate—
the Fire of Destruction.

Huh?

And the moment he heard that voice, Cale realized something.

That altar—

– Cale, in all my life, I’ve never seen a magic stone this valuable. It’s top-grade—beyond supreme!

That altar, it seems to be made of magical stone.

– My god, even the embedded diamonds are of the finest quality I’ve ever seen! That altar is made of materials more valuable than gold… Seriously… it must be ridiculously expensive...

The Cheapskate.

The Fire of Destruction who dreamed of becoming stronger.
The one who said he wanted to spend money at a divine level.

That same guy spoke again, his voice low and burning with greed.

– Cale. How much do you think all of that is worth?

Cale closed his eyes for a moment.

Of course, that altar wasn’t enough to qualify as divine-level spending.

After all, the Cheapskate’s definition of divine spending…

wasn’t something easily achievable.

"……."

Cale stayed silent for a moment, lost in thought.

I never intended to fight Wanderer Ryeon.

Yes. This time, his plan was simple—
to let the followers of the God of Chaos and the Wanderers fight each other,
destroy the sanctuary,
and escape.

He had no intention of fighting the Wanderers.

But if I can steal it in the meantime, that wouldn’t be bad, would it?

Yes.

Cale made up his mind.

While the Heavenly Demon and Alberu were waiting for him,
Cale opened his eyes and said,

“Let’s steal it all.”

Yes. Let’s steal it all.

And then—let’s escape!

– Hahahaha!

The Sound of the Wind burst into laughter.

– Hahaha!

The Cheapskate was delighted.

Cale smiled faintly and asked—

“There are about fifteen minutes left. Is there anywhere we can steal a safe from?”

At his question, Alberu smiled calmly, while the Heavenly Demon let out an exasperated laugh.

"I knew this would happen."

Alberu's voice was extremely calm.

* * *

And at that moment.

“Has the ritual been prepared?”

The Saint of the God of Chaos looked out the window as he spoke.

"Yes."

At the simple answer, he turned around to face the bishop in charge of the place.

Gray eyes.

The bishop, noticing that the Saint’s eyes were growing ever grayer, quickly bowed his head.

"This is the last time."

Although the saint's voice was calm, a faint excitement lingered within it.

“If everything goes well this time, the God of Chaos will finally descend.”

He spoke calmly.

"When all the sacrifices are offered, the God of Chaos will have a place to descend."

"Yes."

At last, they would witness the fruits of their devotion.

“Have you told all the followers to gather?”

"Yes."

All the followers residing in the city had been summoned.

"And the Night of Pleasure?"

"It's well prepared."

“Good. We must ensure the followers indulge in pleasure and chaos more than ever before.”

The bishop bowed even lower at the Saint’s words, showing his unwavering obedience.

The Saint’s tone remained serene as he continued.

“The followers who have endured forty-four Nights of Pleasure—when they offer their lives, the God of Chaos will descend.”

"Yes."

They had performed this ritual forty-three times.

It had not been an easy path.

Avoiding the eyes of the Wanderers and the demon world had been quite difficult.

"The followers will offer their lives for the God of Chaos with joy."

A gentle smile appeared on the saint's lips.

“So, it shall be.”

And the bishop also smiled softly.

In the stillness of that peaceful atmosphere, the Saint and the bishop conversed quietly.

“Sir Saint, the Pope will soon cross into this world.”

“Yes, I know. He said he would come here—dragging his weary body—to witness the world upon which the God of Chaos has descended.”

The Saint walked toward the window.

"……."

"……."

After a brief silence, the saint spoke.

“The Absolute God… even he will become nothing but dust before the God of Chaos.”

The bishop raised his hands toward the sky.

“When chaos spreads, it will be a return to the beginning. We only await that day.”

The Saint smiled faintly at the bishop’s words.

The bishop returned the smile and rose from his seat.

"It's time to go."

At those words, the Saint stepped away from the window and slowly walked toward the door.

The Primordial Night.

The Saint had to perform the final ritual there.

Though the sky remained gray,
on the ground, night had already fallen.
The world was stained with the colors of dusk and darkness.

And—

* * *

"Ryeon."

Wanderer Cho called his sister in front of the wall.

"……."

Ryeon, instead of answering, waved her hand.

Crack!

The wall froze.

“Who’s there!?”

"Intruders—"

The two guards couldn’t finish; they froze mid-word.

Wave.

The moment she waved her hand once more.

Bang!

The ice shattered. The wall and the guards disintegrated.

Ryeon glanced briefly at the gray sky and stepped forward.

"Ryeon, are we going to destroy everything?"

At Cho's excited voice, Ryeon spoke calmly.

"Quickly. Everything."

Her gaze turned towards the front, towards the cult where the Primordial Night was.

"Destroy it."

Destroy everything quickly as they advance.

As of today, the sanctuary of the God of Chaos will disappear.

Before the third emperor of the Wanderers arrives.

That was the conclusion Cho and Ryeon had reached.

* * *

Meanwhile, the people gathered near the Primordial Roots that connected the Death Cliff.

The sky above them had already turned dark.

"……."

Crazy Exhibitionist, who usually never shut up while streaming, stood frozen — mouth open, eyes wide.

For once, he was speechless.

Then, finally, words spilled out.

“…The saint…! The great holy knight…!”

The saint of the God of the Sun and Sir Boltien.

He had only ever seen them from afar—never this close.
Especially the saint, who only appeared at the most sacred ceremonies of the Church.

And suddenly, those two people appeared near the Primordial Roots in the Demon Kingdom.

“My god…”

Crazy Exhibitionist slowly turned his gaze.

The two leading figures of the Church of the God of the Sun.

And in front of them —

there was another presence.

"I don't know who he is, but he seems strong...!"

Choi Han, with black hair and black eyes.

Crazy Exhibitionist didn’t know who he was, but the moment he saw him, he understood.
That man wasn’t a background character.
He was the type of NPC with a story that changed the world.

And there was proof.
An overwhelming presence.
A pressure so strong it made even the saint and the great holy knight fade from sight—
and left Crazy Exhibitionist speechless.

Flap. Flap.

“A… dragon!”

The most difficult existence to see in the New World.

So far, there have been less than ten cases of people who had seen a dragon.

And yet, right here, before his eyes—!

“A baby dragon…? Adorable…!”

It was the adorable baby dragon, Raon.

“Ugh…”

Crazy Exhibitionist was frozen.

His fellow player beside him covered his mouth, eyes wide.

Three groups now stood facing each other in a tense triangle.

The holy knight of the God of the Sun, Sir Boltien, finally spoke—
his gaze fixed exactly on Choi Han.

"...I hardly recognize you because of your hair color change. I didn't expect to see you here again."

Sir Boltien's gaze darkened as he looked at Choi Han.

Cale and Choi Han.

Those two people were mysterious to Sir Boltien, and they had made him distrust the God of Chaos.

"Why are you stopping us?"

Instead of Choi Han, Raon shouted in response to the knight's question.

There was a reason he had appeared after deactivating his invisibility.

"Our human said there shouldn't be unnecessary variables! He said there shouldn't be innocent victims! He said said we mustn’t involve others! Wait a moment, please!"

Raon was buying time, holding the holy knight and the saint from entering the Death Cliff.

Choi Han was also doing the same.

“...The adorable dragon… speaks adorably…! Destroy the apartment! Destroy Earth! Destroy the Demon Kingdom! Destroy the whole New World!”

Crazy Exhibitionist murmured in a low voice.

As the tense confrontation continued—

Rumble. Rumble~

The ground began to shake.

"!"

"……!"

All eyes turned towards the Primordial Roots bridge that connected the Demon Kingdom.

The roots of the trees were retracting, and the bridge was disappearing.

– Cale. All the sacrifices are gathered.

Cale heard Eruhaben's voice as he hid among the followers.

At the center of the Primordial Night—
In that single patch of land where green grass still grew—
over five hundred sacrifices knelt in silence.

Steps. Steps.

And the saint slowly entered the Primordial Night, in the sanctuary basin.

– He's coming.

Cale gave a short nod in response to Eruhaben’s words.

 -----

P/R Thoughts: Cale sets his sights on stealing a divine artifact beneath the Primordial Night — just as gods, Wanderers, saints, and dragons converge for the night that will decide everything.

***

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]