Chapter 337
The only man I acknowledged as my master. Helion often used to say to me,
—”Vargan resembles me.”
Of course, he wasn’t talking about looks or personality.
As described in the original work, Vargan was undeniably handsome, and Helion… well, he wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t exactly crafted by the gods either.
And don’t get me started on personality. Comparing a psychopathic master who can’t feel emotions to anyone is just unfair.
Nevertheless, I didn’t think what he said was entirely wrong.
—”Acknowledging that ‘perfection’ cannot exist, we always consider the best option. Thus, we prioritize the majority over the few. Saving ten people is ‘a better option’ than saving one.”
A mindset close to utilitarianism.
Since Helion couldn’t feel emotions, he couldn’t establish a moral compass in his heart. For him, what was good and bad was purely something to be learned.
Because of this, he chose a life for the absolute majority, the most rational choice.
Even if it meant driving a few people to their deaths, he wouldn’t hesitate. For him, justice was the majority.
—”Vargan always says he’s looking out for himself, but if you examine the results, the majority always benefits. Even if a few suffer in the process, he’s unbothered.”
Helion wasn’t wrong.
As he said, since I entered this novel, I always acted with ‘myself and the majority’ in mind.
Acknowledging that I could not be perfect, I aimed to get as close to it as possible.
‘A novel that has already been destroyed once. It would be great if I could change it to an ideal ending where no one suffers, but realistically, that’s impossible.’
It’s better for one person to die than ten.
It’s better for ten to die than a hundred.
Then, at a moment where all humanity is at risk of dying? Probably it’s better for at least one to live.
‘But then, that’s no different from total annihilation. At most, 80 percent… at least half…’
……
But, how long are you planning to continue eavesdropping on my thoughts?
『……!』
Bael’s trembling eyes.
A shadow of confusion crossed his face.
“Oh, isn’t that a rather human-like expression, Bael?”
I said, a slight smirk on my lips.
I can understand why Bael is confused. Not only had he failed to read all my memories before being banished, but he also experienced the immense shock of losing his right arm.
“Don’t flatter yourself thinking you’re the only one who can fully wield power and scripture. No matter how omnipotent you appear, you are not a god.”
“No matter how omnipotent you might seem, you are not a god.”
The absolute powerhouse of this novel.
An opponent that cannot be killed under any circumstances.
From the moment Bael appeared, Lee Soo-rim had sealed humanity’s doom.
Yet, he is still not a god.
As long as he has a physical body and possesses life, there are clear limitations and gaps.
“The problem was achieving the accomplishments and conditions necessary to exploit that gap.”
To kill a character born for destruction, I have been tirelessly pursuing achievements and building a force.
As a result…
I stand here despite everything being utterly unattainable with mere effort.
I can now confront the supreme force solo and have caused significant turmoil within the Goddess Church that he belongs to.
Because of that, the traitor who betrayed humanity has become a target worth killing, but so what?
Famous people are bound to be hated, and I received my fair share of criticism even in my previous life when I was careful with my actions.
The evaluations of others have become utterly tiresome and hold no value anymore. That’s what I mean.
“I’ve worked so hard, so just go quietly into the grave, Lord Bael.”
Crash—!
I unleashed a shockwave infused with Gamigin’s authority and the mana of the New Testament.
In an instant, Bael, judging that two consecutive strikes were not wise, created distance.
His left shoulder looked completely charred, as if it had been burned to a crisp. He avoided the full hit but wasn’t completely unharmed.
“What are you spacing out for?”
With Seiman’s wings on my back, I zoomed next to him at high speed. Maybe due to the influence of Gamigin’s power, Bael’s movements had become slightly sluggish.
I couldn’t let this golden opportunity slip away.
“How uncharacteristic of the strongest.”
Bam—!
Boom! Bam—!
Riding the momentum, I relentlessly pressed on Bael.
Every now and then, Schugenhartz nagged about not overdoing it, but I wish he’d just shut up and activate the blue scripture more.
If it were an opponent I didn’t have to push against, I wouldn’t have pushed myself either.
After all, he was the one who had bored me to death in my past life to the point of causing my demise.
Boom—!!
As the fierce battle raged on, Bael spoke to me through his mana.
“…What are you striving for?”
A somewhat out-of-the-blue question.
His heavy voice loomed over me softly.
“Is it for the sake of the friend who has died? Are you trying to forcefully stoke the flames of life once more?”
He was questioning me.
That question seemed to signify my past, where I had fought tooth and nail to survive in the novel, and my present, where I was clashing desperately.
“Then why strive so hard knowing there’s no return? Is it a calling you must fulfill even at the cost of your own life?”
Boom—!
The damage was escalating on both sides. No matter how well-equipped with relics, a boss is still a boss.
My limbs were being damaged to the point of making recovery difficult, and bones were turning to mush.
Still, I couldn’t stop.
If I halted now, everything I had built would crumble at once.
All the characters, including Liam and me, would return to the soil, and everything I had cultivated would revert to nothing.
“If things continue this way, your flame will completely burn out, leaving only ash. Even so, you will continue this fight…”
—Goodness, you’re being so noisy. Silence was your strong suit, and now that it’s gone, all that’s left is a weakness, Bael.
With my head buzzing, I decided to convey my thoughts to him through mana as well.
It was a conversation only Bael and I could hear while soaring through the sky, engaging in high-speed combat.
—Why are you even opening your mouth when you could just surrender to me and get into a coffin? Are you trying to show off that Gamigin’s power is actually working or something?
Erasing even a simple memory isn’t easy when the target is what it is, but there’s definitely an effect.
Moreover, since Bael was banished while inspecting my memories, there’s a lot of gaps in the information.
—Are you really trying so hard knowing you’re not coming back? It’s ridiculous to hear that from someone who’s slaughtering humans while missing Shalom, who’s already left this world. Plus, you’re terribly deluded.
You yap on as if my only purpose left in life is to look out for Lee Soo-rim; that’s absolute nonsense.
I told Helion before I died, but that’s not my only goal.
—I act solely for myself. The reason I desperately want to kill you and save the masses is for me. I can’t let monsters run rampant in the world I plan to live in.
Me? A sacrifice?
Saving humanity at the cost of my life?
Throw that garbage in the trash.
—I won’t fully deny that I’m doing it to honor Lee Soo-rim, but that’s merely a means to wash away my past mistakes. I won’t throw my life away, nor do I have the slightest thought of dying fighting you.
Yeah, my body is rapidly breaking down. My organs are damaged, and dark blood is flowing from my mouth.
But so what?
My achievements aren’t so weak that I’d die this easily.
My weapon and body won’t break down just because of this.
—Listen carefully, Bael. I will definitely kill you and live well for a thousand years. What? Sacrifice? Leave that noble sacrifice for the so-called heroes.
I am the villain.
Thoroughly selfish, seeking personal gain, and for the sake of myself and the majority, I’d stop at nothing.
—I’m not Helion. I’m no hero. Just because the group I belong to is small doesn’t mean I’ll sacrifice my life.
Sorry, but the group I belong to can’t possibly be small.
Where I stand is the absolute majority. Those who must survive by any means necessary, even if it means casting off the rest, are the righteous-minded humans.
Therefore, I could neither fully agree nor completely refute Helion’s claim that we act for the majority.
I couldn’t nod because the concept of ‘majority’ we established was different.
—I’ve lived like this my whole life and will continue living like it for the rest of my days. Don’t presume to cut off my life line without knowing your place.
『…Is that so?』
At that moment, Bael’s once sluggish movements changed drastically once more.
His speed and power were both rising again.
Is he adapting to Gamigin’s powers…? I wondered, but looking at the extremely oppressive purple mana’s change, it seemed like there was something even more than that.
『…One could say that your unwavering will is noble, but in reality, it’s just stubbornness. It seems I need to make you aware of reality.』
His wounds, which were healing slowly due to the flames of decay, suddenly healed all at once.
The mana’s already abnormally high total and pressure increased even more. I kept attacking him without tiring, but gradually it was having less effect.
His body was slowly changing.
A massive transformation was taking place in Bael’s physique as the battle continued.
A huge change is happening.
Kugugugugung—!!
The sound reverberates, shaking not only the air around me but the very world itself.
At the same time, it seems like the distinction between Bael’s mana and the mana of the purple scripture has vanished. It fills the surroundings like a toxic gas, more stable and powerful than before.
Seeing this, Schugenharz had a noticeably surprised look. ‘Has he really managed to manipulate the scripture to that extent…?’ he thought, his voice trembling within me.
From an outward appearance, not much has changed.
However, any living being with mana would realize that this being is entirely different from the Bael of moments ago.
He looks like something closest to a God.
Bael spoke to me.
“Was this appearance written in the novel you read?”
That guy… he pretends to ask while already knowing the answer.
As if something would come out of it, since everyone died before I could further enhance my power.
I forced a smile and replied.
“It’s hard to believe how amplified your power has become. Is this like a release of authority?”
“Release of authority… it is different. In your terms, it’s more like transcendence. Closer to that.”
As expected, no one outdoes Ipos in being a pain after awakening.
Bael’s true power, never seen in the original work, weighs down on the space.
‘…At this point, he could probably split mountains with a mere gesture.’
Overwhelming brute force. An enemy that is absolutely unbeatable.
But, has there ever been an obstacle that stood before me that was easy?
I will kill this guy no matter what it takes.
I will desperately survive and live the life I couldn’t in my previous life.
I’ve chewed this thought over and over.
I’ve simulated the plans and war scenarios countless times.
…Yeah. Just for moments like this.
—Ding!
[Second Unique Spell. Ouroboros has ended.]
[You’ve used Ouroboros 7 times in this battle.]
…If I had a status window, I’m sure such a window would have popped up.
“…Cough!”
Bael’s mouth, which had never emitted a groan until now, distorted grotesquely.
Crimson blood poured from his mouth and eyes, and the once-dominant purple mana around him faltered.
Seeing his plight, I smiled sincerely.
“Bael, let me tell you this. As you’ve said, I am far from enough. That’s why I had to gather all sorts of relics and talents to prepare myself.”
The body of Vargan and these relics aren’t originally mine.
“First, that should never be criticized or dismissed. Who can blame the will to survive fiercely? Instead, we should use everything at our disposal.”
Even if it’s a devil.
Or a cardinal driven mad by experiments.
Creeeak! Crunch!
The muscles all over Bael’s body writhe and twist as if thousands of worms are crawling inside.
Only when his body became utterly wrecked did Bael finally come to realize his condition.
“Cough… Could it be… you inserted ‘other authorities’ into my body…?!”
I replied with a ridiculously arrogant smile.
“Even if it’s just a setting game, depending on how you use it, it can be more effective than any ultimate skill.”
I barely succeeded after using Ouroboros seven times, but hey.
Didn’t I say it?
I will kill you and survive no matter what.
For that, I’ll use any sordid means available.
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