Chapter 538 – Room 207, Gate Room – Fourth Trial ‘Fallen King’ (24)
– ???
I snapped back to reality amidst a storm!
My name is William Smith, 32 years old—
“…”
Wait, that doesn’t really cut it.
I can’t express who I am with that old name.
Who am I really?
Just as an indescribable despair threatened to consume my mind, a revelation from the great one came to me.
「You are a fragment fallen from the heavens. You are a part of the great one. You are one of the 348,000 pieces created when the stars shattered. Collect the other pieces. And thus, ascend to the celestial realm.」
Ah…
Now it dawns on me.
I was born a human, destined to be a god.
「Your number is 234,822.」
…
What’s the significance of this number?
*
There was a ruckus outside from early morning.
It was my friendly neighbor, Ariana.
“William! I need a favor!”
“… What’s up?”
“My husband’s car seems off. I think it’s leaking oil… Could I borrow yours?”
I should lend it to her.
No, I must let it go.
Things should always end up in the hands of those in need.
I have three cars, so it shouldn’t be a problem to let one go to Ariana—
“…”
If it had been yesterday, I would have happily told her to take it.
I’ve already given away quite a few things like that, and I’ve also received plenty in return.
But now? Not a chance.
That’s my car!
Didn’t I work hard to earn that money to buy it?
Why should I give my precious car to someone else?
I don’t want to!
But if I say that outright, she’ll think I’m odd.
“Ariana, I’m sorry, but the engine in that car is acting up too. You’ll need to get it fixed.”
“Oh dear! Then I guess there’s nothing we can do!”
My half-baked excuse to avoid lending her the car.
The cheerful woman walked away, believing my words without doubt.
In this utopia, there should be no lies.
Except for mine.
…
Except for mine!
“Hah!”
I’m panting.
At this point, I finally realized what a massive ‘blessing’ had been bestowed upon me!
In a paradise where everyone loves one another and knows no deceit, I had gained the right to lie to others!
*
Since that day, miracles I could never have imagined as a mere beverage company employee began to unfold.
A picturesque single-family home on the California coast.
Three beautiful yachts and supercars that would make anyone nod in recognition.
Even masterpieces that would belong in a gallery!
This was wealth one could only dream of, fit for a top-notch entrepreneur.
The process of acquiring all this was ridiculously easy.
Just concoct a few fitting tales, and everyone fell for it, handing over their belongings, sometimes even in tears crying, “Take it!”
What a bunch of fools.
All of them dunderheads!
I alone was the only real human among these monkey-like idiots!
What do I need to complete this happiness?
Of course, a stunning, bright-eyed beauty!
The moment I encountered a girl with enchanting black hair and captivating blue eyes, I realized my destiny.
“I-I’m William. May I know your name—”
“I want to see it.”
“Eh? What?”
“I heard you have beautiful paintings in your home. May I have a look?”
“Of course!”
*
It was a moment I would never forget.
A girl so beautiful she belonged in a dream was walking around my house!
I struggled to suppress all the crass thoughts flooding my head.
As we shared a drink on the California coast that evening, just as I was about to talk about our future.
“Let’s stop here. I was a bit nervous, just in case, but you’re really nothing special.”
“Eh? What are you suddenly saying?”
“You’re so dimwitted. You don’t even know my name.”
“W-What do you mean—”
Her blue eyes suddenly turned as cold as ice, a look of disappointment, not anger.
What was once a gaze filled with contempt now turned frighteningly intense as dozens of eyes emerged behind her!
“Didn’t you hear the revelation?”
“Eh?”
The instant she reached out, my entire body turned to stone.
It felt like an incomprehensible force had seized control of my body.
“You heard it begin: Gather the other pieces to ascend to the heavens. It implied there are numerous pieces in the world besides you.”
“Ugh!”
“Such a pity. It’s not you I pity, but the ‘fragment’ merged with this foolish host. Is this the best you could conjure with all your great power? A big house, yachts, a pretty girl?”
“Gah!”
“It’s not bad to have desires. What’s bad is your foolishness in not hiding them. Well, I suppose this is where your luck runs out.”
A chilling hand moved toward my head.
“How many times?”
“Grrrk!”
“Alright. I can tell you don’t even know what the number means. The earlier the number, the larger the piece. Given your level, you might just be in the 200,000 range.”
I’m scared.
I don’t want to die.
Please, save me!
“You’re not going to die.”
“…”
“It’s merely the inferior fragment merging with a superior being.”
When that cold hand dug into my head…
When it swallowed the radiant piece that had changed my life…
The self of ‘William Smith’ shattered like bubbles as I finally realized.
Her name is Serena K. Wild, and she holds number 38.
“You really liked me, huh? I’m curious. Since we were originally one, isn’t this a kind of narcissism?”
*
– ???
“The Virgin once said! Love your neighbor. Cherish the neighbor’s child as your own. And thus—”
While I was preaching, a commotion echoed through the church.
I looked up to see a shaggy-haired young man entering through the church door.
Apologizing for breaking the sacred atmosphere, the young man bowed his head as parishioners turned their eyes back to me.
“…”
Focus on the sermon.
“Folks, you must have heard the words of love many times, yes? It’s heartwarming, isn’t it?”
The parishioners nodded as if fully understanding.
“Today, let’s talk about something a bit different! Friends! Do you know the flames of heresy are raging?”
More muttering arose.
A sermon that didn’t match the love-laden utopia.
However, my ‘sermon’ is anything but ordinary.
I gestured to those already converted.
— Clank! Clank!
The windows slammed shut and the lights dimmed.
Many parishioners were startled, but residents of the paradise never easily suspect others.
“I saw it! The looming clouds rising from the great protector’s side. I saw the demons burning the paradise bestowed by the Virgin! This represents the four horsemen of the apocalypse mentioned in Revelation—”
The hush of confusion began to settle over the congregation.
They couldn’t accept words that rejected love, yet having long forgotten how to doubt, they couldn’t reject it either.
Amidst that contradiction, the minds of the parishioners slowly wandered astray.
“Folks, I love you. Every tear that falls from your eyes pains my heart. Your pantry is my pantry, and your children are my children! So remember what I said, and take your time pondering it at home.”
As the sermon wrapped up, the bewildered lambs left the chapel, their expressions a mix of confusion as they returned home.
…
Only one goat remained in the vast chapel.
“Student, do you have a question?”
It was the shaggy-haired young man from earlier.
“Haha, no questions. You just made me laugh.”
“What do you mean?”
“C’mon, we both know who we are. Let’s not play pretend. Hey, pastor! What are you doing? Trying to charm folks into creating an army or something?”
“…”
“Are you an idiot? Do you really think a regular army would help us in our war? Just like this, you’d be caught!”
“…”
“Forget it. Judging by the look on your face, it’s obvious you’re above 100,000. I’d hate to see a piece like you wasted.”
The next moment, an intangible force solidified my body like a stone.
“… This is terrifying.”
“Don’t be scared. It’ll just hurt a bit and then it’s over. Afterward, you’ll become part of something greater—”
“That’s not what scares me.”
I’m afraid.
I’ve always been.
The moment of ‘merging’ has always terrified me.
“What?”
“Student, it seems like you’ve already collected a few pieces from Korea. Have you ever thought about what happens when you gather the pieces?”
“Are you an idiot? Are you telling me you haven’t heard the revelation? Merging the pieces means ascending to the celestial god—”
“Does that ‘god’ include ‘us’?”
“What do you—”
— Crack!
With a sound reminiscent of shattering stone, my body began to move once more.
“How, how is this happening!”
The young man’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Were you shocked that one piece is openly preaching in the heart of Seoul? Did it seem like I was audaciously asking for death?”
“Y-you—!”
“I thought you were just a dumb piece. You should consider the possibility of self-confidence as well.”
A fire of determination surged through my body.
The faithful hearts of the parishioners granted me tangible power.
— Boom!
I lunged forward at lightning speed, seizing the young man’s body, leaving him writhing in pain, unable to react.
I had experienced that fact many times before.
Those who realize the power of ‘Thee’ only find the strange moments intimidating, yet their physical prowess is minuscule.
“Is this the first time you’ve seen a power like mine?”
“Grrk!”
“As your number rises with the gathered pieces, a mysterious strength will emerge. Some may gain the power to toy with others’ bodies like you… but some, like me, gain a different strength.”
Seeing the despair fill his eyes, I took my leave.
“I guess it’s fate that you’re here, student.”
— Crunch!
A drop of blood-stained fragment fell into my hand.
If I absorb this, I’ll gain greater strength and ascend closer to the celestial realm.
I had been through this several times already.
…
The words of fear I’d spoken to that unfortunate young man weren’t a lie.
As I approached a higher domain by gathering pieces, horrifying possibilities consumed my thoughts.
When all pieces are collected, will I still remain?
“Phew…”
There’s no choice.
If I don’t grow stronger, someone stronger will swallow me whole.
Thus, fate rests between two paths.
Either become a god, or be a mere snack for one.
I am number 16.
I am Seuil.
…
At least for now, that is my reality.
*
– Kim Mooksung
About two years ago.
That rascal Kain, along with Ari and Miro, had left for the moon.
I’d clung to a massive telescope, timing my moment to use the ‘one more chance.’
During that time, a dazzling light had originated from the moon, and incomprehensible events began occurring.
For instance, the young man before me was a perfect example.
“I’ve reset the regression point.”
“Really?”
He looked nothing like Kain and was, in fact, a Caucasian young man.
Of course, given Kain’s unique ability, he could shift bodies, rendering racial classification moot.
So, my assessment that this young man is ‘not Han Kain’ goes beyond mere appearance.
“Are you really clueless? Do you not know what’s happening right now?”
“Nope.”
The young man responded nonchalantly.
“Don’t say it so casually! I didn’t regress believing your words! Now, there’s no way to return before the Virgin twists the world around!”
“It’s okay.”
“What do you mean it’s okay? You don’t understand anything!”
He smiled charmingly.
“I know three things. First, you don’t need to rewind time. Everything will work out fine. Second, you don’t need to do anything. My grandpa and I can just fish peacefully until the last moment. That’s our role after all.”
I’ve heard that before.
Don’t rewind time.
He’s come to tell me that.
There’s no need to do something until the last moment.
Just enjoy fishing.
Whenever I hear that, it’s utterly frustrating.
Because, at least until two years ago, the paradise that seemed calm on the surface…
Was slowly turning into chaos every single day!
“Don’t you watch the news? The Prime Minister was assassinated in broad daylight yesterday in Britain!”
“Whoa! So that piece wants to be the British Prime Minister, huh? That works.”
“In China—”
“The Secretary comrade is observing closely every day.”
I was left speechless.
“In America—”
“Looks like that girl will swallow it all in America. Her talent is remarkable.”
“…”
It’s always like this.
No matter how shocking the news I share, he remains unfazed and continuously spouts nonsense I can’t grasp.
He’s sitting on a pristine white wooden chair as though he can see everything in the world.
In this regard, he bears a slight resemblance to Kain.
“… You said you knew three things.”
“Yep.”
“You’ve shared two. What’s the third?”
The young man flashed me a grin.
“I’m number one.”
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