Chapter: 645
The benefits of third-person perspective were greater than I had expected. After all, martial arts are designed to fit the structure of life.
To outmaneuver human vision, various techniques were developed.
But if I can see it from a third-person view, all those efforts can lose their meaning.
Because I can see everything.
The opponent’s tricks.
The clever movements.
The opponent’s gestures.
Everything.
Having absorbed so much information compared to just seeing the world with my two eyes, I could stall even against Rasha, who was being somewhat sincere after just a few days.
At first, I struggled to adapt. Not only the perspective but moving my body in the third-person view was incredibly difficult.
However, once I got used to it, I couldn’t be more comfortable.
Most importantly, it boosted my confidence.
Not the forced confidence from the Mesugaki Skill, but the confidence I had when I was burning with anger behind a monitor.
The pride of the Soul Academy’s murky waters.
The belief that I could handle any grotesque enemy helped me stand tall.
It was also easy to find areas for improvement. I could see my movements from an objective viewpoint, allowing for immediate corrections.
Thanks to that, I even developed a slight narcissism!
Lucy’s silhouette, dancing like a fairy while facing an enemy, was breathtaking.
Just to clarify before it gets misunderstood, I’m not sympathizing with the sloppy God’s perversion!
It’s admiration, not sexual desire, when I see beautiful fragments!
Actually, that’s the problem!
How can I have any desires against Lucy, who’s donned in such dignified armor!?
It’s been ages since I’ve become an eunuch, but I never expected my mind to turn eunuch too!
No, maybe it’s because Lucy looks too much like a kid.
I’ll test it out later with Phoebe or Joy.
This is an extremely important issue. Maybe more than the fate of the world.
[What are you thinking so seriously? ]
‘…Uh, me!? I wasn’t thinking anything?!’
[We've known each other for so long; why should I believe that?]
Even if Grandpa is a comfortable company, I can’t share this kind of dilemma!
If I say something ridiculous, like I can’t get excited in front of someone who doesn’t know my inner self, I’d get asked if I lost my mind!
‘Um… Hah. About the Pope’s plan.’
[That nonsense about making Jushin the only god?]
‘Yeah, that nonsense.’
I’m relieved. It was a lie I just made up, but Grandpa didn’t show any signs of suspicion.
If he had asked whether I had other concerns, I would’ve bitten my tongue!
[It is indeed strange. The Apostle of Evil God knows it’s impossible to kill a god.]
Listening to Grandpa’s agreement, I thought it was really odd.
The Pope’s plan I had heard was similar to what appeared in the game.
When it comes to the beginning, development, and ending, it could be said to match perfectly.
After reopening the Age of Myth, he would start a war, annihilate the gods, and then vanish alongside Evil God Agra—his dream hasn’t budged for hundreds of years.
Even now that the game has become reality, the Pope is still dreaming of making Lord Armadi the one and only great god.
In the past, I thought his dream was ludicrous and completely impossible, even if I didn’t think it couldn’t be fulfilled.
At that time, I believed gods could die just like anything else.
I mean, the number of gods I killed from the monitor’s side was considerable.
Those days, when I casually remarked how sloppy the gods in the dungeon were.
However, now it’s questionable. I just realized how tricky it is to kill a god when I faced the Dark Evil God.
Gods are conceptual beings.
They can’t just vanish without someone taking their place.
‘Grandpa, is it really possible for one god to possess multiple authorities?’
[As far as I know, that's impossible. It might be possible if they were correlated concepts, but they can’t encompass all concepts.]
Given Grandpa’s words, who lived in the Age of Myth and was close to many gods, this must be right.
Plus, the Pope has also lived through the Age of Myth and fought through wars as the Apostle of Evil God, so he must understand the difficulty of killing a god too.
Yet the Pope has never once shown doubt about failing.
In the game, and in reality, he charged ahead without hesitation toward his purpose.
If only the Pope was losing his marbles, it would be easy to accept, but he’s a remarkably devoted human.
He wouldn’t start a movement without some certainty.
‘I should start looking for a way out soon.’
[Huh?]
‘I don’t think there’s anything more to do here.’
I feel like talking to others might yield something.
In my intelligence level, I can’t see the answer.
Is this also an effect of having the third-person perspective?
I can objectively see that I’m dumb now.
Or perhaps my intelligence has actually risen?
While I was smiling at the thought of being wise, Grandpa urgently spoke up.
[Uh. I ask because I don’t get it, but you’re currently in a state of being kidnapped, right?]
‘Exactly?’
[But just thinking you want to get out won’t make it happen, will it?]
‘It’s not impossible. They can’t harm me.’
In a normal situation, dreaming of escape would be impossible. There are limits to facing many alone.
However, this situation is different. Their actions are limited, while I can do anything.
‘I’ve finished mapping out the mansion and analyzed the knights’ strengths, and I’ve got a general feel for where the exits are. I could probably escape after about five or six attempts?’
<...were you just toying around and having fun?>
‘Grandpa, I’m also an Apostle of God, you know? I won’t deny I enjoyed it, but I’m not a total failure who only thinks about that!’
We’ve spent so long together; how could you say that? You know better than anyone how sincere I am in facing the dungeon.
‘Did you think I wouldn’t strategize in this dungeon!?’
[This place is a dungeon. Hah. Never mind. Fine. Putting aside the other conditions, what will you do about Rasha and the Pope? If they block your path, you won’t be able to do anything about it.]
‘That’s the least of my worries.’
[What do you mean by that?]
‘It’s hard to explain in words. You’ll see when you watch.’
[Wait. Lucy!? ]
I unleashed the fairies around me, took out my shield and mace, and kicked the door open.
The two knights waiting outside seemed to think I was causing trouble again and let out a deep sigh.
So they couldn’t react in time to my swinging club.
One collapsed, clutching his side, while the other steadied himself, but there was no way he could perfectly respond to an unexpected situation.
The gap that wouldn’t have been visible behind the shield in the past was too clear to see with the third-person perspective.
So, I could exploit that gap.
I jumped inside, whacking the remaining knight near the solar plexus with my shield, and he was neutralized too.
So far, so good.
Hwahah! Alright, let’s take this to the next level.
I dashed through the mansion with light steps, as quiet and swift as a fairy fluttering its wings.
I had already calculated how the knights moved around.
With this route, I can pass without running into anyone.
Of course, avoiding being spotted entirely was impossible; their surveillance isn’t that lax.
Now I can hear the shouting soon.
“Spread out now!”
“Apostle of God!”
Now calculating movement paths becomes pointless. I don’t know how they’ll move in their desperate state.
I’ll aim for the optimized path, but if I get caught, that’s out of my hands.
With a light heart, just like when I was moving beyond the monitor, I arrived effortlessly at a door.
Not too long ago, the knights had panicked and tried to stop me from entering this place.
I’m not sure, but it’s probably a place with something important waiting inside.
“Hey, kid. What are you doing?”
“Our pup has strong loyalty, huh?♡ Missed the owner’s scent that much?♡”
“If you’re escaping, wouldn’t it make sense to prepare properly? You know once the first try fails, it gets much harder.”
“Are you worrying about me?♡ Huhuhu♡ How cute♡ Okay~♡ I’ll play a lot later♡”
Rasha’s indifferent response indicated, unfortunately, that this room isn’t the answer.
But I still need to check. I have to know what’s here to plan the next move.
As I grabbed the doorknob, Rasha frowned.
“Hey, kid. I don’t usually give advice, but it’s better not to open that door.”
“Why?♡ What’s back there?♡ Is our pup hiding in a doghouse?♡”
“You’ll regret it.”
“What’s got you all jumpy?♡”
Ignoring Rasha’s warning, I opened the door to see what lurked inside and clenched my lips.
Inside was me.
To be precise, it was a painting of me, presumed to be made by the Arts Church, a framed artwork along with some accessories, and a carpet I had embroidered; everywhere I looked was full of me.
Frozen in a perverted scene that could be conjured by a sloppy fox, Rasha scoffed from behind.
“Told you so. You’ll regret it.”
“Pup, is this yours?”
“Do you think I’d go crazy and buy your paintings? Of course, they belong to the old guy here. The aged have a lot of greed.”
…Oh. So, the Pope was smiling with my paintings decorating the room?
Just imagining it made me want to upchuck.
This time, Rasha was right.
Son of a btch.* I wish I could hit my head to erase this memory.
Seriously.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.