Chapter 69 …
I can go back home.
I can return to that home right now…
But I didn’t want to go back. Not from the moment I possessed Cernuan Lumiere until now.
The old front door opens. I pass the shoe rack that holds only a few pairs of shoes and step through the entryway where no one welcomes me.
If I go inside like that, the first thing I’ll see is the piled-up trash. Only the computer, left running to collect plaza bonuses because of the character I set there, shines brightly in the dark.
‘There’s no one to welcome me anyway, no one who would miss me. It’s not like I was especially attached to my original body either….’
Was this thought also something someone kneaded into my head?
‘No.’
Because the thoughts those things called the “children” tampered with always became erratic and blurry, while this will of mine had been firm from the beginning and never once wavered.
I didn’t want to go home.
In the first place, the reason I keep clearing these quests is because if I complete them, I can properly use Cernuan Lumiere’s body.
So I’m not going back home.
“I have something I want to ask.”
The serpent tilted its head. Without hesitation, I asked the thing I was most curious about.
“If I complete the quests… the commands… can I keep living in this world in Cernuan Lumiere’s body?”
That’s the only thing that matters to me. Whether Lumensia destroys the world or whatever—I just don’t want to go back there…
{“Simply put, yes.”}
“Good. That’s enough.”
{“Is that answer truly sufficient?”}
“Anything else I want to hear will probably be blocked by causality or whatever, so there’s no point asking more. But there is one thing bothering me.”
{“What is it?”}
“From the memory you showed me, I understand now. When a mortal surpasses their limits, they become a transcendent, and that seems like the path to becoming a god. Weren’t you trying to contract the Demon King with ‘time’ to make him another god who could kill or suppress Lumensia? Then why—”
{“You wish to ask why the Demon King did not become a god, is that it?”}
I nodded. The serpent calmly began to explain.
{“First, there is something you must know. It is true that when a mortal surpasses their limits, they become a transcendent—but that is not a god. It is merely a ruffian who wields power. One cannot truly call such a being a ‘god.’ They have only endured the harsh life of a mortal and barely reached the door to godhood, earning the right to grasp the doorknob.”}
So that’s how it is…
I quickly organized the information in my head.
In short, transcendent ≠ god.
{“The reason we contracted the Demon King with ‘time’ was to help him turn that doorknob more easily and open the door. But… do you think Lumensia would simply watch as the spear meant to pierce her was completed?”}
Fair point. If someone were sharpening a killing spear meant for me, I’d try to stop it beforehand too, if I were Lumensia.
By now, the Demon King must be furious that he failed to become a god and can’t kill Lumensia.
‘This is actually a good situation. If I’m the final dagger meant to stab Lumensia, then the Demon King can’t just kill me or handle me however he wants…’
I covered my lower face. I couldn’t stop the smile that kept leaking out.
‘I thought I’d get instantly killed when I met the Demon King… but if it’s like this, I might actually gain the upper hand in that relationship.’
Lumensia must have been the one who demonized and oppressed those who didn’t believe in her—the demon race. If I bring that up, I can probably piss off the Demon King even more.
Wait a second. If Lumensia eliminated those who didn’t believe in her to strengthen herself and weaken the forgotten gods…
‘…Damn. Then I definitely shouldn’t be strengthening the Empire, Lumensia’s stronghold. This time I need to push power toward the Demon Realm and Centa somehow.’
To Lumensia, this is a turn-based strategy game.
She gathers the special resource called faith, manages her cities well, invades other nations, weakens others while strengthening herself, and gradually expands…
My calculations finished in my head. My fate is to walk a tightrope between Centa and the Empire—between the Widow and the Demon King—playing both sides carefully.
{“There is something you must go through in order to complete the quests safely.”}
“…?”
{“You know this already, don’t you? That your soul and body are unstable.”}
Calebrin had warned me about that repeatedly. I nodded.
{“Because of that, when you have not gathered enough faith, you suffer internal injuries and bleed.”}
So that’s the source of the quest penalty.
Damn it, so that’s what it was. Then if I want to enjoy living in this world with Cernuan Lumiere’s body, I have to kill Lumensia?
Which means I have to jump into that dimensional dogfight?
I’m just a small-time cult leader who shoots healing beams!
{“I cannot leave this place. Once you depart, I will likely fall asleep again within the World Tree. Therefore, I will grant you a spirit containing my power and a means of communication. I would like you to form a contract with it.”}
“What does a spirit contract have to do with my soul and body being unstable?”
{“Your possession of this body is, simply put… closer to a ‘snatch contract.’”}
Seriously—can someone who’s basically a god use wording like that?
{“You may think of it as a contract that formally acknowledges that arrangement. By hearing all the facts and contracting the spirit, you are recognizing that you are participating in this of your own will.”}
In other words, it’s officially certifying the snatch contract.
Yeah, that’s better. Then even if I take damage in battle, my soul and body won’t destabilize and make me cough blood or cry tears of blood.
{“Originally, we intentionally left your soul and body loosely bound in case you wished to return home at any time… but since you wish to remain and help, we must provide what is needed. Especially since you have come from another world to aid us.”}
I’m not staying to help. I’m not that virtuous. I just prefer living in a world I like more than going back home.
More importantly, they’ve been giving me so much information and help. At this point, it’s almost suspicious.
“Why are you treating me this well?”
{“Treating you well?”}
The serpent laughed, making the cavern tremble. Ripples spread across the water.
{“We have not treated you well at all. Even if the world was in danger, we brought a mortal here without consent and used you without explanation. If we have any conscience—if we value life—then at the very least we must do this much.”}
Uh… huh? Usually divine beings don’t understand mortals and the mortals are the ones getting frustrated, right?
For the first time, I was genuinely stunned.
As it spoke, the serpent spat out a small orb.
{“This child will aid you on your journey.”}
The orb wobbled, then quickly cracked open. A small pale-green baby snake was born.
Unlike the enormous serpent before me, this one was barely the size of my palm.
‘A baby snake… Is it going to grow huge like that imugi-looking thing later?’
{“If you wish to contract with this child, place your hand upon its forehead and make your wish in your heart.”}
Its forehead was so small I could barely rest a fingertip on it. I gently placed my hand on the baby snake’s head.
‘Form the contract… Wait, don’t people usually say something cool at times like this? Do I just think it? What am I supposed to—’
Fwoooosh—
Suddenly, green light burst from the baby snake. A soft pale glow spread as wind stirred.
When the snake lifted its head, its eyes—once mindless—now held intelligence.
It shook its head and smiled.
{“Ppirurung!”}
The baby snake cried out in a sound completely unlike a snake.
Don’t snakes usually hiss? They don’t even have vocal cords…
Well, whatever. It’s not a real snake—it’s a spirit in snake form.
I accepted it and stared.
The snake squirmed energetically in my grip, then climbed up my wrist.
‘…This is creepy.’
The cold, damp scales sliding over my skin felt bizarre, and I hesitated. The snake’s expression immediately changed, as if it read my thoughts.
‘Uh… uh-oh.’
Looking shocked, the baby snake slowly returned to my palm.
‘No, no—it’s not creepy. It’s… cute.’
{“Ppi.”}
With a short chirp, the baby snake climbed onto me again.
Yeah… I’d better watch my thoughts from now on.
The large serpent chuckled softly and spoke more slowly than before.
{“Get along well. With this child by your side, you will be able to freely travel through the Elf Forest. That barrier was formed around the World Tree, after all….”}
Yes! I got free access to the Elf Forest!
I’d been wondering how I’d come back later—this makes things much easier.
{“Now… I believe it is time for me to sleep. Do not return to the World Tree. By then, you likely will not even see its entrance. No—since this child containing all my power is leaving… the World Tree itself will likely disappear.”}
It was a shame such a beautiful place would vanish, but it couldn’t be helped.
After this parting, I likely wouldn’t see the great serpent again—until I revived the forgotten gods.
Before getting sentimental, I finished what I needed to do.
“I need to find the holy relic and return. Could you at least tell me where it is?”
{“Ah… right. I almost forgot something important.”}
The serpent slowly turned its body—much more sluggish than when it tried to eat me earlier—and pushed its head into another space behind it.
{“Lumensia stole all the power I had to create holy relics. Only this body—like my avatar—remained to guard another god’s relic. Here. Rutina’s Ring of Protection.”}
From the serpent’s mouth emerged something the size of a giant’s bracelet.
A ring of protection…? That size is definitely not a ring.
{“Once worn, it will shrink to fit the wearer. With this, I can rest easier.”}
The moment I touched it, the ring rapidly shrank.
Well, once upgraded it’ll bind to me anyway, so the form doesn’t matter.
{“When we meet again, I hope to see you in your true form, not through this serpent. I’ve grown curious about what you really look like.”}
True form. Is it talking about the original body?
The serpent’s tone had grown steadily gentler since we first met. Its towering upper body slowly lowered.
{“This body has fulfilled all its duties… It is time to part.”}
The serpent’s head lowered until its mouth lightly touched my forehead.
{“May your path be filled with the blessing of life… and may the world live long….”}
Warmth spread through me. My body, which had always felt slightly fatigued, became completely refreshed.
The serpent curled up like before I arrived. Then, starting from its tail, it slowly began turning to stone.
Without saying anything, I met the eyes of the petrifying serpent.
It wasn’t pity or shallow sentiment.
My mind was filled only with the determination to achieve my goal, no matter what.
‘First… I need to meet the Demon King. And I should review the information I’ll feed to the Widow. The Widow is the real problem, not the Demon King. I need to figure out what she’s really thinking.’
Once again, the serpent became a statue.
And it would never awaken again.
Only the cool sensation of the baby snake—too small to even fully wrap around my neck—remained.
I cut through the water and headed for the exit. As I did, I upgraded the ring to about level 4. Good thing I had plenty of faith saved up.
Ordinary blades probably won’t pierce my body now. I even gained a bit of fire resistance.
I pushed through the current, retrieved the book from the pedestal, tucked it under my arm, and shook the water from my shoes. Streams of water soaked the grass on the slope.
“Should I keep calling you ‘snake’?”
{“Ppirung.”}
A sound came from beside my neck.
Ppirung… Naming it something like that feels a bit off. It’s supposed to be the avatar of an ancient god or something.
“If you have a name you want, say it.”
{“Ppik.”}
I moved the snake from my neck to my wrist. The pale green snake lifted its head—but honestly, it lacked the majesty to really be called a snake.
“Still a baby, so you can’t talk yet… You can grow, right? Like that… mom snake from earlier.”
{“Ppik.”}
The snake only tilted its head.
“…Honestly, what am I even saying.”
