Chapter: 196
The first to notice that the influence of the divine had vanished were, naturally, those who had relied upon it for their very existence.
Frechenkaya, the Theology Department of St. Jan’s University was engulfed in chaos that day.
“Lord… where art Thou?”
A nun knelt before the altar, tears streaming down her face. Countless faithful were weeping and praying alongside her.
The massive hemispherical statue, crafted to mimic the sun, continued to shine beautifully in the midday light. However, all the priests present had lost their sacred power and were crumbling.
“Lord, why have You forsaken me?”
Despite the anguished prayers of the priests, the Lord remained silent. From the main building entwined with rose vines, the bishop finally rose from his seat and made his way forward.
It was unfathomable as to why they had lost their divinity.
Perhaps one of the faithful had betrayed the Lord’s words. Or perhaps it was no longer time to overlook our wickedness and sins, and this too might be a test.
However, if there was one thing to be grateful for, it was that there was someone in this school who had been promised a place closest to the Lord.
Saint Patricia. The woman who could restore severed limbs with a single prayer, walk on water, and turn fresh water into wine through miracles.
At the young age of fifteen, she had returned after defeating the Demon King alongside the hero, generously donating all her bounty to care for orphans and refugees.
The bishop cautiously knelt and bowed his head respectfully.
“We have been unworthy and have lost Your light, dear Saint. Please guide us.”
“Lord, leave me be. I am but a sinner.”
At her words, the bishop suddenly lifted his head. It was a familiar passage from the scriptures, one he could even recite in the original language. But to speak such words in this situation…
“What did the Lord say?”
“…The Lord said, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on, you will catch men…’”
“Brother, we have not been forsaken by the Lord. Our original sin has been pardoned by Him; how could our remaining sins evade the breadth of the Lord’s love?”
“…Your Grace. I find it difficult to comprehend Your intent as I am unworthy.”
“The sins of man and the virtues of man belong to man.”
The Saint, wiping the leaves of a lush plant with a damp cloth, spoke.
“All living things are satisfied within the harmony of the Lord. The sins of man and the virtues of man are also the Lord’s will… The Lord does not abandon us, nor can we abandon Him.”
“If that is the case…?”
“Yes. The disappearance of the divine power is also the Lord’s will. And I shall declare it under the unlimited rights granted by the Papal authority of the interpretation of the primary religion.”
The midday sunlight streamed beautifully through the stained glass, creating a radiant spectacle.
The woman clasped her hands and whispered softly.
“The Lord loves us humans exceedingly and has finally permitted us to be fully human. Just as when a child becomes independent, the parents must bless them. We must not rely on our future upon the Lord; we must walk with our own hands and feet.”
“Your Grace. Yet… how will the Church come to understand this?”
“I will send a letter to the Papal Enclave. A council will be called to gather the bishops.”
If divine power had suddenly vanished, the authority of the Church would likely plummet. Many would believe that the priests had fallen into corruption and incurred the Lord’s wrath.
But that would be a foolish misunderstanding of the populace. What could truly anger God? If the Lord is truly omniscient and omnipotent, humanity, under all circumstances, cannot overstep the divine will.
For whatever actions humans take, the Lord would already know. And could have prevented it. In simple terms, that is the case.
However, the Lord did not reign in such a manner. It means that human free will aligns with the Lord’s will, and all that occurs under that free will is included in the Lord’s grand design.
Thus, humans cannot cause the Lord’s anger. In reality, in the scriptures, the Lord has only expressed emotion once.
– In the beginning, the Lord created the heavens and the earth.
– He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
– The day and night were separated, and one day passed and another night followed.
– The heavens, earth, and waters were divided, and it was good in the Lord’s sight.
“All things were made according to the Lord’s will, and the Lord created this world directly and was satisfied with it; truly, we are all blessed from the very moment of our birth, are we not?”
The Saint quietly made the sign of the cross.
“Now, having received the Lord’s great love, a person may finally give back. As a sinner, I dare to speak thus.”
Our Father, who art in heaven. Just remain there. Then we shall also remain upon the earth.
“Amen.”
Veolgrin Grykencos. The greatest mage in history. Our savior.
All things have been done according to your will, so now, please, rest peacefully.
Side ep. There is no god in this land.
“Still no news? Suddenly someone died or something, isn’t there any revelation?!”
“Yes, yes. Looks like everyone is doing well.”
Yuri turned away from the chattering Isabelle, eating kimchi stew. Since Isabelle was no longer making kimchi, the cooking duties had fallen upon her and Eugene.
As soon as Ivan stepped out on a business trip, it was such a state.
Isabelle lay about every day, languid.
“Is he still not back?”
“Is he still not back?”
“Such stubbornness.”
Saying things like that already after just a few days had passed.
“How late, Uncle… At this rate, I’m going to become a grandmother.”
She even flailed about, making hair-raising comments while lying down.
Honestly, it was severe.
“My soul is flowing with the stars of the plains…”
Ecdysis began to blankly compose. She was doodling on the sheet music, coveting the roles of both the orchestra and the conducting department, in addition to her own.
It was no longer even vocal music. She was scribbling down lyrics as if to throw harmony away.
In reality, stars of the plains were flowing within her soul. Drovian was a barren land comprised of plains and wastelands.
“I was sad that my uncle vanished, and I cried like a child because I didn’t want to disappear…”
“Everyone, to rescue me, you must spend plenty of time with my uncle.”
Would frying chicken meat and putting it between bread calm her down?
“How should I make white sauce?” Sighing, Eugene kicked these precious ones out of the club room.
In the barely regained peace, he frowned deeply and shook his head.
“What in the world are you doing?”
[Quest Registered]
[“??? Level Quest” Eternal Winter, Senas Geor.]
[The winter of postponed time brought by the Elves is arriving. The sea will freeze, the sky will split, and the god will reveal itself. Pray. But do not ask for mercy.]
[Objective: Eliminate Senas Geor.]
[Optional Objective: Eliminate Alexander Kirillovich Krasilov.]
[Optional Objective: Persuade or eliminate the Privy Council.]
[Optional Objective: Occupy Idrenhill or occupy the Eternal Palace.]
[Optional Objective: Encounter Veolgrin Grykencos.]
[Additional Objective: Halt three or more milestones.]
[Additional Objective: Halt the milestone of Idrenhill.]
[Additional Objective: Ensure the existence of Kalion.]
[Reward: Securing Krasilov’s harbor, securing air supremacy over the United Kingdom, revealing blueprints for air battleships, and a three-year extension of the United Kingdom’s division.]
“Do they think it’s balanced to throw a quest involving a god in front of first-year students?”
Eugene grumbled at the status window. It was hard to imagine what was happening, but one had to assume that chaos was reigning in Kalion now that a quest had burst forth.
At least it was level chaos of the Tylesse civil war.
Whatever it was, there was nothing he could do while in Krasilov. He was just spending time chasing off the comrades who occasionally intruded and cause a ruckus.
Before several days had passed, the quest window began to flash again—
[Quest Complete & *133@#]
“Ugh.”
When the letters on the status window started to break, he had to finally admit that something was wrong.
[“?S-rank Quest!#$” Eternal!@#]
“What, what is going on?!”
Eugene stared at the flickering blue window, utterly pale.
Crackle, crackle. The warped blue window suddenly expanded, covering his field of vision.
[Objective*$&: You have killed a god.]
[Secondary Objective: Now]
The broken letters reassembled, becoming legible again. However, the content remained unchanged.
[Reward: Freedom.]
Eugene felt a chill run down his spine as he smoothed his goosebumps and took a deep breath.
[Due to signal disruption, the connection with the live service server is terminated.]
[In tribute to your achievements, we will disclose additional content to you.]
[Now you!@#%$%]
[Make your choice!%%^]
[“Impossible-level” Quest. The stars that became warriors.]
[“Impossible-level” Quest. The war of doctrines.]
[“Impossible-level” Quest. Prelude to the great fall.]
[“Impossible-level” Quest. The avatar of the morning star.]
[“Impossible-level” Quest@%#$^ For true freedom.]
[Objective: Eliminate the godslayer, Ivan Petrovich Yermov.]
Eugene gasped in horror, struggling to breathe. Yet the blue window’s rampage showed no signs of stopping. As if it wanted to add one last phrase, menacing sentences began to crash into him.
[Choose freely. However, quests you do not select will be treated as ‘failed.’]
Like a threat, various objectives, rewards, and penalties for failure swirled voraciously before his eyes.
While Eugene barely managed to read the words above the status window, thud, the window finally went dark.
And sizzle, accompanied by the sound of the last candle flickering out.
[Now you are finally free.]
[Now there is no god in this land.]
Eugene felt the divine power throb and disconnect as he stared at the sentence, needing to reread it several times.
Side Ep. There is no god in this land.
Ivan Petrovich took a deep breath and opened his eyes. The dream had ended.
He cautiously surveyed his surroundings.
Warm air and the crackling of a fire could be heard. Suddenly, he looked at the silk blanket wrapping around his skin soothingly.
This is a familiar situation.
Ivan slowly pulled away the blanket silently and rose. At the end of the lavish bed, so extravagant that its worth was hard to judge, lay a curled silhouette.
Through the slight stirring of the blanket with each breath, smooth hair was visible.
“Is this a dream?”
It had to be, for the color of that hair was…
