[...Huh?] It was the first time the statue's expression, which had been fixed in a wicked smile, faltered.
Hwang Dongsoo. He was a High Priest the Outer Gods' Cult had painstakingly brainwashed, a human with S-rank power. Corrupting the soul of someone like that was an extremely difficult and tedious task. First, they had to build a relationship by slowly giving him missions he wouldn't suspect. Then, when they felt his suspicions had subsided, they entrusted him with the distribution of Stardust necklaces and Star Pieces, gradually tainting him with Itarim's divine power. And after much time and effort, they finally succeeded in making him the High Priest. The S-rank, Hwang Dongsoo, was the result of such arduous work.
'...But why?' Why was their painstakingly crafted High Priest being dragged out like this?!
[How...!]
Rumble! Rumble...!
The statue of Itarim was enraged beyond comparison to when Kim Chul died, rising from its chair. But the answer to the statue's question came not from the old man dragging Hwang Dongsoo, but from Suho's mouth.
"...G-Grandpa?"
"Hmm?" At Suho's voice, Sung Il-Hwan's indifferent expression brightened, and he looked at him.
"Well, well, who do we have here? What's my grandson doing here?"
The reason why the father of the Shadow Monarch, Sung Jinwoo, regained the memories from his past life was a 'dream'.
* * *
That dream again.
At first, he dismissed it as a location he had seen in a movie. It was just a fragmented scene, and the content was nothing more than a childish dream of him fighting monsters. Even those few fragments of the dream would mostly disappear by the time he woke up and had his morning coffee. Vanishing without a trace… Well, that's how dreams usually were. But no matter how carefully you use an eraser, if you rub too much, traces will remain on the paper.
That dream again.
At some point, the scenes from that dream wouldn't disappear from Sung Il-Hwan's mind even after morning came and afternoon arrived. Still, he didn't pay much attention to it. It was just a dream, after all. But there was one thing that bothered him. Why is Jinwoo… Sung Il-Hwan's son always appeared in his dreams. Especially on days when he talked or did something with him in reality. He would always have 'that dream' when he fell asleep.
– Did you not miss me, Father?
His son, Sung Jinwoo, would be looking at him with a resentful gaze. And the following words would always come out of his mouth.
– I missed you, always.
And Sung Il-Hwan would caress the face, which was right in front of him. Tears streaming from his son's eyes would wet the back of his hand. The tears were so hot that… Even though he knew it was a dream, it hurt so much.
– You grew up well. Even though this father had done nothing for you… – At those words, Sung Jinwoo would express a terrifyingly heavy anger and ask,
– The Rulers? Are those guys using and discarding you, Father?
The Rulers. He didn't know who they were, but Sung Il-Hwan shook his head.
– They merely gave me a choice. I chose to protect you, and that choice wasn't wrong in the slightest. – As he answered and caressed his son's face, his hand started to crumble and scatter like ashes.
– I wanted to talk to you more. I wanted to be with you a little longer. – But in the end, he made Jinwoo erase his father from his heart twice.
Tears streamed down Sung Il-Hwan's eyes, which he had tried so hard to hold back.
– I'm sorry for not being a good father. – With those words.
Rustle. Sung Il-Hwan's entire body turned to ashes. Even while scattering like gray dust, he could see it. His son's expression as he approached to embrace the crumbling body of his incompetent father. The terrible anger contained in his eyes.
– Uaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Then, the mana in the atmosphere vibrated. The sky, the air, the ground, all wept.
– Do you hear me, Monarchs! You will pay for what you did today!
The enraged Shadow Monarch's roar shook heaven and earth.
* * *
'...Shadow Monarch?'
That day. Sung Il-Hwan woke up in his bed, pressed his forehead, and sighed.
'Oh, dear...'
And so he recalled the memories from his past life that he had forcibly erased to enjoy an ordinary life with his son. In retrospect, perhaps it was inevitable. Sung Jinwoo, had already become a being far superior to the Rulers he had asked to erase his memories. From that perspective, it was perhaps inevitable, not coincidental, that his memories returned as he constantly interacted with such a son.
And as always. There was meaning in everything. Not long after Sung Il-Hwan remembered his past life. Sung Jinwoo disappeared. Just like he had disappeared long ago, to fight a lonely war alone. And then the Cataclysm occurred. Has Earth turned back to how it was then? Seeing the gates and dungeon breaks that had begun anew, Sung Il-Hwan couldn't hide his bitterness. But unfortunately, there was nothing he, an old man, could change.
No, actually, there was something he could do if he put his mind to it. Even old he still had mana just like before. But Sung Il-Hwan had no intention of making the same mistakes. The voice of his son, who always looked at him with resentment in his dreams, was deeply engraved in his mind.
– Are you going to leave without a word again, Father?
'No way. I can't repeat my errors.' Sung Il-Hwan made his choice.
Long ago, as soon as he awakened his mana, he became a Hunter and jumped into dungeons without hesitation. For the noble mission of sacrificing himself to save the world, and for the wealth and glory that followed.
'But this time, I'll protect my family.'
In this life, even after awakening his mana, Sung Il-Hwan remained by his wife's side. Protecting the world was for the young. He chose to grow old peacefully with his beloved and spend the rest of their life together.
...Of course, he occasionally used fishing as an excuse to clean up simple dungeons close to his house. And that's how he discovered the black market that had appeared nearby. At first, Sung Il-Hwan only intended to take a quick look around. But the moment he stepped inside he discovered the statue of Itarim within.
[Covetous soul.]
'...!' A grotesque voice pierced Sung Il-Hwan's mind.
Ziiiiing - Boom!
Sung Il-Hwan approached Suho, narrowly dodging the blue beam that shot out from the statue's eyes.
"Grandpa! What are you doing here?!"
"Huh, what are you talking about? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for you, of course...!"
Suho's eyes widened as he saw Sung Il-Hwan up close. Countless Star Pieces were embedded all over his body. Dozens of them, compared to Kim Chul and the other Outer Gods' Cult members who only had one on their foreheads!
"Grandpa, what is this...?"
"Ah, this? I almost got caught and had to undergo some modifications."
"Inventory!" Suho immediately opened his inventory and took out a bunch of Item: 'Spring Water of the Echo Forest.' Dodging the giant foot of the statue of Itarim that was descending from above to crush them, he shoved the potion bottles into Sung Il-Hwan's mouth.
"Drink this first!"
"Oof!" Gulp gulp!
He hurriedly drank the detoxification potion. But even in this urgent situation, he seemed quite happy to be talking to his grandson after a long time.
"This tastes awful. Is it good for you?"
"Now's not the time for jokes!"
Suho struck down the fanatics attacking from the side and escaped Itarim's range with Sung Il-Hwan. An enraged voice erupted from the statue towards Sung Il-Hwan.
[You insignificant mortal! High Priest, rise!]
Flash!
At that moment, a blue aura surged from Hwang Dongsoo's collapsed body, and he floated into the air. Like Suho's grandfather, he had dozens of Star Pieces embedded all over his body.
[How did you escape the power of our divinity?!]
"Insignificant?" Sung Il-Hwan smirked at the statue's words.
"It seems you don't understand the meaning of insignificant."
He tapped the dozens of Star Pieces embedded in his body and said, "You think you can brainwash me with these pebbles?"
Boom! The statue's attack shattered the ground where he stood.
"Kaaaaagh!" Hwang Dongsoo, having lost his sanity, also flew towards them and attacked. The blue energy he emitted exploded, causing another one of the chapel walls to crumble.
Sung Il-Hwan lightly evaded and spread his arms wide. Then, surprisingly, the dozens of Star Pieces embedded all over his body also emitted streaks of blue energy and enveloped him.
Flash!
The aura gathered in Sung Il-Hwan's hands had transformed into blue daggers. He wielded them as if he had been doing nothing else all his life.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The blue energy slashed through the air, attacking the statue and Hwang Dongsoo.
[How dare you-! A non-believer without any reverence for the god tries to use divine power!] The statue of Itarim became even more enraged and shot blue beams from its eyes.
At that moment.
"Grandpa!"
Boom! Suho struck the statue's leg with all his might.
[...] Its balance faltered, and the direction of the blue beams twisted away from Sung Il-Hwan.
"Oh my, look how much my grandson has grown." Sung Il-Hwan grinned, proud of Suho whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Just like his father."
"Grandpa." Suho cut off Sung Il-Hwan's playful remark and looked ahead with a serious gaze.
"Can you follow my instructions?"
His lips curled upwards. "Always."
At that moment, Sung Il-Hwan's eyes, fixed on the statue, also turned sharp, just like Suho's. Who charged towards the statue with all his might.
[How dare you!]
Ziiiing-
The statue's blue beam narrowly missed his head.
"Haaaah!" Suho raised his fist. But didn't attack the statue, he struck the chapel floor where it was standing.
Boom!
[...] The statue's balance wavered for a moment.
"Now!" As if waiting for those words, Sung Il-Hwan appeared before the statue.
Flash!
Blue light exploded.
Ding!
[Itarim's Blessing: 'Rules of the Cartenon Temple' deactivated.]