Chapter 17 - Chapter 17

The Divine God, Denver.

Among the gods worshipped by the people of this world, there are many, but the one with the widest influence is Denver.

The religion that worships Denver is a group so powerful that even the empire dare not interfere lightly.

Naturally, as a god, Denver can be considered an extremely powerful existence.

"…"

However, what did that Denver do when Jormungandr was resurrected and the world was heading towards destruction?

No, it did nothing.

Of course, as someone who has not attained divinity, I do not know for certain.

Perhaps Jormungandr devoured it before Denver could do anything.

Yes, that's ignorance for you.

But that in itself is a problem.

It means that the most powerful god in the world is so incompetent.

No, even before that…

"Really, Denver."

I thought it would respond indirectly, but I didn't expect it to appear directly like this.

Well, anyway.

"Are you Denver?"

"I am Denver. And yet, I am not. Those who call me Denver are the ones who believe in me. I did not call myself Denver; I was just myself."

"Weren't there any titles?"

He gave a bitter smile.

"There were titles."

"…"

"I called myself the Caller of Dawn. My children called me Denver, comparing it to their own language."

"Is that so?"

It seemed to be a slightly different story from what was written in the scriptures, but it must be correct if it's coming from the god himself.

"Besides the name Denver, I have been called many other things. Sadly, even those who my children branded as heretics worshiped me."

"!"

"That's how it is with gods. Even those who believe cannot know exactly about me. And it is from such ignorance that many events arise."

Nonchalantly, Denver revealed tremendous facts. He spoke as if I needed to know, even though I didn't ask.

"These must be unheard-of facts."

"It is surprising."

"It's not a face of surprise at all. But that aside, hmm… Interesting."

Denver said so, scanning me up and down.

"I cannot read your thoughts. You have already slipped from my grasp."

"…"

"I am not your creator but merely a caretaker. It's strange, but also mysterious."

…He can't read my thoughts?

I suddenly felt alienated.

Being summoned through ancient ritual (Seongseojin) was already a surprising fact, but…

"Regression? Or ji-soo-woon?"

At the point where the all survivors gathered, they all possessed a power no different from that of a god.

Without that, they wouldn't stand a chance against Jormungandr.

The same goes for Ji-soo-woon.

It was a measure that the fellow took deliberately, so it's not impossible.

At that moment, Denver, who had been silent for a while, spoke.

"I see."

He slowly raised his head and looked me straight in the eye.

Beyond the makeshift curtain, a pair of blue eyes glistened and stared at me.

"You… Have you seen the future?"

"…"

It's definite.

Denver cannot read my mind.

If that's the case, he must have known that I had regressed.

But saying such a thing means that he deduced it from my presence or reaction.

Now, how should I respond?

If he can't know my inner thoughts, Denver is far from being all-knowing, let alone all-powerful.

"Then…"

After quickly organizing my thoughts, I raised the corners of my mouth.

"If that's the case, what will you do? No, before that…"

I might as well be bold.

I will treat the being in front of me not as a god but as an equal human.

At this moment, I and Denver are equal.

No, in this situation, I might even use it to my advantage.

"Denver."

"Speak."

I faced Denver directly and asked him.

"Are you really Denver?"

At that moment, the atmosphere completely stiffened.

No, it wasn't just stiff.

Time and space came to a standstill.

And this reaction means…

"You guessed right."

It's like proving my prediction to be true.

"You're not Denver."

I asserted confidently.

You're not a god.

You're not the great god we admired.

* * *

"… "

The 'someone' who imitated Denver remained silent for a while without saying a word.

But soon.

"You've figured it out."

With a wry smile, I sank into the chair.

"It seemed quite convincing, but it wasn't that convincing."

"Do you admit that you're not the real Denver?"

"Well…"

With a soft sigh, 'Denver' looked into the empty space and then flicked her finger lightly.

Then her true form was revealed.

The robe that had wrapped around her disappeared, and her golden hair floated like strands in the air.

A woman with pale white skin.

A blue coat over her tunic fell onto the chair.

She looked at me with a somewhat impatient look.

"You speak like that."

"Tsk…"

As if not liking it, she clicked her tongue.

One thing is clear.

The being in front of me is not Denver; she was just impersonating him.

'But she's not an ordinary human.'

She can be said to be a being between human and god, perhaps similar to me before the regression.

"As you said, I am not Denver. I am temporarily representing him… at his request."

"…"

"There are complicated circumstances, but you probably won't understand them… Nevertheless, nothing changes. I am the one representing Denver, and I can give you what you want."

"Are you sure?"

She smirked.

"It's… probable."

"You speak in the same manner as the real Denver."'

"Hmph…"

As if she didn't like it, she stuck out her tongue.

I asked her again.

"I'm asking if you're sure you can give me what I want."

"I may not be as powerful as Denver, but I am a divine being who has inherited his authority and power, child."

The woman said with a smirk.

"I don't know what future you saw. However, if it's to prevent the prosperity of the kingdom or widespread slaughter… "

"Well…"

I looked at the woman and thought for a moment.

Can I trust the being in front of me? Is she a suitable person to share my secrets with?

Just because I succeeded in regression doesn't mean I can stop Jormungandr unconditionally.

Rather, I have to use all the means I have even more fiercely than before.

Jormungandr must be stopped that way.

A short hesitation.

And the conclusion was simple.

"What would you do if it were a monster from a myth? If it were the appearance of the serpent that will swallow the world."

"What?"

At that moment, the expression on the woman's face, which was full of composure, changed completely.

She seemed surprised that those words came out of my mouth.

Instead of continuing the conversation, I took out the Soulstone I had recently acquired.

"Do you know what this is?"

The woman didn't answer but took the Soulstone and examined it.

"This is…"

The woman's expression twisted, and the atmosphere became chilly.

Shiver.

The temperature suddenly dropped around her, and white frost began to form.

'This is a bit dangerous.'

Even though she is not actually replacing Denver, the rapid environmental changes just from emotional changes indicate otherwise.

"How about calming your emotions a bit? It's a bit cold."

"…I'm sorry."

She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. The chilly air around her returned to normal.

"I know this… It's a Soulstone. It's a product of twisting and destroying the souls of pure children… a food for demons and monsters… an embodiment of many negative things."

"That's correct."

"But it seems that it's not just made as a food for them. It seems to have been taken more complicated measures. This is probably…"

"A means of summoning."

A means to invite cursed beings that should not exist in this world.

I couldn't stop them before regression.

No, I didn't even think about stopping them.

By the time I realized the existence of Jormungandr, it was already too late.

"The purpose of creating this Soulstone is one."

"…"

"The resurrection of the serpent that will swallow the world."

Jormungandr.

Once it resurrects, there is no way to stop it, the worst devourer.

"I can't deny it."

She said with a grimace.

"I can't fully replace Denver and I'm just going along with the motions. I can mimic to a certain extent, but…"

"It's difficult beyond that."

"That's right."

At this point, there is an inevitable question.

"Where is the real Denver, our god?"

Where is the god whom humanity believed in and relied on, maintaining faith in various forms?

At the most crucial moment.

When the threat that could devour all worlds looms.

The woman remained silent for a while, then sighed and raised her head.

"…I don't know."

"What?"

What nonsense.

Not knowing where the god is. Is it saying that the god abandoned his duty and disappeared?

She opened her mouth with a stern expression.

"I really… don't know. There is one guess, but…"

"What is it?"

As she held the Soulstone, her hand slowly gained strength.

"…Sacrifice."

She struggled to speak and looked at me.

"You have seen the 'future.' Or you may have experienced it. And you, who have seen that, have taken in the serpent that will devour the world."

"That's correct."

"If the future you saw is as I think, there is only one conclusion."

With a deeply dismal voice, the woman spoke.

"…Denver has been defeated and sacrificed."

Our god had already been defeated long ago, and the serpent had won.

Such a dismal and disappointing fact flowed out of her mouth like a sigh.