Chapter 46

Of course, I didn’t lie.

Are humans what you call outsiders?

The Tungkeshuni in front of me was called an outsider.

Did we make a contract?

I said I’d take everything when you die.

Were you the first to make a contract?

It’s invalid since you’re not even human!

This side is kinda dangerous. Anyway, I don’t think of myself as a god, but I also don’t consider myself human.

If I were a god, I’d have way cooler powers. Like saying “Let there be light” and BAM—light appears! You can do anything you imagine and enjoy it all. At the very least, I’d have the super strong power to put someone into that state below the surface.

But I’m not like that.

Without a contract, I can’t even enter this world—I’m just a dumb monster.

Besides, if I’m freezing and suffering, how am I supposed to be a god? I can’t even get some warmth!

Still, if needed, I can pretend to be one.

Isn’t it called a capitalist smile?

If I could get warmth, I’d lick the floor like a dog.

This time, I have no choice but to go on an adventure to protect Tungkeshuni. Otherwise, would I ever claim to be a god?

Rather, I’d choose to stay still like an incompetent person.

Prey is easier to hunt when it mistakes itself for the hunter.

Most of the blessed ones here are looking at me. Only a few are watching the soldiers or sitting glumly on the ground staring at Tungkeshuni.

“Grandpa had special powers from some god long ago. Are you the god who gave him those powers?”

A middle-aged man asks me.

Huh? Didn’t he think I was an apostle? Back when Tisah received his blessing, I was considered the apostle of the Future Hope Church’s god. But…a god?

After checking Tisah’s memories briefly, oh yeah. That’s right. Since everyone who received my blessings were later called outsiders, they assumed I was a god.

“I gave the blessings.”

I should say I’m a god, but it feels stuck in my throat. Apparently, I really dislike being called a god.

“But that lord converted to our Lord. Why show up now? And why leave believers alone until now?”

Conversion, huh…

Now that I think about it, yeah.

“So did I reclaim my power? I gave part of myself to Tisah with the deal that once everything was finished, I’d take it all back. Now that he’s dead, I’ve come to collect.”

I point to the sky.

“But something up there interfered. So I’m asking you: Is that right?”

I subtly changed the reason I appeared here.

To ask whether it’s right or wrong to be here.

Actually, it’s different. While trying to steal warmth, I got annoyed and took the warmth from everyone here. By chance, I found a way to come here.

From start to finish, none of it was planned—it all happened by accident.

So here I am, thinking hard.

The middle-aged man in front of me is Tisah’s grandson and the current king of this country.

Thinking about how I just blessed these people and made them close their eyes, I feel like I could control them, but that’s my last resort.

Because if word spreads that the blessed are dangerous, fewer people will call upon me.

Thus, I need the royal family here to side with the Ansellus Kingdom.

That scene where the clay figure turned into a human?

No worries.

Wouldn’t you think it important that a god appeared directly? They’d assume the god did something miraculous.

Honestly, I’m secretly praying they forget. That’s why I’m saying things that oppose each other.

Shall we pretend that never happened?

As I think this, the king looks quite perplexed. Seriously, is it that difficult?

Oh.

Not that.

If I mess this up, the heretic inquisitors might come flying in, shouting, “How dare you deny the holy deity? Excommunication!”

But the more difficult it is for them, the better for me! More thinking means more time. The issue is how to give Tungkeshuni time and resources to write the book. That’s something I need to handle!

What should I do…

“Aren’t the affairs of gods beyond human comprehension?”

Translation: Stop yelling nonsense and go argue with the god if it’s a god thing. This isn’t human business.

Let’s scratch that.

“Do humans believe earlier contracts hold no priority? I didn’t know that. But I never canceled my contract. He believed in another god? There was no clause requiring belief in me. I merely shared myself with him until his life ended, then came to collect my due. Yet this so-called Holy Deity interferes.”

Simply listening makes it sound like I shared my power and now I’ve come to reclaim it. But as I said, it wasn’t like cutting off a piece of myself; it was more like it was embedded within him.

The price, of course, is warmth.

But wouldn’t they think I shared my power and now want it back?

While hoping they think that, I check the gaze of the blessed ones around me.

Soldiers are slowly entering, and the royal family is quietly having the soldiers remove the children from this place.

Hehe.

This is going according to plan.

Yes, they’ve become the ones needing protection. The enemies here are just me—or me and Tungkeshuni.

Should I separate Tungkeshuni from me? With several blessed ones here, even if I’m chased out of this world, she might still manage to write the book…

No, if I’m expelled, there’s a possibility she won’t write it because the contract would be void.

You’re such a bother.

One by one, the blessed ones are dying, making my already troubled mind work harder here.

“So, what do you seek by coming here?”

The king is annoyingly experienced.

Avoiding all talk of the Holy Deity, he cuts straight to the chase: What do you want?

Ugh, what should I say? What do I desire?

Clearly, if I say what I want, they’ll counterattack using various excuses. Can I win against this guy with words?

Knowing everything about his memories and seeing through his perspective doesn’t mean I can gain the upper hand over him.

Seeing through his perspective only means knowing what he sees, hears, and feels—not reading his mind like some psychic.

Shock first. I need to seize the initiative so I don’t get swayed. What can I do?

Currently, the only person here with purple hair is him.

Purple?

Ah, right. Contract.

Yeah, there was that. I pointed my index finger at his purple hair.

As I extended my hand, the king flinched.

Two knights immediately drew their swords, but when I stayed still with my hand extended, the king quickly stopped them and asked me.

“What does your gesture mean?”

“It’s the hair.”

Upon hearing this, he grabs his own hair. Nearby, a balding knight looks at me with a terrified expression.

“Do you desire his hair?”

Suddenly? No, I don’t have a bald head fetish. That’s weird.

Ah, you interpreted it that way? You think I desire hair?

“No. The color of that hair. Humanity, you inherited Tisah’s contract.”

I suspect it automatically renewed. Thus, it was so easy to form the contract. And since some were born this way, maybe I can control them.

But seeing two men relax makes me laugh. Especially funny is the confused look on the full-haired knight next to them.

“So, I bestowed blessings.”

They’re all filled with me already.

The king’s expression became extremely sharp upon hearing my words.

“Does that mean we must believe in you?”

“No. It’s unpleasant to trust the Holy Deity who tried to block the contract, but believe in them if you wish. Humanity should freely choose their religion.”

Huh?

Why are you looking at me with such shock?

“Are you saying religion should be free… while claiming to be a god?”

Isn’t that strange? Or is it because I don’t understand divine nature since I’m not a god? Right. I’m not a god. So, I’ll answer more casually.

“Isn’t that humanity’s freedom?”

It should be obvious.

Oh. Suddenly, a condemnation came from the memory of the faded man—that forcing submission to gods was common in recent human history.

But isn’t it different since the world has changed?

The king remained silent for a long time after hearing this. Meanwhile, the blessed ones successfully left. At least the blessings remain, so it’s good.

On the other hand, soldiers surround Tungkeshuni, weapons drawn, waiting silently.

There’s something bad about this…

Tungkeshuni needs to write a book.

“O divine being who graced us with your presence, what do you desire in return for your blessings?”

There is something I desire. Specifically, ensuring the nearby Tungkeshuni writes the book. But that probably shouldn’t be said here.

The faded man pulls out a plan. I feel like I’m developing schizophrenia. He seems completely different.

So, what should I say?

Freedom?

Something like that, whatever.

“Why ask me? I gave myself. Just take everything when it’s all over.”

Wait, why does the king’s expression suddenly show determination? Like he’s burning with the mission to destroy evil right before his eyes?

Did I say something wrong?

Again?

Like this?

“Humans should do as they please, live wildly, and die however they choose. I’ll meet you when you die.”

When I finished speaking, the determination disappeared instantly.

It’s really gone.

And the king bowed his head.

Why?