Chapter 49

It’s been 7 days since I returned to this world.

Right now, me and Thungkeshuni are still hanging out in a mansion on the outskirts of the capital.

Though today we’re just chilling without much to do.

That’s because the Ansellus Kingdom is holding Tisah’s funeral.

The coffin will circle the capital for three days before heading straight to the graveyard for burial.

Of course, there’s no body inside the coffin.

Can’t exactly show the cracks resembling fully bloomed flowers that appeared on some dude’s lower half.

But that’s not the real reason.

On the day I returned to this world…

After my chat with the king was over…

Suddenly, the black hole in the middle of the cracks widened, swallowed up the remaining corpse, then disappeared along with the flower-like cracks in mid-air.

When asked if I knew anything about it, I said no. And I really don’t.

This is the first time I’ve come through cracks, and it’s also the first time I’ve seen so many children of blessed individuals.

So who would’ve thought the cracks would shrink and suck in the corpse?

Afterward, my body felt strangely heavy. At first I thought it might be an illusion, but now after a week, my body feels super heavy.

The good thing is, Thungkeshuni rarely moves around anyway, so she probably won’t notice.

I’m guessing my connection has been unplugged.

Still, I can cast blessings fine, so I should be okay.

Rather than that, while Thungkeshuni is busy writing her book, I’m thinking about how to create a proxy to cast blessings on my behalf.

If someone else casts a blessing, will they receive one in return? That’s the question.

To experiment, I’d need the right conditions, which aren’t available right now.

Considering how passive I’ve seemed until now, and given that Thungkeshuni hasn’t finished her book yet, if something dangerous happens and the Ansellus Kingdom changes its mind and issues an order to kill everyone… well, it’d be bad.

I hope Thungkeshuni finishes her book soon.

Anyway, today is the middle of the funeral, so there’s no need to cast blessings.

The entire Ansellus Kingdom is mourning. Tisah’s funeral started yesterday, so it’ll probably end tomorrow.

In other words, it’s not a good time to do anything until then.

Also, I wasn’t invited to the funeral yesterday. Makes sense since Seongsin Church priests are conducting the service.

Tomorrow or the day after, they’ll likely discuss what to do with me. By then, I’ll know my fate. Probably gonna die, but oh well.

If I die, I’ll probably fall back down again.

If I die completely?

Then I won’t feel this bone-chilling cold anymore, so that’s nice.

“Are you done with the book yet?”

“Stop nagging.”

There’s a stack of paper as high as my elbow from my fingertips next to Thungkeshuni, and she’s still writing, so it must be quite a lot.

Or maybe she’s thinking about something else.

I can’t tell what it’s about even when I look.

Considering the time it takes to cram all this into someone’s brain, and the time needed to learn it all and use it afterward, it’ll take quite a while.

But only if I do it here.

If I experiment somewhere else, it’ll work.

I can make time flow differently.

It’s like watching multiple movies at once.

If you open several screens and press play simultaneously, time moves forward equally. But if you pause one, time stops there while continuing elsewhere. I can even change the speed of time if needed.

Unfortunately, I can’t rewind.

Because if I could, I could interfere with the past, so I get why I can’t.

Since I can’t defy time, I obviously can’t be a god.

When talking about gods, immutability and omnipresence are often mentioned. Immutability might be somewhat achievable using regeneration abilities, but omnipresence is impossible.

I can watch multiple people at once, but I can’t observe one person across different times.

Still, they did label me as an “outsider” pretty well.

Anyway, this can be useful.

Reading the book and experimenting in another world instead of here.

Currently, only one person in a world can receive my blessing.

Meaning it’ll take a long time for them to master the technique to summon me.

The chances of success are slim.

But there are countless opportunities and plenty of time.

So I’ll wait for Thungkeshuni to finish her book.

Time flies when you’re memorizing summoning techniques, then off to another world for experiments.

Once summoned, I’ll just keep casting blessings there.

Thinking about it now, I have no idea how this is even possible.

It’s beyond human technology, though not quite divine.

Managing five or six screens might be doable, but hundreds or thousands? Feels kinda weird.

At moments like this, I feel like I’m not entirely human.

But the cold is worse. It keeps getting colder endlessly. If you think stopping will let you endure, it actually makes the pain worse.

It never ends.

Even if I gain a little warmth, the feeling fades quickly and the cold returns.

Yeah.

So I’d do anything for warmth.

If Thungkeshuni does something nasty to me, I don’t know how I’d react.

If she writes a proper book?

Thungkeshuni will be free.

She promised not to take my warmth when writing the book, and I keep my promises.

For a contract to work, there needs to be trust that this person doesn’t lie, whether by law or power. If I break my word, any existing trust will turn negative instantly.

In other words, losing the already scarce trust means no one will attempt a contract with me.

You know how a drizzle can soak you?

If I lie in one world, what happens next?

Since worlds are numerous, I might think lying once doesn’t matter.

But what if all worlds become like that?

It’s foolish to slit the belly of a goose that lays golden eggs. No matter how excruciating the patience required, if starving is the alternative, you gotta grit your teeth and endure.

So prevent it beforehand.

“Thungkeshuni.”

“What is it?”

Her tone carries irritation. Must be because I bother her when I’m bored.

Hehe.

You’re doing great. Keep being annoyed, realize you’re fine despite it.

Until you believe nothing you do matters, I’ll bother you and do nothing when you react negatively.

Of course, I’ll adjust so you don’t go insane from stress.

People who torment others often lack awareness they’re doing so. Especially those with low intelligence.

Thinking from another person’s perspective requires considerable intelligence. Like how dumb animals can’t recognize themselves in mirrors.

Cognitive ability to distinguish self from others.

Predictive ability to imagine consequences of actions.

Empathetic ability to think from others’ perspectives.

All require sufficient intelligence.

For someone not very smart like me, analyzing people on the spot is tough. But I have a collection of masterpieces from unfortunate souls.

Isn’t it said happiness is rare but miseries are countless?

The most resigned and desperate ones could be considered masterpieces.

Using that, I carefully observe Thungkeshuni’s state.

While poking her.

She gets irritated, angry.

But if I don’t get upset too, her sense of danger will decrease. Then things will be smoother after she finishes the book.

What if Thungkeshuni changes her mind and keeps interfering with my summoning?

We agreed on two things: writing the book and not taking my warmth.

If she writes properly but then tries to stop my summoning by killing blessed individuals like before, I won’t be able to stop her.

Don’t think “even if I die, I’ll make sure to screw you over.”

But if I do nothing and Thungkeshuni starts preparing countermeasures against me, I’ll regret it.

So stick close, smile warmly, occasionally poke her cheek or ribs, and urge her to hurry up.

“How did you manage to survive the last half year with such an impatient nature?”

Eventually, Thungkeshuni broke her pen from pressing too hard, glared at me, and countered my comment. Her surprised expression afterward was hilarious.

So I decided to speak the truth.

“You were called to a pseudo-religion where they killed people to summon messengers of gods. Did you really think you could relax?”

She looked at me like I was spouting nonsense. Still, understandable.

Didn’t I tell Thungkeshuni I used to be human?

I still retain a human perspective.

“After deceiving Yasle and stealing his knowledge, you dare to say such things. Do you think I’ll fall for your tricks?”

“Have I ever lied?”

“Lying is a human privilege.”

Not entirely true.

Actually, many animals mimic others to deceive. But I won’t say that. Mentioning it would admit I deceived others.

Instead, I’ll hit her with this.

“You named me an ‘outsider’, Thungkeshuni.”

Reiterate it.

It’s all on you.

Thungkeshuni frowned.

Then she threw away the broken pen, grabbed a spare, and continued writing.

Silence.

After writing for a while, Thungkeshuni spoke.

“What are you planning now?”

Good question.

Of course, Thungkeshuni is cowardly but not stupid.

“I’m planning to gain more warmth. I’m still freezing.”

So I explained honestly.

My purpose hasn’t changed from the start. Back in the Future Hope Church, I stayed silent because speaking would’ve been dangerous. Now, it’s fine to talk.

And far away, in the royal castle, the king is discussing my treatment with a high priest of the Seongsin Church, which I’m observing through the king’s eyes.

Looks like I won’t be here long.

Need to break Thungkeshuni faster.

I placed my hand on hers.

She doesn’t flinch anymore.

There’s a training method for puppies where frequent stimulation makes them indifferent to future events.

Hehe.

“But you promised not to take my warmth, right?”

Thungkeshuni raised her hand in a rude gesture, then went back to writing.

Desensitization training successful.

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