Chapter 209

Indra.

A chief among the factions of the gods, and one who possessed a fragment of Baal, the God of the Sky.

Standing motionlessly in the square of the Divine Hall, this deity glanced around.

The countless forms of the gods. He too had once been among them.

Thinking himself the master of the world, he had wildly sought to grasp it all within his hands.

But… he was wrong.

The gods cannot be masters of the world. The gods cannot rule.

A god that cannot exist alone, a god that depends on other lifeforms… is not a true god.

It was only after obtaining one of the fragments left behind by the God of the Sky that Indra came to understand this truth.

Only after knowing the truth of what a real god is, did he come to realize…

That most of today’s gods are merely fakes borrowing names.

“What is the meaning of this? Indra?”

From behind Indra, a familiar voice echoed.

Zeus. The ruler of Olympus. The god closest to being the God of the Sky.

And once, a relentless competitor to Indra—someone foolishly struggling for what could never be attained.

“I haven’t seen you leave the territory of Lokapala in a while. What brings you to the square of the Divine Hall?”

“Thoughts…”

Indra stared blankly at the temple before him.

The temple established by the Goddess of Life. The temple for all life.

Even with the power to hold everything in this world in his hands, the god who chose not to take it.

It was only after acquiring one of Baal’s fragments that he learned such truths.

“All I do is what must be done.”

Everything cycles inevitably—even gods cannot escape it. Though forms may fade and change, their essence remains constant.

The unbroken loop of birth, living, decline, and death can never be severed.

Knowing this well, Indra decided to recall the emotions and memory fragments of Baal nestled within his heart.

“You’re out of character. You used to brim with determination.”

“That was the arrogance of my youth.”

Back when he was merely a spirit of Baal, managing the gods without question, suppressing the overblown egos of the gods through force, gathering them into the stable faction of Lokapala.

“Looking back now, I shouldn’t have done that.”

Still, because he too was one of the gods, claiming superiority over heaven and earth, aspiring to rise above countless gods.

After Baal shattered, it was natural that the fragments left behind would spark wars among the spirits vying for control.

Reflecting now, those were truly foolish acts.

“So, have you revealed yourself here to regret the past?”

“Regret… Perhaps.”

If time could be rewound, he’d want to rewind it. Because the fragment of Baal he held wasn’t just emotion but memories—and he had been consumed by them.

Because he fell in love with a god he had never even met.

“Emotions are truly mysterious things. Even knowing your choice is irrational, you can’t let go of it.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“It’s something you don’t need to know.”

Words meaningless to someone who only craves power and authority, no matter how many times explained. So, actions must speak louder than words.

“Ye gods gathered here! Gods of the Divine Hall! My name is Indra! Chief of Lokapala and one who wields lightning high in the heavens!”

Indra began shouting loudly.

“I believe you’ve heard the recent rumors circulating the Divine Hall! The rumor that the King of the Gods, Baal, has disappeared and the Age of the Gods is drawing to a close!”

At his cry, many gods began murmuring.

Surely, every god in the Divine Hall had heard these rumors.

“Many gods will lose their divinity, and any god responsible for Baal’s death will cease to exist! This rumor, spread by the sage of the deep forest, has reached many ears!”

“Indra. You…”

“The rumor is true. An unavoidable destruction approaches the current gods because we all share responsibility for Baal abandoning his throne.”

At Indra’s words, some gods erupted in angry shouts.

“Why is it our fault?! Isn’t it because the Major Deities took Baal’s fragments!”

“That’s right!! We bear no responsibility!”

“Is being the head of a great faction enough??”

The loud protests of the gods. Watching them, Indra spoke quietly.

“Enough. Do not deny your mistakes. It is clear that all gods share responsibility for Baal abandoning his throne as King of the Gods.”

Though many gods boiled with anger at his words,

“By denying your own faults, do you not see that doom approaches?”

At Indra’s cold words, many gods fell silent.

“Face reality. Unavoidable destruction awaits us.”

“If so, should we simply accept our doom?!”

One voice cried out. To this, Indra shook his head.

“No, though destruction is inevitable, there remains a way to stop it.”

“Indra. What are you saying…?”

“If the disappearance of the King of the Gods brings doom, then we need a new King of the Gods. We need to restore Baal to the Divine Throne!”

As Indra spoke, murmurs spread among the gods.

“How can you bring back Baal, who is already gone?!”

“There is a way.”

Indra began telling the gods about Baal’s soul reincarnating as a human. If that soul could be deified, it might delay the gods’ demise. Time was needed, and to buy that time, Baal’s fragments must be returned to the Goddess of Life.

He recounted the same tale Hermes had heard from the sage of the deep forest, sharing it now in the square.

“Isn’t the Goddess of Life powerful enough? She hasn’t shown herself in 300 years!”

“Not at all. As the goddess governing all life, she cannot be weak. All life exists under her dominion—including humans.”

“If the Goddess of Life is so fearsome… She was once a kind deity who gave us our names…”

“If we cannot deal with such a goddess… Then… does this mean we must return Baal’s fragments to her?”

“But will the Major Deities agree? They’ve integrated Baal’s fragments into themselves; they won’t give them up easily.”

“Then, shall we use force to persuade them…?”

“How? Even if all of us attack together, we couldn’t defeat a Major Deity. Besides, there are gods aligned with each faction.”

“This means…”

The murmurs among the gods showed no sign of stopping.

“However, there is an important issue here. The problem of time—it takes time for the newly born human to grow into a hero. To solve this, we must return Baal’s fragments.”

After saying this, Indra placed his hand over his left chest.

“Fortunately, I possess one.”

“Indra?! What are you doing now!”

Though Zeus tried to say something, Indra ignored him and continued speaking.

“Of course, this is merely buying time—only about ten years at best. But by returning the fragment of Baal I possess to her, I wish to make one request of her.”

Indra’s right fingertips began tearing into his skin, burrowing inward.

“I, Indra, Chief of Lokapala and inheritor of Baal’s emotions, humbly beseech the Goddess of Life.”

His fingers tore through flesh, pushed aside bones, and shredded muscles until his pulsating heart was felt beneath.

“I return to you the fragment of Baal I possess. Please, delay the gods’ destruction just a little longer.”

Blood flowed from the wound gouged by Indra’s hand—not blood, but the liquid form of faith that constituted his divine body.

“Let the human carrying Baal’s soul ascend to the divine position. Grant us a little more time.”

The heart, tirelessly beating through the gash carved by his fingers, was revealed.

Not Indra’s heart, but the heart imbued with Baal’s emotions—a heart made of brilliant light.

“Indra. Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Yes, I do. I know that removing this fragment means I can no longer exist as the god Indra.”

“And yet you still do this, knowing that?!”

Indra frowned at Zeus, who was loudly protesting. Why interfere when he wouldn’t offer his own fragment?

These kinds of gods are why she dislikes us.

“If you won’t return your fragment, then shut up.”

Zeus couldn’t respond. He lacked the courage to part with his own fragment. There were countless selfish gods like him. That’s why she would shiver at the thought of gods.

“And please, ensure that gods can no longer directly interfere with earthly beings.”

“Indra?!”

“Raise the wall that separates the earthly realm from the gods, making it harder for us to rampage unchecked. Spare countless lives from suffering due to the whims of the gods.”

‘So that the gods’ wickedness doesn’t further disappoint her. So she doesn’t lose hope in everything and abandon the world, causing its destruction.’

He repeated the favor he had asked her before, silently reaffirming it in his heart.

Leaving behind Baal’s final concern from the moment he shattered.

If she, who understands emotions as spoken by her heart, and she, who was once kindly remembered by Baal’s memories, wouldn’t discard this plea even at the cost of her own existence…

“I, Indra, beg you with everything I have. Please, do not abandon this world.”

Indra’s hand clutched the radiant heart within his chest and turned toward Zeus.

“Zeus.”

“M-madman…!”

“Your turn is next.”

Indra swiftly pulled out the heart he had grasped.

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