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188. The God’s Last?
“Did you have a place in mind already?”
“Just follow me. Since you’re leaving for good, at least taking a stroll is fine, right?”
“I’ve been here far longer than you think. No matter where I go, it’s the same.”
“I guess so. Other than the place that I completely destroyed, this place is beautiful. It would be difficult to imagine this place even with all of humanity’s creativity combined. It’s revolting.”
“Yeah. So enough of this walking about, and let’s…. end this now.”
“Hey you. Are you doing this because you really want to die?”
“Pfft! What? I’m not sure what you’re seeing that’s making you misinterpret so much, but I’m being serious.”
“……”
“I want to end this tiresome eternal life.”
“Any last wishes?”
“Did you forget? I’m the equivalent of your archnemesis. Did you already forget how insufferable I was to humans?”
“That might be precisely why I don’t want to kill you. I guess I don’t want to end your tiresome eternal life that you hate so much? Don’t you think it’s a pretty good method?”
“What the heck. You’re rather vicious than you let on.”
“Let’s just go a bit further. There is something I want to confirm…..”
What I wanted to confirm was the identity of the guide through time and space, Barub.
The place I was walking continuously to was the door that led to the space time tunnel.
Believing that Barub was a peerless existence, I gave them a warning that really wasn’t one.
I had full conviction behind my suspicion at this point, and I had asked Barub to stop causing additional chaos in a somewhat arrogant manner.
However, Barub ignored my words as if it was nothing.
Before Karupedan disappeared, I had asked them to appear before killing her, but Barub was nowhere to be seen.
Was I wrong?
Or was there more fighting to be had?
To confirm that, I was trying to visit them.
Karupedan cut off what I was saying and spoke.
“There is something that I do want.”
“Hm?”
“…..”
“Is it something to do with Gera?”
“…..”
“Don’t you, an Unrivaled God, know that better than me that it isn’t possible? All the gods I have killed, I couldn’t summon their souls even using the authority of the God of Death. The only explanation that makes sense is that they have been completely obliterated.”
“I know. But still, just in case……”
“…..”
“Somehow, if it is possible….. Will you give me the chance to acknowledge my mistake and repent bitterly? Well, I guess me asking this now can seem like hypocrisy or a false front I’m putting up. That can’t be helped. I fully understand. But still…..”
“I promise. If I can do so, then I will. But you know, aren’t memories only beautiful when they remain as memories? If two people meet again after saying their goodbyes, then even that beautiful memory dulls away. I don’t think it’s so bad to hold that good memory with you instead.”
“It’s fine. You can consider that as one of the punishments that I will receive. I beseech you.”
“I guess you’re not the type to think deeply. I understand. Anything else?”
“Hehe. That’s enough. I’ve already received a huge gift from you that went beyond my expectations. It only lasted a day, and it was kind of a letdown with how you finished the task in a day, but you let me feel happiness and excitement that I haven’t been able to feel while I lived as a god all this time. Since you’ve done as I wished for already, I won’t be greedy and ask for more.”
“This will be one of the things you’ll come to regret in your next life, so don’t be so happy about it.”
“Pfft. Is that so? I guess the only thing left is to receive my punishment? Hehe.”
“I wanted to say this from the start, but stop smiling with such an innocent expression. I feel like I’ve developed multiple personality disorder and get shaken to my roots from time to time.”
“Heh.”
In human time, it wasn’t even a full single day, and it was a timespan both short and long.
Both time in the human realm and demonic realm was frozen though.
I came here looking for a new goal to achieve.
Not having anything else I could achieve or strive for was having a profound impact on me.
Money? Power? I had obtained enough of those to overflow, and they were things that I could obtain as much as I wanted going forward if I wanted to.
What I really wanted was something that could get me moving, a goal.
Of course, the most important reason was to stop the demise of humanity.
However, unlike what I had thought, I met with something far bigger in the celestial plane than the emptiness I felt inside.
Gera and Karupedan.
It could simply be that I felt sympathy and pity.
However, this was one of the many emotions that I carried, for I was a human.
Despite my size and power not being that of a human, but reaching the territory of a god, it was true that my mind was that of a human.
It was a mystery even to me why I didn’t want a cruel end for this goddess.
After that, Karupedan and I continued to walk in silence.
Finally arriving at the door that led to the tunnel of time and space, we saw Barub standing in front of it.
Similar to Gera, their body was covered in cloth.
And even though they were wearing a different wear than what they had before in the tunnel, I could immediately tell.
This was the first time that the three of us met together in the same place.
The one to break the silence was Karupedan.
“Huh? Is it…. Barub?”
“Great goddess.”
“Huh? How are you able to enter into the celestial plane? ….What is this? Barub. Did you tell the human that you wanted to see me die? Is that why you’re here?”
“How could a mere guide through time and space think like so, goddess?”
“Then how did you get in here…. And more importantly, why are you here?”
Karupedan seemed somewhat surprised, but not thinking too much about it, she hurried me for explanations instead.
Looking at her, I answered.
“It’s here. This is where you will die. The place that I’ve been looking for is here.”
“It’s nothing special though. Dragging me all the way here. Then let’s get this…”
“No. Just give me a bit more time, last time I ask.”
“Again? Why are you keep dragging this out…..”
“Barub.”
“Speak, human.”
“I asked you. No. Warned. The moment that my suspicion is confirmed….. You will meet a madman at a level you’ve not ever seen or heard of in your entire life.”
“Has your suspicion not cleared even now?”
“No, I’ve confirmed it. And the fact that you’ve come into the celestial plane, didn’t you do so to reveal the full truth? To Karupedan and I.”
“…..”
“You know, the words that you say so often. ‘I am only a guide through time and space.’ Right? But a guide like that enters another dimension like it’s nothing, the celestial plane to boot?”
“Kuhuhu. I see. Wandering without thinking and I ended up here. The place where everything began for all of you.”
“Huh? Now that I think about it….. Barub, how did you come here? I thought that you couldn’t leave the passageway?”
It was only then did Karupedan realize that it was impossible for Barub to be here.
Following that, I began to explain to her Barub’s existence.
“Karupedan. You said it yourself, right? You didn’t know when you became the Unrivaled Goddess. Despite creating everything, you only have a vague memory of it. On top of that, you have no memory of the past.”
“…..”
“You never considered that someone put you in that position?”
“What do you mean…..”
“The one you see before you. That’s the one that stands above the Unrivaled Goddess title…. An existence like that.”
“What? No way. Did you get hit in the head while fighting against Galima? You know as well. That is Barub, the guide through time and space.”
“Yep. I know. The fact that I know it so well is what makes that much worse.”
“……”
“It’s the equivalent of releasing a bunch of ferocious beasts inside a pen and enjoying them rip each other apart. They have done something far worse than what you have done, Karupedan.”
“Barub, answer me. Is it true what the human says?”
Instead of answering Karupedan’s question, Barub tossed aside the cloth that was covering their face.
When Barub did so, the celestial plane filled with radiant light was covered in darkness.
Darkness? No. To be exact, it would be more accurate to say that everything was swallowed up by nothingness.
The light, rapid waterfall, the beautiful melody seemingly coming out of nowhere, the flowers and trees, and even the ground that we were standing upon disappeared.
However, the outlines of the three of us were as clear as day.
Barub, Karupedan, and I were in a glass box in pitch black darkness. Only three of us existed.
Barub’s face that was finally revealed did not have a solid form.
Similar to how smoke or mist rising, there was only a distortion.
It wasn’t letting out a magnificent light or strong aura, but I could sense it for sure.
This was an existence that I had never met before.
Someone with an aura that I didn’t sense even from Karupedan, who was above that peerlessness — an absolute.
Due to the sudden change in the situation, Karupedan was waiting for Barub’s words with a serious expression.
After all, this was probably a situation that was hard for her to comprehend.
It was then that Barub spoke.
“Karupedan.”
“…..”
“How is it to rise to the seat of a god that you wanted so desperately? Did you finally obtain what you wanted?”
“What…. What are you saying?”
“Was that too difficult of a question to ask someone who has lost their memory? Then let me change the question. Did you enjoy the life of a goddess? Did you become hated by anyone? Did you grant the wishes of anyone? Or did you ignore their pleas?”
“Barub…. No. Who are you? Just who are you to ask those questions?”
“The one who has created you. The one who has made everything in this world and blew life into it. The one who also took away your memories and gave you a chance.”
“Just what are you saying….”
“It might be difficult, but it’s the truth. That existence right there is the true absolute one. The absolute existence that stands above you, Karupedan. The one who has put you in your current position.”
“Don’t….. Don’t joke around. Saying impossible things like that…..”
“Karupedan. You probably expected this already, but you were once human in the past.”
“…..”
“Just from your current appearance alone, one could probably come to that conclusion. However, you said that you wanted to die? Even if it means borrowing the power of a human, you want to end your eternal life? What could be the reason? I had done as you asked. You wanted the power of a god, so I gave it to you, and I let you live an eternal life with the one you wanted to live with. But what was lacking? And just what did you not like about this arrangement? If you want, I could return you your memories. If you’re able to handle it, that is. It won’t be too late to face your end after doing so.”
“What do you want to do?”
“…..”
“You choose.”
“I thought up to death…… If I’m going to receive this punishment anyways, then it doesn’t matter if I get it now or later, right? Barub…. I’m not sure what to call you now. As with your offer, I shall receive my memories back. The memories of when I was a human.”
“This is beyond my expectations. Good. I shall do just that. It is what you chose. You will also have to take responsibility for this choice as rightfully so.”
“Of course.”
Barub waved one of their hands through thin air.
With the flutter of cloth on their sleeves, Karupedan’s body shuddered weakly and rapidly.
It seemed that they had returned Karupedan’s memory.
After a brief moment of silence and a lack of movement, Karupedan’s shoulder shuddered.
The memory of when she was a human. Since she regained the emotions of a human, it must be that she felt something.
My guess was that her emotions were swelling up inside of her.
It was then.
“AHHHH!”
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