Chapter 715: Scenario (6)

“It’s unacceptable to me, Seraphim.”

“I’m not asking your permission, Thronus. It must be done. You have to understand that. Why? Are you afraid he’s committed a lot of crimes?”

“…”

“…”

“My faith is firm, but…”

“You’re curious, too, Thronus, about how many sins this traitor must’ve committed, even if you truly believe him. Aren’t you?”

“…”

“It’s necessary for us to really be together. My heart aches, too, but it can’t be helped. We need to make sure. This man betrayed us, after all, even if he’s actually been brainwashed by demons. If he’s really a good man, then what’s meant to happen will happen. We need to know this so we can move together. This is what I require. Thronus, there is no more compromise.”

“…”

The silver pigeon biting his lips came into view.

I knew he would try to figure something out, but the conclusion seemed to have been made faster than I thought. When I peeked to the side, I saw Kim Hyunsung still not moving.

“…”

Swords were still piercing through his body.

I thought that pulling out the swords stuck in his neck and head would help him breathe again, but that wasn’t possible at all.

Regardless, he didn’t seem to be breathing. He had to open his eyes at the moment of crisis and help me, but he didn’t move.

The platinum swords stood out. Perhaps those were what Seraphim called ‘the sword of judgment.’

‘I think I know.’

I thought I could deduce what his power was and what that platinum sword did. Of course, it was just a hypothesis based on the weapons that filled the sky.

‘Did Kim Hyunsung commit a crime?’

Of course, Kim Hyunsung must’ve committed a crime.

I didn’t know if it was based on his standard or the universal standards, but Kim Hyunsung clearly committed a crime in his life.

He was swept away by war and killed and turned away from others to survive.

There might’ve been events that he couldn’t bring to tell me. However, it wasn’t enough to turn him into that.

All things considered, there were too many swords stuck in Kim Hyunsung.

Not all of them could even strike his body. There were so many swords on the ground as well.

‘No way.’

If the standard of sin was based on the pigeons, then it was roughly understandable.

What might not be a sin by human standards could be judged as such by their standards.

Such a sight could be possible if all the activities that unnecessarily consumed resources or disturb the continent’s balance were judged and calculated as crimes.

However, it was just another hypothesis. I accepted that he was transcendental, but he was not at all perfect.

Neither the gods nor his proximity was perfect. It was impossible to judge whether there were sins in the life that had been lived so far.

Building such a system was tantamount to building a one-dimensional justice.

If he had been able to use his power to create a system that judged sins, he would’ve been on Benignore and the other gods’ sides.

‘Kim Hyunsung’s sin? You’re fucking crazy.’

The first assumption that made me think of leaving behind the rubbish hypothesis was that the sword might be based on one’s guilt.

It wasn’t based on Seraphim at all, but Kim Hyunsung.

In that case, I understood the number of swords and the pain that Kim Hyunsung felt.

Of course, there was some ambiguity in saying just that, but I considered it highly likely. Thinking that the countless swords were Kim Hyunsung’s guilt, it became a little bitter, but it wasn’t unbelievable.

Kim Hyunsung must’ve remembered his mistakes. He might’ve also remembered the faces of the people he killed.

He must’ve had a lot of wrongdoings and regrets in his mind that he thought were unjust.

No, those who gave way a hundred times to Kim Hyunsung might have judged so.

However…

What about crimes without victims? No, could such a system be created in the first place?

If the transcendent god above, the god of character, was hammering and running the Supreme Court justice system, the story might differ. Seraphim alone couldn’t judge all of those things.

Even if he was only responsible for murders and not for all the complications, he shouldn’t be capable of such power.

How could anyone who said we needed to control the population for the continent in the first place determine what was right and what was wrong?

He wasn’t a god. He didn’t even have his own house, so he was a loser who had been wandering around in dimensions.

‘Fraudulent bastard.’

I thought I knew by then. Seraphim was a swindler.

No, he was a half-wit who hadn’t even become a con man. He might’ve been a fool who thought his abilities really determined whether one was guilty or not. I could tell just by looking at his face. It was full of conviction, indeed, and seemed to have concluded that his power could grasp human good and evil.

‘Yeah, give it a try.’

Try it.

I wasn’t sure if my hypothesis was correct, but the dice were thrown anyway. If he was truly transcendent enough to create such a system, there was nothing I could do about it.

How could I pick on a guy with such a ridiculous power?

‘The platinum pigeon is not a god.’

He was, after all, a half-wit.

The corners of my mouth went up faintly. I wasn’t sure yet, but I thought perhaps Kim Hyunsung could survive.

“Judgement.”

‘Bullsh*t. Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t do anything wrong.’

“Judgement.”

‘I’ve never committed a crime, you crazy pigeon. Who could be as clean as me?’

“Judgement?”

‘Maybe a little bit. But all this was a noble sacrifice for mankind.’

“…”

‘I was painting a bigger picture in order for everyone to be happy. All the people I killed deserved to die, and if it were up to me to decide, I’d say they contributed to what you call the control of the human population. Let’s not do this between people we know. I’m right. You don’t have the ability to determine what is righteous. No, even if you do, you don’t have the ability to come up with such a system.’

His flustered face stood out as it crumpled.

He seemed to be worried that there was something wrong with his ability.

It only had a slight possibility of being correct, so I was even more glad my hypothesis was correct. Oh, I’d do a few things before that. I had something to handle.

Who in their lives had never committed a crime?

I would have to respond a little to his powers. That was only natural. That was what a normal human being was.

What were some things that Lee Kiyoung might feel guilty about?

I didn’t think about it, but I thought there was at least one. In terms of the number, there were about five. No, there were six.

When I recalled the cases that I felt guilty about, platinum swords began to emerge from the sky.

Seraphim, who was flustered, finally looked satisfied.

One, two, three… just six of them. It was a little too much for the masked savior, but it was a realistic quantity.

Those were events that I could allow… Thronus looked a little relieved.

“Six swords…”

“It’s unrealistic. How could a human being barely… Only six swords…”

“No, it’s realistic. Seraphim, don’t we all know what he’s like. Ha… ha. That’s why we accepted him. We could trust him because he was such a divine man. He was able to understand us because he was a human being like this.”

“…”

“I’m sure Seraphim is now satisfied. Now come here and hold my hand.”

“No, it’s not over yet, Thronus.”

“What?”

“Execution.”

“Seraphim!”

It was in an instant that six swords fell from the sky. Thronus immediately flew towards me and began to unsheathe his sword.

He cut off the falling swords in an instant. It happened so quickly that I couldn’t react properly, but I could clearly see swords flying toward me. Of course, it was inevitable.

A terrible pain began to spread over my shoulder. It was as hot and painful as a fire. Heavy and bitter. Unknowingly, screams popped out. I wondered if I had ever felt that much pain in my life.

I bit my lips tightly, but a painful voice came out from the inside.

‘Is it this painful?’

Sh*t.

‘Like this?’

How did he hold so much of it without screaming?

It was painful, even though only one struck me in the shoulder. Regardless of my will, tears popped out, and I had a hard time breathing.

I couldn’t think of anything because my head was dizzy. I didn’t know how a fallen body could stand it.

“Are you alright? Are you alright?”

“…”

I could see Thronus, who was restless, but his face didn’t come in properly. That’s how painful it was. No pain could be more painful than that.

“What the hell is going on, Seraphim?”

“…”

“I asked you what you were doing, Seraphim!”

“I did what I had to do, Thronus.”

“…”

“Take the sword out and calm down, Thronus. I just did what I had to do. It’s just one sword that hit him. Originally, he had six sins to bear. I’m allowing this much only because of you.”

“Seraphim…”

“If he really wants to be with us, we need to clear him of his sins. With that one, that one on his shoulder, he’s reborn. That’s right. Thronus. You’re right. We will accept him again. I don’t know what Cherubim would think, but Dominions seems positive.”

“You… you…”

“It’s time to stop being self-indulgent. Thronus, this is what you’ve always wanted. He’s been purified. Why don’t you at least treat him first?”

Only then did Thronus aim his sword in a hurry to deliver his divine power.

“I’m sorry. It must’ve been painful.”

‘Yeah, now I know how much this hurts.’

“Are you alright?”

‘Do I look alright? Are you a crazy pigeon? You think I look okay right now?’

“Now relax. There will be no more persecuting you.”

“Let’s get back to work when the treatment is over. Thronus, hold my hand. Human.”

The wound was completely healed. It’s a bit coercive to hold and pull his hand immediately after hesitating, but there’s nothing I could do at the moment.

No, there was one thing. I didn’t know if it would work or not, but I’d bet on the small possibility that it would.

I thought someone who could treat Kim Hyunsung was coming. All I had to do was send a message.

[Generating a legendary-grade forced quest.]

[I forgive you for your sins. Rise and shine, Altanus’ regressor. (0/1)]

[Delivering a legendary-class forced quest to Kim Hyunsung, Altanus’s regressor. Please register Quest-Clear rewards.]

[Quest Clear Rewards - … (0/1)]

[Please register Quest-Clear rewards.]

[Quest-Clear Reward - Future (0/1)]

The future.