Chapter 441: Star, Jotunheim (1)

[You have been invited to the Divine Ground ‘Babylonia’!]

“So this is how this place is supposed to look,” Chang-Sun said, following Bel-Marduk.

‘Babylonia’ looked like an impenetrable fortress from the outside, but the land within its walls was filled with beautiful and impressive buildings.

“T-Twilight!”

“Why in the world is he here?”

“Master, may I ask why you brought that insolent man here?” Urash frowned, blatantly giving Chang-Sun a once-over. The protectors of ‘Babylonia’ seemed bewildered by the arrival of an unexpected guest.

『They’re disgusting. I get that you want something from them, but do we really have to talk to them in person?』Kali grumbled in Chang-Sun’s mind. Although he had briefly explained the situation he was in, she seemed to be having trouble suppressing her hatred likely due to her grudge against Urash.

『You often make decisions without consulting me and the others first only to leave it to us to handle the aftermath. After everything you’ve gone through because of your rash decisions, do you seriously still want to do this?』

Crom Cruach couldn’t help but chuckle. Kali, who was usually gentle and understanding of Chang-Sun’s choices, reproached him unusually sharply today.

『

Ha

! You better brace yourself for a day’s worth of scolding, Twilight. Even I can’t stop Kali when she’s like that.』

『... I-I don’t think we should give Twilight too much of a hard time.』

『Xerx.』

『

Hmm

?』

『Do you want Kali to nag you instead?』Crom scowled.

『... Sorry,』Xerxes said, tucking his tail between his legs.

『The anger of the quiet one has always been the scariest.』Crom giggled, having a lot of fun watching Kali scold Chang-Sun.

Chang-Sun just remained silent. Kali would scold him harder if tried to make excuses.

『You’re going to find yourself in really deep trouble if you don’t fix that nasty habit. I already told you about this several times, so why don’t you listen...』

Kali went on. Since she was very patient, her complaints would never end whenever she started voicing them out. Even the mischievous Crom avoided Kali in times like this. Otherwise, she would nag her all day as well.

‘Namo Amitabha

[1]...

’

Chang-Sun prayed as he tried to block out her nagging.

『Are you listening to me?』

‘O-of course,’

Chang-Sun answered.

『You sound suspicious, but I’ll let it slide. Anyway, you have to change your cultivation method to get rid of your impulsiveness...』

Kali was now setting a new goal for Chang-Sun’s training.

“I need to talk to Twilight in private. Wait outside,” Bel-Marduk commanded.

The protectors bowed and left the room, showing absolute obedience and loyalty even though they likely disapproved or had questions about this meeting.

‘... I envy that a little,’

Chang-Sun murmured.

『What?』

‘Did I say something?’

『Didn’t you just say you envy how they obey him?』

‘No way. I’m already contented just having my friends by my side. Why would I even think of something like that? You probably just heard me incorrectly,’

Chang-Sun replied, denying Kali’s suspicion.

『... You sound very suspicious. Anyway, as I was saying...』Kali continued.

Chang-Sun cleared half his mind and sat where Bel-Marduk pointed. Bel-Marduk’s subordinates set down teacups on a huge round table.

『

Whoa

, look at that.』

『I’ve been under this impression ever since we entered the divine ground, but... Bel-Marduk might just truly be Twilight from a different Worldline.』

Crom and Xerxes, who were watching the meeting through Chang-Sun’s eyes, sounded surprised. The decorations and interior seemed tailored completely according to Chang-Sun’s taste. Even the teacup in front of him was white and neat, just like how he liked it.

Crom and Xerxes were finally convinced that ‘Taurus,’ whom they had fought to the bitter end, was another Chang-Sun all this time when they saw the castle’s interior. Few people other than Chang-sun had such unique preferences.

“Let’s get down to business. I doubt either of us would want to exchange needless chitchat.” Bel-Marduk belligerently looked into Chang-Sun’s eyes. “How in the world are you going to do it?”

“Th—”

“

Ah

, wait,” Bel-Marduk said, interrupting Chang-Sun to issue a warning. “If I conclude that your offer is nonsense and you bluffed to make me help you, you aren’t walking out of this room alive.”

Bel-Marduk couldn’t help but feel extremely irritated since Chang-Sun had been clinging to him like a leech for the last fifty time loops. He tapped on the floor with his foot. “I’m going to use any means necessary to eat you.”

Chang-Sun immediately understood what that gesture meant. If anything were to go wrong, Bel-Marduk would activate the Nereid Stone, which was below where he was, to infect Chang-Sun and eat away his .

‘If that’s not it, then it probably means he’s going to come after me in every time loop as soon as he recovers his memory.’

This was Chang-Sun’s last chance to make Bel-Marduk his ally. He explained his plan, which he had devised in his mind for a very long time now, as honestly as possible.

While listening, Bel-Marduk raised one of his eyebrows but didn’t interrupt Chang-Sun. He had a lot of things to say, but he decided to hear him out until he was done first. By the time Chang-Sun finished, their tea was almost tepid.

Silence dominated the room for quite some time. While Bel-Marduk contemplated whether or not Chang-Sun lied or made any wrong judgments, all Chang-Sun could do was wait patiently. After all, he had already let his arrow loose.

Crom and the others were quite shocked, having just found out about his plan. Crom, the smartest one among them, was dumbstruck.

『... Is that really possible?』Crom asked.

‘Yes, if my hypothesis is correct,’

Chang-Sun answered.

『Those are all circumstantial evidence, not concrete proof.』

‘That’s why we’re here.’

Chang-Sun sharply gazed at Bel-Marduk.

‘No one has researched [Gaia’s Curse]—no, the Mother Terra Celestial as much as Bel-Marduk.’

That was why Bel-Marduk’s cooperation against Ubbo-Sathla was essential.

After a while, Bel-Marduk finally broke his silence. “Do you really... Do you really think you can use the Nereid Stone like that?”

“Yeah, if my speculation is right and the Mother Terra Celestial and Ubbo-Sathla are actually connected.”

“...

Hmm

.”

“It seems I’m right. They truly are linked,” Chang-Sun concluded, taking Bel-Marduk’s response as proof that his guess was correct.

The Mother Terra Celestial, an Ancient Celestial who conceived life, had been abandoned by life itself. On the other hand, Ubbo-Sathla was an Outer Celestial who made and devoured all sorts of creations.

They were both similar and different from one another. [Gaia’s Curse] tormenting Cha Ye-Eun, Ubbo-Sathla showing obsession for some reason, and Bel-Marduk having the Nereid Stone... Chang-Sun believed all those facts were linked. having confirmed that he was right, he no longer doubted himself.

“Tell me where you got the Nereid Stone,” he demanded. “That’s probably where the Mother Terra Celestial’s remains are buried. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Are you telling me to sit on my hands while you’re taking care of this?”

“You’re welcome to work with me.”

“... Fucking bastard,” Bel-Marduk cursed. “I reject your proposal.”

“There must be another way—”

“But you’ll have my cooperation under one condition.”

Chang-Sun’s eyes gleamed. “What is it?”

Although Bel-Marduk set a term, his agreement to cooperate was still an outstanding accomplishment. Chang-Sun wanted to strike the iron while it was still hot.

“Future prediction. I want to be foretold that this isn’t going to turn into a disaster,” Bel-Marduk said. “As I’m sure you’re already aware of, this a very risky plan. Rollback doesn’t guarantee that everything will be properly reset."

Chang-Sun nodded in agreement. Bel-Marduk had a point. The plan involved using the Nereid Stone and even the sealed Mother Terra Celestial if necessary. They could end up starting a worse catastrophe than Ubbo-Sathla in the Great Universe, ultimately forcing to intervene.

[ pounds his chest upon hearing your plan, saying that you are definitely one hell of a lunatic!]

[The asks the Supreme Administrator to stop you.]

[ turns down the suggestion and says that they should watch how far the lunatic can go.]

...

Even if they couldn’t possibly create a worse catastrophe, those who would follow Chang-Sun’s plan could still get infected with [Gaia’s Curse]. Since it could disintegrate , there was no guarantee that the Rollback could help them fully recover from the damage.

“So give me something to hold on to. I’m not asking you to guarantee success. I just want to know that we won’t fail miserably—no, I’d be contented with knowing that we didn’t make the wrong choice,” Bel-Marduk said.

“Your condition is very odd for someone who is trying to look before he leaps.”

“

Hmph

! We’re changing a future that is already set in stone. I don’t want to go on a wild goose chase anymore.” Bel-Marduk drank what was left of his tea, then continued, “Foretellings can always change depending on what choice we make anyway, so I only need one that tells me this won’t be a waste of time.”

Bel-Marduk smirked. “If you give me that assurance... I’ll join your madness. What do you think?”

Chang-Sun nodded as he slowly stood up. “I’ll do it.”

‘

A foretelling...’

In truth, Chang-Sun was the one who was in dire need of assurance that his plan could change the fixed future. Chang-Sun had never gone down this path before, so even he couldn’t see past the thick veil hiding the outcome of all this. Fortunately, he had someone who could foretell the future.

‘Sinmara.’

It was time for the Giant warrior with faces that could see souls’ timelines to come forward.

* * *

After agreeing to Bel-Marduk’s only term, Chang-Sun left ‘Babylonia. He then summoned Sinmara in private to explain the situation.

「So you want me to restore my third face?」Sinmara chuckled, clearly dumbfounded.

Chang-Sun nodded. “Yeah.”

「Do you think it’s that easy?」

“It’s not?”

「You sound just like Surtr before he died,」 Sinmara scoffed with her arms crossed. Her Past-Seeing Face and Present-Seeing Face talking at the same time made for quite a grotesque sight.

「It would take more than increasing my Divine Class to restore my Future-Seeing Face. If it were possible, I would have already done it.」

Chang-Sun nodded. Sinmara’s current Divine Class wasn’t any weaker than her Divine Class before her death. Hence, Chang-Sun had been wondering why she hadn’t restored her third face yet.

「I have to meet a requirement to regain my Future-Reading Face.」

“A requirement?” Chang-Sun repeated.

「Yes. I have to guarantee the glorious future of . After all, I’m both the warrior and shaman who leads the Fire Giants to a glorious path.」

Chang-Sun nodded. As a guide or a pioneer, Sinmara looked into the past, present, and future of her to lead the Fire Giants to the path that they should take.

「Since the future of isn’t secure, I can’t regain my Future-Seeing Face yet.」

“Am I not enough?” Chang-Sun asked, wondering if even the ascension of a new King and revival of the weren’t great enough to meet the requirement.

Sinmara bitterly smiled as she shook her head. 「Of course you are. Reviving a that has gone is an outstanding accomplishment.」

“Why can’t you regain your Future-Reading Face, then?”

「You revived , but that’s all it is. I need to be certain that under your reign, the future of will be more magnificent than during Surtr’s rule and the rule of those who came before him. I can’t show the Fire Giants such a future right now.」

Chang-Sun frowned. “That’s difficult to accomplish.”

Sinmara shrugged.「I have faith that you will become a Celestial King, but that doesn’t guarantee the better prosperity of .」

Chang-Sun nodded, understanding what Sinmara meant. It wasn’t enough that he revived and brought back to its former glory. Sinmara needed evidence that the would one day rule , and the Fire Giants had to have an absolute belief that their leader would give them a better future.

However, had been in their prime even before they had gone . Reaching even higher than that seemed like an unattainable goal.

‘Reaching even higher, huh,’

Chang-Sun thought. There was only one future where would be more glorious than ever before.

‘Bestla.’

She founded , , and , then became a Celestial King even before Odin could.

‘I have to become a Celestial King after all,’

Chang-Sun thought. He then concluded that this was probably for the best since he had to improve as much as he could anyway.

“Rebuilding—no, conquering and becoming the second Bestla. Would that create a good enough future for ?” Chang-Sun asked.

Sinmara’s eyes widened.

1. The prayer is often used in Korea to regain one’s inner peace. ?