Chapter 410: Apostle Meeting (2)

As the two goddesses went off to the snack bar, Kai used Shadow Step to return to his mansion in Libertia.

“It’s me, the owner of this house.”

“It’s the lord.”

“It’s Kai!”

The fairies, chattering nonstop, welcomed him.

“Should we tell everyone you are here?”

“They’ll be really happy.”

“There will be a festival.”

The fairies requested, but Kai shook his head.

“No, don’t tell anyone. Also, I plan to hold a meeting, so please keep quiet for about three hours.”

“Okay, okay.”

“Three hours, three hours.”

The fairies clamped their mouths shut, smiled brightly, and vanished.

“

Whew

.”

Kai went to his home office and sank into a luxurious single-seat sofa and looked down at the holy relics. Though he already knew it before, the power of the relics was tremendous.

The Holy Pauldron worn by Shimizu, the Holy Ring carried by Cherantia, the Holy Sword wielded by Patrick...

Each one was a holy artifact several centuries old. If considering their historical value, they were beyond priceless. But what was even greater was the fact that he could speak with those who had already died.

I never summoned them all at once until now because it seemed like it would be too noisy.

Today, he planned to summon all the apostles and hold a meeting together. Of course, the topic was how to save Helik.

“Shimizu, Cherantia, Patrick.”

As he calmly called their names, each relic glowed in order.

—Did you call?

—

Hm?

Was that meant for me?

—...

The apostles’ voices rang in Kai’s head all at once.

“Hello, I hope you’ve all been well.”

—I’ve been fine, but... wait. Did I not hear Cherantia’s voice just now?

—This high-pitched voice is... Is it Shimizu?

—Oh? Are you speaking informally to the very first High Priest right now? I’m from the first class of the Solarian Church’s priesthood, you know.

—Come on, we’re all dead and angels now, let’s not nitpick the little things.

—You...

This was exactly why he hadn’t summoned them all at once. Because once he did, their overlapping voices would flood his head and become a hassle.

“You two, please be quiet for a moment... Patrick, sir?”

—What is it?

—Oh my, Patrick is here too?

—Oh, that dull voice definitely belongs to Radiance.

—I’d rather not stay long. Just say what you need.

It seemed Patrick had already grown tired of the other two and was thinking of escaping.

“Unfortunately, that might be a bit difficult. I’ve gathered you all here today for a meeting.”

—A meeting?

“Yes, a meeting,” Kai pronounced each word clearly and deliberately. “So, about that, may I ask a favor of you, Patrick?”

—I’ll listen first and then decide.

“Do you remember when you first descended upon me?”

—

Ah,

I remember, I remember that time. I thought you would call me that time for sure.

—I was certain I would be the one chosen.

“You two, again, please quiet down.” Kai lightly sighed and continued, “At that time, you invited me into your mental space.”

—I did.

“Could you invite us there once more? I think it would be better to talk face-to-face since this is an important matter.”

Patrick firmly refused,

—Fourth Apostle, you lack discipline. What the eyes see is only an illusion. A meeting can be held just fine by simply listening to each other’s voices.

It seemed he had no intention of revealing his space to the other two. However, the opinions of the other two differed.

—

Oh,

now that I think about it, I’ve never been to Patrick’s mental space.

—Come to think of it, neither have I. He’s never invited us...

—Please invite us too. I’d like to visit.

—If you don’t mind, I’d like to go this time. Of course, for the sake of a smooth meeting.

Though unseen, it felt as if Patrick was glaring at them with resentment. Eventually, Patrick let out a sigh and raised the white flag.

—I’ll invite you.

At that moment, Kai’s view changed.

It’s the same.

What came into view was a desolate yet clean temple. Patrick was kneeling before the altar, hands clasped in prayer.

“Oh my, how nostalgic, this temple!”

“

Hm,

as expected of Radiance. Even his mental space is a temple. Devout indeed.”

Shimizu and Cherantia’s voices came from behind.

Patrick finished his prayer, stood up, and waved his hand. “Everyone, take a seat...”

Perhaps because the space was created by his mind, the pews vanished like illusions and were replaced by a round table and chairs.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all seen each other face-to-face.

Ah,

though of course we never did while we were alive,” Shimizu sat down with a bright smile.

“Well, even in death, we’re busy people. Angelic duties aren’t exactly leisurely,” Cherantia responded to her, and Kai and Patrick also took their seats.

“Patrick, I’m thirsty.”

When Shimizu whined, Patrick shot a glare at Kai then summoned a cup of water.

“

Oh,

if possible, I’d prefer tea...”

“There is only water.”

Shimizu ended up gulping down the water after hearing Patrick’s cold tone.

“Heaven’s affairs are backed up and I’m busy. What business do you have that you would even request mental projection?”

Patrick stared intently at Kai. His sharp gaze seemed to say that if he brought up something trivial, he would be thrown out immediately.

As everyone focused on him, Kai took a sip of water and said, “It’s about Helik.”

That one sentence changed the apostles’ gazes. Even Shimizu, who had been smiling playfully, and Cherantia, who had his eyes closed, opened them and stared at Kai.

“What do you mean?” Patrick, who had been staring at Kai from the beginning, asked.

“I received new information recently. Helik is currently exposed to danger.”

“Danger? What kind of being could possibly threaten the Solarian God...”

“...With my limited knowledge, only one name comes to mind,” Cherantia muttered in a heavy voice, his arms crossed.

“Muldine.”

When Patrick muttered the name, Kai nodded.

“Yes, Muldine. I received information that he will soon make a move to kill Helik.”

“What is the source of this information?”

“How credible is it?”

“I can’t share the details, but I swear on everything I have. It’s all true.”

Kai’s serious expression made it clear this wasn’t a lie.

“

Hm.

”

The apostles all let out a light sigh at the same time.

“Is he trying to do the same thing again?”

“The first time is the hardest. The second and third always come easier.”

“So what is it you need from us?” Patrick calmly asked for the main point.

“There are two main things. First, I ask you to share any information you have about Muldine. Second...” Kai turned his gaze to Patrick. “I heard that you are the only human who has ever wounded Muldine. Is that true?”

“It was only a half-success, but yes, it’s true.”

“Please teach me how you did it. I must kill Muldine to ensure Helik’s safety.”

At those words, Shimizu and Cherantia’s expressions became complicated.

“Kai, killing Muldine is...”

“You are walking a difficult path.”

Even Patrick, who had maintained a blank expression, said, “Fourth Apostle, the path you seek will not be an easy one.”

“I’ve never hoped for an easy path.”

“No one in history has ever killed a god. It’s a challenge that is theoretically impossible.”

“But you succeeded, Patrick. At least halfway.”

“It was the result of divine luck upon divine luck. Even so, I still failed.” Patrick slowly closed his eyes. “Because I couldn’t overcome the limitations of the human species or the gap in power.”

“Then how did you wound Muldine? I’ve heard that gods cannot be harmed while in the Heavenly Realm.”

“That’s correct. That is why I didn’t fight him in the heavens.”

“Wait, you mean...” Kai’s expression looked as if he had been struck in the back of the head. “The Mortal Realm! You brought him down to the Mortal Realm and fought him there!”

His face brightened like a student who had solved a difficult problem, but Patrick gave a bitter smile.

“A mere human cannot pull a god down to the lower world. He came down by his own arrogance and carelessness.”

As a result, Muldine had suffered a great wound, so surely he would have learned from that.

“He will likely never descend to the mortal world again. He knows well that fighting in the lower realm, where most of his power is sealed, holds no advantage.”

Realizing the outcome before even beginning. Having all possibilities denied from the start. Knowing that no matter the effort, it would all end in nothing felt like a punch to the gut. Kai knew all this but didn’t give up.

If I give up here, everything ends.

Even if the odds were close to zero, it was still far better than doing nothing.

“First, please share your information. I also asked Helik, but she only gave me pieces of details.”

“That’s because... Helik still hasn’t let go of her lingering feelings,” Shimizu muttered with a gloomy look.

“Lingering feelings? What do you mean?”

“

Hmm.

It seems she couldn’t bring herself to tell even you.” Cherantia glanced at Kai with a slightly envious look.

“About what?”

As Kai urged them to answer, Patrick, who had been silent, suddenly said, “Muldine is Helik’s only family.”

“What...?” Kai slightly rubbed his ear. “Sorry, can you say that again? I think I misheard.”

“You didn’t mishear.”

The three apostles affirmed the fact once again.

“When the Supreme God made this world, the first beings he created were two gods. The gods of light and darkness.”

“He referred to only Helik and Muldine as his children.”

“In other words, Muldine is... Damn it, that means he’s Helik’s older brother.”

“What in the world...” Kai quickly covered his mouth.

His stomach churned with nausea. It felt like someone was yanking at his head while riding a roller coaster.

He’s her brother? Her family?

The one obsessed with killing his tiny goddess was the only family she had left in this world. Suddenly, the words Dr. Jim once told him flashed through his mind.

Helik can never defeat Muldine.

That began to take on a different meaning. At first, he simply thought it was because Helik’s power was weaker than Muldine’s.

Of course that’s probably true as well. In terms of force, Helik might fall behind, but...

Helik was a child with a tender-heart. Anyone who stayed by her side even briefly would see that. Hundreds of thousands of wishes poured in from humans each day, and it was Helik who felt guilt for not being able to grant them all.

“Helik is not someone who could harm her own family...”

He was right. The three apostles nodded in agreement with his conclusion.

“That is the reason.”

“The reason Helik is bound to lose in a fight against Muldine.”

“And it’s also the reason Muldine, who knows that better than anyone, keeps picking fights with her.”