Chapter 439 - One Solution (2)

Hugo happily spent time with his beloved wife and daughter. He kept grinning because of his beautiful daughter, who looked like him. “Her name is Jisoo. I can’t believe Gun gave her such a great name. This isn’t like him.”

His two mean(?) children looked at their dad as if he were an insect(?). Hugo would raise this child to be a daddy’s girl. He could imagine his young daughter grabbing her father’s hand and having this conversation with him.

- Jisoo, who do you like more if you had to choose between Dad and Uncle?

- Dad!

- When you grow up, who will you marry?

- Dad!

Hugo soundlessly roared in joy when he thought about what would happen in the future. He also made sure to keep his mouth shut. His wish would finally come true. He’d be able to hear words that he never heard from his other two children!

Moreover, he wouldn’t make the same mistake again. And so, Hugo ordered several documentary DVDs of himself and did his best to order the worst(?) of Lee Gun.

While he was doing this, Chun Jiwoo carefully asked him, “Are you really ok?”

She had heard about everything that had happened from Hugo.

Of course, she had known he had a reason for burning their family picture. He wasn’t someone who would just pack up and leave.

But this didn’t mean she hadn’t been worried. She had been vexed that Hugo had done all this secretly, and she had even slapped him on the back.

Hugo said as if she should no longer worry, “Gun has an item that might be a solution to my problem.”

It would allow him to get rid of the Karmic debt that he had accrued as Eternal Change. He would be able to live his life as a normal human. He could once again be with those that he loved.

Hugo was very happy about this. He got up as if to say she shouldn’t worry about anything.

“Wait a moment. Dad will go get something delicious that we can eat with Mom.”

He activated Wind’s ability, which he had stolen, and disappeared somewhere.

Tahk!

He once again appeared at Lee Gun’s workshop. He was inside the warehouse-style safe. Wind’s ability was quite useful. It allowed Hugo to move instantaneously, and he also could invade any space.

‘It doesn't matter where I go using this. Gun won’t be able to track me.’

It had a stealth function too. Hugo had come here to acquire a rare chocolate that Lee Gun had stolen(?) from the Virgo temple’s holy ground. He rooted through the safe.

Hugo stole all the snacks even though Lee Gun had threatened violence against anyone who took anything from here.

He was about to head back when...

“I see. You think everything will be fine if you use that ability.”

‘Kuhk!!’

A familiar voice rang within the safe.

Hugo was shocked to hear Lee Gun’s voice. He quickly hid among the treasures.

When Hugo turned to look, he saw Lee Gun moving with the Primordial god sticking to his neck.

Lee Gun had come into the safe to take out something.

“I know that using Exoneration affects your durability depending on the size of the Karmic debt. You can only use Exoneration two more times, right?”

“!”

Lee Gun was having an unexpected conversation with the Primordial god.

The Primordial god was now called Head Smasher, and he was a Divine item with the Exoneration ability. However, that wasn’t important right now.

‘It can only be used twice? That’s the limit?’

Hugo leaned forward to hear what they were talking about, and the Primordial god said something unexpected while rubbing his face against Lee Gun.

[Karmic debt can be divided on top into the SS rank, S rank, and A rank.]

“Is that so? What does each rank represent?”

[The SS rank is on the level of destroying the order of the Divine world. The S rank is at the level of destroying the order of society. And the A rank is an offense against public morals.]

The permission ticks that gods traded for can absolve Karmic debt of Rank A or below.

“What rank of Karmic debt did I incur in destroying the Divine world?”

[The SS rank].

“What about the Great Spirits killing you?”

[The SS rank.]

“What about the miscellaneous actions that I carried out within the Divine world?”

[All of them incurred S-rank Karmic debt.]

In other words, Lee Gun had caused an incredible amount of trouble. This was why he had to ask, “The number of Exonerations that can be used is two because I got into so much trouble?”

[No, that’s not it.]

“Then?”

[The first thing you want to do is acquit the great sinner Eternal Change. Second, you want to ensure the survival of the forbidden child, who shouldn’t exist. Third, there is the plan you want to employ to get rid of Ennead’s Great Spirit and his gods.]

The Primordial god continued,

[Those three tasks are beyond the Divine world. They will harm the order of the Universe. If you carry them out, you will receive Karmic debt of the SSS-rank, a disaster rank.]

“!”

Each of the tasks that Lee Gun wanted to accomplish had a connection to the order of the Universe.

It was almost a miracle that Exoneration could be used on something of that magnitude.

“This makes sense. Let’s put aside Hailey for now. I tried beating up and killing Taeksoo several times, but his Karmic debt didn’t go down.”

Lee Gun had killed Hugo several times(?) as an experiment.

Well, it wasn’t as if Hugo was killed by a monarch. Maybe, it was considered as a reward(?). That might be why the Karmic debt didn’t decrease.

[Anyway, it’s useless for him to die multiple times. It might not be possible unless he dies at the hands of Time. He has to be killed numerous times like a bug.]

Originally, Hugo was destined to be killed tens of thousands of times like a bug by Time.

It seemed Lee Gun was referring to that.

Mimir exited from the shadows and spoke in a quiet voice.

[That’s why we are lucky. We were given two opportunities to get rid of SSS-rank Karmic debt...]

Mimir had already realized what his master’s plan was.

[However, you cannot save both your friend and girlfriend. You have to choose one or the other. With your exoneration, only one Exoneration will be left.]

“What if I don’t get exonerated?” Lee Gun asked.

[Both Eternal Change and the forbidden child will live. You will also receive the SSS-rank Karmic debt and will fall into the World of Emptiness.]

Lee Gun furrowed his brows. He remembered that Leo had mentioned it.

- You must not fall there! You must avoid it at all costs! It’s an entrance connected to the World of Emptiness!

At the time, he hadn’t paid much attention to it.

Lee Gun looked at Mimir as if to ask where it was. Mimir answered him.

[You saw what happens to those that get crushed by Karmic debt, right?]

“Yes. They become evil gods, and most of them can’t take it. They die in the end.”

The Great Spirits had turned into monsters, and they got what they deserved. They ceased to exist in the end.

Mimir continued as it brought up an important point,

[Their demise is linked to the Karmic debt that they receive. However, the Karmic debt isn’t the only reason. There is something a bit more to it. Their demise is a self-made choice.]

“What?”

[It’s because evil gods are sinners that get sent to the World of Emptiness. They become slaves for eternity.]

“!”

[Unlike the sunny Divine world and the colonies, the World of Emptiness exists in an alternate dimension. It’s a land where repeat offenders who weren’t exonerated go to. It’s an internment camp where beings full of the original sins are kept.]

No one knew for sure, but it was a place akin to hell.

“Is it different from Tartarus, which exists in the Divine world?”

[Places like Duat and Tartarus are under the management of the Divine world. In the strictest sense, they are lands of the Divine world. They are colonies.]

Like how modern society had the penitentiary, Tartarus was an affiliated facility of the Divine world.

So Lee Gun asked, “Is it similar to the World of Torture where Yeonwoo had resided?”

That was the lowest floor of the Divine world, and it had been the land of the sinners.

Mimir let out a light laugh.

[The Divine world received consultation from the World of Emptiness to make the World of Torture. The World of Torture is an internment camp, but it’s part of the Divine world.]

When Lee Gun had gone there to rescue Yeonwoo, he had seen the public employees of the Divine world. They had even bowed to him because he was a Zodiac.

[If one has to make a comparison, the World of Torture is like kindergarten compared to the World of Emptiness.]

“!”

It was kindergarten in comparison?

[Anyway, it isn’t a place where gods want to live. In short, it’s a land full of eternal pain... When those who take on Karmic debt become evil gods, they are forcefully dragged over there.]

“The reason they decide to kill themselves...”

Soon, the Primordial god spoke,

[Those that never become evil gods will never find this out, but when one becomes an evil god, you are given a choice. You can choose to kill yourself, or you get dragged into the World of Emptiness. You will live a life worse than a bug, and you will receive eternal pain.]

All of them had chosen to kill themselves. It was why the Great Spirits ceased to exist. This was like the difference between life imprisonment and the death penalty.

“Now that I think about it, I did hear something odd when I became an evil god...”

So why were the Creators and the Primordial god able to wander around after they became evil gods?

As if he had read the question on Lee Gun’s face, the young Primordial god spoke as he rubbed his face against Lee Gun.

[It wasn’t our Karmic debt. We became evil gods because the Great Spirits transferred their Karmic debt to us.]

It had lightened the weight of their sins, so they were able to run away. Anyway, most chose the death penalty instead of life in prison.

When Lee Gun had all the information, Mimir lowered his head deeply.

[It’s up to you to choose between your friend or your girlfriend. However, you must never forget that you can save only one of them.]

“Understood.”

[You must leave behind enough so that you become exonerated, Master! You must!]

“Jeez. Alright!” Lee Gun exited after gathering ingredients from the safe.

On the other hand, the hidden Hugo had a shocked expression on his face as he watched them exit the safe.

‘Exoneration can be used only twice...’

Lee Gun had been clear when he had spoken about it before. He had said he’d use it three times to exonerate himself, Hugo, and Hailey. So what was it about using it to save only two people?

‘There is no way...!’

Hugo dropped the snacks that he had stolen as he left the safe. He used Wind’s ability. Then he called out to Lee Gun, who was heading to his room. “Hey!”

“Damn it! You surprised me!”

Hugo was unable to use teleport, yet he had exited the safe.

Lee Gun’s eyebrows rose. “Why the hell did you come out of my safe?”

For some reason, Hugo furrowed his brows. Mistrust was written all over his face. “I want to hear your plan.”

“Plan?”

“How do you plan on getting rid of the remaining gods? Is it really possible? Are you sure about it? Do I have to just trust you to take care of it?”

“What? Are you getting a bit uppity now that you are a monarch-rank? Don't worry about it. I have a way to get rid of all of them.”

Hugo didn’t care about that. “You won’t do something like throwing your own life away, right?!”

“!”

Lee Gun flinched. He realized Hugo had heard the conversation within the safe. “You....”

“You won’t do something where you're the only one who’ll die, right?”

Lee Gun was about to berate him for eavesdropping on such a conversation, but he soon struck Hugo’s head. “Why are you so hellbent on putting me in the grave?”

“!”

“I have a plan. Just trust in your hyung. When have my plans ever failed?”

“Gun...”

“Don’t worry about it. I want you to make preparations for the wedding. You’ll get your wish. I’ll make you the host.”

“...”

Hugo became silent, but suddenly...

Boom!!!

The ground shook.

They quickly looked outside.

Hugo was surprised by the sight. “Those bastards are...!”

With a smirk on his lips, Lee Gun looked at the sky. “I was wondering why they weren’t coming.”

The sky was filled with gods. They were gods that served Ennead’s Great Spirit. However, something was more shocking than that.

“Cluders...!”

Yes, Gods were not the only beings to invade the earth. The monarchs and Cluders were together. Moreover, they weren’t attacking each other. They looked at the people of the earth as if they were looking at a common enemy.

Lee Gun furrowed his brow. “What did you do to Wind?”

“I got rid of him. Did they join hands with the gods because their highest leader is gone?”

[Did you expect no repercussions for blowing up the Divine world?]

“!”

An enormous light appeared alongside a familiar voice.

Koo-goohng!!!

It was none other than the powerful sun! It was the light of the Fire Wheel!

The sunlight, which threatened to blind everyone, swept across the earth. The light tried to erase all life from the surface of the earth.

“Kyahhhhk!!”

“Ahhk!”

Like before, all life on the earth was being burned to death.

Kwahng!!

The sunlight was strong enough to evaporate the ocean water.

Zzuhng!!

The enormous power pushed the earth to the brink of death.

[The power of the enemy is destroying the earth.]

The power of Ennead’s Great Spirit once again tried to take the lives of all creatures on the earth. When the shaking settled down, all the buildings on the earth fell. They evaporated into thin air as if a bomb had detonated there.

Ennead’s Great Spirit leisurely landed in front of Hugo’s house, which had completely evaporated. He had come to destroy the earth through brute force, yet he had an amused smirk on his lips.

[You used your head this time around, Snake god.]

While all the buildings had been destroyed, no life had died on the earth.

As proof of this, Chun Jiwoo was glaring at him with her third child in her arms.

Hugo looked at them. He had rushed toward them as soon as Ennead’s Great Spirit had sent his attack.

“Are you ok?!”

“It seems I have Lee Gun-nim to thank.”

Yes, a barrier of Life was present around her, protecting her. It wasn’t just her.

“Huh-huhk...!”

“I’m alive.”

All living beings on the earth had received Lee Gun’s barrier, so they were alive. They had survived the attack.

Moreover, Lee Gun was in his stage 6 form after he had imbued each individual with the power of Life.

Unlike Death stage 6, where he emitted black flames, his current appearance was very different. He was still in flame form, but Life was made out of warm golden flames instead of black.

Ennead’s Great Spirit was in awe as he smirked.

[I’ll acknowledge your strength. Not a single resident of the colony died.]

Lee Gun was clearly different from the other Great Spirits.

[As a sign of respect, we came in full force.]

As soon as he spoke, something flew in at frightening speed and embedded itself in the ground.

Kwahng!!

“!”

Everyone was surprised by the item.