Chapter 311: The Man Who Became a God (2)

A stern gaze swept across the mountainside, surveying the vast expanse of Gehenna. ‘He’ observed the Demon Realm from the heights of a bare branch, arms firmly crossed.

“Hmm.”

Lycan, the First Corps Commander. Though his body was now no larger than the palm of a human hand, his imposing presence remained undiminished.

In fact, it might have far surpassed that of the past.

After all, it was Lycan who, alongside Kang Geom-Ma, annihilated the false gods and beheld the origin of the universe itself.

Anyone fooled by his adorable appearance was doomed.

To lay a hand on a little squirrel like him would be true damnation.

Anyway.

The domain he once ruled had begun to deteriorate.

His gaze, as tender as it was sharp, reflected displeasure as he shook his head in disapproval.

‘What difference would it make if I intervened now?’

He muttered bitterly and moved again. The grayish leaves brushed against his fluffy tail as he turned.

Though he had shared in humanity’s story and hardships, the decline of the Demon Realm was particularly evident.

Unlike the human world, which had leaders to guide change, the Demon Realm lacked a sovereign to lead its demons.

Demons are simple.

To them, power is everything. If someone is strong, they follow without question.

That’s why the only requirement to rule was “absolute power.”
Seven hundred years ago, Lycan filled that role. Up until ten years ago, it was Kuarne.

Now, it seemed Dragon Lord Valerion had temporarily assumed that mantle.

But it was just that—temporary.
Dragons had always been a neutral faction.

Only in recent times had they shown more affinity toward humanity.

Proof of this was the constant involvement of Hontail, the next Lord.

Because of this, some demon factions harshly criticized the Dragon Lord and his kin.

But they didn’t know the truth. They didn’t understand that it was thanks to the dragons they were still alive, that it was their intervention that allowed them to continue existing.

They were the ones protecting the Demon Realm from Kang Geom-Ma.

Maybe the demons knew it… but they simply didn’t want to accept it.

With a sigh slipping through his front teeth, shaped like an inverted eleven, Lycan continued reflecting on the Demon Realm’s state while leaping from branch to branch, crossing winding paths with his tiny, walnut-sized head full of worries.

At last, he arrived at his destination. A massive crater. A bottomless abyss.

From the cliff’s edge, he leaned over on all fours and slightly peeked his head in.

‘I’ve followed the anomalies in demonic energy to this point.’

Without hesitation, Lycan hurled himself into the hole.

‘I won’t sit idly by.’

He slid his chubby tail down the wall of the abyss.

As the dust swirled around him, he reaffirmed his resolve.

‘It’s time to set things right.’

Of course, he didn’t plan to take the front line. If he did, the demons would proclaim him Lord of the Demon Realm, and by then there’d be no turning back.

The demons would be annihilated by Kang Geom-Ma’s sashimi.

That was the inevitable future.

Lycan knew it all too well, for he had lived beside him.

That’s why he planned to rebuild his homeland, Gehenna, from the shadows.

And so, with a tiny body but vast ambition, he descended into the depths.

***

“Squeak squeak (Long time no see, Metatron.)”

“……” “……”

“Squeee– squeak (Have you already forgotten me?)”

“……” “……”

The two men, who had been staring intently at Lycan, soon turned to each other.

“Father.”

Leon was the first to speak.

“Why is there a mouse here?”

Chwi? Chwiii?

“It doesn’t really look like a mouse. Maybe a squirrel. Or a red squirrel. Well, it’s still a rodent, so you’re not far off. Where there are sewers, there are rats, right? You really are my son, haha.”

“Yeah, sure…”

‘Damn bastards!’

Lycan’s fine fur bristled with rage, and his curled tail trembled furiously.

‘This was a mistake.’

He was so used to his squirrel form that he’d forgotten to change his appearance. Damn it. Showing his true form now would be far too out of place to command respect.

Metatron was an ancient hero, the one he most wanted to face after Balor Joaquin. It was said his power bordered on the divine.

‘As a rival, he lacks nothing.’

But to meet for the first time like this… was just pathetic.
Even if he revealed his identity now, they’d likely feign surprise and mock him inside.

‘No helping it.’

Lycan decided to act. As always, he’d throw himself into his role as a beast.

Surely this was the meaning of the phrase “crash of reality” that Kang Geom-Ma always went on about.

“Squeak (Ouch.)”

While Lycan suffered his little breakdown, Leon had already stepped forward. He knelt on one knee and extended a hand.

“You’re lost, aren’t you? When we head out, come with me.”

“……”

Though he turned his head haughtily, Lycan allowed himself to be taken.

He leapt lightly onto the palm, then darted nimbly up the arm to perch on Leon’s right shoulder, next to his shimmering golden hair.

“Leon.”

Back beside the mysterious egg, Metatron glanced at Lycan.

“Squirrels are rodents too. They’re known to spread plagues like the Black Death. Don’t forget to wash your hands well when you get home.”

“Ah, understood. I’ll keep that in mind, Father.”

‘Sons of bitches.’

Angels and demons definitely didn’t get along.

‘Kuarne was an angel once too…’

Lycan’s bright eyes darkened with sinister thoughts.

Piriririririr!

A high-pitched electronic sound echoed through the area.

What the hell?

Why was a phone ringtone ringing in the Demon Realm, Gehenna?

Lycan was dumbfounded, and Leon also showed surprise.

“Looks like there’s signal down here too.”

“Incredible. I heard Kang Geom-Ma and Meain worked to get wifi in the Demon Realm cities, but I didn’t think it reached this deep.”

…What Wifi!?

What the hell had happened in Gehenna during his absence?
Wi-Fi? In the Demon Realm?

Just how far had this place fallen?

“I’ll answer it.”

“Go ahead.”

Lycan fumed inside, but Leon took the call. It was brief.

Then he slowly lowered the phone.

Metatron asked him,
“Something wrong?”

“Yes. I’d asked the old dragon for something through Horn… but it seems there’s a problem.”

“Let’s go together.”

“You too, Father?”

“If I go, maybe we can talk with them. My presence might carry some weight with the demons.”

“That’s true.”

Leon looked at the egg with concern.

“What about this? Gehenna’s terrain changes every hour. We might lose it.”

“Leon. In cases like this, improvisation is key. Use what you have around you.”

Metatron extended his thick index finger and poked Lycan’s nose. Lycan nearly fell backward but struggled to maintain balance.

“Squeak squeak! (You bastard!)”

Despite the furious squeak, Metatron smiled.

While pressing down on Lycan’s head with the tip of his finger, he added.

“If he lives in the Demon Realm, he must know the paths well. He’s somewhat recognized, so he’s perfect as a guide.”

“Ah, right.”

“And if we do get lost, don’t worry. You know I have a good sense of direction. If this little rat gives me a general direction, I’ll find the exact location.”

“As expected.”

In short—

They planned to use Lycan, the First Corps Commander, as a mere guide!

In modern times, where even the Demon Realm had Wi-Fi, they wanted to use him as a kind of living GPS.

An angel, the symbol of absolute good.

Faced with such an atrocity, the leader of the demons, Lycan, nearly stood up to give them a round of applause.

“Well then, we’ll postpone the investigation of this place.”

“Yes, Father. I’ll guide you.”

And so, the three figures moved away from the egg.

And deep within the abyss, the lingering fog of Lycan’s fury swirled thick and heavy.

***

After they left—

…The conditions for the apocalypse have been met.

A silence as sharp as a mouse’s death was split in two. The source of the sound was none other than the enormous egg.

After the end of the Fimbulvetr, which brought famine and frost, spring finally arrived.

The song continued.

The age of lies has come to an end, and only one god remains… marking the beginning of the era of the wolf…

The depths of the Demon Realm began to tremble slightly.

And the wolf, with a blade in its jaws, swallowed the sun and the moon.
Thus, the light of the world was extinguished.

Crack. A fissure appeared in the shell.

When angels, demons, and their hybrid finally face the seed of the end…

A hand broke through the shell.

Right after the hen of Utgardr sang the world’s end.

Ragnarekkr, a/aY7, Frashokereti…

The cracks spread to the sides, and from them emerged legs.

A viscous liquid shimmered on the skin.

The Four Apostles of the Apocalypse cross Bifrost and manifest in this world.

BOOOOM!

A deafening noise shook the entire cavern. The egg shattered into pieces, and the newly born creature revealed its full form.

It was a naked woman. Her skin looked as though covered in frost.

In this abyss where light does not reach, only she shone.

Her hair radiated brilliance, and the liquid clinging to her arms dried instantly.

The young woman opened her eyes.

“……”

Her pupils were black as the darkness where she was born.

Her hair was also completely black.

A little later—

Step

The naked woman took a step. The first step of the world’s end.

***

They say living in a house with two families means being pushed around like a floating weed.

It’s not entirely untrue, but.

It doesn’t feel like we’re walking on thin ice every day.

We’re doing fairly well.

The three of us eat together, in peace.
Today we went out to eat again.

Around Joaquin Academy.

An exclusive Korean restaurant, reserved only for the most distinguished.

Just getting a membership takes five years, and the prices are the kind that make you say—

“Damn!”

“Ryozo, has something happened lately?”

During the meal, Abel asked with concern.

Ryozo, poking at her food, replied.

“No… nothing serious.”

“Come on now. That’s what family’s for, isn’t it?”

“It’s just… the princess of the British Empire has been bothering me a lot lately. And that’s been a bit stressful.”

Princess Victoria. A princess of the noblest lineage of the British royal family.

Even Abel, who commands the aristocracy, has to choose her words carefully around her.

“…Strange. Princess Victoria isn’t usually like that, she doesn’t meddle in everything.”

“I know. She was probably sent as a representative because the nobles are pressuring her.”

Ryozo put down her chopsticks and leaned back in her chair.

I listened to the conversation in silence.

“Pathetic, really. Using a girl who’s not even of age as a pawn… but what can you do. If she shows up in the Academy’s office with that killer stare, I have to act. Just… with moderation.”

While speaking, she threw me a side glance.

“Something to say?”

“No, nothing. Just that the food’s really good.”

I bowed my head slightly and kept eating.

“Anyway, seems like the nobles are pretty disgruntled lately.”

“Who wouldn’t be? They’ve lost all control to Joaquin Academy. They’ve even started talking about founding a new academy.”

“Another academy?”

I interrupted with a cold voice. Just then, the dim lightbulb above us burst.

And ominous bubbles began to boil in the soup.

Ryozo and Abel flinched. Immediately, they looked at me.

“G-Geom-Ma…”

“Surely that’s not true. No, they can’t be that crazy. Can’t be. Breathe…”

“……”

“Ah! This is delicious! Worth every coin!”

“……”

Both forced smiles, sweating profusely. They kept exchanging nervous glances.

“Sorry.”

I scratched my eyebrow with my thumb.

“Ruined the mood.”

“What do you mean? Just eating together like this makes me happy. Three feels like the perfect number. Right, Ryozo?”

“S-Suppose so…”

“See? We don’t need more—”

Ring~

“Thought I turned the phone off. Sorry, really.”

“If it’s urgent, answer. I never use ‘Do Not Disturb’ since I became Academy Director.”

I apologized and answered the phone.

Snap!

At the same time, I snapped my fingers to restore the spark to the bulb.

Lightning magic can be used like that too.

“……”

I ended the call.

The flickering light made the silence feel heavier.

Ryozo spoke, visibly tense.

“…Something happened, didn’t it?”

I must have had a very serious face.

It was rare for us to eat together, and now this—I felt guilty.

“There seems to have been an uprising in Gehenna.”

I hesitated a moment but eventually confirmed it.

“Then you need to go,” said Abel.

“Go, Geom-Ma. But come back before the soup gets cold,” added Ryozo.

How bitter.

With so much work pending, even a quiet meal becomes a luxury.

Deep down, I just wanted to say screw it all.

“Thanks… to both of you.”

I nodded and stood up.

Ryozo and Abel saw me off without a single complaint.

I left the room forcing a smile. The door closed behind me.

I could still feel the bubbling in my stomach.

Leaning against the door, I gazed at the ceiling like a statue.

Today, especially, it was hard to move forward.

Finally, I stepped away from the door.

“It’s been a while since I imposed respect.”

I began to walk, crushing the static electricity clinging to my shoes with each step.

***

While glancing at the door he had exited through, Abel broke the silence.

“He looked mad, didn’t he?”

“Yeah. A lot.”

Ryozo kept her eyes on the door, lost in thought.

“You think a river of blood is about to flow in Gehenna?”

“Maybe…”

Kang Geom-Ma’s women sighed at the same time— A deep sigh from the gut, full of sincerity.

“Who’d have thought the day would come when we’d feel sorry for demons.”