Survival 117

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“Ha ha, how ridiculous. Do you think you can play God? Let’s see, even if nails are driven into your body, would you still speak like that?”

“Cawk! I rarely agree with Puppeteer! It’s only right to be pecked by the beak of a Southern Griffin!”

Two pairs of eyes gleam blackly as if they were bottomless pits.

Loudly chattering, Puppeteer and Crow exude a thick murderous intent towards me.

And also, sharp gazes poured towards me.

It was not unexpected.

If there’s no backlash against someone who suddenly claims to be a god, wouldn’t that be strange?

‘It makes me realize how smoothly things went during the sword demon time.’

He had been with the organization for a long time and had firm faith,

And above all, it was easy to deceive since I lent a helping hand during an urgent situation.

‘I have no common ground with these people.’

So I must prove it myself.

In front of them, I must show that I am a god worthy of worship.

Sharp thorns seem to pierce and tear through my body.

Overt hostility tears through me from head to toe, maintaining its dominance.

Suddenly, bloody nails float near Puppeteer.

And the griffin grows larger and sprouts another leg, displaying its majesty.

Their animosity seems ready to attack at any moment.

I sigh as if it’s truly regrettable.

“Ha, who would have thought that my most loyal followers would make such a foolish choice.”

“Bullshit. Yeah, if you’re a god, you should easily deflect these kinds of attacks, right? Let’s see you take it!”

“Cawk!”

Immediately, Puppeteer rushes forward laughing, and Crow spreads its ominous claws.

[Boss]

[Puppeteer]

[Boss]

[Tamer]

“How reckless.”

Even as I speak,

My mind busily searches for the optimal plan.

The opponent is at the same executive level as the sword demon.

Obviously, their strength is considerable, having been tested in the original work.

Just the fact that the system gives them the title ‘Boss’ shows how formidable they are.

‘Both were tricky types because of their special gimmicks.’

It’s not that I cannot defeat them.

I understand their attack patterns and special gimmicks, so I could win in a fight.

“But even then, knowing how to embrace calamity truly makes one formidable. Come at me.”

But to win so disgracefully would be meaningless.

If a god shows a fight equal to his followers, it won’t inspire any faith.

I summon the secret weapon I prepared for this moment.

-Then, I’ll leave it to you.

-What are you all dressed up for, calling me out here? You’re acting strange again.

‘Hmm?’

Bathory seems slightly disappointed.

I thought there wasn’t much left to disappoint in the usual affairs.

Though grumbling from the shadows, she soon summons her magic.

-I thought I might enjoy my youth… but perhaps the problem is what I expected of you. Well, I’ll play along.

‘A few hundred years old and talking about youth.’

But I couldn’t say that.

Pretending not to hear, I made a request to her.

-Please don’t kill them by misjudging your strength. They all have their uses.

-Blood?

“…I’ll give you mine later. How about replenishing the magic stone in the necklace?

“Hehe. Your blood, that would be more than enough for a profitable deal.”

BAM

As soon as Bathory’s telepathy ended,

A gigantic iceberg that I had seen a few days ago in the training ground blossomed from the tent.

Of course, it was different from the magic of a novice noble who only focused on height and dodging.

“Krak! What the, my nails…! What on earth did you do?!”

“Cawk….”

Puppeteer’s limbs and the nails in the air.

The griffin’s wings and claws.

All their means of attack were swallowed by the iceberg, and they were rendered completely immobile.

They twitched like taxidermied experimental insects.

It was exactly the outcome I had wanted.

Truly overwhelming,

I had to instill the notion that their resistance was as futile as that of insignificant bugs.

Still, I was somewhat impressed by the greater power than expected.

Ice may be less practical than other elemental magic in combat, but it seems quite effective in this case.

‘Isn’t this just the perfect ability for bounty hunting?’

There might be some injuries, but no threat to life.

And once encased in ice, they won’t easily escape.

At the very least, they’ll find it hard to run away due to frostbite…

“As you requested, I finished without a single scratch.”

“Thank you. You’ve been a great help.”

“Hehe, it’s a vassal’s request. It’s just what I do as your contractor, don’t make too much of it.”

Since I’m collecting blood anyway, might as well make it look good.

Putting aside any distractions,

I walked towards those trapped in the ice with a smirk.

“Would it really matter if I took your lives now? The god you so loudly claim to be, isn’t that life also mine?”

“Ha! Do you think threatening me will work?”

Instead, Puppeteer screamed at me.

But,

Looking into its deeply sunken knot-hole eyes, I whispered,

“Oh, so you show your bravery because you’re not the main body. Do you really think I can’t find where the true you is?”

“……!”

The wooden puppet, which had been lively just moments before, now stiffened like a statue.

Leaving such a puppet behind, I stood up and clicked my tongue.

“If you understand, then remember this: your lives are as fragile to me as candles in the wind.”

“…Keuk.”

“Keuk.”

“Cawk… Understood.”

Although the reaction was a bit violent, I was satisfied with how smoothly the ‘persuasion’ went.

The first meeting was the worst,

But once I demonstrate a superior power like this,

Subduing them becomes easy.

In fact, overwhelmed by the results, the two no longer showed any signs of resistance.

The real problem was on this side.

“You are strong.”

“It was a fun diversion after a long time.”

“Still, that fact doesn’t make you a calamity.”

-True zealot.

This ‘fortune teller’ was the real mountain I had to overcome, thoroughly armed with theory and faith.

“I heard from the Sword Demon. You are said to be a new calamity unknown until now, the Calamity of Many Faces.”

“So,”

“Such a calamity does not exist.”

Squinting her wrinkled eyes, the old woman shot back with a piercing gaze,

“There are only four disasters that can destroy the world! Each one with its own characteristics in its respective region.”

She is right.

The disaster of famine in the East devours all abundant resources.

The disaster of death in the West takes away all life.

The disaster of hordes in the South subjugates the beastfolk under its control.

The disaster of domination in the North subjugates the demons under its control,

Each of the four disasters possesses unique traits and has the potential to devastate the Manhett Empire.

‘Sharp insight indeed.’

Truly, the top zealot within the organization.

It appears she has thoroughly understood the god she must serve.

“Now, you who call yourself the Calamity of Many Faces, how do you intend to destroy the world?”

However, her eyes harbored not only doubt.

Trying to guess about it.

-It’s unsettling.

-What is?

-Should I say it feels unpleasant because it’s déjà vu…? While asking if you’re real, the very act of her desperation seems… rather like she hopes you are the disaster.

It was just as Bathory said.

Expectation and desperation.

The emotion stemming from her faith was not only evident from her expression but could also be guessed from her gaunt arms gripping the chair.

Despite such thorough scrutiny.

There lurked dark and vile emotions in the fortune teller’s eyes, hoping for another calamity to emerge and doom this world.

“Fortune teller, restraint is essential. Why is this old one getting excited?”

The Sword Demon supported her as she nearly fell and seated her back on the chair.

And then,

“A method to destroy the world.”

It was a question within expected limits.

I tilted my head and looked down at the old woman.

Now, I will become a truly vicious calamity.

To the extent that I stand shoulder to shoulder with those four with transcendent abilities.

Ending with such self-suggestion,

“Why should I destroy the world?”

“…What?”

The response I gave left the old woman with a distant gaze agape.

It was likely an unsatisfactory answer to her.

And to the executives here as well.

Questioning the existence of calamities and the necessity of destruction, I must have seemed far removed from their god.

[Grandeur (Rank: S) is activated.]

[You leave a strong impression on everyone present.]

But as much as that.

That clumsy rebuttal was enough to capture everyone’s attention,

“Kyahaha! No words left, so he’s just beating around the bush! The fortune teller hit the mark! He’s just a brute with strength, not a calamity!”

“Cawk! Agreed! If we all unite our powers now, we can defeat him!”

Ignoring the losers still struggling in the iceberg,

“It can’t be. Then what I believed in…”

“Was not a calamity.”

The Sword Demon and fortune teller, mingled with disappointment and confusion.

I whispered to them, heads bowed,

“Because destruction is something that humans will bring upon themselves.”

As always, exaggerated gestures captivate everyone’s attention.

Arms widely spread.

Neck slightly tilted.

The sound of feet rolling on the ground.

After ensuring that even the shadows paid attention,

I whispered in a deeply regrettable voice.

“Envy, jealousy, doubt, greed, arrogance… Humans are too busy tearing each other apart and fighting because of their own ugly emotions.”

-…Didn’t you once call it a delicacy? Truly, the skill of speaking out of both sides of your mouth is unmatched…

Ignoring the rebuttal ringing in my head,

I stepped towards the fortune teller and took her hand.

Her skin was rough with wrinkles and had lost its elasticity, sagging loosely.

As I gazed into her eyes, which had begun to pale,

I looked around at the audience.

Perhaps swept up in the mood,

Both Puppeteer who had attacked me first and the Tamer,

Even the Sword Demon, who should be closest in guarding the fortune teller,

And even the fortune teller herself,

Could not shake off my touch.

I gently grasped her hand, then let it go while shrugging my shoulders.

“I merely incite such people. The world’s destruction is like a sheet of ice; a slight push is all it takes to accelerate its momentum.”

“That means…”

“I don’t possess transcendent abilities like famine and death. Nor do I command vast armies that can cover continents like the hordes and domination. However, destruction doesn’t need such grandiose things. They’ll walk that path on their own.”

The play had reached its climax.

With relish, as if immensely entertained, and deliberately making my voice tremble,

I gave those calling for destruction the answer they desired.

“Politics is said to be the adjustment of mutual interests and conflicts. Wouldn’t you want to see a city filled with such vermin, trapped in distrust and doubt, collapsing on its own?”

-Under the disaster of the Central region, Calamity of Many Faces.

-Under the disaster of the Central region, Calamity of Many Faces.

Everyone twitched as Bathory and I released our telepathy simultaneously.

Seeing their reaction, I smirked and pointed my finger under this tent.

The implication was simple.

You know of the East, West, South, and North, but the disaster of the Central region has never shown itself before, right?

And,

Meaning, come under my command.

-Thud.

Just as I intended,

A sound came from beneath my feet.

“I greet the Calamity of Many Faces!”

The first to kneel was the Sword Demon.

Having received my help, he was also the quickest to accept.

“Cough. I greet the Calamity of Many Faces.”

Next to kneel, with a rough cough, was the old woman pressing her forehead to the ground.

In the voice of the fortune teller, an undeniable joy was thickly laid.

‘After all, it’s as if the zealot has met their god in person.’

How her brain must be saturated with dopamine.

Tears of joy flowed incessantly from her wrinkled cheeks like a broken faucet, unable to stop.

Noticing her even more intense reaction than the Sword Demon,

Suddenly, those who had been released from the ice by Bathory, discreetly dispelled, also knelt down.

“…I greet the Calamity of Many Faces.”

“Cawk! I greet the god.”

Although the form of Puppeteer and Crow was less dignified than the others,

“Why, don’t you doubt anymore? Didn’t you ask for proof? There’s still much I haven’t revealed.”

“Oh, no, O Calamity! Please forgive these foolish ones who dared to harbor doubt!”

“If you permit, I’ll punish them at once…!”

“With my own hands, I’ll tear them apart right now!”

‘…Hmm?’

In a rush, amid the melodramatic reactions of the Sword Demon and the fortune teller, I quickly stopped her.

“I did say it was just for fun.”

“……! I am deeply sorry for not fully grasping your generous intent!”

“Apologies!”

The fortune teller, who twists her words as easily as the tongue in her mouth with just a single phrase.

…Something about it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

‘Honestly, I didn’t expect it to work this well.’

I would have been fortunate to get half of the executives on my side,

But the fortune teller, whom I thought would be the most difficult to persuade, reacting like this, unexpectedly left me the one embarrassed.

…Well, still, good is good.

The plan to slowly consume Kerzo has been completely revised.

Now, I am the master of Kerzo.

A smile spread across my face, having gained another useful chess piece to maneuver as I wish.

-Such a disgraceful god you are. Perhaps you should try to hide your laughter.

-Such frivolous deities are necessary too. That’s what makes mythology interesting.

-Smooth talker, aren’t you?

Unfortunately,

That has been proven through the history of mankind.

Zeus was a philanderer, and Loki was a trickster, but they are the most entertaining, aren’t they?

-At least the mythology I create won’t be petty and boring.

-Let’s see about that.

With that joke, I fixed my gaze into the void.

[You have persuaded all the executives of Kerzo.]

[Rank A: Dual Reputation Applied]

[A new reputation subject, ‘Calamity of Many Faces,’ has been registered.]

Like a reward for having persuaded everyone in Kerzo, a sparkling system message appeared.

But that wasn’t the end.

There was also new information, unseen in the original.

[You have founded a religion.]

[The religion system has been unlocked.]

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