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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 232
The Voice of the Sunstone.
It was something Kaylen was already familiar with.
‘Arashiel. What are you scheming?’
Arashiel, who once tried to seduce Kaylen and failed.
That same woman was now whispering in a soft voice to Kaylen’s alter ego on the moon.
[How is your body feeling?]
In response to her question, the mouth of Kaylen—who had become one of the Moon Clan—moved on its own.
[Now… a little. It’s better. I can speak.]
[That’s such a relief.]
Did the alter ego that was dragged to the moon develop its own consciousness?
It seemed the Celestial Demon had done something while restoring Kaylen of the Moon Clan, who was in critical condition.
‘Even if it’s on the moon, since it’s within the Earth God's influence, I should be able to take control of the alter ego again…’
Kaylen decided to stay quiet and observe the situation for now.
If the Earth God cut the connection, there’d be no point in retaking control of the alter ego.
‘Instead, I need to check how much information is in there.’
When the alter ego was dragged to the moon.
He had erased most of Kaylen of the Moon Clan’s information, but a double-check was necessary.
Kaylen read the memories of the alter ego.
‘…Nothing problematic, good.’
Perhaps thanks to the Dragon God's flame sweeping through his alter ego on top of what he had already purged.
There was no remaining information that could cause issues.
‘Good.’
Feeling more at ease, Kaylen listened to the conversation between the alter ego and Arashiel.
[You need to recover quickly so we can hold the wedding.]
[…Are you really my bride? Someone as beautiful as you… with someone like me…]
Kaylen, mesmerized, stared at the Sunstone.
To a third party, it would’ve looked like he was foolishly praising a glowing rock.
But Kaylen himself had almost lost his mind once upon seeing Arashiel’s true form, so he could understand how his alter ego felt.
[Lord Kaylen is not someone to be called “someone like me.” You are more valuable than I, Arashiel.]
[Is that so. I’m honored.]
‘Marriage, huh.’
It had only been a few days since the alter ego was dragged to the moon, and they were already talking about marriage.
‘…There’s definitely a hidden agenda.’
If they wanted to take control of Kaylen of the Moon Clan, they could’ve just brainwashed him like before.
Forcing a marriage must be part of the Celestial Demon’s plan.
Kaylen tried to figure out what that was by listening further to their conversation…
[This should be enough.]
As the Earth God said that, the connection with Kaylen of the moon was severed.
[Now you can believe that I have a way to connect with the moon, right?]
“…Yeah. I’ll believe it.”
Kaylen nodded,and looked up at the Earth God, who was mounted atop the massive serpent, Ederna.
“By the way, so you were with Ederna.”
[…]
Even at Kaylen’s words, Ederna’s eyes remained unfocused and vacant.
The one who answered in her stead was the earthen puppet—the Earth God.
[She is currently busy observing the world. I apologize on her behalf for not answering.]
“Is that so.”
Kaylen turned his gaze away from the serpent and looked at The Earth God.
Though it appeared to be a small clay doll, perhaps because the dark magic of the Abyss enveloped its body, Kaylen could sense a tremendous power from it, comparable to that of the former Celestial Demon or the Dragon God.
“So. What’s the reason you called for me?”
[Heh heh. You’re quite impatient.]
“We’re not exactly in a position to have a long conversation, are we?”
[That’s true. In that case, I’ll get straight to the point.]
Whoosh.
The clay doll pointed a finger at Kaylen.
[Will you walk the path of evolution with me?]
“Evolution?”
[Yes. All intelligent life, by nature, dreams of a better tomorrow than their current state.]
“That’s awfully sudden.”
After provoking the Water God just to summon him, now he was talking about walking the path of evolution together.
Kaylen looked dumbfounded, but The Earth God finally began to explain in earnest.
[Six Sword. Your existence is ambiguous.]
“What do you mean by that?”
[You possess the power to destroy stars, yet you can’t even form a proper body. Though you must live as an immortal, you remain entangled with mortals. In some ways, you surpass the gods in ability… yet, you are not a god.]
Kaylen furrowed his brows.
So he had even watched Kaylen create an incomplete body within the Six Sword?
“You pretend to have no interest in worldly affairs, yet you’ve been observing closely.”
[Because your star-destroying sword could have swept me away as well. If it's for survival, isn’t it only natural to be cautious?]
The Earth God claimed it was unavoidable for the sake of survival.
But Kaylen could feel that he had been paying close attention to the world above.
“What exactly is this path of evolution?”
[Just as it sounds. It’s the path to becoming a higher-dimensional existence. You, from that half-formed Six Sword, will ascend to the God of Swords.]
Tap.
In the form of a clay doll, The Earth God tapped his own chest with his hand.
[And I, from the Earth God, will evolve further. Not only regaining control of Terra, but also reclaiming the Moon that slipped from my grasp, thus evolving into an even higher being.]
“To escape your current Earth God state, you’ll inevitably have to clash with the Water God.”
[No, there’s no need to clash.]
Whoosh.
The Earth God spread both hands.
A lump of water rose in his left hand.
A mound of earth formed in his right hand.
[Just like this water and earth that are separated.]
Then, as he merged the two together—
[They mix and become mud, don’t they?]
“…So your evolved form is, the God of Mud?”
[Hahaha! God of Mud, I like that. Yes. You become the God of Swords. I’ll evolve into the God of Mud.]
The Earth God said it like a joke. But in the end, his true intent was clear.
He intended to devour the Water God.
‘Well, it’s not like I have any obligation to side with the Water God.’
The Water God was, after all, the one who birthed the Dragon God to begin with.
Because she had played a part in the fall of the Meier Empire of Ernstine, even if they were cooperating for now, their relationship could easily shift depending on what served her interests.
‘But.’
Aside from that—
Kaylen didn’t like the Earth God’s proposal.
‘Becoming a divine being like them only holds meaning if it’s done by my own hand.’
To walk the path of evolution under the guidance of a sly god like the Earth God... who knows how one might end up being manipulated.
If he was to become the God of Swords, he simply needed to walk that path himself.
Even if he followed a path someone else laid out, it would only be riddled with traps behind the scenes.
“I have no intention of becoming a god through some so-called path of evolution. I refuse your offer.”
[As expected, you refuse.]
As if he had already anticipated that response, the corner of the clay doll’s mouth rose all the way to his eyes.
That smile carried clear ridicule.
[In that case, I’ll make you a real offer.]
“A real offer?”
[Even if you refuse to travel with me, we can still cooperate temporarily out of mutual necessity. After all, the being on the moon is a threat to me as well.]
“You feel threatened by the Celestial God?”
[Yes. More precisely, I’m concerned about your alter ego that has fallen into his hands. If the Celestial God were to acquire your star-destroying sword—this world would undoubtedly be destroyed.]
With that, the Earth God continued.
[I’ll open the gate to the moon. In return, let me imbue two of your Six Swords—the Dark Sword and the Earthen Sword—with my black magic.]
“The Dark Sword and the Earthen Sword…”
[That’s right. When you set out to conquer the moon, won’t you be taking all six swords anyway? At that time, I’ll send half of my power to the moon.]
“Why not go yourself?”
[Heh. If my black magic lands on the moon by itself, the Celestial God will surely absorb all of it. But if I ride with your Dark Sword and Earthen Sword while you fight him, I’ll seize control of the moon.]
“Hm…”
The Earth God’s intention to hitch a ride on the Dark and Earthen Swords was crystal clear.
While Kaylen battled the Celestial God, the Earth God would take the moon.
‘He’s sealed by the Water God on this planet, so his movement is restricted. He must be trying to retake the moon to regain his strength…’
Kaylen didn’t give an immediate answer.
He didn’t believe this sly god would make such a proposal with only one intention in mind.
And as he hesitated—
[Kaylen. It would be good for you if I came along too. You’re not seriously thinking of living on the moon forever, are you?]
The Earth God added more words to persuade Kaylen.
“To return?”
[Exactly. To fight the Celestial God, you and the Water God will have to commit a considerable portion of your strength. The moon is his stronghold.]
“That’s true.”
[And when the battle is over and you’ve won—what will you do when you try to return to Terra, but the Water God blocks the way?]
[To her, you’ll be of no further use. No, worse—you’ll be a burden, a threat, with that star-destroying sword. She’ll do everything she can to prevent your return to Terra. Yes, you’ll be cast aside.]
“But if I go with you, that won’t happen?”
[Exactly. I’ll take control of the moon and return to Terra. I’ll reopen the gate for you so you can return properly.]
As Kaylen listened to the Earth God’s words,
he felt it clearly.
‘There’s not a single one of them I can trust.’
No matter how sly the Earth God was, there was logic in his words.
Would the Water God truly welcome him with open arms after he subdues the Celestial God and tries to return from the moon?
Or would she try to keep him from returning…
No matter how he thought about it, the latter seemed more likely.
‘As expected. I mustn’t rely on them.’
If he depended on those gods to travel to and from the moon, he could be betrayed at any moment.
‘I need to find a way to travel to the moon on my own.’
Even as Kaylen made that resolve, outwardly he said something else.
“All right, Earth God. I accept your proposal.”
[Heh. A wise decision.]
Ssssss—
Behind Kaylen, the Six Swords floated into the air.
The Earth God asked him,
[Shall I enter through there?]
“Yes. Enter the two swords.”
The clay doll unraveled, separating into a pile of earth and a wave of dark magic.
They naturally flew toward two of Kaylen’s swords and were absorbed into them.
[Such tremendous magical power…]
Though the Earth God, now parasitizing the Six Swords, appeared outwardly to only express admiration—
‘He’s trying to analyze the swords.’
His magic was secretly attempting to examine the Six Swords.
And Kaylen was no different.
The Earth God’s black magic was the same as the moon’s black magic.
By fully understanding its nature, he would complete a sword capable of conquering the Celestial God on the moon.
‘I’ll make this sword mine…’
‘Earth God. Now that you’ve entered me—I’ll completely analyze your magic.’
With hidden blades behind their backs, the two of them wore smiles on the surface as they entered into a temporary alliance.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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