Chapter 151 – Side Story) Pharaoh, Carmina Narmer (2)
Climbing the heavens, which I had already climbed once, was not that difficult.
And, there, I met an animal that had lost its owner.
A big beast.
A beast lying face down, looking down at the woman who had ascended to heaven.
“Ammut.”
When I called the beast’s name, it looked at me with tired eyes and opened my mouth.
『The one who killed my master, the last remaining king of this world, the Pharaoh who defied death. Why did I come back to the land where I lost my owner? Or, has he come to take my life?』
Yeo answered the beast’s words, purring lowly and sounding tired.
“I came to find rest in this world.”
『What kind of rest can there be in a world that has lost God and is collapsing? The last remaining hero of this world, the last pharaoh. I respectfully advise you to accept the end given to you. This is the end that no being in this world can escape from.』
Yeo said to Ammut, who said that even I, who was born as a god, defeated and subordinated to a stronger god, had no way to escape this end.
“It seems there is a misunderstanding. I did not come to prevent the end of this world. She knows best that Yeo does not have that much power. Even though this world is literally falling apart… I have come for the final rest of the remaining subjects of Yeo.”
『ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ』
Ammut let out a low, animal-like growl and looked at Yeo.
Then, she opened her mouth as if mumbling.
『It won’t last long. Even if you killed my master and took a part of him, it would not last for hundreds of years. However, your soul will surely suffer for eternity. Only the eternal extinction that even the gods fear awaits you. Even so, does that will remain the same? The last pharaoh.』
“Hundreds of years, longer than you expected. At that level, she will be able to send off the last of Yeo’s subjects with ease.”
The most recently born child, a close friend who once worked with him to kill God, a child left behind by heroes…
“Karura, you are lucky that the child will be able to endure until he grows old and dies.”
As she said that, she saw Ammut, who had been looking at her blankly, lowering her head.
『Accept my worship, O Pharaoh who deserves it. Your precious soul deserves my worship.』
“You killed your master, but she gave you her obeisance?”
『It is true that the ‘Beast of Death Singing Lament’ won over me and was my master, but he was not worthy of my worship. I, Ammut, the judge of death. A person who fears death the most and reveres those who overcome it. He was defeated and became a servant to those who only made it his earthly task to increase his power, and who could never show their teeth where he would be defeated, but he was not completely loyal to him. However, you are different.』
Sigh.
Before Ammut was defeated by the ‘Beast of Death Singing Lament,’ one of the ninety-nine beasts owned by the gods who once ruled this world, he, who was also one of the gods, bowed his head even further and said,
『You are not even afraid of your own eternal suffering, and you want to protect what you want to protect. Pharaoh with a noble soul. I ask you to be me, the judge in death, the lord of Ammut. If you do that, I will bear half of the price you have to bear.』
“…Do you have a reason to do that?”
『I am also one of the gods born in this world. Before I fell, there were people in this world who believed in me like that. There was a time when many heroes came to me to take my test. Now that the end of the world is coming, and you have lost your master and even the power to occupy the vacant throne, and have become nothing more than a giant beast, you are just trying to follow nature, but even you, a mere mortal, are willing to sacrifice yourself for your subjects. You can’t just sit still after seeing this. Even you are like that, so what kind of disgrace is it for me to stay still?』
“If that is what you mean, then there is no reason for you to call yourself your servant.”
If Ammut wants to cooperate, there will be no need for him to be his master. As she said this, her ammut purred lowly.
『I have already given up. There were countless years of fighting to occupy the position of the only god in this world, losing, and then submitting to someone stronger. A loser who could not even show his teeth even when my master, the ‘beast of death singing sorrow’, feared a greater god and grew stronger by eating the descendants of those who were once my believers. That was me. For me, no matter how crumbling the throne is, I have no right to sit on it.』
Do those who were once gods have regrets?
She tried to smile bitterly as she saw Ammut looking at her with regret, sorrow, and despair in her eyes, but then burst out laughing and said,
“If that’s the case, that’s fine. I will make you my servant. “Live as a cute animal until the end of your life.”
『I, Ammut, the judge in death, swear here. Pharaoh with a noble soul, I will make you my master until the end of this world and the end of my immortality.』
I, who commanded the beast that was once a god, climbed into the place where a god once sat, and sat where a god once sat.
“Ugh…”
What was tying my body was a very sticky lump of resentment.
Is it because the god who ruled death occupied it for a long time?
Or is it because it was the seat of a god who ate countless people?
The thick fraud rising through my body only made me feel like my soul was rusting away.
『My master, handle the power you have taken. I will help with this, so declare that the rightful owner is seated.』
“It’s a declaration. Ahahaha, good. “I remember the declaration you made when you succeeded your father as pharaoh!”
I closed my eyes and remembered that time.
Many kings who once lived in this world.
Many heroes who once ruled this world.
To protect this world, to protect children, and to protect descendants.
I remembered the time when I had placed a spell on my own soul, refusing even my own death and eternal rest, and marched towards God, swearing an endless war.
A wriggle, a feeling of energy inside the body.
Although it was darkly marked with fraud, I shouted with an energy that I was starting to get used to.
『Stand up!』
I once again asked all the kings and heroes of the Saba world, those who gave up their own peace to protect this world.
『For the sake of your descendants, for their final rest, give us your strength! All kings and heroes of the Saba world!
Armies rising with light.
Those who were brilliant and glorious.
Those who were once kings and heroes rose up.
『Die with you.』
The kings and heroes who bowed their heads at Yeo’s words soon began to melt and scatter around the world.
When the collapsing world stopped collapsing, Nüwa Ammut had lost most of its power.
Most of the many kings and heroes who had pledged their support to Yeo had melted into the world, and Yeo had lost all of her own power.
All that remains is a divinity that is not even remotely close to what it originally had.
However, at the cost of this, in a world that was collapsing, she was able to gain a brief reprieve in a world that was coming to an end.
Therefore, Yeo smiled.
She said with a smile.
“Aha, ahahaha! This is beyond words, my cute beast! Look at yourself! “That huge body has become so small.”
『My master, the same goes for you.』
When she lowered her body to Ammut’s words, she did indeed.
Her toes, which had been hidden by her own breasts in the past, were clearly visible, and not only that, but her entire body had become that of a child who had not yet reached the age of majority.
“Hmm, I see. The woman’s voluptuous body has disappeared from all over the place, and it is truly saddening beyond words. However, the good news is that we live in a world where there are no longer men who would tempt or fawn over such bodies, so if you think about it that way, it wouldn’t be such a big loss!”
If there’s one thing I regret, it’s that I fought a war with God before I came of age, and after that, there were no men left, so I had to keep my body pure against my will.
In fact, it wasn’t all that unfair since all the children born after the curse spread were forced into that situation.
Compared to those kids, he is much better off, having at least seen what a man looks like.
“…You sweet beast, how much longer can this world endure?”
『My master, it is not that long. The next 300 years… If I try harder, I’ll be able to last 400 years.』
“It’s long enough. “Later, when all my subjects are put to rest, I will be able to hold their funerals and be done with it. Nothing could be better than this!”
『Is it so, my master, even though eternal extinction awaits after that? Your soul and mine are entangled in this world. The moment this world collapses, you and I will also not be able to avoid extinction.』
“I did it because I already knew! “She has no regrets at all!”
『I, Ammut, the one who judges in death, finally serve a master who will be truly loyal.』
That’s the end of the joke.
Yeo climbed on top of Ammut, who was lying low in front of Yeo.
“Let’s go, my subjects will be waiting for you!”
“Ammut, your sweet beast. “Do you know what?”
“Speak, my poor master, for I am listening to you.”
“Now there is no one left in this world older than you! Now that she is the eldest ruler of the Kingdom of Yeogana Lemer, she wants to hold a festival to celebrate this. What do you think?”
『Have you forgotten me, my master? I have lived hundreds of times longer than you.』
“Oh my, then we should hold a festival to celebrate your oldest age!”
“I am afraid that your subjects will curse you.”
“If you tease me, tell me you’re older than me! There is no one left to nag me! Hey, let’s have a festival!”
Even small things were celebrated and festivals were held.
So that my subjects who face the end will not be afraid.
So that we do not grieve and miss those who have died and are at rest.
“Ammut, your sweet beast. “Do you know what?”
“Speak, my dear master, for I am listening to you.”
“Karura, that child has become a great warrior! He grew up to be a truly outstanding hero, taking after his father and mother. “It was so cute to see that little boy now swearing that he would protect her.”
『My master. You think that child is so cute.』
“Ahaha, are you jealous? But even if you do that, you’re not cute enough to compare to Karura. Besides, what more can she say about Karura being cute? She is a child left behind by Yeo’s close friends. No wonder she’s cute. However, Karura has not been listening to her lately, so she is worried that this might be a good thing.”
『Anyone would do the same, my master, if she were to throw a festival every time her own birthday comes around.』
She enjoyed watching the children she cared for grow up and become adults.
They smiled and rejoiced as much as they could so as not to think about the coming end.
I did that to forget that one day, I would have to attend their funeral.
“…How much does she have left?”
『Two hundred years… No, if things continue like this, it looks like even a hundred years will be difficult, my master.』
Many years had passed, when most of the remaining subjects had come to rest, and only those who in the past would have been called heroes were left.
Again, when the world started to fall apart.
Once again, as the end of the world approaches, that’s why I stood up.
“It seems like you didn’t have enough strength. I was too greedy for leisure. “She shouldn’t have done something that left her power.”
『My master. Even if you sacrifice again now, it will only last for a dozen years.』
“I still have my subjects left. “I don’t want to show them the sight of the world collapsing again.”
Even if it is only a dozen years.
Even for those ten years, Yeo was able to sacrifice herself.
『My master. If it is your will, I will also be with you. If I add my strength, I will be able to hold out for about fifty more years.』
“Uh-huh, look at this. My cute beast. “There were a lot of things left behind?”
『My master, I am now saying this, but then and now, I have always been stronger than you. If we had fought, I would have been killed by your immortal heroes, but I am still stronger than you.』
“Well, I guess we can skip that. Anyway, the two together can be roughly estimated as about a hundred years, so even Karura could close his eyes comfortably in that amount.”
So once again, when I tried to open the road to heaven.
It came down.
No, it was there, as if it had been there from the beginning.
『My master. Get back!』
At the moment of encountering that being, Ammut shouted that.
However, just because the being lightly raised his hand, Ammut, who was almost the strongest being in this world, seemed to freeze in place.
“…Who are you?”
『ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ』
The answer to the question was completely incomprehensible, as if it were being spoken from a very high place.
But, I understood.
However, it was not the answer to the question of what it was.
Rather, he simply answered questions with questions.
“…Did you ask me if I wanted to live? You’re asking the obvious. “Anything that has life naturally wants to live!”
Even if I can no longer turn back.
I wanted to give at least a peaceful life and rest to my subjects.
『ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ』
When I answered that, the being spoke.
Then, does it matter if it is not in this world?
“…I don’t know what that means. Any place where my subjects can live should be good.”
If so, do it.
The being said.
『ㅡㅡㅡ』
I will grant that wish.
And then it came down.
“Hand…?”
A huge hand that hangs across the sky.
『ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ』
We cannot save everyone, but those who survive will live a new life.
And if there is.
“…I don’t know if there’s anything you can do about it. Hmm, I’m not used to it. “It’s been such a long time since Kangrim.”
A voice that had never been heard before was heard.
“…You, no, who are you?”
Understood.
That huge hand that hangs over the sky and the entire world is the true form of that being right in front of you.
Understood.
That being is a much bigger and greater being than the ‘Beast of Death Singing Lament’ who was the master and god of this world.
“You don’t have to know. Nothing good comes from hearing my name. He’s just a guy who is very greedy and works hard to move around and eat. He is a greedy person who eats endlessly and fills his stomach. Rather than worrying about that guy’s name, I should worry about you. “Don’t get into trouble and live well in the new world.”
Ah, I do.
The being added.
“If you see a young blue dragon in that world, tell him to come and see his face sometimes. It’s good to have fun, but I think it’s too much for my few great-granddaughters to not even lift their noses for over a hundred years. If it is inconvenient for you to come, please tell me to at least spread the news. “There are so many people I keep by my side, but since they don’t do that one thing… I’m the one who gets scolded by Asha and Anya.”
In the words of a being who asks, “Who on earth does it resemble?”
I could only nod.
Blue Dragon, great-granddaughter.
Just remember that the being that speaks like that is related to dragons.
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Although it’s a bit confusing, it’s a world where everyone is trying hard to live. To a world without gods.”
The wish you wish for
I will make it happen.
Go live.
That was the end of it.
When Nüwa Ammut and everyone in the Kingdom of Narmer came to their senses, we were already in a completely different world.
Even the curse that hung over the world we lived in was losing its power in this world.
New world.
New land.
And, in this world… Yeo’s subjects will be able to live again.
『But, my master. You and I cannot do that. The world has changed, but we are still entangled in our world.』
“Does not matter! Instead, wouldn’t there have been no more cases of the world collapsing and everyone dying? “Very, very good.”
I don’t know what kind of place this world is, but there will still be men.
“Now, while you and I are still alive, it would be a good idea to prepare for your subjects to blend into this world. “They are all good and lovely children, so I don’t know what the tastes of men in this world are, but I’m sure they will be liked.”
Then, even though Ammut and I will die and disappear when our divinity runs out.
Yeo’s subjects and their children who have melted into this world will live again.
“Let’s start a festival first! Ammut! A festival in a new world!”
