Chapter 128 – 128 – I Knew It Would Happen Like This Someday
– And so Tan Bantai fell. He died like that.
···Yes?
Some strange words rescue me from my sleep. For a moment. I was sleeping?
It’s a sonorous voice that seems to be plucking the lines of the constellations, but the beauty makes my bones tremble, so I don’t even have time to admire it before a headache comes first.
I don’t know what happened the day before, but her head feels like it’s going to explode. Did you drink too much? Did you fall down the stairs?
I can’t quite remember, but that’s the only thing that comes to mind right now.
– How nice it would be if it were such a trivial thing. I am a child of desire.
···Who are you that you keep giving me such hateful remarks? Isn’t there a degree of nonsense?
As I scratched her head and touched the floor, it felt strangely cold. I don’t know if it’s the bed or the road. I got up and opened my eyes.
There was no floor. Only the infinite emptiness below filled the gaps in the star cluster.
I screamed and fell backwards. And then, afraid of being swallowed by the void, I freaked out and fell in another direction again.
It was only after shaking all the nerves that I realized three things. A milky film resembling the Milky Way is supporting me, so fortunately I don’t fall. Now that I think about it, I’ve been to a place like this before.
And that I am not alone here. Someone who had been waiting calmly for me smiled softly.
“···Goddess Ishtar?”
– Nice to meet you. I still like the boldness of almost saying the word “Mother-in-law” First.
I don’t think she’ll get angry if I call her mother-in-law, but if there’s a divinity in front of her, she’ll naturally be reluctant to speak.
I said, ‘What are you looking for?’ Just as I was trying to wrap the words up nicely and spit them out.
– No, you came looking for me.
Yes?
– I repeat, you are dead. Look behind you.
I turned around as I was told. His breath catches.
I see my own corpse. Lying down, pierced by a golden spear.
————-
“What is wanting? It is the essence. To wish is the proof of life. To pursue without end is the privilege of the non-dead. Thus our Lord Ishtar has liberated you from self-reproach, self-limitation and self-reflection. . Want. You can try to resist wanting. In fact, you want even what you don’t want. Whatever it is, you are beautiful in and of itself.”
The sound of desperate chanting fills the dark room. Its contents are the scriptures of Ishtar, who is said to have disappeared from this world.
The embers of desire that did not go out even after eons of harsh oppression by Mithras. If a historian or theologian had recognized it, they would not have been able to contain their excitement. Hwa-ryeon, the head of the former Hwaseong Valley, who is one of the few intellectuals in the Hwaseong Valley, also did not hide his admiration.
It was like that for the first few days. Now, more than a week later, my impressions have changed somewhat. The reverential voice mixed with the sound of insects at night is monotonous, as if it stimulates drowsiness.
Hualien Taiga, who had been patiently listening, gave his own cheer affirming the sincerity.
“That’s true. It’s better than the hard bullshit that ‘pathetic bastard’ was talking about in my head. Saying that without laws, living beings are dead, that without a contract, nothing is base… You’re such a fool, you’re a ghost who lost your lover. “Isn’t this why I’m wandering the nine heavens?”
The sound of the scriptures I was reciting stopped. It wasn’t because he was conscious of Hwa-ryeon’s words when he came back to his senses.
Monica completely ignored Hwa-ryeon, who was in the same room. This was evidenced by the fact that she stopped reciting and eagerly eyed Tannhäuser’s lips.
She holds Tannhäuser’s head, which is stiff as if frozen. Her legs wrap around Tannhäuser’s waist. And then she opens the gap in her mouth by forcefully digging into it with her tongue.
The saliva that invades Tannhäuser’s mouth through a passionate kiss is truly a sacred baptism from ‘Ishtarborn’, the apostle of lust and passion.
From the perspective of the Ishtar Church, this is true. However, believers of general sects who generally perform sacraments through worship or group prayers would rather insult a ritual that appears to be obscene than mine, saying it is vulgar rather than praising it as sacred.
However, that would be the foolishness of those who have sold their souls to the shell. No one who looks beyond the form will be able to doubt its authenticity. The vulgar feel of saliva, whose stickiness resonates through the sound, is not the blasphemy of a prostitute blinded by lust.
It is an infinitely pious and faithful Mass, without golden podiums or extravagant instruments, filled with bottomless charity and urgent calling.
Holiness is something contained in the heart, not in form. Perhaps all Masses before goldsmithing and organs existed were like that.
However, Tannhäuser does not reciprocate his boundless sincerity and affection. He didn’t open his eyes or move his body.
Monica Ishtar Born, who swallowed her screams with her mental power, put her hands together. And the power of healing, shining purple, is placed on Tannhäuser’s shoulder, where the terrifying spear of sunlight is pierced.
Monica, with bags under her eyes, memorizes scriptures again. It’s been a week since then.
However, the terrible penetrating wound that has been treated with medicinal herbs shows no signs of recovery with the naked eye. Even though the brilliance of a window made of pure light may gradually fade, it shows no sign of disappearing. Hwa-ryeon spoke softly.
“But it’s no use.”
The room gets dark. Monica, who had been hugging her chest and whispering like an angel, suddenly turned into a distorted shadow and raised her head.
A fire that had changed to almost crimson flickered in its eyes. Hwaryeon felt a chill comparable to that of Ragnaroka, the Dragon King.
“What do you know?”
Although it may be born with a human shell and heart, its essence is the seed of God. It is said that a long time ago, a kingdom collapsed when the love of an apostle led to catastrophe. The story of a maiden’s revenge on her lover who failed to return at the appointed night shook the world until the hero’s sword was pierced into the body of Lilith, the ‘Queen of the Fall’, like a hedgehog.
Jeondae Gokju had no intention of repeating the mistakes of the fools who caused the female population to rapidly increase in modern times. There was no reason for that.
“Because your desire has come true.”
“It came true?”
“Listen closely.”
————
“The last thing that comes to mind is a scene where the elders are probably trying to stage an armed coup.”
– That’s right.
“Then, by any chance, did I, by any chance, get caught up in a fight for a moment while the Lord and our party members were there, and I got hit by a blind spear and fell down?”
– It’s not a blind spear, and it’s not like I was hit by just any spear, but yeah. You are right. Even though we’ve come such a long way and done so well, it ended up being pretty empty.
Wow, you really went like a porter. In adventure novels, it is common for a warrior to be killed in a single line, but for a pack horse to be hit by an arrow and fall behind in a single line.
I’m not some kind of bastard sunfish, I’m so vain…
– Why did you save your wish till the end?
“···Since I only had one left, I was planning to use it for other people.”
My voice is pitiful. I didn’t know that I would end up squatting in front of my dead body and making excuses.
My mind is strangely calm, but my hands are involuntarily pulling at my hair. As if a part of me was blaming myself.
– Haven’t you almost died several times? And that’s what happened in the end. What good is a wish if you don’t have someone to make it?
“I didn’t think deeply about that issue. I always imagined the regret I felt while holding the cooling bodies of my loved ones and colleagues. That they would hold me and feel sad as I cooled off… Of course I should have thought about that. Be careful. “I had to do it.”
– I know why your mind works the way it does. I can also write you a diagnosis. It’s an obsession.
The goddess taps the paper on the table with her pen.
Last time she wore a uniform and impersonated her scribe, this time she wore round glasses and a white gown similar to that of a clerical villena. The difference from an actual doctor or counselor is that even though she wore everything she had to wear, she wore too much.
– Are you so bad that you have an office work fetish?
“···Can’t you just say that I thought he was ‘attractive’? I think it’s too profane, but I can’t even control my thoughts…”
– Either way, it’s a compliment I like, so don’t worry. Back to the main topic.
“Yes. Back to the point. Obsession?”
– Your mother who left you in Monica’s hands and never returned. Tena, your childhood friend whom you almost lost right before your eyes. You think you were weak and couldn’t protect them.
···Normally, everyone would deny it when they hear something like that, but for some reason I don’t feel like they should. Because that’s true.
In the end, isn’t a porter an assistant who stands at the back of a party? I’m not strong enough to protect everyone.
– Obsessing over meticulous inspections and trying to reduce the burden on combatants by consistently performing their roles on the battlefield. It’s all behavior that is, to some extent, rooted in that pathological obsession.
“All the best porters are like that. Still, I don’t think I’m sincere because I’m a crazy person.”
– Of course, it’s not strange if you’re a top-class porter. Your mind isn’t as messed up as other people’s. But there’s definitely something twisted about you. Worry is what drives you to the firing line.
“I guess so. There is no such thing as a completely sane person. If you are sincere in your work and reckless, it is not a bad thing…”
If you’re reckless, you’ll take the lead and then fall behind. Bad. That’s bad.
I knew that someday it would turn out like this.
I can’t help but sigh. The sight of me falling down with my pupils dilated after being hit by a spear was ‘almost’ the last moment of my life.
Take a deep breath. Take a deep breath.
Now is not the time to get frustrated and let go. Because I still have one card left in my hand.
“I understand. I will worry about my own life from now on. Now that I think about it, there are more than one person who will be sad. You made so many lovers and then want to take risks so irresponsibly.”
– Forward?
“You have one wish left, right?”
– I don’t know what I expected, but there’s no such thing as a second chance.
If so, now is the time to get frustrated and let go.
Damn, it feels like my card deck is torn into pieces and I get slapped in the face.
“What, please save me! I have one wish left!”
– Did you think you could turn back death with a wish? I’m sorry, but that’s beyond my control. Your chances in life are all over.
“You could just tell me from the beginning that I can’t use wishes. Are you waiting this long to break my heart at the crucial moment? Then why are you giving me a solution to my mental head? It’s confusing because you make it sound like you’ll definitely send me back!”
– I’ve been so careful about making mistakes, but now I’m even willing to risk being rude.You seem in a hurry. Even if it isn’t a wish, there is one way.
“I’m really sorry if I was rude. Is there a way?”
God laughed at the desperate idiot’s quick change of attitude. And he pointed behind himself.
Beyond the milky-white path of the Milky Way, there is a curtain painted in dark colors.
It feels instinctive. Beyond that curtain is the world I belong to. Someone is calling me from beyond.
‘My dear, if you are alive, desire. Only those who desire will obtain.’
···Sister?
When asked if it was okay to go out there, Ishtar did not answer. He hesitated and didn’t even stop me from walking there. It seemed like he was just concentrating on writing down the counseling sheet.
I slowly passed in front of Ishtar. The gradually faster pace soon became a full-speed lunge.
···What. Can I do this? Is it really okay to just go out there? Then why are you so scared, telling me that this is the end and that my wishes are useless?
For some reason, I feel like I can hear Ishtar’s laughter in my ears. The moment I glance behind me, wondering if it could be possible.
“The dead should not carelessly try to cross the border between this world and the afterlife.”
Okay. Is there any way to just leave like going to the bathroom?
It rolls around for a few turns like an ant caught in the wind. The entire universe is spinning and spinning before my eyes, making me feel like a planet. If it were a planet, it wouldn’t bounce off like this.
What flew in and sent Bantai flying in an instant was a pair of wings surrounded by a flickering shadow.
It resembles a sleek bat, but is large enough to be used as the roof of a small warehouse.
“It’s been a long time. That shameless face is as innocent as it was then and now.”
An elegant being with folded wings lightly steps on the Milky Way. And lifts his chin towards me.
The cheerfully shaking spade-shaped tail looks strangely familiar.
“···Lilith?”
“I don’t know whether to be glad or angry that I remember.”
After returning to his mother’s arms, Eumma twitched his chin and turned his head.
“Not now. I have no name now. I am Ishtar’s ‘Great Warrior’ who protects the border between life and death.”
“What does it mean to be a great warrior… Wait, what is that?”
I made a fuss and pointed into the distance. Then, taking advantage of the moment Lilith’s head turned, she ran towards the curtain behind her.
However, the moment I passed by, a much longer and more elastic tail than the sister’s instantly wrapped around my waist.
I was pinned to the ground once more. While I was waking up and stumbling around dizzy, I heard a soft whisper.
– Do your best. It won’t work, though.
“···Damn it.”
————
“Wake up.”
Isilun, who came disarmed, did not listen. He just knelt down on his knees and waited, letting his loose hair drag across the floor.
Eshen, who was sitting on a pine tree chewing clover, sighed and picked some unripe summer pine cones. And then he threw it at the top of Isilun’s head.
As the pine cone bounced and hit, Isilun’s words came out as if they had been input.
“Take revenge.”
“I don’t like it, you idiot. It didn’t happen because you couldn’t protect it.”
“No, it happened because of me. You saw Tan Bantai… Right?”
“That sound again. He threw himself at you like he was covering you with his back?”
“It is something I cannot lift my head up because the person who took the oath of protection as a hero has died. It is even more of an indelible shame to have been protected by the object of my protection. I was afraid that I might be pierced by that spear, so I froze and let him die. “I left it. Your lover died because of me.”
That confession of shame mixed with tears would also be difficult to utter with any level of courage.
However, Eshen refused to play the role of a priest listening to confessions. In Eshen’s opinion, Isilun alone was enough to smite Isilun with a rebuke.
“Stop dragging your feet and get out of the way. Still, there are a lot of people who are pretending to be compatible. It’s just tiring to have to fight with the Sunstorm family because of you, right?”
“Sunstorm will not retaliate.”
Isilun’s forehead hit the ground. That century was unusual.
The smell of blood streaming from his forehead reached Eshen’s nose. It seemed like if he didn’t kill her, she would commit suicide right before his eyes.
However, Eshen did not respond to that stubbornness. I just threw the second pine cone at Isilun.
“Revenge is futile and Tan won’t come back. That’s not a noble reason why I won’t attack you.”
Eshen turned his head when he heard a soft sob coming from far away.
Morgan’s eyes, who looked like someone who had lost his soul, wandered in the air. Her feet stumble as if she will fall, and then she crawls. The drunkard who drank the strong drink couldn’t hold out any longer and buried his head on Nidroga’s shoulder.
Nidro, who followed him around and lent his shoulder, doesn’t look that good. His eyelids were swollen from how much water he had squeezed the day before, and there were obvious bruises on his arms, as if he had pinched them to stop crying.
This dragon has incredible durability, so even if you hit it with a hammer, it doesn’t swell like that. It seemed like he was exhausted from being so sad that it filled a bathtub.
But what Eshen was most worried about was Villena. If I were to tell the story of how Tan’s heart stopped while he was away, I couldn’t even guess how that terrible plotter would treat the rest of the party.
He’s always been full of imagination, so he’d rather be moderate if he ended up getting blown up while sitting on a toilet.
“I feel like I want to twist his neck or hit his head right now. I’m just holding it in and holding it in.”
“Why?”
“First, because we have already torn the most responsible culprit to pieces.”
On that day, the elders of Hwanhwagok rushed to Rode and the party in their last struggle.
The fragments of the Demon King hiding among them were not just one. At the moment when the sunlight suddenly became stronger and blinded everyone, the second fragment of the Demon King literally caught the light and bent it to create a window.
Rod and Monica said it was a holy spear made of divine power. It is proof that an unimaginably gigantic providence is on his side, and with that miraculous power, he will surely be able to take anyone’s life.
But that damned bastard threw that scary weapon at Tan. Not to the Lord, not to the mother, not to the father, not to the warriors, but to Tan. Ignoring all the warriors, fighters and wizards, to Tannhäuser Bantay.
Why? Could it really be because of an ancient grudge that cost him his wife?
Or do you have a reasonable reason to be afraid of porters and such?
Of course, no matter who or why he threw that terrible spear, Eshen would never be able to forgive that bastard.
However, the scene where the bullet pierced by the spear stumbles and falls down was terrible. It was so strangely scary that it drove Eshen crazy. If anyone else had collapsed like that, I doubt whether he would have been as heartbroken and in pain.
Eshen personally tore the bastard into pieces. In front of the traitorous elders who were captured alive.
A pile of meat made in this way is hung in the plaza of Hwanhwagok. The young people were excited that Eshen had pushed out the adults and took over the song, but at the same time, they were afraid.
In the past, I would have been happy to show off my power and be recognized. But Eshen was no longer impressed by such things.
All it took was one guy to show signs of being both excited and scared of Eshen’s presence.
“And the second reason is because he’s not the kind of guy who would leave me like this.”
A purple flash flashed from the Mansion of Lord Hwangyeok.
It was proof that Monica did not give up. Not only the Dragon Lord but also the best members of the Protestant Church had given up, but only one healer, who seemed the most calm and gentle-tempered, held on to Tan’s life with iron-blooded will.
Eshen was going to follow Monica’s example. Love cannot be defeated by a single spear.
“Because there’s no way that child would abandon us when we need him.”
