Chapter 219: Chapter 219

TL: Zimmings

[God noticed a hungry, young shepherd sibling wandering around in the desert. Although a variety of fruits were placed on a thin branch for the siblings to enjoy, the siblings did nothing but hug their stomachs.

‘Why didn’t you eat the fruit I brought you?’

‘The fruit of winter belonged to the crows.’

‘Does keeping your promise outweigh the possibility of losing your life?’

‘What is the difference between humans and animals if they don’t keep their promise?’

The famished sibling was taken in by God.

The sibling gained a more profound understanding and came to know about the true nature of the world next to each other.

God bestowed each of the sibling’s powers to share what they had learned with others.

The sibling provided fresh water and bread to people in need and performed healing miracles to those who were ill.

The shepherd sibling, who were endowed with divine wisdom and powers, were highly regarded by humans. Offerings were now divided between God and the sibling; a separate shelter was also built for them.

The sibling shared God’s teachings throughout the world for a long time.

However, one of the sibling, the man, grew confused at some point.

Why does God love humans equally? What is the explanation for the differences in character and wisdom if humans are to be equal?

When God rebuked the man who only exercises his powers for those who offered good tribute and deep devotion, the man asked,

‘What is the point of a God, a perfect being sharing the world with humans?’

‘How can there be a difference between God and humans, who share the same world?’

‘Aren’t human beliefs necessary for God’s existence?’

It wasn’t long before the humans came to worship the man who was physically closer to them than God.

The man’s shelter was also brimming with wheat, barley, meat, vegetables, and all kinds of gold and silver valuables, whereas the abandoned temple was overrun with spider webs.

The man realized that his power was only a portion of God’s, so he asked.

‘Although God’s teachings have been preached for a long time, wars do not cease, and the wealthy continue to persecute the poor to feed themselves.’

‘Why can’t God, who is an absolute being, control humans who are nothing more than a creature?’

‘If kindness and love save the world according to God’s teachings, why didn’t God only grant mercy and love to humans?’

‘When God created human beings, why did it endow them with avarice, which always triumphs in the face of kindness and love?’

At the end of the question, the man came to a realization.

The reason why the world was in such disarray was because God isn’t a perfect being.

As a result, the man made his decision.

‘A world filled with greed requires a God who is perfect.’

He wanted to establish a world in which the wealthy do not oppress the poor.

So that many children did not have to die before the parents did.

So that they do not have to wander around in the desert with empty stomachs.

So that no one will look at their sister sobbing because they were hungry all the time.

Thus, the man called God in its true name.

The man confronted God by preying on human greed.

The 72 pioneers were divided into two groups, each of which worshipped either God or the man.

The pioneers who followed God are called angels, while the rest are referred to as devils.

The God who lost, trapped the 72 pioneers in pillars with its last breath, until the day when the descendant of the God opened a new chapter in the war.]

[It was written in the forgotten records.]

***

As I closed the book that Storas had handed me, a spark instantly covered the book. I stared at the ashes on the floor for a moment before turning to face Storas.

“So the man is now referred to as Neliard God, whereas the Creator is referred to as Evil God?”

“……Yes. The ancient nation was destroyed as a result of the war between the two Gods, and the Gods’ records were lost as a result. The same is true of the pioneer’s record. So, humans just referred to us as devils and angels.”

“You must be a devil under Neliard God, why are you showing me these records? Are you adamant about getting revenge on Meria? So it’s alright for you to disappear after your vengeance? What would you do if the Neliard God berated you?”

“Neliard God cannot destroy me.”

“How come?”

“Although it was the Neliard God who won, he suffered a severe injury. He had to use most of his power to seal the fallen Creator.”

“That means he can’t interfere in the human world recklessly.”

“You’re smart, human.”

My thoughts were jumbled up in my head.

The God whom humanity put their faith in and followed were once humans who had taken over the actual Creator’s place.

Neliard God was created out of human desire.

‘A God who was created out of desire. He should be the true Evil God.’

When Isaac noticed my disbelief, he called me “Kid…” and grabbed my shoulders.

I grabbed my forehead and turned to face my father.

“If this book is true, I am the Evil God who has the power to summon devils…… No, I am a descendant of the Creator, and Mina is a descendant of Neliard God.”

“…….”

“Neliard’s purpose is to become a perfect God…….”

I was taken aback when I realized what I was thinking.

“Does that mean, the sealing ritual when I was sacrificed…….”

Henry continued as I couldn’t finish my sentence.

“It wasn’t a sealing ritual.”

“What do you mean, brother?”

Johann, who was quietly listening to the conversation between Henry and Isaac, said,

“It was a ritual for Neliard to become a perfect God.”

Isaac’s face hardened.

“So the first ever ritual was a failure? It’s a failure because the Evil God has awakened instead?”

I drew my brows together and touched the bridge of my nose.

‘What went wrong with the first ritual?’

Everything had been meticulously planned, and Mina, a descendant of the Neliard God, presided over the ceremony, which was held on the day of the eclipse as commanded by the oracle…

‘But why…’

I opened my eyes wide when I came to a realization.

“Because my power was sealed!”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Henry and Isaac both turned to look at me.

“I sealed my powers before Adrian sent me to the orphanage! That’s why the ritual failed!”

“Then…….”

“Yes, perhaps it wasn’t the Evil God’s power that caused me to regress a few times.”

“What?”

“Because the ritual failed, Neliard needed me again.”

Henry and Johann exchanged cold glances.

Then, Henry said,

“If I were the Evil God, I would have let Leblaine die. Only then did Neliard’s scheme could only be foiled.”

All of the puzzle pieces have been assembled.

Until this day, I’ve been a pawn in Neliard God’s scheme from start to finish.

“When I regressed a few times, it was not a gift to me. I lived again only to be sacrificed over and over again.…….”

The Evil God was defeated by the Neliard God once. Hence the Evil God is powerless to protect me.

Everything that happened in my life and all of my efforts was in vain; everything was for the benefit of Neliard God. The priest was right.

“You, Leblaine, are the embodiment of evil in this world. You are the child of destruction.”

He was right.

Even the fact that I was still alive is a major crisis in this world.

I had a life that should not have been saved in the first place.

I was a villain who would lead the world to ruin.

‘That was me.’

“Ah…”

My thoughts were racing through my head. As I slowly sat down on the sofa, Johann hurriedly grabbed me.

“Leblaine.”

“…….”

“Little sister.”

A deafening silence settled in the room.

My family merely stood there staring at me, whose face was puckered up and lips quivering.

“I was nothing more than a pig raised to be eaten……!”

“…….”

“Why do I have to be like this! I just want to live, I just want to be happy……!!”

“…….”

“Why…… Huwaa!”

I must die to make Neliard a perfect god.

The world would be at peace when I am no longer alive. Only then would my family and my people be saved.

I have no choice but to die…

“I-it’s not like I wanted to be the descendant of an Evil God either! Huwaa…….”

Isaac reached out his hand and called my name, but I smacked his hand away and bolted from the room.

“Leblaine!”

“Little sister!”

I could hear my brothers’ voices from a distance.

“Leave her alone.”

Also, my dad’s low voice.

***

I sobbed my heart out as I sank into a little cave in the garden.

I can’t continue living.

Having learned all about the Evil God, no, the Creator and the Neliard God, I concluded that the two people I had seen in my dream previously were, in fact, the Creator and the Neliard God.

“Poor child. You are still on a daunting mission. I have laid out the road for you.”

That’s the Neliard God.

“Come…… back. Your family…… Child, please……!”

That’s the Creator.

‘What did the Neliard God call him?’

“Serga!”

Yes, it was Serga.

I sniffed as I remembered the shabby-dressed God who had stood my way before.

‘But why? The Creator wanted me to die, right?’

Why is my life like this…?

My eyes welled up with tears as I continued to be sad, and my nose turned red.

I was actually expecting a little about my origins.

Maybe the Evil God is actually righteous, and the Neliard God is evil, so I might be the child of a righteous God.

My life would be well worth it at that point.

I hope that I will be able to bring happiness to my family and my people.

‘If everyone finds out about this, many would want to kill me. I’m going to put my family at risk.’

I was sobbing as I buried my face in my lap, and after some time, I fell asleep.

But…

[Child.]

A voice came to my ears.

When I turned around, I realized that I was no longer in the small cave where I had been.

Instead, a 17-year-old boy is sitting next to me.

[How did you manage to sleep like that?]

[Who…]

[Are you still asleep? Wake up. Serga is calling you.]

[No, who are you…]

My head was hit by the boy, who had his hands on his waist.

[Neliard. I’m your brother.]

What?

I looked up at the boy who was beaming at me and opened my eyes.