Chapter 4

Human God, I trust you are well.

There are several matters I would like to report.

First, our analysis of vanguard abilities has reached a meaningful conclusion. We can now classify them within Earth's existing psionic framework.

Precisely. Until now, we assumed otherwise. Magic… divine miracles… and the anomalous physical abilities of off-world warriors, each was believed to originate from entirely separate systems.

Now, we believe they are not so different.

Yes. To summarize...

At least in part, magic, superhuman physical abilities, and Earth-based psionic powers all appear to operate from the same underlying source: the human mind.

In other words, magic and anomalous physical traits can be interpreted as variations of psychic ability.

Though, of course, the methods by which they manifest differ significantly.

Ms. Everette would be classified, under the current system, as an Omega level spacemancer, the highest designation available.

Very few.

I will send you the full classification chart via the SNS application.

Ah, and…

I have some news regarding Officer Kim Ga-young.

There have been… inquiries among the research staff. Some suspect that Ms. Kim may, in fact, possess psionic capabilities.

She made a wager with several researchers over lunch. A simple game of rock-paper-scissors.

It is said that she won twenty-nine consecutive rounds.

It seems you are surprised as well, Human God.

Statistically speaking, it should be impossible. A streak like that… The researchers suspect it may be a manifestation of psychic ability.

Though… there is still the chance that Kim Ga-young simply pulled some trick.

Next, regarding the letters addressed to you…

Five are from the Order of the Blade and the Knights of Hirinna… They confess their wrongdoing and request physical punishment.

…I will discard them.

Seven from the Split Twigs Church…

Ah… this one is from the Goddess herself. I can already anticipate the contents. I will discard it as well.

And this one…

I am certain I instructed this to be discarded…

The letter seems to have been submitted again… with an accompanying note.

…….

…My apologies, Human God. This is one of the letters I ordered discarded due to its… abnormal contents.

What? But...

…Very well. If that is your judgment, Human God.

Forgive me...

From the lonely abyss within me…

I called forth a monster that would devour the world.

Please… save me from this darkness.

I believe I understand what you are thinking, Human God. I reached much the same conclusion… which is why I ordered it discarded.

Emergency! Emergency!!! We've got a situation here!

Officer Kim, Running inside the sanctuary is...

That's not important right now!

We've lost contact with Princess Maximilia!

Princess Maximilia… She was dispatched to Gangwon Province on a separate investigation.

Yes! The communication drone was working fine until yesterday, but...

She sent one last message saying she found something unusual…and then the transmission cut off.

This is no minor matter, Human God.

Princess Maximilia is not only the representative of the Noctis Nebula refugees… She is also widely admired among Federation citizens as the People's Princess.

On a personal note… she is also Ms. Luise's elder sister. Her safety...

Understood. I will prepare the aircraft immediately.

Officer Kim, mark the last known transmission coordinates.

I will notify the vanguards and have them prepare for immediate deployment.

Human God… did you feel it as well? These Abominations…

Yes... the enemies were moving… as if they shared a single body.

Understood. I will make a separate record of this.

Still, they do not seem dangerous enough to threaten you, Human God...

Aaaagh!!!!!!

Y-You saw it too, right? What I saw… I wasn't imagining it?

I did! I saw it too! It was really there!

Yoo-hoo!!! Finally!!!

The three of you, please calm yourselves.

What is the meaning of this commotion in front of the Human God?

And what exactly did you see? What was "really there"?

Yoo-hoo!!!

Please refrain from doing that.

Yoo-hoo… refraining…

Again, what exactly appeared? What did you see? Was it another Abomination...

A ghost! It was a ghost! I saw it!

Yup! I'm sure of it! It was there, flickering like that, and it was just staring straight at us!

And then it just disappeared!

Manifestation confirmed! Ghost descending!

…A ghost? How absurd.

You three have fought Abominations and witnessed countless souls… and you are making such a fuss over a ghost?

But I've never seen a ghost this… real before.

I'm not totally sure… but I have a feeling… this might be important.

Ugh… it's scary, but… should we go back and try talking to it?

N-No way! Ghosts are different from Abominations or monsters! You can't just cut them down with a sword or shoot them...

Magic. Possible.

…Even so, is this really something to make such a spectacle of before the Human God?

…Sigh. For now, return and attend to your personal readiness. We have yet to discover any trace of Princess Maximilia.

Do not cause such a disturbance over something like a ghost.

I understand that Human God intends to punish me… but why have Abbess Valeta and Sister Eugenia come here as well?

Ah, well, that is…

W-Well...

Ahem! I am aware that Sister Lisandria is to receive punishment from Human God. And I believe… I should be present for it as well.

I am the Knight-Commander of the Sword and Hirinna Nun-Knight Order. If one of the sisters under my command commits wrongdoing, then that failure belongs to me as well.

Sister Lisandria's mistake proves that I failed to guide her properly. Therefore… I must receive punishment alongside her.

Whatever shameful punishment Human God sees fit to impose upon me, I shall gladly, Ahem! As Knight-Commander, I will not break so easily!

What sort of punishment will it be?! Will I be made to walk around in indecent clothing with a collar around my neck?! Or perhaps you intend to bind me with rope and drip candle wax upon me?!

Khh…! Whatever it is, a Knight-Commander will not yield so easily!

Indeed. Setting Abbess Valeta aside for the moment, Sister Eugenia is not even a member of our convent.

That is correct. I am a Crownseeker, not a nun-knight.

But I want to feel responsible for Sister Lisandria's injury, I mean… I do feel responsible.

Even if it was only once, we fought together as comrades. And yet my comrade was injured in battle, and I failed to prevent it.

At the very least, would it not be proper for me to share in the sister's punishment?

So please, allow me to gladly, Ahem… I mean… accept your punishment as well, Human God!

As a leader of my own order, I will not shy away from responsibility! Please do not hesitate. Punish me as well, Human God!

t seems you have realized it as well, Human God. Not only Abbess Valeta… but Sister Eugenia shares a similar inclination as us.

Ah! S-Starting with insults already?! Khh…! I will not yield!

Wuh…!

Fufu… Human God. Even if you were to punish them as they are now… would that not feel somewhat unsatisfying?

Leave it to me. I will show you something far more entertaining.

Thank you, Human God.

Abbess Valeta, Sister Eugenia. I am truly grateful for your willingness to share the burden of my sin.

However, this is my wrongdoing. It is only right that I bear it alone. If you were to take the burden upon yourselves, I would only feel more ashamed.

B-but...

Ugh… If that is Sister Lisandria's wish…

Understood, Human God.

My apologies.

Fufu… how adorable.

We shall see.

Ah! H-Human God! N-Not so rough… not there…!

S-Sister Lisandria! Are you alright?!

Perhaps we truly should share the punishment with you!

As I said before, there is no need for the two of you to share my punishment. You have done nothing wrong.

Of course… that would only be the case if neither of you has committed some other sin you have yet to confess to Human God.

Other sins…?

Sins we have not confessed…?

Then allow me to speak first. Recently, several sisters at the convent broke curfew.

As Knight-Commander, it was my responsibility to keep them properly disciplined. Therefore, I ask that you punish me for this failure.

Abbess Valeta, those sisters were only five minutes late. And they were out purchasing supplies the convent needed. That hardly qualifies as a sin.

Khh…! Even that is not enough…!

Th-Then I will go next! One of the transmuters under my command has recently become more interested in variety shows than training…

A transmuter should devote herself to studying the power of life and refining her craft… Yet she has allowed herself to be distracted by indulgence. As her leader, that failure is mine. Please… punish me.

I am grateful for your trust, Human God… but right now… ngh…!

Another sin… another sin… there must be something…

Then I shall bring you water!

I, I shall bring it as well!

Ah! The cup slipped from my hand…!

Human God! M-My foot suddenly caught on something!

Ah… to think I could not even complete a simple errand for you, Human God. Please… punish this incompetent vanguard.

Not only did I fail to quench your thirst… I even managed to dirty the floor. My fault is inexcusable. Please… punish me.

Huh? O-Oh… fortunately, we are not injured…

It was only a rather embarrassing mistake…

To think you would worry so much about your vanguards' well-being… You are truly kind, Human God. Wouldn't you both agree?

Of course. The Human God's kindness is… greatly appreciated…

Th-Thank you, Human God…

I-I will prepare something!

This time I will not fail…!

Human God, I have a request, though it may be sudden… I would like to have a training bout!

A training bout? That seems rather abrupt, does it not?

A training bout… Oh! I will join as well.

No! Stopping abruptly after exertion can actually increase the risk of injury. A training bout would help us settle the combat rhythm we carried back from fighting those abominations.

Sister Eugenia speaks the truth. A sparring session is absolutely necessary!

…Fufu. So transparent...

Understood!

I shall prepare for it immediately.

The most concerning element in that battle was the tentacles.

Fortunately, none of our vanguards suffered serious harm. However, those who were struck reported feeling as though something was draining their souls.

We must also investigate why the Abominations fought one another……and how those tentacles turned them into allies again...

…Y-You heard it too? While we were fighting?

Ugh… that thing, right? During the fight, I kept hearing voices…

Strange voices. Become my friend. Become the Brood.

Ah! Stop! You're making me remember!

So it wasn't just me…? I've got a really bad feeling about this…

First the ghost earlier… now this… what is even happening?

Perhaps it was the ghost's voice. Inviting us to join it.

Eek!

The three of you… this is neither the time nor place. I am delivering an important report to the Human God.

To be whispering among yourselves at a time like this…

And why are you all so frightened? Are you unfamiliar with the Oblivia phenomenon?

Hearing things after combat with Abominations is not unusual…

…….

…Hm. One moment…With the Human God present… Oblivia should not manifest.

See?! I told you! It was the ghost whispering! Ugh…

Then… that truly was a ghost...

No I didn't.

I'm telling you, it has to be! Otherwise there's no explanation…Huh?

Wait… who said that?

…….

Eek!

…….

Rare. Paranormal.

Hm? Why are you all reacting like...

It wasn't me… those monsters… The monsters were the ones speaking.

......!

Good heavens, An actual ghost…?

The monsters… are recruiting friends…

G-G-G-G...

Ghost.

Wait, compose yourselves. It is only...

A ghost! It really is a ghost!

Exciting!

I assumed the more timid vanguards had simply imagined things…

Hello?

…Sigh. Greetings aside...

First, who are you? Identify yourself.

R-Right! What kind of ghost are you? Do you… have some kind of grudge?

Hm? A grudge? No.

I just… felt like I should come here.

This is where the dead are supposed to go.

To your side. I just felt like I had to come to you. I don't really know why. It feels comfortable… being near you.

I told you already. The monster is recruiting friends… and family.

What do you mean by that? Recruiting friends and family…

And who is this monster? Are you referring to the Abominations we encountered earlier?

…I don't really know. My memory is unclear.

But… the monster makes friends. Because it's lonely. So it makes them… by force.

…Understood. We should continue this discussion back at camp...

Wait! Officer Yeon! If the ghost's been here the whole time, she might've seen something!

Ah… you're right.

Have you, by any chance, seen a tall female knight wearing a purple coat?

…You mean the dependable-looking woman? She had two companions. She fought the monster.

Princess Maximilia. Dependable. Noted.

Yes. That must be her. You saw her?

She was following me… I think… Hmm…

Following you?

My memory's unclear… I don't know why…

But it wasn't long ago. She couldn't have gone far.

Yes! Got it!

Understood. Officer Kim, prepare the scouting team.

Yes, ma'am!

I will assemble the combat team at once. It seems we finally have our first lead.

…….

Oh! Human God! You've got to check this out as well, it's super weird!

I showed it to Yeon Chae-young too. That's what put her in such a sour mood. It's seriously creepy!

You should toughen up, Yeon! Be more manly, like me! A meat-heavy diet helps with that!

…Biologically impossible. And you are not a man either. And what does meat have to do with anything?

Whew....

What concerns me is not its grotesque appearance.

Then what's with the long face?

When something looks this disturbing, its appearance is seldom the true issue.

More often than not, they carry powerful ritualistic… or cursed properties. And this one, in particular…

...It is difficult to provide a precise description.

It would be best if you saw it for yourself, Human God.

…Those Abominations were troublesome. The way they moved as one…

For now, we have dismantled the structure.

However, according to the High Mages, one of the constructs has already fulfilled its purpose, having expended all of its magical power,

While the other failed to achieve its objective due to our interference.

More importantly… Ms. Ghost, I would like to inquire about that corpse-formed structure.

You mentioned that it calls the Brood. What did you mean by that?

Just like I said. That decoration calls the brood… their friends.

The brood? Why do you refer to those Abominations that way?

…Huh. You're right… why did I call them that?

It just… came to me.

It… came to you?

More importantly… didn't those Abominations feel strange? They weren't just Abominations… something about them felt… off. Almost like the kind of unsettling vibe Re-De-Da gives off.

…What do you mean by that?

Ah… I'm not sure. It just… came to me too…

For now, we have gathered a fair amount of information… Once we meet Ms. Maximilia, we should be able to confirm things more clearly.

More importantly… um… Ghost… I mean, Ms. Ghost..? Why are you still here?

Hm? Me? I just like it here. Is it not okay if I stay?

It's not that you can't, but…

Ghost… no. We should learn your name first. What should we call you?

…Don't know. I can't really remember my name.

…In that case, since you have no name, I will temporarily call you Soon-hee.

What?! That name sounds way too old! Poor ghost…

Is there a problem? It is a traditional name from the Western Federation...

No, no! That's terrible! Human God! Let's just call her Ghost! Or maybe Ms. Ghost, instead!

Even you, Human God…

..Understood.

Human God, Soon, excuse me, this… Ghost appears to possess information regarding the current situation.

Her memories may be incomplete, but she could still prove helpful.

Besides, she kind of reminds me of Cora. So she's interesting, too.

Their manner of speech may be somewhat similar, but beyond that, I see no resemblance.

No, not just the way she talks… It's more like… the years she's lived… That familiar outsider vibe…

That is entirely irrelevant. Please refrain from interrupting.

Ugh… I'm sorry...

My apologies, Human God. If you permit it, I would like her to accompany us.

Would that be acceptable?

…So I can stay?

The Human God has granted permission.

Ugh…

Then, Human God, we will resume tracking Ms. Maximilia.

I will dispatch another reconnaissance team. Please give us a moment.

I pursued them to the very end… and managed to track them down… but my sisters…

Don't blame yourself… There was nothing you could have done, Maxi…

Princess Luise is right. Your Highness had no choice...

They had already fallen under the tentacles' control… I had no choice but to… grant them rest with my own hands.

…One of them told me she would begin her formal vanguard training once this battle had ended…

…….

Maxi… standing against demons… …means accepting that moments like this will always come.

Even so… I am certain… She would have been grateful to you.

…Wait.

Did you just say… demons?

Mhm…?

Yes… that was a demon. The one known as the Broodmaker.

We will dispatch another reconnaissance team. I would appreciate your patience for a short while.

…Good heavens…

You did not know either, Human God? I assumed everyone already knew…

Especially those from our world, Noctis Nebula. There is no way someone would not recognize it. That demon is quite infamous. Anyone with even a basic education would...

…….

…….

…Hm? You really did not know?

Now that I think about it… everyone has been awfully quiet. Is it because Maxi is here?

Anyway, you knew about this, right, Maxi? We studied it together when we were around ten.

…….

…Ahem.

Luise… it is not always easy to connect fragments of ancient records with events before us.

Ah… well… that is fair.

It's not like we know much about the demon either. After all, it's only mentioned briefly in the exorcism records.

Long ago… about four hundred years back… A demon descended upon our world. To be precise, it was not even the demon itself… Only a tiny fragment. A single sprouting tentacle.

And yet… that single fragment led to the fall of two kingdoms.

People named it The Broodmaker. It was also known as the Alpha Wolf.

The emotion that gives birth to this demon remains unknown… But its defining trait is the sprouting of tentacles. Through those tentacles, it expands its brood… Turning others into its own.

And once the brood grows… they move as a single body. That is what made it so difficult to fight.

There are records stating that nearly eighty percent of the Empire's Guardians of that era gave their lives… just to banish it beyond the world.

Indeed… it whispered to me as well. Urging me… to become part of its brood…

That is typical of demons. They prey upon one's emotions. Fortunately… it seems that emotion was not your weakness, Maxi.

Once it strikes at a weakness… humans cannot help but answer its call…

…Loneliness.

Oh no!

It told me… If I felt lonely… I should call out to it.

Could it be… The emotion this demon governs… is loneliness?

Oh? So this must be the ghost those two cowardly vanguards mentioned.

Hm. She's more ordinary than I thought.

Appreciate the compliment.

Listening just now… I remembered. It told me to call it whenever I felt lonely.

That is helpful… If we understand which emotion the demon is targeting, it will be easier to counter.

Mmm...

Ah! Sorry, Maxi! You are not fully recovered yet…

No… it is nothing. I can manage.

Really? Thank you, Human God! I will tell Chae-young to prepare right away!

…My apologies, Human God.

Human God, I trust you are well.

Ghost mentioned that she recalled a few things, so we have come to report.

Ghost?

Ah… you called me here, so I came… but putting me on the spot like that…

It is nothing that impressive… just… a few things came back to me.

Even the smallest key may yet open the grandest of gates.

Mhm…?

Typical Queenly speech. Just speak comfortably.

…Yeah…

I do not know why… but the wolf kept whispering to me.

It told me I could rest now… That if I joined the brood, I would never be alone again…

I did not understand what it meant. It felt wrong… so I ignored it.

There is a gap in my memory… but at some point, I grew exhausted… I told it I would die soon anyway… so it could do as it pleased…

After that…

...My body was no longer my own. I was still inside… but…

There were too many voices… I could barely think…Then suddenly, my body began to change… and I started hurting people… And every time I hurt someone… the voices multiplied…

I tried to stop it… But I could not. It was my body… but it would not listen to me.

To stand against demonic possession is no simple trial… and should the intruder be a sovereign of the Outer Cosmos, the burden is greater still.

Compose thyself, child… and speak on.

When the wolf grew satisfied… and fell into a brief slumber… I ran. I had to tell someone.

But… when I broke away… I think I left my memories behind. I could barely remember anything…

Then… when I came near the Human God… I felt… calm, somehow. Like… I had finally found where I belonged… So… I just stayed nearby.

…Most curious indeed. A tale both troubling… and wondrous.

Wondrous!

As expected of two ancient mages… have you discovered something?

…The Queen would sooner be called wise than merely ancient.

Cora, ever youthful!

Even in the form of an avatar, to usher forth a sovereign of the Outer Cosmos… is a feat beyond the reach of most archmages.

And yet… if this child's vessel bore such a descent… Then the latent power that slumbers within her… is nothing short of extraordinary. Indeed… it borders upon the miraculous.

If her mental fortitude were weak, a demon would not even notice her.

And besides…

Queen, one moment. Ghost?

Hm? Me?

I shall enlighten you. Western Federation dramas, Eastern animation. Best in the world.

Huh? What are you talking about?

From this moment, enlightenment. Appreciation. I shall show you a new world. Follow me.

You are going to show me dramas and animation?

Yes. Correct. We watch together.

Together…? Just the two of us?

Really?

It… it's my first time… watching tv with a friend…

What was that? Your voice too quiet. Problematic.

N-No… it's nothing…

Good. New friend acquired. Or perhaps new comrade. We roll.

…Ms. Everette? Was Ms. Cora's behavior just now… meant to lead Ghost away from here?

So it would seem. And it appears she intends to keep a careful watch over the child herself.

Hm… that human girl called Cora is quite resourceful. Even this Queen had not considered such a course.

I see… Though calling Ms. Cora a "girl" feels somewhat… given that she is hardly young herself…

…To me, she is still but a child.

In any case, that spirit once entwined her soul with that of a demon. Even if she harbors no ill intent…

We cannot be certain the connection has been wholly severed.

It is only natural to remain vigilant.

…Indeed. There is no need to risk offering information to a potential enemy. A prudent judgment.

Just so. And yet…

…O Divine One. Now that the child has departed… there is something this Queen would ask of you.

Within your divinity… I sense the lingering trace of a most ill-favored presence. It would seem you have crossed paths with another demon.

Tell me, Divine One… Have you entered into discourse with another demon? Was it to uncover the designs of this brood-forming fiend?

…I see… a warning from the Dark King…

The Dark King? And who might that be?

Hush… One does not utter the name of a demon so carelessly. That matter… this Queen shall speak of at a later hour.

In any case, Divine One… If a demon has deigned to offer you a warning, then though every word may not be truth… caution is nevertheless warranted.

Then that tentacled creature was not the end of it.

Human God, what would you like to do?

We may observe the situation for the time being… or conduct a more thorough search of the surrounding area.

Understood, Human God. I shall prepare the vanguards at once.

When all is ready… please issue your command at your convenience.

…Though this place had already fallen to ruin, people were still living here.

…Now they are all gone.

Not only here… but across this entire area…

…There is nothing left. No trace… not even the scent of a soul…

If they were seeking souls… they would have targeted a major city instead.

I cannot understand why they would repeat something like this.

Because… they're too weak to face the Human God yet…

…Our Human God has already brought down two gods. And indirectly, has defeated countless demons and forsaken gods as well.

Not to mention the traitors among humanity. His accomplishments are already beyond question.

I cannot fully gauge a demon's strength… but even if they were to devour every soul in this region… It still would not be enough to challenge the Human God…

Yes, I see.

We will continue the reconnaissance.

Human God. A new cluster of demons has been located.

…Regrettably, there are no survivors in the surrounding area.

It appears everyone nearby has already been infected by the brood.

Understood. I shall prepare to strike at once.

Those demons… they will be made to pay for this.

…Something feels off.

I agree… If these are demons, they would not fail to notice such a disparity in strength.

Right? If they wanted to fight, they would gather up and clash head-on. And if they wanted numbers, they would spread out and multiply…

I honestly cannot tell what these demons are trying to do.

…….

In warfare, there is usually only one explanation for this.

…A delaying tactic?

Correct. They are stalling for time. Though for what purpose… I cannot yet say.

Hm… now that you mention it, something does feel suspicious.

Suspicious?

Yeah. No matter how advanced this world is… the scale of the damage left by demons feels… too small.

…You consider this small?

Ah… do not misunderstand. That is not what I meant.

It is just… in my world, a fragment much smaller than this slipped through once…and two entire nations were wiped out.

…Perhaps…

…The full descent has not taken place yet…

…The Ghost did say she resisted… Surely… that alone could not have…?

Hard to say… Demon summoning rituals are delicate matters… Would it not be best to ask her directly?

At the moment, Ghost has been spending time with Ms. Cora. Just now, after the battle, they said they were going to make tteokbokki together…

…Pardon? Ghost… making tteokbokki? She does not even have a physical body…

Ms. Cora apparently told her to watch, calling it a mukbang.

Hmm…

Tteokbokki!? Is it good?

…In any case, I will ask her about the ritual later. Ghost has been quick to share anything she remembers.

Let us return to the matter at hand.

If they are delaying us for something… then we must move faster.

Human God. What course of action would you recommend?

Understood. I will prepare the next operation immediately.

Human God? Is this a good time?

Ghost said she had something she wished to tell you, so I brought her.

Ghost?

…….

Human God… I think… my actual body is nearby.

…Thank you, Human God.

Please… help me find my body.

…So that monster cannot harm anyone with it anymore.

These bastards… why did they come all the way out here?

There were few people left nearby. They likely attacked the Savers who were hiding here.

There were no survivors. I saw Yeon Chae-young complaining earlier while compiling the reports.

Human God, I believe Yeon Chae-young may be lazier than she appears.

In any case, judging by the number of demon corpses…it seems the Savers fought until the very end.

…Strange.

Your Highness? Is something troubling you?

If their objective was to stall for time… why attack those who would resist so fiercely?

Simple. The Savers are not exactly known for their pleasant tempers. They probably struck first.

Or perhaps the demons wanted something from the Savers.

The Savers… What could the demons possibly want from them…?

They should not be able to create new rifts anymore…Unless… surely not…?

Come to think of it… these creepos used to raise Abominations, did they not?

…And these demons can turn even Abominations into the brood.

This is getting bigger by the minute.

Human God? What now? I was about to suggest we take a breather… but that is probably not happening, huh?

Understood. I will inform Yeon Chae-young right away.

Divine One, take heart. It would seem the moment of reckoning draws ever near.

Human God? My apologies. An urgent matter has arisen that requires immediate reporting…

Officer Matsumoto?

……Human God. While investigating matters concerning the Savers, we discovered a critical issue.

During the audit of the Intelligence Division conducted previously, we belatedly discovered an overlooked detail.

Do you recall the Spider God that the Savers' leader summoned at the very beginning?

My apologies… At the time, we transferred Utu's divine body to the Research Division for analysis…

However… it appears there were traitors within that department as well. The Intelligence Division defectors secretly removed the body and provided it to the Savers.

We continued the audit afterward, but as the BRM descended into disorder…the fact was ultimately overlooked.

Seriously… how does management even end up like this…

Were these not actions committed by your former subordinates, Secretary So?

No. Secretary So rarely involves herself in practical matters… The fault lies with me.

I was already aware she did absolutely nothing at the office……and yet I still failed to account for it.

Heeey?! My job is management, you know? Management is different from hands-on work.

And yet, is that management not also handled by Officer Matsumoto?

Well, I manage Yui instead. Fufufu.

………

…As you have likely already deduced, Human God… We believe Utu's divine body has been smuggled here… toward Wonju.

We cannot confirm whether they already possess it…

But judging from their delay, they are either attempting to obtain it…or already have it and are preparing something.

Yes. We have identified a nearby facility similar to the Savers' former research laboratory.

There is a high probability that the divine body is being held there.

Understood. I will prepare the vanguards at once.

Mmm… Come on… people can make mistakes sometimes…Why am I always the one getting picked on!?

Don't you think that's a bit harsh, sweetie?

Human God, Ms. Ghost has...

Human God… I can feel it. My body… it's inside that building.

It appears our approach was not mistaken.

And the divine body… is likely...

A god's body is far stronger than mine…

The demon will attempt a proper descent to it.

…Then we do not have much time. A demon descending into a god's body… would become a catastrophe.

Human God. Please issue the order to attack immediately.

We must strike before their plan comes to fruition.

Yes, Human God. It shall be done.

…Heh… heh… heh…

Young god… Do you truly believe you have defeated the brood?

Demon! The outcome stands before you!

Give me back my body! I still have so much things to do with Cora!

You are gravely mistaken. None may defeat the Brood.

Now… the brood shall descend upon this world!!!

Wait, no!

My body!!!!!

Human God! The upper structure is collapsing!

We must retreat immediately!

With haste!

Is everyone unharmed?

For the moment… it appears we have all escaped safely.

Huh? Ghost? Where did Ghost go?

Ms. Cora? Where are you going...

Hold on...

I believe… a far greater threat has just revealed itself.

Wait. How is that even possible?

Now… all who dwell in this world shall become one with the Brood.

Good heavens… is that…

So that is the demon… the one who gathers the Brood…

Human God! This is bad!!

…There is something worse than this?

A massive rift just opened about a hundred meters above us!

What do you mean by that...

They're saying the Forsaken God may emerge here! The transmission!

…Good heavens… of all times…

Yeon. We must withdraw for now. We cannot face both the Forsaken God and that demon at once.

Y-Yes… you are right.

All units, fall back!

The helicopter is ready. Human God, this way!

Regrettably… the rift activity was confirmed.

A new Forsaken God has emerged from the rift. It is already difficult enough to handle the demon… and now a Forsaken God as well…

Fortunately, immediately upon descending, the Forsaken God did not generate a rift domain. Instead, it began engaging the Brood demon directly.

Shortly afterward, the rift itself closed.

While the two remain locked in combat, we should reduce the number of nearby Abominations and the followers serving the Brood. Once either side claims victory, we strike immediately.

Ultimately… it would be preferable to eliminate both.

Understood. I will prepare a helicopter so we may observe from a safe distance.

I will prepare the vanguards in the meantime.

Once you are ready, Human God, please issue the order.

Behold, demon… the Hunter of Gods descends upon thee.

I shall hunt thee down… and restore peace to this fractured world!

Grrrr…

Though the Architect forges a thousand gods…

None shall halt us… none shall defy the Brood.

The garden of this world… shall be consumed. All shall be gathered… all shall become the Brood.

Silence!

So… the Forsaken God and the demon have come to blows.

You speak as though the gods themselves are protecting us.

Pray, do not mistake madness for benevolence. The Forsaken Gods are broken beings… their wills bent and fractured.

See there… even the Abominations and the demon's spawn have turned upon one another.

So this is the might of the hunter… Pathetic. Fleeting. Insignificant.

Grrrr…

Your blasphemous tongue shall soon fall silent.

I am the hunter… and thou art the prey. When this hunt ends… it shall be thy extinction!

From the moment thou descended… From the moment thou beheld the Brood… …The hunter was already claimed. All who face the Brood…

…Shall become the Brood!

......!

Grrrrrr!!!!

The hunter… is no more. Now even the gods shall be gathered.

The heavens… the garden… the world itself, all shall become the Brood. So too shall the realm of gods be gathered.

Go forth… and carry the will of the Brood across the world.

Let none remain in solitude. Let all be bound… as one within the Brood.

All shall be gathered. All shall be consumed. All shall become the Brood.

The direction those Abominations are heading…

Chuncheon…! No… we have to stop them!

Understood. I will relay the order immediately.

Human God. The nearest advance unit of the Brood is expected to reach this location in approximately one hour.

Notably, their command structure appears to have grown more sophisticated.

Officer Yeon, please brief us on the situation.

Yes. Based on current observations, entities presumed to be Brood leaders appear to be assigned to each advancing force.

The Brood seems to be controlled through these leader entities...

The Brood is one. It is not the leaders… the Wolf controls them.

Ms. Ghost! Where have you been?

Ms. Cora searched this entire area looking for you!

… I was looking for my body... but I failed.

Ghost… you're safe? That's a relief.

Oh… sorry… for leaving without saying anything.

You're safe. That's what matters.

The situation is urgent. Please continue.

Right… as I was saying...

The Brood shares a single consciousness. Everything is connected.

The leaders are merely major conduits…They spread and relay the Brood's will.

…If that is the case, this may aid our response. That would mean the greater demon's will is not transmitted instantly to every unit.

If we eliminate each leader entity, there is a strong possibility we can neutralize entire forces.

…The Brood will reach this location shortly.

Human God, it seems that we have two options. We may consolidate our defenses using Chuncheon as our anchor…

Or eliminate the leader entities to buy time.

Understood. I will prepare the vanguards immediately.

I will begin evacuation planning for civilians in the outer districts.

Once you are ready, Human God, please issue the order to engage.

Officer Yeon is currently briefing the city authorities, so I will report the current situation.

Although we repelled the enemy vanguard, two major difficulties are expected moving forward.

First, the Brood is advancing from multiple directions.

To prevent the Oblivia phenomenon, we have thus far conducted all engagements within the Human God's recognition range…

However, it is highly likely that this will no longer be possible.

We must prepare for situations where our forces are divided and engage separately.

That is acceptable. We shall overcome through discipline… and resolve.

As long as we do not overextend ourselves, we should manage. We can withdraw before Oblivia sets in… one way or another.

Yes… however, please keep the worst-case scenario in mind.

Of course… If something were to happen to us, the Human God would be heartbroken.

The second issue is that we did not have time to impose media restrictions. Footage of the Human God fighting in Chuncheon is already spreading across the internet.

The Bureau is also receiving inquiries asking whether you are the Human God of East Asia.

We may need to lift information control earlier than originally planned.

Fortunately, the Intelligence Division has already prepared contingency plans regarding timing, information spread, and media handling.

I will instruct the Bureau's Public Relations Division to respond immediately.

However… we ask for your understanding regarding increased public exposure.

Understood. At the very least, we will do everything we can to prevent information from spreading indiscriminately overseas.

And Ms. Ghost?

Mm? Do you need something?

I understand that your consciousness is still connected to the Wolf's.

…It's very faint now… but yes.

Understood. If you sense any significant change in the Wolf's consciousness, please inform us immediately.

At any time.

Okay. I will.

Then please go to Ms. Cora. Rest comfortably, and notify us only if you sense anything unusual.

…Okay. Thank you.

For now, I think I'll read some manga until I sense what the demon is doing.

Cora picked out a classic for me today.

…Very well.

Then, everyone, thank you for your hard work

Especially you, Human God. Had you not been here… the western backbone of the Federation would likely have collapsed already.

And Neo Seoul, naturally, would not have remained safe either.

…….

Thank you… for standing with us.

I look forward to our continued cooperation.

Having you with us is truly reassuring, Human God. As an agent of the Rift Bureau… and also…

On a personal level as well.

…Thank you, Human God.

Oh? Yui just smiled, didn't she? Right?

Ahem… No, you are mistaken.

Luise, do not trouble Officer Matsumoto.

Why? I was just saying her smile is pretty. Right, Maxi? You think so too, don't you?

…….

Are you alright, Human God?

You rarely sleep alone, so… we were a little concerned.

We were outside when we heard you groaning… And Ms. Everette sensed that a passage connected to a demon had opened…

I was concerned, O god of Humanity.

I am aware that your dealings with demons have brought you certain advantages…

But such dangerous paths are never easy for those who stand beside you.

Even if I try to observe… it is another world. I cannot see the demon.

…….

Human God… Are you using your dreams to move between worlds… the demon's realm?

I see...

Yeon once advised me that to speak too freely of the Human God's divinity would risk revealing his vulnerabilities to others.

Thus, for the sake of my god, I have long kept my thoughts sealed.

Yet now, the time has come to speak of what I know… and I confess, I welcome it.

…We can no longer conceal the Human God's identity, after all.

Queen… you understand Human God's divinity?

Human God's divinity… too complicated.

Power of fae, power of death, power of the sea, power of gold, power of life…

Never heard of a god with all of them at once.

Fae… sea… death… gold… life…

Indeed… it is a most intricate divinity. And such divinity often bears a final fragment… one that reaches toward sovereignty.

The coronation the demon spoke of… is likely the path that leads to the throne of the divine sovereign.

Everette… you kew about that? Amazing.

Across a thousand years, I have beheld the rise of many gods.

I have heard of gods who are born, gather those who revere them, and at last ascend to their divine throne within a domain wholly their own.

The young god I now serve… his divinity begins with the sea. Born of the Sky Father, he stands as the Prince of the Sea.

His people are those who dwell upon the waters… and even those who sink beneath them remain within his dominion.

The drowned dead… the sunken treasures…all now fall under my god's domain. And the wellspring of life born from those waters… that too lies within his claim, all derived from the Prince of the Sea.

Amazing… Queen… amazing! But… what about fae?

There is another divinity within the Human God…one that few have perceived.

Another divinity…?

None of you found it curious…that though countless worlds are joined through rifts, other Human Gods do not walk freely among them?

Now that you mention it…

Just as demons cannot cross into this world at will…

Just as gods require a Star Lighthouse to open the path between worlds…

Each world rejects the divinity of another.

And yet… to my knowledge, no world has ever rejected my god.

But… First Human God… my first master… traveled worlds!

Then that god, too, must have possessed the authority to cross between worlds.

Long ago, I once heard whispers of a god who visited our realm.

My body lay dormant at the time, and I did not intervene…

Yet even so, I was able to perceive that god's divinity. It was the divinity of one who wanders...

Stop! That's a secret!

Fufu. It would seem your devotion to your first master still remains young child.

In any case, should a god of the sea possess the power to cross between worlds, then there can be but one divinity at its heart.

…Might it be the divinity of voyage?

Just so. Those who pass beyond countless horizons… and the god who binds world to world.

The one who walks the horizon. The one who treads the boundary between realms.

…I understand now. Then I know which god the Human God has defeated.

I had suspected as much from the records, but…

Speak not the divine name so lightly. For now, understanding alone shall suffice.

In any case, would it not be most natural that the fae, who themselves connect the worlds, should become the people of my god?

For the fae, too, are those who pass beyond the boundary of life and death.

…….

If Sister Everette is correct… then the Human God possesses divinity worthy of becoming a Divine Sovereign in any world.

But such extraordinary divinity… even the Goddess never spoke of it.

The original deity likely lacked the vessel to contain such divinity.

Even across the mythological records of many worlds, he is described as a god who rarely fulfilled his duties.

If the former god bore such a nature… then perhaps my god's divinity now carries even the aspect of deception.

Yet that is of little consequence. Those who ushered in new ages were ever masters of subtlety.

Unlike the former bearer of that divinity, my god of humanity, who has newly claimed this power, is steadfast in duty, and gentle in spirit. Such a one may well rise as the Divine Sovereign who ushers in a new age.

…So in the end, the Human God must ascend to the Divine Throne and become a Divine Sovereign.

Ordinarily, to elevate one's Divine Throne, one must gather believers and spread one's teachings…

Should we follow the same path for the Human God? If so...

Human God! Officer!

They're coming! The demonic brood...

So it begins...

Then, Human God, we should begin organizing the vanguards...

I… I don't think that's an option right now!

What do you mean?

They're spreading out, surrounding Chuncheon from every direction! If we block only one front, the rest will pour into the city!

…Then we have no choice but to divide our forces…

Even before this moment, upon hearing your earlier report, I prepared something for my god.

Though I cannot wield divinity myself… I am not unfamiliar with the means of guiding such power.

Ah! There is a way! From afar! But handling arcane energy is not the same as controlling divine power!

Just so. Even I cannot promise how effective it shall be.

I can only share the method… and trust that my god will grow accustomed to its use.

If this path is taken, my god will no longer be able to stand directly upon the battlefield…

Yet in return, you may grant your power where it is most needed, extending divine aid to those in greatest peril.

In that case… I will prepare the vanguards with command experience to take position.

Ms. Everette, we leave this to you.

It shall not take long, my god. Come… I shall entrust you with the Queen's memory.

With this knowledge, you may wield your divine Might and bestow strength upon your servants.

And by scattering your power across a vast domain… you may shield them, at least in part, from Oblivia itself.

Public attention is turning toward an unidentified man sighted in Chuncheon Autonomous City.

This individual appeared during the Abomination assault on Chuncheon, and under his command,

Bureau agents and warriors from another world successfully repelled the invasion and secured the city.

In particular, after witnessing the extraordinary abilities displayed by this mysterious figure,

Citizens and online communities alike have begun to speculate, That this man may in fact be the Human God who first appeared within the Federation.

And then...

Human God? You summoned us?

My congratulations, O Divine one. You have drawn one step closer to the true throne of divinity.

…I must admit, I am somewhat concerned.

It is reassuring that you have gained new strength, Human God… but I fear it may also place an even greater burden upon you going forward.

Do not worry, Yeon Chae-young. With our imperial princesses lending their support, the Human God will handle such matters without difficulty.

That is…

If I understand correctly… those appointed as Demi-Gods would receive your power, Human God, And within their assigned Domains, they would be able to suppress Oblivia…

Even on battlefields where you cannot stand beside them, they would still be able to resist the Abominations! This would be an extraordinary feat for humanity…!

And their strength would surpass human limits as well… is that correct? Human God, then please...

Wait!

Human God, I ask that you exercise caution when appointing those to the seat of Demi-God.

There may be those who mistake proximity to divinity for equality… and fall into arrogance.

That…

In that case…

Understood. Please appoint those you deem necessary to the seat of Demi-God.

And… I will begin preparations for the vanguards immediately.

At last… we will be able to launch a counteroffensive across this entire region.

Human God, allow me to report on the current situation.

In the areas where we have cleared the Abominations and demons, no major incidents have occurred so far.

However, in the areas still covered by the crimson mist, regions we have yet to reach, we have observed the demonic brood gradually advancing.

Considering the adverse effects the crimson mist has on our vanguards…even a preemptive strike would not guarantee victory.

I'm sorry… I should have mentioned this sooner…

Sister Ghost? What do you mean?

As my memories slowly return… I've started to understand something…

I think… the demon was waiting for that god to appear from the very beginning.

Wait… are you saying the demon knew that when it descended, the forsaken god would follow?

Yes… when I was being pulled into it… I only glimpsed fragments… so I could not remember clearly before…

But the demon knew. It understood that its existence would call forth a god. I'm certain of it.

Then… the demon had already anticipated how it would use the god after defeating it.

Probably… I'm not completely sure… but… I think the demon believed it could devour a god… and wield that power.

My goodness… then the brood-maker…

The demon deliberately made its descent as conspicuous as possible… to summon a god… and devour it.

……That crimson mist certainly carries the divine authority of a hunting god.

That is what prevents us from fighting properly. Within that domain, we become the prey… and the wolf becomes the hunter.

What matters now is how we respond to the divinity contained within the crimson mist.

…I cannot be certain, but the principles governing divinity are often simpler than expected.

The fallen god was one tied to hunting. At the very least, it would not rival a Divine Sovereign.

Before the authority of a Divine Sovereign, it would not be able to stand, unless it were a god of comparable rank.

…So the conclusion is that the Human God must acquire the authority of a Divine Sovereign as quickly as possible.

…I share your thoughts. Even so, the immense authority of a king among gods is not something that can be completed so quickly.

Then… for now, our only option is to monitor the crimson mist and intercept the demons as they emerge.

Fortunately, with the authority you have newly bestowed, Human God, that alone should allow us to secure enough time for the remaining civilians to evacuate.

Human God? Shall we proceed accordingly? If you have other orders…

Understood. Then until a new countermeasure is devised, we will maintain the current emergency alert.

Human God, I have come to report. The situation is worsening.

The crimson mist appears to be gradually expanding.

And in tandem, the demonic forces are slowly pushing forward.

If this continues…

For the moment...

Human God! I just remembered something.

Is it urgent? We are currently discussing countermeasures for the crimson mist...

It is. It's actually related to that mist.

Human God… could you capture one of those Soul-Hangers for me?

Soul-Hangers… you mean one of the command units?

Yes. If we secure one, I may be able to try something.

Thank you, Human God. I think this will help us… a lot.

Did you get one?

Yes. It's barely hanging on, but it's still alive.

Do you intend to subdue it… and establish contact with its consciousness?

The manipulation of soul and mind is a perilous undertaking. You must proceed with the utmost caution.

…….

You are not planning to endanger the Human God, are you? If so...

Heh… I am going to make contact.

Alright… here I go.

!!!!

W-What is the meaning of this…?

To enter a demon directly… Have you taken leave of your senses? Should your soul be swept away, what then?

Wait… she is coming out...

Whew… that was a close call...

…Why would you attempt something so reckless?

It really was dangerous. But still…

I thought… if I stayed beside the Human God, it might be possible. To come back out.

You said it yourself… that the Human God is the god of the dead. After escaping from the demon, I stayed beside you… and beside Cora… And for the first time, I felt like I finally had somewhere I belonged.

Ever since I came to know you…It felt like dropping anchor. No matter where I drifted, I could always find you.

So… I thought… If I held onto you, I would not be dragged back into the brood again.

I am relieved…You are safe, and that is what matters.

But why did you rush in so suddenly? You were trying to gather information, weren't you?

Mm… The first thing I checked… Was whether the Brood had truly swallowed the soul of a god.

You were confirming whether it absorbed divine essence? Even a demon should not be able to swallow divine essence outright. It would be too much power to digest. It would leave them unable to act.

Yes. The demon seemed afraid that swallowing the god's soul entirely would change the brood itself.

It looked like… it only intended to use the god's power.

Only the divine power…? Then the Wolf preserves the essence it consumed, rather than claiming it as its own?

Exactly! And I also learned… what it used that divine essence for… And where it hid it.

!!!!!

You discovered that as well? Where is it? Is it somewhere we can reach?

Hold on… I am not sure whether it is accessible.

But I can mark it on the map… As best as I can remember.

Please wait a moment. I shall bring the digital map.

Hehe… When you look at me like that, Human God… It makes me feel… a little…

Ah, n-no… It is not that I dislike it!

It is just… this is the first time something like this has happened… So I am not sure what expression I should make…

But… when you smile at me like that… It makes me happy too.

…Is this what Cora meant, when she told me to be careful when you smile…?

Um… Human God, I have a favor to ask…

When I regain my body someday… Would you eat tteokbokki with me?

Thank you, Human God! I will keep doing my best!

Human God. I have compiled the information Ms. Ghost obtained.

We believe the fallen god's essence is being stored in an annex of a nearby Savers research facility.

Considering the divine essence possesses dangerous and immense energy, they likely avoided transporting it far. It appears they chose instead to keep it nearby.

However, according to Ms. Everette's assessment, since Ms. Ghost made contact with the demon's brood, it is possible the brood has also become aware of her intrusion.

Yes. Under the present circumstances, there is little reason to delay an attack. I will prepare the vanguards as swiftly as possible.

Once you are ready, Human God, please issue your command immediately.

This ends here, you monsters.

Give me back my body!

Grr… khahaha… khahahaha…

So… it seems our pack underestimated the strength of yours.

But nothing changes.

Our will is already in motion.

You can feel it, Human God. The brood draws near. You came here to seize the divine essence…

But tell me… Can you kill me and move the essence before our leader arrives?

Even the brood could not remain in contact with it for long.

What is so special about this blob, anyway?

It contains divine authority that even the demons of the brood could not absorb.

Then we just hold out until the Human God absorbs it, right? They get weaker, we get stronger!

In theory, that is correct, however…

I… have a bad feeling… Like we might not make it in time…

Not make it? What are you so worried about? I will smash everything before that happens, so relax!

......

W-What? A god… abandoning another god's essence?

Human God, that essence would grant you tremendous power...

Do you think I will allow that? I...

Give me back my body!

Ms. Ghost!

Oof..

Human God… Yeon Chae-young…

You…! Ms. Ghost… is that you?

Wait… I do not have much time. This body was originally mine. I only managed to reclaim it for a moment.

But… for a short while… I can hold this monster in place.

What are you…? Wait… you cannot mean...

…Please tell Cora… I said thank you. For showing me dramas… teaching me games… For taking me around… and letting me see the world…

Because of her… I was not lonely anymore.

And… Human God… thank you as well. For the first time… I felt like I had a home.

May I ask… one last favor?

Please… remember me…

If I remain in everyone's memories,

I do not think I will feel lonely anymore… Hehe…

G-Ghost …

Ms. Ghost!!

…Goodbye, everyone.

Human God, current weather conditions and the crimson mist in the operational area are not expected to significantly impact combat effectiveness.

All deployment preparations are complete. We are ready to commence the operation upon your command.

Yes… Human God. Please issue your command.

…At last. The war has come to an end.

Though this war has brought much death… the souls, too, rejoice at its end.

May the people… and my sisters… find their rest in peace.

…….

…What about Ghost…? You still have not found her, have you?

…Officer Kim and Officer Matsumoto have begun the search.

However… since the day she vanished… there has been no trace of her anywhere on the battlefield.

…Okay.

Human God, I have an update on the situation.

The vanguards are currently focused on eliminating the remaining forces.

At this rate, the demons of the brood in this region should soon be eradicated.

And then…

Ms. Maximilia is also leading a subjugation effort, however… she has sent a rather unusual message.

She stated… "I am moving to sever the final ill-fated bond."

Ms. Maximilia also requested that you come to her location immediately upon receiving this message.

And… she requested that we be prepared for combat.

Understood. I will make preparations immediately.

We have confirmed the eradication of all demons in this region.

O Divine One… By your grace, I have avenged my sisters… and struck down the demons.

You have my deepest gratitude.

May my sword and shield remain forever… wholly devoted… to my Divine One.

…….

………

My apologies… for interrupting.

…You need not apologize. I allowed myself to grow overly emotional.

The mission must come first.

Thank you for your understanding.

Then I shall rejoin the support operation as originally planned.

…Human God. Once I arrive at the sanctuary, I will present myself to you again.

Naturally.

Human God. I will resume my report.

Ms. Ghost's body… now absent of any remaining soul…has been recovered and placed in cold storage.

Additionally, Ms. Cora has a request she wishes to make regarding Ms. Ghost.

If you permit it, I will bring Ms. Cora before we return.

Yes, she is on standby. I'll have her brought in immediately.

Human God, I have brought Ms. Cora, as you've requested.

…….

…Human God. I have something I wish to ask of you.

Please… help me locate Ghost's soul.

The ghost was lonely her whole life. She had only just begun to be with me… with everyone…

And now… she is alone again.

I do not want that. But I do not have the strength… So… Human God… please…

And… Human God… thank you as well. For the first time… I felt like I had a home.

May I ask… one last favor?

Please… do not forget me…

If I remain in everyone's memories,

I do not think I will feel lonely anymore… Hehe…

…I thought you would say that, Human God.

Yeah… thank you… Human God…

Ms. Cora, do you have any idea where Ms. Ghost's soul may have gone? Perhaps… like the time when we had to locate Ms. Luise's soul…

No… I cannot reach my First Master… Actually… I have been trying to contact them from the beginning…

…Come to think of it, when the First Human God appeared through your body before, it was due to the Soul Incense Ritual.

To think we cannot even rely on the First Human God's aid… and cannot even determine her whereabouts…

Perhaps… calling forth a lost divine soul… may require more than that now.

…Are you alright, Human God?

Yes. We will proceed according to your orders.

Yeah… I will try to contact my First Master again.

The means to cross the boundaries between worlds…

In the end… even a god remains bound to the domain of their birth.

Yet the Wolf… has shown me something… most enlightening.

I'm afraid our attempt to bring the ghost girl back was ultimately unsuccessful, my disciple.

......

Don't be too discouraged, Cora. There has to be another way.

In this queen's judgment, what we lack is a compass.

Think back to when we sought to restore Princess Luise to our side, my god.

We knew the soul we sought. Her name, her past... The life she had lived was not unknown to us.

That's true. We weren't together for long, but we did fight side by side.

But this ghost child is another matter. We know almost nothing about her. Not her name, her age, or even where she came from.

We know she likes tteokbokki... and watching old classics... Guess that's not enough.

Just so. Among countless souls, we have no means of finding the one we seek. Without something to guide us to her, even the Soul Incense Ritual will not suffice. So judges this queen.

So we really do need some kind of... Huh?... H-Huh?!

Cora? What's wrong...

That presence...?!

Oh my. No one's surprised this time?

After all the trouble I went through to reach you again, I was hoping for a little more of a reaction.

Hehe. I'm only teasing.

Well, it has been a while, everyone. Najali, the first Human God, at your service. I hope you've all been well. And Luise, it's lovely to see you again!

It's so very nice to see you too, first Human God.

As for whether I've been well... Hmm. That's a tough one.

Oh? How so?

Oh my! Not just a fragment of an Outer Cosmos demon, but its avatar too?!

And you managed to drive them both away!

I could tell my successor had grown stronger since we last met. But defeating a demon? Well, that certainly explains the difference.

You must have been through quite the ordeal. I'm glad you all made it through.

Ah, yes. About that~... I actually tried to reach you several times.

Unfortunately, there were some circumstances that made that rather difficult.

Circumstances that prevented you from contacting us? What exactly do you mean?

After we last spoke, I spent some time drifting along the pathways of souls, trying to make my way closer to this world.

But wouldn't you know it... I ended up attracting a particularly troublesome stalker.

I'll tell you who it is another time. If I say too much and they realize I've caught on to them, it'll only make things more difficult.

So for now, I've been trying to shake them off while keeping them from getting up to any more trouble. And unfortunately, I'm still dealing with that as we speak.

I'd certainly appreciate the help, but I think it's still a little too soon for you, my successor.

Too soon? What do you mean?

You've grown much stronger from your battle with the demon, and your divinity has grown with you. But you're still not quite whole, are you?

Not quite whole...? In what sense?

Your memories, and the authority that comes with being a Human God. Though it's your memories that concern me most. You still haven't recovered them all, have you?

Once you become a Human God, there are certain things you simply begin to see.

And right now, you remain in a rather precarious state.

The Human God is in a precarious state?

Think of it this way. No matter how tall or beautiful a building may be, it won't stand for long if its foundation isn't sound. The same is true of you. Your soul and your power are out of balance.

There's nothing wrong with growing stronger, of course. But before you seek more power, you need to restore your soul and make it whole again.

Do that, and the rest should follow naturally. Your strength will return, along with the authority that belongs to a Human God.

Then tell us, first Human God. Do you know how my god might restore this foundation?

This queen may devise a means of her own, but what serves a mortal may not serve one who has already stepped into the realm of divinity. There can be no certainty that the same methods would apply.

I do have a few ideas. But for now, I believe even those would be premature.

Well, you might be ready, [PlayerActorName], but my stalker is awfully persistent. I haven't had much time to prepare anything on my end.

So for now, why don't you focus on what you can do?

You are referring to the ghost girl, I presume.

That's right. You said the Soul Incense Ritual couldn't reach her, didn't you?

And you were right about why it failed.

There are countless souls wandering the pathways of souls. If you want to find one particular girl among all of them and guide her back to you, you'll need something more to go on.

Find something that carries a strong trace of her, and use it when you perform the Soul Incense Ritual. Then, just like I did with that cute little princess beside you...

I'll guide her soul back to you. That much I can still manage.

And as for getting your memories back... Oh, not again. My stalker's back!

The answer might be closer than you th...

……

Huh...? Something just happened to my body... Was the first Human God here?

Yes. Allow me to explain what transpired.

I see... Okay.

I'm worried about the first Human God. But Ghost comes first. We need more information.

You called for me, Human God?

As you instructed over the phone, I've made gathering information on Ms. Ghost a top priority for Officer Kim Ga-young and the other agents.

Of course. Supporting you is the duty of the Combat Support Division, Human God.

And... we'll look into what the first Human God meant when she said the answer was closer than we thought.

It seems we'll have our hands full with the investigation for some time.

Then we'll just have to do our best! For the Human God, Ghost, and Cora. Right?

Mhm...

This queen shall likewise lend whatever aid my god requires.

Thank you. We appreciate your assistance.

Human God, I'll report back as soon as we have anything.

Human God, I have an update on our investigation into Ms. Soon-hee.

Ghost, Officer Yeon. It's Ghost.

……Yes. Ms. Ghost. We weren't able to find any physical records tied to her. No fingerprints, no identification number, nothing we could use to confirm her identity.

So instead, we focused on her appearance and what we could piece together from her conversations with Ms. Soon-jung.

With help from our agents and several Vanguards with expertise in sorcery,

We managed to track down a place where we believe Ms. Ghost once stayed.

Rainbow Orphanage.

It's a facility for children who've lost their parents to Abominations or other circumstances. It's still operating on the outskirts of Neo Seoul.

Rainbow Orphanage is a licensed facility and is still in operation. We believe Ms. Ghost may have been under their care at some point.

But for now, that's only a conclusion we've drawn from the information available to us. We'll need to check the orphanage's records to know for certain.

Of course. However, for reasons we have yet to determine, the director of Rainbow Orphanage has refused to provide the records we requested.

Probably because he's got plenty to hide.

Secretary So? Are you familiar with the director?

Of course, Chae-young! I've even talked to him a few times.

Wait, you have?! Then why didn't you say anything until now?

...Because nobody asked?

Wow...

……Sigh. My apologies, Officer Yeon.

……Sigh. You have nothing to apologize for, Officer Matsumoto.

Huh? Wait, wait! Why does it suddenly feel like I'm the one who did something wrong?!

Let's see... His name was Cho Gyeong-su, I think? Something like that!

You talked to him several times and you don't even remember his name?! Are you sure you actually know him?

Oh, come on! It's not like we were friends or anything. I just ran into him at a few parties for Neo Seoul's upper crust. My dad... introduced us.

But we really did just say hello, Sweetie! That's all! So don't get any funny ideas, okay? You're the only one for me. Mm?

Understood, Secretary So. Please continue.

Anyway! Like I said, I only saw him at a few parties.

…But I do remember him fluttering around my dad and all the other important people there, trying sooo hard to get noticed.

He may simply have been seeking donations for the orphanage.

Mmm... no, I don't think so. It was less "support the children" and more "let me into your fancy little circle!" You know, the wannabe socialite type?

Wow, you sure know a lot about that lot.

What?

Secretary So. If fundraising was not his objective, how was an orphanage director gaining access to gatherings attended by Neo Seoul's elite?

Either someone in those circles was inviting him, or there was another way for him to secure a place on the guest list.

Given his apparent interest in expanding his connections, I would consider the latter more likely.

That's what I was thinking too! And you should've seen the clothes and watches he wore. Pretty expensive stuff for an orphanage director. So... yep. I'd say there's definitely something fishy going on.

I agree. If he had nothing to hide, why refuse to give us the records?

Precisely. If his goal is to cultivate connections with influential figures, our request should have presented an opportunity. If anything, he should have attempted to use it to establish a connection with you, Human God.

Instead, he has chosen not to cooperate. That suggests Secretary So may be correct. There is something he does not want brought to light.

Understood, Human God.

Then I'll try talking to the director myself!

Huh? You will, Secretary So?

Sure! Think about it. The Bureau of Rift Management suddenly comes knocking, asking for records... He's probably on edge right now, isn't he?

He'll be watching every little thing he says and does, trying not to give anything away.

But then someone he already knows shows up. Someone he's met and talked to before. Don't you think he might let his guard down just a teensy bit?

And if he does, we can take advantage of it.

Even if he does not, the added pressure may cause him to make a mistake.

Exactly! Plus, if I stick close to him, he can't just disappear on us, can he?

Wow... That's actually a really good idea, Secretary So! I'm starting to see you in a whole new light.

Hey! What's that supposed to mean?! I come from one of the Federation's finest civil servant families! I may not be that elite, but I still count, you know!

It's certainly encouraging to see you so motivated, Secretary So.

There is one concern, however. If our investigation leaves the director feeling cornered, he may attempt to harm you. What will you do if that happens?

Huh...? Oh. I... hadn't thought about that. Maybe I could dazzle him with my... sexy shooting skills?

......

Wow…

…I will accompany Secretary So.

Secretary So and I will handle the investigation of the director and the orphanage in person. Officer Matsumoto and Officer Kim can investigate discreetly from behind the scenes.

What?! Why?! I told you, I can handle myself! Sweetie, don't you trust me?

You... don't want me getting hurt? Do you really care that much about me...?

!!!

W-Well... if you put it like that, I guess I have no choice! Ohoho...

Officer Yeon, come on! Let's go! We can't let that director try anything funny!

Human God. We will conduct a thorough investigation of both the director and the orphanage. And we will find Ms. Soon-hee's…Ms. Ghost's records.

You can count on us!

I shall do my best.

Excuse me, Human God!

It's about Director Cho from the orphanage! He finally showed his true colors!

Yes! While Secretary So kept him busy, Officer Yeon took a look through the orphanage's records.

She found that the number of children on record didn't match the number actually living there.

Even after accounting for all the adoptions and children who had left the orphanage, there were still children missing from the records. Which means...

Yes. That's what we suspect. Officer Yeon and Secretary So confronted the director, but just when it looked like he was about to confess, he made a run for it.

Exactly, Human God!

If Director Cho really was trafficking children, he couldn't have been working alone. So we figured if we let him think he'd escaped, he'd lead us straight to the others!

Officer Matsumoto tailed him all the way to a hideout outside the Walls!

Officer Yeon, Secretary So, and Officer Matsumoto are there now with Bureau reinforcements. They've already surrounded the place.

Yes, Human God! I'll get the chopper ready!

Apologies for the wait, Human God.

That director really made us work for it.

Yes. Just as we suspected, Rainbow Orphanage was only a front. Children with high psionic aptitude were kept underground, hidden from the others, and sold to outside buyers.

We've identified the buyers and tracked down the children they took. Bureau units are already on their way.

We should hear that the children are safe soon.

And as for Ghost...

The records show that her name was Hana.

They said Ms. Hana's psionic capabilities were exceptional, even among the children at Rainbow Orphanage.

Her powers were so strong that even the people trafficking those children were afraid of her...

They feared that if Ms. Hana ever lost control, the consequences would be beyond anything they could contain.

So they locked her away in the deepest part of the orphanage's underground facility, where no one could reach her.

They wouldn't even bring her food themselves. They had a robot deliver it... How could they treat her like that...?

Human God... please, try to remain calm.

According to the director, all of Hana's records are stored beneath the orphanage. Her admission records, her death certificate... Everything they had on her should be there.

The agents we sent to search the orphanage and its underground facility should be...

Excuse me, Human God. It's one of the agents at the orphanage.

Thank you. Just a moment...

Matsumoto here. What? Are you sure?

I see... And what happened after that?

……Understood. I'll be there shortly. Secure the scene until I arrive.

Yui? What's wrong?

……Rainbow Orphanage was attacked. The underground facility as well.

It was attacked? Are you certain?

Yes. By the time our agents arrived to raid the orphanage, it was already over.

The staff were all dead, and the facility had been destroyed.

What about the kids? Are they okay?!

The children are safe.

According to the children, the attackers only went after the staff. They freed the children and even protected them from harm.

Thank goodness... I'm just glad the kids are safe.

Of all the days for the orphanage to be attacked...

You think someone's covering their tracks? Maybe there's a bigger organization behind all this?

I don't know... It doesn't feel like that's what happened.

We'll need to see the scene ourselves before we can say for certain.

Officer Matsumoto and I will finish up here, then head to the orphanage. If you don't mind, Human God, perhaps you could...

Thank you, Human God. We'll join you as soon as we're finished.

We'll be back as soon as we can.

Then let's head back too, Sweetie!

We've been running around all day, and my legs are killing me!

Yeah! I'm sure Officer Yeon and Officer Matsumoto will be back before long.

We're back, Human God.

Sorry we're late. It took longer than we expected.

More importantly, how'd it go? Did you find Hana's records?

Yes. We recovered Hana's records, along with several belongings that appear to have been hers.

There's one more thing. The attackers.

Did you find anything about them?

By the time our agents arrived, the orphanage had already been heavily damaged. Nearly all of its equipment and facilities were destroyed.

Honestly, it's remarkable that none of the children were hurt.

Maybe whoever did it had a grudge against the orphanage?

What about the kids? Didn't any of them see who did it?

Based on the children's testimony, there were two attackers. Both were adult women.

What's more, only one of them actually fought or caused any of the destruction.

Wait, what?! You're saying one woman did all that by herself?!

Every child we questioned gave the same account. We also managed to recover part of the damaged CCTV footage, and it appears they're telling the truth.

See for yourself.

Most of the footage was lost when the equipment was destroyed. This was the clearest image we were able to recover. I'm sorry we couldn't provide you with more, Human God.

Thank you for understanding.

I've already instructed our agents to gather whatever information they can on the two attackers.

We'll report back as soon as we learn who they are.

We still don't know who attacked the orphanage, but at least we managed to recover Hana's records and belongings.

Right! So now we can do that... Soul Incense thing, can't we?

Yes. Hana's body has been carefully preserved to prevent it from deteriorating.

If we can return her soul to her body, we should be able to bring her back, just as we did with Ms. Luise.

We'll inform the other Vanguards and begin preparing for the Soul Incense Ritual.

Aww, you'll be all alone until then, Sweetie. Want me to keep you company?

Oh, Secretary So... Come on, let's go!

Please get some rest, Human God.