Chapter 52: The God of Sin |
“Oh?”
The Old God seemed slightly surprised by the question and turned its gaze toward the one from the future:
“You actually know about this? I thought such a name had long vanished in the future.
The Ancient Gods were the original thirteen deities, born alongside the world itself. They embodied the origins and forces of this world. But the Ancient Gods have long since fallen—there’s no doubt about that. Their power, however, remains. Even in death, it persists. I suppose your presence here is due to the power of the Ancient God of Time. As for us, the Old Gods...”
In the language spoken by the saint before him, the term "Old Gods" not only carried the commonly known meaning of "deities of the past" in Drarian but also seemed to imply "Sinful Gods," a nuance the outsider astonishingly discerned.
“What truly happened in the past? What... is this world?”
His chaotic thoughts spiraled to the point where he could hardly think.
“Leave now. The history of the past is also a burden on mortal souls. Those stories have long faded, turned to dust, scattered into the soil... gazing upon us is not good for mortals. Leave, child of the future.”
“But—”
“Child from the future?”
Shad was puzzled by this address:
“Is it because my soul has spent so little time in this world that I’m regarded as a child?”
At the very least, he understood the significance of "stories" for a Ring Warlock. So he perked up, nodding eagerly to absorb all the information he could.
The Old God, despite appearing youthful, carried an inexplicable aura of aged melancholy. It sighed softly:
“My story is rather dull. I was born from the infinite imaginations of children, from their purest thoughts.
Once, I used my power to create an eternal flame and an unending stream for the most beautiful Witch Princess. But when she asked me for immortality, I could not grant her wish, for it was not something a child should desire. So, I left her.”
[You have listened to the story of the Old God, "Creator of Innocence," and learned one of its miracles.]
[You have obtained the arcane ability "False Immortality." This grants you the power to prevent a gravely injured individual from dying for thirty minutes.]
“Mortals all meet their end; false immortality is merely a pitiful consolation.”
The Old God lamented, then pushed forward with its hand. The stunned outsider in the toy shop suddenly flew backward like a puppet on strings.
“Until next time, child of the future. May the power of Time and Creation protect you.”
He was thrust through the toy shop’s doors, through the thick white fog, and landed heavily on the floor of the living room in 2nd Floor, Room 1, at 6 St. Derain Square.
[Outsider, you have returned to the present.]
[Message from the Ancient God, "Father of the Infinite Tree":]
[Mission incomplete.]
[Time Key; Fifth Epoch – 1068 – Creator of Innocence, damaged 1/3.]
[Next activation: one week.]
“Wasn’t this supposed to be a single-use item?”
Shad, though pale-faced, instinctively reached into his pocket, finding the cracked key within.
“Mr. Hamilton, how was your journey?”
A curious voice from behind startled him—it was Professor Garcia, who hadn’t noticed Shad’s pallor and couldn’t guess what had transpired.
Shad’s heart pounded as he processed everything in mere seconds. Slowly turning, he didn’t conceal his pale complexion:
“The Fifth Epoch, Year 1068—an event involving the fall of an Old God.”
Although the oppressive divine presence had disappeared after leaving the toy shop, the lingering damage from facing a deity still affected him.
However, Professor Garcia’s expression turned even grimmer than Shad’s in an instant. If not for the projection ritual, he might have leapt up in shock:
“What? How could that be? The fall of an Old God!”
His mouth hung open in disbelief, but he quickly turned to Shad with genuine concern. Speaking hurriedly in somewhat clumsy Drarian, his words nearly went past Shad’s comprehension:
“I’ve never heard of such an event in 1068! Mr. Hamilton, are you alright? If this is true, then this key is not Poet-grade—it surpasses even Angel-grade!”
The professor wanted to help Shad but couldn’t. Clenching his fists, he asked anxiously:
“Mr. Hamilton, should the academy send a medical team to assist you?”
“Oh, no.”
Professor Garcia’s concern was genuine, and Shad’s shock was just as real. But Shad projected an image of exhaustion, dragging himself to a chair and slowly recounting his encounter:
“I arrived at a street, saw a shop, and... can’t recall much else.”
His head still throbbed, but he described Hope Town’s general appearance, claiming he wandered for ten minutes before spotting the shop through the fog. He then returned, gaining a new arcane ability in the process.
“You’re fortunate you didn’t enter.”
After Shad spent ten minutes recounting his ten-minute experience, Professor Garcia was filled with dread. Shad even noticed sweat on the professor’s translucent cheeks:
“Thank goodness you didn’t go in! Damn it! I’m going to hold back the student who reported the Fifth Epoch, 1068, as completely safe until 1860! They said nothing significant happened during that time!”
It was currently the Sixth Epoch, Year 1853, and Shad couldn’t help but worry for the unknown St. Byrons student.
“You won’t need to write the report for this investigation; I’ll handle it for you. I’ll inform the academy in full detail. They won’t let you suffer a loss! Damn it! There’s a rat in the History Department! Who said the Fifth Epoch, 1068, was safe... Mr. Hamilton, are you sure you’re okay?”
In his anger, a few Carsonrick words slipped out, though Shad understood them all.
“I just want to sleep. I feel scattered and unable to focus. Oh, professor, I’m utterly drained.”
Shad slumped into his chair in a show of exhaustion. In truth, the Creator of Innocence had granted him some protection, allowing his spirit to recover quickly.
“Alright, rest for now. When the poetry manuscript page arrives tomorrow, contact the academy immediately if you feel unwell. Damn it, I’ll make that student rewrite their report until 1870!”
Another ten years added to their academic timeline.
“Sorry, Professor Garcia, I’m truly too tired to continue.”
The pointed remark signaled his desire to be left alone. Understanding, the sharp-eared professor rose:
“Don’t worry. Once you return to the present, all injuries sustained in the past vanish. The harm you feel now is only what you believe you suffered. But to witness the dwelling of a god... Mr. Hamilton, get some rest. Contact me if you need anything. Take care of yourself—oh, what a misfortunate young man, to encounter such an ordeal!”
He left, casting a worried glance at Shad. Despite his strict demeanor, Professor Garcia genuinely cared for his students.
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