Chapter 39
I descend along the endlessly sprawling basement.
“Have you thought about how to take it down?”
“I’m still considering.”
This combination feels oddly familiar.
I gaze at Yu Da On, who is running hard.
The scent of a familiar no-deal combination.
“Well, it seems we’re a bit lacking in strength.”
“If only Chae Yeon were here, it might have been different.”
Of course, having Jang Chae Yeon wouldn’t guarantee a victory, but perhaps the fight would be a little easier.
How much longer have we run? As we eagerly descend through the basement, the exit finally comes into view.
Yu Da On, who was sprinting towards the exit, suddenly stopped and sent a signal for me to halt, and I quickly followed her lead.
“…What is it?”
“There are people.”
I whispered to Yu Da On as we approached, and she pointed outside with her finger and whispered back.
As I followed Yu Da On and peeked outside, just as she said, people had gathered and were bowing towards something.
A large crowd was gathered in the open space.
“Oh Mountain God…”
“Oh Holy Mountain God…”
Interestingly, they looked nothing like the image of secret society members in robes that we might expect.
They were just elderly villagers who could be seen working in fields anywhere in the countryside, and the townsfolk who looked like they could be driving a tractor over there.
They were bowing towards something above.
I followed their gaze upwards.
“…Huh.”
It was a massive wooden baby.
To be precise, it wasn’t exactly a baby but something similar.
If one were to attempt to mimic a human without fully understanding what it means to be human, perhaps this is what they would create.
Is that the main body?
I quickly examined the Mountain God with my eyes.
[Name: Mountain God]
[Age: Created 80 years ago]
[Traits: Wish Collector]
[Talent: Creation]
[Background: Though it has been a short time, this religion has been cultivated over generations and has not been weeded out by the Management Agency for a surprisingly long time. As a result, a new god is about to be born once again.]
[Weakness: Remember, belief existed first before a god can be born.]
Do not forget that belief existed first.
This resonates with what Song Ah Rin said.
“Excuse me…!”
While I was considering strategies for the attack, Yu Da On tapped my shoulder and whispered.
“Isn’t that Chae Yeon?”
“What?”
Following Yu Da On’s finger, I spotted Jang Chae Yeon, unconscious and tied to a pillar.
Everyone was turned away from her, bowing their heads to the Mountain God.
She’s alive.
It felt as if a large thorn lodged in a corner of my heart had finally been removed.
“Shall we save her?”
“If we can avoid being detected.”
After meeting Yu Da On’s gaze, we nodded at each other.
The risk of being caught against the benefit of reuniting with Jang Chae Yeon?
It wasn’t even worth pondering.
“If it gets dicey, I’ll fight.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
I stealthily walked back with Yu Da On.
I tread cautiously, ensuring my footsteps were silent as we made our way to where Jang Chae Yeon was.
I’m not sure if she fainted or was merely asleep, but even upon our arrival, she was still with her eyes closed.
Fortunately, she appeared to have no physical injuries.
“Looks like she’s just fainted.”
Yu Da On’s eyes narrowed as she examined Jang Chae Yeon.
“It seems like a mild concussion from a strong impact.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve almost died many times.”
Yu Da On responded with a gentle smile.
“If we wake her up, she should come to.”
I felt slightly skeptical, but cautiously shook Jang Chae Yeon’s shoulder.
“Chae Yeon, wake up.”
“…Hmm.”
After shaking her shoulder a few more times, she finally opened her eyes slowly.
“…Did you come to save me?”
“Well… you could say that’s true.”
Jang Chae Yeon smiled softly at my words.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
As Jang Chae Yeon turned her gaze, the ropes around her began to loosen and then fell away.
“How did you end up here?”
“I managed to block the attack, but then something grabbed me and dragged me away.”
So that’s why I couldn’t see her!
“Then can you fight that thing… and win?”
“Me?”
Jang Chae Yeon looked at me intently and slowly shook her head.
“You can’t win through sheer strength. You might be able to block it with your best efforts, though.”
Yeah. Hoping for a win was too naïve of me.
“I’m just satisfied if you can block it. Meanwhile, Da On and I will take care of the followers.”
Jang Chae Yeon nodded.
“Let’s strike before we get caught.”
The priority is to incapacitate, then if that fails, to kill.
I pulled out my gun from within my coat, and Yu Da On clenched her fist.
As Jang Chae Yeon stretched out her hand, invisible waves surged forth, cutting through the ground—
-Bang!
Of course, something blocked us.
The people turned their heads to stare at us.
“Intruders!”
“Kill those who disturb the Mountain God!”
The villagers, armed with sickles, axes, and hoes, charged at us with fierce looks.
I pulled out my gun and fired.
-Bam!
“Ugh!”
A man shot in the leg collapsed.
If I keep shooting like this, it should work, right?
Now aiming for the middle-aged woman with the hoe, I shot again targeting her leg.
-Thwack!
The grotesque-faced child, who had been with its eyes shut, opened them.
Its eyes rolled and met mine.
A chill ran down my spine.
It wasn’t as terrifying as meeting something in the Management Agency’s basement, but it felt similar.
At that moment, the ground rose, and dirt wrapped around the woman’s legs.
“Ah! Oh Mountain God!”
The middle-aged woman cried out in an ecstatic voice before lifting her hoe again.
“The god will protect us! Let’s go!”
Does the god also shield against bullets? If I believe in the god, will it shield me from bullets too?
“Stick close and follow me.”
Jang Chae Yeon said calmly and began to run ahead.
The ground trembled, and dirt began to cascade down in front of us, but when Jang Chae Yeon waved her hand, it fell away from us.
“It seems attacking will be difficult. Please take care of that.”
“I’ll deal with the people!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Yu Da On darted aside and shouted confidently.
“What’s that woman! Kill her!”
A burly man shouted, swinging his axe at Yu Da On, the axe coming down towards her neck.
-Swack!
Her neck twisted grotesquely as blood sprayed from her body, but she pulled the axe out of her neck with one hand and swung the handle against the man’s head.
-Crack!
“Oof…!”
The man’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed, and Yu Da On, expressionless, began to charge at the others with the axe still in hand.
“Don’t overdo it!”
“Okay!”
She smiled brightly as if nothing had happened and resumed her charge.
Despite farming tools embedding into her arms, neck, and body, she kept running and began to hit the people with the handle of the axe.
Following Jang Chae Yeon, I began to ruminate once more.
I ponder the existence of gods.
If a god is simply an entity formed from the belief of many people, then lottery tickets should have long since become a deity of probability.
A mere general belief cannot summon a god.
It must be accompanied by actions and consequences.
So, what differentiates this belief from the kind that forms deities?
“…”
I watch the Mountain God, whose presence is overwhelming, trailing behind Jang Chae Yeon.
The closer I get, the more I feel a tightening in my chest and a strong urge to lower my head.
This isn’t a mental attack. It feels more like a sense of reverence.
“Ugh!”
Dirt cascades from somewhere, and Yu Da On’s breathless sound reaches my ears.
“Chae Yeon.”
“Yes.”
“Can you go help Da On just once from behind? Also, please subdue other people and draw their attention.”
“…Will it be okay?”
Jang Chae Yeon looked at me with concern.
“It has to be done.”
Since I can’t physically destroy it, the only one who can manage this is me.
“Let’s just carve a path.”
“Understood.”
Jang Chae Yeon nodded, and I focused my mind.
[Coordinate Tear – 3 uses left.]
The world transforms like graph paper.
This time, it’s not about tearing a specific section.
It’s about maximizing the impact.
As if she understood my gaze, Jang Chae Yeon also reached out and clenched her fist.
-Crack!
Everything in front of me began to crumble.
The pressure weighing down on me dissipates.
“We’ll see what happens afterward.”
“I trust you.”
Jang Chae Yeon said that and turned to reach out her hand.
“Wow! I thought I was going to suffocate to death for a moment!”
“Focus.”
I sense the dirt still falling and push deeper inside.
The deeper I go, the stronger the awe grows.
My steps naturally slow, and when I come to my senses, I realize I’m slowly approaching the Mountain God.
“…”
Forcing myself to look up and face the Mountain God, it merely watched me without any action.
No more dirt fell like before, yet I knew.
“This feeling isn’t just because you’re a god.”
What is the difference between faith and belief? Why does the god of lottery not exist, yet the Mountain God does?
“It’s because of the belief in existence.”
Those buying lottery tickets believe in the lottery, but they do not believe in its god.
However, these people have believed for a long time that the Mountain God is real.
Typically, before a god is born, the Management Agency weeds out the beliefs, but unique cases like this can arise.
It looks directly at me.
“If you were a god, you wouldn’t have been able to bring me here.”
How could an omnipotent god fail to kill a mere human?
The awe I currently feel is merely a response to the wishes sent forth by innumerable people.
I hear the sounds of chaos crumbling from outside.
Jang Chae Yeon and Yu Da On have already neutralized the Mountain God’s strengths, and Song Ah Rin has successfully captured its forces all alone.
“What a smart child you are.”
The Mountain God, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
Its voice was reminiscent of the woman who had watched me at the mountain lodge.
It opened its mouth gently.
“The Management Agency is always like that. They easily give up on human belief. Just because they claim to be for the people.”
“I see.”
“They believed in me. And I was born to fulfill their wishes. Ultimately, I came into being for the people.”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“Right. So why not join them? I can grant you glory and wealth.”
Ah, so that’s why it said wish-collecting is its characteristic.
“Many people called upon me for wealth and fame, and now I can finally grant their wishes.”
Oddly enough, people’s wishes seem quite similar.
“Please let me live well.” “Please let me earn a lot of money.” “Please let me be healthy.” The repertoire isn’t very innovative.
But as I discuss this now, I understand.
A god is not human. Therefore, they cannot realize those wishes properly.
If they ask to be rich, it’s easier to kill the wealthy than to rain down gold coins from above.
In simpler words, isn’t it similar to a monkey’s paw that’s universal? Just a hypothesis, however.
I pull out my gun.
“It seems my proposal doesn’t appeal to you.”
“Are you scared?”
The Mountain God chuckled lowly at my words.
“What about me is there to be scared of? There’s nothing special about you. You’re just an ordinary human who hasn’t died and come back, unable to control minds or possess tremendous strength. Why should I fear you?”
“I guess you could think that.”
I gaze at the translucent window before me.
[Your understanding of the one seeking to fulfill the giant wishes of humanity has increased.]
[Critical: 0->1]
The commotion from outside begins to quiet.
It seems the two have completed their takedown.
Sharp wooden roots burst from the ground.
It was utterly pathetic, but I had anticipated it.
Before I could be pierced, a clay doll that appeared from somewhere else got skewered by the roots.
“Hey! Are you alive?”
With a hearty voice, Song Ah Rin appeared alongside the clay doll.
“Carrying it like a baby?”
“What? My legs hurt.”
She disregarded my gaze and got off the clay doll.
Soon after, Yu Da On and Jang Chae Yeon appeared behind her.
“We’re here!”
“Slow down, don’t run so fast…!”
With the three behind me, I also aimed my pistol.
“As always, just drain their strength.”
“This is totally a last-hit scenario.”
Song Ah Rin grumbled while taking her stance.
It was the first full party battle since the Human Resources Team’s completion.