24 Hearts

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Chapter 3-1. ‘Black Tree’ Tribe

“The only god…?”

Gabriel blinked at Xian’s shocking remarks. It was unbelievable. In her eyes, Judah Arche was but a normal human being.

Her eyes narrowed. Sometimes, even if the other person told the truth, it was difficult to know whether it was true or false if it was such absurd information.

Creator. One god.

She looked at Xian with a laugh. However, Xian’s expression was so serious that it felt too heavy to ask its authenticity. He didn’t seem to be fooling her. However, she couldn’t say that she knew him that well. This was the first time they had a conversation like this, so it was difficult to say anything. He opened his mouth, looking into her eyes as if he knew what Gabriel wanted to say.

“At his fingertips, we were made, and with his fingertips, our destiny was set. Even though he may seem mentally and physically inadequate, it does not change that he is our God.”

Was it that hard to believe? Xian added that. And Gabriel nodded her head.

Gabriel turned to Judah. Her eyebrows furrowed. Her heart pounded.

“?”

Despite her external reaction, her heart was honest. From the moment she heard the story of him being their only god and the one creator, her heart did not stop running. She put her hand on her chest and held it. Gabriel bit her lower lip. She let go of the pain she felt.

“That said… Do you swear this is not a lie?”

“With my name.”

“What about any evidence?”

“I already bet you my existence. What more do you need? What more evidence do you need after witnessing him control fate that even supreme beings in this world cannot do?”

Tears rattled down from Gabriel’s eyes. It seemed that her heart broke down. She had never shed tears in front of anyone nor show any sign of weakness in any situation. She bit her lips tightly and endured her crying.

The god she yearned for was now before her very eyes. She wished to stop her tears but couldn’t. She wanted to walk right in front of God, get down on her knees and shout his name, hug him, and ask him why only now did he appear.

“Cry. No one will say anything. No one will laugh at your crying. Anyone would cry after knowing that he existed, especially to those who lived through their destiny again and again like us. Anyone would shout out the name of God from their very throats. I am overwhelmed as well, but I’m not one to do such a thing, Gabriel.”

The existence of the demon world opposed the celestial world.

But now, the monarch showed the same disposition as the queen.

When she heard such words from Xian, the first monarch, which can be called absolute evil, she continued to erupt into cries as if she had been indulged. Her wings covered her body as she looked at Judah and cried out loud. Pressing her chest firmly, she shed her tears.

Kain’s death, whom she blessed with the powers of an apostle, quickly became an afterthought. Kain’s presence in the face of absolute priority did not matter.

It was only after she cried that Gabriel managed to speak, looking down at Judah with bloodshot eyes. There was no such thing as shame. She felt no shame that another figure saw her shed tears for him.

“But… why are you leaving him alone? If we can help him…”

“No. That is no good.”

“Why?”

“If we do that, various destinies will not be born. To complete an imperfect world with only one destiny, countless branches are required. To do that, there is not much that we must do. I have never assisted him further in his journey. And I am here to prevent you from giving useless help in the future.”

However, Gabriel found it difficult to understand.

“Why are you making him walk the path of suffering? Facing countless deaths with such a weak body, repeating fate the same way?”

Xian was silent for a brief moment at her retort.

“… It’s inevitable, even if this is disrespect for God. But you must know, whatever he does, is still the work of our Creator. Because what he does is something only God can do.”

“But what are you compelling him to do? This is… No matter how much this is for him…”

She trailed off, but he laughed. He knew well what Gabriel felt like. She understood it with her head, but her heart couldn’t bear it. Xian looked at Judah like Gabriel did and spoke silently.

“Do you know what?”

“?”

“My limitless power made me see the truth of this world, out of my will. In front of that truth, I felt helpless. I couldn’t do anything. Even I, who can be called the Absolute in this world, had nothing to do against it. It astounded me. It wasn’t until after hundreds of years that I mustered all the strength to face that truth. There was something I could do.”

“And what is that?”

“I was able to find his existence and bring him here! I have the power to destroy the world with one finger, but that was the only thing that I could do. Surprisingly, it was a heavy task.”

“…”

“I know I’m unforgivable for doing this to him. But if I hadn’t forced it, no one would be able to break this wheel of fate.”

Gabriel was silent.

“I am proud and sinful that I brought him to this world. I want to ask him for forgiveness for making him walk the path of suffering, but I can’t. Someone had to do it: you and I. One of us should have done it, but… If you had seen the truth of this world, you would have collapsed on the spot, and you would not have been able to bring him to this world with your strength. Am I correct?”

“…”

“You couldn’t. No! No one could do it. Only me! It was something only I could do! So even though I may feel guilty, I have no regrets for my actions!”

“…”

“I don’t regret it.”

“…God, only He can hate me. I have no choice but to be hated. Do you understand?”

Her eyes turned to Xian. Xian listened to Gabriel, then closed her eyes and replied quietly.

“Okay.”

They both looked down at Judah silently.

***

Unnamed Road Back to the Black Tree Tribe

After defeating Quake, the head of the belligerent Red Bear tribe, Isabel told Judah that Quake and Kain’s bodies had to be dealt with. When asked why, she said that the other tribes would not be convinced.

“Quake’s personality and behavior are not important to them. But… He is one of the best people in Regen, and also, he’s a Wielder of the Sword. Above all, he held a fragment, so his presence is also a symbol of Regen’s power. Do it. What would other tribes think if he was killed like that?”

“Uh… They would think that I’m powerful?”

At Judah’s words, Isabel erupted into laughter as if what he said was absurd.

“Haha, you might think so, but they would think that you coveted the power of the fragment and killed them. No matter what you think, it won’t be positive.”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course. The power of fragments is such a dangerous thing. I wouldn’t have handed over the fragment to you so easily if I handled a great sword rather than a bow.”

“…”

“Anyway, we better make sure there are no traces of the bodies. There is a land nearby full of hungry beasts and monsters, so you can dispose of the bodies there.”

Isabel said that, pulled out a dagger with a gentle blade from her waist, and tore Quake’s leather suit. His hard body had a huge scar across it. And, without any hesitation, she began to shred his body by covering her dagger with magic power.

“Eek!”

Arhil, who was behind her, looked at it and covered her mouth with her hands. Isabel, who had just cut off her arm on one side of her, heard the sound and looked behind her, tilting her head. Arhil took a step backward when the chief looked back at her.

“Are you unfamiliar with this? It’s not that different between people and animals. If you don’t like what you see then, stay away. I’ll finish it quickly.”

Disgusted, Jeanne took Arhil back to the hill where Kain’s body was. Isabel asked as she looked at Judah, who watched Arhil and Jeanne as they climbed away.

“Aren’t you going with them?”

“You gave me the code, so I think I should help. Of course, I’ve already dismantled a lot of animals, but I’m not very good when it’s with human beings…”

It didn’t hurt him, but orcs and beasts being cut into pieces were incomparable to the sight of a person being mutilated. It was because he lived in a much more peaceful modern time than here, and he lived with the values, ethics, and morals he got there. Even if he brought the final blow on Kain’s arm and Quake’s neck, he felt turned off by this.

It was ironic.

He opened his bag, took out a sack, and picked up Quake’s body parts that Isabel had cut off. The blood dripped through the fabric, and its bottom stained with red.

“Give me that bag. I’ll take care of it and come back. Wait here.”

Judah did not know where she was headed, but he nodded his head and handed her the sack. Even though it was cut into pieces, she still carried a sack that contained a large person. Unexpectedly, she flung it on her back nonchalantly and ran into the forest with agile movements. Judah sighed as he watched her disappear. His body wasn’t tired, and after he died dozens of times, his mental exhaustion was hard to describe in words.

After dealing with Quake, he went up the hill heavily.

‘Am I going to deal with Kain’s body now?’

How should he do it?

There was nothing in his -bag- that could fit his body. And while his death was not a heroic one, if Kaseun knew he died after being influenced by the evil of the fragment, he would understand. It was more honorable than to die at the simple mercy of a mere blade.

‘Should I cut him to pieces too…? Maybe I can just set up a fire.’

He took away the armor he wore to return to Kaseun. As he climbed the hill, Judah glanced at Jeanne and Arhil sitting on one side. He cut the fallen trees and piled them up to the shape of a well. Using the Yakal, he could cut a huge tree like a cutter slicing a piece of paper. He didn’t know how much he needed to burn, but after stacking up quite a high pile, he laid Kain on it to set it all on fire. He was about to burn some trees, so he didn’t know if it would ignite well, but when he sprinkled some oil for cooking, the fire clung to the wood, and it began to burn roughly. He watched the black smoke rising to the sky like the smoke from a cigarette.