Chapter 61: Even Gods Feel Anguish at Times

Chapter 61: Even Gods Feel Anguish at Times

The mental space was Sung Mi-Na’s secret weapon. She forged it with blood, sweat, and tears just to exact revenge. No entity or being should be able to defeat her within that space.

However...

“Die! Just die already!”

Nothing worked. Neither a firestorm, a blizzard, a steel-cutting gust of wind, nor a meteor rain could take down that beautiful, gigantic flower.

-Kieeeeeek!

Despite unleashing all attacks she could muster, Sung Mi-Na couldn’t even pluck a single petal.

She fell into despair—it was as if she was reliving that harrowing, fateful day all over again. The nightmarish day where everyone was devoured by that abomination, leaving her and Sung Mi-Ri behind.

Flick flick flick!

The taunting flower wrapped its vines all over her body, before revealing its hideous fangs.

Grrr!

Abyssal darkness stared back at Sung Mi-Na.

“Ahhh! N-nooo!” She screamed, tears welling up in her eyes.

However, the Night Rose only chuckled, as if relishing her terror.

“P-please! I still have things left to do... I can’t die like this!”

Night Rose cared not for her pleas. Like an insect caught in a venus flytrap, Sung Mi-Na was devoured by the nightmare incarnate.

Gulp!

***

Snore—

As I sank into the swamp of the mental space, I wrapped the darkness around me like a blanket and drifted to sleep. It was cozier than I thought. Maybe I could use this method to cure my insomnia...

“God, p-please save me...”

The voice of a scared little girl interrupted my sleep.

“Wahhhh!”

“D-don’t cry, Mi-Ri. Unni is here.”

Mi-Ri? The familiar name made me curious.

[The innate power Blind Eyes of God has been activated.]

[You’re watching Sung Mi-Na’s “nightmare.”]

Flash!

All of the sudden, I was no longer in the world of darkness. Then, the figures of two children entered my sight. The older child hugged the younger, both shivering like cold, drenched ducklings.

The youngest seemed to be about my niece’s age. In her hand was a golden cross. As soon as I saw it, information about it appeared in my head. It was given by her parents.

After hiding the two in the basement, their parents acted as decoys, before ultimately getting devoured by it.

-Kyaaaa!

-Arghhh! Save me!

“Oh, God... Please save me...”

The desperate cries of people.

Praying pitifully to God, the younger child clutched the golden cross so tightly that her palm bled. Her prayer went unheard amidst the ensuing hell.

-Grrr!

Then, I saw a gargantuan dragon. Its long, forked tongue swept through the city, devouring humans. Such a horrifying and surreal sight it was, like an anteater swooping through an anthill to eat ants.

I finally realized what it was. The strange horns sprouting from its head, resembling a spiky crown, was a dead giveaway. Fifteen years ago, a massive earthquake struck South Korea. Following that, a seemingly endless SSS-rank crack opened up on the ground, bringing forth the worst monster in history.

Abysm Dragon. The legendary monster that had turned the world upside down and claimed millions of lives, before being slain by the World Alliance.

The younger child cried and wailed, scattering yellow sparks around her.

Tzz! Tzzz!

”D-don’t cry, Mi-Ri. The monster won’t be able to find us. When have I ever lost at hide-and-seek?”

The child’s eyes turned blue.

I can become stronger. And when that time comes, that Abysm Dragon will...!

Her growing power convinced her that she’d be able to rise into Rank SSS one day, the so-called god’s domain. At the same time, Mi-Na realized that it also came at the cost of her life.

For some reason, her body had stopped growing at some point. Her organs were degenerating, and she experienced hemoptysis repeatedly.

Regardless, Mi-Na was willing to endure everything as long as she could exact revenge on the Abysm Dragon. But then, an incident occurred when Sung Mi-Ri was nine years old...

“Unni, look at this. Isn’t it amazing?”

Mi-Ri blew up an entire hill with a single lightning flash, proving that she’d reached S-rank.

“Unni...what’s wrong? I’m scared...”

Mi-Ri did it to be praised by her only sister, who was akin to a parental figure, but she ended up terrifying Mi-Na instead.

Mi-Na could live with this curse, even if she only had less than a decade left. As long as she could get her revenge, she’d die with a smile.

But what about Mi-Ri? What if her parents’ only legacy died without ever growing into someone she wanted to become?

No, not on her watch.

“Mi-Ri, look at me.” Mi-Na’s eyes shone blue.

“U-Unni? What’s wrong?”

Trickle!

Rotten, black blood spilled from her eyes and nose. Despite having become an SS-rank Hunter, she still couldn’t remove the mark left by the dragon.

But at the very least, if she risked her own life, she should be able to seal it.

The essence of Sung Mi-Ri’s power, the Thunder Beast within her soul.

“Aaaaargh! Unni, it hurts! Stop it!”

“Shut up! You talentless idiot! Don’t ever think of becoming a Hunter!”

And yet, I could hear the voice of Mi-Na’s heart.

-You should lead a normal life, Mi-Ri. Before I die, I’ll get rid of everything that stands in your way. So please, my dear little sister, please... live on.

Ding!

[Devoured by Night Rose, Sung Mi-Na’s consciousness is breaking down.]

[You have destroyed the Mental Space restricting you.]

Along with those messages...

“Gasp!”

I woke up from her nightmare.

***

Humans were tormented beings. Throughout the tribulations of life, humans faced countless problems and struggled to solve them. And I, a Lowest-tier God, was no different on Earth.

Sword Demon crept up on me. “Mr. Sword God, I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“We’re in a deserted mountain right now. Why don’t we get rid of her quietly?” he said, silently unsheathing his sword.

“Hahaha, Mr. Sword Demon, no—Sword Demon.”

“Oooh! You finally decided to forego the honorifics! Yes! Mr. Sword God! I’ll do whatever you ask!”

“Shut up and stick your head on the ground.”

“Understood!” Sword Demon obediently followed his master’s order.

Meanwhile, with a throbbing head, I cautiously turned to Sung Mi-Na. She was curled up on the ground.

“Uhm, Ms. Sung Mi-Na?”

She looked up at me, giving me an innocent smile that no one had probably witnessed before.

It made my heart flutter, but for a different reason.

Please don’t smile at me like that. I’d rather you glare at me or treat me like trash.

Whether she knew what I was thinking, Sung Mi-Na tilted her head sideways and said, “...Mommy?”

I clutched my head.

Fuck, I’m about to lose my mind.