Chapter 255: Star, the Apostle Battle (5)

Chapter 255: Star, the Apostle Battle (5)

Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes as the Elemental Spirit Knight mentioned Odin. When Chang-Sun had fallen into Mimisbrunnr, he had met an old man who could have been his previous incarnation in his subconsciousness. The man had one eye and a ferocious demeanor; two crows had sat on his shoulders, and hungry wolves had roamed around him.

At the time, Chang-Sun had instinctively realized that the old man was Odin, the Ruling Celestial of the extinct <Asgard>. No one else would have such a unique appearance, nor would they talk about ‘gnosis’ the way he had. However, Chang-Sun was unsure whether he was really Odin’s reincarnation, because there was no physical proof. He had thought he could simply be the reincarnation of someone who looked similar to Odin, but the Elemental Spirit Knight told him with certainty that he was indeed Odin’s reincarnation.

“Did the Kraken’s hallucination also show the dormant memories in my soul?” Chang-Sun asked, because the only hallucination he had seen was a memory of his family when things had been good.

The Elemental Spirit Knight smiled faintly and said, “No. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see it, since you woke up before I did.”

“Then?” Chang-Sun asked.

“But you have all the indicators. No matter how you passed away, began your samsara, or lost all your memories, you’re bound to subconsciously retain the habits you had as a Celestial,” the Elemental Spirit Knight said.

“So that’s why I have to be Odin?” Chang-Sun asked.

“Yes, that’s right. Your storms, lightning, Undead Army, runes, madness, fights, belligerent temper, [Magical Eye]...” the Elemental Spirit Knight said, pointing at Chang-Sun.

Chang-Sun stroked his left eye. It seemed that his [Gnostic Eye] looked like a [Magical Eye] to the apostles.

“Who could you possibly be other than Odin?” the Elemental Spirit Knight shouted in delight.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Having gained a rough idea of what the apostles thought, Chang-Sun chuckled.

“Nonsense! He’s obviously Balor,” the Plague Monster said with a scoff after watching the conversation between Chang-Sun and the Elemental Spirit Knight.

Pouting slightly, the Elemental Spirit Knight asked, “What do you mean?”

“One eye, death, magic, a Giant, a fighter... These indicators point to Balor,” the Plague Monster said with a shrug.

Balor was a Giant Warrior who had died long ago after becoming the enemy of the <Society> named <Tuatha Dé Danann[1]>. He was also the son of Buarainech, the Celestial of magic, and had a <Myth> about how one of his eyes had been ruined after accidentally inhaling the poisonous fumes of a potion that his father’s subordinates had been creating. Whenever anyone ,ade eye contact with his ruined eye, they all died, so it was no wonder that the Plague Monster had mentioned Balor after meeting Chang-Sun.

[The Celestial ‘Aquarius’ says that you could be the deceased Tomte.][2]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ adds that you should not forget about the Forgotten Star Perkwunos.][3]

...

[The Dungeon Channel KR-9,721 has erupted into an uproar due to the viewing Celestials giving their opinions!]

[The <Management Bureau> employees are pulling out their hair.]

Chang-Sun chuckled dumbfoundedly, watching the Celestials who were busy discussing who he could be the reincarnation of. All the names they mentioned belonged to Celestials who had died, plummeted, or been forgotten. However, they shared some things in common: They were fighters who had primarily used lightning, storm, magic, and spears.

“Someday, many people will doubt your real identity. We need to hide it as long as we can, but you’ll stand out after earning all those achievements,” Thanatos said.

“Of course. Not everyone in <Heaven> is a fool,” Chang-Sun remarked.

“At first, they’ll want to find out who’s behind you, then uncover your identity. After that, they’ll consider the possibility of you being a Fallen Star. That’s when I’m going to create a distraction,” Thanatos continued.

“A distraction?” Chang-Sun asked.

“Yes. We’ll need to use one, since we can’t keep things secret forever,” Thanatos said with a nod.

“What are you going to do?” Chang-Sun asked.

“‘The <Underworld> will release a number of Fallen Stars to the <Saha World> in secret to keep <Heaven> in check.’ Something along those lines,” Thanatos said, smiling mischievously.

Jörmungandr was a key member of <Niflheim>, so he seemed a bit nervous after hearing the Elemental Spirit Knight’s conjecture. It was understandable, because if Chang-Sun was really Odin’s reincarnation, that meant Jörmungandr had been supporting his old enemy. Since Pabilsag knew that, she was comforting Jörmungandr.

“Well, that sounds pretty convincing,” Urash said with a chuckle, looking at Chang-Sun. Despite his answer, however, he seemed to be convinced of something else.

“Of course, I could be wrong. The rumor about Lee Chang-Sun being the secret weapon of the <Underworld> could just be false. He may have become who he is today by being born with as much talent as—no, more talent than—the deceased ‘Divine Twilight,” the Elemental Spirit Knight concluded before continuing, “Regardless of what the truth is, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re the man of talent that everyone wants, Lee Chang-Sun, so...”

“I should join you?” Chang-Sun asked.

The Elemental Spirit Knight nodded fervently and said, “If you’re really with the <Underworld>, you should join me... But why not do so even if you aren’t? You might have reached your current level with your talent, but you’ll eventually run into a wall. Let me and my comrades help you...!”

The moment the Elemental Spirit Knight was about to finish speaking, Chang-Sun pierced the ground with the swords he was holding. It was unclear what he was trying to do. Feeling nervous for some reason, the Elemental Spirit Knight stopped speaking and looked at him. The Plague Monster and Urash did the same.

Chang-Sun suddenly reached out his hand in another direction and said, “Come.”

Whoosh!

[Gram], which had been stuck in the center of the stage, rattled and floated into the air, before quickly landing in Chang-Sun’s palm.

Ooooong, ooooong―!

[Gram] shook violently as if to say that it was glad to meet Chang-Sun again.

―Where have you been.

―I have returned

―to you.

Chang-Sun also heard the voice of [Gram]. Although [Gram] could not speak in full sentences, Chang-Sun was able to sense positive emotions in its voice; the sword was happy and thrilled to meet its previous owner again.

“You said I wouldn’t be able to uncover the secrets of my soul, right?” Chang-Sun asked, one side of his mouth curling up as he looked at the Elemental Spirit Knight.

Although one of his reasons for listening to their hypotheses without saying anything was that he was following Thanatos’ plan, the other reason was that he wanted to know how far they would go with their ridiculous theories. Chang-Sun was right there, but they had kept coming up with ideas and discussing which one was more right without listening to what Chang-Sun had to say. It was absurd.

Who were they to decide what was possible or impossible? Chang-Sun was Odin, Balor, Tomte, or Perkwunos? So? So what? He did not care who they were, because they were just ancient remnants he could not even remember.

Regardless of everything else, the person who was here today was Lee Chang-Sun, the fiend ‘Divine Twilight’—no, the Fiend Star who had caused the fall of countless Celestials.

“You can just see for yourself,” Chang-Sun said.

Pzzzzz!

His Atra Fulmen energy covered [Gram] in a flash. The relic that had been used to hunt dragons shone brilliantly once Chang-Sun expelled the demonic energy from it.

[You have successfully connected with ‘Gram’, your old weapon!]

[The Trait ‘Close-Combat Master’ has been applied, awakening the dormant energy in ‘Gram’.]

[Some of your limitations have been temporarily removed, revealing the Divine Class of ‘Divine Twilight’!]

1. This actually refers to a supernatural race in Irish mythology. ☜

2. While a Tomte is a mythological creature from Nordic folklore, and is normally said to take the form of a gnome typically associated with the winter solstice and the Christmas season, in TDTR the name Tomte has something to do with fighting. ☜

3. A weather deity in Proto-Indo-European Mythology. ☜

4. This was translated according to the raws, but Huginn actually means ‘thought.’ ☜