Chapter 474: Star, Identity Establishment (12)

Chapter 474: Star, Identity Establishment (12)

Perkwunos took Chang-Sun to a cafe in the Namsan Tower. They could see the entirety of Seoul from their vantage point, but there was no one in the big cafe. There were no employees or tourists.

I like it here because the view is very liberating, Perkwunos said as he sat in a chair next to a large window, enjoying Seouls scenery. A cup of steaming hot coffee was on top of the table. He offered, Why dont you take a seat too?

Still standing, Chang-Sun glared at Perkwunos and said, I havent gotten the answers to my questions.

Theres no need to hurry. Ill tell you all about it, so sit over there. Its the best spot in this cafe.

Chang-Sun felt uneasy because he still had no idea what Perkwunos was trying to do, but Perkwunos had the initiative in this conversation, leaving Chang-Sun no choice but to sit down on the opposite side. As he let out a sigh, a cup of coffee miraculously appeared in front of him.

Its made with Colombian Huila Supremo coffee beans. It has a thick chocolate scent and the perfect level of acidity, and it also tastes delicately savory.

Chang-Sun was dumbfounded, but decided to play along and took a sip. His eyes soon widened, because it was tastier than he had expected.

How is it? Its good, right? Perkwunos chuckled, setting his coffee down on the coaster. I like traveling around Seoul very much. The Namsan Tower were in is good, and the Lotte Tower is also great. The night scenery of those places is magnificent. If you want to enjoy a view of the river, you can go to the Hangang Park. You can also head to the Bukhan Mountain or the Inwang Mountain to enjoy nature. Observing the people of Seoul is also a great way to spend time. You can never feel bored in this place. Do you have a favorite place of your own?

Chang-Sun remembered a couple of places where he had gone on a date with Cha Ye-Eun, but he just shook his head.

Anyway, I like this place. Some call it a desolate, suffocating city, but this place is my dearest homeland, Perkwunos said with a shrug.

Is that why you changed this place to look like your homeland? Chang-Sun asked.

Of course.

Is it because you want to remember your homeland?

No, Its not. Perkwunos slowly turned to look at Chang-Sun, his eyes filled with various emotions. Its because I want to go back to my homeland, but I cant.

Chang-Sun could see deep nostalgia and regret in Perkwunos eyes.

I never heard that the Original Worldline met <Extinction>, Chang-Sun murmured.

The place is still there. Its the Great Universes foundation and center, so theres no way that <Deus Ex Machina> would let anything happen to it. Its just Im not there.

Chang-Sun realized that Perkwunos was providing the long-overdue answers in his own way.

You dont remember all your 666 lives, do you? You were born as Lee Chang-Sun first and are absorbing the other egos one by one to be whole, going upstream through our timeline, but its different for me. I remember every moment as Balor, Tomte, Odin, and It took a moment for Perkwunos to go on. ...as Lee Chang-Sun.

Chang-Sun noticed that Perkwunos became tense every time he spoke the name Lee Chang-Sun.

I found out that this sickeningly tiring <Punishment> would come to an end after repeating samsara 666 times, and Id have true peace, Perkwunos continued.

Chang-Sun nodded. Even though he did not know exactly what Perkwunos life had been like in the Original Worldline, he had a feeling that it could not have been easy. From his first life to his 666th life, Perkwunos must have suffered unimaginably as he failed to escape the cycle of despair and hopelessness. It was only natural for him to seek eternal peace out of sheer fatigue.

While I was waiting for my eternal peaceI suddenly wondered about something. Even if I was tired and only wanted my peace, what was going to happen to my other selves in different Worldlines?

Chang-Sun could tell that this was where he had to pay attention. All of his selves across the Worldlines, not just Perkwunos, were receiving the <Punishment> because all of them had the .

You saw <Extinction>, Chang-Sun speculated.

I knew that I wasnt allowed to have a 667th life, but it wasnt as if samsara itself was going to end just because my <Punishment> ended. I wondered what would happen afterward, Perkwunos replied.

He had wondered if he would then be <Released> or receive another , but he could not have been more wrong. What awaited him was <Extinction>.

I managed to hold on to some of my treasures, and yet theyll still be taken from me in the end too! Perkwunoss hand trembled, making the remaining coffee in his cup undulate violently.

Tap.

Tap

Perkwunos had left the cafe so Chang-Sun could organize his thoughts. That was why Chang-Sun was tapping on his coffee cup without any reason.

Its crazy, he muttered, unable to help but sigh after discovering the whole truth. Everything Perkwunos had said rang in Chang-Suns ears.

Youve seen the holy icon on the metal gate on your way over here, yes? But its no mere icon. Its an image of a fable.

That was how Perkwunos explained the image of the serpent opening its mouth wide to eat the [Forbidden Fruit].

Before I received my , I had been the lighthouse keeper who managed the <Fire of Origin>.

The lighthouse keeper? Chang-Sun asked.

You can think of it as someone who manages or oversees the fire left after the universes creation, so it wont die out.

Chang-Sun repeated the word lighthouse keeper in his mind.

The <Fire of Origin> isnt just the fire used to create the universe. Its the seed of all souls in the Great Universe, Perkwunos continued.

Chang-Sun remembered a book he had read in the Changgong Library some time ago.

A human soul is originally fire, and it shows and guides a human in a path of truth as their rationality, protecting them from the darkness of ignorance. When a person dies physically, the heat goes up, and their souls fire heads to the sky and becomes a star in the night sky. (<The Masks of God> written by Joseph Campbell)

The root of the Great Universes laws of nature was the <Fire of Origin>.

I fell to the temptation of power and knowledge that the fire represented. With its infinite potential, I thought I could become anything. but I didnt know one thing. Obtaining omnipotence and omniscience didnt necessarily mean that I would become absolute.

In the end, the Number of Beast was the and <Punishment> that Perkwunos had received for abandoning his duty as the lighthouse keeper.

The apple in the fable is the <Fire of Origin>, and the serpent is Perkwunos, Chang-Sun thought, understanding why he and Perkwunos were suffering like this.

However, that was why he was still left with an unanswered question. Who could have appointed Perkwunos as the lighthouse keeper and put the on him?

Then let me ask you one more question, Chang-Sun said.

What is it?

Why is <Deus Ex Machina> not doing anything? He acted as if he knew nothing about us, but there is no way he wouldnt know, if the lighthouse keeper is such an important person, Chang-Sun asked, tilting his head in confusion.

<Deus Ex Machina> oversaw the universes laws of nature and casualty, so it was odd that he did not know about the <Fire of Origin> No, even aside from that, Chang-Suns <Punishment> would badly affect Ye-Eun, the baby sister of <Deus Ex Machina>, so there was no way he would not know about it. And yet

He doesnt know? Perkwunos laughed dumbfoundedly.Its ridiculous.

The moment he heard Perkwunos answer, Chang-Sun felt his heart sink, able to picture the golden machine eyes of <Deus Ex Machina>.

Hes the one who put the on me, so how could he not know? Perkwunos continued, looking at Chang-Sun in disbelief.

Tick!

Tick!

For some reason, Chang-Sun felt as if he could hear mechanical sounds