The next moment, an invisible weight crushed down on Nigel. Without meaning to, he staggered and dropped to his knees. Glarus, taking on the form of twenty-three-year-old Nigel, looked down on twelve-year-old Nigel with arrogant disdain.
“Ugh…”
Was I ever that insufferable-looking?
Was it because the opponent standing before him was a god towering above mere humans? That cold, condescending gaze cut sharper than ice. A chilling dread swept over Nigel as Glarus’s sinister mana stirred ominously. His small hands trembled violently.
[I’ve come to deliver a revelation in person. Quests alone don’t seem to get your full effort.]
Nigel clenched his teeth to avoid showing weakness.
“You’re the one who gave me the quest…?”
[As you probably guessed. Yes, I did.]
“You don’t… sound much like him, though.”
[Because I didn’t need to reveal myself in that form. Hiding it served my purpose.]
The indifferent response sent Nigel’s mind racing. He’d suspected—when they talked about a divine messenger or whatever—that Glarus might be the one assigning him the quests. But he hadn’t actually believed it. The way the quest-giver talked, so plain and unimpressive, had made him doubt.
So the one targeting Inas is a god?
He didn’t want to believe it. But in truth, it was more plausible for a god to meddle in the <System> than for a mere mortal. Not that it made accepting the truth any easier.
“Can you prove you really are a god?”
[Insolent little brat.]
Glarus scowled as if the very idea of proving himself to someone like Nigel was insulting.
[It won’t be hard. Once you open your eyes in the real world, you’ll know immediately.]
“……”
Nigel simply nodded. Glarus still looked displeased, but he didn’t press the issue. He just kept staring with that strange, unsettling intensity before speaking again.
[The revelation I’ve come to deliver is the same as the quest. Eliminate Inas Idenbach. End the eternal repetition of this world. You may have said you wanted no part in it—but if you do it, you’ll naturally claim all glory and become my divine messenger.]
“I already killed Inas.”
[Of course. But just killing him means nothing. Do you know how many times he’s died? If death alone solved anything, I’d have handled it long ago. I’ve killed him hundreds of times myself.]
That wasn’t just the detached arrogance of a god gazing down at mortals. It was personal. He said he’d killed Inas himself—countless times. That meant he’d faced him countless times, too.
The power radiating from Glarus was overwhelming—far too immense and terrifying for a mere human like Nigel to handle. But even more than fear, what surged within him was fury. Nigel glared up at Glarus.
“If simply killing him is meaningless, then why give me a quest to do it?”
[Because I had to know. Whether you had the will to kill Inas Idenbach.]
Glarus let out a laugh, clearly amused by Nigel’s anger.
[And now I do.]
What “confirmation”…?
Fury flared in his chest. But there was nothing he could say to refute it. He had, after all, killed Inas—just as the quest required.
He was angry. At this moment, all Nigel could feel was hatred for the arrogant, insufferable god before him. If only Glarus had never given him the quest. If only he hadn’t planted the seed of this entire mess. Maybe then Inas wouldn’t have killed Etna. Maybe then…
Nigel bit his lip. It was all just foolish regret. In the end, verifying Inas’s claims had been necessary. But emotion blinded him to reason. His heart cried out that he just wanted to love Inas.
As Nigel stayed silent, Glarus suddenly stepped in close. The oppressive presence reminded Nigel of a predator looming over its prey. He didn’t want to be afraid—but it was impossible not to be.
Glarus grabbed Nigel’s arms and pulled him up. The face he’d seen in the mirror all his life looked completely different as it loomed inches from his own.
[Simple death isn’t enough.]
His rage was startlingly human for someone who claimed to be divine.
[Break Inas Idenbach’s mind. Shatter it. Crush his existence until not a single trace of him remains in this world.]
The words dripped with cruelty. Each syllable felt like a weight pressing on Nigel’s soul.
He’d expected something like this. But hearing it still hurt.
Even if he had parted ways with Inas, Nigel had never intended to harm him. Inas had been his. And watching someone else kick what was once yours—no matter the context—never felt good.
But the atmosphere was so tense, it felt like outright refusal might get him killed on the spot. He couldn’t openly rebel. All he could do was shake his head.
“I… I can’t do that.”
[Can’t?]
“I didn’t say I won’t. Just… it took everything I had to kill him the first time…”
For a second, Glarus’s face twisted in fury—but then he broke into a grin. The way his mood flipped so suddenly, it was like dealing with a lunatic.
[No, you’re doing splendidly. Only you can destroy him.]
“Me…?”
[He’s obsessed with you.]
“……”
[Kill him. Deny him. Hurt him. Crush him. Just like last time.]
“What are you even talking about…”
[Just remember this. Inas Idenbach is the root of all things. And he is the one who will bring misfortune upon you.]
Glarus clearly had no intention of explaining what he meant.
Do gods go mad from looping, too? He seemed to think more like a human than a divine being. Maybe that’s why…
It was disgusting. Glarus looked like a madman. Nigel hadn’t exactly been devout to begin with, but now even the faintest trace of faith was gone.
Glaring down at Nigel’s rebellious expression, Glarus finally let go of him. With the supporting force gone, Nigel stumbled and fell backward.
“Ugh…”
[If you eliminate <Inas Idenbach>, I’ll grant you a wish.]
Glarus said it like he was doing Nigel a great favor. Nigel frowned. How could he offer to grant someone’s wish when he didn’t even know what that wish was?
“What kind of wish? I don’t even have any—”
[I’ll resurrect your brother, Etna, as one of my own.]
Nigel’s eyes widened in shock. Resurrect Etna? That was something he’d never even imagined.
“Is… is that even possible?”
[If Odelrat, a mere vassal of Edelta, can do it—why wouldn’t I be able to?]
“Still…”
Logically, he had a point. Even if Glarus acted like a total bastard, he was a god who maintained the world’s balance. Compared to being revived through some evil god or a mad dragon, resurrection through Glarus’s power would probably be far more stable.
But even so, it wasn’t a decision he could make lightly.
No matter how divine Glarus was, in this situation, he was still just someone threatening Nigel. Could resurrecting Etna using such a being’s power really be the right choice? Wouldn’t it just be another form of coercion?
[I can see what you’re thinking.]
There was no hiding it. Glarus sneered knowingly.
[Your family’s on the line, and you’re still playing moral games? How pathetic.]
“No, I just…”
[Etna will be revived.]
He cut Nigel off and declared it unilaterally.
“I haven’t even decided yet—”
[Doesn’t matter. Etna will be resurrected. What happens after… depends on you.]
Nigel was speechless. It was practically a threat. Etna’s life would become the perfect leash.
But what could he do? Life and death were beyond a mortal’s control. No way he could fight back.
What a fucking bastard.
Glarus didn’t care about Nigel’s outrage. After a moment of thought, he smiled faintly and reached out. His long, pale fingers touched Nigel’s forehead and began to glow.
The next moment, a series of windows appeared in front of Nigel’s eyes.
<system: You have obtained a new Title.>
<system: You have obtained new Skills.>
Glarus smirked in satisfaction beyond the message windows.
[It may be hard to accept, but doing as I say will be better for you in the end.]
With those words, Glarus’s figure began to fade. At the same time, Nigel, who had been standing on a groundless void, started to fall.
Despite how grim the situation was, the fall didn’t feel dangerous. If Glarus had wanted him dead, he wouldn’t have wasted time with threats. Instead of panicking, Nigel calmly read the windows floating in the light.
Divine Messenger
A Title granted to a unique human who has received a revelation from Glarus for the first time in a thousand years. Revered by the priests and followers of Glarus.
Effects:
MP +1000
Magic Power +1000
Magic Defense +1000
Unlocks Special Stat: <Faith>
Faith +1000
Skills Overview
Combat Skills
Heal – Lv. 1
Resurrection – Lv. 1
Special Skills
Revelation of Lies – Lv. 1
Divine Mastery – Lv. 1
Observer’s Eye – Lv. 1
Revelation of Lies
Converts your words into Glarus’s divine message and spreads it to those around you. Has absolute influence depending on the listener’s faith. Warning: Effectiveness may decrease if used in unreasonable situations or excessively abused.
Divine Mastery
Leaves the user with 1 HP and 1 MP, but completely heals all of a target’s HP, MP, abnormal statuses, and even permanent damage. User will suffer a random abnormal status.
Observer’s Eye
Grants perfect understanding and decryption of all languages and codes.
Some of this looks insanely good… but also weird in places.
Before he could finish sorting through it all, Nigel’s feet touched solid ground. The return to reality spread through his senses. The familiar scent of the temple, the cool air—and dozens of eyes staring at him from every direction.
Slowly, Nigel opened his eyes.
Who knew how much time had passed? The room was packed with priests, all crowding around him. The moment they saw him wrapped in a pillar of light upon entering the temple, they must have known—this was divine intervention.
Even though he’d asked Glarus to prove himself, if he’d known it’d be this dramatic, he wouldn’t have bothered. What was he supposed to do now?
He felt like he might pass out. His head was spinning…
“Nigel!”
He heard Ruder’s voice shouting behind him. Ah. I’m fainting, he thought, and then—Nigel truly passed out.
