Clerics offered prayers to the gods five times a day: at dawn, morning, noon, evening, and night.

This was a kind of privilege exclusive to clerics.

According to the law, those who were not clerics could not offer prayers more than twice a day.

Although Park Yeon was deeply devout, he could not be considered a cleric. He prayed only twice a day, in accordance with the law.

Morning and night.

That routine did not change even after coming to Earth.

In the pitch-black depth of night, Park Yeon was holding something in his hand. It was a rosary called Kadis, made of thirty blue beads symbolizing the gods.

“O merciful, compassionate, and generous gods. The servant of the gods, Veltebray, makes an appeal to the gods……”

Park Yeon trailed off in the middle of his prayer and sighed. His anguish kept rearing its head.

Park Yeon had never once in his life doubted the benevolence of the gods.

Yet now he was plagued by doubts about the gods’ goodness.

He could not offer a prayer while full of turmoil.

Just like yesterday, Park Yeon powerlessly set down the rosary.

He felt as though a seed of doubt toward the gods had sprouted in a corner of his heart.

To think such impure thoughts—there was nothing Park Yeon could do but torment himself.

Letting out a deep sigh, Park Yeon left the shop without even wearing shoes. He relied on the moonlight and just walked, aimlessly, again and again.

Even when his feet were scraped and bled from the jagged asphalt, even when scratches formed from the thorny bushes—

He just kept walking without direction. Somehow, he felt that if he continued self-punishing like this, he would find an answer.

Then, at that moment—

“……!”

Park Yeon widened his eyes. Like last time, he felt a very faint energy. And that faint energy was growing stronger and stronger.

‘Divine power……’

It was clearly divine power. Far deeper and purer than the divine power he had felt from Karanus before.

There might once again be a dragon that had lost its ego waiting for him—but he found that he no longer cared.

The energy thickened. And when he reached the source of that energy—

“Veltebray.”

At the voice behind him, Park Yeon turned his head. And he doubted his eyes.

‘A Celestial……’

It was a Celestial. That deep divine power, those pure white wings—without a doubt, a Celestial. Park Yeon, staring blankly at the Celestial, bowed his head.

“The servant of the gods, Veltebray, receives the glory of the gods.”

“Pleased to meet you, Veltebray. My name is Kadalan.”

“It is an honor, Lord Kadalan.”

“Veltebray, I have come on behalf of all the gods to convey their will to you.”

From Kadalan’s virtuous energy, divine power, and warmth, the torment that Park Yeon had just been feeling seemed to fade away.

Meanwhile, Kadalan spoke again.

“The gods wish for you, Veltebray, to uphold the Oracle given to you.”

Park Yeon, who had waited joyfully for a response—

Opened his eyes wide and lifted his head.

From Kadalan, he still felt warmth.

“Are you certain?”

Trbilon asked Kadalan. With a brightened face, Kadalan quickly nodded.

“Yes!”

“A man of deep faith indeed.”

“He certainly appeared that way.”

A gentle smile formed at the corners of Trbilon’s lips. A human with steadfast faith in the gods was always a great joy to them.

“This will make things much easier.”

It was Herpheteron, who held one of the seats among the Arconus.

“It is fortunate.”

“However……”

“What’s the matter?”

“Isn’t it possible the Hero may fail in his task?”

It was Kadalan who answered.

“That will not happen.”

“Lord Kadalan, we are all-knowing about this world, yes—but we are not omniscient or omnipotent about all worlds. We must not grow complacent.”

“Of course. But the Hero is someone who can wield the Celestial Sword.”

Herpheteron made a face full of interest.

The Celestial Sword held the energy of the Beginning, from a time when the world had not yet existed. The energy of the Beginning was closely tied to the concept of creation.

The energy of the Beginning could create all things—or destroy them.

Even if it could not create, the Celestial Sword, imbued with that energy, could at least destroy.

If pointed at a great mountain and swung, the mountain would be cleaved in two.

If pointed at the vast sea and swung, the sea would be split.

If pointed at the high skies and swung, the heavens would be torn asunder.

That was the power of the energy held by the Celestial Sword.

Celestials, being part of the Beginning, naturally knew how to wield the Celestial Sword. However, not all Celestials could wield it.

Among the Helrotone, whose divine power was weak, there were those who could not even lift the Celestial Sword, let alone wield it.

Yet here was someone who could lift the Celestial Sword that even Celestials could not.

It was no wonder Herpheteron was intrigued. It seemed the other Arconus around the round table felt the same, as they all exclaimed in admiration.

“Truly befitting a Hero chosen by the Oracle.”

“They say even that troublesome Deikarant was defeated by him.”

“Still, to think he could wield the Celestial Sword……”

While everyone was marveling, Trbilon asked,

“Was he able to wield it?”

“Yes.”

Kadalan nodded and pulled a feather from his robes to show them. The feather had been cut in half.

“He cut my feather with the Celestial Sword.”

Another round of exclamations burst forth. Kadalan was a lower Celestial. But just because he was Helrotone did not mean he wasn’t a Celestial.

He, too, was a proper Celestial presiding over human greed.

Simply being able to lift the Celestial Sword would not be enough to cut his feather.

That his feather had been split in two was proof that the Celestial Sword could indeed be wielded.

“It’s too early to celebrate.”

The one who poured cold water on the festive mood was the Arconus, Temeus.

“In the past, the Demon God was not cut by the Celestial Sword.”

Back when a war broke out due to the invasion of the Celestial Realm—

The Arconuses had once joined forces to strike down the Demon God. But even the Celestial Sword, which could slice through massive mountains, vast seas, and the sky itself, failed to cut him.

Instead, the pure-white Celestial Swords that touched his body turned crimson and shattered into pieces.

Temeus vividly remembered that moment—no, that shock.

“Wasn’t it because we let our guard down?”

“The Celestial Sword isn’t a divine artifact that fails to cut simply because of negligence.”

With that reasonable remark, the mood sank. Kadalan cautiously stepped forward.

“Lord Temeus, your point is valid. However, the reason the Arconuses failed to cut the Demon God back then was because they struck head-on.”

“And this time is different?”

“The Demon God seemed to consider the Hero a friend.”

“Hmm.”

“No matter how mighty the Demon God may be, if the Celestial Sword is driven straight through from behind, he won’t be able to withstand it.”

Temeus nodded and took his seat. As Kadalan said, if they targeted the Demon God at a moment of vulnerability, the outcome could be different.

At the moment the Demon God realizes he has lost the demonic energy that comprises his entire being, he will vanish.

All the gods at the Round Table smiled contentedly.

In their smiles, there was not a trace of divine compassion or benevolence to be found.

Rain was falling. Seo-jun sat by the window, gazing idly at the downpour.

Just then, Seo-woo, who was playing with Yeoksam in a raincoat, looked his way and waved his hand.

Seo-jun waved back. Giggling brightly, Seo-woo splashed through the puddles again.

“Is there something outside?”

“You’re awake.”

“I woke up a while ago.”

“You didn’t come out, so I thought you were still asleep.”

Park Yeon sat next to Seo-jun without a word.

“You always seem to watch the rain fall whenever it rains. Why is that?”

“Have you ever been to the Demon Realm?”

“No. I’ve only heard of it.”

“It doesn’t rain in the Demon Realm.”

“……”

With that one sentence, everything made sense.

After a brief pause, Park Yeon spoke.

“Sentimental for a Demon King.”

“Better to be sentimental than barren. You should try living with a bit of feeling too. Don’t just drown yourself in cola. Your teeth will rot.”

“Who cares what I do.”

Seo-jun shrugged. Just then, the light drizzle began to fall more heavily.

He liked the soft patter of light rain, but he also liked the sound of pouring rain striking the asphalt.

Seo-jun closed his eyes and laid his head down, listening to the rain. Hesitantly, Park Yeon mimicked him.

But unlike Seo-jun, Park Yeon kept fidgeting and shifting.

“Hey.”

“……”

“Are you sleeping?”

Seo-jun opened his eyes slightly while still lying down.

“I have something to ask.”

Seo-jun blinked as if to say, ‘Go on.’

“It’s just… well, you see…”

Perhaps struggling to find the right words, Park Yeon hesitated to speak.

Maybe sensing what Park Yeon was about to say, Seo-jun closed his eyes again and spoke.

“I told you, don’t mind what I say. Just hold on to your belief.”

“No, not that…”

Seo-jun opened his eyes slightly again.

“You remember a long time ago.”

“When exactly?”

“When you descended into the human world.”

“Ah, when I was acting as Zarbet.”

Back then, he had wandered the human realm, pretending to be a foolish noble named Zarbet.

“Right.”

“But why bring that up now?”

“Back then…”

Still struggling to say it, Park Yeon hesitated again. Then, after a long pause, he tightly closed his eyes and spoke.

“Why did you keep sparing my life back then?”

“Because I felt sorry for you?”

Seo-jun smirked as he joked, but then he noticed Park Yeon’s frozen expression. He wanted a serious answer.

“Because you’re human.”

“What?”

“I spared you because you’re human.”

“What… does that mean?”

“It doesn’t mean anything. I spared you because you bleed red, just like me.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

“Then what about those rumors?”

“What rumors?”

“The ones about you turning every village you passed through into a wasteland and stealing all their souls. And about how you slaughtered every priest at the temples you passed by.”

“I didn’t know such rumors existed.”

“Answer me. What about those rumors?”

“There were times I passed through ruined villages.”

“……”

“By the time I got there, they were already devastated. There weren’t any residents left. Except raiders. I killed them. The temples?”

“……”

“When I traveled, I avoided places with temples. Of course, sometimes I passed by them accidentally, but in those cases, the so-called heretics were already slaughtering the priests.”

“So you saved them?”

“Not all of them. I was too late for most. But I did manage to save about five.”

“Then why were they all found dead?”

Seo-jun fell silent. He knew the truth. He hadn’t seen it with his eyes, but he had sensed it.

But no matter what truth he told, Park Yeon wouldn’t believe him. No—he would refuse to believe it. His faith was that unshakable.

“I never killed them. That’s all.”

For a brief moment, Park Yeon’s eyes trembled.

Silence lingered between them. Seo-jun closed his eyes again to listen to the rain. And Park Yeon…

“……”

Sat there lost in thought, fiddling aimlessly with his fingers.

Some time passed, and the downpour gradually softened back into a drizzle.

That’s when Seo-jun spoke in a subdued voice.

“If you can, make it a clean stab. So Seo-woo doesn’t see.”