## Chapter 1241 – Shurdick Great Desert

“I shall become the savior of souls.”

I finished organizing my thoughts, reflecting on the bluebird incident.

I learned that when a being with divine power dies, their soul goes to the corresponding god. Well, Carseus might have been lying through his teeth, but let’s assume it’s true for now. It’s plausible enough.

Souls go to gods.

Is this a good thing?

All religious people are incredibly proud and take it for granted that they can be with their god after death.

They eagerly desire it.

If I told them this fact, they would surely rejoice and shed tears. They would cry, deeply moved that their service to this world wasn’t in vain, that it was the right thing to do.

But…

—Is it really a good thing?

This way of thinking stems from the belief that gods are transcendent beings, just and benevolent absolutes, superior to humans.

Therefore, they believe they can offer their loyalty, even their souls, without reservation.

And in reality, that’s often the case.

The Verdant God bestows divine power when one eradicates evil, executes justice, and works to ensure the world’s peace… or so it’s generally believed. Therefore, paladins are fanatical, but their foundation is just. They believe in their own justice, and that’s why they throw themselves into it. They value their god more than their own lives.

“It’s a very good thing for clerics.”

After all, their souls go to be with their god.

But… the fact that the soul goes to the god…

Isn’t that perhaps being devoured by the god?

This might be a far-fetched conjecture. But Carseus considered devouring human souls a pleasure in itself, a means to increase his power.

“…”

Aren’t the gods in this world doing something similar?

—Outer Gods.

The Titan prince said that humans summoned Outer Gods and caused their own destruction. Carseus was also a being from another dimension. In that case, aren’t the gods similar beings?

Aren’t they giving divine power to devour human souls?

Of course, there’s nothing strange about giving power and receiving compensation. But no one considers the act of baiting a hook to catch a fish a good and just action…

—Becoming one with God.

You could think of it that way.

Thoughts swirled in my head. Is having your soul devoured such a serious matter? Being devoured by a monster like Carseus would be terrible. But what about your own god? What if you didn’t think of it as having your soul “devoured” but as “becoming one”?

They would probably like that even more.

Becoming one with God. Becoming the power of that god. Transforming into divine power and providing even greater help to this land. A cleric might think that way.

Maybe I’m the only one thinking about this so seriously.

The concept of “god” is already too deeply ingrained in people’s minds. No one would feel repulsed by the fact that their soul goes to God and becomes one with Him.

—Inhuman brainpower.

This Heavenly Demon Kim Kat uses the knowledge he has accumulated to think and judge. The reason I can think this way is because I come from a world where there isn’t a god that is visible and tangible.

In this other world, the existence of benevolent gods is a natural and common thing. But not for me… that’s why I can think this way.

God… gods.

Right.

Are they really Outer Gods who devour human souls? Was it packaged as if it were a good thing? If that’s the case, does the power of God that I possess originate from an Outer God?

—Lich.

Suddenly, I thought about the Lich.

He claimed to be the savior of humanity. Why did that bastard claim to be a savior, and why did he fight the gods during the Idol War? Combining the clues, it’s possible that he did it to save humans from the gods who devour human souls.

But this is a bit strange.

Such a bastard summons a soul-devouring being from another dimension like Carseus, and even offers souls as sacrifices? Very strange. Bizarre. So, thinking about this part is just speculation.

But what is certain is…

The Lich also knows about this soul. The fact that he claimed to be a savior is likely related to that fact.

“…”

Difficult.

But at this moment, something rose up more strongly than anything else.

“Kadia.”

Kadia, the saintess who believes in the Verdant God.

A righteous woman with immense divine power, favored by the Verdant God.

Kadia is the saintess of the Bronze Celestial Order. She is a cleric with unwavering faith in the Verdant God. Why does she live a life of faith? Because she has the conviction to establish justice and make this world a peaceful and safe place.

Truly righteous and sublime.

That’s why she devotes herself to faith.

No matter how difficult or challenging things are, she handles everything alone and moves forward. She never utters weak words. She has the steel mentality to take responsibility for everything and lead.

Therefore, Kadia…

Will surely gladly accept that her soul will go to the Verdant God after death.

“That shouldn’t happen.”

No.

No way.

It can’t happen.

Now that I suspect that the Verdant God might be an Outer God who devours souls. That Kadia’s sublime life of faith ends with her soul being devoured…

“I can’t hand her over.”

I won’t allow it.

That’s not salvation, and it’s not the kind of ending I want.

No matter what, I can’t hand over Kadia’s soul… Kadia’s body, heart, love, mind, and soul. Everything. It all has to be mine. I can’t let Verdant take it.

Of course, Kadia won’t die for a few hundred years.
There’s still plenty of time.

There’s no need to reveal it right now.

There’s no need to shake Kadia’s mentality. And she’s closer to Verdant than anyone else. Something might happen if I tell her this hypothesis.

—Swish.

I put the cube left by Carseus in my pocket.

At the same time, I held the hypothesis that God might be a being who devours human souls in my heart. If this is true, Kadia’s soul is in danger. Now that I’ve made that judgment, I can no longer treat them lightly.

—Gooo.

I feel my power surging from within. And I am confident. If I have this, if I have this power, I can save Kadia’s soul.

“Elise.”

And…

My cleric friend, Elise.
Elise is also a fanatic.

Of course, she would welcome the fact that her soul goes to Eisermarte after death… I can’t bear the thought of Elise becoming like that either. I will prevent such a future no matter what. I want to see Elise’s face sometime.

“I.”

I think.

“I can become a god.”

I sincerely believe that I can be reborn as a true god with this divine power, and I am confident that I am moving towards that.

In order to save their souls, I have no choice but to become a god and become the savior of souls.

“It’s not just Kadia and Elise.”

I just thought of them because they are the most representative clerics. My other women aren’t particularly religious. They just think that if there is a god, there is… They are strong women who believe in themselves rather than in gods.

But they are also mortal beings.

If they lose their lives, I don’t know what will happen to their souls. Carseus said that when a human without divine power dies, their soul remains in that place for a while. Then what happens after the soul remains?

If the gods are really soul eaters, they wouldn’t just leave those things alone. After all, divine power is just a kind of reservation. Even a bastard like Carseus can devour abandoned souls, so there’s no reason why the gods can’t do the same.

In the midst of the raging thoughts, I think.

In the end, I am the only one who can save their souls, and I am the only one who can save the souls of other humans.

—Kwaang!!

Thinking that, I kicked the ground.

“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!”

I spread my roar into the vast sky!!!

“Lich, you bastard!!! What are you doing!! What the hell are you fragmented gods doing, jaaaaaaaaat!!!”

—Whirrrl!!!

The immense power that gushed out covered the sky!!! I am Kim Kat!! You fragmented bastards can never beat me!!!

—Swaaaaaaek!!

Like that.

I fly towards them.

* * *

“Kat? What on earth happened?”
“A monster appeared.”

As soon as I arrived at the lodging, I explained to them what had just happened. By killing the Colossus, the sealed monster had awakened, it tried to control humans with mental waves, and I beat the crap out of it and killed it.

“It’s really instantaneous now, Father. It’s like you went out for a walk and came back.”
“Hehehe, I’ve gotten that much stronger. It was actually like a walk.”

He was less tricky than Adramalech. There’s such a thing as compatibility, but he specialized in magic. Adramalech specialized in close combat like me.

—Swish.

I took out the cube and placed it on the table.

“This is the loot, but I don’t really know what it is.”
“Hmm…”

And.

I called Claudia.

“Claudia.”
“Hmm?”
“I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“What do you think happens to your soul after you die?”
“Soul?”
“Yeah.”

At that question, Claudia gently stroked her lips with her finger. She’s thinking about something. It’s a bit of a sudden question.

“Well… I don’t really know, but wouldn’t the soul go where it needs to go?”

A place to go.

“Where is that?”
“I don’t know, things like that. I don’t really have a faith anymore.”

Yeah… if you don’t really believe in a god, that would be a typical reaction.

“Blackie? Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

Wienia tilted her head, wondering if she had any questions.

“Wienia. You don’t believe in God, do you?”
“Why wouldn’t I believe in God?”
“Wh-what!! Who is it! Who do you believe in!!”

You crazy! What the hell are you talking about! Since when has Wienia believed in God!!!

“Blackie is my god.”
“Ugh!”
“Blackie is actually trying to become something like a god. So Blackie is my god. I’ve already given him my heart, so what.”
“How admirable! Come here!”

I immediately put my hand inside Wienia’s top and fondled her breasts. I was so surprised that I almost had a heart attack, you seductive woman!

“So Kat? Why about the soul? It doesn’t seem like you suddenly had a question, but did you have something to think about?”
“No, just.”

I didn’t say anything in detail for now.

“The guy I killed this time… that bastard said he was a being who devours souls. He was quite strong, so I guess that’s why he wasn’t sealed.”

At that.

“Devour… souls?”
“Kat? Is it a demon?”

Liztina and Hilde asked as if they were surprised.

“Not a demon. He was just summoned by the Lich a long time ago and ate human souls as a staple food. In other words, he’s a soul eater from another dimension.”
“…Hoo.”

Risha exclaimed.

“Summoned from another world… was it?”
“Yeah. I’ll organize my thoughts and write them down on paper for you.”
“I understand.”

It’s an interesting thing to attract.

I will also tell them about this shocking hypothesis when it is organized. What Hilde said last time might be right.

“Eating souls… so why? Did you suddenly become curious about souls?”
“That’s right. Sister. What do you think happens to your soul when you die?”
“Well, it’ll be like Claudia said. I’m not a paladin, so how would I know about the afterlife?”
“Right?”
“But paladins go to their gods when they die, right?”

Yeah.

That’s right.

“That’s… highly likely. I just found out that there are soul eaters, so I started thinking about souls a little.”
“Hmm.”

Karin put her hand on my head.

“Well, I’ve entrusted my soul to you. I’m always loving you with all my soul.”
“She sat down and cried.”

Because I was so happy.