## Chapter 995 – Unknown Power

“I had a long dream.”

It was a bizarre and utterly strange dream. So abstruse that it was hard to find any meaning, and so jumbled and chaotic that it was impossible to arrange properly. Especially the scene where the Wright brothers turned into the Boogeyman—it was just terrifying.

This was Mara.

A nightmare.

“I had a very long dream.”

I told my women about the dream.

“In the dream, I was a demigod ascended to godhood, a great prophet king of ancient times, and a god descended from the heavens.”

Was it because I had become 200% demigod?

I was Buddha, King David, and finally, Hwanung. Somehow, the sensation from that time remained vividly.

Yes, this is it.
This is divinity.

Is this the feeling of possessing the power of a god?

My vision seemed to clear up.

I had suddenly fallen into a Mara state, but as always, I overcame it instantly. This kind of Mara is nothing to me. Isn’t that right? I’ve overcome Mara countless times.

Perhaps the fundamental cause of this Mara was manifested as a warning about the new power. But… why did it keep telling me to abandon Vügal? I need to think about that properly too.

Anyway, I, the demigod Kim Ggat, tried to continue speaking reverently.

“Having become divine, I subdued the devils who tempted me while…”
“This darkie’s gone crazy, seriously.”
“Huh.”

Suddenly, Winia stood up and said that.

“Being a demigod and all, you’ve really gone crazy. It’s like you’ve gone from being a crazy guy to a super crazy guy. Are you so happy to have gained that power that you can’t stand it? Huh?”

Then, she pointed at my cheeks, ticking me off. Winia had become sulky again.

But I am a merciful and benevolent demigod.

I stroked Winia’s cheek with a deep smile and said.

“Human Winia. What kind of behavior is this towards the demigod Kim Ggat? Show a little more reverence…”
“Human Karin, please restrain this demigod darkie.”
“Okay. I should. I can’t stand to watch anymore.”

Turning her head at Winia’s call, Karin stood up and strode towards me, grabbing my shoulder.

What is this?

I tried to resolve it with words, maintaining my dignity as a demigod and said to her.

“Human Karin. Calm down a little…”
“This punk got a little power and calls his sister ‘human Karin’? Ah, this punk. My husband needs to be scolded by his sister for the first time in a while.”

With those words, Karin grabbed my shoulder tightly as if giving an inhuman massage.

ㅡSqueeze!

A sharp pain was felt instantly.

“Ah, ah! Just kidding! I’m kidding! Sis! Just kidding! Can’t even joke!! Ack! Ack! Aaaack!!”
“Such a frivolous mindset dulls the edge of the blade.”

It felt like my shoulder flesh was falling off, but I couldn’t escape…! Still crazy grip strength! To have the grip strength to tear apart a demigod! Karin kneaded my shoulder diligently, as if kneading dough.

“Don’t scream. Your shoulders are so stiff. I’ll loosen them up for you, so stay still.”
“Louder! Sis! I feel like I’m going to scream even louder!!! And I feel like I’m going to die!!”
“It’s harmless to the human body, so don’t worry. Do you think your sister would really do something painful?”

She said gently and put more strength into her grip.

“Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeng!!!!”

A scream burst out, but this was undoubtedly just a massage. It was devastating, but as she said, there was no damage to the body at all…!!! Is this what a superhuman massage is!!!

“Good job, good job, good job!”

Winia clapped her hands, giggling as if she was having so much fun. Seriously? I barely raised my head and looked at her doing that outrageous thing.

“Ah, seriously Winia! If you keep doing that, it’s big-boob spinning!!!”
“That’s nonsense! Do you think I’ll just let you! I’ll show you boob-slapping hell?! Huh!”

What is boob-slapping hell?

“What kind of hell is that…”
“It’s the hell where I squeeze you with my breasts until you collapse from exhaustion, darkie.”
“Then isn’t that boob-slapping heaven?”
“Think whatever you want.”

That sounded like a pretty good hell. No, on the contrary, I will overwhelm Winia with my stamina. Winia will sob and sniffle, begging that it’s too hard now, that her breasts are going to fall off, but I will never let her stop.

“Save the demigod!!!! Teeeeeeng!!!!”

Anyway, Karin’s massage continued.

“Stop! Stop it, Karin-nim! I can’t tolerate it anymore!!”
“The screams are going to collapse the house! Stop it, Karin!!”

Around that point, Hilde and Lisztina jumped in and rescued me. Only then, freed, did I taste warmth as I nestled in their arms.

“Ggat-nim is a demigod!!!”
“Oh my god. This succubus.”
“Is there any need to make it so painful!! The screams almost collapsed the house!”
“Sometimes, a little tough love is necessary.”

What’s wrong with my screams.

“That’s true, but he’s enjoying it so much… you could let him enjoy it a little more!”
“Th-thank you, human Lisztina…”

I buried my nose between the breasts of Lisztina, who was defending me, and expressed my gratitude. This sister has the right to receive the demigod’s divine molestation.

“Yes. I’m human Lisztina, demigod Kim Ggat-nim.”
“Leheeeng.”

She gave me a very warm smile and hugged my head.

“Hey, hey. If you keep indulging him, he’ll lose his mind.”
“Ggat, you? You can pull yourself together and do it properly, right?”
“Of course!”

I’m always that kind of man.

“Human Karin! What do you take me for! I can do everything properly!”
“Ugh, this punk. He hasn’t come to his senses.”
“This darkie’s funny, seriously.”

Karin strode towards me again.

“Hey. I can’t have this. Your sister needs to brainwash you again today. That’s the only way you’ll do it properly.”
“I firmly reject that proposal, human Karin!”

But this demigod prank was so addictive that I couldn’t stop it. Is this the feeling of wielding authority and power?

Isn’t it too fun…!

“Lisztina! Hilde! Stop her!”
“I understand!”
“Yes! Ggat-nim!”

I immediately asked them for defense, then quietly sat down and threw myself towards Claudia, who was just looking at me with a smile. She naturally caught me and hugged me with a mother’s heart.

“Half-elf Claudia…! Karin is tormenting me!!!”
“Hehe, Ggat. It’s because they all love Ggat.”
“I was hurt by love.”

It hurt so much it was refreshing.

“So, what kind of dream was it that you were trying to talk about so seriously?”
“Ah, that.”

It’s nothing really.

“I just had a crazy dream.”

No matter how I looked at it, it was just a crazy dream.

“It’s all because your mental state is getting lax. You’ve been happy enough, so it’s time to start some proper training. That’s what I was trying to set the mood for.”

I need to do some proper mental training.
That’s what I felt when I faced Mara.

“You need to control your mental state and process the newly acquired power so you can use it. Do it like when you first used sword energy.”
“As expected… Ggat is really diligent. Yeah. Let’s do that?”
“Oh!! I’m going on a meditation binge starting today!!!”

I stood up again.

“Hehehe, doesn’t he look very happy? This lady is just happy if you’re happy.”
“I’m really happy when Risha is happy too.”
“But if you’re going to train, it’s best to do it properly. No matter what, it’s an unknown power, isn’t it? That demigod thing still doesn’t feel real, but you can only make it your own if you train properly.”
“Of course!”

That’s right.

“So, Karin. Calm down. I’m going to do it properly now.”
“I believe you’ll do it properly, of course.”

Karin, held by the waist by Hilde and Lisztina, smiled.

“Huh?”
“Your sister was just joking too.”
“It was a painful joke…!”

Anyway, now that I’ve defeated Valkyrie, I don’t have any particular work and I’m free. I just need to focus on training at home.

“Ggat-nim, I’m so excited!! If you really become a demigod later, you might be treated like a god descended into the human world!!! It wouldn’t be strange at all if a cult centered around Ggat-nim was formed!”
“Isn’t that paganism?”
“What are you talking about! It’s not! Rather, Ggat-nim is a righteous god!!!”

Hilde vehemently opposed Winia’s words.

“That’s right, Winia!!! That’s exactly it!!!”
“Tch.”

Winia shook her head, but this is a clear fact.

“But Father? How much reward will we get for defeating Valkyrie? A cult is a given, and the royal family will definitely do something too.”

Ah, that.

“Of course we have to get that. Well, the church will probably tell me through them. But I don’t know how much it will be.”

I’m thinking about getting a noble title or something.

“Anyway, until then, I just need to focus on training at home.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Then, Aria. Let’s go milk the cow quickly. I need to drink that and train.”
“Hehe, yes. I understand. Let’s go then.”

Then let’s start today.

Still, it will take some time to calm this joyful heart and regain composure.

Of course, it doesn’t matter. I’m the kind of man who keeps banging his head until it works.

* * *

With a calmed mind, divinity and Mara.

And I think about Vügal.

That divinity and Vügal don’t match, is that what I’m thinking? Am I actually feeling anxious that I can’t get stronger if I have a weapon? Is that why Mara appeared?

I don’t think so at all.

I realized this properly after experiencing Mara, that I never have such weak thoughts. Perhaps my thoughts or perspectives have changed in part due to the intervention of divine power or something.

Of course.

I absolutely do not admit such a thing.

Divinity cannot change me. Only my own will changes me. Thinking that way, I reaffirm my own power and establish my own ideology.

ㅡHeavenly Demon.

Following my usual physical training and martial arts practice, I explored divinity while repeatedly engaging in serious and solemn meditation and mental cultivation. Of course, I spend time also conducting spiritual communication with Vügal, my true friend and companion.

That’s how I was spending my days, doing mental training for days.

I had roughly grasped it from the last Mara, but still not having obtained a decisive clue, I naturally went to the Great Temple again today.

“Paladin. Have you had any success?”
“I’ve got a sense of it, but not yet. It will take some time.”
“Hmm… is that so. That’s too bad.”

He put his feet on the desk and lit a cigarette, speaking familiarly.

“But a schedule has been set. I reported the Paladin’s condition to the Pope and gathered the cardinals to discuss it internally.”
“The examination, you mean?”
“That’s right.”

Finally.

“The ritual will be performed in the near future. Well, it’s not too strange or difficult, so be sure to attend. It will be a ritual to find out about the divinity that has entered the Paladin’s body.”
“Thank you! To go to such lengths to care for me!”
“It’s a natural thing to do. It’s something we would have to do even if this situation had happened to someone other than the Paladin.”

Anyway, I feel good that the church is going to look into it now. Whatever it is, it will help me get a clue.

“But is it going to work out? I don’t think there’s been an example like this.”
“Even if there isn’t, shouldn’t we try?”
“Hehehe, that’s right.”

Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean we don’t do it.
We have to try things like this at least.

“And the matter of compensation is currently being discussed with the royal family. Diplomats from the Merqudia Kingdom are also involved in the discussion. When that is finalized, there will definitely be a large reward.”
“I’m really looking forward to that too.”

That’s the most important thing.

“But that’s what the royal family is giving. Isn’t there something the church is giving too?”
“Hmph, of course. But isn’t this double compensation really a good deal? Paladin.”
“It was a deal worth making.”

I killed that strong Valkyrie.

“Well, I was thinking of giving it when the reparations from the Merqudia Kingdom came in… but if you need it right away, I’ll give you an advance payment. This Saintess doesn’t mind anything. The church’s finances have become very abundant thanks to the Paladin.”
“Then please give it all at once when the reparations come in. I don’t really mind either.”
“I understand.”

The Saintess nodded and took out a document.

“What’s this?”
“It’s a flowchart of the ritual procedure, so read through it. Come to the church at dawn on the day of the ritual.”
“Okay.”

I unfolded the document.

“I’ll give you a brief explanation.”