Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint - Chapter 572



571 – The Story Left Behind, A Dog Does Not Abandon Its Master

After the battle of the two absolutes, only silence remained in the forest. The sounds of insects and the chirping of birds were nowhere to be heard. The hastily formed forest had no time for life to grow. Within the thicket, where not even three meters could be seen due to the underbrush and trees, Rash, revived by the power of immortality, woke his partner who lay asleep in his arms.

“Callis. Callis. Are you coming to your senses?”

Callis did not respond, only letting out a groan. Rash looked at the feverishly hot Callis with a worried expression.

Having consumed the remains of the Offering God, Callis had gained the power of immortality. Before long, the bleeding had stopped, and the wounds on his body had completely vanished. Rash instinctively realized that Callis had acquired the Offering God’s power.

However, the issue was not Callis’s body. It was his mind. What effect the Offering God’s power would have on Callis was something Rash could not fathom. He shook his head, brushing off his worries. It was not a problem that could be solved by mere concern.

“Teacher? Boy? Are you there?”

There was no answer. It seemed that both had vanished along with Nabida. Rash felt a twinge of worry for their well-being, but that too was not a problem that could be resolved by his concern.

Instead, Rash sought out their kin.

“Hey! Get a grip!”

Rash broke the vines with his arms and pulled out the roots, rescuing the immortals. Their condition was not bad. Unlike the others, they were immortals. Even wrapped in thorny vines and buried in tree roots, they were still alive and well.

‘…The aftermath is greater than I expected. This must have reached Piou Village.’

The battle of the two absolutes had transcended reason. Light burned the trees, creating a storm, and the forest inhaled the air, swelling its body. It seemed as if the two great natures fought, leaving scars on the world.

Nabida had vanished, but the green explosion still writhed, devouring the world.

Only then did Rash recall what he had forgotten until now.

‘Wait. Piou? What about the Piou?’

Even an immortal would have died if they were careless. But can those who can die for trivial reasons really die?

“It couldn’t be helped. I was busy saving my own life, after all! But now that I have some spare time, I should go see Piu!”

In any case, Rash couldn’t leave Calis in this eerie forest. Rash tried to calm down his companions and quickly escaped the forest.

As he walked for a while, Rash felt something was off. The dense foliage and trees slowed him down, but even considering that, he couldn’t see the end. The terrain was already shrouded in forest, making it impossible to gauge direction. Rash pushed through the thorny underbrush, determined to keep going until he saw the end.

During his journey, Rash discovered something and stopped. An artificial decoration, out of place in the primeval forest, was revealed amidst the vines. Rash confirmed its identity and muttered to himself.

“Is this Piu Village… where it used to be?”

The ominous premonition became a reality. The explosion of trees had finally reached Piu Village. Although the density of trees was lower on the outskirts, if it had swept through, Piu would have died without resistance.

“Hello! Is anyone there?”

Rash shouted, hoping someone might be alive, but only the echo of his voice bounced back from the trees. Rash headed towards the nearest building. The vines had entwined the pillars, causing the building to lean precariously. Rash regretted his action as soon as he opened the creaking door. The inside was packed with plants and trees, as if they were about to burst out.

It seemed difficult to even find a corpse. Rash scowled and slammed the door shut. If Piu had been swept away by the explosion and died…

“Meong!”

Rash suddenly turned his head. He had momentarily forgotten, but it was a familiar cry. Rash felt a faint glimmer of hope. It was a different cry from other beasts, one that was full of goodwill towards humans.

Rash ran towards the source of the sound. Unlike before, it was easy to move. It wasn’t just his mood. There were traces of powerful and fierce beasts: claw marks, bitten tree trunks, and dug-up earth. A massive beast had ravaged the forest.

Rash, with Calis in hand, ran along the path and soon discovered Piu sitting by a campfire.

The self-proclaimed vigilante Piu, equipped with weapons and gear, exclaimed upon seeing Rash.

“Rash!”

“Everyone’s alive!”

“No, we almost died! If it weren’t for this person, we would have been swept away and killed!”

The vigilante pointed to the ajizi, who was eating a piece of meat to fill its belly. The ajizi responded with a cry, as if acknowledging Rash’s gaze.

Its sturdy claws had worn down, and its fur and skin were a mess of twigs and leaves. Its eyes had scratches, and one eye was squinting uncomfortably.

If they had just run away, there wouldn’t have been any wounds. That was the mark of a struggle against the forest to save a person.

“They woke us all up in the middle of the night and dragged us away!”

“And then, light fell from the sky, the forest caught fire, and soon after, the enraged forest came crashing down upon us.”

“By the way, Mr. Rash. What on earth happened? Could it really be true?”

“What do you mean? You need to know what it is before you can say it’s true.”

“…There are rumors that the Offering God is angry because of the burning forest. People are in an uproar, saying we must sacrifice those who proposed to set the fire. I managed to calm them down for now, but….”

It was not true at all. But Rash lacked the skill to explain, and the events that had just unfolded were far too difficult to articulate.

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Rash scratched his chin, looking troubled. Those who interpreted the gesture as an affirmation shouted wildly.

“Just as I thought! How dare they burn the forest, provoking the God of Wisdom!”

“The World Tree is burning itself, so it’s seeking revenge!”

“Sacrifice! That woman who set the fire too!”

As the crowd’s fury turned towards Kalis, Rash replied sternly.

“Stop that nonsense. That’s not it.”

“Then! Why has the world torn apart and the forest grown angry!”

“How should I know?”

“The Offering God’s will is clear! Your wife must have sinned, and you’re trying to cover it up!”

No. The Offering God was a foolish deity, and by ill omen, it had died and become a tree. Kalis, who had eaten its fruit, was the Offering God.

But how was he to explain this? Even Rash, who had witnessed everything, still didn’t fully understand. While Rash struggled to find the right words, a few in the crowd, looking for someone to blame, jeered.

“Those who came from beyond the plains are all like that! I knew from the moment they set the fire out of their own greed, especially that woman who was sold!”

“…What did you say?”

The immortal is generous and kind, for they cannot be harmed. However, when it comes to attacking their honor rather than their bodies, safety cannot be guaranteed.

Kalis was both his companion and a goddess to be revered. When Kalis was slandered, Rash’s eyes momentarily flickered. Perhaps under normal circumstances, he would have endured a few more insults, but having faced life and death numerous times, he too had grown sensitive.

“Mer-ong.”

At that moment, Aji barked loudly. Walking toward those who were ready to fight, Aji barked in dissatisfaction.

“Offering God, you’re not angry!”

In lands far removed from law and morality, loyalty is held in high regard. The act of saving others is not taken for granted, making it all the more precious. The Piwu listened attentively to Aji, respecting their benefactor.

“You’re the ones who are angry! And you want to be angry! But you must not be angry!”

It was not the gods who were enraged. It was the humans who had nearly died. In their fear and confusion, they were merely seeking an outlet for their pent-up emotions.

Aji, having seen through their feelings, barked as if to scold them.

“I saved you! No one was lost! There’s nothing to be angry about!”

Aji had the right to say this, having saved them all. The Piwu lowered their heads in sudden shame.

And so did Rash.

For a brief moment, Rash thought them ungrateful. How dare they insult him after he had settled in their village out of goodwill? In truth, Rash had given them nothing, yet he accepted their respect as a matter of course.

No matter how immortal one may be, they are still human. Rash too merely wished to release his confusion and fear. Just like the Piwu.

‘There’s no difference. Me, the Piwu, and the Offering God.’

Rash let out a hollow laugh and took a deep breath. Was there a need to hold back words that were difficult to explain? Even with his limited eloquence, he would have to speak.

It was then that a ring appeared above Aji’s head, and simultaneously, a form made of light emerged.

It was a girl, slender yet exuding majesty. She possessed a beauty that seemed painted, yet her appearance was somehow unreal. With her eyes closed as if drowsy, she gazed directly at Aji, a serene smile gracing her lips.

[This dream… is always so happy and warm, no matter when I dream it…]

The heavenly saint was sudden, but she was too beautiful and divine to evoke fear. The Piwu could only stare in astonishment at her unexpected appearance.

However, having already encountered that existence once, Rash could not help but feel fear.

“You are!”

[Hmm? Have you seen me before?]

The celestial saint tilted her head, covering her mouth for a moment as she murmured.

[It seems the possibilities have crossed. To be observed twice in one branch of the future. Even if I do not wish it, does the flow of the future ultimately converge here? I wonder what has truly happened here.]

Rash tried to say something, but no voice came out. Flustered, he touched his throat. It trembled without issue, yet no sound escaped.

In his flustered state, the voice of the celestial saint echoed in his ears.

[I’m sorry, but I’ve sealed the sound. Since I have appeared at two points in time, I must not observe too much information at this point. The more accurately I hear the points and events, the greater the deviation of my existence becomes. Please allow me to make all the guesses I can.]

‘What does that mean? Just a moment ago, didn’t that light figure fight with Nebida? Why does it feel like something I’ve never experienced before?’

Suddenly, Rash realized that the celestial saint looked even younger than before. It was hard to gauge how much of that was due to her being made of light, but she appeared more pure and vibrant now.

[-Still. In the end, I was defeated in this land.]

The celestial saint approached Aji with a faint smile. Aji merely gazed quietly at the mysterious being before him.

[Still. It is truly a joyful thing to have a good friend who always cares for humanity. This child is kind, powerful, and diligent. Ah, if only humans could resemble this child even a fraction….]

As the celestial saint’s words trailed off, they became increasingly difficult to understand. What deep concerns could she possibly have? Aji, who had no way of knowing and no need to know, barked happily at the sight of her.

“Woof! I’m a friend!”