I Became God of War’s Youngest Disciple - Chapter 354



Only Krnovel

Episode 354

“Phuhuuu… … .”

I exhaled hot breath very deeply.

I felt like my breathing rate had increased significantly, and I felt like I had to release heat from my body only through breathing, without sweating.

That means, they are enduring high temperatures similar to lava with their bare bodies, and are exhaling all of the accumulated heat through their breath… … .

How should I express how I feel right now?

At this point, I feel like I could almost exhale [Vulcan’s Breath] myself?

‘Six times… … .’

No. Seven times?

It’s not just a metaphor, I remember moments when I wandered through mirages under a scorching heat that was truly enough to melt my body.

I realized after a long time that when the brain gets hot, it becomes difficult for a person to make normal judgments.

I also realized that my patience is not that deep.

Thanks to the salt water first gas, I was able to endure it somehow because I had some motivation.

After being fooled by the mirage about seven times, I was finally able to reach the real temple.

I didn’t notice any architectural beauty or sophistication or anything like that. I was just grateful for the fact that there was shade to avoid the scorching heat.

Fortunately, the inside of the temple was not as hot as the outside.

I’m not sure yet because my body temperature fluctuates, but I think it’s about room temperature.

I sat down and sat cross-legged. The sight of a lizardman sitting cross-legged might seem a bit comical, but I didn’t have the time to worry about the concept right now.

“… … .”

When I looked inside my body, I saw a commotion inside me.

It was as if a forest fire had broken out in a huge mountain made entirely of bodies.

I admit I was somewhat proud.

Judging by the condition of my body, I guess if I had wandered around for a few more hours, I would have really fallen into a state of possession.

Quickly cool down and regulate the heat inside the body, then accumulate it in the danjeon.

This kind of heat, which is close to natural heat, has a quality that is difficult to control, but since I understand the fundamental nature of flame, it was not difficult for me to handle it.

As I transformed the heat I had dealt with into fire energy and accumulated it in my danjeon, I felt a sense of fullness from the accumulated energy for the first time in a long time.

‘Besides, our compatibility is so good.’

Only after you have accepted the power close to nature into your body and converted it into energy that you can use freely, can you truly call it internal energy.

The process itself is very arduous, difficult, and long-term.

This is because as the purity of the internal energy increases, so does its efficiency… … .

After all, since there is no such thing as internal energy without even a single impurity, those who have learned the secret method have no choice but to devote themselves to this work until they die.

This is why unmanned things eat breakfast whenever they get the chance.

But the anger I had just accepted was accumulating very gently within my body.

It’s not like I took something from nature, but like I took a potion that was just right for my body.

“… … .”

Anyway, I couldn’t stay in a place where safety wasn’t guaranteed for a long time, so I got up after stabilizing my body a little.

Only then did the interior of the temple come into view.

It feels simple compared to its flashy appearance.

There were pillars on both sides of the fairly long hallway. They looked quite large even to me as a human, so I guess they were made excessively large for a dwarf.

It’s not strange, since it’s a place that worships the Dragon God, who is called the Dragon King from the beginning.

At the end of a fairly long hallway was an altar.

I think that’s the altar that Visid was talking about…

If so, the white flames swirling in the air on the altar must be [Vulcan’s Breath].

I approached the altar.

“… … .”

I’m here, but I don’t know any etiquette, so I don’t know how to address God.

After thinking for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Vulcan, are you there?”

[Who is it!]

This is amazing, shit.

My heart almost jumped out of my mouth because I didn’t know how to respond when he called me.

Although his face was a bit shaky, fortunately, thanks to the lizardman’s characteristically hard scales, he didn’t seem to notice my fuss.

I opened my mouth slowly.

“I am the Lizardman Luzad. I have come here at the request of the dwarf. Are you, who are speaking to me now, perhaps the Fire Dragon God Vulcanus?”

[Yes! I am Vulcan!]

“… … .”

It’s a voice that makes you feel the character he has.

The voice was hot and rough like boiling lava, and it felt urgent.

‘Is this God?’

If you consider Angsin to be a god, then I am a human who has met gods quite often… … .

Vulcan seems to have a very different vibe from any other god I know.

[But you! You dare to lie in front of God!]

“What do you mean?”

[You’re not a lizardman!]

“… … .”

Do you really think I could see through this at a glance?

‘Even the sharp-eyed dwarf craftsmen didn’t notice… … .’

I was a little taken aback, but soon realized that it wasn’t because my transformation was clumsy.

Perhaps it’s something like divine power, insight, or supernatural power? Maybe it’s something like being able to see through the essence of the soul…

When I think about it, it’s actually strange that a being as powerful as a god couldn’t notice my disguise.

‘The probability of it being Vulcan increases by 10 percent.’

I nodded coolly and said.

“Well, that’s right. I have to act as a lizardman for some reason, so I’m wearing this form. But please rest assured that I have no intention of harming you, your temple, or your followers.”

[A believer? A believer?]

It is a moment where absurdity is mixed with the seething voice.

[Kuk, kuk… khaha… … !]

As if the heat wave had been compounded by strong winds, a roar like a forest fire rang in my ears.

The laughter was so loud that it made my eardrums tingle.

What on earth is the power of this? Even dust is falling from the ceiling of the temple.

“… I have a knack for jokes, but that wasn’t a joke just now.”

[Yes! Of course! That’s not a joke! Deceiver! This incarnate dragon Vulcanus has no followers anymore!]

“What are you talking about? Your followers told me themselves. They said that the current Incarnation Dragon is angry and cannot obtain breath.”

[That’s not wrong! I won’t be granting them my authority anymore!]

As I looked on with a bewildered expression, Vulcanus’ voice continued.

[They committed the most horrible heinous crime!]

“The most terrible act of infidelity?”

[Godslay… …!]

Vulcan said.

[Can you imagine, you deceiver! That a group of believers once dared to plan to kill their own god!]

“… … .”

I was momentarily dumbfounded.

The question of whether or not a god can be killed is a secondary one, and I couldn’t keep up with the topic that suddenly came up.

“Wait a minute. Does that mean they tricked me?”

[What did you hear from them?]

“They said that their god was angry and they could no longer create. They said that they could no longer receive the breath of Vulcan or something… … But they said they didn’t know the reason, so I came here myself.”

[Ha! You don’t know why? How dare you… …!]

I quickly stopped Vulcan from showing his anger again.

“Please calm down and let’s finish talking.”

[… One thing is true! This Vulcan was angry! But which god would not be angry at the sight of ungrateful men who repay kindness with enmity! If it were not for the grace of this Vulcan, these dwarfs would have spent their whole lives touching nothing but dirt and stones!]

“… … .”

[I have engulfed this place in my rage, for they have tried to destroy the temple with the axes and hammers I have forged with my breath! I would almost like to destroy all those insolent men!]

“… … .”

Which side should I believe?

I thought of several possibilities.

Simply put, Vulcan’s words could be a lie, this being could not be Vulcan, or everything he just said could be true.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

[What!]

“How on earth do you kill a god?”

[Don’t you know! The death of God is the absence of believers and the exhaustion of faith! If no one remembers, how can God function as God?]

Strangely enough, the ambiguous words made sense.

At this moment, I was recalling a conversation I had with a god in the past.

– Every god needs believers. Without faith, a god cannot exert much influence… …. That’s why the concept of a ‘forgotten god’ exists in the world.

I asked in a bewildered voice.

“Isn’t that a strange story? I heard that the goal of a dwarf craftsman is to create a masterpiece as close to perfection as possible throughout his life. To do that, he will definitely need your power… [Breath of Vulcan].”

[Ha! It’s obvious! They must have found a substitute!]

“Who dares to think that any being can replace the God of Blacksmiths… … .”

I stopped talking here.

That’s because what Musin said next flashed through my mind.

– In that premise, only the Demon King is an exception. To them, faith is a good thing after all… … .

– Even if the roots of the sect were completely uprooted from this continent, the power of those terrible beings would not diminish one bit.

Only then did my expression harden.

“…no way?”

***

A dark room.

Only the candles on the shabby table twinkled, softly illuminating the surroundings.

But because it was literally a dim light, the faces of the two figures sitting across from each other around the table could not be seen.

The person sitting on the right opened his mouth.

“We have reached our limit.”

“… … .”

“I thought that it couldn’t go on like this.”

At those words, the person sitting on the left opened his mouth.

“Keep going.”

“Sandstorm Dunes is a strange place. We don’t raise livestock, we don’t hunt. Farming? Most people probably don’t even know the concept. The only thing they know is about brewing. How could we possibly make a living like this?”

Hwaruk… … .

At that moment, the candle flickered and the face that had been shrouded in darkness was faintly revealed.

“It was a deal.”

Master Visid of Sandstorm Dune said.

“It was a work of art that I made with blood, sweat and tears. I was able to make a living by selling it.”

“… … .”

“Do you think it is negative to consider a craftsman’s work as a commodity for sale? Or that it makes you look like a father selling his child.”

“Not at all. A child is a child, and a work is a work. In my personal opinion, those who can’t tell the difference are just stupid.”

“That’s true. Rather, a true craftsman should be happy that his work is valued highly. Money is the most universal standard of value.”

“hmm.”

“Let me get back to the topic. To us dwarf craftsmen, everyone around us is just a trading target. Mercenaries, merchants, heroes, even the imperial family… … . We sell to whoever offers a better price. Isn’t that simple?”

Then, Inyoung, who was sitting on the left, burst into a low laugh for the first time.

It was a very charming laugh, but it felt dignified. In fact, it was like that throughout the conversation.

A prayer that feels extraordinary even to a mere craftsman.

At first glance, his tone seemed rude, but even his small gestures revealed his nobility.

Dignity and nobility?

As Visidro, who knew the identity of this person, he could not help but be puzzled.

“Even if it is a religious sect?”

“It was you.”

“hmm?”

“Having been the master of Sandstorm Dunes for decades, I place the highest value on our work.”

“Aha. So you even betrayed the god you trusted?”

“It’s not a betrayal. Recently, a certain person from a certain company taught me a very suitable word to use in this situation.”

“what?”

“Cut off your ties.”

Then Inyoung burst into laughter again, even louder and more cheerful.

The candles flickered and moved their shadows to the beat of the loud laughter.

“Ah- I understand. Even the gods are nothing more than trading partners to you.”

“exactly.”

“Good. I like that attitude very much. I also hate people who don’t know the value of things. Those poor-minded bastards deserve to have their eyes gouged out and killed. In that sense, I highly regard you dwarves, who are natural craftsmen. We can be good friends in the future.”

“But there is one thing that bothers me.”

“say.”

“Can you really give us that much support?”

Then the voice suddenly stopped.

Visid felt a chill and unease at the silence, but spoke without showing it.

“I don’t doubt you. But even taking that into account, the amount you mentioned seems like quite a burden… … .”

“That’s what you call doubt.”

“… … .”

“But I like it. You should also know how to be suspicious appropriately. If you’re too stupid, it’s frustrating as a business partner.”

A soft voice continued.

“To answer your question, you don’t have to worry at all. I have that much authority.”

“I know that. But isn’t there a possibility that the deal could fall through later? For example, if you receive such an order from someone higher up than you… … .”

“That too is an unnecessary worry.”

“Why.”

“It’s simple. In this church, there is no one higher than me.”

It was a moment when Visid flinched.

‘no way……?’

A moment when you suddenly have an idea about the identity of the person in front of you.

Squeak… … .

The unoiled door opened with a particularly horrible sound.

“uh…….”

Visid looked at the door with a puzzled face.

There was no one more deserving of being here today.

The person in front of him seemed extremely reluctant to reveal his appearance, and had never shown himself to anyone other than Visid.

Of course, Visid also respected that aspect of his trading partner.

But it wasn’t a dwarf who suddenly appeared in this place.

‘That thing I saw during the day…?’

It’s definitely a familiar face.

For a moment, Visid almost didn’t recognize who it was.

Because the impression was so different from when I saw it in broad daylight.

Beyond the old door was a boy wearing darkness wrapped around him like a coat.

“A natural bad smell cannot be hidden.”

There was a strange eerieness in his expressionless face.

It was as if he was wearing a mask, but the moment his lips moved, a voice without any highs or lows followed.

“Even if you bring in the rats that eat corpses, wash them, hold them, and even spray them with perfume, it’s hard to get rid of their original stench. That must be their origin and bloodline.”

“… … .”

Delak Badniker saw two figures.

With the church members.

A person who cooperates with the church members.

The moment he saw the two people who were not that different from each other, he felt his heart grow cold.

“As expected, there was a rat.”

The Iron Blooded One drew his sword.