Leveling with the Gods

Side Story 42

[The activation of "Hand of the Thief" is canceled.]

Hermes, trapped in YuWon's hand.

With this action, YuWon had once again trampled on Hermes' Divinity, known throughout the world.

"Wanderer of freedom and thief, was it?"

Was he a thief or a swindler?

He was confused for a moment, but in the end, it didn't matter.

What mattered was that this guy had tried to steal his item.

Crack!

A groan escaped from Hermes' lips due to the pressure on his wrist.

"Should I break this?"

"Hermes!"

"Hey, you bastard!"

Aphrodite and Dionysus suddenly stood up from their seats at the unexpected situation.

Breaking his wrist was the least of it; what Hermes had done before was not something you should do to a guest, according to YuWon's words.

"Even if those were the shoes you were looking for, do you do this to Father's guest?"

"That's right, man! Just break his wrist and apologize!"

Breaking the wrist without further ado.

They were a truly affectionate family.

Hermes screamed, crushed by Dionysus and Aphrodite.

The two kept a close eye on the reactions of YuWon and Hercules.

YuWon, who had come as Zeus' guest.

And Hercules, who held the second rank not only in Olympus but in the entire Tower.

Hermes' previous actions had been enough to annoy these two.

"Zeus is inside."

At that moment, Hades, who was sipping tea on the side, pointed inside the temple with a gesture.

"Go see him and come back."

Hercules briefly bowed his head in acknowledgment and passed by him.

YuWon and Pandora, who were not particularly interested in Hermes' wrist, did the same.

As they walked, YuWon looked around the place that had become noisy because of Hermes.

'The High-Rankers of Olympus have gathered in one place.'

Most Rankers were like that, but the High-Rankers of Olympus had a particularly individualistic character.

Even if they were bound by blood, they only gathered on one occasion.

And that was only when Zeus summoned them.

'The times Olympus has gathered can be counted on one hand, including the Gigantomachy. And it has to be now.'

It was no coincidence, undoubtedly.

YuWon walked inside along with Heracles.

Step by step~

Only the sound of their steps echoed in the high-ceilinged hallway.

Pandora, who walked slowly by his side, tugged at the edge of YuWon's clothes.

YuWon, feeling the trembling in her fingers, looked at her and took her hand.

"Do you want to stay here?"

"...No."

"Are you okay?"

Pandora nodded. Her response came a bit late. It seemed like it was hard for her to make a decision.

He thought about persuading her, but he let it be. She had already made a decision.

Not just right now.

Since they arrived here.

She knew she would meet Zeus, but she stayed silent.

It was a decision she had made after a long time of thinking.

It was not his place to interfere with that.

Crr, crr~

The sound of birds as they headed to the center of the temple.

And besides that, the sound of water and the fresh breeze brushing against their faces.

"We've arrived."

It was the first time YuWon had come there, although he had only heard about it in stories.

Zeus' abode.

A place where the sky opened up and stretched before their eyes, with a pond surrounded by meadows.

"Have you arrived?" Zeus asked from the edge of the pond, where he was sitting, with his golden hair and handsome middle-aged face greeting YuWon.

"Kim YuWon."

-------------------

It was early morning on the 90th floor.

Varuna, under the moonlit window, sat with his head bowed and his forehead resting on his hand for a long time.

His mind was filled with the conversation he had with Yama.

"Do you mean Kim YuWon?" Yama asked in disbelief.

Kim YuHun is Kim YuWon.

"Did something like that really happen?" Yama insisted.

"Have you never found it strange even once?"

"Strange?"

"Yes, the same happened to me. I hadn't even considered it strange."

In retrospect, YuWon's traces were everywhere in the Tower.

Unlike with Deva, with whom he had a less profound relationship, Olympus and Asgard had many events related to him.

However.

No one remembered him or bothered to think about YuWon.

"Probably no one would believe it even if I told them now. Not until they experience it themselves."

"Still, it's hard to believe."

"I guess it'll be hard to believe until you see it with your own eyes."

"Is it possible to find him?"

It was a difficult question.

To be precise, Varuna only knew who YuWon was but didn't have a close relationship with him.

Fortunately, he received a response to his message asking if he could visit.

He was told to do as he pleased.

'I have to see him at least once.'

Today.

Varuna decided to go see YuWon, even if he had to do it alone.

The destination was decided: the 66th Floor, where Olympus was located.

'You're going to see Zeus directly.'

It was a good plan.

Even if the world didn't remember him, someone of YuWon's caliber should be recognized by Zeus.

Moreover, Olympus was known as the best Guild at present.

Zeus, its leader, had influence that extended throughout the Tower.

"In that case..."

Deva should also participate.

Bathed in the moonlight, Varuna rose

from his seat, lost in his thoughts. He could no longer chase after women's backs. That era of peace had ended, and now he had to fight to regain it. His determination was firm. He was ready for all his future actions to be stained with blood.

Just at that moment...

As Varuna got up and headed towards the door, a familiar voice echoed in his ears.

"Where are you going?"

"Varuna."

Looking up, Varuna saw a man dressed in white sitting on a tree.

"Vayu?"

"You're moving early. Not typical of you."

A comment befitting someone who knows Varuna's sleepy nature. However, it was strange that he was there at that hour.

"What are you doing here?"

"I simply couldn't sleep."

"Don't talk nonsense. If you can't sleep, why are you in front of my house-."

While speaking, something happened.

Words brushed Varuna's mind: "There's a traitor within Deva."

Traitor.

A Deva Ranker who leaked information about Vishnu to the Administrator and contributed to his death.

'Could it be?'

The question that arose in his mind quickly inflated. Cold sweat began to run down Varuna's face, and at the same time...

With the remote possibility in mind, Varuna raised a hand backward and began to gather Arcane Power slowly.

"Vayu."

"Yes?"

"Just in case. Just in case, I ask you-."

Varuna's eyes, glowing blue under the moonlight...

"Do you plan to simply return?"

To that question, Vayu smiled widely.

With an expression Varuna had never seen before.

"No."

Fwooosh-!

A wind blew and hit Varuna.

"I won't do that at all."

The water barrier Varuna had created wavered. If he hadn't prepared in advance, it would have been difficult to react.

"...You blocked it."

"Vayu-!"

As it was revealed that his worst fears were true, Varuna created a water bow and questioned him, aiming it.

"Why are you doing this?!"

"Do you ask knowingly? Didn't Yama mention it already?"

"Is it really true then?"

Puh-kahk!

The tree Vayu was sitting on shattered from the impact of Varuna's arrow and Vayu's fist.

Varuna moved, stepping on the roof, and Vayu closed the distance quickly.

Chrr-.

The bowstring tensed. In the moment he was about to shoot it at Vayu, his fingers hesitated for a brief instant.

And in that instant...

Whoosh-!

"You retreat too much, Varuna."

Vayu's hand, which had shortened the distance through the wind and was now in front of him, touched Varuna's body.

Thwack-!

The wind that pierced Varuna's torso crushed the ground.

At the same time he screamed, Varuna snapped his fingers.

Grrroooaaar!

A water pillar sprouted from the ground.

Varuna pushed back Vayu's Arcane Power and rapidly rose into the sky on the water pillar.

"Phew, phew-."

Cold sweat flowed from Varuna's forehead.

His physical strength had also quickly depleted due to the sudden use of an ability that consumed a lot of Arcane Power.

A brief moment of hesitation had caused great damage.

"Nevertheless, you came out fine."

"Why you, Vayu?"

"Why me? Is there anyone among us who hasn't received Vishnu-nim's grace?"

"That day, you stopped me when I got furious with Yama. You said you were angry with the Administrators!"

"You saw that correctly. That was sincere."

"Then why!"

"Varuna."

Bitterness reflected in Vayu's expression.

"No matter if we are High-Rankers, in the end, we are just tools of the Tower. Even if our lifespan is infinite, we are mortal beings who will eventually die."

"And then?"

"The fact that we are on the winning side is a natural instinct for survival."

"Do you mean you betrayed Vishnu-nim just because you want to live now? Who saved your life when you were already dead?"

A long time ago.

Varuna, Vayu, and other Deva Rankers were saved by Vishnu.

Ananta.

Vishnu saved Varuna and Vayu after they lost their families and comrades at the hands of that monster.

Because of that, Vayu and Varuna pledged loyalty to Vishnu together.

Deva soon became their home and family.

At least, that's what Varuna had thought.

"I'm grateful to him for that. However..."

And yet...

"That doesn't mean we should all die together, does it?"

It seemed that, after all, that was just Varuna's thought.

Step by step~

Vayu approached Varuna.

With a bitter expression and voice, he continued speaking.

"In the battle ten years ago, the Tower lost King Odin. The Demon Kings and The Heaven lost half their power, and Deva lost several High-Rankers, including Kubera."

It was impossible to forget.

That day, ten years ago.

It was the first time in the Tower's long history that several Great Guilds joined forces to fight.

How many High-Rankers, including Odin, died back then.

Needless to say, it was terrible, as the number of Rankers registered in the Ranking had decreased by 30% since that day.

"We've been steadily weakening due to the fight against the Outers and Foolish Chaos' plans."

"What do you mean?"

"It was about five years ago. The Administrator found me. He said they are now reclaiming what belongs to them."

Remembering the events of that day, Vayu looked up and stared at the sky somewhere while continuing to speak.

"We can't win. Not just with those who remain..."

However...

"Wh-what? Five years ago?"

Varuna was more concerned about something different from the words Vayu had just spoken.

'Five years. If it's five years... '

When was it that they forgot him?

As soon as he thought that, inappropriate laughter burst out from Varuna.

"Hey."

Varuna said to Vayu, who was murmuring about past events, with a mix of laughter and mockery in his voice.

"You've miscalculated."

Probably not. He was sure.

Vayu wouldn't remember.

-KO-FI

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