Chapter 392: There's No Need To Lie

"We're sorry to have placed such a heavy burden on you all this time." Anduin bowed deeply again.

Oh Kang-Woo smiled.

'I see how it is.'

He more or less got an idea about why they were acting like this all of a sudden, as well as why the gods had made incarnations while taking the risk of their Deific Essence being demoted or annihilated, and why all the incarnations that served different gods had rallied together.

'Because their prey is about to be stolen from them.'

Kang-Woo had orchestrated everything so that Kim Si-Hun could become the hero of the continent. Si-Hun's status in Aernor likely could not be tolerated by the gods or the apostles that served them.

'For example...'

How would the Korean public react to a crime that could not be resolved by the Korean police, being resolved with ease by foreign police authorities?

'There's no need to even think about it.'

The public would naturally curse the incompetence of the Korean police and demand reform, which was exactly what was happening right now in Aernor.

The churches, which had been raising taxes from the people with excuses that they would save the continent from the hands of demons, had not been able to do a single thing against Lucifer's evildoings. It was only natural since everything had been planned by Kang-Woo. Si-Hun had appeared and resolved everything before they even had a chance to resolve anything.

As a result, Si-Hun had gained fame far surpassing that of any church. The more Si-Hun's fame grew, so did the distrust of the people toward the churches. The people would naturally place more faith in the hero who was saving them from real danger than the incompetent gods who weren't doing anything.

'Can't entrust the fate of Aernor in the hands of a goddess of another world, huh?'

It was absolute horseshit. They simply did not want the power that they had amassed so far to disappear. Hence, they joined forces to chase away the outsider who was a threat to their power.

Kang-Woo softly chuckled. Even in the despairing situation of Lucifer's advent and the unsealing of the Constellations of Evil, desire did not stop. They were acting exactly like demons to the point that Kang-Woo thought humans, gods, and demons were not so different after all.

'That aside, I didn't expect the gods to be this assertive.'

Kang-Woo tilted his head. Making an incarnation was far more dangerous than it sounded. The god's Deific Essence could be demoted in rank or even be annihilated just from the incarnation's death. Despite that, did the gods have a reason to let the churches keep their power while taking such risks?

'To protect the world from collapse?'

Kang-Woo shook his head. It was far too optimistic of a thought. He continued to think calmly. Why were the gods so afraid of the collapse in the first place?

'Is Deific Essence... related to faith?'

Kang-Woo had thought of Deific Essence simply as a great power given by the Titans. After all, most gods had been born with Deific Essence given to them by the Titans; it was not something gained through religious faith. Even Kang-Woo had acquired Deific Essence without anyone worshiping him religiously.

'I'm not sure.'

Even if he was the God of Splendor, he did not have any apostles or a religious organization worshiping him. He had simply been given the right to control the unorthodox power known as Divinity.

'In any case...'

What was important was that the gods were backing the Godly Pantheon to the point that they had taken risks to make incarnations and that they were also trying to exclude Kang-Woo and Si-Hun.

'This is...'

Kang-Woo smiled as his eyes gleamed like that of a starved beast.

'Very good.'

He had been searching for the perfect scout. Although they were not quite up to par, since they could use Divinity because they were incarnations, they still qualified as scouts.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Uriel glared at Anduin. "You're going to do as you like when we should all be joining forces?"

Sparks crackled from Uriel's soaring hair. He slowly walked toward Anduin while exuding a ferocious aura.

"Uriel." Michael extended his hand to stop Uriel. "Calm down."

"B-But...!"

Uriel bit his lip in frustration and stared daggers at Anduin. Michael pulled Uriel back by the shoulder and then looked at Anduin and the other incarnations with sunken eyes.

"Is that truly what the Godly Pantheon believes?" he asked.

"Yes, it is." Anduin nodded without hesitation.

Michael slightly frowned and then glanced toward Kang-Woo, who was also staring at Anduin in perplexity.

"... Haaa," Kang-Woo sighed. He nodded as if it couldn't be helped. "I guess we have no choice if that is the will of the gods. I can't deny that we are outsiders."

"We hope you don't take this personally. The decision has been made for both you and Sir Kim Si-Hun's sakes. We have made you two... carry far too heavy of a burden on your shoulders."

"I see." Kang-Woo nodded and continued with a smile, "I am relieved to see that so many incarnations have gathered. With this, I think we can entrust our mission to you all."

"Hahaha. I appreciate your understanding."

Anduin extended his hand toward Kang-Woo with a smile. Kang-Woo shook Anduin's hand and smiled brightly.

"Oh, right," Kang-Woo remarked. "Come to think of it... I happened to obtain information about where the forces of evil are hiding."

"Pardon?"

"I-Is that true?"

Anduin and Michael asked with their eyes widened. Michael, who had been searching fervently for the forces of evil after Lucifer stole the Demon God's legacy kept in Sant'Angelo, was especially shocked.

Kang-Woo nodded. "I was able to figure out their location while fighting the Constellations of Evil not long ago."

"Wha..."

"Are the forces of evil unaware of this?" Anduin asked with shining eyes.

If their enemy was unaware that they possessed this information, they would be able to ambush the enemy while they had their guard down. Ambushes brought about enormous strategic benefits to the point that they made it possible to emerge victorious over enemies three times as large in number. Anduin, who had experience fighting demons as a member of a church, was well aware of this.

Kang-Woo nodded. He continued calmly, "Yes, they are unaware. However, it is enemy lines. You should not approach it hastily."

Michael gulped. "Kang-Woo is right. We should dispatch a survey team to figure out the extent of their forces."

"There is a possibility that the forces of evil would prepare for an ambush at that rate," Anduin replied as if he were hearing nonsense.

Michael fell into thought for a moment and then shook his head. "Even so, ambushing the enemy without knowing the extent of their strength is far too reckless."

"..." Anduin's expression stiffened, but only for a moment. He returned to his usual gentle expression and nodded. "I understand. We will postpone the ambush."

Anduin stepped back and walked closer to Kang-Woo. "In that case, could you tell us where the forces of evil are located, Protector of Light?"

"..."

Kang-Woo remained silent. He could feel the desire in Anduin's eyes. Kang-Woo smiled.

"Yes, of course."

'Of course I will. After all, only then will I be able to use you.'

Kang-Woo smiled faintly. There was no question of what decision Anduin would make once Kang-Woo told him where the Constellations were.

'I didn't lie, okay?'

Kang-Woo had told the god-honest truth. He had found out where the forces of evil were hiding, the Constellations of Evil had no idea about it, and he had told Anduin that they shouldn't approach the area hastily.

'But even so... I'm sure you'll go anyway.'

After all, it was a great chance for them to retake the faith of the people that had turned to Si-Hun, and to recover the lost power of the churches. Rather, they would be able to obtain glory far more brilliant than before.

'What reason could there possibly be for me to lie?'

Things would go exactly as Kang-Woo wanted just by telling the truth.

'Well, I guess I didn't tell them one thing.'

Their ambush would not work as long as the barrier that severed space itself was up. The concept of an ambush itself was meaningless.

'But I mean... I don't need to go out of my way to tell them that. Not saying the whole truth doesn't make it a lie.'

Kang-Woo snickered.

"The forces of evil are located..." He pointed out the location where the Constellations of Evil were hiding on the map that he had prepared. "... Here."

***

Kang-Woo positioned himself so that he could look down at a desolate valley between two giant mountains.

"Lilith, are you ready?"

"Yes, almost. I'll be done in just a bit, my king," Lilith replied as she drew a complicated magic circle on the ground.

Kang-Woo perched on a large rock and stared at the soldiers of the churches who were heading toward the valley.

"They sure brought a lot."

In Aernor, the power of the churches was comparable to that of the emperor. It was only natural; the power of religion was already powerful enough on Earth, where gods had no actual influence, but gods in Aernor exercised their influence through their incarnation and apostles. The existence of gods had already been proven, so no one doubted them.

'But there is a difference between the two worlds in the notion of gods.'

Gods of Aernor were not considered almighty beings; they were considered more to be powerful superhumans than gods.

'I guess they're treated more like Greek gods.'

Regardless...

"Break the barrier once they get close," Kang-Woo said.

"Yes, my king," Lilith responded with a smile.

Since the barrier that the Constellations were hiding within was isolating the space within from the rest of the world, there was no normal means to approach or see within it. To instigate a battle between the forces of the churches and the Constellations of Evil, the barrier needed to be destroyed at the perfect timing.

"My king, are you sure you don't need Paimon's Eyes?"

Paimon was one of the demons he had devoured.[1]

His eyes were very useful, so he had handed them to Lilith to use. Paimon's Eyes were able to detect traces of demonic energy and quantify the enemy's forces. It was the perfect item to use at times like this.

"There's no need." Kang-Woo shook his head while smiling. "I'm more accurate."

Although it was a great item to use at times like this, it was no match for Kang-Woo's capabilities.

Lilith smiled softly and nodded. "I understand."

"Okay, come sit if you're all done. Let's watch together."

There was nothing more entertaining than watching a fire or a fight. Kang-Woo looked down at the army advancing to the valley while munching on some popcorn that he had made himself using ingredients similar to corn.

"Hoho. It's so nice being alone with you like this, my king."

Lilith got closer to Kang-Woo while placing her head on his shoulder as if she had no interest in the battle. Kang-Woo laughed and turned his head toward the soldiers. They had almost arrived at the valley.

'That should be good.'

Kang-Woo placed his feet on the magic circle that Lilith had prepared and drew out enormous amounts of demonic energy.

Crack.

Cracks resembling spider webs formed in the air along with the sound of the barrier shattering.

"Wh-What the—?!"

Kang-Woo could hear Anduin's voice from a distance. Countless demonic beasts began to pour out from the crack in space, which was getting bigger and bigger. Kang-Woo looked down in amusement at the churches' soldiers engaging with the demonic beasts.

'Now, kill each other.'

1. It was written in Chapter 245 that Paimon was one of Kang-Woo's subordinates in Hell; this will be pending until the author gets back to us. ☜