Chapter 89 - Episode 13. Catastrophe (3)
Chapter 89: Episode 13. Catastrophe (3)
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“I’m a god?”
[That is correct. You are an Awakened One who has opened Creation.]
ENIAC continued in a tone like someone reading from a programmed dictionary.
[Awakened Ones who open Creation and manifest a Unique World possess qualifications equal to the gods of the 《Abyss》. In some respects, they even surpass them. Unlike the gods, Awakened Ones do not require Vicegerents of their own.]
“...Vicegerents?”
At that moment, part of the information contained within the 『Record of the Abyss』 activated in Jaehwan’s mind.
This happened from time to time. The 『Record of the Abyss』, which was usually scattered about at random, would react to certain keywords and assemble itself into a chain of information like litmus paper.
As Jaehwan read through those memories, he also listened to what ENIAC was saying.
[All gods of the Abyss require Vicegerents. They can never act on their own. Gods are beings who exist by “lending” their worlds to their Vicegerents or Followers.]
Lend their worlds. Jaehwan felt as though he vaguely understood what that meant.
[The more Followers a god has, the greater that god’s power becomes. On the other hand, gods with only a small number of Followers find it difficult to wield their power properly.]
Beings who only manifested after lending the worlds they created to living souls.
Those were the ones called gods in this world.
Jaehwan was reminded of the huge platforms that had ruled the internet back on Earth. Platforms that offered information and playgrounds in exchange for sign-ups. Symbols of capitalism that wielded greater influence the more members they had, to the point of even changing the world’s perceptions.
As he read the information pouring in through the 『Record of the Abyss』, Jaehwan found himself sinking into memories of Earth without realizing it.
[In truth, it is extremely rare for a human soul like yours, Jaehwan-ssi, to attain divinity.]
“Why?”
[Because most gods are Higher Beings who accumulated karma over a long period of time and evolved.]
“Higher Beings?”
[You must know of those who live in the 《Great Realm》 under the title 「Cultivator」.]
Cultivators. How could he not know them?
That was the term for demons or angels who operated the 《Tower of Nightmares》, cultivated Products, and sold those cultivated Products.
Come to think of it, Jaehwan had heard them referred to as “Higher Beings” before.
[They accumulate karma through cultivation. Put simply, you could think of it as a kind of “service score.” Higher Beings who accumulate enough karma points may receive permission from 《Big Brother》 to become independent. Those who become independent in that way and gain a world of their own are what we call “gods.”]
Only then did Jaehwan begin to understand why Beastrein, who had been on the hundredth floor of the Tower, had been so obsessed with cultivation.
So that was why Beastrein had gone that far. To become a god.
But as Jaehwan listened up to that point, he realized there was something very important he had never asked about. Come to think of it, he had heard that word many times, so why had he never asked until now?
Big Brother. A being that even gods needed permission from in order to become “gods.”
Jaehwan had heard the name Big Brother from countless people on the way here. Yet the 『Record of the Abyss』 contained no information on 《Big Brother》 either. No matter how deeply he dug through those memories, he could not get anything to surface about what it was.
Jaehwan decided to take this opportunity to ask about it in detail.
“What exactly is Big Brother?”
The moment they heard that word, all the Factory Masters flinched.
An unexpected silence drifted through the room for a while. The one who broke it was an unexpected person.
“As far as I know, Big Brother is the name of an organization that protects the System...”
Karlton answered while raising his right hand like a model student.
“That is what I know too, but the atmosphere here is rather strange. Am I wrong?”
Cheongheo added his own comment.
They tilted their heads as if they could not understand this heavy silence at all.
ENIAC gave them a bitter smile.
[It makes sense that you would think that. To ordinary humans, ‘Big Brother’ is that kind of existence.]
“So it isn’t?”
[Big Brother is a god. The greatest of gods. The guardian of the System. He is ‘Big Brother.’ I would rather not speak of him any further.]
If metal could hold sorrow, perhaps it would wear exactly that expression. The atmosphere made it impossible to press the matter, so although it was frustrating, Jaehwan had no choice but to leave that name shrouded in mystery for now.
[Big Brother, scary mister~]
That was when the child Factory Master JOHNIAC suddenly started to sing.
[Hide, hide tight~ or your bolts and nuts will show~]
[Stop saying useless things, JOHNIAC!]
EDSAC raised a fist and bonked JOHNIAC on the head. JOHNIAC fell silent.
It was a short little song. Yet it was a song that contained an important clue.
At that moment, Jaehwan felt like he understood a little why they reacted so sensitively to the words “Big Brother.”
[...That JOHNIAC brat.]
ENIAC let out a heavy sigh. Silence settled over the room for a moment, and Jaehwan waited until that silence had risen enough before opening his mouth.
“Did Big Brother kill your god?”
[...]
“Is that why you Apostles of a god are in 《Chaos》 instead of the 《Abyss》?”
[...You truly are an astonishing person in many ways.]
JOHNIAC waddled over toward ENIAC with little groaning noises. ENIAC stroked JOHNIAC’s head and continued.
[As you said, we lost our god to ‘Big Brother.’ That is why we were exiled from the 《Abyss》 and came here.]
At that moment, the 『Record of the Abyss』 poured out information once more.
ENIAC’s words were stimulating something in Mulack’s memories. Jaehwan closed his eyes and focused on the voices reaching him.
-We lost our god.
-But our power still had value, so we were able to make a contract with 《Big Brother》.
-In exchange for surviving, we were made to protect the ecosystem of 《Chaos》.
It was ENIAC’s voice as remembered by Mulack. Nine hundred years ago, Mulack, who had also been heading toward the 《Abyss》, had spoken with them.
-It is infuriating. If only the Colossus, Deus Ex Machina, had remained, we would not have fallen so low...
-Mulack. Please. If it is within your power, please find our Colossus.
The memory ended there.
Jaehwan did not know all the circumstances before and after. But there were a few things he could tell for certain.
They had lost their god. Yet they still had value, which was why they were placed in charge of this Strange Factory and made to oversee the ecosystem of 《Chaos》.
When Jaehwan opened his eyes again, the room had grown even noisier. The topic of 《Big Brother》 seemed to have made them especially sensitive.
[High Factory Master, how long are we going to keep talking only about our story? Let’s get to the point now.]
[Ah, yes. We should.]
The look of loss on ENIAC’s face quickly disappeared, and the first expression returned.
[Jaehwan-ssi, there is only one reason I called you here.]
From the seriousness in ENIAC’s tone, Jaehwan realized that what ENIAC was about to say was the real reason they had called him here.
“What is it?”
[Give up on going to the 《Abyss》.]
“What nonsense is that all of a sudden?”
It was Cheongheo who asked in Jaehwan’s place.
Karlton also chimed in from beside him.
“Could you explain that more simply?”
ENIAC nodded.
[To put it precisely, you are in a situation where you cannot go to the 《Abyss》.]
In the end, Cheongheo grew angry at the way ENIAC kept speaking without giving a clear reason.
“What in the world are you talking about? That is not for you people to decide.”
[Human, your manner of speech is awfully arrogant.]
[Stand down, IAS.]
ENIAC stopped IAS and continued.
[You are correct. It is not something we can decide. What I mean is that the being who can decide that will not permit you.]
There was only one being in 《Chaos》 who could decide who was allowed to enter the 《Abyss》.
“...Are you saying the Sole King is going to stop us?”
The Sole King, Catastrophe. The master of the 《Palace of the Dead》, who resided in the deepest part of the Strange Factory.
[It will not end with merely stopping you. If you are thinking of what happened nine hundred years ago, then I would like to tell you that the situation is a little different now.]
“...”
[You know it too, do you not? Nine hundred years ago, the Sole King was not seriously dealing with you.]
Cheongheo’s eyes shook for an instant.
ENIAC did not miss that opening and drove the point home.
[And back then, you had “him,” did you not?]
Cheongheo thought of the person ENIAC meant.
The only being in the history of 《Chaos》 who had ever tried to stand against the Sole King, Catastrophe.
That was right.
Nine hundred years ago, the expedition had been able to cross into the 《Abyss》 because the dream demon Mulack had been there.
Of course, it was not as if Mulack had defeated Catastrophe through force. No matter how powerful Mulack was, Mulack still could not face the Sole King, Catastrophe.
And it was not only Mulack. Even the Lords of the twelve zones could not face the Sole King in 《Chaos》.
That was the kind of being the Sole King was.
There had been some sort of deal back then.
Cheongheo’s eyes turned distant as he reflected on that time.
His memory was not exact, but Mulack had made some kind of deal with the Sole King then. In exchange, Mulack and part of the expedition had been allowed to set foot in the lands of the 《Abyss》.
“Why would the Sole King stop us?”
When Jaehwan, who had been silent until then, cut into the conversation, ENIAC’s gaze returned to him.
[Because of you.]
“Me?”
[The Sole King is angry with you.]
Had there been any reason for that?
Jaehwan recalled several memories connected to the Sole King, Catastrophe. The time he fought Catastrophe’s incarnation in Gorgon Inner Keep. And then...
“Is it because I killed the Colossal Deadman?”
He had thrown that out as a guess, but ENIAC nodded.
[The Colossal Deadman you killed then, ‘Magritte,’ was one of the Sole King’s cherished retainers.]
Jaehwan recalled the army of Deadmans that had trespassed into Gorgon, along with the Colossal Deadman that had led them.
Magritte Who Walks Backward. That had definitely been its name.
“So the situation can be summarized like this.”
First, the only one in this 《Chaos》 who could open the entrance to the 《Abyss》 was the Sole King, Catastrophe.
Second, the Sole King was sulking like a child because Jaehwan had killed one of its retainers.
Third, that sulking Sole King was not going to open the Door to the 《Abyss》.
“Is that right?”
[...The analogy is a bit odd, but yes, that is correct.]
“I understand.”
Jaehwan nodded.
It was clear from his expression that he accepted it, and High Factory Master ENIAC’s face brightened a little as well. They would be spared unnecessary trouble. If this man would just give up like this...
“Then open the Door now.”
[...What?]
“Open the Door to Catastrophe.”
[It seems you still do not understand the situation...]
“No, I understand it exactly.”
Jaehwan spoke in the same unchanging voice.
“I’ll negotiate with the bastard myself, so you can stop worrying and open the Door.”
The Factory Masters stared at Jaehwan as if their logic circuits had twisted themselves into knots. In the end, IAS exploded in anger.
[What kind of nonsense is that? It is like trying to screw a nut onto a nail. Did you actually listen to what we said?]
What in the world had this man been hearing all this time?
Beside him, Cheongheo could be seen holding back laughter. ENIAC opened their mouth in a cold voice.
[We cannot open the Door for you.]
“Then I have no choice.”
From that moment on, the air around them began to draw tight. Spiritual Pressure burst out from Jaehwan’s body, and Factory Master IAS, as if they had been waiting for this, released a savage force of their own.
[Yes, this is how it should have been from the start.]
Since neither Jaehwan nor ENIAC showed any sign of backing down, the others in the room could no longer remain still either. Cheongheo and Karlton slowly rose from their seats, carefully guarding against the Factory Masters’ force. Even the cautious ENIAC gradually began releasing power as well.
...So there is no other choice.
ENIAC knew that the man standing before them was stronger than they were. But ENIAC was not alone. If all four Factory Masters attacked at once, even this man would not come out unharmed. Even if they were defeated by him, that was still better than carelessly opening the Door to the 《Palace of the Dead》.
This would be the first time in a full nine hundred years that the Door to the 《Palace of the Dead》 had opened.
Even now, ENIAC was struggling to endure Catastrophe’s presence coming from deeper inside the Strange Factory. If this Door were opened, ENIAC had no way of knowing what terrible thing might happen.
ENIAC would stop this man here.
Just as that hair-trigger atmosphere was about to explode, Jaehwan suddenly spoke.
“Deus Ex Machina.”
[...?]
At that unexpected word from Jaehwan’s mouth, the taut force in the room relaxed for an instant. Only after a moment did ENIAC realize what name Jaehwan had spoken, and a cry of shock escaped them.
[How do you know that name...!]
What Jaehwan said next was even more astonishing.
“If you open that Door, then I’ll find the Colossus you lost in the 《Abyss》.”
[How do you know the Colossus exists?]
After their god Deus fell, the existence of the Colossus was completely forgotten. Even in the 《Abyss》, there were few who still remembered it, so how could this young soul know about the Colossus?
Naturally, Jaehwan had no intention of kindly explaining why he knew such things.
“You do not need to know the details. So, are you going to open it now?”
Without realizing it, ENIAC turned to look behind them. There, jutting out from the wall of the vast chamber, was a single keyhole. ENIAC looked down at their own hand.
An index finger shaped like a key.
The final key that could open the Door of calamity was there.
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