Chapter 189

Saint Aikora’s daily routine was simple. She would wake up, cleanse herself, and then offer her prayers at the altar where the gods were enshrined. Until she went to sleep again, her role was to pray fervently, hoping for the return of the forgotten gods. This lifestyle, which had lasted years, never once felt monotonous or suffocating to her.

Occasionally, the Staff of Faith, Harry, would appear before her.

“We’ve made progress. If I haven’t misinterpreted the will of the gods, we may see them soon.”

Aikora, barred from certain knowledge, was enlightened through Harry. His words always reinvigorated her, filling her prayers with more ardent wishes. Whether it was good or bad news, Aikora didn’t care. She believed it was the will of the gods, something beyond human comprehension, and perhaps even beyond the gods’ approval of her actions.

“I fear, Staff. I do not know if this is the right path, if this is what they truly want.”

“Who on this land can know?” the Staff reassured her, affirming human ignorance as inevitable.

No matter how righteous humans believe they were, they could not presume to understand the divine.

“We are selfish, Aikora. Accepting that is your first duty. We pray not for the gods, but for our own shallow desires.”

“So, we are...”

“Weak humans in need of gods. That’s why we strive. We beg them to look after us, to return and care for us, which is no different from a child’s plea.”

This was a shocking revelation, which would have infuriated many clergies. Many temples preached that they relayed the messages of their gods as a proxy, because they could not come down, that they act on the will of their gods.

Of course, they weren’t entirely wrong. The number and quality of faithful followers directly influenced a god’s divine power. As a religion’s influence grew, so did their god’s and that influence directly led to the increase of the power of the followers.

However, Harry was firm in his declaration.

“Did they ever say they wanted this? To assume they desire the same as warriors in the arena is human arrogance.”

Aikora could only nod. Her deep contemplations in the tower were swiftly resolved by the Staff of Faith. His humble acknowledgment brought her peace.

“The title of ‘Saint’ feels like a burden.”

“You are the closest position there is to divinity. Don’t feel burdened. If it still bothers you, think of it this way: you are placed here to catch the gods’ attention first, when they look upon this land.”

“I find that hard to understand.”

“What do you think the purpose of this tower is?”

“If I may dare assume, it is to honor the gods—”

“It is not.”

Harry firmly denied it. The tower, erected with Grand Emperor Kalus’s assistance, was not intended for the gods.

“It’s like your title of Saint. Built with the hope that if it’s the tallest structure, maybe the gods will take more notice of us.”

Aikora was left speechless.

“You shouldn’t burden herself with the title, Aikora. The title of Saint is not in vain. It does not matter what meaning humans place on it. Endure, even if it feels burdensome.”

After Harry left, Aikora mulled over Harry’s words. It didn’t take long for her to embrace this newfound understanding. How could humans assume to convey the will of the gods? At least on this land, no god had ever directly expressed their intent.

This refined enlightenment finally became hers. Therefore, she willingly shared her insights with the visitors to the tower.

“So what’s the point? What does Harry seek from getting those gods back?”

“In the times when the gods were present, there was nothing wrong with the world.”

“So you’re saying those gods were more capable?”

“...That’s a human perspective.”

“We’re selfish beings, right? Isn’t it okay to think from our own perspective?”

“Perhaps you’re right, adventurer.”

“That’s Harry’s wish, right? To set things right on this land, through more capable gods.”

Aikora nodded. The adventurer before her was audacious. Always in the tower, she couldn’t know if all adventurers were like this.

“You’ve set your sights high. So, when are they coming?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know.”

“You know where they are?”

“At the top of the tower... But I’m not allowed to go there.”

“You can always get permission later. They’re just up there, aren’t they? I’ll go up and come back.”

“I cannot allow you to go.”

“Are you going to stop me, like you did before?”

She should have stopped him, as the Staff of Faith assigned her the role of caretaker, leaving behind the words that the inscrutable ceiling of the tower was said to be impenetrable by mortals.

“I don’t mean to be hostile. I’m just in a hurry. How about this?”

However, Aikora’s enlightenment did not allow her to stop the determined adventurer.

“Aikora, you will try to stop me, and I will break through. That way, you will have fulfilled your duty, right?”

* * *

When Seojin entered the 80th floor of the Pantheon, he was in the midst of a conversation with Aikora, while simultaneously sending a chat to Montblanc.

-How’s it going?

-...It’s true. All these names here... are they really recorded as gods?

-Is your ID, Montblanc, also here?

-Yes.

-What about names like Kelly_Kelly or Whats_my_ID?

-They’re not here. But...

Montblanc, surprised, relayed information that even Seojin hadn’t expected.

-There’s Blue Dragon. Is that your ID?

-Blue Dragon?

-There was no such name among the European server rankers.

Seojin was puzzled. The presence of Blue Dragon suggested that the top rankers from each server were being added. But when he glanced at the names on the altar, he understood what was happening.

-Mercedes. That was the top player on the European server, right?

A name that wasn’t there before, Mercedes, now sat prominently next to Blue Dragon – the ID of Asgard’s European server’s number one.

-Right.

-It seems top players from each server are being added separately.

-It wasn’t there before?

-No, it appeared after you came, Montblanc. I’m not sure of the exact criteria, but that’s what it seems like now.

This was encouraging. The addition of new names implied that Seojin could uncover more.

And by the time he figured everything out,

“Try to stop me, Aikora, and I’ll break through. Then you would have fulfilled your duty.”

Seojin proposed that they both do what they must. Aikora would try to block him, while Seojin would attempt to break through. If he couldn’t, he’d have to convince Aikora or wait for Harry to come down.

“The path is not permitted to humans.”

“Is Harry not human?”

“He is the Staff of Faith, closer to divinity than anyone on this land.”

“How do you know, Aikora? You’ve always been here.”

“Of course, that’s because...”

“Everyone says Harry is so great? He’s so devoted to bringing back the gods?”

Aikora slowly nodded. She couldn’t deny or affirm, as it was just “natural” to her.

“There are dragons outside Salevania.”

“They are masters of magic but far from divinity.”

“Is what Harry taught you, right?”

“Yes.”

There was no need to say more. Seojin needed to persuade not Aikora, but Harry.

“It’s a restriction that humans cannot surmount!”

“Did Harry say it’s impossible?”

Aikora’s gaze wavered. As her position and power were bestowed by Harry, so too was her strength.

“Why wouldn’t humans be able to overcome the power given by humans, Aikora?”

Seojin walked away, with Montblanc watching quietly, and Aikora’s face clouded with confusion. However, her duty was clear.

The Inscrutable Ceiling imposes restrictions

Aikora’s light acted as a brake. Above Seojin, who had stepped onto the staircase outside the 80th floor, a brilliant wall blocked the way, as Harry had asserted.

But then...

“Ahh...”

Aikora, powerless, watched as Harry’s gift was effortlessly breached.

Entry Restriction: 10,000+ Dharma

Requirements met

The Inscrutable Ceiling is lifted

* * *

In the Kingdom of Valaran and in the Churai Island, Seojin had vanquished demons. He reclaimed the forests of Salevania, restored the corrupted elves to their rightful place, and welcomed the spirits trapped in darkness into the light.

His good deeds were recorded, not by human standards, but as Dharma points, a tangible measure of his achievements. Although reaching 10,000 points would have taken an unimaginable amount of time through ordinary means, Seojin had long surpassed that threshold.

“Good deeds deserve rewards. Many only feel it when they see the results directly. Pleased to meet you. I am Harry, the Staff of Faith, revered by all.”

Seojin finally met the Staff of Faith, Harry, at the end of the tower.

“I’ve heard of your fame, adventurer. You’ve accomplished great things. I was expecting your arrival.”

Harry’s appearance was modest, almost underwhelming compared to his title. Plainly dressed without any lavish staff or garments, he was a middle-aged man with a bright smile.

“You were expecting me?”

“Yes, if it were you, adventurer.”

“How do you know of me?”

“One doesn’t need to leave the tower to see. Being up high often offers a broader perspective. I mean that in a literal sense.”

“Then you must’ve seen the state the Empire is in?”

“I have. And I still do.”

“What if I had been captured like others?”

“I would have waited. Until your arrival.”

“No plans to assist me?”

“There’s no need to be so wary. You’re the first to reach here, so I’m afraid I don’t have a proper way to welcome you.”

“That’s alright.”

Seojin responded to Harry’s kind smile. He hadn’t come all this way for a mere cup of tea.

“I’m here to have a conversation. May I ask my first question?”