I'm the Only Totem in Another World - Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Escape from the Spirit World No. 1 （8）

“…Guardian. Summon the Guardian and the Great Chieftain, all the high-ranking people! That’s a dimensional gate!”

“What? Got it!”

At Close-Range Spy’s words, Goollreu jumped down from the wall. Since he had learned the Level 6 skill ‘Acceleration,’ he could move faster than others.

“He’s already controlling an Evil God? That’s crazy…!”

Close-Range Spy raised his shield to defend against any potential attacks.

Soon, a figure emerged from beyond the dimensional gate. It was a Paladin emanating a red glow from his eyes.

━ My name is Karon. I am the one you call the Overlord of the Dead.

The Paladin’s voice echoed loudly, loud enough for the entire Tribal Federation to hear.

“Cr, Crazy.”

“What!? Did he teleport or something? He should be in the Capital…!”

The Paladins rushed over to join Close-Range Spy.

“…”

Princess Dina used her Hidden Piece’s ‘Silent Dancer’ skill to conceal herself. She was waiting for Karon to show an opening to strike a powerful blow.

━ Fear not. I have borrowed the body of Paladin ‘Kkandappiyaaaat’ to stand before you…

“Shut up, you infidel.”

Bang!

The Paladin controlled by Karon exploded, hit by a golden energy blast. It was Rake who had quickly joined the scene and fired her Divine Power.

The shattered remains of the Paladin rained down onto the ground. However, its head remained floating in the air.

━ Half-god, half-human… Have you obtained Divine Power?

Rake prepared to fire her Divine Power again.

━ You’re hasty. I came here for a conversation today.

Red energy enveloped the controlled Paladin’s head. It was Karon’s Protective Spell.

Bang!

Rake’s Divine Power was launched again, striking the Protective Spell.

Crack!

A crack appeared in the Protective Spell.

━ Hmm.

Rake, whom he had met again, had become strong enough that Karon couldn’t take her lightly. He quickly cast several more Protective Spells.

The Divine Power, which had destroyed several Protective Spells, eventually dissipated without touching the head.

━ A waste of time. We can’t keep doing this all day, can we?

“It’s much better than listening to your nonsense.”

Rake was about to fire her Divine Power again.

“Wait a minute! Malak-nim said to hear him out first!”

Noah shouted loudly. Rake, who had withdrawn her Divine Power, nodded and stepped back.

━ …Malak. It seems you still have the strength to watch.

Karon was unaware that Malak was in the Spirit World, paying the price for his Manifestation.

━ I just destroyed the cathedral. I have also gained the ability to wield the Evil God’s power.

“You bark like a scared dog.”

Rake retorted.

Even if he didn’t know the former, the latter was a bluff. If he could fully wield the Evil God’s power, there would be no need to send just one Paladin like this.

‘He must have only scratched the surface at this point.’

He had decided to make contact right after the cathedral’s collapse to instill fear in the Tribal Federation.

Such thoughts of Karon were obvious to Rake.

“Are you too afraid to come yourself, Malak-nim? You worm.”

━ Paladins. Ishtania can no longer send you back to your homeland. Only I can do that.

Karon continued, ignoring Rake.

━ As you just saw, I have obtained the power to control dimensional gates. If I figure out the coordinates, I can even open a dimensional gate to Earth. What do you say? It’s not too late to change your minds. There’s no need to fight, is there?

“Karon!”

Siu stepped forward in front of the Paladins who were looking at Karon with fear in their eyes.

“I’m ‘Morning Tent Erection Knight’! Remember me?”

━ You…!

Karon recalled the humiliation he had suffered in the community forum.

Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode, Morning Tent Erection Knight, Not a Netkama. He still clearly remembered those nicknames.

[Morning Tent Erection Knight: Karon’s mom, whom Sanz resurrected, is lying next to me right now lol]

[Morning Tent Erection Knight: Karon’s mom is awesome]

He also vividly remembered the comments left by that guy. He was the one who irritated him the most, right after Sanz.

━ …!

If it weren’t for Karon, who had achieved a certain level of awakening in the Evil God’s mental world, his eyes would have immediately rolled back in anger. Before Karon could say anything, Siu continued.

“Here’s my answer.”

Siu raised her middle finger and shouted loudly.

“Your mom, you son of a bitch!”

That was the signal.

“Who would believe you? You opportunistic, home-invading bastard!”

“Bring One Piece back to life!”

“You cockroach-like tenacious bastard! I’m sick of you! What are you, Naraku of 2nd Inuyasha?”

“You mere mortal, taking advantage of the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon’s absence.”

“The most pathetic final boss ever.”

“No matter how you look at it, humans are inherently flawed. That guy is just so unlikeable.”

“You’re saying that as if you’ve known him for a long time.”

“It’s hard to find a necromancer villain as uncharismatic as him.”

“Filth that needs to be cleaned up!”

The Paladins, regaining their composure thanks to Siu’s courageous act, hurled insults.

Even Rake, who was holding her Meteor Sword and waiting for an opportunity, frowned at the level of profanity.

━ Fine. If you wish to die, I shall grant you death.

Karon reacted more calmly than expected.

“Huh.”

Siu was surprised. She had expected him to fly into a rage and retreat, as he always did when faced with criticism.

━ To all members of the Tribal Federation. I don’t even expect cooperation. Leave Malak’s side, leave the Tribal Federation. Then I will not attack. My goal is the end of myth. If you are not a god or a follower, there is no reason to fight.

Everyone in the Tribal Federation heard his voice.

━ That is all I have to say. Then… hmm?

Karon’s gaze turned towards Paya. She was glaring at him with clenched fists. It seemed like she was analyzing the spells surrounding the controlled Paladin.

━ You are like me. You were born with natural talent. What a strange connection…

Bang!

Taking advantage of Karon’s distraction, Rake fired her Divine Power using the Meteor Sword.

━ A futile effort.

Karon tried to block it by layering Protective Spells, but this time was different. Princess Dina, who had been waiting for an opportunity, broke her concealment and attacked. She had created a weakness in the Protective Spells.

Crack!

A fiercer attack than before pierced through all the Protective Spells and completely destroyed the Paladin’s head, leaving no trace.

“Did we get him?”

After Paladin ‘I Trusted the Monkey Man but’ said that, something happened.

Woosh! Woosh!

The dimensional gate widened, revealing the Capital. Countless demons and their worshippers were still watching them.

The most terrifying sight was the white giant standing in the center. A being that inspired awe with its mere presence. An indescribable fear washed over them.

━ If you won’t come to the Capital first, I will come to you. I will completely destroy everything you have built.

The man standing on the giant’s shoulder, Karon, spoke.

━ Malak. It’s just you and me now. Let’s settle this.

As Karon stretched out his hand, the dimensional gate disappeared.

“…”

Everyone was speechless. It was Rake who broke the silence.

“I believe there is no creature more ungrateful than this beast.”

She glanced coldly at the people of the Tribal Federation and left.

“Huh? W, Why?”

She didn’t forget to come back and drag Noah away with her.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

I was startled when I heard that Karon had opened a dimensional gate and come to visit. It was right after I finished talking with Mera and lay down to rest.

[Petit Noah: Ask Rake-nim why she let Karon speak!]

[Petit Noah: Tell her that some people might be swayed by his deceitful tongue!]

[Petit Noah: （Picture of Rake looking sulky）]

There was no need to send a picture, but well, it’s not bad.

Rake’s words made sense, but I thought differently.

Karon is a petty and persistent guy. He would have taken action to achieve his goal （of sowing discord）.

In that case, wouldn’t it be best to just listen and let it go in one ear and out the other? It’s better than Rake and Karon wasting their energy on a meaningless war of nerves there.

[I trust my followers]

[Tell her that]

[Petit Noah: Malak-nim, you trust humans too much]

[Petit Noah: In a situation like this, trust is dangerous]

[Petit Noah: I told her!]

Yes, that’s true too. But.

[My Guardian, if I don’t trust my followers, what else can I trust?]

Honestly, I can understand if a few followers leave. Who wants to fight and die? But if a Loa says ‘It’s okay to go,’ wouldn’t his followers lose their motivation?

And what about those who stay and fight if I let them go quietly? It’s best to stick to this attitude for now.

[Because of the current situation, we have to trust them]

[I told her that]

[Petit Noah: （Picture of Rake looking at her with an expression that’s hard to tell if it’s touched or sad）]

[Petit Noah: I will trust in Malak-nim’s wisdom]

[Petit Noah: I long to see you soon]

[Petit Noah: She said that and left!]

I also trust my people.

[Petit Noah: Oh! Come to think of it, Rake-nim didn’t say anything for the messenger to relay!]

[Maybe she didn’t want to repeat herself?]

[Petit Noah: Ah, that must be it Σ（°ロ°） ]

I closed the message window and closed my eyes. Karon’s words to Paya bothered me.

…Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

Could Karon be an unanswered Paya?

If Jin Malak, or I, had not responded like Gabun, would Paya have become like Karon?

“Tsk.”

I wanted to take a nap, but the concept of sleep didn’t exist in the Spirit World.

Guess I’ll just close my eyes for a bit.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

“Paya? What’s the matter?”

Luna asked Paya, who had entered the temporary magic tower （house）. Paya approached the Asha zombie that had been placed there on Malak-nim’s orders.

‘It shouldn’t be possible, but… I think I can control it.’

Paya furrowed her brow silently.

In that brief moment, Paya had gained enlightenment from the necromancy Karon had displayed.