Leveling with the Gods

Side Story 74

"I remember everything."

"..."

"..."

Silence filled the room.

YuWon and Pandora looked at Tsukuyomi with sealed lips.

Judging by her expression, it seemed to be true.

[Hey, the situation has become interesting]

Son OhGong's mocking laughter resonated from the Player Kit. Hercules was also smiling.

[Hey, hey! At least tell me where you are!]

Click.

YuWon ended the call and stored the Player Kit in his inventory.

Tsukuyomi, she, sat in front of YuWon. Pandora's eyes watched her suspiciously.

There was something on her face that Pandora didn't like.

"What do you remember?"

"Who are you. I told you before, didn't I? Kim YuWon."

The way she repeated his name indicated that it was real.

Indeed.

They had met too many times. Moreover, encountering Susanoo this time had been a quite impactful event.

'It was about time for her to remember.'

Although, for YuWon, who preferred to avoid the attention of the Administrators for the time being, it wasn't exactly a pleasant situation.

'She's not the type to go around gossiping. And even if she did, it wouldn't change anything.'

There was no need to think badly of her. In fact, to gain the cooperation of Tsukuyomi, who possessed the power of Izanagi, this situation might even be beneficial.

"Whoever I am, it doesn't really matter..."

"Don't try to evade it."

Tsukuyomi shook her head in disbelief.

"What kind of person are you that everyone has forgotten you? It's not even that they have completely forgotten, they can't remember your face after seeing it..."

Now that she remembered, it was incredible.

No one else but...

Kim YuWon.

"I too. Amaterasu is practically dead by your hand. How is it possible that I forgot you?"

It wasn't a natural phenomenon. Something had intervened. That was certain. And Tsukuyomi suspected that this intervention was the work of YuWon.

However...

"It's true. Everyone has forgotten."

"What?"

Tsukuyomi smiled ironically. In front of her, YuWon continued unfazed.

"It saddens me a bit. That no one remembers me. Even that idiot Son OhGong remembers me."

As he said it, he glanced sideways at Tsukuyomi. As if he were asking her why she couldn't remember him, just like Son OhGong.

"You, you..."

Tsukuyomi's face reddened as she understood the hidden meaning in YuWon's words.

Regardless of everything else, being compared to Son OhGong was...

Really an offense to anyone who knew the foolish side of the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal.

YuWon, having diverted the conversation by teasing Tsukuyomi, glanced sideways at Pandora. Pandora nodded in satisfaction, pleased to see Tsukuyomi's anger.

There was no specific reason why he hadn't explained.

'It's a hassle to explain. It won't change anything if I do.'

It was too difficult to make them understand why they had forgotten her. If possible, it was best for them to accept it as Varuna had done.

What mattered to her wasn't the "why."

Sss~

At that moment, Susanoo appeared behind YuWon.

Tsukuyomi, who was about to continue questioning YuWon, stopped.

-It seems you call me often. I was about to fall asleep.

"If you don't like it, go back to sleep."

-No, it's okay.

Susanoo responded hastily. Tsukuyomi, seeing this behavior for the first time, observed Susanoo with strange eyes for a moment before nodding.

It was understandable. If the opponent was YuWon, it made sense for Susanoo to recognize him. No matter how grand the Three Precious Children were, they were nothing compared to YuWon's achievements.

-Well... um...

Susanoo hesitated for a moment.

-You finally did it.

You did it...

The treasure the Three Precious Children sought: the Three Sacred Treasures.

The combined object referred to Izanagi.

"It's thanks to you."

With those words, Tsukuyomi's gaze shifted from Susanoo to YuWon.

Susanoo, who defeated Orochi and found Kusanagi.

YuWon, who found the Yata Mirror.

And Amaterasu, who had the Magatama Jewel.

In reality, Tsukuyomi hadn't gathered any of the Three Sacred Treasures.

But...

-Even so, you did well.

At those words, the corners of Tsukuyomi's lips lifted slightly.

First, Susanoo died.

Then, after Amaterasu's death.

She thought no one would know what she had achieved.

But still, one person.

He wasn't alive, but there was someone who recognized what she had accomplished.

'So there's also that side to him.'

YuWon looked at Susanoo, who couldn't properly look Tsukuyomi in the eyes.

He was known as the Killer. Susanoo, who considered human life like that of flies, played the most significant role in building the infamous reputation of the Three Precious Children.

In the end, for YuWon, it was nothing more than Susanoo and Tsukuyomi, who loved that Susanoo.

But it was evident that the two loved each other.

'Since things are like this...'

YuWon, who had been silently observing the awkward conversation between the two, opened his mouth.

"It will take time to control Izanagi."

Starting with those words, YuWon looked at Susanoo.

"Susanoo, you stay by Tsukuyomi's side. You can keep coming out for a while."

-Really...?

"Really?"

The two were surprised. YuWon's words were so unexpected. It was as if he were giving Susanoo a brief period of freedom, who was subdued as his familiar.

-Oh... my God.

Susanoo barely managed to express his gratitude. However, YuWon didn't let the misunderstanding persist for long.

"Wait a moment. It seems you're misunderstanding something."

YuWon shook his head.

"Tsukuyomi, you're the one who should stay by my side. I get tired if we're too far apart."

"Me?"

"Until you get familiar with Izanagi. And I'd like you to help me with this on this occasion."

The Eyes of Izanagi were useful. That skill had proven to be almost perfect for support tasks, more than in combat.

From YuWon's perspective, there was no better assistant than her.

"Help? What are you going to do?"

"There's something I need to find."

"What?"

"Danpung."

"..."

Tsukuyomi tilted her head at the Name that sounded like it was about to fall in autumn. She checked Susanoo's expression to see what it was, but he kept his mouth shut with a hardened face.

Tsukuyomi shrugged, thinking it wasn't necessary to keep asking. She would discover the details slowly later on, and she didn't really care much about what YuWon was looking for.

Anyway, the proposal to be able to accompany Susanoo for a while was quite nice.

"All right. If there's something I can help with, I'll do it. Anyway, I have nothing else to do."

"Thank you."

"And where are we going? Don't tell me you also want me to give you directions."

"I've already decided where we're going."

Although he had been delayed by Ananta. He already had a destination in mind.

"We're going Outside."

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

All the Rankers from Olympus and Asgard who participated in the fight against Ananta. They were plunged into chaos at the appearance of the offspring of Shub-Niggurath.

A rumor circulated among the Rankers of Olympus and Asgard.

"It seems there are still some left."

"I remember those goats perfectly. How could I forget them?"

"Are the Outers... moving again?"

Those entities that were believed to have disappeared after the victory in the war ten years ago. The Tower was in a state of turmoil at the news of their return.

"It's good news."

Zeus, sweating profusely as he threw his spear into the sky, conversed with Hades, who had visited him.

"Good news?"

"Yes. Thanks to this, the Administrators have been quiet these last few days."

A servant, who had been waiting, approached with a towel for Zeus to wipe off the sweat.

"Are they worried about the Outers?"

"If it weren't for that, they wouldn't have stayed quiet at a time like this."

"Although that's true..."

Sigh~

Hades looked up at the sky.

"I, for my part, am more afraid of them."

The sky Zeus had thrown his spear into. It was clear and blue now, but there was a time when that sky was purple.

A purple sky that always seemed to be watching them. Every time he remembered it, Hades still felt fear.

"It's likely."

"Then, isn't this the time to join forces once again like we did that day?"

"There's no need for that."

"No need?"

Hades tilted his head, not understanding. He knew the relationship Foolish Chaos had with Zeus in the past, and he also knew how much Zeus feared the entities known as the Outers.

So, he thought he would react to this event more sensitively than anyone. However, his reaction was calmer than ever.

'I don't know why, but...'

Glup~

Hades observed Zeus's reaction while drinking the drink that had been served along with the towel. He realized he wouldn't get a detailed explanation.

'If he wanted to talk, he would have done it earlier.'

However, he didn't feel uneasy about Zeus's reaction. As a brother and as an elder, he had been watching him for a long time, but Zeus had never disappointed him.

Complacency? That word didn't apply to Zeus. There must be a reason for Zeus to show that reaction.

And that reason was one.

'Right now, even if he explained it, I wouldn't understand...'

Zeus, leaving the empty cup, glanced sideways at Hades.

'Thanks to this, I've gained some time.'

Fuu.

Kurung!

Exhaling a long sigh, he recreated the spear in his hand. In his mind, the battle against Ananta played out over and over. The impact of the first time he blocked the Astrape was not easy to forget.

Since that day...

Zeus had come here every day to throw his spear.

'The spearhead has become dull.'

Adopting a throwing stance, Zeus, with his shining golden eyes, threw the spear towards the clouds.

'It's time to sharpen it again.'

Kwa-rung!

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

Pandora and Tsukuyomi.

And Susanoo, who had decided to stay Outside as long as he was with Tsukuyomi.

A group of four descended to the first floor.

Floor by floor.

An enormous black wall that rose to the end of the sky.

Tsukuyomi, who had reached the limit that separated the Tower from the Outside, asked.

"Are we really going to leave from here?"

"Yes."

"Is that possible?"

Perhaps because the answer was too easy?

Tsukuyomi still couldn't imagine leaving the Tower.

Since the wall cracked. And Shub-Niggurath revealed itself in the Tower from the Outside. It had become evident that it was possible to cross the wall that seemed to never fall.

But while the Outers could enter, no Inner had ever left.

'Even if it's possible, there must be no one who wants to leave.'

It was something she hadn't even imagined.

The Outers.

Beings that even the High-Rankers of the Tower feared.

Who would want to set foot in the world where they roamed?

The same was true for Tsukuyomi.

'Is that Danpung out there?'

The fact that YuWon had the Name of Shub-Niggurath was also something Tsukuyomi was learning for the first time. But it was unknown what relationship he had with Danpung, whom YuWon was looking for.

Step, step~

YuWon approached the wall. His heart was pounding. He had never been outside before, but for some reason, the feeling was familiar.

'I'm going to see it.'

The World outside the Tower, which was in Azathoth's memory.

Towards that world.

Swoosh.

YuWon reached out his hand.

-KO-FI

'Ko-Fi' for Advanc3 Ch4pt3rs (Up to '95' more ch4pt3rs)Publication of up to 6 weekly ch4pters, thanks.

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