Chapter 52: The Sin God
“Oh?”
The ancient deity was somewhat surprised by the question and looked at the one from the future.
“You actually know this? I thought such names had vanished in the future.
The Elder Gods were the original thirteen deities, truly born alongside the world itself. They represent the origin and power of the world. Though the Elder Gods have long since fallen—that much is certain—their power remains immense. Even in their downfall, their strength persists. I suppose your presence here is due to the power of the Elder God of Time. As for us, the Old Gods...”
In the language used by the saint before him, the term “Old Gods” usually meant “ancient deities” in Drarian tongue, but the stranger surprisingly inferred the meaning as “gods of sin.”
“What exactly happened in the past? What is this world, really...”
His mind was so overwhelmed with confusion that coherent thought became nearly impossible.
“Leave now. The history of the past burdens the souls of mortals as well. Those stories have long since faded—dust to dust, earth to earth, all gone... It is not good for mortals to gaze upon us. Depart, child of the future.”
“But—”
“This is for your own good. However, I am the God of Innocence, protector of children. Since you, a child from the future, have appeared before I depart completely, it means our fates are intertwined. If you still refuse to leave and wish to hear a story, then so be it.”
“Child from the future?”
Shade was puzzled by this address.
“Could it be because my soul has not dwelled in this world’s timeline long enough, so I am considered a child?”
At least he understood the significance of “stories” to a time-wielder, so he gathered his spirits and nodded, ready to absorb every piece of information that followed.
The ancient god before him, young yet strangely bearing an aura of premature weariness, sighed softly:
“My tale is quite dull. I was born from the boundless illusions of children, embodying their purest longings.
Once, I used my own power to create an eternal flame and an inexhaustible spring for the most beautiful witch princess. But she demanded immortality, which I could not grant—for such a desire is not fitting for a child. So, I left her.”
[You have listened to the story of the Old God, ‘Creator of Innocence.’ You have learned one of the miracles of the Old God, ‘Creator of Innocence.’]
[You have acquired the charm, False Immortality. You possess the ability to prevent a grievously wounded person from dying within half an hour.]
“Mortals are destined to die. False immortality is but a laughable comfort.”
The ancient deity lamented, then pushed forward. The stunned stranger inside the toy shop was flung backward like a marionette.
“Until we meet again, child of the future. May the great powers of time and creation watch over you.”
He burst through the shop door, vanished into the thick white mist beyond, and then crashed heavily onto the floor of the living room in Apartment No. 1, Second Floor, Building 6, Saint Delan Plaza.
[Stranger, you have returned to the present time.]
[Message from the Elder God, ‘Father of the Infinite Tree’:]
[Mission incomplete.]
[Time Key; Fifth Era - 1068 - Creator of Innocence, 1/3 damaged.]
[Next activation requires one week’s wait.]
“Wasn’t it supposed to be single-use?”
Though his face was pale, Shade immediately slipped his hand into his pocket and felt the timeworn key cracked with faint fractures.
“Mr. Hamilton, how was your journey?”
Professor Garcia’s curious voice came from behind him. He hadn’t seen Shade’s expression and could not guess what had just transpired.
Shade’s heart pounded rapidly, but within seconds, he had completed all his thoughts. Slowly turning around, he made no effort to conceal his pale complexion.
“The event in the Fifth Era, year 1068, was the fall of the Elder Gods.”
Though the immense pressure brought by the deity had vanished once he left the toy shop, the trauma endured from facing a god still lingered.
Yet Professor Garcia’s expression instantly grew grimmer than Shade’s own. Were it not for the current state of projection, he might have leapt up in shock.
“What? How could that be? The Elder Gods fell?”
His mouth gaped open in astonishment, then he quickly focused his concerned gaze on Shade, speaking rapid, clumsy Drarian that nearly overwhelmed Shade’s comprehension.
“I’ve never heard of such an event in 1068 before. Mr. Hamilton, are you alright? If this is true, then this key isn’t just poet-level—it’s definitely beyond angel-level!”
The professor wanted to support Shade but couldn’t. Clenching his fists anxiously, he asked:
“Mr. Hamilton, should the academy send a medical team to assist you?”
“Oh, no.”
Professor Garcia’s concern and urgency were genuine, as was Shade’s shock. But Shade’s expression showed exhaustion. He slowly made his way back to his chair and began recounting his experience in a measured tone:
“I arrived at a street, saw a shop, and then... I can’t remember clearly.”
His head still throbbed, but he described the general appearance of Hope Town and claimed to have wandered the street for ten minutes before finally spotting the shop shrouded in white mist. Then he returned here, even acquiring a new charm.
This investigation seemed to have begun just by seeing that shop.
“Good thing you didn’t go inside.”
Shade’s ten-minute account of his ten-minute encounter left Professor Garcia visibly shaken. Shade even saw sweat forming on the professor’s translucent cheeks.
“Good thing you didn’t go in, good thing! Damn it, I’ll make the student who investigated the time point 1068 in the Fifth Era repeat the year—until 1860! That student claimed that time point was completely safe and nothing happened!”
It was now 1853 in the Sixth Era, and Shade worried for that unknown Saint Byrons student.
“You don’t need to write this report. I’ll do it for you. I will report your time travel to the academy exactly as it happened; they won’t let you suffer any loss! Damn it, there’s a rot in the History Academy! Who was it that said 1068 in the Fifth Era was safe... Mr. Hamilton, are you really alright?”
His anger even made him blurt out a few words in Carsonric, but Shade understood them all.
“I want to sleep. I feel mentally exhausted, unable to focus. Oh, sir, I am truly too tired.”
Shade slumped into his original chair, though his spirit was recovering swiftly thanks to the protection granted by the Creator of Innocence.
“All right, rest now. When the mailed poetry pages arrive tomorrow, if you feel unwell, contact the academy immediately. Damn it, I’m definitely making the one who wrote the 1068 Fifth Era report repeat the year—until 1870!”
An extra ten years of student life.
“Sorry, Professor Garcia, I’m just too tired.”
Shade very ungracefully uttered words to dismiss him, and the pointed-eared professor understood perfectly.
“Don’t worry. As long as you return to the present time, all injuries you suffered in the past will vanish. So the harm you feel is only what you believe you endured. It’s just that you actually saw the dwelling of gods... Mr. Hamilton, get some rest and contact me if anything happens. Be careful, take care of your health. Oh, poor young man, to face such things...”
Filled with concern, the professor watched Shade for a moment before standing and leaving. Though stern in appearance, Professor Garcia truly cared for his students.