Ubermensch – Chapter 123

Chapter 123

She seemed surprised that I recognized her.

“How did you find me?”

She was still a blonde beauty, but the her from back then and the her now were completely different. It wasn’t something that could be disguised with makeup or a change of clothes.

“Smell.”

“You mean you smelled me?”

“No.”

But I wasn’t an ordinary person either.

“You’re the only person in my entire life who didn’t have any smell.”

No matter how cleanly one took care of themselves, there was always a lingering scent of feces and urine. It was just so faint that people couldn’t detect it.

However, I couldn’t smell any such excrement from her. There was no trace of sweat or body odor either.

Normally, I would have thought it was masked by perfume, but a werewolf’s nose could smell through even the strongest perfume.

This was only the second time I had encountered someone who didn’t have a scent.

“A blind spot, I see.”

She said with a laugh.

“Your sense of smell, and your judgment. Both were unexpected.”

In all the time I knew her, I only saw her surprised twice. But back then, I didn’t realize how significant it was. I was too thirsty to quench the questions overflowing within me.

“Isn’t it about time you told me?”

“I don’t want to be seen talking to a strange man. This isn’t the time to incur the jealousy of the Basileus (Emperor).”

She was subtly threatening me.

That if a strange man were to be seen flirting with the Emperor’s concubine, he wouldn’t leave the palace alive.

I, in turn, gripped her hand tightly.

“Try it if you want. I’ll say you seduced me. Want to bet on who he’ll believe more, the Varangian Guard or a concubine?”

And I threatened her directly.

“Maybe he’ll believe you. Or maybe he’ll believe me. But one thing’s for sure… even if he believes you, he won’t look at you with the same warmth as before.”

“…Hehehe.”

The Varangian Guard were the Emperor’s most trusted bodyguards. The number of times they had betrayed the Emperor could be counted on one hand. Because it had never happened.

On the other hand, the number of times concubines had been involved in conspiracies was countless. Because there were too many.

Whatever scheme she was plotting, making an enemy of me within the palace wouldn’t do her any good.

“Has it been about two hundred years? You’ve gotten quite clever in the meantime.”

“Yes, I’ve had plenty of time.”

“So, have you solved my riddle?”

“I might sound crazy, but I think I have.”

She smiled as if to say, tell me.

“Those I killed, they were Einherjar, weren’t they?”

“Why do you think that?”

“As far as I know, I was the strongest warrior in the North Sea. There was no one equal to me. But conversely, there must be the strongest warrior in the North Sea in every generation. If they were warriors recruited from different eras, they would be the only ones who could match me.”

“You’re right. They were Einherjar.”

I narrowed my eyes.

If one guess was correct, the rest could be deduced.

“Then, that place must have been the palace of the gods.”

“That’s right. It was my home.”

“Then you… must be Freyja.”

She smiled subtly.

“Please call me Irina. Here, in the palace.”

Like me, she had gone by many names during her long life, but at that time, she was calling herself Irina of the Basilikon.

I bowed respectfully.

“Oh, beautiful and noble Freyja of the Vanir. This humble man praises your glory.”

“…”

However, Irina frowned, uncomfortable with my attitude.

“…Weren’t you a Catholic?”

“Why do you think that? I am a man who values tradition.”

Apparently, wooden churches were now being built in our homeland, but I still held onto the old faith.

In fact, in my generation, the old faith was more mainstream than the church.

It was just that the world had changed before the old axeman.

“I made a mistake.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Irina changed the subject.

“If you think of me as a god, can I trust that you won’t interfere with me?”

“The gods have their own plans. How could a humble man like me commit blasphemy?”

“Good. Then… we’ve never met, and we’ll never meet again. Can you do that?”

“Of course.”

She suddenly said, as if she had just remembered.

“What god do you serve?”

“I serve the valiant Thor.”

“I see.”

Irina’s face momentarily clouded.

“May he protect you.”

“It’s an honor.”

The conversation ended there.

And, I changed my plans and stayed in the palace for a few more years.

Just in case I had a chance to help her again.

During those few years, the Emperor’s health began to deteriorate. At the same time, the conspirators in the court began to form countless alliances.

Occasionally, some foolish individuals would suggest we join their plots, but we would give those fools a taste of the exquisite skills of the imperial torture technicians.

Of course, that was only for those foolish enough to approach us directly. Court conspiracies that didn’t involve us were the counterintelligence officers’ responsibility.

It was around that time that Irina contacted me again.

“Lady Freyja.”

“Please call me Irina.”

“Yes, Lady Irina.”

I asked politely.

“What brings you here?”

“I want to impeach a Magistrianos (Counterintelligence Officer). Can you help me?”

“Palace affairs are the responsibility of the Varangian Guard. It’s beyond our authority.”

“But the Varangian Guard have the Basileus’s trust. The Basileus’s trust can be power.”

“We are trusted because we are not involved in court conspiracies. Even if we had power, the moment we wielded it, we would lose it.”

Irina thought for a moment and then said.

“Then… I want to assassinate him. Can you do that?”

“It’s possible.”

Counterintelligence officers underwent high-level combat training, but it was just self-defense. They weren’t a match for professional warriors, especially one of the highest caliber like me.

“Please do it.”

I felt a momentary conflict. To harm the Emperor’s subject would be to break my oath of loyalty, and to refuse a god’s request would be to defy a god.

“I swore an oath of loyalty to the Basileus.”

“I promise you. Killing that Magistrianos will not affect the Basileus’s safety in any way.”

I remained silent for a long time before speaking.

“At least tell me why.”

“I’m about to reveal my identity. And if it’s discovered that I’m a goddess of heretical faith among those who believe in Catholicism… it will not be a good thing.”

“…”

I nodded.

๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑

And a few days later.

A report about an agent who had been killed by a wolf was submitted to the Imperial Intelligence Division.

๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑

The Emperor passed away a few months later, and an unexpected individual ascended to the throne.

I saw Irina among the new Emperor’s close aides. Instead of being sent to a monastery as the late Emperor’s concubine, she seemed to have taken on the role of advisor to the new Emperor.

“I came to thank you.”

Irina approached me.

“I thought you’d rather hear my gratitude than receive gold or silver.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t you feel uncomfortable?”

“I do. I wonder if I broke my oath of loyalty.”

“I did nothing that would harm the Basileus.”

“But someone other than the successor the Basileus had chosen ascended to the throne. I’m struggling to decide whether I should consider my actions, which prevented the maintenance of the established order, as a breach of my oath.”

Irina spoke in a calm voice.

“Then… perhaps it would be best to tell you what I’ve been up to.”

“I’ll listen if you tell me.”

“There are many beings like you in this world. Beings buried in myths. I chose an Emperor with little faith to protect them. And I became his advisor.”

“Beings like me… you say?”

“Did you think that a werewolf and a god were the only extraordinary beings in this world? There are many people who live hiding their true identities. I’m working to protect them.”

I remained silent.

Irina knew what that meant.

“Don’t you understand?”

“No.”

“What part?”

“You are a god. Even though the Basileus holds the most powerful position among mortals, he is still just a human. Why are you holding back your divine power?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

Irina gave a sad smile.

“Even as a god, I am just one of the people in this world. I hope you understand that.”

“No, I can’t understand.”

The faith I had believed in all my life was shaking. The guilt of breaking my oath of loyalty weighed heavily on me.

I blurted out, as if I was exploding.

“The things we go through. If all our misfortunes and fortunes are not the will of the gods, then what did Roald, Erik, and Gorm live and die for?”

“…Thorkel.”

“Do you even remember them?”

“No.”

Irina shook her head.

“I don’t even know who they are.”

If there was a moment when the faith I had now lost first cracked, it would have been that moment.

If the gods weren’t watching. No, if they couldn’t watch. Then what have we been believing in and serving the gods for?

“They died holding their weapons. Praying to the gods… they died holding their weapons…”

Irina had a bitter expression on her face.

“As expected, I chose the wrong person.”

She wasn’t talking about the assassination of the counterintelligence officer. She was talking about what had happened in Valhalla.

“Why me?”

“We thought you didn’t serve us. We thought you were a Catholic.”

“Why did you think I was a Catholic?”

“Because you always carried a Bible.”

“Ha…”

The Bible. That damn Bible was the problem.

I should have sold it quickly.

Fatigue washed over me like a tidal wave. It wasn’t physical fatigue, but mental fatigue.

I spoke calmly, considering my world view had just been shattered.

“Tomorrow morning, I will resign from the Varangian Guard. And… I hope we never meet again.”

“I’ll try.”

I laughed weakly.

“Even as a god, you can’t even promise me that for sure…”

I packed my things and submitted my resignation.

The Emperor gave me the famous purple robe and a generous severance pay.

And as soon as I left the palace, I sold the purple robe. Along with the damn Bible.

I was sick of the gods. Our gods or their gods.

I started heading north again.

Hoping I would never meet the gods again.

However, that was a mistake.

One day, when thunder and lightning raged.

A man appeared before me as I was camping in the forest.

“Thorkel, son of Olaf. Is that right?”

He was a large and dignified warrior. A giant warrior holding a short-handled hammer.

“I am Thor. If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow your campfire.”

Thor said with a hearty smile.

“And your axe too!”

I was already caught in the battle of the gods.