Ubermensch - Chapter 126 - Lightnovelasia

Chapter 126

Mason glared at Nodens.

“Is that true?”

“It is.”

Nodens readily nodded.

“What you call monster cores are the ‘Life Seeds’ I’ve sown. They were designed to take root and grow across dimensions, completing their own ecosystems.”

“Why on earth would you do that?”

“For change.”

“Change?”

“Yes, change.”

Nodens pointed to the ground. No, to his own body.

“At some point, I felt that I had reached the end of evolution. Even if I became bigger and faster, I couldn’t achieve fundamental change. Conversely, what would be needed for change?”

“A reason to change?”

“You’re half right.”

Nodens calmly said.

“Diversity. I need something different from myself. I decided to provide a stimulus to foster ‘someone different from myself’. That was the Life Seed I sent. The creatures created by the Life Seeds would stimulate humans in other dimensions, and those humans, influenced by that, would evolve and develop to stand on the same level as me. That was my purpose.”

“You made humans die by monsters just for that?”

“Haven’t you experienced the end of a species that has lost its stimulus and change?”

Mason faltered.

The 28th century he was born into was an era where science and technology surpassed humanity. People could do everything, but at the same time, they didn’t need to do anything.

Humanity was slowly but surely going extinct.

“But there was no reason to perish. There was no reason for us to perish…”

“The 28th century didn’t perish. It left you behind, didn’t it?”

Mason felt suffocated.

He knew Nodens was a benevolent god. But his standards were too high, and his perspective too grand.

“I needed people on the same level as me, so I gave trials to those who were lacking to help them develop. However… there were some unforeseen misfortunes in the process.”

From Nodens’ perspective, the demise of the 28th century wasn’t a big deal. He had left Mason, and he had grown enough to face Nodens.

For Nodens, the 28th century that created Mason was a success.

‘His way of thinking is completely different from humans.’

A god who embraced the ‘goodwill’ of species growth and evolution, but lacked ‘compassion’ for individuals.

Just as a farmer feels no guilt when pruning branches for healthy fruit. Just as busy people feel no guilt when stepping on ants.

He felt no guilt for the countless lives lost due to his actions.

Because ‘ultimately’, it would lead to the advancement of civilization and the evolution of the species.

Even if that species were to perish by monsters… they were merely a species destined for extinction anyway.

‘Is this the perspective of gods?’

Mason felt the same madness in Nodens as he did in the Destroyer. A way of thinking so vast that mortals couldn’t even comprehend it, it could only be described as madness.

A mad god of good. Nodens said with a gentle expression.

“I admit it. The Destroyer is my fault. I’m doing my best to correct my mistake, so I would appreciate it if you could help me.”

“What if I refuse?”

“I won’t stop you. You are free.”

Nodens asked.

“But what can you do alone?”

“…”

Mason was silent. And Nodens was waiting. He would wait even if it took a thousand or ten thousand years.

Mason gritted his teeth.

“I…”

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The Laughing God was undergoing maintenance.

It wasn’t maintenance to enhance performance or check its condition. It was maintenance to check if any nanomachines remained or if it had brought back any viruses from outer space.

However, from the perspective of 21st-century human common sense, it would be a very bizarre scene. The mechanics were not holding any metal tools; they were using tools made of bones and flesh to touch and feel the Laughing God, which was mounted on a stand made of flesh, as if licking it.

To someone who didn’t know, it would look like priests were defiling a sacrificial offering to an evil god before the ritual.

And Mason was sitting in front of the Laughing God.

It was for a conversation.

Ironically, the only one left for him to talk to was the Laughing God. The only one who could understand him from the same perspective… was the extraterrestrial creature once called the scourge of humanity.

“Because it was goodwill, anyway.”

His goodwill was as ferocious as his malice. Mason didn’t like him. But goodwill was goodwill, and there were those who lived under his protection. Above all, he was the only one who could stand against the encroaching Destroyer.

“Why did you accept Nodens’ offer?”

Mason quietly said.

“Another Laughing God, your kin, is on the Destroyer’s side, isn’t he?”

The Laughing God calmly said.

“Because you like me?”

“Well, thank you…”

Mason smiled bitterly.

“I never thought I’d be thanking a monster when I was on Earth. In that sense… I guess I’ve become a cosmic being.”

The Laughing God looked at Mason.

“Yes, it seems so…”

At that moment, Nodens approached them.

“Have you made up your minds?”

“Yes…More or less.”

“Then there’s one thing you need to do.”

“What is it?”

“Change your name. Create a title or something.”

“Why?”

“If the Destroyer and I are called by our true names, would you be able to distinguish between us? Those who travel between dimensions need a name to be called by instead of their true names.”

Nodens looked at the Soldier. No, the Laughing God.

“The same goes for you.”

“Do you have any name suggestions?”

“We often take names from the Cthulhu Mythos. The name Oztalon happens to be vacant.”

“What kind of god is Oztalon?”

“The one who shimmers in gold. A benevolent and noble god who protects those who desperately seek his protection.”

Mason nodded.

“Then I’ll do that.”

Nodens looked at the Laughing God.

“What about you?”

“It doesn’t matter, but why?”

Nodens nodded.

“Your model, the modified Soldier, will be called ‘Champion’. Tell me if you want a different name.”

Nodens nodded.

At that moment, something rose from the ground.

It was an object made of curved bone. It looked like the claw of a bird of prey.

“Take it. It’s a communicator with interdimensional communication capabilities. You’ll need it for your upcoming missions.”

“Alright. So are we being deployed on missions now?”

“No. I need to search for where to deploy you, and it would be good for you to learn about this place as well.”

Nodens said.

“Warriors tend to fight better when they know what they have to protect. I’ll give you some time to rest, so look around.”

“People will be surprised.”

“I’ll cast an illusion spell. Is that alright?”

As Mason nodded, a pillar of flesh rose from beneath his feet and enveloped him.

“I’ll add the blessing of languages to that. So you can understand and communicate in all languages.”

The next moment, Mason had transformed into an ordinary Ogre.

“…Why an Ogre?”

“Because your strength and physique are similar.”

Mason smiled bitterly.

“Serious God must be bored being alone, so it would be nice if he could go around with you.”

Then, Nodens held out something.

It was a fist-sized robot doll.

At that moment, Mason realized that Nodens was holding something else in his other hand. It was a dragon model made of bone.

“Why me?!”

When the Ghost Dragon flared up, Nodens said with a smile.

“You’re a team. Build some teamwork.”

“Why am I on the same team as these guys?! Send me to the battlefield!”

“You’re too weak to fight on the battlefield of the gods. Take the role of Oztalon’s assistant.”

“I can fight well if I eat enough souls!”

“If you’ve eaten enough souls to be full, doesn’t that mean you’ve already lost that fight?”

“…”

Nodens placed the Ghost Dragon and the Serious God on Mason’s shoulders.

“Have a pleasant walk.”

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Mason strolled through the market.

Like a country bumpkin visiting a town market for the first time, Mason looked around with wonder.

‘What kind of things do aliens buy and sell?’

He could understand the aliens’ words as he heard them. Wondering what the alien that resembled a carnivorous dinosaur would say, Mason listened intently with a pounding heart.

“Stone beds! Stone beds for sale! For those who find the soft ground uncomfortable, buy a stone bed!”

Mason made a subtle expression.

The ground here was Nodens’ body. It seemed like it would be needed both physiologically and psychologically. However…

‘It’s such an ordinary item…’

As Mason was inwardly disappointed, another voice reached his ears.

“Bones of the Ancient God! Powdered bones of the Ancient God for sale! Eat this and you’ll gain divine powers and protection against curses!”

An alien that looked like a jellyfish was shouting at the top of its lungs. Intrigued, Mason approached the alien.

“Bones of the Ancient God? Give me a bag.”

“Yes, sir!”

Mason looked at the medicine bag with curious eyes and said.

“What Ancient God’s bones are these? What kind of medicinal effects do they have?”

“I don’t know for sure, but it’s the bone of an Ancient God excavated from another dimension. It’s a precious item that no one has ever eaten before, and they say that eating this will grant you divine powers.”

“How do you know the medicinal effects if no one has ever eaten it?”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell between the two.

The next moment, Nightgaunts blew their whistles and flew in from afar.

“Quack doctor! Get him!”

“Yikes, I can’t afford another fine!”

As the alien hurriedly ran away, Mason looked at the medicine bag in his hand.

“What is this…?”

Serious God scanned it and said.

“…Huh?”

Mason seriously pondered.

“Was there an Ancient God made of granite in another dimension?”

The Ghost Dragon scoffed.

“Idiot.”