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“Do you all believe in the existence of God?”

The old man, dressed in the priestly robes of the Ijusin Church, asked as he stroked his well-groomed, abundant beard.

The old man was not only a high-ranking priest of the Ijusin Church but also a professor teaching theology at the academy.

The Canadel Academy, where he taught, was located on the Western Continent.

More than 80% of the people on the Western Continent believed in the Ijusin Church to varying degrees, and the students taking the theology class were devout, so most of them nodded in agreement with the old professor’s words.

“There are so many faithful students. This is a joyous occasion.”

The old professor smiled contentedly and nodded.

“Our Lord God exists. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say, ‘existed.'”

At those words, the students flinched momentarily.

This was because the content could be a very sensitive issue for the fanatical believers of the Ijusin Church.

In fact, some students wore very uncomfortable expressions.

“Whether we like it or not, our gods left after ‘that day,’ when human history changed drastically. The great war that engulfed this entire planet 3,000 years ago. The East-West Inma War, Argonaut. It was exactly 1,000 years after the Demon King of the Eastern Continent fell in that great war.”

“It is called the Day of Judgment. Some say it was due to the birth of a new Demon King, others say the gods were fed up with the licentiousness and sins of humans who had become enemies of this land, and still others say the gods took on the sins we had accumulated.”

“Haha, young student. Don’t be so angry. You must be ready to accept even the most difficult facts first. If the cause and sin really lie with us humans, the gods will not return to us unless we correct it, will they?”

The old professor, who had soothed a student who was making an unpleasant expression as if he did not like the selection of the lecture content, cleared his throat and began to continue his explanation.

“After the Day of Judgment. All of us humans had to break away from the embrace of God and pioneer our future with our own strength. As you all know, the current P.D. (Post Deus) human era is divided before and after this time.”

“But this is not just for academic classification.”

“Does anyone know what has changed greatly in this land before and after this human era?”

At the old professor’s question, everyone looked around, and no one raised their hand.

Just as the old professor was about to make a troubled expression at the silence that lasted for a while, someone raised their hand.

“Oh, the student who just raised their hand. Would you like to speak?”

The old professor, who was urging the student to answer with a delighted attitude, opened his mouth and began to speak, feeling nervous.

“The political system and the dynamics of the class of humans at the time changed greatly.”

“That’s not wrong, but it’s too vague. If you look at history, there are always big changes in sections where inflection points occur. If there were no big changes in the first place, it wouldn’t be called an inflection point, would it? Can you tell me what phenomena occurred?”

“…Um.”

The student, who had groaned once to organize the knowledge that came to mind, soon began to explain in a clear voice as if the tension had been relieved.

“The loss of the world’s largest power. And the loss of humanity’s Divine Power.”

“Unlike now, the position of the Pope of the Ijusin Church was prioritized over all secular positions at the time. But on the Day of Judgment. Divine Power suddenly disappeared, and the priests and paladins who had received the oracle at the time lost their reason and committed terrible massacres throughout the temples of the Ijusin Church. The religion, which had long been believed in by all of humanity, lost its former power and position at the same time as the terrible massacre, and at the same time, the pus that had accumulated for a thousand years within was revealed to the world. This is the reason why it is called the Day of Judgment, and the dark age of the Ijusin Church began for 500 years until the religious reform 1,500 years ago.”

“The fall of the Ijusin Church, which wielded absolute power as God’s agent, also began to deny the legitimacy of the dynasty that had been revered under absolute divine authority, and after the death of the Great King, Pohelnia, the Thousand-Year Kingdom that had lasted for nearly 16 centuries, was divided, marking the beginning of the era of numerous dynasties.”

Clap clap clap-!

“Excellent. It was a concise and clear explanation.”

The old professor, satisfied with the student’s clear explanation, nodded, praised the student who had answered, and asked her to sit down again.

The devout students had already closed their books and left the lecture room when the dark history of their faith came out, but the old professor did not try to hold them back.

This was because many believers did not want to admit that their religion had once been corrupt, as it was a story about the time when the faith they believed in was most corrupt.

The old professor just chuckled and brushed off the thoughts of the students who had left the lecture room.

“Then, what is the loss of Divine Power, which was the starting point of all that? What is Divine Power?”

“…Wasn’t it just mana that was operated in a rather unique way? The time when humans first used Mental cultivation method and the time when Divine Power began to manifest in humans are similar.”

“Chuckling, seeing that you know the timing exactly, you must be a student who has studied history a lot. That’s certainly not wrong. The God of War, the child of the Lord Gods, was the first messenger of God. The Pope. It was another system of martial arts created by the God of War. That theory certainly exists.”

As the old professor waved his hand, several photos appeared on the board.

“But the existence of Divine Power, which has been with the history of the Poheln Dynasty, has been proven to exist in various records for 16 centuries. Unlike generally accumulating, refining, and processing mana with Mental cultivation method or circling, Divine Power is recorded as literally ‘descended.’ Moreover, unlike generally processed and internalized energy, Divine Power is closer to the temple…”

◈ ◈ ◈

“To think this was really possible, what an amazing idea.”

Sitting on the throne, I controlled and used the heterogeneous energy with a white light in my hand, marveling at it.

Even though it was energy from the outside, there was no difficulty in using it without going through the refining process.

“However, the method is still rough, and it could be severely damaged if done wrong.”

I said, looking at Aliya while scattering the energy gathered in my hand.

“Creating a mental connection using a single belief, religious fanaticism, forcibly matching the wavelengths, and then receiving the overflowing energy of the Great Barrier…”

I shook my head.

“It’s a completely heretical method in my standards, but the idea itself is amazing. The Succubus race, called Mongma (夢魔)? I learned about it in Subhun, but I have to raise both hands when it comes to mental systems.”

“Even so, it would not have been possible to even attempt it without Araya’s help. It would not have been possible to even attempt it without her sensitivity to energy, control, and Divine Power.”

“It’s more of a structure with a developed Upper Dantian than Divine Power, and it would have been possible even if I wasn’t there.”

I said with a bleak smile.

“There would have to be countless victims of human experimentation, though. What choice would you have made if I hadn’t been there?”

“…In the first place, without Araya, it would not have been possible to construct the Ijusin Church or the Great Barrier. I wouldn’t have even been able to think of such a method.”

“Hmm.”

I made a dissatisfied snort at Aliya’s answer, which did not deny it.

“Still, there are still many parts to refine, but it’s a really unique concept. If it’s possible, it might be possible to mass-produce powerful divine soldiers and communicate in a more advanced way between people connected by this connection.”

Even Hyegwang Simeo only transmits fragmentary thoughts as ideas, but if this is properly completed, it seemed possible to communicate in the realm of mind and mind.

“Moreover, to create a mental connection, you need a unified belief, so you can prove your loyalty with faith and filter out spies. You can even recover power when you excommunicate, so it’s a well-made device politically.”

I said, stroking my chin.

“However, even if it’s completed, the worry is that these advantages can become disadvantages. If this Great Barrier goes out of control or the person in control has impure intentions, it could be a trigger for disaster.”

“That’s why the things about this should be kept secret with as few people knowing as possible.”

“I agree.”

I chuckled and looked at the statue of Ul Canadel in the center of the ceiling of the World Room.

“We’ve turned a fake god into a real god.”

I said, looking at the energy circulating in the World Room.

“Still, thanks to these experiences, I found the beginning to connect the mind and space. I couldn’t understand it because it didn’t feel like knowledge, but I feel like I know it now that I’ve actually felt it.”

“…?”

“It’s just a personal story.”

I brought up the story about Frigos’ expedition.

“I heard that Frigos is preparing for war with a guy named Muktuk in the south.”

“His Majesty plans to set out this winter and next spring.”

“I won’t be able to use this in this war.”

“I don’t think it will have a big impact even if you don’t have it.”

“Well, I guess so. How are things going with the Wandering Giant?”

“The messengers have already been sent to the giant brothers, and they said they will probably return within two weeks.”

Sitting on the throne, I touched the lump of Jin, which was now beginning to take the shape of a sword, and recited.

“I’ll see those guys’ faces for the first time in a while.”

I smiled slightly at the thought of it.

“By the way, what’s the name of ‘this’? Do you have anything in mind?”

I asked, looking up at the statue with the Bongok of Ul Canadel, which is the center of this Great Barrier.

Aliya shook her head in denial.

“I didn’t expect to make something like this either, so I don’t have anything in mind, but… as Araya said, we’re creating a god in a way.”

Aliya, who was making a troubled expression, slowly opened her mouth.

“But it’s just a device that can’t be called a real god, so how about a device that creates a god? Deus ex machina?”