---

**Soul of the Evil God**

When Hermes appeared, I responded lazily.

“What are you doing? I’m planning to call upon all the Three Sovereigns right now using the Six Needs.”

“…Didn’t you tell me to bring the core of the World Tree?”

“I was going to use it when I faced the Three Sovereigns. If there’s any left over, I’d think about it.”

At that, Hermes grinned fiercely.

“Ha-ha… No matter how you use the Six Needs, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen won’t stand a chance. Are you trying to die a miserable death? You mustn’t waste your life here in this outer universe.”

“Are you seriously worrying about my life right now? How kind of you.”

With a swish, Hermes extended his hand and said,

“Hand over the core. Then I’ll help you escape this outer universe immediately.”

“……”

“Quickly. Nailatop could revive at any moment.”

Hermes pressed me, but I just stared blankly, still holding the core without handing it over. It seemed Hermes sensed something was off, and I grinned.

“I’d rather not.”

“Are you out of your mind? You’ve just made an enemy of Nailatop, and now you want to make me your enemy too!”

Hermes muttered in disbelief and continued in a tone that sounded almost charitable.

“Don’t be foolish and hand over the core. You know there’s no way to return to the original world from this outer universe!”

“Is that really true?”

“What?”

When I questioned him, Hermes flinched. I maintained the smile.

“I had many experiences in my 28th life. And I learned something crucial after being seriously blindsided.”

“……”

“That is, a reborn person should act like a reborn person.”

With a whoosh, I reached out toward the Six Needs on the altar. Suddenly, during the ceremony, the Six Needs summoned itself next to me and began to radiate spirit energy. As I swiftly wielded the Six Needs, I felt the overall power intensifying, causing Hermes to hesitate and step back for a moment.

Holding the core of the World Tree in one hand, I grasped the handle of the water spirit floating in the air with the other. Then I said,

“You know, I don’t have to do what you intended. If you don’t back off now, I’ll smash you just like Nailatop.”

Hermes, stunned, swung his hand again and shouted.

“…You have no reason to? Don’t you want to return to your original world?”

“Yeah, I want to go back.”

“But there’s no way! Do you really think…?”

“Why is there no way?”

I responded, grinning at the increasingly anxious Hermes.

“Just die.”

“……!!”

“I’m planning to take a shot at the Emperor one more time and die fabulously. I’m lucky enough to be able to choose how I die.”

I could see Hermes’s expression hardening in response to my answer. Then he growled.

“You really are a foolish man… if you die in this outer universe, your next life will start again in this outer universe! If a reborn one ends up running in circles in this enclosed universe, there will be no hope left! How could you not see this…”

I said lazily, “I doubt that.”

“What… what do you mean?”

“You probably wouldn’t know since I haven’t given you the obsidian, but I’ve already talked with Nailatop. And in that conversation, I realized one crucial fact.”

I gleamed with insight.

“I died in the outer universe where Dharma was, and then I was reborn. And the rascal Nailatop didn’t deny my story at all. This means that if I die in the outer universe, I won’t just keep reincarnating in this closed cycle; I’ll simply return to the original world and live a new life.”

“……”

“I actually already knew that. But I was hesitant because I thought each outer universe might act differently, and now a monstrous scientist who travels through outer universes has confirmed it. Naturally, I won’t be worried about getting trapped in this world; if I die, I simply can.”

Hermes listened with a stiff expression and then said,

“…Even if that’s true, Baek Woong, you have followed my advice well until now. You probably found it hard to let go of your life this time. Do you think I don’t know your secret?”

“What secret do I have?”

At his next words, I was taken aback.

“You made a contract with the Evil God (凶神) to ensure that he doesn’t interfere in [this life].”

“Uh….”

Hermes, with a slightly smug smile, pointed his crystal staff at me.

“If the Evil God properly intervenes from the next life, do you think you’ll be safe? If you throw away this life so lightly, your companions will end up in tragic situations too!”

That bastard knew all that too.

Truly a slippery, scheming bastard.

I muttered internally and replied nonchalantly, “It can’t be helped.”

“…What?”

“It can’t be helped. What else can I do?”

“……?!”

Hermes clearly showed signs of panic. He spoke as if he couldn’t comprehend.

“Even Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen couldn’t confront the Evil God head-on. He will show his worst power the moment he starts attacking you. At the moment, you can hardly handle even one of the Three Sovereigns, let alone face the Evil God.”

“Oh, so it can’t be helped, huh? When the time comes, I’ll find a way that suits me then. Haven’t I always done that?”

“Are you crazy? Are you really not afraid of the Evil God?”

“Thinking about it, it doesn’t seem like it’s something to fear that much.”

I jutted the water spirit out and continued speaking.

“When my 29th life started, the Evil God was plotting something and was in the process of reviving. But I had more than enough time to stop the revival ceremony. It felt like he dared me to try and stop it. From my standpoint, I could battle him while assaulting his revival attempt dozens of times. And if all else fails, then I can just negotiate with him again at that point.”

“Y-You’re speaking recklessly! How long do you think he will remain kind to you!!”

“Oh, shut it, you bastard! Why are you acting like you care about others?”

“What….”

I exploded in rage, glaring at Hermes.

“If I were really that foolish, I would have given you the core of the World Tree, but I am not, you know?! If the situation is going to suck anyway, it’s much better to cut down whoever is trying to take advantage of me! And how I die is up to me!”

“…….”

“This is the last warning. Shut your mouth and stay still. If you don’t, I’ll hunt you down and take you out first next time!”

With my threat, silence fell in the hall for a moment. Hermes stood there, a mix of suspicion and confusion on his face, not making a move for a while. Then after a brief moment, Hermes said gloomily,

“…I need to revise my plan. This isn’t what I intended.”

With a crackle, sparks began to fly from Hermes’s crystal staff. At the same time, an immense magical power started to bubble up from his body, visibly darkening him. In the end, he transformed into a chaotic form, resembling boiling chaos, as he unleashed blood-red light from his eyes and proclaimed,

[Reborn one. From now on, I will bind you and torture you to ruin your mind. Moreover, I will brainwash you. Thus, I will avoid retribution in my next life and seize the position of Demiurge!]

He has finally shown his true colors!

With a swoosh, five summoning magic circles appeared right in front of Hermes. And within those circles, figures I was quite familiar with began to materialize.

The Eight Parts of the Divine!

“Ugh…?”

“Where am I?”

Out of nowhere, the Eight Parts of the Divine appeared, bewildered, while the Thief Gang, who had sworn loyalty to me, seemed to recognize me.

“Ah, could this situation be…”

And quickly realizing the situation, he shouted at me.

“Lord! I can’t resist Hermes due to our higher contract. Please accept my [name]!”

“What are you talking about, Thief Gang?!”

Gin Nara, who was next to me, was shocked, but I understood what the Thief Gang meant. I responded to him.

“I accept!”

“Whoa…!!”

With a flash, Gin Nara’s body transformed into a white smoke and was drawn into my arm. Following that, my arm felt a heavy influx of the Thief Gang’s magical power, causing me to grit my teeth.

“This bastard… you’ve all been deceiving me one by one.”

[Hehe. Did you catch on?]

Hermes, with a sinister grin, swung his crystal staff down hard.

“Ughh!”

“Ahhh!!”

With a loud crash, the four members of the Eight Parts of the Divine began to twist, forcibly transforming into Demon Kings right before my eyes. Those transformed into Demon Kings stood there like dolls, completely loss of reason, which I instantly recognized as being brainwashed by Hermes.

Hermes declared,

[I intended to build trust and control the Eight Parts of the Divine when the decisive moment came, but it seems that’s not going to work out.]

“Damn it. I didn’t expect this from a scummy bastard like you!”

I yelled in frustration, but at the same time, I felt a chill in my chest.

‘From the start, Hermes handing me the Eight Parts of the Divine as subordinates was merely a deception. On the surface, the Eight Parts of the Divine swore loyalty to me, forming a master-servant relationship, but in reality, the Crystal Stele fragments acted as a higher contract due to Hermes, placing it above my command!’

The more I thought about it, the more dizzy I got. What would happen if I had ended up trusting Hermes as he’d suggested? At some point, the Eight Parts of the Divine, whom I believed were my subordinates, would probably stop listening to me and cooperate with Hermes in capturing or sealing me.

Guuuuuu

Watching the four members of the Eight Parts of the Divine emanating the power of a Demon King and glowing with blood-red eyes made me flinch a bit. After all, those guys were Demon Kings, and without using the Four Great Spirit Deities, I wouldn’t be able to easily defeat four Demon Kings. The problem was, if Hermes joined in on the attack, what should I do then?

It wasn’t impossible, but I had a strong premonition of a tough fight ahead, so I carefully began to think.

“I need to utilize the Apostle’s Power and the Six Needs well… oh?”

At that moment, I realized that Lee Kwang, who had been standing next to me, had vanished. I quickly grasped where Lee Kwang was headed and widened my eyes.

“…Hey!! What are you doing right now!”

Somehow, Lee Kwang had walked right up to Hermes. Hermes watched him approach silently and then spoke.

[Lee Kwang. Are you planning to rush at me for the sake of your master?]

Lee Kwang simply shook his head.

“Do you really think I have that much loyalty toward my master?”

[Huh…?]

“That bastard has subjected me to all kinds of humiliation and disgrace. He has lied and deceived, shredding my pride as a martial artist!”

[Huh?]

Hermes looked bewildered as Lee Kwang slowly knelt before him.

“I will become your ally and tear Baek Woong apart, so please send me back to my original world. And moreover, I’d like for you to give me the strongest power as well.”

[…….]

Hermes chuckled.

[Oh ho ho… How amusing. To think you’d betray the reborn one after coming this far! Ho ho ho ho ho.]

“……”

[Welcome! Lee Kwang, I shall accept you as an ally.]

“Thank you.”

I watched with a twisted expression as Hermes accepted him. Until now, I thought I had pushed Hermes into a corner, but I never expected it to flow this way. I glared at Lee Kwang while shouting furiously.

“What the hell!! Lee Kwang! You bastard! I taught you the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique and so much martial arts, and now you stab me in the back?!”

“Did you not stab Nailatop and Hermes in the back as well, Master? It’s natural for a disciple of one without faith to learn unfaithfulness.”

Ching!

Lee Kwang’s spear crackled with immense thunder, radiating the energy of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique. He adopted a combat stance and declared,

“From the beginning, the one who dragged me into this incomprehensible world and placed me in a life-threatening situation is you, Master, so I have no right to blame you for trying to survive!”

“…….”

I looked at Lee Kwang with astonished eyes.

I couldn’t believe it would come to this!

‘That bastard, Lee Kwang…’

Hermes spoke with a chuckle, his voice laced with amusement.

[Hehe. I’ll be watching how long you can hold out with this half-baked Six Needs of this world. A reborn one betrayed even by his disciple!]

“Ugh…”

[Now, Demon Kings of the Eight Parts of the Divine… Atta—]

Hermes swung his crystal staff, ready to issue an attack order, but at that very moment.

“You finally let your guard down.”

Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique

Three Linked Chambers

Hidden Principle: Thunder and Light Annihilation!!

Kuuquaquaquack!

With a thunderous bang, a streak of lightning zipped by. Then a crash rang out.

Before I knew it, Lee Kwang’s spear had pierced Hermes’s crystal sphere, causing spider-web-like cracks to spread across it as fragments flew in all directions. As the crystal sphere shattered, the Eight Parts of the Divine that looked like they were about to charge froze in place as if turned to ice.

Pababat!

Lee Kwang vanished, leaving behind the shadow of thunder, and appeared three yards away.

“……”

[……]

A brief moment of silence.

Neither Hermes nor I could say a word as we merely stared at Lee Kwang.

Lee Kwang clicked his neck and quietly declared, “Once betrayed, can’t I betray again?”