章節 19: Archive III: About the Praeceptor (Aleph and Dominion's After Talk)

<Ergh! You had 6 Vitality?>

'It's not THAT bad, right?'

'That's a bit harsh, isn't it?'

'Now, now. You're just throwing mindless insults at me. You know I'm not an idiot.'

<Hmph, cheeky bastard. Well, there's no lie in that. You have 213 Intelligence, which is exceptionally great, amazing even; anyone who reaches the 200th mark on any stat deserves to be commended, and I'm not heartless enough to deprive you of that. Not the best I've seen, for sure, but definitely impressive. Much higher than most people in the world, in fact. You're quite a smart man.>

'I'm a fucking genius, Dominion. Don't do me dirty like that.'

'Nah. So about the resignation thing...'

<Ah... That's right. You may resign whenever you want, and I will honor your decision in the name of my godhood. That's why there's no need for you to fucking kill yourself if you want to make a point. You'd just ruin Gres' perfect body!>

'Interesting...'

<Haa... Look, Aleph, you know I hate you. A lot. And I'm sure you're not pleased with me either. That's fine. We're both not entitled to like each other. But I would like to persuade you to continue working with me against Firmament. Give me a year. If you really can't stand me after a year, I will honor your decision.>

'I don't like you, Dominion. And I don't think there will ever be a chance for us to be friends. But you did give me a second chance in life, and I'm still thankful for that. I was just sulking earlier; that's why I did something so reckless. I'm still mad at you, but I won't pull off something stupid like that again anytime soon. We have an empire to destroy. We can't allow our squabbles to lag our progress.'

'If it means destroying Firmament, I'm willing to put up with you. But don't test me, Dominion. I know how to hit you where it hurts.'

<Gosh, you are just so, so over-the-top with your negativity, you know that? Why are you so gung-ho in keeping this edgy schtick anyway?>

'I've always been the dramatic kind. But more than anything, I want to send a message. You have nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING against me. There's nothing you can do to make me kneel and slobber your dick. I am willing to end my life anytime, anywhere. Just because you can kill me doesn't mean I'll wag my tail on the ground for you. Go on. Threaten to end my life again like you did earlier, and I'll do it for you. Saves us both the trouble.'

'Never been a fan of any god; never liked you and your orgy mates.'

<Ahh... So that's why a man with great Intelligence stats like you doesn't answer to Virtue even though that piece of shit gives extra INT.>

'I didn't even know the gods could do that. It's quite invasive if you ask me. Also kinda manipulative. Be my faithful slave, and I'll give you a piece of candy! Who asked them to do that? It's stupid.'

<Oooh! More edgy talks. I'm getting cuts just by hearing you, Aleph! HAHAHAHA! I take it you're not a well-liked bloke back at home. Over 200 INT stats in yours 20s? And to add salt to their wounds, you did the impossible without Virtue's blessing! You must be the source of countless jealousy.>

'Why do you think I'm here?'

<HAH! Fair enough! I guess we can relate to each other in that regard.>

'Oho? How so?'

'How did you do it?'

<People, Aleph, the nature of living beings. I pulled it off because every living creature on earth had that tiny, tiny part of them that answers to me. I wish my hair is silkier, my body is thinner, my skin is fairer, my face is clearer, my eyes are bigger, my nose is smaller, my height is taller.

<They wish to be beautiful, Aleph. In their rooms, under their blankets with heads on wet pillows, heartbroken about their insecurities, they pray to me. At night alone, my pilgrimage around the world begins! And they'd whisper my name.

<"Dominion, I want to be beautiful."

<"Dominion, you're my last hope."

<"Dominion, please make me beautiful."

'And you would make them beautiful?'

<Fuck, no! HAHAHAHA! Of course not! That same insecurity is the reason why I still remain hated because prayers threw at me never works.>

'Then, why are you still here?'

<Well, many reasons. I have a loyal following in Dead Gardens now, enough for me to ignore whatever mana the prayers from Firmament would give. But would you believe that most of my followers still comes from Firmament?>

'Unbelievable...'

<Yeah, and it's partly because of the resilient nature of living beings. If they want a better body, they will work for it. Want beauty above the rest? Eat healthily and buy beauty products. And what do you know? After a few months or so, they'll start seeing progress and continue doing it until they achieve that which they desire. And they would thank me for it, even though all the effort came from them.>

'That's kinda funny, actually.'

<Pfft! I know, right? Like I said earlier, everyone is beautiful in my eyes. There's no reason to give more. If they exceed a hundred Charm stats, that's all on them, not me. But they still thank me for it, thinking as if they've received the touch of Dominion, and that makes them special, so they'd continue praying to me, thanking me for choosing them. Then, they'll whisper this to their friends who secretly envy their beauty. And then that friend would share Dominion's beauty effect with their other friends. They would treat it as a joke, but deep inside, they want to try it out. So they would pray to me, giving me more strength. The cycle never ends. I won't take credit on a work I have no involvement in, but... I don't mind a bit more followers as well!>

'So, basically, you prey on the weak and weaponize their insecurities against their god?'

<Sure. You can call it whatever you want. But I wasn't the one who asked for their prayers; in fact, I actively protested against it sometime in the past. My younger self wouldn't stomach accepting mana from ungrateful Firmamentian citizens; my pride couldn't take it. The other gods also campaigned against praying for me. There was even a time when they would massacre people who publicly spoke my name. But the devotion just keeps coming and coming regardless of our efforts... And it didn't take me long enough to accept that I had to put up taking 70% of my power from insecure Firmamentian citizens.>

'I guess that just speaks leagues of how weak leadership is up there.'

<No! Absolutely not. The gods are doing well in leading the empire above the clouds. People are just... flawed. And my strength is the result of that. I fall and get back up because of them. I stumble, but I could rise up time and time again because of them. The other gods hate this. I hate it. But there's nothing any of us can do about it.>

'Well, there is a way.'

'Why haven't they done it yet then?'

'Hmph. Well, you're pretty good at making propaganda pieces. That rant just now made you look a bit better in my eyes.'

<HAH! I am he who grants Charm for a reason, Aleph! Oh. Heads up.>

'What? Is there another hostile nearby?'

<Nah, no. Not yet. But look in front of you. And stop looking at the ground too much, won't you? The light trail is not going anywhere.>

'Right. Right... So what am I supposed to... Oh my god!'

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