Chapter 174
The moment his vision changed, a new landscape unfolded before him.
It was a white space, similar to the one where he'd met Ruzian.
The unusual part was everything mixed together around it.
Forests.
Lakes.
The sea.
Even deserts.
All sorts of environments overlapped within the same space.
And Suhyeok had appeared before the entrance to a temple standing at the center of it all.
"Welcome, Player Lee Suhyeok."
"I've been waiting for you."
The temple doors opened.
A man stepped outside while gently stroking the head of a deer beside him.
His long beard and kindly smile immediately stood out.
He casually extended a hand toward Suhyeok.
"My name is Jesus."
"Lord of the Heavenly Realm and Paradise."
"I'm also known as the Miracle of Three Days."
He smiled.
"We've met before, haven't we?"
"...Lee Suhyeok."
"Still as stiff as ever."
Jesus chuckled.
"No."
"If anything, you seem even colder than before."
"Did something happen?"
"If I had to guess, the person you met before me was probably Hades of the Underworld──"
"That's enough."
Suhyeok cut him off sharply.
"You're not exactly in a position to investigate me right now."
Despite Suhyeok's hostile response...
Jesus didn't look flustered.
He didn't even lose his smile.
Instead...
He lightly patted Suhyeok on the shoulder as though it were nothing.
"Haha."
"Yes, yes."
"You're right."
"That's not what matters."
"What matters right now is giving you an offer you'll like."
He shrugged.
"Truthfully..."
"Unlike Olympus or Asgard, we can't simply give you exactly what you want."
"Our abilities would come with restrictions if you tried to use them."
"We could give you Coins, of course..."
"But I doubt that's what you want."
He was right.
Suhyeok could already see Jesus's Traits.
Every one of them was covered in restrictions.
Even if he Plundered them...
The limitations tied to their immense power would likely become shackles rather than benefits.
"As expected."
Jesus smiled while continuing to stroke the deer.
"That ability really is fascinating no matter how many times I see it."
"Stealing abilities..."
"If you satisfy the conditions, even another Constellation isn't exempt?"
"Interesting."
"Very interesting."
Suhyeok stared at him.
"...Are you always this calm?"
Jesus raised an eyebrow.
"Even when every Constellation in Paradise might be extinguished?"
"I'm not always calm."
Jesus answered without hesitation.
"I've simply decided to accept the situation."
"That's why I can appear this way."
Then he studied Suhyeok.
"But your thoughts are complicated."
"If I may guess..."
"It's because of the Otherworldly Divinity who appeared in the Banquet Hall."
Suhyeok flinched.
Jesus's smile deepened slightly.
"So I was right."
"She's probably being controlled by System."
"And the Underworld helped make that possible."
"Which is why you're like this now."
He had seen through everything.
"The Hades I know is more fair and upright than almost any other Constellation."
"If he did something that forced him to betray his own convictions..."
"Wouldn't there have been some reason behind it?"
"Do you know a lot about System?"
"How could I not?"
Jesus sighed.
"It was once the master of this Tower."
"I met it several times in the past."
"I already knew back then that it held unpleasant beliefs..."
"But I never expected it to go this far."
He shook his head.
Then motioned for the deer to leave.
Suhyeok watched him for a moment before asking,
"I'm curious."
"Are you really the Jesus I know?"
"Hahahaha."
Jesus laughed.
"So that's what you're wondering."
"Yes."
"It seems my name is well known in your world too."
"If that's the case..."
"Buddha probably isn't much different from me."
The moment Buddha was mentioned...
Jesus suddenly became much more talkative.
"That bastard always talks about compassion and mercy..."
"But his personality is awful."
"Do you know how many days he sulked after losing a single game of Go?"
"Honestly."
"And people call someone like that benevolent."
Jesus stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Then finally answered.
"The Jesus in your world is probably me."
"To be precise..."
"Yes."
"I suppose you'd have to call me another version of that existence."
"That's simply how the laws of this world work."
"The laws of this world?"
"Before we continue..."
Jesus smiled.
"I'd rather not keep a guest standing at the entrance."
"Why don't we talk inside?"
"We don't have much time, but..."
"It might be better to look around while we speak."
So if I want the answer, I have to go inside.
Step. Step.
"Then excuse me."
"Good choice."
"Follow me."
They entered the temple.
A vast corridor stretched ahead.
The floor was made of magnificent marble.
Paintings of angels covered the walls...
Images that looked like they belonged to the Renaissance.
"As you already know..."
"The Rank of a Constellation changes dramatically depending on how many people believe in and follow them..."
"And how many remember their myth."
Jesus continued walking.
"And conversely..."
"As those believers disappear..."
"We lose Rank."
"If it goes far enough..."
"We're extinguished."
He glanced toward Suhyeok.
"Just like that..."
"We Constellations live within the laws of this world."
As Jesus continued explaining...
Suhyeok gradually understood what he meant by the laws of the world.
Tower residents being unable to travel freely between floors.
The fixed amount of Coins that had to be paid.
The restrictions placed on higher-floor existences when descending to lower floors.
All of it...
Functioned according to causality.
According to the laws governing this world.
In other words...
Because Constellations existed in Suhyeok's original world under the names of gods...
Because they existed in stories called myths...
Their counterparts existed here inside the Tower.
The same applied to the gods worshiped by residents on other floors.
The names and certain figures might differ...
But ultimately...
They all pointed back to the Constellations of the Tower.
...So Theo's diary was telling the truth.
Are all the floors of the Tower really copies of worlds that failed to reach the 100th floor?
Countless thoughts crossed Suhyeok's mind.
But he set them aside.
There were more important matters right now.
Jesus seemed to notice.
His expression briefly hardened before he calmly continued.
"These laws are governed by causality."
"They function according to fixed principles."
"However..."
"The most important thing is this."
Jesus looked directly at him.
"The laws of this world cannot bind Players."
"And especially you..."
"Lee Suhyeok, a former Player."
"This world cannot impose any law upon you."
In other words...
Suhyeok existed outside the rules.
He could become anything.
Do anything.
"Well."
Jesus gave a small laugh.
"That introduction became longer than I intended."
"So I suppose it's time I finally tell you what Paradise intends to offer."
They reached the end of the corridor.
A single painting hung there.
Warm light flowed across it...
Like a scene from heaven itself.
"If the Underworld is a place that governs sinners..."
"Then the Heavenly Realm is a resting place for innocent souls."
