11 million people.
Considering the global population until recently, one might think it was a small number.
But no, the population had decreased through recent wars with the United States, China, and Japan.
Moreover, through Salmora the Plague Legion Commander’s Human Demonization Project, the majority of humanity had turned into the Demon Clan.
If one were to estimate the current population, it would be a little less than 100 million.
That 10 million is a figure reaching one-tenth of that number.
Furthermore, in this harsh era where everyone is busy surviving, watching something like an internet broadcast?
Generally speaking, it was a figure that could never be achieved.
Impossible.
However, Kim Si-won made that realm of the impossible possible.
Of course, not everyone watching the broadcast was there to cheer for him.
There were also those scouting the stream to vent criticism and insults at any moment.
One of them was Shin Woo-hyun, who was currently watching the broadcast.
Wearing a white priest’s robe with an emblem shaped like light on his chest, he was a Bishop of the Order of Light, which worshipped the Goddess of Light served by the Hero.
In fact, it hadn’t been long since the Order of Light revealed itself.
However, judging that the influence of the Hero and the Goddess of Light was exceptional, he had proven his faith faster than anyone else.
Thanks to that, he was able to secure the status of Bishop, the head of operations for spreading the doctrine in South Korea.
At first, he had never regretted that decision.
Considering the influence of the Order of Light and the Hero, which would grow even larger in the future, this was bound to be a golden opportunity.
But what was this?
His halo, the Hero who was supposed to be the savior of the world, was dead.
By the hand of Kim Si-won, that loathsome, unlucky bastard who deserved to be chewed up.
The Light Guild, to which the Hero belonged, as well as the Order of Light that had been cooperating with them, rose up.
[We condemn Kim Si-won, who dared to kill the Hero, the world’s savior!]
They intended to dry him out by mobilizing the media and every influential person they could.
At first, he thought it was going according to plan.
This was because there was no particular will to resist or any statements made.
He thought that if they continued to pressure him like this, they could make Kim Si-won the enemy of the world and of all humanity.
However, that was a clear misjudgment.
[“Kwaaaaaaaa!”] Inside the transmitted video, an unbelievable sight was unfolding.
A black hole, something one would only see in outer space—this mysterious phenomenon emitting an immense suction force—swept over Fukuoka.
Fukuoka was one of the Demon Clan’s major strongholds.
Not only were numerous Demon Clan troops stationed there, but the Demon King’s Castle, which had been showcased before, was also decorating the sky.
There, at the Fukuoka Tower in the center, Kim Si-won appeared along with the God of Victory he served.
The appearance of a god.
In fact, it was something unimaginable in the past.
But the Demon Clan had appeared.
In a situation where everything had completely changed—something truly worthy of being called a Great Cataclysm—it had become more strange to think that gods did not exist.
Furthermore, this being called the God of Victory crushed Fukuoka, as well as the Demon Clan and the Demon King’s Castle guarding it, with just a flick of his hand.
[“I am the Status of Victory. I shall guarantee eternal victory and glory to those who believe in me!”]
With the God of Victory looking arrogantly at the camera as the finale.
[The broadcast has ended.]
The unprecedented broadcast, which recorded 12 million viewers, came to a close.
“……”
For a while, he could not say anything.
“The God of Victory……” Profanely, he uttered the name of a divine status other than the Goddess of Light.
If this hadn’t been the Bishop’s prayer room, a space where only he could stay, he wouldn’t have been able to escape the suspicion of heresy.
‘What is my strength?’
Shin Woo-hyun, he was a man who was quicker to notice things and had better instincts than anyone else.
Wasn’t the reason he became a Bishop of the Order of Light in the first place because he showed faith and devotion faster than anyone else with those instincts?
In truth, it was closer to ‘pursuit of profit’ rather than faith.
It didn’t matter who it was.
If it was a being that would benefit him or bring him gain, that was the Supreme God and the object of his faith.
Until now, that object had been the Goddess of Light, but everything changed due to this broadcast.
His head was spinning.
‘The Goddess of Light has yet to even show a proper manifestation.’
Right now, his brain was focused on comparing the Goddess of Light he currently worshipped with the God of Victory he saw moments ago.
Everyone in the Order of Light saw it.
The miracles performed by the Goddess of Light.
She treated those afflicted by Disease and resuscitated those on the brink of Death.
‘It cannot be compared to the annihilation of hundreds of thousands of Demon Clan members and the Demon King’s Castle stationed in Fukuoka.’
There was such a difference that it was embarrassing to call them the same kind of miracle.
The authority and miracles performed by a god were related to the god’s power.
Unlike the Goddess of Light, it was only natural for an opportunist like Shin Woo-hyun to lean toward the God of Victory, who intervened in the mortal world and wielded his own mighty authority.
Of course, that was not faith in the true sense.
However, a divine status does not dwell so much on sincere faith.
This was inevitable because the small faith of dozens or hundreds of people provided a much greater power than the sincere faith of a single person.
It wasn’t just Shin Woo-hyun.
The majority of the viewers who were watching the broadcast—those who were originally scouting it to criticize Kim Si-won—were experiencing a ripple.
A ripple of extreme change called conversion.
***
“Th-This can’t be!”
Suddenly, Falsehood spat out an exclamation of admiration.
The reason was clear.
“The effect is certain.”
The status of that fellow, the God of Falsehood, was growing.
In fact, it was a radical change that could not be described by the word growth.
The status of Falsehood, which had been nothing more than a lower-tier god until just a moment ago, had already surpassed the ordinary.
Without stopping there, it was racing toward the high-tier.
Actually, this made no sense.
Because status was not something that grew so abruptly.
This was inevitable because faith was not something that was easily generated.
Faith was something built up slowly while seeing communication with a god, miracles, and supernatural powers but that was limited to the Grithia Continent.
On Earth, such a method was nothing more than an old-fashioned, outdated way.
What was needed for those who liked refreshing results and were soaked in dopamine was something more direct.
He directly revealed himself in the mortal world and showcased a powerful miracle.
Though it was only for a moment, he captured people’s attention at once by creating an impressive appearance and a cathartic sight.
What can move modern people is not something like faith, moderation, or belief.
It is profit and power.
By identifying that part correctly, he imprinted an impressive image through the internet broadcast.
Through his activity in that moment, Falsehood was able to get his hands on an immense status.
‘Since their faith, and even the miracle performed by the god, is nothing more than a lie.’
This was inevitable because all of this originated from Falsehood.
The people’s faith is a lie and the god receiving their faith is also a lie.
Through the belief and faith created through Falsehood, the fellow was able to seek remarkable growth and change.
“Oooooo!”
He savors that ecstasy.
I understand him being intoxicated by a power he has never felt in his life but I am not so careless that I cannot read the emotions dwelling in the gaze looking at me.
“…Want to try it?” I asked without hesitation.
“What… are you talking about?”
“Try it.”
Just a single phrase.
However, there is quite a bit of information that can be obtained through this.
Clearly, Falsehood, who had been using formal speech with me until just a moment ago, was now blathering in informal speech.
That was also a reaction I had well anticipated because gods are all arrogant without exception.
Especially the arrogance they display in front of humans, the creations they made, is to a disgusting degree.
That can be seen just by looking at the reaction of the fellow, Falsehood, right now.
As soon as the fellow, who was groveling until a moment ago, began to gain power, he immediately changed his attitude.
No, it’s not simply because he gained power.
“You probably think you can’t treat me carelessly since you’ve become the lead actor in my plan.”
I disguised Falsehood as the Status of Victory.
Knowing that he has become a key figure in my plan, the fellow has no intention of groveling to me anymore.
Right now, he’s in an equal position, and further ahead…
‘He’ll try to place me under his command.’
Just like his false believers who multiplied in an instant.
This is why I cannot like things like gods because those fellows, who are even more greedy and opportunistic than humans, are brazen bastards who can change their faces in an instant.
“This is not rudeness. It is merely as an equal position……”
Equal at first, but next, he will desire worship.
Knowing that.
– Pook!
“Ke-heok!”
I thrust the Sword of Chaos into the fellow’s chest.
Since I didn’t imbue it with killing intent, it won’t lead to annihilation, but the experience of having one’s true body pierced won’t be very pleasant.
“I’m warning you.”
Looking straight into the fellow’s eyes, his face distorted in pain, I continued speaking.
“We are not in an equal relationship. I hope you keep in mind the fact that you are nothing more than a chess piece moving by my orders.”
“Grrr!”
Was it because he felt it was insulting?
The fellow’s face distorts even further.
“It seems you’re still dissatisfied. If that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”
– Grip.
I put strength, and killing intent, into my hand.
“Kuaaaaaak!”
The energy emitted by the Sword of Chaos, which had penetrated the fellow’s body, began the process of annihilation.
It’s not a joke.
If I didn’t stop the current action within 3 seconds, he would reach annihilation and find it difficult to manifest his existence on Earth.
“St-Stop! I was wrong, I was wrong. I was foolish. So……”
– Sshhh.
Only after hearing those words, which showed he realized his place, did I pull out the Sword of Chaos.
“Heok, heok……”
While looking at the fellow who was letting out painful groans.
“It would be better not to have other thoughts. It’s very bothersome for me to go through the trouble of finding another double.”
To me, he is not a god.
He is merely a chess piece used in my plan, a tool that can be used and discarded at any time.
I have now made that clearly known to him.
Of course, I can’t tell if the fellow truly realized it.
‘Since he’s a shrewd bastard, he’ll at least pretend to be obedient for the time being.’
Of course, that won’t last forever either.
If he tries to cross the line at any time, that’s it.
As for gods to play the role of his double, they are scattered all over the place if I go to Valhalla.
“I think I’ve informed you enough about your situation. Now, we should begin the full-scale missionary work, shouldn’t we?”
Although he raised his status by gaining quite a bit of faith, I cannot be satisfied here.
He is merely an ordinary god (though close to high-tier).
However, the gods of light and darkness have reached the Lord Tier Status, and to face them, he must at least obtain the same Lord Tier Status.
“Then, targeting the Demon Clan again…….”
“No. Showing power once is enough. If you show it too often, it becomes daily life rather than a miracle.”
Humans always desire scarcity.
Miracles are the same.
The fact that he devastated Fukuoka—that one thing would have sufficiently imprinted the existence called the God of Victory.
Then, what is needed now?
“A reward for faith.”
If something goes out, something must come back.
Even if that something is merely a trivial thing like faith, humans are bound to desire compensation and a reward for that small effort.