Chapter 493
“W-what is that!”
Hearing the commotion, the guards rushed over. When they saw Taesan, who had taken on the form of Remidaos, their faces twisted in shock.
“Wh-what…?”
“I am Remidaos.”
His calm voice spread through the entire city. The dwarves who had been hiding with their heads buried under blankets slowly began to lift their heads.
“I came here to free you.”
“D-don’t make me laugh!”
Shing!
The guards drew their swords. They were the tools Remidaos used to enforce his faith through oppression. Perhaps that was why he never appeared in their dreams—they didn’t seem to recognize his appearance.
“Some lunatic wearing makeup dares to speak nonsense! Die!”
The guards charged.
Taesan lightly flicked his finger.
Crack.
An invisible wave crushed them. In an instant, more than ten guards collapsed without even a scream.
“Ooooh!”
“Remidaos!”
The dwarven family cried out, their voices echoing across the city.
Clang.
One by one, doors opened as dwarves began to step out.
They moved as if drawn by an unseen force, approaching where Taesan stood.
“A-ah…”
“Remidaos?”
When they saw him, they fell to their knees.
With wide eyes, they stared at Taesan in disbelief.
Golden hair and golden eyes. Brilliant robes woven from light itself.
He perfectly matched the Remidaos they had seen in their dreams.
[You have activated Perfect Reconnaissance.]
[These people are…]
Hundreds, thousands of system windows filled his vision.
Every bit of information about the dwarves before him appeared in Taesan’s mind.
He quickly filtered through it and spoke.
“I am Remidaos.”
“Aaah…”
“I told you in prophecy. When your emotions and true faith reach me, I will descend in radiant light. I will guide you and deliver this world from suffering.”
“Ooooh!”
The dwarves reacted with fervor. For good reason—those were the exact words Remidaos had spoken to them in their dreams.
A golden divinity enveloped the city. The warm light surrounded them, and their eyes turned hazy.
“Follow me.”
Taesan began walking forward. The dwarves followed, entranced.
He headed toward the largest building at the city’s center.
A massive iron-colored structure that occupied nearly a third of the city.
“E-everyone, prepare!”
Inside, the dwarves scrambled to ready their weapons—tools made for enforcing oppression.
Taesan flicked his finger.
His divine power surged and struck the building.
Rumble!
“Aaagh!”
“Help!”
The structure collapsed. The dwarves who had been preparing for battle fled in terror, faces pale. In moments, the colossal building lay in ruins.
“O-oh…”
The people following Taesan couldn’t contain their awe.
Despite the destruction, not a single tremor reached them. Taesan stood untouched, not even a speck of dust on him.
It wasn’t even a magically reinforced structure. Anyone of the Guide’s high command could have destroyed it. But to these dwarves, it was nothing short of a divine miracle.
“I will punish those who oppress you and grant you freedom.”
The people cheered. Their faith, once devoted to Remidaos, shifted completely toward Taesan.
[Divinity proficiency increased by 1%.]
Taesan led the people out of the city. None stayed behind.
“The one who oppresses you and forces false faith will receive fitting punishment. Witness it with your own eyes.”
The Immortal’s dwelling was on the opposite side of the planet. But instead of going there immediately, Taesan visited nearby villages first.
He destroyed the tools of oppression and freed their people.
Those who had doubted at first were convinced after seeing his appearance and power. The belief that he was Remidaos became absolute.
A massive procession formed in no time. As he led them, Taesan thought to himself,
‘I never thought I’d use it like this.’
The Orb of Form Transformation.
An item he had received long ago from Barija on the 51st floor.
He had never needed to change his appearance, so it stayed in his inventory unused. He hadn’t expected it would come in handy now.
‘You really never know when something will be useful.’
Had he not taken Remidaos’s form, it would have taken time for these people to believe him. But the orb solved that problem instantly.
The orb’s duration was short, but Taesan could forcibly extend it. At least until the quest ended, there would be no issue.
He looked over the people.
As his gaze swept across them, they immediately bowed deeply.
Their deep, long-nurtured faith flowed into Taesan.
Faith they had carried since birth—devotion once directed at Remidaos—now filled Taesan instead.
[Divinity proficiency increased by 1%.]
‘Excellent.’
Taesan pressed forward, traveling to other cities and villages, freeing them.
There were minor obstacles, but nothing worth mentioning.
[You have activated Perfect Reconnaissance.]
[Karatuoi secretly doubts the curliness of your hair.]
[Paparachia wonders why your tone differs slightly from the Remidaos who appeared in her dreams.]
Perfect Reconnaissance revealed everything.
And “everything” was no exaggeration. How to design a building to withstand earthquakes. How to manipulate fire to burn an entire mountain. Even if Taesan himself didn’t know, the ability gave him that knowledge.
He could even win someone’s trust at first meeting if he wished. In his previous life, he lacked the mana to use its full potential. Now, he could use it freely.
He used Perfect Reconnaissance to gain perfect trust.
Then he traveled across the planet, gathering the people’s faith.
It was a method he had used many times before—efficient and simple. In no time, he had traversed half the planet.
And by then, his opponent began to act.
[What are you doing, great one?]
A startled voice reached Taesan, piercing through the crowd.
Taesan looked up.
From afar, a powerful being was directly addressing him.
The Immortal ruling this world—Karak.
[This is Lord Remidaos’s domain. Even if you are a Transcendent, you have no right to intrude.]
“I know.”
Taesan looked to the heavens. Beyond the vast sky, he could see the faintly glowing white star.
“He knows as well.”
Apparently realizing Taesan could communicate, Karak spoke with greater force.
[And yet you dare to steal Lord Remidaos’s faith! He will not stay silent! Leave this place at once. I’ll overlook your trespass if you go now.]
“Quiet.”
[…What did you say?]
“We’ll meet soon enough. Talk then.”
Crack.
Taesan forcibly severed the connection. The shocked gaze faded.
“L-Lord Remidaos?”
The nearby dwarves, sensing something, looked uneasy.
Taesan shook his head calmly and asked,
“Do you remember your king?”
“Our… king?”
“Do you mean Karak?”
“I’m not talking about him. I mean your true king.”
The dwarves looked puzzled. They had no knowledge of the Shopkeeper’s existence. Considering how long he had been trapped in the labyrinth, it was natural. Remidaos wouldn’t have left any trace of a rival faith behind.
‘What a pity.’
But it wasn’t something that concerned Taesan.
He continued gathering faith from everyone. Once he was certain that almost all worshipped him, he began the final act.
“It’s time to deliver judgment.”
“Ooooh!”
“Remidaos! Please punish the wicked!”
He moved toward the Immortal’s dwelling. The Immortal must have sensed his approach, yet made no move to stop him.
Step.
Taesan led the crowd to the place where the Immortal resided.
It was magnificent—a golden castle large enough to house thousands. Yet inside, he sensed only one presence.
“Collapse.”
[You have activated Declaration of Collapse.]
With that short command, the castle fell.
The Immortal tried to resist, spreading his power, but it was crushed under Taesan’s words.
Rumble!
In moments, the golden castle was nothing but ruins.
“Ooooh!”
As the people cheered, Taesan spoke briefly.
“Stay here.”
He stepped into the ruins.
Clearing aside the debris, he found the Immortal waiting.
“You…”
A muscular dwarf with a long, thick beard. His trembling eyes locked onto Taesan.
He gritted his teeth.
“This is Lord Remidaos’s domain!”
“I know.”
“He is powerful beyond measure! No matter how mighty you are, you can’t reach him!”
“That, I’m not sure about.”
“Leave this place now!”
The Immortal swung his arm violently. A powerful wave of energy swept through the area.
“I have already informed Lord Remidaos! That an outsider dares trespass upon his domain!”
“He already knows.”
Taesan’s calm reply seemed to go unheard as Karak shouted again.
“You may be strong, but he has truly reached transcendence! He is worshipped by countless worlds! You cannot defeat him!”
Panting heavily, he stared at Taesan.
Taesan’s voice remained composed.
“I know.”
“…What?”
“That’s exactly what I’m aiming for.”
Karak’s pupils widened.
Realizing Taesan’s purpose, his face twisted.
“You—!”
He clenched his fist. Power gathered and rushed toward Taesan.
Taesan took a single step.
That alone shattered everything Karak unleashed.
Blood spilled from the dwarf’s mouth as he fell.
Karak struggled to rise again, teeth clenched.
“You… filthy thief!”
“You’re one to talk.”
Taesan smirked, releasing his power.
Divine energy surged, scattering the debris.
From outside, the people saw the scene—Karak fallen before Taesan.
“Ooooh!”
They cheered.
Their deep, unwavering faith poured into Taesan.
“You need to be utterly defeated. And they need to see it.”
Karak’s face distorted in rage.
“You’re making me a spectacle!”
“You toyed with them too, didn’t you? Consider it poetic justice.”
Taesan smiled faintly as he drew his sword.
“I’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so let’s end this quickly.”