Chapter 500
The goddess revealed her presence to the world.
Her face was foreign—undeniably beautiful, yet somehow estranged from familiar human features.
It made sense, Taesan thought. The goddess had vanished during the war against the Old Gods—ages ago. Humanity’s features could have subtly shifted over the eons.
‘The other gods didn’t feel this alien. Did she alter herself to match?’
It wasn’t strange. Gods could alter their appearances freely.
With that thought, Taesan studied her carefully.
Her skin was as pale as snow—almost albino-white. Her hair and eyes were colored the muted gray of dust.
It was strange, yes, but not unpleasant—more like gazing upon a masterpiece crafted by a divine artist.
The goddess stepped onto the labyrinth’s floor. Akasha let out a trembling breath.
[Arilnan… my lady.]
“Akasha.”
The goddess’s gaze turned toward her. Within those eyes flickered affection and longing.
“So you became a ring. What in the world happened?”
[Many things… have happened.]
“I see. I’d like to hear the details someday. Still, it seems your mind remains intact. I feared you might have lost yourself and wandered as a husk—but you’ve done well.”
[It’s really… you, Lady Arilnan?]
“It’s me.”
Arilnan declared firmly.
“I am your one and only mistress—the one you serve. I am Arilnan.”
[Understood…]
Akasha’s voice trailed off. Noticing her hesitation, Arilnan frowned slightly.
“Something feels off. That’s not the reaction I expected. Don’t tell me… you haven’t fully regained your memory?”
[My apologies. I remember that you were my goddess, but beyond that… everything is fragmented.]
“That’s a shame.”
Arilnan sighed softly, her expression tinged with genuine disappointment.
“I did so much to save you, and you don’t even remember.”
[I’m sorry.]
“It’s fine.”
The goddess raised her hand. Her pale palm reflected in her own eyes.
“I didn’t expect to return like this anyway. Having my loyal follower forget me is a trivial matter compared to that.”
Her eyes shifted to Taesan.
“I assume this is your doing.”
Arilnan looked at him.
There was nothing to feel from her—no divine aura, no transcendent force, no pressure of rank or power. She was completely empty.
And yet, one thing was undeniable: nobility.
Even without visible power, anyone could tell she was a goddess.
“You…”
Her gaze suddenly distorted. The light in her eyes turned sharp—laced with hostility and caution.
[Arilnan?]
Akasha instinctively moved, manifesting her power to defend her goddess.
Seeing the gesture, Arilnan glanced between her and Taesan, then nodded in understanding.
“I see. You no longer serve me.”
[I’m… sorry.]
“It’s fine. I’m hardly a goddess now.”
Akasha looked at Taesan again, muttering softly.
“I suppose I don’t need to worry.”
[What do you mean?]
“It’s nothing. Since your master is him, I can accept it. He’s the one who called me back into the world. I was uneasy at first, but it’s fine.”
Her conclusion reached, Arilnan straightened gracefully. Even in that simple motion, her divine dignity didn’t waver.
“First, let me express my gratitude. What is your name?”
“Kang Taesan. You can call me Taesan.”
“Taesan,” she repeated. “Thanks to you, I was able to return to this world.”
“It wasn’t me. Akasha was the one who remembered you.”
“No, Akasha’s current master is you—so ultimately, it was by your hand. Accept my thanks.”
Arilnan spoke lightly.
“Then I will.”
Taesan nodded and asked,
“When you granted me the quest—were you conscious at that time?”
“No. I wasn’t truly aware then. I existed only as drifting unconscious thought. But your prayer reached me, and through that, I made contact.”
Arilnan glanced around the labyrinth, her expression curious.
“And this place? Such a strange sensation.”
“It was created by the Magician.”
“The Magician?”
“He goes by another name now, but I think you’d recognize him.”
“I see.”
Arilnan approached the wall, studying the stonework with fascination.
Taesan spoke again.
“Arilnan—”
“No need for formal speech.”
She brushed her hand along the wall.
“I’m no goddess anymore. You’ve reached transcendence, haven’t you? In rank, you’re above me now. I should be the one showing respect.”
“I have no such intention.”
Taesan immediately declined. Arilnan smirked.
“Good. I was wondering how awkward it’d be if you actually agreed.”
‘She’s more easygoing than I thought.’
From Akasha’s tone and demeanor, Taesan had expected cold ruthlessness—but Arilnan was playful, almost mischievous.
“You seem to have many questions. Ask freely. I’ll answer what I can.”
“In that case…”
Taesan organized his thoughts and spoke.
“What domain did you originally govern?”
Essential had told him that for Akasha to exist as she was, her goddess must have once ruled over a concept.
Arilnan answered.
“I was the goddess of—”
Part of her words were erased from existence.
The sound simply vanished, as if the concept itself didn’t exist in this world. Even her lip movements couldn’t be read.
Arilnan murmured without surprise,
“So, I only regained my name. The concept I ruled was not returned.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“I expected as much. I never believed I’d regain my original power. For now, this is enough.”
“Who caused this to happen to you?”
“The Devourer.”
Taesan’s eyes narrowed—exactly as he’d suspected.
“I lost everything to that creature during the war with the Old Gods. All that remained of me was my apostle—Akasha. Every fragment of my existence was erased from the universe.”
“As I thought.”
“You already knew?”
“I suspected.”
Taesan continued,
“Then do you still remember it?”
“How odd of you to ask. Do you take me for someone weak enough to forget the thing that consumed me?”
Taesan’s eyes gleamed.
The Devourer.
She had fought it directly—and remembered it. She might know more than even Essential.
“You’re curious about the Devourer, I see. I’ll tell you.”
“Thank you.”
The Devourer—
the one who steals worlds.
Taesan had long felt that it was connected to him somehow.
“To put it simply,” Arilnan said, “it steals this universe. It can consume everything—concepts, laws, even gods—and use them as its own. It’s imitation, of course, but still beyond what other Old Gods could ever do.”
That much matched what Essential had told him. Arilnan continued.
“Every god knows that much. But this part—only I know.”
She smiled bitterly.
“It admires this universe.”
“…Admires?”
“I didn’t know at first. But when it consumed me, part of its emotion seeped into me. Through that, I learned—the Devourer longs for this universe.”
Longs for it.
A word that didn’t fit any Old God.
“Perhaps that’s why it tries to consume the world—to make it its own. But it can’t. It’s an Old God, a twisted being. No matter how much it devours, all it can do is imitate.”
Arilnan laughed softly, but there was deep contempt in that laughter.
“And one more thing. I wasn’t going to say this yet, but I can’t help it.”
Her gaze locked onto Taesan.
“For some reason, you smell like it.”
“…Me?”
“I’ve lost most of my power, yes. But once, I was part of the Devourer. Because of that, I can still sense it.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You carry its scent. Faint—barely noticeable unless I focus—but it’s there.”
“I see.”
“Do you have any idea why?”
“I might.”
Taesan thought of the image that represented his inner self.
“It’s not severe—just a trace. But normally, even that shouldn’t exist.”
Arilnan smiled faintly.
“That’s why I first doubted you.”
Her initial hostility and killing intent—now he understood.
“I thought the Devourer had crept in, hiding behind a mask. But no. You’re different. Twisted, perhaps, but not that thing. I can’t be certain, but it’s not my place to intervene.”
Arilnan straightened.
“It’s your issue. Figure it out yourself.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
“No, thank you.”
She chuckled lightly.
“You saved me. That fact won’t change. So I should repay you.”
Her fingers touched his forehead. A gentle warmth passed through him.
“This much I can still give. Take it.”
[The divine blessings [Blessing of Rebirth of the Nameless Goddess], [Blessing of the Soul of the Nameless Goddess], and [Blessing of the Will of the Nameless Goddess] have evolved into [Blessing of Arilnan].]
All the blessings Taesan had once received from her merged into one—stronger, more complete.
“I’d like to grant you my true authority, but I’m too weak.”
“Is restoration impossible? With faith, perhaps…”
If needed, Taesan could spread faith in her name again.
But Arilnan shook her head.
“Faith alone won’t suffice. My essence is a concept itself—something far beyond such a simple force.”
“I understand.”
“But there is a way. As I said, I once became one with it. Through that, I learned a secret.”
Her tone turned calm, her smile faint.
“The Devourer steals the universe—but it cannot make it its own. So where do you think everything it steals goes?”
Taesan’s eyes sharpened.
“Not yet,” Arilnan said softly.
“Time is needed. I’m too frail, and my memories are still incomplete, just like Akasha’s. So, for now… I’ll ask for your help.”
[Special Quest Initiated.]
[The goddess Arilnan seeks to reclaim what was stolen from her. To do so, her power and rank must first be stabilized.]
[Condition: Arilnan must recall what she has lost.]
[Reward: Enhanced Blessing of Arilnan and a linked quest.]
Taesan nodded.
The conversation reached its end. At that moment, Balbamaba appeared.
[Sorry to keep you waiting. It took some effort, but I’ve sorted everything out. Now then—]
He stopped mid-sentence.
His gaze fell on Arilnan.
The goddess regarded him with mild curiosity.
“Ah, so this is one of the Magician’s creations? How fascinating.”
[…What in the world is going on now?]
Balbamaba’s bewildered voice echoed through the labyrinth.