Igeon.
Nowadays, the names that adorned him were countless.
The hero who came back from the dead.
The hero who saved humanity from monsters.
The shameless hero who routinely dines and dashes.
The mad hero who, when raging at a game, shows up in person to fight an elementary schooler.
The lunatic hero whose foul temper makes his interviews contain more curses than words.
He was a legend.
And the legend became a myth, and the myth at last became a god.
Thus, the god would forge new myths and live forever in the faith of the people.
However.
[The late Igeon departs Earth and enters eternal rest]
#Hell yeah freedom
#Igeon disappears
#Never seeing him again
#Last will revealed
The notice posted on Igeon’s official site turned the entire world upside down.
It was the same for the 12 Saints who received the news.
“Igeon disappeared?!”
The first to come rushing in shock was Steven.
And when Steven barged into Igeon’s house, Cheon Seongjae’s eyes went wide.
It was true that the world was in an uproar, but he never imagined this guy would be the first to show up.
“No way, you’re actually worried about Uncle….”
“Where are Igeon’s holy relics! If Igeon is gone, I’ll take the weapons!”
At that moment, Steven saw stars.
“Is this old man really insane?! It’s a will! With no regard for Uncle, you’re brazenly stealing his stuff?!”
Already, riots were erupting worldwide demanding Igeon’s return, asking if the Saints had locked him up again. Cheon Seongjae felt like handing that idiot over to them.
Yet Steven, having been kicked aside by Cheon Seongjae, seemed indignant.
“…If it’s Igeon, he’s obviously gone to fetch Hugo! The guy wouldn’t die even if you stabbed him, who’s worrying about who now!”
But then it happened.
“Well, I’m not so sure about this time.”
“!”
The voice came from the entrance.
It was Kevin and several other Saint representatives.
And while everyone was relieved to hear that Igeon was safe, Kevin himself looked uneasy.
After all, the divine realm was called a world of beasts, not humans.
“Isn’t the Divine Archer already a resident there? I heard he can’t be brought back easily.”
“Hey, it’s Igeon. He’ll be fine. So in the meantime, just let me use the weapons… Garghkk!”
As Cheon Seongjae stomped on Steven, the Virgo retinue gods descended.
And for some reason, they urgently sought out Cheon Seongjae first.
[O Saint of Ophiuchus! We have heard the news!]
[Young Snake has departed for the divine realm!]
[We beg your pardon, but by what route did Young Snake go to the divine realm?]
“Route?”
[Yes. Among the routes to the divine realm, some are truly dangerous….]
Their eyes were filled with anxiety.
Understandably so—famed holy gods could teleport in an instant, but nameless gods were entirely different.
[W-we feared that perhaps, not knowing the way, he might have taken the perilous Path of Endurance….]
“Ah. Don’t worry about that. Uncle went using this.”
Cheon Seongjae waved a ticket that resembled a train ticket. Judging by the torn half, it had already been used.
Seeing it, the Virgo retinue gods were immensely relieved.
[Oh, it is a direct ticket to the divine realm.]
[No less than a gold-grade ticket. With something like this, Young Snake should have reached the divine realm without any trouble.]
[We shall soon be able to see Young Snake there….]
But soon, their expressions froze as they examined the ticket.
Cheon Seongjae tilted his head.
“What’s wrong?”
The Virgo retinue gods screamed as if the world was ending.
[Kyaaah! Young Snake! Why this place of all places!!]
[How could he go to such a zone!]
[Nooo, Young Snake!]
“What is it? What’s going on!”
The Virgo retinue gods fidgeted anxiously and spoke.
[When did Young Snake depart?]
“Uh, this morning?”
[Then he should still be at the immigration checkpoint!]
“What’s going on? Is it a dangerous place….”
[Kyaaah! Hurry!]
“!!”
[Ah, it’s still, still fine! If he hasn’t entered the divine realm yet, we can still check…!!]
[Kyaaah! Quickly summon the Clairvoyance! Check right now!]
“No, just what is it!”
They scrambled into action.
* * *
War of a Myriad Gods (萬神戰).
The land where millions of gods fight. The boundless realm of the Heaven Beyond Heavens (天外天).
A place where the most avaricious beings in all the world gather.
And where all manner of treasures from across the world pour in.
Come.
Worship.
Follow.
Seize.
Thus you shall obtain myth and live forever.
“And know this. A wretch with such a rotten face is not even qualified to enter the great world of the gods.”
“What’s that, you Archaeopteryx-looking prick.”
Pissed off, Igeon grabbed the hollowed-out picture frame and hurled it.
Simultaneously, the bird-headed god struck by the antique frame roared in fury.
“You cur! What are you doing to an examiner!”
“Examination my ass! What kind of examination is this? You asking to die?!”
Igeon stood up, infuriated.
That was the situation.
He had now left Earth and arrived in the world of the gods. All to find his kidnapped friend, no less.
But he had yet to enter the divine realm.
[An unregistered god not yet inscribed in the divine registry]
[Connecting to the nearest immigration office to your destination]
He wasn’t entirely sure, but it seemed all gods had to undergo identity registration procedures for the divine realm.
‘Some kind of citizenship, I guess?’
Well, whatever.
While listening to that voice about connecting to immigration, he had been flung to this place.
At a glance, it resembled a bank counter.
Of course, the scale was absurdly massive, with counters stretching out of sight both horizontally and vertically.
It was a space where sky and ground alike were white, containing nothing but counters.
And when some birds handed out number tickets, and he went at his appointed time, what kind of nonsense was this?
“You said it was an immigration interview, then suddenly you insult my face? What’s the big idea?”
“What do you mean, insult! I am examining whether your face is suitable for the divine realm!”
“Holding up this dogshit picture frame is an examination?!”
“Insolent wretch! This frame was crafted by the great God of Art!”
Having vented his anger, the bird-headed god waved his hand dismissively.
“Turn back and leave! The divine realm sees tens of billions of gods a day. There’s no shortage of folk wanting to come.”
“So what does that have to do with my face?”
“What it has to do? We are also examiners who manage the quality of the divine realm’s populace. And your face does not suit it.”
“Doesn’t suit?”
“Indeed. This is what an ideal face looks like.”
When he held out a photo, Igeon frowned and took it.
“Quality of the populace… just how great must a bastard be to pass….”
But soon Igeon’s face hardened.
“Human types these days have no individuality! As you can see, these antique amphibian or reptile types are what suit the divine realm nowadays!”
Veins bulging, Igeon tore the photos to shreds.
And he glared at the bird head.
“I don’t need individuality or whatever, so just register me. I know plenty of human-type high-ranking gods….”
“Denied!”
“Why do you keep saying denied….”
“In the first place, you are far too handsome! If someone like you enters, the goddesses will kick up a needless fuss! Get out now!!”
Has this motherfucker lost his mind?
Furious, Igeon grabbed the god by the throat.
“Pass me before I turn you into seasoned boiled chicken. Got it? Huh?”
The god coughed and groaned.
“Get lost! You think a non-Martial God (武神) can scare me by pulling this? A low-class god who’ll end up doing goddesses’ massages anyway! If you truly wish to enter, receive a service from our holy god! For just 100 dalants, we can give you plastic surgery into this trendy fish-type face… Gack!!”
Igeon smiled brightly.
“If it’s that good, I’ll give you a makeover right now.”
“Wha…? What do you… Wham! Gack! Hack!”
Enraged, Igeon rained punches down on the bird-headed god’s face.
The counters were divided into separate cubicles, so no one outside knew what was happening, and nobody came to intervene.
And after some time passed.
By the time the small 1-pyeong cubicle was smeared with feathers and blood.
The fallen bird-headed god, trembling, raised his hand.
“Y-you… with a face that pretty, you were a Martial God? I thought you were just a scrawny little runt….”
Instead of answering, Igeon grabbed the seal on the desk.
And nonchalantly stamped a document.
Bang!
Name [None of your concern]
Divine Name [Dunno]
Affiliation [None]
Divine Rank [No idea, but well-made]
Age [25]
It seemed like he needed to fill out a whole bunch of things, but Igeon paid it no mind.
‘Vermin, the lot of them.’
This gave a clear hint as to where the personalities of those holy gods came from.
‘Ah, whatever.’
At this rate, getting into the divine realm wouldn’t take long anyway.
* * *
That thought was clearly a mistake.
“Ack!”
Having passed the first immigration checkpoint, Igeon was now falling from the sky.
There was no other reason.
[Master! Shouldn’t we have waited where they told us to wait earlier after all?!]
[See, this is what happens if you don’t go through immigration properly!]
The divine realm’s immigration process was basically three stages.
The first stage was, literally, the interview.
The second stage was the physical examination, disqualification check, and baggage inspection.
The third stage was document submission and entry.
Anyway, at the second checkpoint he arrived at, there was a deer-headed god.
And that god told Igeon to wait until the physical and baggage checks, but well.
Igeon ignored him completely and headed towards the bridge leading to the next checkpoint.
This was the result.
Whoosh!
[Unauthorized entrant who did not undergo security screening. Ejecting.]
“!!”
Along with the notification, the floor of the bridge vanished and he plummeted.
In the end, Igeon’s retinue gods, suddenly falling from the sky with their master, screamed.
They were currently sealed inside Igeon’s shadow.
[Master! At this rate, we are in grave danger!]
[If we keep falling like this, we will plunge into the divine realm’s sewage treatment plant!]
[If we get caught there, we will turn into filth and never return alive!]
He wasn’t entirely clear on the details, but it likely meant that even a god would die if this continued.
[Should we have waited there earlier after all?!]
[Yes. Even now, we must turn back…]
“Are you kidding me?! They said the wait alone is 20 years! Who’s gonna wait for that bullshit!”
Igeon’s veins popped.
I have to get Hugo back before the third child is born, and 20 years is crap!
“They said the time difference between here and Earth isn’t even that big!”
[But Master, at this rate, you will be in danger!]
“Isn’t there anyone among you who can fly?!”
[If Master cannot exert his power, we cannot break our seals and come out either!]
“!”
Igeon immediately tried activating a skill, but no magical power manifested.
“……!”
Igeon was flustered, but he soon understood why.
[It's because you have not yet entered; Master cannot use his power either!]
[To prevent illegal immigrants, all gods’ powers are sealed here irrespective of rank… Aaaagh!]
Igeon’s falling speed increased. He fell and kept falling through an expanse of endless clouds.
At the same time, a light erupted from below in the cloud-filled sky.
It was the direction he was falling.
Seeing the crimson light, the retinue gods screamed.
[It’s the treatment plant! If we are swept in there, we cannot return alive!]
[Moreover, that place is connected to the divine realm’s purification tank facilities…!]
“!”
Igeon furrowed his brows. At this rate, he’d be decomposed into shit fertilizer before even finding Hugo.
But just as he was about to be swept into the light with no good solution—
Bang!
Thud!
“Ack!”
Igeon crashed into something that obstructed his fall and tumbled.
“……?”
The texture was solid scrap metal.
Bewildered, Igeon looked around.
‘A flying boat?’
Literally a sailboat that flew through the sky. It was a small two-seater airship, shabby as if built from scrap.
But just then.
“Damn it, who is it!”
A man opened a door and emerged from inside the flying boat.
He looked like a human in his early twenties. Yet the aura he emanated was unmistakably that of a god.
However, his aura was different from the holy gods Igeon had encountered so far.
Let alone the bureaucratic gods from the first and second checkpoints. They had felt similar to his own retinue gods, but this guy, well.
Strangely, he gave off a feeling of being even lower in class than the retinue gods.
Sure enough.
[He is of the sub-god class.]
“Sub-god?”
[You can consider it a rank below commoner, or even lower. The lowest of the low.]
[People with whom Master need not even exchange words.]
He wasn’t entirely sure, but it seemed there were indeed classes and statuses among gods.
In any case, the retinue gods whispered from his shadow, relieved that Igeon was safe.
[Still, he doesn’t appear to be an evil god.]
[To enter the divine realm, you must pass immigration; it would be best to ask him to give you a ride back up to the second checkpoint.]
But Igeon, as if telling them to shut up, flared up.
“Are you crazy? If I go back there, the wait alone is 20 years. Absolutely not.”
Did they think he’d do what those bastards wanted, like a lunatic?
[H-however, Master. The laws of the divine realm are merciless. You must observe them.]
[In the first place, unless you do so, there is no way to enter…!]
But then it happened.
“Hey! Who are you muttering to by yourself since earlier!”
“!”
The male god approached Igeon and looked around.
“Keep it down…! It’s bad enough if we get caught smuggling in, but if you cause a ruckus too….”
At the word “smuggling in,” the retinue gods froze, but Igeon’s eyes sparkled very brightly.
Oh?
Smuggling in, you say?
(Continued in the next episode)