Resurrection Chapter 3 - The Man Who Was Once a Paladin

Basically, an awakened one’s stats depend on their level. The higher the level, the greater the stamina (HP) or mana (MP) available to use skills.

However, how many gods one serves has nothing to do with their level.

This is somewhat related to the disposition of the gods. Some gods dislike forming bonds with humans, while others flit from one human to another. There are gods who monopolize a single human and others who desire many followers.

Therefore, serving multiple gods doesn’t necessarily prove superior skill. Even if someone is favored by several gods and possesses a variety of skills, if their level is low, their HP or MP is insufficient, or they lack adaptability, they can’t properly wield the abilities lent to them.

For this reason, most people choose a primary god and serve only two or three at most. They operate by supplementing their core abilities with a few auxiliary ones.

It’s only natural that stronger gods grant stronger abilities. For a frail human body to wield a god’s power, serving even one can be overwhelming. Renowned hunters often dedicate themselves to a single god.

I, too, serve only one god.

Not by choice, but purely by compulsion.

The Golden Emperor, whom I ended up serving, was an exceptionally powerful demon god, but his jealousy and possessiveness were intense. He didn’t permit me to look elsewhere. The moment he chose me, he expelled all the other gods I had been serving. As a result, I had no choice but to abandon my versatile jack-of-all-trades position.

Not wanting to explain all that in detail, I said simply.

“I’m not here for myself.”

“Then…”

Younghyun looked at Heesoo hyung, who was standing across from the cargo area, as if seeing him for the first time.

Heesoo hyung was silently organizing the gear, pretending not to notice Younghyun. Watching him quietly, Younghyun tilted his head.

I’d hoped he wouldn’t recognize him, but it seemed futile. Despite his large frame, Younghyun was sharp and observant. Letting out an “Oh!” he pointed at Heesoo hyung and said.

“No way… No way?”

Before Younghyun could make a scene, I tried to shoo him away by pushing his chest.

“I’m busy, so if you’ve got no business here, get lost!”

Younghyun, standing firm like a sturdy pillar, stubbornly uttered a name everyone knew.

“Seo Heesoo?”

At the mention of Seo Heesoo, all the gazes that had drifted away snapped back. They stared at Yoon Younghyun as if asking where Seo Heesoo was, then followed his line of sight.

“Seo… Heesoo?”

“Seo Heesoo…?”

“Seo Heesoo…!”

“It’s Seo Heesoo!”

“Is it for real?”

“Where, where?”

Various reactions erupted, and even those who hadn’t been paying attention started flocking over. I touched my forehead in frustration, but Heesoo hyung, the person in question, showed no reaction. Hidden behind his long bangs, he continued his task in silence, his expression concealed.

Even so, his discomfort was evident, and I shoved Younghyun’s chest with my fist, blaming him for causing this.

“Can you just get lost already?”

Younghyun ignored my words and kept blabbering.

“I heard Seo Heesoo had fallen, but I didn’t think it was true. Seeing him come to the sanctuary to serve a new god, it seems the rumor that he was abandoned by the White Goddess is real, huh?”

This jerk, he’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he?

My face started to heat up as anger rose.

Seeing my fury, Younghyun said, “Whoops,” raised both hands, and stepped back.

“Sorry. It’s just hard to believe seeing someone who was once a holy warrior reduced to this…”

“Stop acting all coy. You’re shouting it loud enough for everyone to hear, so what’s with the theatrics?”

“I’m just saying it’s weird that Yitae sunbae is hanging out with someone who’s no longer a holy warrior.”

Younghyun didn’t care that I was getting angry. Instead, he continued as if he were the one wronged.

“When I asked you to be my partner, you said you didn’t need one, so why Seo Heesoo of all people?”

“He’s not my partner yet.”

“Not even a partner? That makes it even weirder.”

I didn’t feel the need to keep engaging with him. Infusing a bit of magic into my palm, I pushed Younghyun’s chest. Without doing this, I couldn’t budge the hulking giant.

“Get lost!”

With a thud, Younghyun staggered back a few steps, putting on a hurt expression.

What a hypocritical jerk. His dramatics are world-class, I swear.

I snorted and turned away. As I approached the cargo area again, Younghyun mumbled in a reluctant tone.

“I was going to suggest we move together today if nothing else came up, but I guess that’s not happening.”

“…”

“Just a heads-up, I won’t let you conquer the sanctuary, sunbae. If this isn’t even for your own sake, you’d better turn back before the trials get tougher.”

Who does this rookie think he’s warning? He’s come a long way from the kid he used to be.

I steadfastly ignored him, and Younghyun gave a slight bow before returning to his group. Even after he left, the gazes fixed on Heesoo hyung didn’t dissipate easily.

They were filled with base curiosity, baseless suspicion, and unwarranted contempt. Turning my back to the staring eyes, I spoke to Heesoo hyung.

“Don’t mind them, hyung.”

At my words, Heesoo hyung showed a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

“I’m not minding them.”

It was less a smile and more a polite gesture, just a slight lift of the corners of his lips, but I was satisfied with it. Considering how stoic he’d been for months since our reunion, even a faint smile was more than welcome.

I smiled back sincerely and securely closed the bag. Heesoo hyung volunteered to carry it. I, in turn, lifted the cargo floor to retrieve a weapon.

It was a longsword.

The magic sword Laevatein, a divine artifact bestowed by the Golden Emperor.

Looking at it, I made a troubled expression.

“No matter how divine it is, it’s embarrassing.”

It looked like something straight out of an RPG game. The ornate gold-plated hilt and the black-purple blade screamed edgy teenager aesthetic.

Just drawing it unleashed a dark aura in bursts, and when used, it flashed ostentatiously. It was perfect for drawing attention, so wielding it required significant mental preparation.

If it weren’t a divine artifact, I’d have customized it into something simpler long ago, but since it was a gift from the Golden Emperor, I couldn’t touch it. Smacking my lips in regret, I heard a disapproving message in my mind.

—The Golden Emperor inquires whether the gift bestowed upon you out of favor displeases you.

Hearing the message after so long, I brightened up.

“Your Majesty! You’re back?”

In my heart, I greeted him warmly, but a curt message followed.

—The Golden Emperor states that he has never left.

The Golden Emperor had been upset with me for a long time because I’d recklessly used offerings to save Heesoo hyung in that hellish place. When he learned that Heesoo hyung was no longer a holy warrior, his anger seemed to reach its peak.

In his eyes, Heesoo hyung must have seemed utterly lacking, though I suspected he’d be dissatisfied with anyone I brought.

Kind of like a mother-in-law whose son was taken away.

Anyway, it seemed his anger had subsided, and I felt considerably relieved.

“I was quite worried since you hadn’t spoken for a while.”

—The Golden Emperor retorts that he cannot merely watch as an apostle reaches the sanctuary of a berserker.

“The berserker’s sanctuary? Is the new god a berserker?”

My curious question was met with a disdainful response.

—The Golden Emperor declares that the title of warrior is too good for that creature. He is certain that “mad dog” is more fitting. He evaluates it as a masochistic being that does not fear pain and death but rather grows stronger by feeding on them.

Masochist, huh? Quite an un-godlike choice of words. Suppressing a rising chuckle, I said seriously.

“Masochist, huh? Where did you learn a word like that? I thought you were silently blaming me for choosing Heesoo hyung, but were you actually fooling around online?”

—The Golden Emperor takes offense at the term “fooling around.” He rebukes you for speaking irreverently to your god, who tirelessly strives day and night to absorb human knowledge.

Unable to hold back, I grinned. Perhaps embarrassed by my reaction, the message fell silent. With genuine gratitude, I said.

“Thank you for your concern.”

—The Golden Emperor confesses that his concern for you is sincere. He laments that he loses sleep over the hateful comments directed at you.

“Your Majesty, how many times have I told you not to read the comments on my articles? Why do you go looking for hate comments and get upset?”