Chapter 195: I Think I Can Trust You (1)
Chapter 195: I Think I Can Trust You (1)
"A god from another world…?"
KangWoo frowned.
He had experienced receiving the will of the higher-ups via Gaia and had also received guidance in the form of quests, but it was the first time he couldn't understand what was going on.
'Why a god from another world so suddenly?'
He narrowed his eyes.
Gaia kept talking while trying to listen to the words that resounded in her head.
"I'm also not sure, but from what I hear, this seems to be the best…"
KangWoo took a deep breath.
'Why?'
He started to have doubts. From the information he had, he couldn't think of a reason for them to drag a god from another dimension over.
Whir-
Before he could answer his doubts, a white gate appeared inside the Hall of Protection.
A blonde woman walked out of the gate, and an eye-blinding light shone from her.
"So you're Gaia's incarnation, and… you're Oh KangWoo."
The blonde woman opened her mouth.
Although she was just speaking, her huge strength stimulated his skin.
'She's in a completely different league compared to Tyrion.'
KangWoo's expression hardened.
Boom-!
"Hyeongnim! That light…"
"Mr. KangWoo, did something happen?!"
"KangWoo, did something go wrong?"
"Wh-what?! What happened?"
"Hyeongnim!! What's going on?!"
Kim ShiHoon, who had been locked in the training room, quickly came out.
Han Seol-ah, Echidna, Chae YeonJoo, and Kang TaeSoo, who had also been training in another room, walked out in a rush and looked at the woman.
"My name is Benigore. I came here at Uranos’s request to assist you."
"…"
There was a heavy silence.
A god from another world had suddenly appeared.
KangWoo took a step forward and cautiously spoke.
"If you're a god from another world… are you from the Ernor continent?"
She was probably from the Ernor Continent since they had entered into contact with numerous beings from there.
Benigore shook her head.
"No."
'No?'
KangWoo narrowed his eyes. He was even more confused.
"What brings you here? What do you mean by, ‘you're going to help us’?"
"You don't need to worry so much. It isn't that I'm trying to harm you all."
Benigore sighed and began explaining the situation.
The more the explanation kept going on, the harder KangWoo’s expression became.
'Gods from other worlds receive less restriction?'
That wasn't good news at all.
No, in reality, it was the worst possible news.
Uranos had asked help from a god of another world to protect the world Gaia was in charge of.
That wasn't something that could be taken lightly.
It was similar to when a country became bankrupt and asked for help from the IMF.
That also meant that Gaia and her aids were in a situation where they struggled to even help KangWoo and the other Guardians.
'Oh fuck.'
If gods from other worlds came to help just like Benigore, there would be no problems.
'There's no way that's what is going to happen.'
Gods from other worlds would come to their world to help them in good faith?
It wasn't a kid's manhwa. There was no way something like, ‘let's all get along together and live happily ever after’ would happen.
'Oh fuck. Then this means that, if gods from other worlds invade Earth, our gods won't be able to do anything.'
That wasn't something that would happen in the short term.
Gaia was still alive, and the Gaia System that protected Earth hadn't disappeared completely.
Unless it were someone like Benigore, who came with the 'permission' of Gaia, a God from another world wouldn't be able to invade without second thoughts.
'But if the Gaia System completely crumbles…'
Then there was no way to know who would invade Earth.
'Hey, you useless bunch of assholes.'
His head hurt.
He couldn't help but feel anger toward Gaia and the other gods who had to protect Earth.
The situation was like…
* * *
'The Economy of the country has completely collapsed, and the country can't stop foreign companies from taking control of everything.'
No matter how much foreign companies screwed up the people, the country had no capability to protect them.
In the end, it would be the people who would suffer the consequences.
'Oh, fuck. How did they let things become like this?'
He couldn't help but curse at the thought of Gaia and her close aids.
Of course, the main reason they'd become like that was him, but it wasn't the time to talk about small details like that.
'I must make the Gaia System return to its normal state.'
KangWoo bit his lips.
He sighed and turned to Benigore.
The reason why she'd gone there was to give strength to the Warrior of Light, who could be called the Ace of Guardian.
'Well, since she's offered help, I should accept it.'
He still felt anger when he thought about the worthless gods who'd let the world become like this, but that wasn't a reason to refuse a gift.
It was a last resort thing, but he had to accept any possible help.
"Hmm, so you're that Warrior of Light, huh?"
Benigore looked at him with sharp eyes.
It was as if she were wondering whether she could trust him.
"His face reminds me of Lee KiYoung’s…"
She felt an unknown sensation of uneasiness from KangWoo.
He felt similar to the man that had given her trauma.
'What? She came all the way here and isn't going to give me the strength?'
KangWoo frowned.
He didn't know who Lee KiYoung was, but he could feel that she didn't trust him.
It was as if she was wondering whether she should give him her strength.
"Goddess Benigore…"
At that moment, Kim ShiHoon took a step forward.
"Please, help hyeongnim protect this world."
He knelt without hesitation.
Kim ShiHoon kept talking in an intense voice.
He thought of how KangWoo had helped him overcome his past trauma… Helped him walk out of the swamp he thought he'd never be able to walk out of.
"Hyeongnim… is the person I respect and trust the most."
'Well done, my child!! You know hyeongnim loves you, right?!'
"Hmm."
Benigore's eyes shone at Kim ShiHoon's sincere words.
She looked at both of their faces.
"M-me too!"
Han Seol-ah was the one who talked next.
"If… Mr. KangWoo wasn't here, I wouldn't have been able to feel happiness like this."
She grabbed KangWoo's arms while blushing.
"Mr. KangWoo… Is… is an important person to me."
'Daarrlliinngg!!!'
KangWoo clenched his fist. He felt like he was about to shed a tear.
"ShiHoon hyeong and sister-in-law are right! I, Kang TaeSoo, know him very well, after all!"
'TaeSoo… I had forgotten about you, so you're of great help in situations like this.'
The support from Kang TaeSoo, who he thought had become air and disappeared, arrived.
Benigore laughed at Kang TaeSoo's strong voice.
"Are you DeokGu?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Ah, I'm sorry. It's just that there's someone similar to you in the world I'm in charge of."
Benigore turned her head.
After Kim ShiHoon, Han Seol-ah, and KangTaeSoo, it was Echidna who took a step forward.
"KangWoo is a very good person."
She grabbed Benigore's sleeves and looked at her with innocent-looking eyes.
"Haa…"
Benigore took a deep breath.
Even if she was a god, her sense of beauty was similar to a human’s.
Echidna looking up at her carefully was so cute that one couldn't help but feel the need to hug her.
'Echidna, where did you learn such techniques…?'
It was obvious that Echidna was trying to look cute on purpose.
KangWoo trembled after seeing how much she'd grown.
As even Echidna took a step forward, everyone's attention got placed on Chae YeonJoo.
"What, I have to say something, too?"
Chae YeonJoo felt everyone looking at her.
Based on the flow of things, it seemed like she would have to say something.
She looked at KangWoo with annoyed eyes.
"To be honest, I don't like him. He always acts on his own and doesn't take into consideration other people's feelings. I honestly don't understand what's so good about someone like this," she said in an annoyed voice.
"Well…"
She snorted.
"He's still trustworthy."
Chae YeonJoo turned her head.
He could see that her cheeks were turning red.
'Are you a character from a manhwa?'
One couldn't help but laugh at her words which seemed to have come out of a comic.
"HAHAHA!"
Benigore started to laugh out loud.
It was a big laugh that was hard to believe had come out of a goddess. Benigore nodded.
"If the people around you trust you so much, it seems like you're someone that's trustworthy."
She walked toward KangWoo.
"I'm going to give you my strength."
'NICE!!'
KangWoo clenched his fist.
It wasn’t intended, but he was able to convince her thanks to the people around him.
'This is all thanks to my good karma!'
He was so excited that he wanted to dance.
He tried to hold back from smiling as much as possible.
'In this situation, I must look like a hero who's doing his best to save the world.'
He shouldn't act excited at the thought of receiving a gift from a god.
He had to control his emotions and act as if he would save the world thanks to this strength.
"Ah, of course. It's not like I'm completely free from the system's restrictions. Although it sounds grand, it isn't going to be like that."
'No complaints about gifts!'
Even if it were a little help, he would nevertheless benefit.
It was as if the real Santa Claus had appeared at Christmas and had given him a gift, so there was no reason to refuse.
"It doesn't matter what strength you give."
KangWoo took a step forward.
He grabbed her hands and pulled her a bit.
"Ah…"
"What's important is that Ms. Benigore cares for and is looking over us," he said with a serious expression and an honest voice.
"As you know, the situation of our world isn't good. To be honest, it's surprising that it hasn't collapsed yet."
The god in charge of the world had almost died while trying to stop the invasion of Satan, the Demon of Prophecy.
Gaia's close aids couldn't help humans.
"Ms. Benigore, you're also probably in charge of a world. You probably have beings you need to protect. Although you said it in passing, you told us you had a previous bad experience because of a human that had deceived you, so I understand how much you probably struggled because of that. I also know how burdensome it is to lend your strength to another world."
"That…"
"I won't forget it."
He gripped Benigore's hands firmly.
He bit his lips and looked as if he were about to shed tears at any moment, and his voice was a bit shaky, but his eyes looked at hers firmly without wavering.
"We will never forget this."
A strong sense of justice was exploding from the Warrior of Light, Oh KangWoo.
Benigore's body trembled a bit.
"As expected…"
A smile appeared on her face.
"It seems like you're different.'
She placed her hand on top of KangWoo's shoulders.
Ting-
[You've received Benigore's blessing.]
[All of your stats, except for Demonic Energy, have increased by 10.]
[The quality of your Demonic Energy is too high, so the amount increased has been reduced.]
[Your Demonic Energy stat has increased by 3.]
'YOLO!!'
Strong energy flickered around his body.
"Thank… you."
KangWoo said in a moved voice while bowing.
Benigore smiled while looking at him.
His honest eyes, broken voice, and tears dripping from his eyes were proof that the human in front of her had purer and more beautiful intentions than anyone else.
"If it's you, I think I can trust you."
An eye-blinding shone.
'Of course, there isn't anyone as trustworthy as me!'
‘Hehehe.’