Above Your Head

Chapter 86: A Bouquet of Roses (5)

Celestia apologized while holding a gold pistol covered with blood, "Ahh! Sorry, sorry. This old man is a bit of a nutcase."

"..."

I was dumbfounded and could only gape. I mean, what was with this abuse of an elderly?

'No, putting that aside, did a transcendent just let himself be shot by a gun? And he even collapsed?'

To inferior civilizations, a transcendent was a prestigious existence that was almost no different from a God. But rather than being surprised by the appearance of yet another transcendent, I was instead surprised by the bizarre scene that unfolded before my eyes. Just then, the fallen old man with goat horns jumped to his feet.

"Hohoho. I showed you an unsightly side of me. Oh dear, I wasn't able to control myself even though I've already lived long enough. I'm very sorry for showing you this, Queen."

"Don't do anything you would be sorry for in the first place, you idiot. And I told you not to call me Queen, right? If you really have to, I would prefer you calling me Imperial Princess. It's not as if we're at a music program or something."

"Hoho, even if it's not on the stage, a queen will still be a queen. Anyway, it's good to see you again."

He assumed his initial appearance and smiled warmly. The injury on the back of his head left behind by Celestia's pistol disappeared before I could notice.

Ouroboros

Soul Sculptor, Voltermone 

'Soul Sculptor?'

After being confused by the unknown title, I began to invoke Classification. Since there was not much I could figure out about such a random word anyway, I tried to identify the detailed information. After I classified his title into the Ability category, this was what appeared above his head.

Ouroboros

Producer-type Transcendent, Voltermone

'Ohhhooo, this is something I've only heard rumors about...'

There were many different kinds of abilities in the world, and combat-based training wasn't the only means towards attaining the realm of transcendence. I didn't even have to look far. Ares was created by a Producer-type transcendent from the Kendler Saints (The creator, known as "Professor", was assumed to possess an Intermediate-rank Status of God). It was said that a Producer-type transcendent was definitely needed to create battleships that are of Terra-class and above.

'Ahhh, that's why he just took Celestia's attack directly.'

It was impossible that a combat-type transcendent would do that. They threw themselves into battle all their lives, so instinctively, they would defend themselves against all and any kinds of attacks that would cause harm. Of course, they might let themselves get hit purposely, but it wasn't that kind of situation now. The old man I saw actually lost his senses.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm just thinking that if there were more of these bastards, I might die an untimely death."

"Hmm. I agree with you on that. I've heard that girls who become Space Idols are famous, but I didn't know there was a transcendent in my fan base."

"I really can't do this Great Universe shit anymore."

"That's right. Why are there so many transcendents..."

While we were whispering to each other, Celestia turned around and introduced the old man with goat's horns, Voltermone.

"Well, the first encounter was a little weird, but say hello to each other. This is Doctor Voltermone of Ouroboros, the best academic institution in the Great Universe. He's an expert in the studies of soul and he's currently working in Leonhardt Empire's Department of Combat Technology. He's also a Producer-type transcendent."

It was something that I already knew because I saw his title, but I couldn't reveal my emotions, so I asked a question.

"Producer-type transcendent?"

"That's right. He may look like this, but he's an outstanding talent in the universe. Producer-type transcendents are rare even among transcendents."

"Hoho. What do you mean even if I look like this? You're going too far."

"Shut up, you goat head."

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh… More, more please. With a more heated, more scornful tone…"

"…"

Even the bold Celestia looked at him with a sick and tired expression, and Voltermone came to his senses with a 'Huck!'.

"Ehem. I'm sorry. This is because of the demon blood in me."

The demons were beings that were made up of dark Mana, so they feel joy when they are exposed to negative and dark emotions.

In other words, they were happier when they received hatred as compared to when they received love. They also felt a greater joy when they became an icon for fear or contempt as compared to an icon of respect. When they see a person struggling with pain, the feelings they felt were equivalent to the height of pleasure felt by humans.

Therefore, whenever they encountered other life forms, they chose to do only actions that would garner hatred and contempt. On top of that, they would always ponder over how to inflict greater pain and agony on others.

This characteristic was how the saying 'A demon who meets with a majority of people would start a massacre, and a demon who meets with a minority of people would start a torture fest.' came to be. So perhaps that was why it was a natural course of action for anyone in the Physical Realm to clench their teeth in a fit of rage when they encountered demons.

Even though Voltermone had a masochist side to him… He was actually pretty reserved considering he had the blood of a Demon flowing in him. Aware of that fact, Celestia sighed shortly after and changed the subject.

"Never mind that... Have you concluded the purpose you came here for?"

"I set him up in a torture chamber, but I was unable to proceed beyond that. There is nothing left for him, but he is holding out more tenaciously than I thought." Voltermone then turned around and trudged along. Celestia followed right behind him.

I approached Celestia and asked, "What are the two of you talking about?"

"We're in the middle of interrogating Morne."

"Morne? He's alive?"

"Major General Chun Hyun-il caught him and brought him back when he was on the verge of death. There was also the capture of Great Sky… He made a huge achievement. We had to fight Rising Storm because of Elion that damned bastard, but if it wasn't for that, he would've been able to return like a triumphant general."

After saying all that, Celestia pondered for a while and looked at me, "By the way, what happened to Elion? Did he really run away?"

"I don't know about that either. Before I realized it, there wasn't any trace of life coming from Goldrian."

I stole a brief glance at Celestia's eyes; her blue eyes were staring straight at me.

She looked at me for a while and nodded her head, "Got it. Thanks."

"Don't mention it." I answered with composure but was sighing inwardly.

'She noticed.'

That was why she thanked me. She most probably thought that I dirtied my hands for her sake.

'She wouldn't be the only one who would notice it.'

I expect there would be more noises in the future because of the disappearance of the Sixth Imperial Prince Elion. It was because there could be someone who could surmise that I killed him, just like Celestia did.

Of course, there was no evidence.

It was just for a short moment, but I had powers similar to a High-rank God and it was impossible for others to read the information at that time unless they were in the same rank as I was then. Even if they searched through Goldrian's memory or used some kind of psychometric ability, it was impossible to acquire any proper information.

However, the death of a member of the Imperial family was not a matter that could be overlooked just because there wasn't any evidence.

I was the last person to fight with the Sixth Imperial Prince, and if he went missing right after that, I would naturally be the suspect. If there weren't any clear proof that he had personally used the Leonhardt Imperial Army to attack another member of the Imperial family first, I would most likely have been detained immediately upon losing consciousness after that battle.

"Keuk! Luciel! Reese! Elaine!"

Just then, a desperate voice came from Voltermone who was leading the way. As I looked at him in surprise, I could see him with eyes widened as before, revealing the hexagram and black flames pattern imprinted on them.

He was protected by three women who surrounded him in a wedge formation. Each one of them had a formidable and absolute Aura, but yet Voltermone did not look relieved at all even though he was protected by them.

Voltermone screamed in a fit, "E-, E-, Eve...!"

Even in the vast Great Universe, an existence who possessed a High-rank Status of God was no different from a natural disaster. If a transcendent could even be revered as a God in inferior civilizations, then an existence that possessed a High-rank Status of God could basically be called a God because of the power they could bring forth.

"That's right, Voltermone. It's been a long time since we last met."

"You, how could you be here!? You're someone who possesses a high-rank Godhood! How could you recklessly interfere in the Physical Realm!" Voltermone screamed.

Hawa, a graceful girl with black hair, laughed as she saw Voltermone unleashing his Mana.

"Interfere? Can't I?"

"Of course… No, nevermind."

Voltermone muttered in a suppressed voice. As for me, I was watching from behind and I was thinking, 'What is this old man saying?' but it was not an incomprehensible situation.

'What a complete gangster.'

In the case of Cheong Won, he was at least bound by his mission despite possessing an Intermediate-rank Status of God. However, there was no such thing that tied Hawa down. I looked back at Celestia because I was baffled. Hawa boarded this ship openly, but Voltermone, having just arrived, seemed to not have an inkling about it.

"What the? No one reported to the headquarters about her?"

"We couldn't."

"…Why?"

As I was wondering, Hawa showed us the reason why the headquarters couldn't be contacted.

"Voltermone."

"What! Don't… No, I mean, yes?"

Voltermone had a stiff expression as Hawa called his name, and she proceeded to speak to him. It was an order.

"Don't spread any information about me in any way."

"...Yes."

The discussion was over with Voltermone nodding. Hawa smiled brightly and looked back at us.

"I see that you're awake. I've been waiting for quite a while."

"Haha, why do you have to..."

There was a feeling of freshness radiating from the current Hawa, unlike how she was when she didn't know her identity previously. However, I broke out in a cold sweat when I saw her like that.

'Did she use the commanding authority? And not to a machine or a human, but to a half-demon?'

It was a terrifying feat. To put it simply, it meant that she could give whatever order she wanted to, regardless of the target's species or will. It was a power that could dominate over anyone and control however the target moved according to the user's will.

As I secretly turned my head in a hurry, Celestia explained in a low voice,"It's the Almighty Decree of God. Her words itself are imbued with power, and anyone who is not qualified will not be able to resist. She used it in a trivial way now, but… Her words can even distort the laws of the natural world."

"Preposterous." I was baffled by Hawa's absurd ability, but Hawa shrugged.

"I did it to prevent the noisy situation, so there's no need to be concerned about it. I've also been given a lot of warnings, so I'm in the middle of recovering my body."

She whined perhaps because she also had restrictions imposed on her, but it wasn't believable. Unlike Cheong Won who was under the constraints of his mission no matter what he tried to do, it felt like she was literally doing whatever she desired to do.

"Hmm. Anyways... What are you doing here?"

"Ahh, it's nothing much, but please also make a security oath with him. Come to think of it, I should tell you too, Dae-ha-nim."

Hawa approached me. For a moment, I wanted to take a step back, but I barely held it in.

'It's useless even if I took a step back, unless that step could cover a million light years of distance.' 

I thought it was impossible to run away anyway, so rather than that, I stuck out my ears boldly. Above all, I couldn't sense any bloodlust coming from her.

Hawa whispered to me, "That key, don't use it please."

"…What if I don't want to?"

I tried to defy her. That was because the key hung on my neck was the secret weapon that saved me from a crisis several times. However, the moment I refused, a video came to mind.

Wooooom-!

It was an image of Earth, the home planet where I lived.

"I see, you're from Earth-34. In other words, you're basically from Solar System-34.

"So what?"

"From now on, if you use that key even once..."

As Hawa's sentence trailed off, the video in my head played in an instant. My point of view extended beyond Earth and into space, reflecting the Solar System that revolved around the sun.

"I'll fold the Solar System-34 just like this~"

The space split apart and a huge steel hand appeared. Then, one after another, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn... The steel hand grabbed them all.

"I'll clump them together like this~"

The fist of steel squeezed and compressed everything. Needless to say, Earth was also included.

"I'm going to compress it into the size of your head."

Everything was clumped together. If that happened, the beings on Earth would most probably perish without knowing how they died.

"Dae-ha?"

Celestia looked at me with a puzzled look as I turned white as a sheet and couldn't say anything. I was most probably the only one who could hear Hawa's words.

Hawa said, "You can tell, right? Whether I was serious about what I just said."

It was just like what she said. I could tell. She had the power to turn the image she showed me into reality... Most of all, this remark was not a joke. She truly meant it.

"…This crazy bitch."

I could only force a laugh. Would the earthlings on Earth-34 know that their lives were going back and forth at death's door right now?