The Unconventional Chosen One and Divine Wrath

“I must say, the Chosen One’s appearance differs significantly from what I’d imagined.”

Lauren, intrigued, scrutinized Yodel’s attire, hoping to discern something out of the ordinary, but his efforts quickly proved fruitless.

Were an uninformed bystander to guess which of the four was the Chosen One, ninety-nine percent would undoubtedly point to Yelica, clad in her nun’s habit.

The remaining few would likely pick Lauren or Collins, certainly not Yodel.

He appeared far too young, and while his features were pleasant, his clothes were rather plain and ordinary.

With no halo above his head, no wings sprouting from his back, and not even a faint ripple of spiritual energy, he struck anyone as an utterly common individual.

Yet, he was precisely the Chosen One.

“An hour ago, you couldn’t have paid me to believe the Chosen One resided in a dilapidated rented room.”

“This… this is simply beyond belief,” Collins murmured to himself.

Lauren’s voice immediately rose in pitch.

“Ha? You mean you weren’t joking about him living in a rented room?”

“I actually thought, Collins, that you’d finally developed a sense of humor.”

Collins shrugged helplessly.

“See? It’s so preposterous that even when I say it, you still think I’m joking.”

Yelica joined the fray.

“Surprised by this?”

“You don’t even know that Gelan was knocked out by Yodel’s bare fists.”

“I never would have dreamed the Chosen One’s combat style would be so utterly unembellished.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Alright, alright, everyone, let’s stop dissecting me,” Yodel interjected, a wry smile playing on his lips.

Seeing the discussion veer increasingly off-topic, he felt compelled to cut in.

“We can delve into the Chosen One’s daily life later.”

“My purpose in seeking this private discussion now is to address any lingering doubts about my identity, so as not to impede tomorrow’s capture operation.”

Collins nodded.

“Agreed. We should indeed prioritize the capture operation at this moment.”

“Of course, of course.”

“The esteemed Chosen One is our key partner, and Minkton will certainly provide their full cooperation for tomorrow’s operation,” Lauren stated, expertly playing along with Collins.

Yelica also affirmed her cooperation with the operation.

“I will also bring a squad of修士 (TL Note: A religious practitioner or monastic, often associated with a church or holy order.) for the ambush.”

“However, I hope to transfer that core member of the Everlife Society to the Church.”

“Such high-level cultists often carry a spiritual defilement (TL Note: A form of spiritual corruption or taint.), and it would be safest for us to handle them.”

Yodel nodded in assent, thereby authorizing the capture operation.

In truth, an early, overt confrontation with the Everlife Society was not conducive to Yodel completing his assassination mission.

Yet now, having learned about the eerie living corpses and mysterious live experiments, Yodel harbored a faint premonition of a major event impending.

Time would no longer permit him to proceed slowly; he had to eradicate the Everlife Society’s stronghold before they could unleash a biological crisis!

Four individuals, representing three factions, reached a consensus.

Through their concerted efforts, a general capture plan was swiftly finalized.

The specific operational details were left for their subordinates to draft, with Yodel retaining the final authority to revise and approve.

While the detailed plan was being drafted and everyone had a brief moment of respite, Lauren posed a question that had been on his mind.

“May I ask, what is the relationship between the Lady Inquisitor and the esteemed Chosen One?”

“Does your collaboration signify an alliance between the Goddess of Holy Light and the God of Death?”

Collins echoed the sentiment.

“I’ve been wondering the same thing.”

“Initially, I believed Lady Inquisitor was coerced by Mr. Yodel into this unwilling cooperation, suggesting a hostile dynamic between you two.”

“However, today’s observations seem to contradict that notion.”

“You know, you’re surprisingly accurate with your guess.”

“Should I commend you as a detective?”

“Ah, that’s a long story.”

Yodel recounted the story of his encounter with Yelica, including the matter of the Death Curse, to both Lauren and Collins.

“Then, now that we know your identity, are we also expected to receive this Death Curse?” Collins asked tentatively.

‘He didn’t even mention it, and you dare bring it up yourself?’ Lauren grumbled inwardly about Collins.

‘What if he actually curses us?’

Despite his internal complaint, Lauren felt that Yodel wasn’t the type to do such a thing.

Yodel did not disappoint Lauren.

“The curse was originally a misunderstanding, so it certainly won’t be applied to either of you.”

“In fact, I’m trying to find a way to lift the curse from her.”

“I’m not even in a hurry to lift the curse anymore.”

“After all these days, I’ve come to terms with it.”

“To be frank, from the moment I learned you were the Chosen One, I’ve been utterly grateful to your… partner.”

Upon hearing these words, the three gentlemen exchanged peculiar glances.

‘What’s wrong with this girl?’

‘She was cursed, and now she’s grateful for it?’

Among the three, Yodel’s emotions were arguably the most complex.

‘Could the God of Death have mixed something into the curse, turning Yelica into an M (TL Note: A common internet slang term, short for masochist, referring to someone who enjoys receiving pain or discomfort.)?’

‘Otherwise, why was she calling the God of Death an evil deity just days ago, only to suddenly become grateful now?’

Considering the God of Death’s occasional mischievous streak, Yodel thought it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

“Hey, your expressions are quite rude right now!”

“You’re practically screaming ‘Is this girl insane?’ with your faces!”

“It seems I need to properly educate you all on basic theological common sense.”

Yelica first pointed her finger at Yodel.

“You, Yodel Finn!”

“Me? What have I done?” Yodel was bewildered by Yelica’s sudden address, feeling as though he’d just been called out by his homeroom teacher.

“You completely lack self-awareness as the Chosen One!”

“Huh?”

“During our last exchange, I emphasized how truly special the Chosen One is.”

“It appears you still don’t have a clear understanding.”

“Allow me to tell you what the Chosen One truly represents.”

Yelica drew a scripture from her waist, her expression more solemn than ever before.

“The Chosen One, also known as a demigod, is the most exalted being beneath the true gods.”

“They… no, you, Yodel Finn, are the God’s deputy, acting as the divine will, bestowing grace upon the mortal realm, and unleashing heavenly judgment.”

“Every word and deed of yours can guide thousands of believers.”

“While the deities reside in the Heavenly Kingdom, you walk upon the earth in their stead, serving as their spokesperson, the very embodiment of their will.”

As Yelica spoke, Lauren and Collins scrutinized Yodel, attempting to reconcile him with Yelica’s grand description.

Indeed, they found no correlation whatsoever.

Yodel scratched his head.

“How is it that even I didn’t know I was this formidable?”

Yelica, too, scratched her head.

She was even more perplexed, wondering how the legendary Chosen One could be someone as utterly mundane as Yodel.

She let out a sigh.

“To put it simply, you’re the greatest beneath the gods; even kings would toast to you.”

“Knowing just that much should suffice.”

“It’s simply that your patron deity has few adherents in the mortal world, otherwise you would have long since been invited into a church and revered.”

“Hearing you say that, I suddenly feel like I’ve just discovered I’m a rich second-generation heir,” Yodel quipped self-deprecatingly.

He knew the Chosen One held immense power, but he hadn’t realized the extent of their veneration.

“Let me give you another example.”

“If someone were to invade the memories of Her Royal Highness, the Saintess—who is currently blessed by the Holy Light—as I did, what do you think would happen?”

“Hmm… kill them?” Yodel ventured, guessing at the most severe consequence.

“Heh, how could that be?”

‘Was my guess indeed too extreme?’

‘Holy Light, after all, symbolizes justice, so the Goddess of Holy Light shouldn’t be so brutal.’

“My Lord would not kill him.”

“Instead, she would hang him from the dome of the Holy Sanctuary, incinerate him with divine fire for a day, heal him with holy light, then incinerate him with divine fire for another day.”

“This cycle would repeat until the sinner’s soul was utterly shattered.”

“Such is the fate of those who incur divine wrath.”