Chapter 24: Attack On Titans, Part 13

I continued my conversation with the gardener.

“Do you have a family?”

“My mother recently collapsed…”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I helped her get back on her feet.”

“?”

What was with this guy?

“Now that the king is dead, what are your plans?”

The gardener’s eyes lit up.

“Every single piece in the gardens you saw on our way here was sculpted by me! If you’ll entrust me with it, I would be honored to tend to your gardens, Demonic God!”

“Are you confident in your abilities?”

“I have starving siblings at home, so even if I wasn’t confident, I’d have to be!”

“Didn’t you say you were well-paid?”

“I spent it all on women.”

What a crazy bastard, spending his money on women while his siblings starved.

“Just kidding!”

“Do you want to die?”

“Excuse me…? Did your true feelings just slip out, Demonic God? A true king should embrace all of his subjects…”

“I was also joking.”

The gardener laughed.

“As expected of the Demonic God. You’re quite the comedian.”

“Well, you could say that.”

“So, are you hiring me?”

“Yes. You’re the first person I’ve met in my life who I genuinely like.”

“If I may ask, how old are you?”

“I’m 15. Why?”

“Don’t speak informally to me, you little shit. I’m older than you.”

I stared at the gardener, and he stared back.

“Pfft…”

“HAHAHAHAHA!”

We both laughed for a long time. We understood each other instinctively.

“That was a funny joke.”

“It wasn’t a joke.”

“?”

“Haha! Just kidding! I was just messing with you!”

“You’re the first person to joke with the Demonic God.”

“Then I’ll be remembered. You said I was the first.”

“I truly like you. I’ll hire you for double my current salary.”

“Thank you! It will be a great help in buying women!”

“?”

“Ah, I misspoke! It will be a great help to my family!”

“Good. I’m glad it will help your family.”

This guy was a filial son. Rare to find these days.

After the assassination, I stood in the public square.

Below, the people awaited my address.

I began without delay. I hated keeping people waiting.

“Greetings, everyone.”

I amplified my voice with magic, ensuring it reached everyone in the square.

Feeling their attention on me, I continued, “I am the Demonic God. I know you all have many questions.”

Before my speech, I had distributed newspapers containing the truth about the world.

That humanity existed beyond these walls, that our memories had been manipulated by the Founding Titan, and that our true enemy wasn’t the Titans, but the world beyond the walls!

“It’s all true! That your memories were altered, that humans exist beyond the walls.

Moreover, those humans possess technology far surpassing ours! They have airships that soar through the sky, missiles that require only a button press, and the Marleyan Empire, who oppress us as descendants of devils, also wields the power of the Titans.”

Despite my heartfelt plea, a fool challenged me.

“Lies! There are no humans beyond the walls!”

I stared at the protester.

He flinched momentarily but puffed out his chest and continued.

“He’s a liar! Humans beyond the walls? Impossible! Those without the walls’ protection are merely Titan fodder!”

“Have you been outside?”

“What…?”

“Have you been beyond the walls? Of course not. A coward like you would rather cling to ignorance than face the truth.”

“…”

“You think I’m lying? Don’t be mistaken. Only the weak resort to lies. I, who can annihilate you all with a flick of my finger, have no need for such deceit.”

Silence descended upon the square, but I continued.

“Therefore, do not doubt! Follow me, and I will grant you freedom! Follow me!”

My words were met with silence, then, a roar of approval erupted.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

“Follow the Demonic God!”

“He will lead the Eldians to greatness!”

As the crowd cheered, I decided to end the game.

[Exiting Game Life.]

[Calculating experience.]

[Mikasa’s bond level is 9.]

[Timo Versy’s bond level is 9.]

[Acquired 500 bonus points for achieving bond level 9.]

[······]

[Level up.]

[Acquired 5000 points.]

Back in reality, I checked my stats.

[Lee Suho
Level: 45
Strength: 40 Stamina: 40 Agility: 40 Intelligence: 40 Magic Power: 50 Vitality: 40]

[Available Points: 5500]

I felt a sense of satisfaction despite not having eaten.

Was this the joy of accumulating points?

With my newfound wealth, I decided to try my luck with the random draw.

[Random Draw]

I pressed the button without hesitation.

Feeling lucky, I invested all my points, and the results were astounding.

[Elixir.
Heals all wounds and can even revive the dead.]

‘I can save Shinobu!’

I had hoped for an Elixir, but I didn’t expect to get it so easily.

This alone made the draw a success. Elixirs cost 10,000 points in the shop.

[Purchase Price: Elixir – 10,000 points]

[Fountain of Youth.
Grants eternal life, but fixes the user’s age at 20.]

This would negate the side effects of Titan transformations.

And it was relatively cheap at 5,000 points.

Eternal life for 5,000 points was a steal.

And there was one more useful item.

[Talent Awakening Stone.
Unlocks hidden talents. Has no effect if the user has no hidden talents.]

I got two of them.

I could use one on myself and give the other to someone else.

‘I’ve decided.’

I knew who I would give the Talent Awakening Stone to.

[You have selected My Hero Academia.]

[Selected World: My Hero Academia.]

[Starting game.]