Copy Skills with Affinity!

Chapter 196

Choice

“……I thought you were dragging me somewhere important.”

I let out a scoff as I spoke to Morrigan.

“Is it this place again.”

It was a scene I had seen many times.

Ever since Wornil started reaching out to me, this was always the world I was dragged into.

Pitch-black—made entirely of someone’s consciousness—completely cut off from reality.

It wasn’t the first time I had stepped out of the real world, filled with physical laws and familiar scenery, into a completely chaotic realm.

But following Morrigan into this black world and encountering other humans ‘as a group’… this was a first, even for me.

“…….”

And as I looked at the round table placed at the very center of this pitch-black world, I could only laugh in disbelief.

These people… they were practically radiating how used they were to barging into someone else’s mind without permission…

“…….”

Letting out a sigh, I slowly scanned the faces of the people already seated at the table.

There were two of them, and both were familiar faces.

Familiar, yet clearly different from before.

Above their heads were geometric shapes, and from their backs extended long wings.

Even someone like me, who had no interest in religious symbolism, could tell at a glance—they were acting as ‘messengers’ of some god.

I then looked at each of them in turn and spoke.

“……Ms. Elisha, right.”

“Hello.”

“And you’re Ms. Bailey.”

Instead of a reply, she simply gave a small nod.

Seeing that, my expression twisted even further. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

What should I even say.

From start to finish, I didn’t like a single thing about this.

That sly smile on her face… and that atmosphere that made it feel like I would inevitably be forced to make some kind of decision.

I was the kind of person who fundamentally disliked others trying to control my intentions.

Not that anyone would like that, but when it was tied to certain ‘keywords,’ it became several times more unpleasant for me.

So when I roughly pulled out a chair and sat down in a rather violent manner, it was simply an expression of that discomfort.

“……You are well aware that we have been observing you for quite some time.”

Regardless of my attitude, Bailey rested her chin on the table and began speaking.

“It seems the time has come for us to explain our intentions and purpose.” freewebnøvel.coɱ

“I agree.”

To be precise, it was probably because they judged that my power related to ‘gods’ had finally reached a certain level.

They must have their own goals, and to achieve them, they had been operating from the shadows all this time, trying to control me.

It was incredibly unpleasant, but at least it was a motive I could understand.

“Ms. Elisha here and I… belong to races that have long been in opposition.”

As Bailey spoke, she gestured toward Elisha with her chin.

The demon race, a mental parasite… and Elisha’s race…

“……By the way, what race are you?”

“…….”

“I never cared enough to find out.”

At my openly annoyed tone, Elisha pressed her forehead as if she had a headache and answered.

“……Celestial.”

Ah, Celestial.

Leaning my head to the side, I nodded indifferently.

It was obvious to anyone that I didn’t care in the slightest, and both Bailey and Elisha’s expressions began to grow stranger.

No—how should I put it.

They had openly revealed their identities and were about to discuss something important, yet they hadn’t expected me to be this uncooperative.

Considering my past behavior, they probably thought that even if I got angry, I would at least listen to the full explanation first.

But from the very beginning, things were already becoming unexpectedly difficult…

“……Anyway.”

Of course, regardless of that.

Since they had gone this far to arrange this meeting, they would have to finish what they started. Bailey cleared her throat and continued.

“To put it simply, you have two choices, Mr. Aiden.”

“…….”

I tilted my head slightly, signaling for her to continue without saying a word.

…With me being this uncooperative, it certainly wasn’t easy to explain, but Bailey gathered her composure and went on.

“You must already be aware that our main god, Wornil, has taken an interest in you.”

“Our side’s god as well.”

She was referring to that presence that would suddenly appear as if to attack me.

Bailey and Elisha themselves had even shown up in relation to it before.

Wornil would be that black energy that always descended toward me, and the god Elisha served would be the white energy that once appeared and fought against it.

“Your power is far more valuable than you think.”

Supernatural abilities were, fundamentally, blessings bestowed by gods upon their creations, and unless granted direct permission by that god, they could never be infringed upon.

Yet the idea that one could handle all of them simply by gaining the favor of those who wield such abilities—

Fundamentally, that made no sense.

Yes, it was as if—

“……Now that there’s a trigger, unless the god personally decides to hand it over as they please.”

Unless you had directly earned the favor of that god, it would be absolutely impossible.

“It means there’s a high probability that you possess the divinity of the god who sustains the entire Pantheon.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“Are you aware that the majority of the gods that make up the Pantheon are female?”

“…….”

At the unexpected answer, I stared blankly at them.

No, wait.

‘……Is that true?’

I had never really thought about it carefully, but now that I considered it, it did feel that way.

I had encountered divine beings directly before, but still—in scriptures and myths, they were always described as ‘goddesses.’

‘……That’s right?’

Karva, Sia, Urgan—all of them had been depicted that way.

Even Aria, the goddess of love.

‘…………Huh?’

And the moment I fully processed that information,

what they were about to say next suddenly sent a chill down my spine…

“There’s a high chance that the god who gave you your power has seduced all of them.”

“…….”

…That made it even worse.

No—seriously, don’t joke about this…

“They probably granted you power because they were confident you could do something similar.”

…No.

No, no, no.

Up until now, hadn’t it always been treated as something incredible—how I received my power, and from what kind of god?

Rania had said the same. And no matter how much I searched, I couldn’t even find a clue.

And yet, its identity was—

“……Let’s organize this.”

“Yes.”

“You’re saying I was chosen by some insane womanizing god, and that’s why I have these abilities?”

“Let me ask in return. Then what kind of god did you think chose you?”

“……What?”

“Where did you think the foundation of your ability came from—the ability to gain someone’s favor and copy their powers?”

“…….”

That… did make sense.

I couldn’t refute it.

I clutched my head as a pounding pain surged through it.

‘……No.’

It wasn’t like I had hoped to be chosen by some great or important god.

I hadn’t.

But still…

This was a bit too much…

“Anyway, to continue.”

While I was mentally collapsing, Elisha continued.

“Regardless of the origin, what matters is that you’re receiving overwhelming support from the gods within the Pantheon.”

“…….”

As the topic returned, my expression grew serious again.

Or rather, that crooked attitude I usually wore returned to my face.

“……The god I serve and Wornil are both sealed gods. And you’re the only one who can help them.”

I had already proven that ability countless times.

By becoming entangled with various gods and wielding their powers in ways completely different from how they were originally meant to be used.

So, the only one capable of helping gods that could never be ‘revived’ through ordinary means—

“I refuse both.”

“…….”

“…….”

It was an answer that plunged everyone into silence.

Firm, immediate, without even a hint of hesitation.

Elisha, who had been about to continue, looked at me with her words completely cut off.

Sure, I had been speaking with a blunt attitude this whole time, but even she hadn’t expected me to outright reject everything so decisively.

“……If you’re refusing because of what Wornil did, there must be a reason—”

“I understand perfectly well that this is all some grand story about the Pantheon and the world of gods, with important beings moving things behind the scenes.”

I cut her off without even listening.

“But there’s only one thing I need to know right now.”

I turned to look at Elisha.

“What does that god have to do with my family?”

“…….”

“I understand that the one who helped me when Wornil tried to devour me is the god of the Celestials.”

Anyone who had ever met Aiden Kellermain would probably share the same impression—that this man always seemed a bit absent-minded.

“But why did it take the form of my dead family?”

And anyone who knew him a little better would immediately turn and run the moment they felt the atmosphere now emanating from him.

Because they would know—

he had just stepped on a landmine.

“Care to explain?”

His tone made it clear—if they didn’t give a proper explanation, even he didn’t know what might happen.

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“……We’ll both have to get married, sister.”

“…….”

I wondered what nonsense she was talking about after calling me over so urgently.

Cretin wiped her face dry as she looked at Rania.

Hearing that my younger sister was looking for me, I had rushed over in a panic, thinking something serious had happened… and now I felt like an idiot.

“……You finally regained consciousness after being sick, and this is what you wanted to say…?”

“It’s important, sister.”

I thought at the very least she’d say something like, ‘Were you worried?’ or ‘I’m okay now,’ but the first thing out of her mouth was that we should both marry the same man—what kind of absurd nonsense was this…

But Rania’s face, as she said it, was deadly serious.

“If we don’t, that man will die.”

“…….”

Come to think of it,

Rania was also someone who really needed to learn how to explain things properly.