Chapter 318

318 God of What #5

There’s a certain thing you discover when you keep dogs.

It’s how overly excited dogs will tackle you when they’re too happy, just like when you return home and open the door, they’ll jump on you with wild tail wagging.

They say people who keep dogs find it deeply touching to be met so warmly when they come home.

I used to experience that feeling myself.

Back in the days when Spotty, that old and large dog, was young and vibrant, he would charge me whenever I entered, wagging his tail wildly.

But over time, as I aged, so did Spotty, eventually becoming an old and rather sedate dog who greeted me calmly.

Still, in my mind, a dog is forever associated with boundless liveliness.

And so, what brings me back to contemplating dog behavior now?

It’s because I am in a situation that vividly recalls those memories, something I stored deep within my mind flashing back in what feels like a déjà vu.

The first thing I saw was this incredibly fast mass of white fur.

It came charging at me, and I was momentarily startled thinking it was an outrageously large dog, possibly even something like a lion.

But I had no time to figure out just what it was as something slammed its weight onto my shoulders, knocking me down.

Thump.

The reason they say you shouldn’t get into street fights with Judo wrestlers is exactly this—because having your back slammed into asphalt truly does hurt so much it takes away your breath. Right now, I’m feeling exactly that.

“Oof!”

When my back hit the floor, it was like all the air in my lungs exploded outward, choking me instantly.

What is this? A giant dog? No, did some lion attack me? Is the Earl secretly a posh hipster who owns a lion?

While entertaining this thought and slowly regaining my senses, something that had been pinning me down suddenly let out a sharp shout.

“Brother!”

What? Brother?

Oh no, the most heinous word conceivable. My expression involuntarily soured.

You see, from the day I was born, the only people who called me brother were absolutely dreadful types. I could feel my fists balling instinctively.

Before my eyes appeared confused stares from the people around, the glitter of the chandeliers on the banquet hall ceiling, and black irises.

“Who, Spots-”

“Brother! I’ve finally met you!”

It was a voice of pure innocence. Black hair, a white fur coat, and a wildly exotic outfit. Even her slightly open mouth revealed curious fangs.

“Who, who are you?”

“It’s me, Brother!”

Who are you, Spots?

I suddenly thought my sister might be here, which sent shivers down my spine, but this person was unfamiliar to me. Besides, my sister doesn’t have that kind of chest.

Her face looked slightly younger than my sister’s, though a red streak ran from below her eye to her cheek, either a warrior’s mark or some kind of mystical paint, making her look intimidating.

On the whole, this person seemed more attractive than my sister. It wasn’t bad considering her as a potential sister-in-law.

“Brother, I’ve missed you! To find you, I left the great wilds, crossed great waters, even killed a Geryon, and tamed horses.”

Wait, why is a complete stranger pinning me down and calling me “brother”?

I wondered if this was some secret surprise party arranged by Earl Carvigas. You know, the hidden camera kind of thing.

It wasn’t especially fun, but it made my heart race wildly, so maybe in its own way, it could be considered a success.

In an effort to end this strange play and push the female figure off me, I moved my arm and grabbed her wrist—but the moment I did…

Heavy press.

The presence and weight from this female, who barely came up to my chest, was unlike anything I could have imagined.

It’s as if I were grappling with a rock shaped like a person.

Ding.

‘Gloria lv. 45

Condition: The Curse of Infidelity, The Wrath of Home, The Hatred of the Ancient Dragon’

Even the displayed status was absolutely shocking.

Level 45? If that’s true, it implies all her stats could well surpass 15. She might be the most formidable person I’ve ever met here.

And what’s most astonishing?

“Gloria?”

“Right! As always, you know me, Brother!”

“d*mn it!”

Hearing the name “Gloria” filled me with a sudden surge of rage. Reflecting on the misunderstanding I faced since coming to Delphi and being framed—it all made perfect sense.

Not only that…

The bizarre rumors and legends surrounding dark-haired Samaritans scattered across the continent, such as “Samaritans are horse-like beings who can’t use a fork”—the sheer amount of hardship I endured due to such absurd gossip was infuriating.

And if it’s all because of this woman, this Gloria, spreading fabrications about herself… there’s no way I could stay calm.

“d*mn it!”

This woman seated on my torso filled me with an indescribable hatred. In my struggle to push her off, I realized her strength was immense, making my efforts futile despite my own impressive physical strength of up to 15.

“Brother, let’s leave this strange place and return home together!”

Swish.

Gloria then hugged my neck.

Something soft brushed against my chest at the same moment that strands of white either fur or hair from her outfit tickled my neck and cheek, causing an unbearable itch. Yet, at the same time, I felt my breathing getting restricted and the world fading.

I writhed and twisted desperately to escape this brutal lock, but it was all in vain.

“Who do you think you are? Stop fooling around with Hassan! Get off me!”

Then I heard Luna’s voice. Immediately after, there was a sharp sound of something being violently struck, followed by Luna’s brief scream.

That moment, my mind snapped back into clarity. How dare she hit Luna!

“Get lost, Get away, you idiot!”

Boiling with rage from head to toe, I finally managed to kick her off with a powerful thrust from my legs, still pinning her down despite her immense strength.

But the woman gracefully leapt back just as my knee was about to collide with her. Finally, I stood up and took a proper look at the situation around me.

Luna struggling to regain consciousness, the black-eyed Samaritan woman looking at me with disdain, and the banquet hall that had been buzzing with chatter was now heavy with an oppressive silence.

Something within me instinctively screamed three words: Danger.

Attempting to confront this woman would be perilous. A warning alarm rang loudly in my entire body.

“Geez… The room is spinning…”

“Lady Luna, please gather your consciousness! It is unacceptable to lose consciousness after merely one knockout punch of silence!”

Despite all this, seeing Luna lying there unable to recover, it all seemed trivial now.

“How dare you hit Luna? If her brain cells d*e or her intelligence drops, you’ll be the one responsible!”

“What are you saying? You’re not the brother I know…”

“d*mn it. I am not your brother.”

“Aaah! Alright.”

The Samaritan woman, Gloria, exclaimed brightly. Just as I thought the situation might finally make sense, she pulled out a heavy cudgel from her waistband.

“They’ve used weird witchcraft on you! You’re usually pretty clumsy.”

“What?”

“This continent is creepy. It isn’t like the stories you told me as a child. There are scary witches and nasty magicians everywhere… but don’t worry because, like before…”

Huff, Whoosh.

Gloria swung the heavy cudgel in the air and grinned, revealing her sharp fangs.

“Like before, a few blows of this and you’ll be my tender-hearted Brother again. Though if you d*e, there’s nothing I can do.”

Tat-tat.

The savage swung at me with great speed. Instantly, I understood why the terrifying legends of the Samaritans in this continent were widely known.

What previously seemed exaggerated rumors about the terrifying strength of the Samaritans, made to sound like boasts, now felt entirely real.

“Ha-ha! Taste the bitter sting of terror!”

With a grotesque laugh, a thick cudgel came raining down towards my head. It made me think that if this hit, my skull would shatter.

No way to dodge it, no way to block it.

I’m going to take it head-on, with no other options.

Is there a variable?

Yes, there is.

I am not just an ordinary adventurer Hassan.

What if, by some miracle, I suddenly unleash my divine power?

Suppose, for example, I became Hassan, the God of Ramming with a skull as strong as a diamond-?

In that short moment, all sorts of thoughts processed in my mind simultaneously. As I gathered the last of my strength, ready to shout something—

“Kong!”

Clang.

Before my shout could finish, a sharp metallic sound pierced the air. My skull didn’t turn into a diamond or become Hassan, the God of Ramming.

It was more accurate to say the cudgel swung by the Samaritan was deflected by something hard and metallic just before it reached my forehead, losing its momentum.

“Gloria, you’re still the same as always.”

“You…”

It was Hippolyte. Hippolyte, wielding a long silver candlestick, had blocked the attack aimed at me. I trembled slightly in response to this revelation.

Then Paranoi shouted from the side.

“Oh, that is one of the divine powers of the omnipotent Lord Hassan, Royal Knight Summon!…”

Is this part of my ascension as a god—Hippolyte’s summoning…?

Of course not. But I was grateful Hippolyte had intervened so cleverly. Otherwise, if that cudgel had struck me, I may have really become the kind-hearted “Brother.”

“You…”

“Long time no see, Gloria, since the Kairos Academy. Are you still wandering around the continent aimlessly, searching for your brother?”

“That’s right! I’ve already found my brother. That man over there, he’s my brother. Get out of here if you don’t want a sorry face, idiot.”

Swoosh.

The large cudgel now aimed straight at me.

If only she hadn’t made me so d*mn irate! I wanted to shout, “Get that hideous thing away from me!” But before I could, Hippolyte spoke up.

“So you’re still breaking and destroying anything strong, and then tossing it aside afterward. Did you change that habit?”

“My brother never breaks. It’s the detestable impostors who claimed to be my brother who made mistakes. What happens to them doesn’t bother me, right? Right?”

Zzirrr, Zzizzrr.

An intense spark crackled between Hippolyte and the Samaritan woman, Gloria. The banquet hall curtains flapped forcefully, and the chandelier swung unstably.

Pachink, Pa-chink.

Finally, all the glassware, windows, and cups shattered in a symphony of destruction, creating an atmosphere akin to the end of the world. Gloria laughed gleefully at the sight.

“I remember now. You’re the amateur troublemaker, Amazon, who used to pick fights everywhere back in the day. I didn’t recognize you because your vibe has changed. You got your a** handed to you by me and ran away, didn’t you? Now you’re back!”

Even with her youthful expression, she emanated a terrifying intensity that was far beyond imaginable. Is this what a real Samaritan looks like? d*mn, Samaritans are terrifying.

“…”

Hippolyte frowned without responding.

Hippolyte’s combat record boasts numerous victories, but only three defeats. Two of those defeats were against Luna, and the other was against a cudgel-wielding Samaritan.

“If you think I’m the same person from back then, you’ll be in for a serious beating.”

“What can you do with that candlestick? Want me to shove it into you?”

Despite the intimidation from Hippolyte, Gloria remained composed, speaking casually. This revealed to me that a fierce battle between the two would undoubtedly result in something catastrophic.

One of them is probably going to d*e.

So, I raised my hand and decided to intervene.

“Gloria, stop this.”

“…”

“My brother listens well, doesn’t he?”

*

Clatter, Clank.

The banquet hall was filled with the sound of cutting meat. No one dared to open their mouths; everyone nervously observed their surroundings.

And the cause of all this tension was likely the woman sitting there savagely tearing raw meat apart as though she hadn’t a care in the world.

Completely disregarding cutlery, she shoved random food items into her mouth using her bare hands—exactly the image of a barbarian.

“Do you want a piece to nibble on, too?”

Despite how much everyone seemed to want to criticize her behavior, they all clamped their mouths shut either out of respect or fear from the aura around her.

Countless notable figures from various circles were gathered here in the presence of the Countess Carvigas, yet none dared to reproach Gloria.

The reason was simple.

That civil servant or something from Delphi lying impaled on a table over there served as a warning to all.

This was absurd. An absurdity born of fear. When faced with an overwhelming and uncontrollable force, it’s naturally followed by an overwhelming sense of dread.

No one dares to confront a raging typhoon; they simply wait quietly for the storm to pass.

Sneak glance, sneak glance.

And so, they all surreptitiously observed.

Not her barbaric demeanor, but me.

So, with no other choice, I put down my fork and said,

“Gloria, meals are eaten quietly.”

“…”

With that statement, the barbarian who had been wildly flailing her arms suddenly halted her actions—her hands and mouth froze mid-motion.

My goodness, what-

Oh, my! Hmm!

All witnesses seemed genuinely shocked. But despite their surprise, a cloud of fear still remained in their eyes.

It was evident that everyone worried for me, the person who dared speak so casually to this chaotic, unruly Gloria.

The possibility existed that I myself might meet the same fate as that civil servant impaled on the table.

But I pushed on and added one more thing,

“Water.”

---