Why can't humans do it too?

Not angered by being called an idiot by Suer, the God of Suspicion simply listened quietly to his laughter until the continuous low chuckles also disappeared.

Are you... feeling lonely?

Without any beating around the bush, the God of Suspicion suddenly asked.

【lonely?】

Repeating the seemingly insightful judgment of the God of Suspicion, Suer chuckled nervously once more, muttering as if in a dream.

【I won't be lonely... quite the opposite, it's much more lively here than you imagine!】

It wasn't a fictional world created by a patient suffering from hysteria; what Su Er said was the absolute truth. For him at this moment, loneliness was theoretically completely foreign to him.

Those beings who devoured his flesh and blood, whether they still retained their physical bodies or had transformed into the purest elves and infiltrated the Elf Corridor, Sull could clearly sense their existence, their will, and their souls that had become independent from the cycle of reincarnation in this world.

Sharing their innermost thoughts and passing on unfinished dreams, Suer talked with them, and they talked with each other, like a "city" whose lights never go out.

The God of Suspicion was not entirely ignorant of Sur's "city." In fact, when the first "residents" arrived in that "city," the panicked and confused Sur was only able to calm down with the help of Him and Xin Ke.

However, this does not mean that the God of Suspicion and Xinke truly understand the world that only Suer can see. On the contrary, the God of Suspicion, who can see more than the mortal Xinke, is still worried.

That endless, noisy world, the thoughts of self-proclaimed intellectual souls intertwined, and countless unique wills.

Are you... insane?

This dispelled the doubts that Sull had been pondering. The God of Doubt had asked this question many times before, yet each time He never grew tired of it.

Suer always gave the same answer—a negative answer.

When the question was asked, the God of Suspicion had already given himself the answer: the man would surely utter those three seemingly unchanging words again in the next moment... However, the prophecy of the divine race failed.

Perhaps.

The words, mingled with long sighs, seemed to exhale heavy air from the entire cavern, as if a giant beast were turning over.

Do you regret it?

The question never ends, the god of doubt asks, his calm voice barely able to discern what he is anticipating. This unknown fascinates him.

Was she waiting for this man to stop all his plans so she could save her life?

Or is it regret for the retreat of a resolute soul?

Or perhaps they are hoping for another twist of fate?

When I was young, I was indecisive, making decisions about my life based on my feelings and impulses. I was moved by my choices, and then regretted them... Back then, I resented everything, and was indignant that I was the one who suffered all the pain.

Instead of answering the question posed by the god of doubt, Suer began to recall things slowly, as if talking to himself.

As I grew a little older, I immersed myself in a dreamlike existence that seemed to exist outside this world, enjoying a wonderful life that other humans could never even dream of. Carefree, I lived according to my own desires, satisfying my soul through secret acts of charity, and being moved by my own actions… At that time, I only wanted that kind of life to last forever, even if it remained unchanged, until the end of the world.

Living under the same roof with the incredibly beautiful forest elves and winged creatures, being treated differently by them, and even becoming trusted friends despite racial prejudices... I cherish those wonderful times; they are the happiest and most fulfilling memories I have since coming into this world.

Every syllable conveys a deep sense of longing and contentment, and the blue flowers that bloom with them radiate a soft glow—a mixture of joy and nostalgia. The story of Suer continues.

Now, my shoulders have broadened, my body has grown stronger, and my will has hardened. Within my arms burns the flame of hope for a new race, however faint the flame may be.

His withered limbs trembled slightly as he exerted his strength.

Do I regret it? Perhaps, but those fragile thoughts can no longer shake my soul. I have already stepped directly in front of the God of War. I can even see him smiling at me. His golden gaze, radiant as lightning, pierces my soul, yet it fuels my burning passion even more fiercely.

[This is not delusion, nor self-deception... I will become the one and only God, and I will annihilate this war, which is said to never end and whose very reason has been forgotten, in my generation.]

[Listen—did you hear that? Suspicious?]

Suddenly stopping speaking, Suer asked in a soft voice.

They're cheering for me!

The voice could not be heard, but the words the god of doubt wanted to say remained unchanged.

You've gone mad.

Ah, that would be insane!

Suer answered without a care, without the slightest hesitation or pause.

Only a madman can possess everything.

Is it worth it?

There is nothing more worthwhile than risking one's life for the future. I will become the one true God, and at that time, I, as the omniscient and omnipotent one true God, will answer all your questions—isn't this what we promised in the past?

I will be watching over you.

Ah, I know. Then please watch closely as our future unfolds.

The cavern was plunged into darkness once again, and the two alternating voices suddenly disappeared.

Speaking of which, we've known each other for so many years, shouldn't we consider ourselves friends?

After a while, Suer finally spoke again slowly and deliberately.

It'll only take a blink of an eye, but... friend, it's perfectly fine.

"That's wonderful! May I ask a question? My friend, your state of feigned death was probably extremely rare even among gods, wasn't it? Why did you feign death?"

This is a question that both Suer and Xinke are very curious about.

[...In the beginning, in a world devoid of knowledge, there was self-judgment, an attempt to create knowledge, a yearning for answers to questions...but no answers were found.]

[...he began to doubt his own existence, ultimately denying it, piercing through his very soul, and exchanging death for an answer...this is what happened before he met you.]

Chapter 264 Fear

It seemed somewhat difficult to say, and the God of Suspicion spoke with a hesitant tone. Although it was very difficult to discern such emotion from that genderless and lifeless voice, it was indeed present.

[...Why does this sound like someone died of loneliness because they had no one to talk to? Are you a rabbit?]

Unable to resist making such a comment, the next second Suer felt himself being shoved hard, and he couldn't stop feeling dizzy. It was obviously a small act of revenge from some petty god.

[I was wrong, I was wrong. In short, in the past, you kept asking yourself who you were, and then you continued to doubt endlessly, circling all your questions around and around, from doubt to certainty, from trust to doubt, from rebellion to unity, and then from unity to division, feeling both lonely and empty... You should really be called the God of Loneliness or the God of Emptiness, shouldn't you?]

Then Suer felt his soul being pushed twice more, forcing him to beg for mercy repeatedly.

Speaking of which, do you have the answer to that question I asked you before? It was that if you doubt everything, it means you firmly believe that the question has an answer.

【……no.】

Suer could tell that the God of Suspicion was very reluctant to give such an answer.

Then you are naturally not the god of doubt.

Without hesitation, Suer rejected the title of this divine being.

[Leaving aside what concept you actually represent, do you even have a name? I mean, not the name of the concept you represent, just like the god of war is named Arthas, not simply War.]

No, do you have any suggestions?

[It's not like you're a newborn baby. Such an important thing as a name should be decided by you... you idiot.]

[Having pondered the meaning of your existence since the dawn of the world, possessing the curiosity unique to life, before finding a name that truly belongs to you, why not simply call yourself... Heart...?]

Before the god of suspicion could become enraged, Suer quickly thought and said.

[Your heart...?]

He murmured the single-word name repeatedly, as if the god of suspicion was pondering it.

[That's also acceptable.]

It was a very strange feeling. The divine species, which existed before the world was even born, finally had its own name after countless years. It was savoring this unique feeling.

It's not bad.

A strange joy welled up inside me, but for some reason, a strange thought made my suspicious mind—no, my heart—want to hide this feeling and keep it as a treasure that belonged only to me.

[...I need to isolate myself for a while, please do not disturb me.]

Leaving behind such a vague and incomplete statement, the heart rejects all further inquiries, leaving the unfinished words of Suer stuck in its throat.

【Huh? Wait a minute, I still have some questions—】

More than a few minor issues, you're about to face serious trouble.

The answer was completely ambiguous. After uttering such a sentence, the heart fell silent. At that moment, all of Suer's questions disappeared. He now knew why the former God of Suspicion had disappeared so quickly, because even he had sensed the person's presence.

She was at the entrance of the cave.

--------------

Xin Ke.

The complex relationship between Sue and this proud and beautiful forest elf is difficult for Sue to describe in words. From the initial antagonism and pursuit when they first met, to Sue's desperate attack that caused them to fall into the goblin kingdom together, in that world of steel, what should have been a certain death turned into a drama in which the two of them made a big scene and then escaped.

There's no need to go into the details of their complicated emotional journey. She saved his life, and he saved hers. They struggled forward amidst unpredictable and recurring dangers. Living had become an obsession at that time, forging their souls and wills.

They lived together, went on adventures together, and prepared for their plans together. They watched Xin Ke patiently make those low-level items that would only bore her, and there was that watchtower, which could not be erased from their memories, illuminated by the explosions outside, and the words they spoke to each other.

But now, Suer suddenly realized that she didn't know when it started, but she was afraid of seeing Xin Ke... afraid of seeing her, afraid of being seen by her.

Just like now.

The forest elf's feet rustled as they stepped on the tough grass. Even with his eyes closed, the surrounding flowers and plants transmitted all of Xin Ke's movements into Su Er's mind, as if he were watching with his own eyes wide open as the forest elf with beautiful light golden hair walked towards him.

Along with her swaying figure came the fragrance of flowers, and that familiar warmth. More than ten years had passed without leaving a trace on her. Her fair skin was as tender as when we first met. However, time had etched deep lines on Suer's face. Her broken body and the loss of much of her vitality had made her wither like a dead branch.