Chapter 591: [The Journey of Sun] [5] [Referee]

’...They are really reconstructing my body...’

After looking through all the memories that Liraz passed to me, I sat quietly for a long while.

The things that I had to face in just a span of a few hours were too much for me to handle.

I rubbed my face with both my hands in order to calm my raging heart.

What I needed was rationality and the presence of mind if I wanted to save myself from endless imprisonment.

Slowly, my gaze turned toward Liraz, who was rubbing his head against my cheek.

"I never knew you could transfer your memories to others." I mumbled, gently rubbing his soft feathers.

"Chirp!"

The blue bird puffed out his chest like he was enjoying the compliment that I gave him.

Well, given how he is the last descendant of the phoenixes, who were known for their ability to be reborn, it wasn’t too far-fetched.

Still, from his memories, I am sure that the key--the one pulling the strings from behind was Amunet.

’She is the only one in this world apart from me who is real.’

The tree that had my body entangled must be the Tree of Acacia, which was considered the Tree of Life in ancient Egyptian mythology.

’...She is definitely on the side of Amun-Ra and an enemy of mine.’

Rubbing my chin, I mumbled, "Should I kill her?"

"Chirp!!"

Liraz shook his small head repeatedly as though he was against my plan.

Well, I understand his anxiety. If she is really the key, then killing her might put me in a difficult position.

’...Isn’t that right, Amunet?’

"....."

Even though it was a wild guess and I didn’t get any reply, I could still be sure that Amunet heard my thoughts.

I slowly stood up from the bed and walked toward the enormous window.

’To win this "game," I need to quickly find Amun-Ra’s condition for victory as well as my own.’

Only then can I create a plan that could both assure my freedom and the defeat of that wicked God.

Looking up at the sky, I found that the sun was still rising above the horizon.

The sudden arrival of night last time was still vivid in my mind.

’...Did this happen because of the fracture in reality?’

I wondered to myself and found my deduction more or less accurate.

’But what truly happened during the fight with Apophis? Did Amun-Ra take over my body to fight the giant snake?’

The door to my room opened, and the same six maids walked inside.

I let out a sigh and decided to take a bath before doing anything else.

---

Being a God really came with its own perks, mainly the lack of any need for food or water.

As soon as I got out of the bath, I immediately began to roam around in search of answers.

The palace was even larger than I had first imagined.

Yesterday, I had only seen a small portion of it while trying to maintain the image of Amun-Ra.

Now that I was alone, I finally had the chance to properly observe my surroundings.

The main thing I was keeping an eye on was the murals and paintings hanging on the walls.

There were scenes of primitive tribes learning to kindle fire beneath the guidance of the gods.

Others showed flourishing kingdoms kneeling beneath the blazing sun.

No matter which mural it was or which era it depicted, there was one thing in common.

All of them had a pillar.

It was ever-present, like a ghost hiding in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.

’...So Amun-Ra had been preparing for this ritual since the very beginning.’

Generations had unknowingly spent their entire lives building the foundation for a single ritual.

It was understandable. That motherfucker was born with all the strength in the world. He didn’t have any sympathy for human life to begin with.

As I walked aimlessly, I sensed a weirdly familiar presence at the edge of the palace.

I turned my head and looked in that direction, which, oddly enough, was the front gate.

’....Is that Horus?’

I wondered as I moved in that direction, and in a split second, I arrived in front of the young man.

The young man immediately dropped to one knee the moment I appeared before him.

"My lord."

His voice carried both respect and tension.

I quietly observed him.

Hair that reached his shoulders, sharp amber eyes, and an athletic build.

Unlike Set, whose aura was violent and oppressive, Horus possessed a calmer divinity.

"What could have made you visit the palace this early in the morning?" I asked, maintaining my cold and aloof attitude.

"...It’s nothing that needed your presence, my lord." He replied, lowering his head. "I-I just wanted to inform Lady Amunet about something."

’Amunet?’ I thought to myself. ’Wait, what if the information he has could come in handy for my plans?’

I tilted my head and kept staring at the young man.

"I insist." My eyes never left him. "Tell me what happened."

The young man hesitated for a long while, torn between telling me or not.

After a while, he drew in a deep breath and slowly got back on his feet.

"I know Uncle Set is your favourite subordinate." He said gently. "...But I think he is plotting something against the Great Ennead, especially against my father."

I quietly watched the expression on Horus’s face.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of deceit in his eyes, only worry.

’...Interesting.’

So despite serving beneath the same ruler, the cracks within the Great Ennead still existed.

The conflict between Set and Osiris hadn’t truly ended.

"I do not make judgments based on assumptions." I said calmly. "Speak only of what you know."

Horus nodded immediately.

"Within the last few months, there have been too many attacks on my father that could have taken his life."

He drew in a deep breath and slowly continued.

"...As you already know, there has always been bad blood between my father and uncle."

"...Are you implying that Set is the one who is after your father’s life?" I said coldly.

Horus immediately shook his head.

"I don’t know." His answer came without hesitation. "I don’t have any proof. That is why I couldn’t bring this matter before my father because he would never believe me."

I slowly began to walk as I gestured for the young God to follow me.

Horus looked surprised, but he didn’t dare make me wait as he quickly walked behind me.

"Why would Set try to kill your father?" I asked, even though I vaguely knew the answer.

"Because of the throne." He replied immediately. "My father has been ruling Abydos, and Uncle Set has always wanted to rule it, even after you bestowed upon him the city of Heliopolis."

I quietly nodded as though I had expected that answer.

In reality, however, I was organizing every piece of information inside my head.

’So the Great Ennead isn’t as united as everyone believes.’

"Does Osiris know this?" I asked without looking back.

Horus hesitated. "...Father knows Uncle Set has always desired the throne, but he believes those feelings disappeared thousands of years ago."

I slowed down my steps as the pieces finally fell into the right place.

’....Fuck.’

I drew in a deep breath and turned my head to look at the young God. "I will look into this matter. Don’t worry."

Relief visibly washed over Horus’s face. He immediately knelt once more. "Thank you, my lord."

As he lowered his head, I felt a deep sense of guilt...

Because there was a high chance that the one who wanted his father dead was... me, or should I say, Amun-Ra.

The task that Set wasn’t able to complete was the task of killing Osiris.

’Fuck.’

---

I dismissed the young God before leaning back against the edge of a balcony.

My mind churned with hundreds of thoughts until it became mush.

’...Why would Amun-Ra want to kill Osiris?’

What role did the death of a God play in the grand scheme of things that Amun-Ra had orchestrated?

’Was it to start a war between Isis and Set like it happened in the mythology?’

But wouldn’t that put him in danger as well?

That psycho bitch Isis could do anything to bring back her husband, including making the Creator God her prisoner.

’...I am definitely missing some godforsaken context behind all this.’

Thinking about my own helplessness, I wanted to curse Amun-Ra even more.

Looking up at the sky, I decided to try my luck.

"...Hey Amunet, can you tell me the rules of the game?"

"..."

Of course, she was silent like a statue without a brain.

"...What is even your role in this game?" I couldn’t help but ask. "Are you some stupid NPC or just a watcher?"

I waited for an answer but gave up after a few minutes.

’....It looks like she isn’t going to op--.’

A voice all too familiar cut through my thoughts.

’...I am what your kind would call the referee.’

"What!?" I roared, disbelief evident in my voice. "Which stupid fuck would make a basic bitch like you a referee!??"

Her answer came almost immediately.

"You did."

"..."

God, I fucking hate you from the bottom of my soul, Azrael.