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nAncient Three Gods.

nHuman spirits who became Gods.

nThese were Gods who were born through the ‘clothes’ and were more sensitive toward it. That allowed them to become more powerful than any other God by using these ‘clothes’. Yet, their characteristics differed from the different answers they had in regards to the clothes.

nWhat are clothes?

nDaeus’ answer was this:

n-Clothes are weapons.

nDaeus realized clothes could be a powerful armor against other worlds, but also a powerful weapon. Therefore, he collected many clothes as possible and analyzed it all to create the ‘Strongest Clothing’ that could not be destroyed. Then, he created the ‘Machina’.

nAnd there was another who answered differently.

n-Clothes are contagious.

nIt was Catastrophe. He realized that spirits were influenced by others to wear similar clothes. He utilized this characteristic to forcefully create Followers, which was the Void Sword. It was the Part that made all beings become ‘Dead Men’ by touching it, and this was was the result of his idea.

nAnd the third God answered differently.

n-Clothes are something you take it off.

nIt was the Naked God, the creator of Naked Setting. Geshtalt.

nDaues hid himself undernealth powerful clothes. Catastrophe plagued many to become his Followers to grow in power. Geshtalt, freely traveled through , naked.

nThese Three Ancient Gods were requested to end the never-ending war with the other Gods and agreed. They all gathered at the site that was called The Great Forest to discuss it.

nHow could they end the war? The Three Gods had different answers.

nDaeus said that everyone can wear his clothes.

nGeshtalt said that everyone can take off their clothes.

nCatastrophe said that everyone can become his Follower.

nTheir opinions were different and they each unsheathed their weapons. This was what happened 210 million years ago.

nKaravan spoke then.

n“The Three Gods War! That was the beginning!”

nYes.

n“I know a bit about what happened then. Big Brother appeared after that war. If only that war didn’t happen…”

nJaehwan listened to Karavan and Ra-hamad silently. He didn’t know anything about this war and from listening, it seemed that Three Ancient Gods were driven out from that war and Big Brother became the master of .

nRa-hamad said,

nWe were pulled out from Geshtalt then. Or to be exact, we were taken off.

nRunald screamed suddenly at that moment.

n“….UGH! I can’t think of it!”

n“What?”

n“Jaehwan, what are clothes? What do you mean that anyone can’t take it off?”

n“Were you still stuck on that?”

nKaravan sighed at Runald.

n“It’s important!”

n“Hey, we are not talking about…”

n“Yes, it’s important.” Jaehwan nodded toward Runald and added, “You will not understand what happened to these people if you don’t understand that.”

n“Right! That’s what I am saying!” Runald then spoke again. “Jaehwan, so what are clothes? Can you make it simple?”

n“There’s no point in saying it. I can explain with it something similar, but it doesn’t mean the same thing. The meaning becomes useless once it is put to words.”

n“…I see. I get it.” Runald nodded and answered, “Then let me change the question. What about the clothes we wear that changes our being?”

n“Like a scrubbing glove making you become a scrubber?”

n“Yeah.” Runald smiled. “I see that the ‘clothes’ you or the Great Warrior speaks of aren’t about physical clothes. But there are things that can’t be explained. For example…”

nRunald paused for a second before he continued, “You have a sword, but that doesn’t make you a swordsman. You can cook with it, or you can chop down a tree. Then, are you a swordsman, a cook, or a lumberjack? If the clothes define who you are, then what happens with this?”

nJaehwan tried to speak, but someone interrupted.

nThat is interesting Ouroboros.

nRa-hamad’s voice filled the area. Runald was surprised as he didn’t expect Ra-hamad to answer. What he continued with was even more surprising.

nYou are right. How can ones’ clothes determine one’s being?

n“…What?”

nRa-hamad’s words were the exact opposite of what he had been saying before. Runald was at a loss for words and Ra-hamad continued speaking.

nBut the clothes still choose who you are.

n“…What are you talking about?”

nRunald began to anticipate where this was going. This man would say nonsense for a while and end with ‘Ouroboros’ at the end. Soon, Runald found out that his expectations were wrong. Ra-hamad said this:

nLet me say this. You are a naked boy.

nRunald became confused and answered, “…Yeah. I am a naked boy.”

nAnd you are a Follower of Jaehwan.

n“Yes. A loyal and faithful Follower that is,” Runald agreed.

nAnd you are a friend of the criminal, Karavan.

n“What are you talking about? I’m not a friend of this boy.”

nRa-hamad continued,

nAnd you are a large Ouroboros of the Long Living race.

n“…Is that sexual harassment?”

nSome warriors cackled as Runald answered.

nAnd you are…

nRa-hamad kept on going with different descriptions. You are that, you are this… Runald stopped answering, and Ra-hamad also stopped speaking. Runald was then struck with the truth. He mumbled with a hollow voice “…I see. Why didn’t I know that before?”

nThe reason why a prince is still a prince even if he is wearing a bum’s clothes. The reason why no one can truly be naked. The reason why Ra-hamad said of all that. Runald now understood. He said, “We don’t just wear ‘one’ piece of clothing.”

nRa-hamad nodded. Runald now realized what the clothes were. It wasn’t ego or a personality. Clothes were the core elements that formed beings. The clothes… were themselves.

n“We are beings created with countless ‘clothes’.”

nRa-hamad mumbled Ouroboros.

n“Then that means you are the clothes of Geshtalt…”

n“They are particles of Geshtalt himself,” Jahewan answered instead. Ra-hamad was looking at Jaehwan now. Runald then became pale and shook. That was the reason why these people were Geshtalt and also not Geshtalt. “Ra-hamad. Why did Geshtalt disappear after taking all of you off?”

nThat’s…

n“Does that have to do with Geshtalt’s Part?”

nJaehwan didn’t miss a vital point in the long story. There was one thing Ra-hamad didn’t speak of in the long history of the . There was one thing that he failed to describe.

nJaehwan now knew why Andersen sent him here. He lost to Machina two months ago, and the only thing that could fight against one of the Parts of the Three Ancient Gods was another Part from them.

nYou always exceed our expectations. You are right. We became this because of the Eye of Geshtalt.

nThe last Part of the Three Ancient Gods. A weapon that could fight against the Machina. Jaehwan realized that he had finally reached the end of the long questions. This time, Ra-hamad was the one to ask him a question.

nLet me ask you this time.

nAsk? Jaehwan felt strange. It was always him who asked. Jaehwan nodded.

nJaehwan. What do you think ‘metamorphosis’ is?

nJaehwan couldn’t answer. He didn’t understand metamorphosis yet. He understood everything about clothes and Ouroboros, but the metamorphosis was different.

n“It’s hard to explain… but isn’t it taking off clothes? Dividing the being?”

nJaehwan remembered the voices he heard as he went through the process of taking off his clothes. He realized that it was the voice of his many clothes stored deep within. Ra-hamad asked,

nThen why do you think we continue doing so?

nJaehwan hesitated and answered, “To increase world power?”

n…You do not get it yet. Then let me ask you this. Why do you think that metamorphosis increases your world power?

nWhy? Jaehwan didn’t have an answer to that at all. If unclothing was to remove a being from within, metamorphosis should have decreased the world power. Ra-hamad then said,

nThe answer is this. ‘Metamorphosis’ does not increase your world power.

n“…What do you mean?”

nYou are right in saying that metamorphosis just divides your being.

n“What…”

nAs you know, there are only two ways to increase world power in . Take it away from other Gods, or gain Followers who believe in you.

nThat was impossible. If those were the only ways, then how did Jaehwan increase his power through metamorphosis?

n“Wait. Then how did Geshtalt increase his power? He didn’t kill anyone.”

nJaehwan remembered what Andersen said. There was the song of a naked God who had not killed anyone. If the song was true, then Geshtalt never killed another God to steal world power.

n“Did he gain the power through Followers?”

nRa-hamad did not answer. Instead, he began singing a short song along with the other warriors.

nLonely, naked God.

nWithout a single friend.

nWithout a single friend.

nThey were gloomy lyrics, but the melody was so bright and happy. It seemed like the striking irony was trying to say something. Jaehwan became confused.

n“No Followers? Then how…”

nA faith can be there even without a Follower.

nJaehwan then realized. Gods received ‘faith’ from Followers to increase their world power. The faith was something to be given by others. It was an emotion given by a being that had no relation to itself.

nThen who was this being? It was simple. Someone other than me.

nJaehwan looked at Ra-hamad. Ra-hamad was smiling sadly.

nGeshtalt was a God who never took a world or forced his own upon others.

nWhat did he do to increase his power? Jaehwan knew the answer now. He looked at each one of the people here.

n“…Geshtalt gave up and made himself a Follower. You are Geshtalt and a Follower of Geshtalt.”

nThe secret of Geshtalt — that was the loneliest faith in the world.

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