Chapter 168
"Ughhhhhhh"
"How long do you intend to keep agonizing over this, you fools?"
The Goddess of Wisdom, Kefeli, looked at the three gods with an unusually exasperated expression.
"But we can't help it! We want to read the manga! But the condition of being forbidden from giving oracles about your hero for ten years is just too much!"
"I included an alternative condition where you could regain the ability to give oracles by giving up reading manga. With your physical abilities, you could finish all the manga I've prepared in just a few years."
The reason for Kefeli's irritation was that despite over a month passing since she presented these conditions, the three gods still couldn't make a decision and continued to agonize.
The God of War, Akam, stomped his foot in protest, but Kefeli countered that she had already made concessions.
In Kefeli's mind, this time they spent agonizing was welcome, as it gave her own hero ample breathing room.
After all, while it might seem like she had compromised, the moment they gave up manga reading rights to issue an oracle, the restriction would take effect immediately.
"However, isn't the reporting requirement for oracle usage going too far? This is practically asking us to reveal our hands."
"The reporting obligation only applies when issuing oracles concerning my hero. I never said it applied to other oracles."
Kefeli bluntly dismissed the complaint from Metel, the Goddess of Mediation, with the attitude that they could simply refuse if they didn't like it.
Even Kefeli herself hadn't expected that manga could become such a powerful bargaining chip.
At the end of the day, gods were still gods.
Kefeli had thought that if they could just treat it as "just manga" and move on, these three would act without hesitation.
Yet contrary to her expectations, they remained attached to the manga.
In that case, gaining slightly more favorable terms would still align with her plans.
"Can't we change to different conditions?"
"Let me ask you this: do you honestly believe there's anything else negotiable in our current situation besides the oracles?"
"......"
Godos, the God of Commerce, fell silent, unable to find any other bargaining chips at this stage. The situation was truly deadlocked.
They could just give up on the manga.
That simple solution was somehow beyond them.
Even Kefeli recognized that the manga held that much value for them.
Just as she thought she could buy more time this way, the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs echoed through the hall.
"......"
The gods' noisy arguments came to an abrupt halt.
Only those who met certain conditions could reach this place.
And those who met those conditions gained the right to participate in the competition to become the Chief God.
The owner of these footsteps had clearly met those requirements.
With a new rival appearing, they temporarily halted their negotiations, realizing this wasn't the time for infighting.
"Hello~, seniors."
When the fifth god finally appeared in the garden, all present made displeased faces.
"It's you."
"You again."
"Thou art here."
"...Tch."
Four different reactions, but none hid their distaste. The Goddess of Wisdom, Kefeli, even clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"How cruel. Why do you all dislike me so much? When I love you all so dearly."
Her stunning proportions, gentle drooping eyes, and beautiful honey-blonde wavy hair. Though her dress showed little skin, it couldn't conceal her alluring aura.
"How many times do you think humanity has nearly gone extinct because of that 'love' of yours?"
Metel pointed out the disasters she had caused in the past, even as the newcomer smiled with what seemed like pure, genuine love—an excessive, overwhelming love that everyone recognized.
"I truly caused you all great trouble back then. This time, I've reformed myself and will love the world properly. I look forward to working with you all."
Her apologetic expression and sincere bow showed no hint of deception.
"We do not doubt your capacity for love. Love is undoubtedly necessary for this world. However, the intensity of your love is the problem. We cannot help but be wary of your divine authority to bestow love to the point of madness."
Yet none of the gods lowered their guard. Her nature was undoubtedly benevolent. She was truly a goddess of profound love, dedicated to spreading unconditional love and making the world happy.
But too much of a good thing can be worse than none at all.
Her love was simply too overwhelming.
A god's love is heavy and abundant—far deeper and more intense than humans can imagine. People could easily drown in it.
Godos's wariness stemmed precisely from this excessive benevolence.
"However, I've properly earned the right to compete for the Chief God's seat this time. So I'll keep your concerns in mind as I participate in this contest."
Her goal, in simple terms, was love and peace—a utopia where love would make the world harmonious and healthy.
She genuinely believed becoming Chief God would allow her to achieve this.
With divine authority, it might even be possible. But while she preached love, the other gods couldn't help imagining the terrifying consequences of such a world, making them deeply skeptical of her ambitions.
"Goddess of Love."
"Yes, what is it, Senior Kefeli?"
This was serious enough to make Kefeli—who normally never interrupted her reading—close her book, stand up, and confront the so-called Goddess of Love directly.
And what did Kefeli do?
"...What is this?""Read it."
Out of nowhere, she prepared a desk and chair, then with uncharacteristic speed, piled up a mountain of manga in front of the Goddess of Love.
The sudden action made the goddess widen her eyes, looking back and forth between Kefeli and the towering stack of books.
"But I have world management duties—""You can handle that with one hand. Your love is too intense—keeping you half-distracted is for the best. While you're at it, use these books to fix that flower-filled brain of yours."
The unfamiliar books and the dictionary shoved into her hands left the Goddess of Love no choice but to accept under Kefeli's overwhelming pressure.
The other three gods watched in confusion. Why was Kefeli forcing manga on this newcomer while denying them the same?
When Metel and Godos glanced at some of the titles in the stack, realization dawned on them.
"Ah.""What's wrong, Godos?""Hm?""Metel, you too?"
Metel and Godos spotted certain works and immediately saw an opportunity.
"That's right, Paffle! Since Kefeli is recommending these, you absolutely must read them!""Indeed! If even the Goddess of Wisdom deems them worthy, thou must peruse them thoroughly!"
Unexpectedly, they joined forces to push the manga on her.
Only Akam, who never read such genres, tilted his head in confusion, a question mark floating in his mind.
"???? Are they really that significant?""Yes, I'm certain you'll find them enlightening. I particularly recommend this one. Though it only has two volumes, you should read it carefully. Oh, and this one—I suggest going through it at least three times."
Metel was pushing an older school-life manga featuring one of the most infamous scumbag protagonists in history—a story where "love" caused endless disasters. (Unbeknownst to the gods, its anime adaptation had also traumatized many viewers.)
"As for my recommendation—if thou seekest to understand love, this tale is essential. Aye, four thorough readings should suffice."
Godos suggested a story where love didn't save the world, but destroyed it—a narrative where good intentions led straight to a horrifying, despair-filled ending.
"???? This one too?"
Paffle didn't understand why they were so insistent, but since three senior gods were recommending them, she assumed they must be valuable.
"Understood. I accept your loving guidance. I'll read them earnestly while managing the world."
She agreed.
Akam, still confused, quietly picked up one of the manga and used his superhuman speed-reading to absorb its contents.
"...Ah."
Finally understanding, he realized what a devious plan was unfolding. Kefeli noticed but didn't stop him—if this could help "correct" the love-obsessed troublemaker, it was worth it.
Every single manga Kefeli had prepared featured characters whose love led to terrible endings:
- Naive, idealistic characters getting their comeuppance.- Lovers so consumed by passion they killed their beloved.- Wars sparked by love.- Blind devotion warping into fanaticism.
There were plenty of gentle love stories out there, but Kefeli had deliberately gathered tales that screamed "THIS is why love goes wrong."
Realizing her intent, Akam chose to stay silent.
"That's brutal.""What do you mean? I'm merely educating her about love. Unless you'd prefer her to remain ignorant?"
As Paffle began reading the manga with a dictionary in hand, Akam shot her a sympathetic glance before looking at Kefeli with mixed awe and disbelief.
Eliminating a rival this way was effective. Honestly, none of them welcomed the arrival of a Goddess of Love.
Countless nations had fallen because of love.
Humans revered love as sacred and pure—but the gods knew better.
Love distorts justice.Love makes people believe anything is justified if done for love.Love makes rejection seem unreasonable.Love breeds desire and obsession.
Love and conflict are two sides of the same coin.
To avoid unnecessary chaos, love must be kept in moderation.
Akam, Metel, and Godos all saw her nature as troublesome, hoping her hero's progress would stall.
They turned a blind eye to Kefeli's transparent scheme, praying this would teach the Goddess of Love some restraint.
"I think this is necessary. Remember the catastrophe two thousand years ago? This isn't so bad.""That was a nightmare. All commerce froze, the economy collapsed. I nearly exhausted my oracles and almost vanished!""I was fine. Sure, love spread, but so did conflict.""I had it worst. Every scrap of knowledge from that era was drowned in love. It took ages for the nausea to fade."
They didn't hate love. They didn't despise it.
They just desperately wanted to prevent love from driving the world mad.
To that end, Kefeli—who had just recalled those memories and covered her mouth to suppress nausea—was now trying to "taint" the Goddess of Love with manga.
That era had been horrific. The mere thought made them distant-eyed. Letting this goddess, who had caused it all and was now trying again, run free was unthinkable.
The Goddess of Love had to believe in love. Just as the Goddess of Wisdom embodied knowledge, the God of War governed battle, the God of Commerce managed economy, and the Goddess of Mediation maintained order—each god had their domain.
Asking the Goddess of Love to abandon love would mean her destruction. Paffle couldn't reject love.
Thus, the only solution was to make sure her love didn't cause harm.
"Let's not dwell on the past. More importantly, a fifth hero has entered the field. Where do you think they've been deployed?""Not the west, please.""Nor the east.""Stay out of the north too.""...And not my territory either."
Their immediate concern was the new hero's location.
If they made a big move, they could be spotted quickly—but finding them immediately after deployment was impossible. The game board showed no heroic activity beyond the four they'd already placed.
Only Paffle knew where this ticking time bomb had been planted, as she diligently read manga with her dictionary.
"Kefeli, a proposal.""What is it?""If you add one condition to the manga deal, I'm willing to accept your terms.""Oh?"
The new goddess's arrival had steeled Metel's resolve, and Kefeli now listened intently.