Chapter 348
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"No, we're the ones who want to ask 'What the heck?!!!!'"
"Exactly~ Kefeli-senpai. Honestly, we have way too many questions. What's the deal with your Apostle?"
The Aži Dahāka mechanism was something the gods installed as a rather dangerous type of trap among those conceived to stimulate a stagnant human civilization as an epoch-making event.
Even in the best scenario, they anticipated a sacrifice of one-third of the Southern Continent's inhabitants; in the worst, total annihilation was possible. That such a being was resolved with merely the contamination of a small part of the land was something even the gods hadn't considered.
"...I didn't expect it to go that far either."
The degree of surprise was such that even Kefeli, known as the Goddess of Wisdom, was left dumbfounded, her eyes wide.
"No way!!""You just wanted to say that, didn't you?""Well, you probably timed it, but still. That Southern Apostle guy... That was something else."
Liberta's tenacity for securing the kill against Aži Dahāka. Kefeli wasn't the only one who felt the emotion of fear toward a human for the first time.Even Akm, who should preside over war, asked Kefeli with a serious face, mixed with jest, "That was terrifying."
"Truly terrifying isn't the breadth of knowledge, but the ingenuity, I suppose. Do you think the inhabitants of this world would ever conceive of such an idea?""Likely impossible. The fixed notion of fighting monsters head-on is too ingrained.""Right~ Even the other Apostles who participated in this battle probably recognized that such tactics exist, but being that flexible and 'unrestricted in method' is probably impossible."
The impression of Liberta's battle against Aži Dahāka, shared by Akm, Meter, Goldos, and Pufful, was, "What terrifying ingenuity."
Every magic tool he used was something that could be made in this world.Thus, it embodied "doable by anyone."
Well, it's clear it's not easy because the preparation stage requires superhuman effort and patience.But the fact that even the gods lack this kind of ingenuity is the scary part.
"But hey, is this really okay? The game balance is pretty broken, and from the Evil God faction's perspective, this is such a disastrous situation they could file a protest, couldn't they?"
The sense of crisis Akm feels is the anxiety that the Evil God faction, faced with the unexpected ingenuity of Kefeli's Apostle, might reconsider the future game progression and apply pressure.
"Plausible, it is.""......The problem lies in what kind of response *those* individuals will undertake.""They do seem the type to decide things based on 'fun,' after all. I don't think a world-ending mechanism would be decided so readily.""There is one among them who is worrisome. That extremist who insists on summoning things from the sky."
The right to interfere with the board is basically not granted to the prime god candidates like Kefeli.However, the Chaos God Grufora, on the Evil God side, holds that right to a limited extent.
"That one?""Surely not, right?"
Even so, it's not that they can make changes arbitrarily.There are gods who act as judges even in this battle to decide the prime god.
Changes can be made only after those judge gods review and grant permission.What Kefeli and the others are concerned about is that among those judge gods with the authority to permit changes, there is one god with extremist ideas.
All five gods present here know the reason that god is in that position.
"He has power. Power, that's all.""That's what's troublesome. While he's excluded from the prime god candidate selection, his power alone must be acknowledged.""Being a hedonist is why he was excluded from the selection. But his power is genuine.""Indeed, his power alone is truly strong. Though I question whether he should be in a judge's seat just because of that."
They all imagined the same face and let out a synchronized sigh as if exasperated.
"He constantly advocates summoning gods from outer space, but what do you think?""I question his sanity for wanting to destroy this world's order.""Normally speaking, the rules here and there are different, after all. If they were to meddle in our game board, it would still be somewhat okay if they understood, accepted, and submitted to our principles...?""I'm confident I could beat them to death, so no way!"
When deciding Aži Dahāka's settings, this god was the only one who opposed until the very end.He kept saying the elements were insufficient, existing abilities weren't enough, and what he pushed for was the power of outer space gods.
Gods from worlds superior to this one, equal to it, or developing worlds.In any case, a god who aims for chaos even more than the Chaos God, wanting to mix in the power of gods from other worlds with different rules.
"I can only hope he doesn't do anything foolish, taking this Aži Dahāka subjugation as an opportunity."
Even Kefeli, for once, lets out a sigh and can only hope he doesn't cause extra trouble.That's how much of an impact Liberta's actions gave the gods, enough to warrant such worry.
What will he do next?
"More than that, isn't there something *you* should be worried about first?""......"
If only she could focus on that worry alone, how much easier it would be.
Akm grins and touches on the topic Kefeli had been avoiding.
"What are you talking about?" Kefeli replies with a straight face, continuing to read her manga.She's reclined on a state-of-the-art massage chair, appearing to live comfortably, but her atmosphere makes it clear she's displeased, as if saying, "Trouble? No, thank you."
"Lina and Juli... Is it okay to ignore them?""Akm-senpai, what else can we do but ignore that~?"
Only prime god candidates can enter this heavenly garden.Saying Grufora sent a familiar instead of his main body is an exceptional method.
It's a privilege of being an Evil God.
So, do other gods have a means to contact the gods in this garden? Actually, they do.
"You've accumulated quite a pile of letters, you know?""They seem to be imbued with some sort of grudge, they do.""Or rather, they *are* imbued.""At a level where a human from the lower world would lose their sanity in one touch, I'd say~"
You might think handwritten letters are old-fashioned, but for gods, transferring physical objects is as easy as breathing.Depending on the state of the destination when sending to a specific place, but anywhere within this world, they can send them.
Writing letters, even imbued with a grudge, takes only seconds using divine power.
The pile of letters stacked on the table.While the garden has clear air, that spot alone seems stagnant.
Pufful picks up one letter, and just by waving it gently, the surrounding air distorts.
"Send them all to Grufora's place. I don't know anything about them."
Why were these dangerous objects, like an upgraded version of chain letters, sent here? It's due to a misunderstanding by two sister goddesses with a twisted brother complex.
Having heard from somewhere that lending manga started an exchange between Kefeli and Grufora, the goddesses, wary that it might develop into romance, bared their fangs, resulting in this.
As for how to dispose of objects imbued with something beyond mere jealousy...
"Okay~"
Kefeli, feeling she has no reason to be hated, teleports the mountain of cursed objects to Grufora—the one who least wants to see them and who would likely be the most effective at scolding the perverted sisters.
The other gods, understanding Kefeli is the victim, don't blame her.
"But hey, what if they hold a grudge over this and interfere in our contest? That'd be a pain.""If they did that, their standing as gods would be endangered. If they're sane, they won't do it.""It's somewhat questionable whether those perverted sisters who send such cursed objects are in a sane state."
Rather, they're worried they might get caught in the crossfire and suffer damage.
They think it unlikely that emotional interference would be thrown into the contest to decide the important position of Prime God, and the system is built to prevent that.
They don't think the board will be disrupted so easily, but that doesn't mean they're without worry.
"Why not lend them some manga too? Maybe they'll get obsessed with something else and quiet down?""Works those two would like... Are there any?""Forbidden love between brother and sister... If you look, there probably are.""Love is all-powerful. If this harassment ends because of it...""What do you guys think manga is?"
To dispel that anxiety, Akm suggests making them dive into the world of manga along with Grufora, and the remaining three agree.
Kefeli casts a doubtful look, as if thinking, "Will they really calm down with something so simple?"
"Books with temptations that can drive even us gods mad.""Books with temptations that make one abandon work.""Books with temptations that can transform one's values.""Books that convey love with their temptations~"
The replies that can definitively assert these are not wholesome manga make Kefeli hold her forehead as if enduring a headache.
"Come on, they say 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained,' right? We'll handle the selection.""Yes, leave it to us.""Indeed, we shall find works that will satisfy those goddesses.""So that's the guise under which you senpais want to read manga, huh~?""That's not (true / the case / it)!"
Faced with the transparent motives of the three who no longer bother to hide their true intentions, Kefeli thinks that if she refuses, she'll have to deal with the even more troublesome two sister goddesses.
Which is the lesser evil?
"Do as you please."
That conclusion required no thought. If there's even a slight possibility, bet on that.It was just that.
"Manga!!!"
With a single snap of Kefeli's fingers, a bookshelf appears in the garden.A collection rivaling that of a manga café.
The gods, who had been under a manga ban, rush toward the bookshelf, each eager to be first.It's endearing to see them heading toward their preferred genres.
"The submission deadline is one week. If there's no effect, I'm confiscating them.""Leave it to me! I'll find a masterpiece!""Fuhuhuhu, leave it to me! There is no item this one, who has beheld numerous treasures, cannot find!""Yes, in the name of the Goddess of Mediation, I shall find an exceptional work!!"
Having a premonition that if left alone, they'd just devour their favorite works, she gives a warning.
Looking at the three gods giving her thumbs-ups with smiles she's never seen before, Kefeli feels nothing but anxiety.
As she tilts her head, wondering if this will be okay, the sound of flapping wings echoes in the garden.
'Hey, Kefeli. I came to return the books I read. Wow, manga is interesting, isn't it? I got absorbed without realizing.'"What nerve you have to show your face."
A two-headed eagle, carrying manga, flew in.Hearing the voice from the eagle's face, Kefeli feels irritation and shoots a sharp glare.
'That was my sisters' fault, not mine, right?''If you hadn't run for Evil God, this wouldn't have happened.''You wouldn't understand the terror of feeling your chastity is in danger when you realize they've snuck into your bed.''It's not like you're a cherry boy or something.'
She knows Grufora isn't to blame.But he's undoubtedly the cause.
Thinking it's only natural to want to say a thing or two, she checks the condition of the lent manga and, finding no issues, returns them to the bookshelf.
'Looks like the collection has grown quite a bit.''If you pay the price, you can take them.''Okay, understood. What should I make this time?''Create life-sized dolls so precise they seem like living copies of you. Two of them.''Eh?'
Based on the assumption that Grufora would probably borrow manga anyway, Kefeli, in her own way, devises and executes a countermeasure to reduce the perverted sisters' harassment. Hoping this will bring at least a little peace, Kefeli's proposal makes the eagle's expression twitch.