Chapter 428
I leaped into the final floor's escape gate, maneuvering my body like a special forces operative breaching a room, landing perfectly and surveying my surroundings.
"This is..."
"Congratulations, Liberta-kun."
I should have been on high alert.
Yet, despite that, I couldn't sense the presence of that existence.
I could only turn my gaze toward the figure who appeared, applauding.
"That ridiculous trial was intentional, wasn't it?"
"Don't be so defensive. It was intended, yes, but not done with malice. Besides, this body is just a temporary vessel. If you break it, it would cause problems for both you and me, so please forgive me, won't you?"
There stood a featureless white face.
Clad in a black tuxedo, wearing a top hat, and carrying a cane—a gentlemanly attire.
What stood out were the halo atop the top hat and the pure white pair of wings.
I'd seen that form in FBO before.
"Isn't that a dirty trick? Huh, 'Angel'-sama?"
"Hahahaha! Indeed, even from my perspective as middle management, that trial was simply awful. However, let me offer just one excuse. While it's true that we prepared those areas, it was by no means our will that chose them."
All angels have featureless white faces covering them.
Their attire varies depending on the angel, with many different styles.
This angel's name wasn't mentioned, but it should have been one of the angels that appears to hand over rewards upon clearing this trial.
"So, could you please loosen your grip on that morning star that slew those dragons?"
"To an angel-sama, an attack of this level would be like a mosquito bite, right? Besides, I'm just a powerless Class 3 child right now, you know?"
"Are you angry?"
"Can't you see? This refreshing smile?"
"I can see a pitch-black aura emanating from behind that refreshing smile!!"
Normally, I could discuss things more calmly, but this time it's a bit difficult.
Even for the mild-mannered Liberta-san, this trial was more than enough to snap my patience.
It doesn't have angel-slaying properties, but swinging this spiky part into its face would probably hurt, I think. Considering the angel's level, it probably wouldn't hit anyway, and damage likely wouldn't get through.
Under normal circumstances, given the差距 between my current stats and the angel's stats, I shouldn't need to be trembling in fear.
The only reason I'm not attacking out of pure emotion is that I know I'd lose.
However, as a token of resistance, I'm showing a plastered-on smile while my eyes don't laugh, and behind my back, I'm gripping the morning star's handle with all my strength, holding it down casually.
"You will explain properly, won't you? About that trial content, surpassing inhumanity, as if made by an idiot?"
"Yes, regarding that, I will explain properly."
My anger seemed to make the angel-sama break into a cold sweat; it produced a handkerchief from somewhere and wiped its brow.
"To explain the reason, I think it would be faster to show you the reward first."
After wiping its brow, it clapped twice to its left, and boy and girl angels, each with white wings and halos, appeared pushing carts.
"Isn't that a lot?"
"It is a lot. It's the most in history—an achievement so great I'm confident it won't be surpassed for thousands of years."
On those carts were the rewards for clearing this trial—substances so essential for creating divine statues that they're practically mandatory.
"God Fragments"
Crystals containing parts of actual gods' bodies.
They don't openly radiate power, but the light shimmering within the beautiful blue crystals looks mystical. While it's commonly believed they're not actual body parts like fingers or ears but rather hair, visually speaking, it's just light.
These God Fragments, each mounted on a pedestal, were being brought in one after another.
"That's strange. I said I only needed four deities..."
They don't stop.
Angels coordinating with each other keep bringing them in. I've already counted over thirty.
Yet they show no sign of stopping, and the stream of subsequent carts shows no end.
"You cleared the most difficult trial we prepared in the shortest time in history. It is the will of the gods that we must not be stingy with the reward."
"..."
What kind of grand temple am I supposed to build? My mind is drastically altering the planned temple structure.
"Incidentally, as a rule, diverting them to weapons or medicine is strictly prohibited, so please take note."
"Even after breaking through such a vile trial? Can't I have just one?"
"...I don't have the authority to permit that."
"Too bad."
As you'd expect from God Fragments, in FBO it was speculated that using them could create high-performance weapons and medicine, but this item is unprocessable material.
It's an item that can only be incorporated into divine statues.
I thought in this world turned reality, I might have a chance, but it seems permission wasn't granted.
"That's all of them. A total of eighty-seven deities' worth of God Fragments."
"I've never seen such a number."
"Neither have I."
The final reward from this trial is solely God Fragments.
The number of God Fragments obtained is proportional to the trial's difficulty, but the maximum in FBO was twenty-two.
System-wise, obtaining more than that was impossible, and the gods granted were completely random.
One divine statue can be made per God Fragment.
These God Fragments cannot be bought or sold.
They cannot be transferred.
They cannot be used for anything other than divine statues—various restrictions apply, but while there's luck involved, the benefit is being able to establish the gods' systems on one's own territory.
"By the way, is the mastermind behind that trial among these?"
To check the types of divine systems available, just look at the god's name written on the pedestal.
The god's name is inscribed on the pedestal plate.
Checking each one, the angel follows along.
Then, a thought for a little counterattack crosses my mind. I stop walking and turn around.
"...The mastermind? I'd appreciate it if you'd consider your phrasing."
"Then, criminal."
"You don't fear divine punishment?"
"Hahaha! Under the same conditions, I'd love for you, angel-sama, to clear a trial! I'll listen to complaints afterward!"
My eyes probably weren't smiling at that moment.
My expression alone kept smiling.
If I didn't consciously maintain that, I'm sure my tone would become even more vulgar.
I'm aware my heart is that corroded.
"...These are the gods."
Hearing my words—someone who cleared a trial even angels would find impossible—the angel averted its gaze and began guiding me, stopping before three pedestals.
"Ah."
Seeing those pedestals, it was a trio of gods likely to cause trouble. I couldn't help but understand.
Denden, God of Festivals—this god loves events and is said to do anything to liven things up. When this god gets involved, event difficulty inevitably increases.
Bababe, God of Hedonism—this god, whose life goal is enjoyment, is infamous in FBO as a troublesome deity. Anything goes as long as it's fun—with such a personality, for better or worse, difficulty fluctuates.
Clown, God of Trickery—this god supposedly values entertainment but often incites other gods, causing disasters.
"So the dangerous-to-mix trio was involved..."
"Yes. Trials are a popular show among the gods, you see."
"My攻略 was being live-streamed?"
"Yes, well. Seeing you breezing through, these three said they wanted more entertainment, so they incited other gods..."
"And that's how the difficulty turned out like that?"
And I got caught up in that disaster.
Normally, these gods are competent when it comes to festivals, but this time, I feel like they could be classified as evil gods.
"..."
"Why didn't you stop them?"
"I did stop them! I confirmed whether this difficulty was really okay! But what can you do! Angels are merely errand runners for the gods!"
Internally thinking I might as well defeat these gods before the main story's evil gods, I lodged a complaint asking why the现场 staff didn't stop them. The angel shook its head vigorously, saying it was impossible.
In reality, the现场 angels were probably just following orders.
You could argue they're not at fault if you want to say that.
They're probably not in a position to resist either; there's room for sympathy.
"We do feel sorry about it. But that's also part of our job."
Turning to face the angel explaining so apologetically, I gently placed a hand on its shoulder.
"Then, if you grant me one request, I'll forgive you."
"...I can't grant a wish to summon these three and swing at their faces, you know? In principle, gods cannot meet with people of the lower world. There are stories of souls being invited to the divine realm after death, though."
I decided to settle for a gesture to calm my anger a little.
I understood I can't punch gods.
I won't give up, and I'll add "find a way to storm the divine realm" to my life goals internally.
For now, as a token of counterattack—
"I'm not asking for that. Just, if you could 'return' these God Fragments for me, that's all."
"...What did you say?"
"So, I'm returning the God Fragments of these three, from here to here. Please rest assured that I will prepare splendid temples and statues for the other gods."
"Well, that's a bit..."
"It's fine, you know? Even if you force them on me, I've already refused once, so I can't guarantee when I'll get around to making the statues. Please consider the possibility they might be stored in a corner of a warehouse forever, okay?"
I'm activating a refusal of acceptance.
I'm the one who suffered this time.
A counterattack of this level should be permissible.
Think of it as a petty counterattack if you want. I couldn't think of any other way to retaliate than using my knowledge to create the world's only temple, splendidly refusing entry to these three.
The angel, seeming to grasp my intent, looked like it wanted to refuse, but I naturally folded my arms and leaned in.
"It's okay. I'll settle for the masterminds this time. Honestly, I have thoughts about the other gods who went along with it, but right now, I'm saying I'll hold back with just these three masterminds, you know?"
You might think this is disrespectful to gods, but right now, in my anger, I'm classifying the gods who prepared this trial as evil gods.
If they really force these on me after this—
I'm confident I'd lock these three gods' Fragments in a fancy, secure vault and seal them away permanently.
"Well, but..."
"Is that so? You refuse?"
"That's not what I meant..."
To the flustered angel desperately considering what to do, I whispered like a devil.
"If you accept, I was thinking of handling some quests that you angels are struggling with, you know?"
"Yes, leave it to me! I'll take responsibility and ensure these God Fragments are properly returned!"
The whisper was extremely effective.
Though I couldn't see its smile, the angel's voice sounded cheerful as we shook hands warmly.