Chapter 235

“What are you doing here, kid?”

And conveniently enough.

I, too, was taking the exact same form as that thing over there.

Here, the only one clearly taking the shape of a human was young me.

Neither the girl in pure white nor the red and dark entity that had just appeared and caused chaos…

Nor that insane military deity from another world…

Everyone here was an intruder.

“…….”

And then.

Lucesia, right?

Were you… the reincarnation of that pure white being?

If that’s the case, it leads to the conclusion that it was my responsibility all along.

How absurd.

“Damn forced power or whatever.”

The military deity mutters.

Even so, despite suppressing and overwhelming with a ferocious aura that could leave anyone trembling,

to me, that means absolutely nothing.

Fear or terror…

While not entirely unfamiliar, they’re definitely not something I’m accustomed to.

I do keenly feel a sense of crisis though.

“What are you here for?”

I ask just in case.

“Haven’t you heard from that pitiful woman?”

The kid reacts irritably.

“Don’t you want destruction? Then you should listen.”

“Why would you accept that? What benefit do you get from it?”

“There is a benefit. Not just one but many worlds I can peek into and travel at my will.”

In other words, you intend to destroy our world for that purpose, right?

“Do not misunderstand. What I desire is the annihilation of every world except the one where I was born.”

“…Huh?”

What is this now…

“Why do you do this?”

“Are you really asking such obvious questions?”

The kid reveals their extreme self-centeredness as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Because only my world should exist.”

So what? You intend to burn down every world except ours?

“A world overflowing with mediocrities and others who aren’t me. How long must I watch this ridiculous sight? If I didn’t know better, I might let it slide, but now that I do, I must erase it.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

The kid shows their utmost selfishness as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Because only my world is correct. In any other way, individuals have no meaning. It’s not like it’s a playground for gods anyway. Actually, if it were, it’d be better. I thought it was real until I played around and fought in that game.”

“…So, is that why you’ve turned your world upside down?”

“You seem to have seen or heard something by the way you talk as if you know me.”

The kid snickers derisively.

“Whatever. So, did you get the answer you wanted?”

“More or less.”

Likewise on the other side.

The kind who wonders about these things and reaches this point.

Including understanding one’s own reasons…

“Are you that? My nemesis or counterpart? Forced power has done its useless work again.”

“Think the opposite. If you’re the only true existence in your world, then here, I am the real one.”

“Ah, is that so? But…”

The kid clicks their tongue disdainfully.

“I don’t sense any holiness from you. Neither divine protection.”

“I’ve abandoned it.”

Some foolish genius from my past threw it away recklessly.

“And will that work? How can someone without divinity stand against divine rank and position? Are you some Diomedes who pierced Enyo with a spear?”

“…….”

Diomedes, huh.

Is he talking about the tale where, under Athena’s protection, all of Ares’ spears missed but Diomedes’ spear struck Ares’ vital points?

I know it as one of the rare stories in the ‘giant slaying’ tales where the weak or impoverished defeat the absolute strong.

…Those unfamiliar with heretical myths might not know, but it’s interesting.

“Could be similar.”

“What’s similar?”

I form the Obsidian Sword.

“This space is implemented by transcendent power.”

Likewise, I can’t deploy Pekkata here.

…Unless I plan to commit suicide.

But even without that, I have more than enough cards up my sleeve.

“…Always barbaric to resolve everything through combat, isn’t it?”

It fell apart.

This wasn’t negotiation to begin with.

“I’m slightly curious how my great conclusion will turn out. Though I’ve experienced it many times, I don’t expect much.”

“…….”

As always.

…Once conversation ends, we should just exchange blows, but why so much meaningless chatter?

Maybe it’s because this side hesitates to make the first move due to some regrets.

…No, that’s not it.

As always, the one who attacks first exposes weaknesses and vulnerabilities, increasing the chance of counterattack.

Without the ability to perceive that, one might just sit idly and either get hit or block in vain.

…But hey.

‘I’ve already fought your shadows and halves several times.’

Moreover, after coming here, with the main body present.

‘Quit clinging to my ankle already.’

My irritation is rising instead of any sense of crisis.

====

Surveying the surroundings, the military deity muttered.

The heroes who once saved the world.

He was the one relentlessly pressing those grand warriors mentioned only in myth.

“Yeah. Things are getting clearer.”

Lost things.

Not exactly stolen, but things I overlooked.

“It was really troublesome.”

I took quite a beating back then.

The memories of that time are unclear.

Due to being torn apart, fragmented, and damaged.

That’s what achieving divinity means.

One doesn’t die, but there’s a separate kind of death.

The firm self-awareness that I alone am me.

The self and all the memories and thoughts that make me me.

All of that forms one’s divinity.

Accomplishments in life are merely confirmation of that.

However, those without achievements or great deeds, no matter how qualified, ultimately amount to nothing.

Great but ultimately meaningless beings.

“Hiding things, huh?”

Finally, the tree monster managed to reach the World Tree despite the interference of the white giant.

Thus, I realized.

There was something I had overlooked here.

I knew it, but realizing it is another matter.

“Something felt off, didn’t it?”

Though the god of war, his essence isn’t about bloodshed or struggle.

Tactics and strategy, plans and stratagems.

The aspect of wisdom that Athena inherited from the goddess of wisdom.

That domain belonged to the giant god Pallas.

He was also a mighty war deity.

“I see.”

It felt clumsy.

Very clumsy.

Anyone can achieve greatness with overwhelming power.

That’s obvious.

Therefore, it’s not a big deal for him.

The ability to wield and control strength well is certainly admirable.

But the weak defeating the absolute strong…

…That was the accomplishment I desired.

Starting from the bottom to achieve dominance.

Being the child of a hero, a genius, or having an impressive lineage…

Yeah, I admit those conditions contributed to my accomplishments.

And because of such an environment, I could absorb everything without envy.

Among the offspring of beasts, those who cry louder, are bigger, fiercer, and crazier get more food and hog more mother’s milk.

It’s more about nature than nurture.

In that sense, I was truly blessed.

So I had to do something.

If I didn’t accomplish anything,

Everything I’ve gathered would rot me from within.

I knew almost everything—knowledge, skills, nearly the essence itself.

If I don’t use them, don’t handle them,

They’ll eventually cling to my body, constantly emitting a musty smell.

“You keep getting stronger while they grow weaker.”

With some free time, the military deity again felt the bittersweet nostalgia.

He got beaten back then because he pitied his opponents.

His very existence suppresses empathy towards others.

Because compared to his presence, everything in the world feels infinitely frail and fragile.

They’re not enemies.

They’re not worthy adversaries.

They’re just… wandering, suffering lambs who don’t know better.

“Haa… Huh!”

Gaejef’s entire body was battered.

Even Rorona, crouching on one side, had her clothes reduced to rags, revealing green scales in places.

The Valkyrie, once clad in splendid silver armor, now had damaged armor covered in sand and dust, losing its luster long ago.

Even with the arrival of another Valkyrie,

They couldn’t inflict effective damage or even scratch that ominous military deity.

At one point, they did land a perfect blow.

The problem was that he saw through everything and used it as an opportunity for counterattack.

Truly abnormal expertise.

“…Had you joined the previous invasion, we wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

“I descended to the Demon Realm less than ten years ago.”

“Descended?”

“Yeah. To put it simply, you can see me as a god who fell from the heavens. It’s metaphorical, not a low-quality joke, so don’t worry.”

As if declaring the end of previous courtesies, his tone lacked the earlier respect.

Precisely because he had just retrieved his lost fragments, his original pieces.

One of the purposes of invading the World Tree.

“If you intended to stop me, that was your last chance. I assure you, it’s impossible now.”

“Hmph! Showing that baseless arrogance again…”

“I assure you, I don’t relax. Nor am I arrogant. The reason I seemed clumsy before was because I pitied you.”

I was human too. No matter how determined, hesitation naturally creeps in.

I’ve never been swayed by emotions or fighting spirit.

There’s a solid order and ethics within me.

“That hasn’t changed.”

Tormenting is beneath me.

So if I must kill,

…letting the target merely realize they’re dying, sparing them pain,

Is the best I can offer.

“That’s enough.”

The ominous military deity declared the end.

“One must enjoy playtime in moderation.”

The dark and ominous figure dissipates.

And what appears…

“Wha…?”

A shape that’s strangely familiar yet unfamiliar, hard to describe.

No. Such vague descriptions won’t suffice…

“Carriel?”

Looks like he’s grown up significantly over the last decade or so.

Gaejef could deduce Carriel’s distant future from this form.

Likely because he observed the growing Carriel closely for a long time.

However, this being’s atmosphere is completely different from the Carriel Gaejef knows.

Heavy chains encircle his arms, and a breastplate combining gold and crimson adorns his chest and back.

Meanwhile, his lower attire resembles a skirt but features knee and ankle guards front and back.

“This isn’t the fashion of this era.”

Rorona said aloud, seemingly for Gaejef’s ears.

“That’s from ancient times…”

“I have a hunch too.”

BOOM!

A pillar-like golden shield suddenly plunges down.

Additionally,

When he grips a spear resembling steel, the form, appearance, and aura that made him look like Carriel?

All of it completely changes.

“Astarte. I’ve returned.”

Astarte.

However, when discussing that name, the meanings conveyed by the military deity and Carriel are entirely different.

The military deity refers to…

Not Athena.

Not Minerva.

But Venus of Gold.

-You know well. My love on this side has resurrected too, right? How long has it been?

And then.

In this vast number of worlds.

Even between these worlds.

The only unique and singular entities are…

Only they.

Carriel.

This me, resolutely longing for such a fate.

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