Chapter 174

The Demon King still had his arm draped over my shoulder as he pointed off to the side and spoke.

-Over there. Yeah, right over there.

There, amidst a flock of crows and freed from the siege of divine avatars, stood many giants.

And among them sat Heeba and some hairy dude presumed to be that big strong man.

The once-upon-a-time forms of the giants scorched by world-consuming flames looked dark and ominous, with some even glowing red like fiery veins pulsing beneath their skin.

No one would mistake these for kind or gentle giants, regardless of what they might truly be inside… at least not on first glance.

For now, though, they still retain enough reason to keep their violence in check.

-These were the ones we wiped out once before. But later, they made a grave error and became known as creations of an evil god, bearing the original sin of creation. Now they must endlessly labor, praise, and glorify those who defeated them to atone.

“…No need to drag it out.”

-The important thing is that they still possess the staff that burned the world.

“A staff?”

-That’s its name.

With that, the Demon King removed himself and continued.

-Nowadays, it’s entirely possible to consider ways to sway them to our side.

On the other hand…

-If you respond to the great serpent encompassing the world’s call, you might surprisingly achieve your goals easily.

“…What exactly are you implying?”

-You’re nothing more than a remnant, a ghost of this era. However, by weaving a new myth here, you could secure another role for yourself.

“Another role?”

-To transcend divinity and ascend to a godly station. If both modern and ancient deities were to support you… it wouldn’t be too difficult.

In that case…

Perhaps…

-You’d become a new god or hero of this age. Whether you transition from hero to god or god to hero doesn’t matter much.

As time flows on…

-In the distant future, the all-powerful mother goddess, reversing the prophecy of Zeus, will counteroffer by breaking the foretold outcome.

The Goddess of Wisdom and War.

And the omnipotent goddess who masters all things.

Athena herself was born.

Zeus, upon receiving a prophecy that he’d be dethroned by his son, avoided this fate by being reborn as a daughter instead.

She, unlike the past him, remained utterly faithful to her duties as Athena.

-And what exactly does the current Athena, fallen into a different position, desire from you?

“…”

Do I know?

Of course, if you think about it, it’s not such a hard question. She wants to use me as her most loyal disciple or apostle. Or maybe as betting material, an arrow to shoot, or a shield to hold firm. But reviewing everything I’ve heard so far simplifies the content greatly.

A world dominated by Irene’s Doctrine.

Either destroy it or carve out your own territory to resist or merge with them, continuing the myths and teachings in some form.

Even Vera Empire’s Solar God Religion fundamentally revolves around secret traditions and strict confidentiality, hence why it’s called a mystery religion.

They don’t teach just anyone, but those chosen often comply willingly, even emperors.

“I don’t want to be some clumsy prophet, evangelist, or initiate.”

One who inherits secrets.

Someone mysterious.

An adherent of esoteric teachings.

All titles implying enigmatic knowledge.

At some point, while flipping through a book, I recalled learning how words like “mysterious” and “secretive” originate from such concepts.

-Hmm, so you thought that? If you fell short of expectations, there was certainly that option.

This kid’s got it all wrong.

The Demon King chuckled.

-I thought you’d catch on when I mentioned Athena as Astarte earlier… Guess that was wasted effort.

“…?”

Astarte.

It carries another meaning.

In some myths, she’s the goddess of fertility and abundance, but also encompasses war and hunting.

Isn’t she strikingly similar to someone else?

In certain myths, El, the creator god symbolized by a horned bull, chose his eldest son Yam as successor.

But Yam was defeated by Baal, the god of sky and storm.

Though Baal is said to have been weak, he didn’t accomplish this feat alone.

Continuous cycles of fertility and reproduction.

Which stem from love.

Astarte chose Baal.

Back then, during her time in the Creek Pantheon when she pledged virginity through a pact with Zeus, it was different. Truly, as Astarte, she wasn’t a demon but a goddess, dominating domains usually split among several goddesses.

Anyway, the Demon King’s explanation dragged on, escalating the situation further.

Still, I listened till the end.

So, is that it?

“Are you saying you didn’t summon me just to use me?”

-Using is also part of love. It includes being used oneself too.

Since ancient times, haven’t spouses been considered a community of fate?

What Athena desires is your wish. Your wish will become Athena’s desire.

-Though in hindsight.

“…”

-From here on, it’s about faith and trust.

Truly inhuman content.

For instance, if what the Demon King says is true, I wonder about the current Ahura Mazda. Back then, as a goddess, she loved me… Is that what he’s implying?

…Unbelievable.

-Also, following that military deity isn’t such a bad suggestion.

“…”

-You’ve probably noticed already… That’s your ancestral deity. More precisely, its influence heavily manifested in your father and has partially passed down to you.

“What’s an ancestral deity? Are you saying I’m descended from gods?”

-Don’t judge lineage by human standards. It’s way more complex.

My head hurts. How did things escalate this far?

For instance, the Demon King basically offered three choices: go with Ahura Mazda or Athena’s side, or join the victorious warrior god Bahrām Yaščt and Verethragna as comrades.

Or…

…Stand with Heeba and the imprisoned giants?

“Haa.”

Suddenly, something the Demon King muttered earlier came back to me.

Will you wield the fire blade that cuts through the world?

Will you grasp the wind that calms the seas?

Will you obtain the tablet inscribed with destiny or the heavens?

How about the arrow piercing the sea’s throat?

Or thunder?

“Could Jeupse be included in these options?”

-Sharp of you to notice.

If those weren’t mere ramblings but held clear meanings, then the fire blade must refer to Heeba and the fire giants.

Thunder is… Jeupse, right?

Then what about calming the seas with wind?

Or the tablet inscribed with destiny or heavens?

The arrow piercing the sea’s throat?

“Marduk?”

Could he be included too?

Each mention resonated with something related to Marduk, judging from the stories the Demon King shared.

…Unless.

Maybe you can choose more than one.

Or perhaps my limited knowledge led to misjudgment.

-The god Yam symbolizes the sea, floods, the abyss, and boundless darkness, also known as fear.

And who defeated that?

Also, there’s a very similar myth where Marduk overthrew Tiamat, the goddess-dragon.

“My head hurts even more.”

And frustration builds up.

Had this been a simple visit to ancient ruins, everything would’ve been fascinating.

If only the situation wasn’t so urgent.

Likewise, it would’ve been thrilling to listen.

“Holy! What are you hesitating for? Have you been blinded by that majestic figure and fallen to evil? You surely know avoiding responsibility is evil and the path to failure!”

The military deity shouted passionately.

-Karriel, after coming this far, why hesitate? Only by defeating that can you realize your purpose. We’ve shared the same goals and ideals since long ago. Is there any reason to refuse?

A massive snake whispered intriguing insights directly into my mind.

And…

Heeba and the giants remain passive observers, trembling anxiously, yet harboring deep grudges, ready to fight recklessly if necessary.

But isn’t it absurd for those who cannot die to risk their lives?

Thus, they lack true desperation.

Though they likely possess something close to it, accumulated deeply over time.

Besides, it’s obvious which side they’d join if they entered the fray.

Calculations complete.

-Nice to see you’re smart.

Choosing Ahura Mazda would let Heeba and the giants participate without hesitation. The presence of Ashema already implies alignment with Ahura Mazda.

“…”

Suddenly, something feels strange.

A golden opportunity to defeat the ever-victorious military deity seemed within reach, yet it felt too perfect.

Do I already know their future?

Then…

What happens if I side with the military deity here?

A predetermined future exists.

Ahura Mazda will inevitably fall.

Heeba and the giants will face even worse fates beyond imprisonment.

No matter how I struggle here, the future won’t change.

“It seems clear, but no matter how you look at it, this isn’t the best choice.”

-Is that so?

Surprisingly, the Demon King reacted calmly.

Upon reflection…

She knew the answer but never forced me to follow it.

Even while pushing me forward, it was laced with mockery, suggesting, “Go ahead and try.”

By the recent calculations, both Heeba’s and Ahura Mazda’s paths lead to me.

The military deity would naturally be an adversary to Marduk too.

The future begins to take shape.

The military deity is formidable.

Even combined, we couldn’t easily overthrow him.

There, Ahura Mazda, Heeba, and the giants will pour everything they have into the fight.

He, who initially doubted his younger brother and revealed himself to the world first, eventually fell due to suspicion turning into evil.

Once, despite his brother surpassing even their parents, he was pushed aside and wandered miserably.

Yet, he once repelled the abyss and was celebrated as the companion of the celestial gods, the omnipotent goddess, and the mother of all things.

Thus, this serpentine form now…

Must be the trophy or boon from that era, the fruit of that endeavor.

Additionally, this…

Was once the flaw and illusion of the thunder god restrained and ultimately killed by the fire giants when they attempted to destroy certain deities.

Therefore, this great battle could forcibly connect past comrades in some way.

Thus…

The total war begins.

The grand battle for supremacy.

The liberation war starts.

I suddenly glanced around.

This city isn’t buried underground as we assumed.

Though the ground shakes unstably and destruction spreads due to divine descents, it still stands proudly above the surface.

Though the vastness of the city prevents seeing everything at once…

The horizon stretches endlessly.

Climbing higher would surely reveal an even more breathtaking view.

“…”

Dominatur.

I purify my heart.

The future I glimpsed is frankly already crossing boundaries.

Had I stared longer, it would’ve become a definitive future, intervention or not.

I confine what I saw to predictions and imagination.

Thus…

…It becomes just one possibility.

But simultaneously, it could be another reality that might come to pass.

However, my present firmly rejects this branching future, even if it may represent the correct history.

…No.

I refuse to throw myself into this vicious cycle of mutual hatred, destruction, consumption, murder, violation, humiliation, and sick jokes.

An eye for an eye.

A tooth for a tooth.

A hand for a hand.

A foot for a foot.

Burn for burn.

Harm for harm.

Blow for blow.

Such tit-for-tat retribution disgusts me.

The pit is nauseating enough.

Why throw myself into another inferno?

Blinded by divine status or ambition?

…Burning my will for that nonsense? Not happening.

“I’m stepping back. Sort it out yourselves.”

Throwing yourself into a storm requires good reason to overcome the fear and leap.

But should I get swept up in the chaotic cacophony of squabbling deities, just because some noble figures decided to play music?

…I see no reason to swoon and cry over it.

I honestly don’t understand.

Here, myths will undoubtedly be written.

But…

-Repeat what you just said. What exactly did you declare?

“Esteemed one, have you eaten something funny? The choice here is painfully obvious! Hah! I can’t comprehend your thoughts at all! Choosing cowardice over justice and righteousness is utterly irresponsible! I am deeply disappointed!”

To be honest…

Ultimately, how is this different from kids fighting?

Is there any nobility here?

Any sanctity?

Unyielding beliefs? Ideals? Goals? Will?

I don’t know.

“I don’t understand why you’re fighting.”

Therefore, I won’t intervene.

This is my final decision after much deliberation.

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