Chapter 175

While coming here, I ended up hearing completely absurd stuff one after another.

Even if we overlook a few questions, I also became aware of issues that simply couldn’t be ignored.

Ah, the silence was broken first by Ahriman.

– “You don’t know why you’re fighting? Is this really what you believe?”

“Whenever righteousness crumbles and evil spreads, there’s only despair, nothing but suffering in the world! Isn’t this basic common sense? An unreasonable world where selfish and narrow-minded people dominate will arise. How can you not perceive this?”

“But isn’t labeling something as righteous when it always claims to be right just pure arrogance?”

“Righteousness is absolute. Once righteousness starts bending, submitting, or compromising, all rules go awry, and the world loses its integrity. What if water flows upward instead of down at the right time? If children kill their parents or trees absorb nutrients without bearing fruit?”

“If the world is fundamentally imperfect from the start, isn’t demanding perfection itself wrong? Why not create a perfect world from the beginning?”

“That’s not our domain. Are you saying this knowingly?”

Not at all.

God is absolute.

Haven’t we always believed, learned, and revered this?

The moment we deny this, He is no longer omnipotent. And since He can’t achieve this, He’s far from being omnipotent and omniscient.

So, what should we call an entity that isn’t omnipotent or omniscient?

What’s the difference between such a being and kings, conquerors, rulers, or emperors?

When someone reaches the pinnacle of power and immense strength, they often liken themselves to gods or demand to be treated as divine entities…

…That is, even though they might be infinitely higher than such beings…

Isn’t their essence fundamentally the same?

So, I asked once.

“With your standard of absolute righteousness, did you cause their downfall?”

Pointing toward Heeba and the giants while asking Bereratragena.

“That is the embodiment of sin and the resultant creation thereof. I do not deny the possibility of reform, but it’s practically impossible. Would one in ten thousand have a chance for a miracle?”

“Is that your legitimate reason for causing their downfall?”

“Dear me. Still don’t you understand? The righteousness and evil I speak of are extremely fundamental.”

-Hahahaha.

-Kuh!

The Demon King and Ahriman burst into laughter simultaneously, but the Military Deity remains unperturbed.

“You must’ve understood by now, listening to this. What kind of beings they truly are.”

Once, they were the ones who brought about the world’s destruction.

Later, they rebelled and waged war, eventually failing and being recreated as creatures of evil, forced into eternal labor.

“If we cannot kill or annihilate them, then our best course is to suppress their nature and guide them toward change. This does not mean giving up. We will continue endlessly until they can stand shoulder to shoulder with us!”

“So, because guidance fails, you destroy them, recreate them, give them life again, confine them within barriers, and keep guiding them repeatedly. That’s what you mean, right?”

Souls are immortal.

In Irene’s Doctrine, this is why reaching heaven after death is important.

This life, attached to the flesh, is merely a fleeting process.

But, that’s strange.

“Their inherent nature, original knowledge, and memories being intact means they can commit such acts anytime. If these are sinful flaws, evils, and bundles of original sins… shouldn’t they be stripped away?”

Ahriman sneered again.

“After washing for thousands of years, the body can still get dirty. So, what about hearts and minds that can’t even be washed? It’s utterly futile. Following innate nature and given desires—what crime or original sin is there in that?”

“That kind of arrogance which belittles and looks down on everything except oneself cannot be justified!”

“What’s the problem?! Is shouting how great I am also a sin?! If arrogance was so bad, you shouldn’t have given it in the first place! You gave it and then say not to use it? Like giving a toy to a kid and snatching it back! Do you think they’ll sit there and take it quietly?!”

“Do we need strength and knowledge to throw tantrums? It’s needed for contributing to greater and grander plans, to become a better version of ourselves, and to aim higher tomorrow. It wasn’t given to torment others, negate lives, or deprive them of theirs. That power, knowledge, and rights weren’t granted for such purposes.”

“You’ve deprived everything—freedom, rights, dignity—from all things labeled as evil. Do you dare claim the right to say such things?!”

“Evil is like a poison that contaminates clear water, affecting every creature, including gods. Aren’t you spreading this poison everywhere without shame? And yet, you mock those who suffer and die because of it as weaklings—are you still talking about right and wrong?”

“Denying me is denying the existence and world that bore me—it’s sheer arrogance!”

“Our task is to establish the definitions and order of such a world. If you, as chaos, seek to deny and destroy the order and will of good, then we have no choice but to be adversaries forever. Eternally!”

…..

Both are speaking correctly in their own ways.

Depending on whose perspective or subjectivity you side with, it could be right or wrong.

Objectivity or subjectivity… doesn’t matter much here.

“O hateful deity. Might I, this humble woman, ask a question?”

At that moment, Heeba stepped forward and sought permission from the Military Deity.

“Granted.”

Bereratragna readily allowed it.

“Then, since we bear the sin of birth and souls, and because we’re born amidst suffering, rejected everywhere, and endure pain constantly… do you truly think this is the way it should be?”

“Pain brings lessons. You and your essence were inherently strong and once stood in a position to trample the world. Even the wise one-eyed god, Wodanaz, the god of war and magic, tried desperately to stop you but failed, didn’t he? Wasn’t he eaten by wolves in the end?”

“We… don’t know anything about that.”

“Claiming ignorance doesn’t erase original sin.”

“Then tell us! Had you informed us, wouldn’t we have felt less wronged?”

“Instead, you would’ve grown arrogant again, calling yourselves great for killing the Supreme Deity. Could you honestly say all your kin would humbly accept it?”

“That’s…”

“In a way, you aren’t creations of our gods, so it’s understandable to feel wronged. Hence, after the old decadent Celestial Lord fell, our Supreme Deity took over, gathered his slaves, and remade them as His own creations and subjects. He granted them the authority to be happy and the qualification to cleanse themselves of original sin. Moreover, He gave them the freedom to decide between good and evil. What do you think? Doesn’t our Lord of Light and Wisdom love His people?”

“But that… isn’t telling us to die now?”

“He asks you to shed the name and temporary form given to you. If you know it’s defiled and made of sinful blood and skin but still wear it, whose fault is that? Whom do you blame?”

“…We didn’t choose to be born this way!”

“Of course! You look this way because you lost. That’s why becoming the victor is paramount. And if the victor is evil, it’s the ultimate despair. But as a victorious seeker of good, I’m the embodiment of triumph through such aspirations.”

War in this living world is hell.

How much we longed and hoped for someone to save us from this living hell.

“Die to your current self if you wish to change! Embrace a new life. There, you’ll find only salvation, light, and wisdom.”

-Incredible. To spout such madness with such confidence. Always impressive.

Ahriman’s mockery echoes.

“But, can we die even if we want to?”

Heba’s voice was thick with frustration.

“Impossible. Before awakening divinity, it might’ve been different, but you and your kin are in a unique situation.”

“Then… what do you expect us to do?”

“Do nothing.”

“…”

“Let time cleanse your very essence until eternity. Let time consume your present self. Devote yourself to time.”

“Ultimately…”

Heba spoke with rising anger.

“It’s because we’re scared, isn’t it?”

The Military Deity answered confidently.

“A threat. No matter how great a fire may seem, it consumes everything upon close approach. You’re the same. Your sins are the same.”

“Truly, is there no way for us?”

“Unfortunately, even gods cannot kill or annihilate other gods. Even if the world perishes thousands of times, we won’t die. Just as the world cannot die. At worst, the planet we stand on gets destroyed, but we persist eternally.”

“Haha…”

Despairing laughter fades into dry sobs.

“Then, why do you exist?”

Listening to all this, I had plenty to say. Plenty, but let’s start with a question.

To my query, the Military Deity remained confident.

“To maintain order so the powerful don’t oppress others. Only then can creatures exercise their freedoms and rights without external coercion. That’s my prime directive.”

“Absolutely. Yeah. That fits you perfectly. That’s right.”

Your private interference would likely result in unimaginable calamities.

But isn’t that implying you’ll watch over the rampages and schemes of creatures under the guise of freedom?

“While hating evil, do you just let creatures enact evil?”

“It’s decided by Our Lord. Light and shadow inevitably face each other. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow grows, and only in deep darkness do we truly appreciate the necessity and value of light.”

“And afterward, judged in the afterlife?”

Necessarily doomed mortal evil, like Ahriman.

You, who monopolizes failure-bound evil. For this brief moment, you may seem like an eternal victor.

But soon, you’ll realize all of this was but an illusion, a dream, a delusion.

“The freedom to choose between good and evil ultimately comes down to that.”

Unyielding strength.

Undeflected integrity.

Unwavering firmness.

Powerful enough to break through everything.

“Victory is precisely this. Thus, the victorious are closest to goodness.”

Evils turn their backs on trials and tribulations.

The righteous, however, confront them ceaselessly.

Unjust deeds,

Deeds of malice.

These are their trials, their tests.

“I fully understand what you’re saying.”

Yeah. To him, his words are entirely correct.

Perfectly so.

Every word hits home impeccably.

Rebellion against this would come from creatures’ standards, not divine ones.

Thus, distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked, selecting between them… it all feels natural.

Granting the choice is ultimately that.

Ultimately, submission and adherence to God in the name of exercising free will.

…Choosing and judging yourself.

“He may be, and the one he serves, perhaps the most kindly yet strict father figure to creatures.”

Yeah, maybe they’re father-like figures.

Ultimately.

It’s equally painful regardless.

Ignorance causes pain; weakness causes pain.

Foolishness causes pain; fragility causes pain.

“I have something to say.”

Everything aligns perfectly.

It’s accurate.

It’s the orthodox teaching.

Yeah, I get that part.

“I don’t understand. Why did you create a world like this? Why?”

Had I never existed.

Had I never been born.

I wouldn’t have suffered.

In Irene’s Doctrine, they babble about being born for love and happiness.

Shut up.

I suffered.

And I still suffer, continuously.

I just endure.

Just endure.

Only endure.

One day, I’ll explode with all of this, but for now…

I just endure.

Must endure.

Still, it’s weird, right?

Why should I endure?

More importantly, why am I the one enduring more losses than others without complaint?

Ultimately,

There’s no real reason in what you say that explains why you make us suffer.

Trials? Tests? To make us better?

Are we steel? Keep hammering us?

I’m not steel!

Stop hitting me already, you bastards!

“As for that, only He knows. We merely establish our order and discipline on the world He created and shaped. For a better world, a better tomorrow.”

“No, no. All this talk about goodness, superiority, righteousness, justice… let’s discard all of that. I don’t care about any of it.”

Me.

I…

“You… No, you… Ugh!”

Irritation wells up.

Now I somewhat understand why I’m irritated.

“Ultimately, aren’t you guys just actors on the stage of this world, capable of playing gods, demons, angels, tyrants—whatever role suits the moment?”

“If that’s the form you desire from us.”

“Did we desire that?”

-That’s a valid point.

Ahriman interjects.

-It’s because you find this fake righteousness annoying that someone like me exists.

“Communication’s impossible.”

This one says something, then that one responds.

“Oh, yeah, I get it! It’s not just one concept but a composite of many! Stop rambling endlessly! I get it! I do!”

I glanced at the half-reclined Demon King floating mid-air.

“Why you’re always acting like everything in this world is meaningless—I think I understand a little now.”

-…Is that so?

“Yes.”

An ancestor god? Some distant ‘what’?

So what? Like I cared about that.

All I wanted was to vent this suppressed resentment and hatred, compounded by the Demon King’s curse and personal grudges.

Happiness? Fulfillment? Dreams? Ideals?

Do I look like someone who thinks about such things?

I abandoned all that.

Would I live like this if I pursued happiness?

“Wow, suddenly feeling fired up.”

Hahaha…

They talk about the creation of heaven and earth, but to me, it doesn’t matter at all.

Still, there’s a path here, a tiny bit of curiosity, so I kept quiet and listened.

“…Alright. Chaos.”

That’s right.

My essence is extremely close to order.

That ancestor god resembles my father, and I, born from both father and mother, inherited their strengths and weaknesses evenly, I suppose.

My integrity, my strength—they stem from that.

I admit, by ordinary standards, I was definitely a troublemaker.

However, ultimately, what shattered my faults and shell…

…was them, those they followed, protected, and embraced.

“Let’s dismantle it all.”

Dominatur.

I solidify my resolve.

But that’s not the end.

What’s certain is…

My body already holds every star I can possibly contain.

That’s why I’ve shown superhuman abilities and physical prowess.

But due to this accursed pain gnawing at my body and mind, it reminded me of my feeble, amateurish spirit once more.

“Ultimately, if you guys are just actors changing roles on the world’s stage… you can’t possibly understand the feelings of weeds, dust, and tramps like us caught up in it all.”

If they claim understanding, that’s a lie.

They might empathize.

With transcendent powers, they could simulate experiences, maybe even feel them.

When I became a mere grunt in the Demon King’s dream, not Carriel, or when I fought my father as a fox, or when I experienced being a young father opposing Grandeous, or even the younger version defeating him—I’ve been all of them.

But, is that truly real?

No.

Fake pretending to be real.

Even if I read someone’s past, empathize, and agree with it…

It’s still within the realm of empathy.

Still, amidst all this…

I exist.

My reason and will are clearly awake.

“Let’s stop these trivial fights.”

Darkness rises around me.

“I know it’s not trivial… but whatever.”

…

Once.

A cosmic darkness.

Above that darkness, countless stars beyond counting.

In that simulated universe filled with stars,

I asked Grandeous.

How should I defeat my father?

He immediately gave me the answer.

At first, it seemed too simple, but executing that simplicity is crucial.

[It’s not difficult.]

The words of the man in black armor came back vividly.

[Just gather all the divinity sustaining the world.]

Of course, I didn’t understand what he meant back then.

-Will he understand if you say it like that?

The Demon King dismissed it casually.

-Nothing much.

Simply…

-Erase mana from this world.

The Demon King, laughing it off as nonsense, chuckled lightly afterward.

…

-Why, how could such—?!

The giant snake loses its form.

As the darkness covering the world dissipates, the sun reappears, and the clear white sky shines brilliantly once more.

Also,

Some avatars of the Military Deity disappear or lose their forms.

The boy’s white hair flutters, and amidst it, a pair of golden eyes flash with shock beyond comprehension.

“You are not mere chaos—”

Looking at the Military Deity wearing an expression I’ve never seen before, I mocked him with an emotion I couldn’t identify—whether it was laughter or tears.

“Indeed, it’s not something humans should do.”

Erasing mana is impossible.

But consuming it is possible.

Completely.

Within a specific area.

All of it.

Without leaving a trace.

Dominātur peccāta.

The final formula Grandeous prepared for the decisive battle against the Demon King.

And now, having mastered the art of forging Fool’s Sword, I’ve made using this power possible—something that may never happen again.

I’ve come this far solely to gain the strength and energy to use this.

But even without knowing this, at the moment I activated it…

…my life is, in a sense, hanging by a thread.

Though I roughly passed on to Venus the technique of cutting through space with sword energy,

Going further was impossible.

Of course,

If he completes the process of embedding stars within himself like me… it might be different,

But in this lifetime, it’s probably unachievable.

All sorts of random thoughts pop up.

Then, I suddenly realize how long it’s been since I last saw all this.

This is…

Isn’t it like… a review of one’s life before death? Right?

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