Chapter 95

I’m annoyed.

When I think about it, there’s no real reason to be this annoyed, but for some reason, just hearing their voice irritates me.

“There’s no way I’d lose. This is perfect. Now’s the time to show off my amazing self. Let’s go.”

Esmushigi flicked their finger, pointing forward, and then shot up into the sky.

I can’t fly, so it feels like they’re teasing me, but that thought didn’t last long.

– Thud, thud, thud, thud…

The sight of them advancing in perfect formation was like something out of a movie about Spartan warriors. No, actually, they were at least somewhat armed. At least they had helmets and chest armor on.

Their faces were completely shadowed, so I couldn’t see them clearly, but their height—easily over 2 meters—and their long spears and round shields made it clear they weren’t human.

And the overwhelming pressure radiating from them—it felt like it was crushing me with all its might.

“Mother-Body, what are you doing?!”

Someone grabbed my arm tightly, snapping me back to my senses.

“Ah, uh, Eve.”

“What are you doing just standing there?! I told you to get out of the way!”

It was the first time I’d seen Eve’s tense face.

And as shadows loomed over her face, both of us looked up at the sky at the same time.

Tires were flying.

Dozens of tires with three pairs of wings each were soaring through the sky, crossing over our heads.

“Damn it… Mother-Body, get out of the way. Got it?!”

Eve clenched her teeth and turned away.

“Eve.”

“What?! I told you to get out of the way!”

“Don’t get hurt.”

Eve didn’t respond, already walking away.

“…Just get out of the way.”

The sound of her light footsteps faded into the distance.

I just stood there, staring blankly at her retreating figure.

“So, how is it? Quite a sight, isn’t it?”

Esmushigi, who had somehow landed back in front of me, shrugged their shoulders and gave me a sly smile.

“…Yeah, it’s impressive.”

It was an honest reaction.

It really was impressive.

The spear-wielding soldiers advancing on the ground and the cavalry flying through the sky.

It was like an army—orderly and majestic.

“You, all those things…”

“That’s right. Summoned from the Summon Base. My proud soldiers of the Light Realm.”

I bit my lip.

A sharp pain spread from the edge of my lip, and soon the taste of iron filled my mouth.

Is this the difference in skill?

Is this the gap between a novice and an expert?

Even though we used the same Production Device, the difference between me and Esmushigi was this vast?

– Coffee and~ afternoon teatime~ Mamihand cookies~

A loud advertisement jingle played from behind.

Somehow, it was funny, and I ended up laughing despite the chaos.

We’re fighting.

Yeah, the Magical Girls are fighting back too.

A loud noise echoed.

And within it, I could hear screams and the sound of buildings collapsing.

If the Reverse Barrier had been properly deployed, we might have heard the buildings collapsing, but not the screams.

I could feel the corner of my mouth twitching.

Esmushigi.

Do you even realize what you’re doing right now?

“Ah, I know very well. I’m just cleaning up some bugs.”

Their bright smile showed not a hint of malice. If anything, it made the smile even more chilling. I found it disgusting.

“Bugs, bugs, bugs.”

“Huh?”

“I told you not to call them bugs.”

“Vesprede, you…?”

“I told you not to call my children bugs.”

“What are you talking about? Your children have been dead for a long time. Those things don’t even know of your existence, their mother. They’re just lowly creatures. How could we leave such filth behind in this world, where you and I will start anew?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

I’m getting heated.

My face is burning.

My body feels like it’s on fire.

“Do you even know what you’re doing to the descendants of my children, and their children’s children, who have lived here for generations?”

Do I even know what I’m saying?

“You’re killing the descendants of my children right now.”

Do I even understand what I’m saying?

“I know very well.”

“Escario.”

Escario spread his arms wide, a wide smile spreading across his face.

“Finally, you’re calling me by my name. Vesprede. Has your memory returned?”

“Stop it right now.”

“I can’t do that. This world is the perfect place for our new beginning. A perfectly neutral world, untouched by any faction. Isn’t this the ideal place for you and me to become gods of creation?”

“Do you really want to win my heart?”

“That goes without saying.”

“Then why are you doing this—”

“But.”

My words were cut off by Escario.

“Vesprede, there’s something you’re mistaken about.”

“What nonsense are you trying to say now?”

Even as I glared at him with all my might, Escario remained calm.

He even started circling around me with his hands behind his back.

“This game of the gods is quite entertaining. I’ve enjoyed it from time to time, but your children… the humans, they always react differently. It’s fascinating. The winners get gifts, the losers get despair… simple rules, but humans always react in such interesting ways.”

Escario’s hand rested on my shoulder.

It felt like a cockroach crawling on me, and I shuddered slightly.

“But now that I’m participating as a player, it’s not so bad. There’s a certain charm to it.”

“Besides.”

“Of course, if I were to slaughter humans… your children, I wouldn’t be able to win your heart. Isn’t that right?”

If you know, then why are you doing it? Knowing and still doing it is even worse.

Didn’t your mom teach you that?

“I know very well. So, stop…”

“But what does that matter?”

“What?”

“Even if I win like this, you’ll still be mine. Besides, time is on our side. For us gods who walk eternity, melting your heart is easier than twisting a child’s wrist. Isn’t that right?”

“You’re hilarious.”

Even I, who was buried and then reborn as myself, am here.

You think you’ll live forever?

You’re really funny.

“Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter. What’s certain is this.”

Escario stepped closer to me, looking directly into my face.

His flawless face only made me angrier.

“I, Escario, will definitely win. That fool who can’t even recognize the Light Realm God will lose to me, and you, Vesprede, will too.”

Escario’s finger lifted my chin.

I had no choice but to look at his face, even though I hated it.

“That angry face is quite charming. It’s different from my memories of you, but I find this version even more beautiful.”

“Spit.”

Go to hell, you bastard.

Escario wiped the spit that had dripped onto his cheek with his hand.

I thought he might hit me, but he just kept smiling.

“Your temper hasn’t changed. Did you think I’d get angry over something like this? You’re mistaken.”

A small flame flickered in his palm.

“This is nothing. So then…”

“Mother-Body—!”

A loud shout came from behind.

It was the first time Eve’s voice had ever sounded so welcome, and I quickly turned around, startled.

Eve, who always maintained a calm and elegant appearance, looked completely different.

She didn’t seem injured, but the blood and flesh covering her body showed just what kind of battle she had been fighting.

“Duck!”

At Eve’s shout, I stepped back and lowered my stance.

Something whizzed past me, barely missing me.

“Oh, the Fanatic Spear.”

And I could tell it didn’t do much damage to Escario.

“Throwing the Fanatic Spear at me, the Light Realm God? Elphim, do you find me that amusing?”

I stepped back further and stood up, getting a clear view of Escario.

He was holding Eve’s weapon, the Fanatic Spear, between two fingers, smiling casually.

And Eve’s face wasn’t filled with anger… no, it was more like a mocking expression.

“Still calling yourself the Light Realm God? You can’t even tell the difference between the real thing and an imitation, you fool.”

Eve had another Fanatic Spear in her hand.

And another one in her other hand.

“Go ahead, guess. Which one’s the real Fanatic Spear?”

“The right one.”

“Wrong.”

Are you an idiot?

“Tsk.”

“Those minions you summoned, I didn’t even bother counting them. So, decide. Do you want to keep going, or will you retreat gracefully? The ancient martial arts of humanity, do you want to experience a beatdown here?”

Eve swung the spears a few times before slamming one into the ground with a loud bang. The ground shook from the impact.

“Is that enough?”

“What?”

“Just a warning, that’s all.”

Despite the threat, Escario’s expression didn’t change.

“A warning? What kind of nonsense is that?”

“You’ll see in time. Don’t be so impatient, Vesprede. Your fiery temper is charming, but being too hasty can be a flaw.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Hahaha! Nonsense, nonsense. You’re the only one who can talk to me like that. You really are charming, you know.”

“Stop calling me ‘you.’ It’s annoying.”

“Anyway, let’s call it a day. You’ve all worked hard. I’ll admit defeat for today.”

You should just say it straight.

“Admit defeat? You lost.”

“Hah, is that what you think, Vesprede?”

“What else would it be?”

Escario didn’t respond to that.

He just turned around and waved his hand casually.

“Oh, Vesprede.”

“What?”

“I’ll contact you later. Come visit my temple sometime.”

Are you crazy?

Why would I go?

What kind of mess would I get into if I went to your base?

“You’re probably thinking, ‘Why would I go? What kind of trouble would I get into if I went to your base?’”

What? Do I really wear my thoughts on my face that much…?

“Well, think of it as infiltrating the enemy’s base to gather intel. That’s not entirely useless, is it?”

He sure knows how to talk.

“I’ll contact you soon then.”

—

“You did well.”

“I didn’t do anything. Eve, you did it all.”

“We were the ones who got the declaration of war. It’s only natural.”

The aftermath of the battle in Myeongdong without the Reverse Barrier was devastating.

There weren’t many casualties, but the damage to the buildings was significant.

When the Reverse Barrier is deployed, everyone inside is moved outside.

People knew that, so even when the battle started, they stayed inside and waited to be moved out by the barrier. But this time, the battle started before the barrier could be deployed, which was the problem.

Thankfully, no buildings collapsed, so there were no entrapment incidents, but whether that’s truly fortunate is questionable.

The fight between the Mogmog Group and the Magical Girls, which had become almost like a sport, is turning into a disaster threatening humanity again with the arrival of a new faction.

Looking down at Myeongdong, where construction was still ongoing, Eve, who had been sitting silently on the carpet, suddenly spoke.

“Do you know what I think the worst-case scenario is?”

Eve’s words came out of nowhere.

“Worst-case? What is it?”

“Escario saying he’ll back off if we hand you over to him.”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“Words can be dressed up nicely.”

He probably wouldn’t do that.

But he’s not exactly sane, so I can’t say it’s impossible.

“But that’s what I think.”

I didn’t respond.

Eve didn’t seem to be waiting for an answer anyway, as she continued after a pause.

“Is peace achieved by ruining one person’s life really peace?”

“Even if we ignore the practical question of whether Escario would really back off if we handed you over, even if others find peace, you’d be excluded from that peace.”

“Is that really peace? Peace has value only when you achieve it yourself.”

And then— Eve paused for a moment.

“Your life has been nothing but pain so far, so I think your future should be brighter. I’ll fight for that. So, Mother-Body, don’t be afraid.”

I wasn’t really afraid here, you know? But I’m not so clueless as to say something like that and ruin the mood.

“You’re also under my protection. Oh, and Kabe too, of course.”

“You’re finally talking like a dad.”

“Learn to read the mood, you idiot.”

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