Chapter 376: God and Serpent's Table
<Afterword>
As I was revising this chapter after updating it (I just finished revising it) I realized that she really is a sh*tty Goddess
<Goddess Vysis POV>
In the King's Chamber, I was having my meal.
The white morning sun streamed in through the open windows.
Descending from the raised platform in front of the throne- right in the center of the King's Chamber
There, the royal table, passed down through generations of the royal family, was placed.
The legs of the table were intricately and elegantly carved.
On the table, there were extravagant dishes.
Rare wine filled the silver goblets to the brim.
The sound of clinking silverware echoed in the silence.
Lifting a piece of meat to my mouth with a fork, I chewed.
Next, I tipped my cup and swirled the wine in it.
A few days after the destruction of the gate, rare wines had been brought out one after another.
I swirled the wine as red as blood in the silver cup.
[Perhaps I should spare those who can make such fine wine. Speaking of which, I suppose I'll also spare those who can cook delicious dishes and those who provide the ingredients. Ahh. What a delightful breakfast ]
Placing the cup on the table, I elegantly wiped my lips with a cloth.
"Hmm", thinking of something, I chuckled.
[Come to think of it, Sogou-san not being broken was quite unexpected.]
Rather than the throne brimming with royal prestige, my seat is one made of human bones.
Not needing to worry about interference value anymore, I could already do whatever I wanted.
Some of the bones still have faintly clinging fresh blood, pale pink in color.
Mixed in there was the blood of Mira's "rats", which had been sniffing around the outskirts of the Royal Capital.
[Hmmm A factor that didn't break, the light-colored Heroes and Minamino-san There's also her Ahh, what's her name again? She's so much of a lackey for Sogou-san that her name escapes me Ahh, right, Suou-san. Yes, Suou-san was her name, wasn't it? Hmmm, maybe it would have been better to kill Suou-san early. If Suou-san had survived It seems fitting to consider that the Alion Knights, who chased after Nyantan without further news, failed. Fufufu They sure are just like Armor King, utterly useless. Good grief useless trash.]
Pointing my fork towards Wormungandr sitting opposite next to me, I spoke.
[Listen here, okay? Trash is trash because they're trash, and because they're trash, they can only be trash, and because they're trash that can only live a trashy life, they're trash. Trash, despite being trash, continues to spew trash, repeating trashy words and actions without realizing they're trash, until they die as trash. Why? It's because they're trash.]
Placing my fork down, I started folding the cloth I used to neatly wipe my lips.
Even with the words I said, Wormugandr only clasped his hands on the table and played with his thumbs.
After a few moments, he stopped twiddling his thumbs and smiled.
[Although they aren't the main force made up of Anti-Deity units, our Sacrament Army sent out westward was completely wiped out.]
[Well, there was no helping it, was there? It seems like their forces over there have swelled more than expected. And besides, that ingrate Sogou-san wasn't broken and even betrayed us. She must have just been pretending to be broken Ahh, it's truly revolting. Ahhhh, she just persists on being such an annoying brat until the end]
[The fact that that Sogou didn't break completely, isn't that the work of that Fly King? From what I've heard, he was quite the hypocrite.]
Hearing that name, my fingers that had been folding the cloth abruptly stopped.
[Touka Mimori Hmm, could that be it? Ahh Sogou-san surprisingly might still be broken, but he could be using her? He seems quite cunning after all. Haahhh That guy is also a traitor. Even though he was my Summon. This is just too much! Sniff, sniff Hmmm Maybe sending him down the Disposal Ruins might have been a mistake.]
His disposal was a preemptive "warning" for the other Heroes.
It was also intended to instill the thought that "they were the chosen ones" for some of the Heroes.
After all, it was a fact that lower-ranking Heroes had often become a problem in the past.
Therefore going through the procedure of disposing him shouldn't be a mistake.
However, the disposal of Touka Mimori
Looking back to what happened next had I been unconsciously turning my gaze away?
No, let's look at it another way.
I had indeed not been mistaken with my intuition.
It was just that what happened afterward was beyond my expectations.
The problem was that the disposed Hero turned out to be much more troublesome than anticipated.
[If I knew things were going to turn out like this It would have been better to kill him in a different way one where I'm certain he's dead.]
However
Would the me back then really think the same?
That such an utterly ordinary brat, someone who was nothing special, would actually escape from that Disposal Ruins
Riiiiiiip
I had unconsciously torn the edge of the cloth I was folding.
[Ah, it ripped]
[So, what are we going to do now?]
Taking out my Sacred Treasure, I checked.
[]
The Sacred Eye was still working.
For the Sacred Eye to be still working even at this time-
[It seems like Queen Jonato had also betrayed me. Haahhh Humans really are quite hopeless. Just about everyone keeps betraying me. Good grief, a bunch full of ingrates. And yet]
Still sitting on my seat, I threw my head backward and looked behind me.
On the carpet in front of the throne, a crystalline Sacred Treasure sits on its pedestal.
The "connection" between this King's Chamber and the Sacraments was the strongest within the castle.
While I'm within a certain distance of that Sacred Treasure, the power of the Sacraments is enhanced.
Yes, it could strengthen the Sacraments we had sent to Jonato.
Furthermore, beneath the carpet in the King's Chamber, a divine inscription was engraved.
A powerful inscription that had been applied over many years.
There was a time limit for its activation, but there shouldn't be a problem having them activated until the Sacred Eye is destroyed.
This inscription also works while I'm on top of it.
Restricted inscriptions that bind oneself tended to enhance their effects explosively.
While I'm on top of the inscription, I myself would also be greatly enhanced.
As a result, this makes it so that the Sacraments would also be further strengthened.
The allocation of power prioritized the Sacraments heading towards the direction of Jonato, aiming for the destruction of the Sacred Eye.
A lot of power was also especially allocated to their movement speed, shortening the time they needed to reach Azziz.
[Even if that ungrateful trash queen betrayed us, there probably aren't many forces left in Jonato by now. It would be great if the Sacraments quickly reach there and destroy the Sacred Eye already right!?]
Accentuating the end of my sentence, I straighten my upper body.
[Well, it should only be a matter of time anyway.]
Picking up a piece of fruit served on the table, I took a bite.
[If only I could share vision with the Sacraments, it would have been perfect, but in the end, connecting one's vision ended up not being possible Oyoyoyoyo. It's frustrating that I can only confirm limited information with a time delay using magical war pigeons. Maybe I really should have sent out one of the Divine Servants Haahhh It would have been great if I had those familiars lost in ancient times Ahh, it's so frustrating. Having things you're not able to do really is quite dull.]
Annoyed at such a thought, I tossed the half-eaten fruit aside.
Then, bored out of my mind, I rested my cheek on my hand.
[Even so, according to the reports that were sent back, those sh*tty flies don't hesitate in their movements at all! So annoying! Haahhh Why are all these rabble gathering together so desperately Ahh, it's nauseating. Being all chummy-chummy is just so nauseating. Worm-san You know, humans-]
Just as Wormungandr picked a thick piece of meat with his fingers and was about to bring it into his mouth
[Hmm? Something came?]
[..]
["Oi, we've got a visitor!"]
The one who gave out the report was one of the Divine Servants, Ars.
He could only speak in quotations from when he was human.
After all, he doesn't have anything resembling a mouth now.
His voice just echoes from the dark cross on his head.
Therefore, his voice sounded like it was resonating from the world of the dead.
[Ara, oh my oh my! You've arrived! Welcome! Now, this way~~]
A maid with a silver tray entered the King's Chamber.
The Divine Servants, including Ars, stood silently behind Wormungandr.
The maid, her legs trembling, made her way through the other Divine Servants.
Her lips white and her face so pale, it seemed like she might faint.
[Vy Vysis-sama umm t- this is]
Her hand holding the silver tray was shaking.
On the tray she held was the severed head of King Alion.
[It's just as ordered Thank you very much So]
Propping my elbow on the table and resting my chin on my hand, I looked expectantly at the maid.
[How did he die? Tell me the details.]
[Ah Ahh]
She was one of the maids who had taken care of Armor King.
[Hurry up.]
[Ah]
[Oi.]
[Y- Yes! H- His Majesty A- According to Vysis-sama's orders as everyone restrained him on the bed.]
[Mhmm, and then?]
[While he was alive using a cleaver for cooking we cut off his head]
[Ara ara How has His Majesty reacted?]
[W- With a weak voice While in pain he said "It hurts, it hurts"]
[My oh my How pitiful Come on, can you like tell us with more presence to the story? Like, having more emotion to it sometimes making it poetic?]
[Eh?]
[.]
[Hyihhh! Y- Yes! Umm With a mind that seemed befuddled from any thoughts almost like a child throwing a tantrum Squirming about, only able to say "It hurts, it hurts"]
Hearing her words, I closed my eyes, and picturing the scene in my mind, a smile rose up my lips.
[Ahh I can almost picture that scene in my mind A pitiful sight that held no dignity at all]
[B- Before long His voice became weaker and only being able to make groaning sounds for a while w- when the bleeding got really bad like a puppet that had its strings snapped his movements stopped]
[Was severing his head difficult?]
[Ah Y- Yes]
[Enough so that you'd remember it before going to bed from now on?]
[Eh? I- I do not know]
[Fufu Don't worry I'm sure you'll always remember it so please rest assured]
"Good grief", Wormungandr shook his head.
[Well then, have His Majesty's head and the rest of his corpse "processed" like the rest of the livestock.]
[Eh?]
[What's with that "Eh?"? Do you have any objections? It's not good to waste food, you know!? Right While we're at it, have yourself and your family get "processed" along]
[Hyiihh! N- No! I respectfully obey! A- As you commanded, he shall be processed like livestock]
[Ah, make sure to leave His Majesty's bones aside and attach them to this seat. Look, there's still space left, right? That sh*tty fly, the Mad Emperor, the Heroes, and the representatives from other countries will all be part of this chair too Let's do our best~~]
[U- Understo Wah!?]
Perhaps she's feeling extremely tense
The maid accidentally dropped the head from the tray, making the head tumble onto the carpet.
[Oh my! This is absolutely unacceptable!]
I stood up and went to the side of the maid who was hastily trying to pick it up.
[Oh my, this is terrible! Come on, hurry up and pick it up! Pick it up! Geez, what are you doing!? That's His Majesty's head, you know!?]
[Awa, awawawawa]
She was probably feeling rushed to an extreme degree.
The maid almost looked deranged.
She desperately tried to pick up the severed head.
However, perhaps her hands were shaking too much and lacking strength, she repeatedly dropped it.
[Awa, awawa Awawawawa]
Me rushing her to pick it up only seemed to push the maid even further from composure.
[Ahhh- Your Majesty! W- What a heartrending sight! Even though he was once a King of a nation, for something like this to happen on the carpet! Ahh, come on! You! Properly hold his head! Geez! What are you doing!? Hey, calm down! Focus! You can do it! If you handle it earnestly, you can do it! Do your best! AhahahahahahaHey, what's the matter!? Are you alright!? Heeey!? Heeeeeeey!? Ahahahahahahaha!]
After the maid left the room with listless steps, I sat back in my seat.
[Haahhh That was amusing All the history and majesty accumulated by humans ending up like this What a shame Easily lost, easily destroyed]
[..]
[Ara? Worm-san, got something in mind?]
[Hmm? No? Not really.]
Wormungandr's mouth is left wide open.
It seemed as though he was always smiling faintly.
Golden eyes floating like small moons in the cavernous, black void.
Although this guy was my Divine Servant who held my essence, his thoughts were hard to read.
The same goes for Ars and Yomibito.
They feel like other people- Perhaps because they retained their ego and thus achieved completion as Divine Servants.
[Is that so? If you have something to say, you can say it honestly.]
Slices of fish grilled with spices.
Each piece was neatly arranged on an expensive plate.
Wormungandr lifted that plate and tilted it, swiftly devouring everything on it.
He just wasted all the elaborate presentations they made.
Just like that, after roughly consuming the fish slices, Wormungandr spoke.
[Weren't you about to say something just before that one brought the King's head? Something about humans?]
[Ah, that's right I was talking about playwriting.]
[Playwriting?]
[You see You know about plays, right? Do you understand? The plot of a play is typically structured with an introduction, development, climax, and conclusion A plot structured like this pleases the audience It's an established standard. So, what's popular is the mainstream, right? Yes, the mainstream! A play that gradually builds up towards the conclusion I've seen them several times.]
Burp.
Wormungandr gently brushed his stomach and belched.
I lightly furrowed my brows at that, but deciding not to reproach him, I continued.
[It was a popular play that had been performed many times It was a huge success even at that time as well. The actor playing the protagonist was also a popular actor.]
I tapped the silver cup with my nails, to which a hard, bell-like sound echoed.
[That play Things were really exciting during their performance, you know? Everyone was geared towards the happy ending that the audience desired However, the play that day didn't end in a happy ending.]
Wormungandr listened silently.
[Just as the play reached its climax An audience member suddenly rushed onto the stage and stabbed to death the actor playing the protagonist who defeats the evil noble.]
[What a horrible story.]
[Well, that was actually something I orchestrated.]
[It was your doing huh.]
Ahh, thinking about it again makes me tremble.
I couldn't help recalling the excitement I felt that day.
[I had been invited to watch that play regularly, and a thought had always crossed my mind. I wondered what kind of faces the audience would make if I crushed the ending they desired so much. Fufufu Having repeatedly watched that play over and over again, I may have started to sympathize with the defeated noble's side.]
For some reason I had gotten irritated with him.
That protagonist role.
The comrades that gathered around that protagonist.
[To briefly explain the content of that play A rural blacksmith defeats the evil noble oppressing the commoners by gathering many allies or so the gist of the story. Well, the male protagonist, the blacksmith, had a secret: he's the son of an exiled noble who once served as a swordsmanship instructor to the royal family Hmm, how should I put it]
Thereupon, my thumb glided along the surface of a cold, thick-cut meat before I firmly pressed it down.
[The flow where supportive comrades gather, saying things like "If we combine our strength together, we can surely win!" Personally, I didn't like it. The world isn't that convenient of a place after all. Like, everyone, let's all look at reality, properly, okay? But for some reason, the audience is moved by this "We can win this!" vibe. Isn't that scary? Even though they already know the plot, them getting moved by that, I mean.]
I licked off the fat from the thickly cut meat on my thumb.
As a thread of oil was formed when I took off my thumb, I continued.
[That's why I wrote up my own masterpiece. The faces of the audience at that time. I believe that's the true value of humans. I sincerely believe this from the bottom of my heart.]
Thereupon, Wormungandr throws a clean cloth my way.
[So, the actions of those against you coincide with those of the audience?]
Wiping my fingers with the received cloth, a troubled expression appears on my face.
[Yes, that's right. Everyone getting all buddy-buddy with each other It seems like they're getting under the delusion that they've become significant people. In other words- Those brats are having a misunderstanding. Right now, they believe they can win with morale upliftment and strong solidarity. However, reality isn't so simple that "people win if everyone works together". They aren't children after all right? So]
Discarding the cloth I wiped my fingers with
[I won't let things go as they wish. As a God, it's my duty to guide humans correctly.]
[Kukuku. You really do hate humans to the core.]
[Eh? I love them though! That's why I embrace them- then stab them.]
Holding up my silver cup filled with wine, I turned it upside down.
The rare wine flowed across the pure white table like blood.
[Humans must never forget that they're mere creations. They must always keep that in mind. They must always be aware that they're inferior beings compared to Deities. A bit of arrogance as a seasoning for their ensuing tragedy Well, I'll deem it acceptable. However, being too arrogant is unacceptable. You see, I deeply dislike "eyesores" inferior beings without proper self-awareness from the bottom of my heart. Presumptuous lot, they are.]
[Gyehahaha, you really are a terrifying Goddess.]
[Stop that condescending laughter.]
[Gyehahaha! Gyehahahahahaha!]
[.Haahhh You've always been like this, Worm-san. You never listen to others. Enough, I'm tired of it Sniff, sniff How sad Uweeehhhn.]
[Well As a whole, it's a fact that humans aren't creatures that are praised much. I partly agree with the assertion that they're inferior beings. It's also a problem that the Chief Deity and Loqierra are in the way to carry out that assertion.]
[After exterminating the Chief Deity and securing Heaven's "resources", let's proceed with the next stage of the plan.]
[Ahh? The next stage?]
[The world where the Heroes from Another World originated Are you not curious about it?]
[Gyehahaha, for real? Sending someone who wasn't originally from that world over there? There isn't a single one who has done that back in Heaven, right?]
[That's why it's me.]
My lips curled up into a smile, but the smile didn't reach my eyes.
Wormungandr rested his arms on the table and clasping his hands together, he began twiddling his thumbs again.
[Kuku Then, shall we return to the topic at hand? What to do in the near future, I mean. So, what are we going to do now?]
[Fufu, there's nothing in particular we had to do. Since the Sacred Eye will eventually be destroyed, once that happens, we'll simply open the gate again and go to Heaven. Simple, isn't it? With your understanding capabilities, you got that?]
[What if "the blacksmith and his group" arrive here before the Sacred Eye is destroyed?]
[Then I'll just be breaking the clich of the play.]
[They're humans, you know? Wouldn't those coming here specialize against Deities?]
[Ara? You're not thinking we'll lose, are you? Even if Anti-Deity Specialization docks our victory chances, they still aren't our enemies.]
[Maybe but what about him? That Fly King]
CRAAAAAAAAASSHHHHHH!
With a powerful swing, the royal table beneath my arms was subconsciously destroyed.
The table, passed down through generations of Kings, split in half and shattered.
Hardwood splinters were pulverized and danced in the air.
The majestic tablewares, seemingly letting out pitiful, brittle screams, lost their forms.
The finely crafted dishes scattered on the carpet, and the rare wines spilled.
I clutch my head with both hands.
[A- AAIYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! THE PRECIOUS TRINKETS PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE ROYAL FAMILY! EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE MY FAVORIIIIITES! GYAAAAAHHHH-!]
My hands reaching behind my waist and clasping together, I bent forward.
Then I started humming.
The screaming and pale face I previously had transformed into a blissful smile.
[Run, ruuurururun rurun, ruurururun Fufufuuuun Rurungaruuun runruuuurururun ]
Jaunty steps, almost like I'm skipping on stepping stones peeking out from a river surface.
It might even look like I'm dancing.
Avoiding the scattered wood, tableware, dishes, and spilled wine, I approached Wormungandr.
[Run, ruuurururun rurun, ruurururun Fufufuuuun Run, ruuurururun!]
As if to boast that I had safely reached "the river's other shore", I spread my hands to both sides.
I'm now standing directly in front of Wormungandr, who remained seated in his chair.
[Would you give it a rest already, Worm-san- Talking about that sh*tty fly. Want me to kill you?]
[..]
[Before they arrive here, the Sacred Eye will be destroyed anyway. That pitiful "blacksmith and his group" will step into this empty castle and stomp in frustration.]
I checked if the Sacred Eye was still functioning.
[Tsk.]
I softly clicked my tongue.
Perhaps the movement speed of the Sacred Eye was slower than expected.
Seriously, what the heck are they doing?
However, I plastered a smile on my face again.
[Well, even if they do arrive, we just need to buy some time. In the first place, what can Jonato do at this point? If we just stayed put, the Sacred Eye would eventually be destroyed. Fufu I'm well-prepared, so I have some tricks up my sleeve for buying time here. And even if Nyantan leaks out information about the Anti-Deity Sacraments, or if the existence of the gate activation device is somehow discovered, as long as I'm safe, there wouldn't be a problem I've made sure of that. How many years have I spent making my preparations here? Yes, everything is progressing smoothly. Therefore-]
With a smile on my lips, I asked Wormungandr.
[Can you refrain from bringing up unnecessary topics that just trigger my displeasure?]
[Gyehahaha. Kuku Alright, understood, Goddess-sama.]
[Besides Even if they do manage to arrive, the misfortunate ones would be them.]
Thinking about the situation where such a thing occurs, my eyes widen slightly.
[If by any chance we were to fight them How many would die? While I prefer to keep them alive as much as possible for torture or to hold a survival tournament, there will still be many deaths in battle. Ahhh If only they had behaved, they might have lived a little longer. They're quite pitiful. If we were to go to Heaven before they reach here, they would actually be lucky. They really are quite stupid.]
At that moment, they could only lament.
The deaths of their comrades.
The suffering they would be in.
[How many corpses will pile up in this futile battle Good gracious, I'm looking forward to it Right?]
Saying that, I placed a hand on the arm of the large-build Wormungandr and passed by.
The Fallen Deity Wormungandr.
In the direction I was heading for were the other Divine Servants.
They had been silently observing the exchange between us two.
The First Hero Ars.
A Hero who relentlessly pursued power to its limits.
Although not to the extent that everyone knows it, his name is still passed down.
To the extent that there are still parents today who name their children after him.
For example, in the late Alion Thirteen Cavalries
Wasn't the old Captain of the Twelfth Cavalry one such case?
A special existence, being a Hero from Another World.
At first, I had judged Heroes based on this man as the standard.
However, Ars had originally been "different".
The first summoned Hero was extremely different.
The Void Being Yomibito.
Another peculiar one.
At the time he was summoned, Yomibito had lost most of his memories.
Indeed, he had an atmosphere unlike the other Heroes.
In fact, he seemed to be different.
"It's like he's from a different era."
That's what the other summoned Heroes were saying.
The other Heroes have various speculations about him.
Musashi, Oda Kenshin, Shingen.
Kojirou? Yagyu? Ittosai? Amakusa?
Tadakatsu? Sanada? Date? Yoshitsune?
I don't really know them, but it sounded like they were names of famous people from their world.
One Hero even speculated
[Could this person be from Yomi-no-kuni?]
And since he didn't remember his own name, it was decided he was to be called "Yomibito".
Some even gave him the strange nickname "Yomibitoshirazu". (T/N: According to Shinto mythology, Yomi is where the dead go in the afterlife. Yomi + hito(person) = Yomibito. Meanwhile, Yomibitoshirazu is a word used when the author of something is unknown or difficult to identify, such as in a collection of songs, which makes this word often found in imperial collections under Kokinshu. In other words, Yomibito = Anonymous.)
In any case Yomibito was strong.
He single-handedly defeated the Great Demon Emperor of that era.
The other Heroes fell in battle against them one by one.
Although they weren't weak, they dropped out surprisingly quickly.
They may not be as strong as this time's, but the Great Demon Emperor's Army of that time was extremely strong back then.
As expected, even I felt on edge at that time.
That was the first time the word "defeat" crossed my mind.
However, never had I expected-
That Yomibito would almost single-handedly end it all.
Remembering that time, I put on a refined smile.
[I believe we'll be fine but if that presumptuous "blacksmith and his group" do come here, I'll leave handling them to you. Fufu, I'll be expecting a lot from you guys, okay?]
With narrowed eyes, I smiled at one of the three Divine Servants.
[Especially you.]
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