Frondier had assumed, from the fact that Charon’s divine power did not belong to Poseidon, that Hera and Aphrodite too were demons impersonating gods.
But the truth was different.
He wasn’t sure about Hera, but Aphrodite was unmistakably the real Aphrodite.
'That changes things a little.'
Until now, he had believed this whole situation to be nothing more than demons provoking the gods, and the gods answering that provocation with war.
However, if Aphrodite herself was one of the forces leading this war, then among the gods there might be others besides her who desired it as well.
'And if Aphrodite is in the capital now, then, just like Poseidon...'
"Did Lady Aphrodite also suffer the same wound as Lord Poseidon?"
"[Indeed. I am bound to the sea, and Aphrodite is bound to the capital. She seemed satisfied in her own way, but who knows what she truly feels.]"
That meant Aphrodite too was one of the gods who had survived Ragnarok.
'Come to think of it, the gods bound to this land and the demons in Agoris are in similar situations.'
Both were beings who could not return to their homelands and had no choice but to survive where they were.
The gods had been wounded by humanity’s final resistance and were trapped on earth, while the demons had been left behind, unable to return through the Gates Satan had manipulated.
The processes differed, but the situations were similar.
'Just as the demons in Agoris wish to return to the Demon Realm, perhaps the gods bound here wish to go to the world of salvation.'
So was Aphrodite inducing this war? Did she believe that if the gods of Olympus came here, they would somehow be able to receive help?
'...I don’t know.'
He still lacked enough information.
The only clue he could really think about was that moment when the Paladin Charon and the two women chosen by gods met.
He had thought the three of them were demons. But Aphrodite was among them.
In other words, a demon and a god had joined hands.
So that demons and gods would go to war.
'What a mad game.'
Frondier shook his head. He had believed gods and demons were /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ fundamentally different from humans, but at this point, they all just seemed insane.
"Which other gods have been wounded?"
"[That’s something to be told after you meet Aphrodite. Go meet her first.]"
It was the answer he expected. There was no way Poseidon would tell him so easily.
Poseidon’s attitude showed that he had already said everything he intended to.
Frondier thought for a moment, then nodded.
Either way, he would meet Aphrodite soon. Originally he had planned to meet a demon.
Poseidon seemed to believe that meeting her would be smoother than with Heracles, but who could say for sure.
'Good. I can say I’ve heard enough from Poseidon.'
In fact, he had obtained far more information than expected.
It was so unexpected that he would need time to sort it all out.
Now it was Frondier’s turn.
"Lord Poseidon, I have something to tell you about the capital, Palma."
"[What is it?]"
Frondier told him about the current situation in Palma.
The demons imitating gods. The gods possessing humans to travel toward the capital because of them. And the war that would soon break out within the city—all of it.
Naturally, Poseidon’s face became visibly twisted with anger.
"[The demons dare to overstep their place...!]"
Frondier had told almost the whole truth.
Except for one thing.
"However, with my own eyes, I cannot distinguish between gods and demons."
He placed a single suggestion in Poseidon’s mind.
"[What do you mean?]"
"From the continent where I was, the gods of Olympus who have possessed humans will come here."
"[Of course. They won’t overlook the demons’ provocation.]"
"The problem is that there might be demons mixed among them."
"[......!]"
Of course, that was impossible.
Almost all the demons in the Empire were under Frondier’s control. Unless he himself had given a command, they would all stay put obediently. If they could avoid being noticed by the gods, that would already be fortunate.
Therefore, those crossing from the continent of Falind to Agoris were all gods of Olympus.
But Poseidon did not know this.
"If a demon hides among the gods of Olympus, we can’t simply stand by and do nothing."
"[......That’s true. You’re right.]"
If one took Frondier’s lie as truth, his argument made perfect sense.
What Frondier wanted to know here was one thing.
Human, demon, god.
Could the gods actually tell them apart?
'Humans can’t distinguish between demons hiding their wings and other humans. They can’t tell whether the power given to them came from a demon or a god. The same goes for the demons.'
Both gods and demons shared their power with humans, and their methods were nearly identical.
It was already known that gods could possess humans, and Frondier had personally witnessed the case of the demon Bune possessing the Paladin Antero. And humans couldn’t tell the difference between the two.
Then what about the gods?
"Before long, the gods of Olympus will come. If among them a demon is hidden, what should be done?"
Frondier offered advice to Poseidon while hiding his true intention.
"[Hmm...]"
Poseidon let out a troubled murmur.
That was already the answer.
'So they can’t tell.'
If Poseidon could tell whether a possessing entity was a god or a demon, then other gods would be able to as well.
In that case, the very idea of demons hiding among gods would be meaningless.
He would have laughed off Frondier’s suggestion as absurd.
But Poseidon was genuinely troubled, thinking over how to respond.
'That’ll be a nice distraction.'
The gods of Olympus were coming to Palma—there was no stopping that.
However, if Poseidon stood in their way and tried to identify which of them might be demons, suspicion would spread like infection.
If he could stall them for even that much time, it would be enough. Even if the gods of Olympus arrived nearby, there would still be time to act.
"[Very well. I’ll take care of it somehow.]"
Poseidon spoke as though telling him not to worry. Indeed, there was no such thing as a god who needed the concern of a believer.
"[But why are the demons provoking the gods? Have they finally gone mad?]"
At Poseidon’s question, Frondier barely managed to stop himself from immediately answering Yes, they have.
"A demon called Bael is the instigator. He wanted, at any cost, to return to the Demon Realm. It seems he involved Satan for that purpose. If the king of hell provokes the gods, they’ll take it as a provocation by all demons. Meaning Satan himself would become endangered."
"[Then did that Satan send Bael and the other demons back to the Demon Realm?]"
"......It doesn’t seem so yet."
In fact, Frondier had just met Bael not long ago. Bael had not returned to the Demon Realm.
It didn’t look as though Satan had done anything in particular about it either.
Had Satan accepted the war with the gods?
While Frondier pondered, Poseidon shook his head.
"[Foolish. Or maybe just unlucky. To choose Palma, of all places, as the stage.]"
"......What do you mean?"
"[The gods of Olympus will gather in Palma if given any pretext. The demons’ provocation will be that pretext. Targeting Satan as a threat to all demons was good, but to the gods of Olympus, Satan will be the last concern.]"
Frondier tilted his head, not understanding.
If there was a pretext, the gods would gather in Palma?
It was a war caused by the demons’ provocation, yet Satan—the highest of the demons—would only be a side note?
"[It’s because of the Golden Apple.]"
As Frondier’s confusion grew, Poseidon spoke.
"[The fruit meant to be gifted to the most beautiful goddess.]"
"!"
Frondier’s eyes widened.
How did Poseidon know that?
The story of the Golden Apple had only just begun.
No—the vote being held in Palma should only have been a motif of it.
"[That story was cut off midway.]"
"Cut off... you mean?"
"[Yes. Didn’t I tell you?]"
Poseidon’s expression darkened slightly.
"[There was Ragnarok.]"
"......!"
Ragnarok.
Poseidon had said it was the history of humanity’s rebellion.
Then that meant, in Agoris, the moment that began it was—
"[The Golden Apple was meant to be given to one of the three goddesses, but it was never delivered to anyone.]"
"The reason was Ragnarok...!"
"[Yes. Like a mobile someone forcibly stopped. With Ragnarok’s arrival, every tale of the gods of Olympus came to an end.]"
Thump—
Frondier felt his heartbeat pound in his chest.
The familiar names appearing throughout Agoris.
Atena, who had risked herself to act for Frondier.
The story of the Golden Apple that had not yet begun.
And—
"[A mobile stopped midway must move again, and the flow must continue. Even if its shape changes somewhat, the great wheel will eventually turn again. Not only humans but even gods cannot help but comply. Do you know what that is?]"
"......Fate."
Fate.
The gods submit to fate.
What was meant to happen, must happen.
"[Moirai.]"
Poseidon spoke.
"[Remember that name.]"
It was a name Frondier knew.
The three goddesses who preside over fate.
Beings possessing a power no one in Greek mythology could defy.
Not even Zeus himself.
"[They have already decided how the story will go.]"
***
After Frondier left, Poseidon was once again alone.
He smiled faintly as he watched Frondier’s departing figure, his face full of thought.
"A worrisome believer, that one. Still, if he’s Thor’s follower, that kind of caution suits him."
Mentioning the Moirai had merely been whimsy.
There was no way a mere human could ever meet them. Even Poseidon himself, back when he had no shackles, had rarely met them.
Fate was their absolute domain.
Not even gods could interfere—humans could only live in obedience to it.
"A war sparked by demons, huh. Then at last, the owner of the Golden Apple will be decided."
Because of the demons’ provocation, the gods of Olympus would gather.
The Golden Apple would finally roll again. To bring forth something even greater afterward—like a growing snowball.
"By the way, a demon hiding among the gods... I wonder what kind of fool would dare that."
Poseidon recalled Frondier’s words about the possibility of demons among the gods.
Honestly, if it were merely telling apart gods and demons, that would be one thing—but distinguishing a god or demon possessing a human was difficult even for him.
However, among the gods of Olympus, there were bits of information only he knew. Questions only a true god could answer.
"It’ll be a bit of a bother, but I suppose I’ll have to do a light inspection of the gods coming this way. They’re old friends after all—I can at least say hello."
"[Hm?]"
As he thought, he sensed another presence.
Today was turning out to be a less lonely day. Or perhaps a god of Olympus had already come to see him?
Poseidon turned his gaze toward the direction of the presence.
"......Where is it?"
But even looking toward it, he couldn’t see anything clearly.
He was in the sea, and before his eyes were only rough waves.
Small things were never easy for him to notice in the first place.
Then why had he sensed it at all?
Why couldn’t he just pass by that faint presence?
"Hm~ hmm~"
Soon, a leisurely humming reached his ears.
When Poseidon squinted in that direction, at last, he saw something in the distance.
"......A human?"
He immediately understood why he hadn’t noticed that human before.
The humans who passed this way usually came in very large ships. It was essential for crossing the sea between continents.
But the one approaching from afar was different.
A small boat? A skiff? He didn’t even know what to call it.
A woman was coming, riding something barely floating.
It was simply—too small.
'How did she cross this sea on something that tiny?'
What about the countless waves that would have crashed down along the way?
The monsters lurking beneath the water?
The gigantic whales capable of biting an island in half?
Had she avoided them all, with just that one tiny boat?
"Ungya?"
The woman made a strange sound and lifted her head.
Her eyes met Poseidon’s massive gaze.
"......Wow!"
Her eyes opened wide in awe and surprise.
Pink hair, delicately carved features as if touched by hand, a slender body and a natural, alluring grace.
Looking up at Poseidon, the woman said brightly,
"You’re huge!"
