Chapter 4 – ‘Race’ of the Gods
While talking, the dragon god suddenly raised his eyes as if noticing something.
The storm god, Gardekier, followed his gaze.
The goddess who left through the south door, and the small beast that moved by her feet. He couldn’t help but smile.
“What’s the matter?”
“No, I just noticed that you were looking at them.”
“Well…I best be going.”
The dragon god rose up as if exasperated.
“You can do as you please. It has nothing to do with me. Make as much noise as you wish. And waste your energy…”
The yellow eyes of the dragon glared at the other gods.
“But do not think that you can block my path again. Such childish tricks will not work. Remember.”
They felt a chill, as if they were trapped in eternal ice. The dragon in front of them was so angry that he could crush a star, and he was not holding back.
“…Really, I cannot even dry my scales in peace here. How troublesome.”
He floated up into the sky and then vanished.
“That ancient lizard…”
Someone cursed. It had been born with tremendous strength, and was feared and respected in many worlds. Indeed, for those gods who were among the top when it came to the games, their way of acting would be quite embarrassing.
However, the dragon no longer had the power to change the god world. Ever since the games began, the gods were forbidden from any direct conflict.
“Let him go on acting like some grand god. It is only a matter of time before he falls, just as Zephalis did.”
The games could be a dangerous thing. But if you win, you could also require unlimited glory.
This was no longer an age where lesser gods remained lesser gods, and great gods remained great gods.
Ironically, Saliashe was the embodiment of that dream. And yet it was the lesser gods who were hunting her.
Gardekier stroked his beard and then called to the rat who appeared in the corner of his vision.
“Did you learn anything?”
“I’m sorry. Saliashe is very suspicious. Still, she did promise to talk to me again.”
And then the storm god glared at the small rate.
“They called you Shadow Finger, and for what? You are the guardian of bandits and nothing more.”
“Oh, you are too critical. Still, I do believe I shall have valuable information in the future.”
“As if I’d want your diseased breath whispering into my ear.”
This small god liked to scurry around them like a rag picker. So even if he was low-ranking, he was more well-known than most.
“Still, it seems like the time has come for me to show my true power.”
“Will you give me more work to do then?”
“Fool.”
Gardekier walked towards the rat and kicked him down.
“…!”
“Soon, the ‘Carrier of the Tainted Darkness’ will come to ravage my domain. That is all I have to say.”
“Plea…please excuse me.”
The rat dusted off its rags as the other god stood to face him.
“I will give further instructions later. You may leave now.”
“Ye-yes.”
Evacus left as if rolling away. Gardekier smiled as he saw the rat grovel at some other god’s feet.
This agreement with the demons had brought about peace in the world. However, the effect of this was the lack of opportunities for gods to put on a show of defeating evil.
And so the tradition of ‘Plague Gods’ was used to resolve that issue.
The gods would decide together, who would play the role of village in other worlds. By pretending to be evil, they could strengthen the faith people had in the other gods. As there was a prior agreement, damage was kept at a minimum so that both sides could enhance their fighting force.
Of course, this role was not something that everyone wanted to take on. And so it was usually god like Evacus, who were low in rank and had few resources.
There were foolish humans who worshiped such plague gods, but that was hardly anything to brag about.
“The pathetic little sneak.”
“There you are, Gardekier.”
“Sydia.”
The god of the sea stood next to him and laughed at the rat.
“Indeed, that is pathetic.”
“Aye. He has his uses, but is still a lowly scavenger at best. I don’t even want him close by.”
“I heard about it. He approached the evil goddess.”
Gardekier nodded.
“Is it not an appropriate match?”
“But if they were to conspire together…”
“We will deal with it when it happens. Her Hero can be crushed in a second. In the first place, he is a plague god that serves us. He would not betray us.”
“Indeed. Just a moment ago, he was bowing at my feet and saying I should call him whenever I needed something.”
“He is quite consistent. Really, it’s almost adorable.”
They both chuckled, and then Gardekier looked at his friend seriously.
“Muroarb was too frantic.”
“It seems that the Hero was surrounded by good mercenaries. But the Hero himself was…”
“Regardless, the small goddess and monster seem to always get out of any danger.”
“Break Art was a surprise. A bit dangerous, that is…”
Gardekier stroked his beard as he realized what had just been revealed by his friend. In other words, his Hero was the same, and relied on magic or the god vessel.
“However, that goddess. She had not used any sacrifice at all.”
“Perhaps she is saving it for resurrection. Or when she is up against an enemy that is too strong to defeat.”
“Hopefully, that time will come sooner rather than later.”
“Why don’t we just set Evacus on her?”
Gardekier was annoyed. Sydia talked too much. One day, he would have to get rid of him as well.
“It is too early to decide on anything. Now, I must go and check up on my Hero.”
“Yes. See you later then.”
He left the sea god behind, and walked to his own god seat. Before vanishing, he glanced once towards the rat and scratched his beard.
“Well, you may as well work hard then. For me.”