Chapter 22 – Luxury and Blunders
After seeing that Sheto was sleeping peacefully at dawn, Salia swiftly left the god seat.
In general, Heroes only became active at night. Of course, this did not include instances of ambush. But the others seemed to avoid entering the forest at night, ever since the battle with her brother’s Hero.
As she made her way to the door, Salia thought back on the thing the Hero had been holding, and her mood darkened.
He had been summoned from another world, and had no experience of living out in the wild.
Being summoned by a god and having to fight as a Hero in another world. It was madness. Of course, that is why they only called them from civilizations that had a certain level of advancement. Otherwise, who would agree to it?
One other important thing was lack of faith towards deities. If it so happened that they already worshiped a different god, well, that would cause all kinds of trouble. They might even accuse you of being a devil.
That was why this area called ‘Japan’ was convenient, or other places that were similar.
Even without much protection, they were able to mentally adapt to the situation, which raised the chances of success for the lesser gods.
However, her hunter was now putting their plans in danger.
A gritty, simple method that targeted basic human needs could bridge the gap in strength, provided you were willing to put in the effort. Lack of sleep dulled judgment, and not eating leads to death. But that strategy would not work again. The more passionate gods were already teaching their Heroes how to make traps in the wild, or they were hiring elves to join their party.
After just one victory, they knew about the majority of Sheto’s abilities. As for the break arts, they would soon figure a way to deal with it as well.
“I request guidance!”
Suppressing her inner turmoil, Salia called out to the door. The dryads standing on either side remained silent, waiting for her words.
“I seek an audience with the ‘Seer of Eternity’!”
“Please wait a moment.”
She could feel the looks of malice and protestation coming from around her.
But she ignored them all as she glared at the door.
“You are to be let through.”
The doors opened, and she stepped foot inside. In an instance, the world was filled with warm fire. She was now in a cozy-looking cave.
“You look quite troubled, Salia.”
“…Yes. Embarassingly.”
The dragon spoke while flipping a page in a giant book.
“I am sorry about earlier. I was busy fending off those children.”
“Not at all. I’m sorry that they pestered you because of me.”
“I hope you didn’t come here to apologize about something so boring. Hurry up and say what is on your mind.”
He was surprisingly cross. Though, dragons had that reputation in this world.
“I came to ask for your wisdom. I am searching for any way to extend the life of my subordinate.”
“And you want my opinion?”
“No. I just want access to your library. Especially any books regarding the past games.”
She was at a complete loss right now. But there was no time to lose. If she could not offer him protection, she had to support him in some other way.
“Indeed, I have documents on past games, as collecting is a personal hobby of mine.”
“Then…”
“However, as I told you before, I do not participate in them. Do you understand?”
“Yes. But I still want your help.”
The dragon finally raised his head, put away his glasses, and turned to her.
“I know the situation that you and the kobold are in. However, is there really any point in worrying so much?”
“Point?”
“You are now a great god. If you want to get out of this situation, just use your divine blessing, so he can acquire a new power.”
“I cannot.”
“Why?”
His voice was hard and cold.
Still, Saria answered him plainly.
“I do not want to use something that requires a sacrifice of stars and worlds.”
“Do not…want to?”
“It is an act of using the lives of strangers.”
The dragon did not answer. She just heard the sounds of quiet rumbling from his throat.
“I…and Sheto. We are fighting now because we do not agree with the games. I am not going to go against that now.”
She could say no more than that.
Something around here, that held immense pressure, exploded.
Fire. Fragments of the dragon’s fury, which would burn all who touched it.
And then the dragon opened its jaws.
“You…fool!”
His body swelled up with his voice. The pupils burned hot, and the smaller dragons quickly moved to protect the books from their master’s rage.
“Do you think you have that luxury!”
“I, I didn’t say…”
“How arrogant can you be, thinking you can win without using the star’s blessing, without even considering the abilities of the ones you command!”
“Even so, if we don’t push through, our cause will be false!”
“And what if the kobold dies?”
Her will to protest began to die quickly.
“Even with your blessings, it will be no easy task, overcoming the limits of his race’s strength. Besides, he does not have a single ally. What else can you do to make up for that, then offer a new ability?”
“But…I…want to honor Sheto’s wishes…”
“And in this lofty pursuit, you think you can win with knowledge alone.”
He was not wrong.
There really was nothing she could do to help him. She had seen it during the fight today as well. There was a limit to what he could do while fighting alone.
“Dirty your hands, Salia.”
There was no longer any anger in his voice. Only the dry truth shook the cavern.
“No matter what that kobold says, you make the decision. I doubt you wish to see him, exhausted, brutally wounded, and dying…”
“He would not…accept it.”
“You are speaking like a weakling! Are you not a god? Do it with force!”
She could not answer anymore. The dragon shook his head and sighed.
“Perhaps being a fallen god has made you forget how to interact with land dwellers. We have power. They are not our friends. Sometimes, you have to bend them to your will, in order to direct them to the right path.”
She understood that in her head. Stubbornness could lead to death. And there were times when sacrifices had to be made.
Still, Salia could not help but spit it out.
“I am a usurper. Do I even have the right to offer them, or my brother’s world?”
“It does not belong to Zephalis anymore. It is not your world.”
It never felt like it.
Though, Yesta had told her so. The paradigm shift was already occurring.
When a world was taken during the games, the ruling god was changed, and so did the faith of the people. Of course, it would take some time before it finished completely.
“That’s why I don’t want to! To take something in such a way! I know what it’s like to lose what is yours!”
“And if you lose, those people will be forced to change again. Do you understand what that means?”
The dragon god summoned a mirror in the air, and a picture appeared.
“This is one of the stars that Zephalis ruled. I suppose this is your first time seeing it.”
“Tha…that is…”
The lands were filled with war.
But not a war of blood. Within the cathedral, priests were shouting at each other.
One side spoke for her brother, the military god, while the other argued for peace in the name of the goddess.
“While the majority have sided with you, the lord god, Zephalis is now being ousted as a heretic.”
The images continued to change. Statues were being destroyed, and all things glorifying Zephalis were slowly replaced with Salia.
“Had you been a more famous god, the change might have gone more smoothly. Still, the change is happening.”
Eventually, this seed of division would spread. And it would likely evolve into a real war.
“I am still against it. The common folk will suffer, and in the end, no one will praise us. People worship gods because they respect us. If we continue to spite them, we will eventually disappear from the world!”
“That is why it is important for there to only be one god, for as long as possible.”
The mirror vanished, and the dragon turned back to Salia with a gentler expression.
“If you do not want to use them, then think about it like this. By extending your rule, they will have peace. Winning the games will ensure it.”
“And that will kill the pain?”
“Why are you so stubborn?”
The dragon pushed the book away and then curled up on the ground.
“If you still do not understand, then I have nothing to say to you. Do as you will.”
“I…am sorry.”
Salia turned and walked towards the door. The dragon unleashed the final words to her back.
“You are no longer someone who has nothing. Think well and hard about that.”