Kamigami – 32

Chapter 17 – In the Forest

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“Stop! Stooooooop!”

The scream echoed in the garden.
The goddess of judgment had already descended, and was laughing quietly.
In front of her, Evacus shriveled rapidly.

“Don’t go! No! My faith! Mine! MIIIIIINNNNNNEEEEE!!”

The throne vanished, followed by the crown and robes. And he returned to his old form. A miserable rat.

“La-lady Saliashe! We had a deal! We were to contribute to each other’s victory and help each other!”

He shouted with eyes that begged for mercy.

“Lord Evacus…”
“At least…at least let me keep my lands! Don’t take them away! Please!”

Salia held her hand to her chest. And while she knew that it was no use, she turned to the dark goddess.

“…Yesta.”
“It will not do.”

She answered with a smile.

“I will make it very clear now. When it comes to these games, I have no interest in listening to the foolish cries of losers.”

She said this in a clear voice, so that not only Evacus, but the other gods heard it as well. It pierced deep.

“If we took pity on those defeated, then the rules would weaken, and it would infect the competition. No one wishes to see this turn into such a farce.”

The gods disappeared.
Satisfied by the sight of this downfall. A crafty but arrogant god who had lost everything all at once.

“Losers should accept their fate and fade away. That is my judgment.”
“You…bitch! You are nothing but an observer! I curse you for all eternity!”

Evacus’s feet began to harden. Feeling the sensation, he turned his head to Salia.

“I was as low as you. A fallen god. And yet I worked hard, crawling on all fours! You worked a miracle and won the rank of a greater god! Why should I not wish for the same thing? How are we any different!”
“…I can hardly bear to watch this stupidity.”

The goddess of time spat as she turned away.

“Your heart, your actions. Everything is different. More than anything, you continue to plead your case with victors. You are twisted and vile to the core.”
“Stop it, Yesta.”

Salia said with angry emotion as she sat down in front of him.

“I will not allow you to insult him like that. Even if you are the judge of the games.”
“Sal…Saliashe…?”

The rat looked at her, stunned.

“The reason that I was able to win was because you did not know the real words. No, it was because you forgot them.”
“The…real words?”
“Cunning is a stronger power than military might. That was your belief.”
“It was… And so I…”
“But isn’t there a continuation to those words? Therefore, do not plot without righteousness…”

Evacus stared at her hard. And then a teardrop streamed down his face.

“Ah.”
“Words from an ancient god who is no longer here. Apparently, he disappeared before the games even began.”
“Ah, ah…”
“Isn’t he the one who gave you your title?”
“Ah… Ahhhhhh!”

The tears continued to pour from his eyes.
His body, his arms, and then finally, his head turned into stone.
He had dreamed of becoming a greater god. But now he was a silent statue.

When that was done, the red-haired greater god erased the stone rat from the table, so that nothing remained.
Instead, he picked up a stone dog. And after inspecting the details on it, placed it in the center of the Morania continent.

“After a long while, a greater god was born. And someone appeared who wanted to join us.”
“It appears so.”
“Still, this one is rather cute…”

The war god looked at the dog figurine with interest.

“The way the kobold moved at the end…”

The hero god was silent for a moment and then shook his head.

“What is it, Shiaruka?”
“Nothing. I was just musing about what I would do if I was his master.”
“…What a strange idea. It is a monster.”
“Still, Shi likes those kinds of things.”
“In any case, this is as far as Saliashe’s journey will go.”

Furukamuto said sadly as he placed the soldier piece on the eastern coast. In the blink of an eye, it multiplied until there were enough to surround the dog in the center.

“At least make your end entertaining, goddess.”

Once again, it was night time in the mountains.
The three figures sat quietly in front of the dancing flames.

“Thank you.”

Sheto broke the silence. Guto’s ears twitched. Fiacur was doing something on the small board that hung from his neck.

“…I didn’t…do much. Don’t thank me.”

Said the small dragon without looking.

“What are you going to do now?”
“Now?”

It was a difficult question to answer.
Of course, Sheto had a purpose. A wish that did not fade away, even after the battle had ended, and he was calm again.

“Kill all Heroes. And the Demon King.”
“…I see.”
“But, I want to, think…”

He felt as if something had changed in him. In that moment when he pierced the wyvern and cut down the golem.
He could not express it well. But there was something…
Until he understood it, it would be difficult to do anything.

“Fi. What about, you?”
“…I don’t know. I also…want to think.”
“Guto?”

The star wolf just closed its eyes and sighed.

‘Sheto.’
“…Is it finished?”
‘Aye, it is. It is finished.’

He could smell the sadness in the air.

“Your…cooperator?”
‘Perhaps it is silly for me to feel this. But to me, he was…’
“…He was?”
‘Like a teacher. I owe him a debt.’

Salia seemed like she was lost.
Like she was searching for something deep inside.

“Did you, like him?”
‘Well, perhaps. I suppose we could have been true friends. And that is my regret.’

There was too much to think about. Himself. The future. The meaning of this fight.
And so Sheto said,

“…I’m going to sleep.”
‘Yes. I cannot sleep. So I will watch over you. Rest well.’
“You rest too, Salia.”

Sheto muttered as he curled up.

“Everyone, needs rest.”

He murmured while drifting off.
The flames continued to burn bright, a stark contrast to the shadows of night.

When all was quiet, and the fire was fading, Fiacur began to walk.
A moment later, he reached the black remains. The mass of mithril, not far away.
The great prey was taken down by a single kobold hunter.
His clawed hands took out the smartphone and opened the mail app.
Silently, he composed and sent.

Subject: What should I do?
I don’t know what I should do now.

So brief, but an expression of how he felt.
The reply came shortly.

Subject: RE: What should I do?
You are free to choose whatever you wish.
Accomplish what you want to accomplish.
See everything. Think well. And find an answer.
A good journey to you, Hero.

He sighed and looked up the golem carcass.
The phone screen glowed at his chest.
The recipient’s address started with these letters.
‘koji_itsumi’

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