Surprise and then hints of fear appeared on the faces of the gods. Even the Seer was unable to put on his mask of calmness in front of her.
“I have also heard that among them was one god in particular…my unworthy brother, Zephales. Unfortunately, I was not able to identify the true mastermind. However, it is clear that those who schemed did it all for their own gain.”
Salia was sure of it from the reactions.
The people here knew who the mastermind was.
“They provoked a war between gods and demons, and in its aftermath imposed upon us the so-called ‘compromise.’ They twisted the rules to suit their own convenience. And it was for their sake that my star and its people were defiled!”
All of the rage she had been unable to voice up until now, the resentment she could not unleash, Saliashe let it all out like a falling hammer.
“You turn a blind eye to such evil, and dare speak of holy wars and righteous deeds! You only gorged yourselves on stolen fruit, the result of a great conspiracy that used the lives of innocents!”
The Seer opened his mouth once, but he was unable to argue back.
“Don’t get too worked up, Salia.”
The dragon, who had been licking his wine, said with an indifferent tone.
“Just look at his army and you won’t need me to spell it out. He exploits the vulnerability of war, squeezes the powerless people dry, and flaunts his own authority. He may dress it up with pretty words such as ‘progress’ and ‘peace,’ but strip off the veneer and you see it for what it truly is.”
“‘War supporting war’? A perfect description of this game.”
“Then what is it that you are doing?!”
Furukamuto shouted angrily as he pointed to the Demon King’s army.
“You side with the enemy and seek to crush the Hero! Is this your revenge for having your own star defiled? Will you bring calamity upon everything?!”
“My wish is to restore all things to what they once were.”
The moment she spoke the words, Salia felt her resolve settle.
And to make her stance toward the game clear to all, she continued while choosing her words carefully.
“To set right the tyranny of the greater gods who wield power at will. To shatter the machinery of the heavens that is tossed about by ambition, and to break the deception known as the game of the gods.”
The others groaned.
Salia’s statement already carried the weight of a greater god.
They all understood that if this goddess were to win the game, the current order would collapse completely.
“I swear upon my name, together with my ally, the kobold Sheto, we will hunt down every Hero and the Demon King, win this game…and bring the game of the gods to an end!”
The gods, who had been mere spectators, were now completely pale.
If the Seer were to win, they would be shut out forever. And if the Goddess of Peace were to prevail, the very path to advancement would vanish altogether.
As if unconcerned with the anguish of lesser gods, the Seer turned to Salia.
“So this is your way? To rebel against everything?”
“I can hunt the Heroes of gods, and I can hunt the Demon King and his generals. Beyond that lies nothing but victory.”
“You rail against human ambition, yet you yourself selfishly trample the people underfoot. You’re no different. You should be ashamed.”
“Are you worried that your army will lose, even before the fighting begins?”
The dragon asked with a drunken laugh as he refilled his cup.
“As far as Morania is concerned, there would be no problem at all if your army were to vanish at this very moment. As I told you before, those gathered there are now the last of Berganda’s forces.”
“…!”
“While the Demon King’s army is regaining its strength on the central continent, the garrison troops left in each region are not under your protection. Which means…”
The dragon’s eyes, narrowed by drink and scheming, twisted his rugged face into a wicked grin.
“Furukamuto, the Seer who bestowed civilization upon the central continent of Ephalea and the eastern continent of Morania, and who drove back the demons that threatened their people. You have done a great service. But your task is finished now. Step aside and withdraw at once.”
Without saying anything, Furukamuto stared at the dragon god as if challenging him.
Avoiding the glare, the dragon turned his head away and drank from the wine barrel in his grasp.
“I told you already. Thank you for acting exactly as expected. Reducing the threat of monsters and bringing peace to the people. It never had to be your Hero in the first place. The only truly unexpected gain from your actions was this fine wine.”