Chapter 122

Ṛҽа​ⅾ ȯｎ КаţṚҽɑɗıոģḈɑſ​ｅ

The Supernatural Liberation Front

Crimes and atrocities committed over a long period.

Extreme discrimination against non-supernaturals.

Encouraging the desertion of supernaturals.

Gathering criminals with nowhere to go, expanding their ranks.

Eventually growing into a massive armed organization.

Once the most powerful criminal organization in history.

Now evaluated as a vicious terrorist group and a societal evil.

But its origins were surprisingly pure and righteous.

The sudden attacks from otherworldly monsters had continued for hundreds of years.

As a result, supernaturals were driven into an endless war.

No matter how much they fought, there was no end.

The monsters came through the rifts.

The supernaturals desperately fought against the terrible calamity.

Only supernaturals with their strong mental barriers could resist the mental corruption of the monsters.

It was a war where the soldiers who could fight were predetermined.

Countless nations fell, and the areas where humans could live rapidly diminished.

The population to protect was large, and the land was vast, but there was always a shortage of supernaturals who could fight.

Even superhumans are ultimately human. The range they could reach was limited.

Humanity was only dying, losing, and being driven to the brink of extinction.

“Those who have the will to fight, follow me. If you can’t, stay here and die, fools. Even in this situation, you’re fighting over rice bowls?”

Finally, a genius appeared.

He unified the nations that were barely maintaining their existence and established a single nation.

He created the Celestial Corps, the spear and shield that protects humanity.

He himself rushed to the front lines and drove back the monsters.

He saved humanity from the brink of destruction.

In response, people revered and praised him.

The God of War.

It was no surprise that such a title was bestowed upon him.

For 150 years, he served as the commander of the Celestial Corps.

Always struggling to protect humanity.

Without him, the world would have already fallen to the monsters.

Because of the God of War, humanity could wave the banner of hope.

It was the age of heroes.

Supernaturals united under the command of the God of War.

Humanity, which had only been losing, began to reclaim what was lost and sang songs of victory.

But unfortunately, human gratitude has its limits.

When kindness continues, it is mistaken for an inherent right.

Once the imminent threat of destruction was overcome, and their backs were warm and their bellies full,

the bitter nature of humans and society, suppressed by the crisis, reared its head.

It didn’t take long for supernaturals to go from the status of heroes to mere expendable bullets.

If one awakened their abilities, they were conscripted and sent to the battlefield, regardless of their will.

They were told, “You are the only ones who can fight!” and pushed forward.

At first, the treatment was commensurate with their duty, but it gradually became harsher.

As stable defenses and systematic institutions were established,

the war against the monsters became a distant matter for the protected citizens.

A severe sense of complacency set in: “The God of War will handle it somehow.”

The rights of supernaturals were violated, and the indiscriminate conscription lowered their status.

The God of War, who could have mediated this situation, was ‘outside the realm of humanity.’

In other words, he was too busy dealing with the realm of the monsters.

The same was true for the captains of the Celestial Corps.

Thus, small and large grievances piled up and grew.

Finally,

the inevitable happened.

“Stop exploiting us supernaturals! We are not your tools!”

“If you impose duties, you must also grant rights! We are not your slaves!”

“Will you live as slaves bound in chains, or will you rise and fight?”

“Commander! God of War! You have reduced us to the lackeys of non-supernaturals!”

“Only we can protect our rights!”

“Stand up! You there, stand up!”

“Supernaturals of all nations, unite!”

Thus, the Supernatural Liberation Front was born.

At first, it was an organization to drive out corrupt politicians as well as corrupt groups and reclaim the rights of supernaturals.

We are family.

Supernaturals must help each other survive.

Their efforts were effective.

When supernaturals, who had endured under the name of duty, began to protest in earnest, the impact was enormous.

Even when the Celestial Corps was asked to suppress them, they ignored it, saying they were too busy.

Even when the military was mobilized, they were no match for supernaturals.

Force is the most primal form of power.

The powerful figures in high positions finally realized:

The power they held was, in fact, only what the supernaturals had allowed them to have.

And the supernaturals also realized:

The power they possessed was far greater than they had thought.

Every person dreams of wealth and glory.

Some have excessive greed, while others are modest.

But the commonality is that everyone has desires.

If the means to fulfill those desires are within their grasp,

could they maintain their purity forever?

“Why should we be the ones to sacrifice?”

“It’s a one-sided relationship where we protect them, so why are we the ones being dominated?”

“Can supernaturals and non-supernaturals be placed on the same level?”

“Weren’t we never on the same level to begin with?”

“The church says that supernatural abilities are bestowed by the gods.”

“Then we are the chosen ones.”

“We will no longer be dominated! We are the chosen ones with the right to dominate!”

“We are the evolved new humanity! The inferior old humanity, without abilities, should be excluded!”

It was only a matter of time before their pure intentions became corrupted.

The organization created to enhance the rights of supernaturals transformed into a terrorist group painted with extreme supernatural supremacy.

However, even as their identity changed, they dared not attempt direct armed actions to overthrow society and the state.

The Celestial Corps exists.

There are the captains.

And above all, there is the commander.

As long as the God of War exists, no one can defeat the Celestial Corps.

Thus, they melted into the shadows.

Into the dark places where law and order could not reach.

They began to gradually expand their sphere of influence.

Engaging in both legal and illegal businesses to secure funds.

Persuading and enticing supernaturals.

Building connections with political figures.

Even if slowly, they steadily laid the groundwork for their foundation.

For the day of revolution that would come someday.

To destroy the world where ignorant and inferior non-supernaturals held sway.

To reclaim the rightful status and rights of supernaturals.

Thus, the Supernatural Liberation Front grew into an organization that even the state could not control, operating in the shadows.

However, greed knows no bounds.

They could even aim for more.

The dream of absolute hegemony was not out of reach.

“Even a mighty tree that could endure for millennia will crumble if its foundation rots.”

“Nothing is as troublesome as rats gnawing away at the inside.”

“Know your place, you filthy worms.”

That was, until the God of War drew his sword.

◈

“…Not bad. Well done.”

“You flatter me.”

Though it was a dry compliment, it made his whole body tremble.

Mackel bowed his head with honor.

It might seem exaggerated, but he was sincere.

He was a staunch supernatural supremacist to the core.

He had passionately devoted himself to the family and spent his entire life serving the organization.

Once a member of the inner circle, he had assisted the boss closely.

That’s why, when the Supernatural Liberation Front fell, it felt like his guts were being torn apart.

The God of War mercilessly reduced everything to ashes. The Celestial Corps descended in an instant. Escape routes were cut off, and the once-mighty organization was shattered in a moment.

He lost everything that he had built over the years. Though remnants remained, they were just that—remnants. The glory of the past was long gone.

Core members were either dead or captured. The boss who had led the Supernatural Liberation Front was personally executed by the God of War. Funding sources evaporated. Decades of effort to avoid public scrutiny vanished like foam.

Though Mackel survived the Celestial Corps’ large-scale suppression operation, he was just a shell.

Only traces of blood and passion remained, tormenting him endlessly.

The reason he didn’t succumb to despair was because of his obsessive belief that it couldn’t end like this.

He struggled desperately to rebuild the shattered organization.

But the God of War did not repeat the same mistake twice.

At the slightest hint of the family’s presence, he crushed it without mercy.

In the end, Mackel was left with only the future of withering away while reminiscing about past glory.

That is, until a new hope appeared.

“No, it’s not flattery. I can see progress being made. The day when our wish is fulfilled is not far off.”

Mackel cautiously raised his head.

A handsome man with a faint smile, carefully reading the report.

Though his youthful appearance suggested he had just passed his twenties,

his radiant eyes held a deep sense of wisdom.

“Is there anything else to report?”

The new boss of the family.

The one who gathered the scattered remnants, like broken glass, and reestablished them into a new organization.

The one who gave Mackel, who had been living in dark times, a vision to move forward.

“No. Everything is progressing smoothly.”

“Hmm, understood. You may leave now.”

Mackel bowed with dignity. His eyes burned with hopeful passion as he left the office with quiet steps. The previous boss couldn’t defeat the God of War and the Celestial Corps. But this one could. The new boss who showed us a new horizon.

“…”

Left alone, the man stroked his chin, lost in thought.

His expression was deep and calm as he gently closed his eyes.

Then, with a hint of annoyance, he spoke.

“How rude. Shouldn’t you at least knock?”

It was a mutter, as if talking to himself.

In reality, there was no one else there.

Yet, he spoke as if addressing someone.

“Ahaha, what does it matter? Between us.”

A response came from where there should have been none.

A girl appeared out of nowhere, as if she had been there all along, without even the slightest sound.

A girl who, despite being inside a building where sunlight didn’t reach, carried a parasol over her shoulder as if to show off.

“You’ve been quite flashy. Isn’t this time a bit excessive?”

“The incident in District 4? Shouldn’t you take that up with Murmur?”

“Ha, do you really think I don’t know who deliberately escalated things?”

The girl with the red fox mask laughed slyly.

Though her face was hidden behind the mask, the man frowned.

He could guess what expression she was making.

“You were supposed to be reflecting after losing to Agares.” 

“He told me to behave, not to stay still.”

“Agares doesn’t like word games.”

“But I do. A lot actually.”

“…So, what is it, Astaroth?”

“I need your help.”

Astaroth took out a small orb from her pocket.

It was the size of a finger joint, but it exuded an eerie chill.

As the man, who immediately recognized its value, raised an eyebrow, Astaroth spoke.

“Make a vessel that can contain this.”

Belial, if it’s you, it’s possible, right?

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
I’ve described the story from Lucia’s perspective so far,

but peace is an illusion that can be easily broken.

Just because today is peaceful doesn’t mean that tomorrow will be the same.

Especially when there is an endless war ongoing.

In fact, the situation of the story isn’t very bright, 

it’s a cruel world after all.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
The four gods sure are sloppy for letting such a game-breaking exploit slide! 

Give us the rightful compensation now! Heh.