Ch.142Chapter 142. You’re Just a Sieve to Obtain Lin

“Divine punishment! Divine punishment! Divine punishment!”

The cries seeking the goddess continued to echo through the void.

The World Postman licked his lips at this unexpected development.

“Did you anticipate this?”

At the solemn being’s question, the goddess lowered her gaze gracefully.

“I merely believed, that’s all.”

When the Postman drew his finger horizontally, the invisible force binding the goddess was released.

With the sudden disappearance of the restraining power, the goddess collapsed weakly to the floor.

However, she rose slowly and proudly.

“Since there is a request from the governing race, I shall approve your descent.”

“Thank you.”

“But even if you descend, what can you possibly do? The power you can exercise on earth is weaker than Angria’s due to restrictions. You won’t even be able to exert almost direct influence through a medium like Angria does now, will you?”

Justini saw the World Postman express doubt for the first time.

It meant he was that interested.

Not just the Postman, but other supreme beings watching his content were curious as well.

The goddess smiled faintly.

It was a beautiful yet sorrowful smile.

“What does that matter?”

The World Postman’s eyebrow raised at her arrogant attitude.

“As long as it’s entertaining, isn’t that enough? Isn’t that precisely what you and everyone else desires?”

“How impertinent.”

But the World Postman couldn’t contain his curiosity.

He was excited to see what changes this formerly rigid goddess would bring.

“You dare make me look forward to this.”

“You may anticipate it.”

As the goddess drew up her power, a pillar of radiance soon enveloped her and shot down toward the earth.

The massive pillar of light descended in the middle of the Institution Square.

“To correct my complacent past.”

The lowest pair of wings on the goddess’s back unfurled.

“I must move in this present, tired and wanting rest from pain.”

Above them, another pair of wings sprouted.

“And thus, I shall dispel the anxiety and unease of this future.”

The final pair of wings spread out, and Goddess Justini fluttered all six of her wings.

“I will show you. The happy ending that comes after hardship.”

The goddess soared upward briefly before rapidly descending toward the ground beneath the clouds.

—

“Divine punishment!!!”

Airan and the survivors were shouting for the goddess and divine punishment until their throats were raw.

Even though their voices had already gone hoarse, even though blood was starting to come out, they didn’t stop.

They wished only for karmic retribution against the arrogant shield knight before them.

Rainford mocked them as he gripped the Shield of Chaos.

“Chant all you want! Do you think a goddess who has remained silent until now would move her heavy behind just because of your calls?”

He snickered vilely as blood dripped from his crushed nose.

“Even if she comes, the goddess is powerless. A mere observer who only watches despite having such power will never defeat this guardian who maintains balance with appropriate strength!”

It was an incredibly arrogant statement, but no one dared to retort in the face of the ominous aura emanating from the Chaos.

All they could do was glare at him with resentment.

After intimidating them with his power, the shield knight, believing he had won through logic, maximized the power of chaos.

“Let’s finish this. I will accept this power directly into my body, not just the shield!”

A dark red aura enveloped him.

The magic from the mage-warriors and Lin, along with the magical power shot by Lucy and the resentment slightly added by the Abyss, were seeping into Rainford’s body.

“Indeed…! Lin’s power is the sweetest. It’s truly a shame you’re not a woman. If you were, I would have cherished you for life.”

Having absorbed all the power, Rainford declared triumphantly:

“Let me show you! This is the guardian’s…!”

[You are right, Shield Knight.]

But at the sudden majestic voice, the shield knight froze in his stance, shield raised.

The dignified yet beautiful voice continued:

[I am powerless, utterly powerless, but that is only when I remain an observer.]

A pillar of light struck down from the sky to the Institution.

[I don’t dislike confident children.]

Large white feathers fluttered down slowly.

As the feathers imbued with divine power landed on the ground, on the corpses killed by the magical shockwave Rainford had cast, they emitted light.

After a brief flash, people whose torn limbs and bodies had been restored rose up, exhaling violently.

Rainford looked up at the sky, breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Impossible…”

Goddess Justini was slowly descending through the feathers.

All six of her brilliantly shining wings were fully spread out, fluttering as if showing off.

“Goddess!”

Everyone except Rainford knelt before her and bowed their heads.

Looking at them with warm eyes, the goddess couldn’t help but shed tears when she saw Lin, who had become a demon.

This painfully aching heart was guilt toward him.

The goddess, once again strengthening her resolve, looked sternly at the shield knight.

[However, I do not like those who think only of themselves and destroy their surroundings. You should already know this from the incidents of the Second Generation.]

Under that gaze, Rainford’s knees almost buckled involuntarily.

But it was the Demon God who couldn’t tolerate such a display.

[Justini!]

The Demon God instantly seized control of the body and stepped forward.

‘What are you doing?!’

Despite Rainford’s shocked protest, Angria ignored him and gnashed her teeth at the goddess.

[With what face have you descended again? Are those traitors so precious to you?! Those races who committed crimes, received punishment, received your mercy, and still betrayed you?!]

The goddess sadly replied to her angry sister:

[My precious little sister, Angria. I’ve come to end everything.]

[Now? Now?! If you were going to end it like this, you shouldn’t have started it at all! You should have just remained as my kind and great sister all along!]

[Angria…]

[You created this world and made creatures, neglecting me, and now that I’ve taken everything precious to you, you say you’ll end it?! Because it’s no longer yours?]

[Creation is every god’s dream and goal.]

[My dream and goal was to always be with you!]

Angria struck the ground violently with Chaos.

BOOM!

[You didn’t cherish me because of this petty world!]

[I’ve always cherished you.]

[Don’t make me laugh!]

BOOM!

Cracks spread across the ground with each strike of the Demon God.

Yet unable to calm down, the Demon God grew even more agitated.

[You never put me first! When I asked for attention, you ignored me, and when I asked to help, you sent me away saying it was difficult and complicated! If I was truly precious to you, would you have done that?]

BOOM!

[So I decided to take everything you cherish. I’ll corrupt your creations into demons and take this world.]

BOOM!

[And I’ll take the one whose love would hurt you the most. I believed it was the Second Generation hero Guerrero. That’s why I wanted Lin, who has Guerrero’s soul.]

Lucy and Airan looked at Lin with shocked faces at this sudden revelation.

Lin himself felt bitter, knowing he wasn’t Guerrero.

[But not anymore. I want Lin himself. Yes, Lin was more noble than Guerrero and more painful for you. That heart, struggling with only a part of his soul torn away by betrayal, thinking of everyone. That heart is what you’ve been painfully seeking, isn’t it, Justini? It’s mine. It’s mine! I’ll make him look only at me, not everyone!]

“What are you saying?! Weren’t you going to absorb Lin as your nourishment to balance the world?”

Rainford was so shocked by the unexpected declaration of wanting Lin that he voiced his objection aloud.

Angria responded harshly to the contemptible interruption:

[How dare you! You childish fool who thinks you’re the best with your delusional thoughts! You’re nothing but a useful chess piece. Lin is the real one. Just give up your body. Your body is merely a storage. After I absorb all the power in this world, I’ll give it to Lin and keep him by my side forever. I’ll take what my sister wants most!]

“Angria! You dare deceive me?!”

[Ahahahahahaha!!!]

The Demon God laughed mockingly at this foolish victim.

[I am the Demon God, you idiot. You openly called me a tool too, didn’t you? You were nothing but fertilizer for me to have Lin. Balance? You pathetic fool who can’t even straighten your own broken nose. How could a mere human like you accomplish what even my great sister couldn’t?]

“ANGRIAAAAAA-!!!!!”

Rainford’s personality burst forth to reclaim the body, such was his rage at being mocked.

“You dare insult me?!”

[Hahahahaha! A guardian exploding with inferiority. Fine. Realize your place.]

Surprisingly, the Demon God withdrew, laughing uproariously and willingly giving up control of the body.

As the Demon God retreated, Rainford quickly drew up all his power, spitting as he spoke.

“I am! The guardian of balance! I shall prove it here!”

But the goddess looked at the shield knight impassively as she raised her divine power.

Light enveloped the hero party except for Lin, beginning to heal them.

Lucy’s muscles severed by the True Name Release, Arsil’s damaged internal organs from Rainford’s kick, and Tigria’s concussion—all were completely healed as the hero party regained consciousness and prepared for battle.

However, Naidrian, whose soul had been personally taken by the World Postman, could not be resurrected.

[Prove it then.]

Goddess Justini warned in an icy voice.

[But if you fail to prove it, I will personally take your soul to hell. I will place you right next to the Second Generation thief with my own hands.]