Ch.23577. It’s Not a Lie (3)

“Who the hell are you?”

And coincidentally.

I too had taken exactly the same form as that thing.

Here, the only one with a clear human form was my younger self.

The pure white girl, and that dark red being that just appeared causing a commotion.

Even that deranged war god from another world.

They were all uninvited guests in this place, I suppose.

“……”

And.

Lutetia, is it?

You were… the reincarnation of that pure white being.

If that’s the case, then the conclusion that it was my responsibility until the end stands.

How absurdly unfair.

“Damn this ridiculous force.”

The war god grumbles.

Even he was exuding a ferocious aura that could overwhelm and intimidate anyone.

But to me, such things held no meaning.

Fear, terror.

While not entirely unfamiliar, they certainly weren’t things I was accustomed to.

Though I keenly felt the sense of danger.

“What are you trying to do by coming here?”

I asked, just in case.

“Didn’t you hear from that pathetic woman?”

He responded irritably.

“She wants destruction, doesn’t she? So I’m granting that wish.”

“Why did you accept it? What benefit does it bring you?”

“Of course there’s a benefit. I get to look into and travel between not just one, but multiple worlds according to my will.”

So, for that purpose, you’d destroy our world? Is that what you mean?

“Don’t misunderstand. What I want is the annihilation of all worlds except the one I was born in.”

“…?”

What is this now…

“How long must I watch these worthless things scattered about? If I hadn’t known about them, that would be one thing, but now that I know, I must erase them.”

“What’s your reason?”

“You ask the obvious.”

He revealed an extreme selfishness that went beyond the ordinary, as if it were the most natural thing.

“Because only my world should be the one and only.”

So what can I do? I have to burn down all worlds except mine.

“A world overflowing with riffraff and versions of me that aren’t me. It’s so infuriating I can’t just stand by and watch.”

“……”

Indeed.

This bastard has clearly transcended the bounds of normalcy.

When a superman deviates and goes astray, does it lead to such a catastrophe, no, a calamity?

“The very fact that I am not unique and singular is wrong from the start. In that case, individuals have no meaning. It’s not like it’s a playground for gods. Ah, if it were like that, it might be better. I actually thought it was like that and was planning to have fun in those games and fights.”

“…So that’s why you turned your world upside down?”

“From the way you talk as if you know me, it seems you’ve seen or heard something.”

He snorts derisively.

“Whatever. So, did you get the answer you wanted?”

“More or less.”

It’s probably the same for him.

The type who would be curious about this, and beings who could reach this place.

Including those who understand their own circumstances…

“Are you my natural enemy or my counterpart? This force is doing unnecessary things again.”

“Think of it the other way around. If you’re the only real one in your world, then I’m the real one here.”

“Oh, is that so? But…”

He clicks his tongue as if finding me pathetic.

“I don’t sense any divinity in you. No divine protection either.”

“Because I abandoned it.”

Or rather, some genius fool from my past discarded it on his own.

“Is that going to work? How can a being without divinity stand against divine rank and status? Are you Diomedes who pierced Enyalios with a spear and defeated him?”

“……”

Diomedes, huh.

That’s right, he received Athena’s protection, and all of Ares’ spears missed him, but conversely, his spear thrust pierced Ares’ vital point.

Among the tales of “giant slaying” where the weak or poor achieve the feat of defeating an absolute power, this is considered one of the most notable stories.

…Though those who aren’t interested might not know, since the Irenis Church treats pagan myths as merely entertaining stories.

“It might be similar.”

“How so?”

I form a pitch-black sword.

“……”

This space is a world manifested by transcendental abilities.

I can’t deploy Peccata here.

…Unless I’m thinking of suicide.

But even without that, I had more than enough cards to play.

“…Resolving things through fighting is always barbaric.”

It broke down.

This wasn’t a negotiation or anything to begin with.

“I’m a bit curious about what answer my counterpart will come up with. Though I don’t expect much, having experienced this many times before.”

“……”

As always.

…When the conversation is over, we should just fight, but why does he have so many empty words and quibbles?

Still, the reason I hesitate to strike first might be because I’m at a disadvantage when it comes to initiating.

…No, that’s not it.

As always, the one who attacks first has a higher chance of exposing weaknesses and being counterattacked.

If one doesn’t have the capacity to understand that, they’d just stand there blankly, getting hit or barely defending.

…But you know what.

‘I’ve fought your shadows and half-beings so many times already.’

And now that I’ve come here, facing your main body.

‘Stop holding me back.’

Beyond the sense of crisis, I’m starting to feel irritated.

====

The war god, looking around, muttered.

Once heroes who saved the world.

And he, who had been driving away the grand warrior mentioned only in myths, spoke.

“Yes. My memories are becoming clearer now.”

Things that were lost.

Things that weren’t necessarily taken, but left behind.

“It was truly exhausting.”

I was severely beaten.

The memories of that time were unclear.

Thanks to being torn apart, fragmented, and damaged.

That’s what it means to form divinity.

You don’t die, but there’s a different kind of death.

The firm awareness that I was solely myself and could be myself.

The self-awareness that allows me to be me, and all the memories and thoughts that support it.

All these things constitute one’s divinity.

Life’s achievements are merely a process of confirming this.

But even those with qualifications, if they cannot accumulate achievements and feats, are ultimately nothing but extraordinary individuals.

Extraordinary, but in reality, they are nothing.

“It’s been well hidden.”

At last, the tree monster was able to reach the World Tree despite the interference of the white giant.

And so I realized.

That what I had left behind was there.

I knew it, but realizing it is another matter.

“I thought something was strange.”

Though I am a god of war, my essence is war, but I don’t preside over bloodshed and struggle.

Tactics and strategy, schemes and plans.

An aspect that Athena, who was a goddess of wisdom, eventually took over.

That was the domain presided over by the giant god Pallas.

After all, he too was a giant god of war.

“I see.”

Something was inadequate.

Very inadequate.

Anyone can achieve great feats with overwhelming power.

That’s natural.

So, for the war god himself, it’s not a remarkable thing.

The ability to handle and wield power well is certainly admirable.

But for the weak and poor to overthrow an absolute power.

…That was the achievement I desired.

From the bottom to achieving hegemony.

Being a hero’s child, a genius, having great bloodlines, and so on…

Yes, I admit it. Those conditions contributed to my achievements.

And because of that environment, I was able to absorb everything without envy.

Even among the offspring of beasts, those with louder cries, slightly larger bodies, more ferocious and cunning ones get more food and monopolize more of their mother’s milk.

This is more of an innate issue than an acquired one.

In that sense, I was indeed blessed.

So I had to do everything.

If I didn’t accomplish anything.

These things I received would, conversely, make me rot and decay.

I knew too well the essence of knowledge, skills.

Such things.

If not used, if not handled.

They would cling to my body and continuously emit a moldy stench.

“I grow stronger while you all grow weaker.”

As he gained composure, the war god once again felt a surge of bitterness.

Back then too, he was defeated because he pitied his opponent in this way.

His existence ultimately sprouts compassion towards others.

Compared to his presence, everything in the world was infinitely meager and fragile.

They were never enemies to begin with.

Not worthy of being considered opponents.

They were just young lambs, wandering and struggling because they didn’t know… that’s all.

“Ha… huh!”

Gazef’s entire body was in shambles.

Loroana, who was crouching on one side, had her clothes in tatters, revealing teal scales here and there.

Even the Valkyrie, who had been armored in brilliant silver, had damaged armor and its luster had long faded under a layer of dust.

Moreover, unlike at the beginning, another Valkyrie had joined the fight.

…But they couldn’t inflict any effective damage or wounds on that ominous war god.

They had managed to land a critical hit at the right moment.

The problem was that he had completely anticipated it and used it as an opportunity for a counterattack.

Truly abnormal experience.

“If a being like you had joined the previous invasion, we wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

“I descended to the demon realm less than 10 years ago.”

“Descended?”

“Yes. If I had to say, I am a god who fell from the heavens. It’s a metaphor, but not a crude joke, so don’t worry.”

As if his previous consideration had ended, his tone had long lost its respect.

More precisely, he had just recovered a piece of himself, a piece he had lost.

It was also one of the many purposes for trying to invade the World Tree.

“If you want to stop me, your last chance was just now. I declare it. It’s impossible now.”

“Hmph! Again showing your groundless arrogance…”

“I assure you, I am not careless. Nor have I ever been arrogant. If I seemed inadequate despite that, it was because I pitied you.”

I too was human once. So no matter how malicious my intentions, hesitation remains.

I’ve never been swayed by emotions or fighting spirit.

Within me, there is a firm order and ethics of my own.

“That’s still the case now.”

Tormenting is low.

So if I truly want to kill them.

…The best I can do is to send them off without pain, just enough to make them aware they’re dying.

“Let’s end this.”

The ominous war god declared the end.

“Even enjoyment should be moderate.”

The dark, shadowy form was withdrawn.

And what appeared there was.

“Huh?”

A form that was both very familiar and unfamiliar, difficult to explain.

No, such ambiguous expressions don’t…

“Kariel?”

It looked like what he might look like if he had aged at least a decade or more.

The reason Gazef could infer Kariel’s distant future from that form was.

At least, because he had observed the grown Kariel closely for a long time.

But that being’s atmosphere was completely different from the one Gazef knew.

Heavy chains wrapped around his forearms, and a breastplate and back armor that seemed to coexist with gold and red hues.

On the other hand, what could be called the lower garment hung down like a skirt, but underneath were iron plates encircling the knees and ankles from front to back.

“This isn’t the attire of this era.”

Loroana approached Gazef and spoke as if for him to hear.

“That’s from ancient…”

“I have my suspicions too.”

KWANG!

A golden shield suddenly thrust down like a pillar.

And.

When he grasped a spear that looked like it was made of steel, his form? appearance? atmosphere? that had truly looked like Kariel?

Anyway, all of that had completely changed.

“Astarte. I have returned.”

Astarte.

However, the meaning and intent with which the war god and Kariel discuss this name are completely divided.

The Astarte that the war god called.

Not Athena.

Not Minerva.

It was the golden VENUS.

-I know well. My love on this side has been properly revived too, hasn’t it? How long has it been?

And.

In all these many worlds.

Even between those worlds.

The only things that are unique and singular.

Would be only them.

Kariel.

Just as I, resolutely, hope it to be so.