Ch.241241. The Conference

Meanwhile, at the same time as a rebellion was rising against the Empire of Humanity on Earth.

‘You, you, and you… the Mark of Vengeance.’

Seated in my divine domain of vengeance, I was bestowing blessings upon humans who cried out for revenge on Earth, wishing to grant fitting glory to those who continued to resist even when it seemed impossible.

Like the Mark of Vengeance I was currently bestowing.

Among the blessings I had recently established with formal criteria like decorations, the Mark of Avenge holds a somewhat special position.

It is bestowed as a symbol of my favor upon mortals who have shown outstanding achievements among my followers, overcome harsh trials through their own strength, demonstrated heroic qualities, or accomplished seemingly impossible feats.

Even the most humble pauper can receive it, while great heroes might sometimes not qualify.

In truth, this particular blessing has no specific criteria—it’s simply given to those who catch my eye. It’s basically just a way of marking someone as “mine,” like adding them to a favorites list…

But it seems this has far greater influence in the real world than I had imagined.

The Mark of Avenge, despite its grand name, is actually a decorative blessing with little practical function. When received, a skull cross tattoo appears on the skin, allowing other followers of vengeance to recognize it as authentic.

And that’s all there is to it.

It’s just something I stamp on people to acknowledge their impressive deeds and prove their identity, but the Vengeance Order treats it as something sacred and overreacts.

“Ohhh… OHHHHH!!!”

“It’s the Mark! The Mark of the Blessed One!”

“Blessings upon you, Favored One!”

…Thinking about it carefully, I suppose it’s understandable why they might misinterpret it that way.

Since I created this blessing specifically for those who accomplished great deeds yet received ordinary or poor treatment, followers who witness the Mark of Avenge might catch a faint glimpse of my shadow.

So in my empire, where a culture of valuing honor over life has spread because the afterlife is guaranteed, the Mark of Avenge has become established as the highest honor—almost a sacred symbol that everyone desires.

To put it metaphorically, it’s like a god openly certifying their favor for someone. If I were a mortal, it would certainly be something worth coveting and yearning for.

‘…Done.’

Anyway, after finishing bestowing blessings on those rebels while lost in these thoughts.

I began to devote more of my consciousness to my next appointment—attending the Evil Gods’ Council.

The Evil Gods’ Council, being reconvened after several hundred years following the collapse of the meeting during the demon invasion. To participate in this council, which was being reopened due to the prophecy of a second demon invasion by Magica, the Evil God of Conspiracy, I began casually altering my appearance as one might freshen up before going out.

A unique form strongly reflecting my aspect as both God of Vengeance and War—a knight-lord with a skeletal helmet wearing red armor with crimson eyes.

In that state, I transcended space and time to arrive at the council chamber of the Evil Gods located somewhere in the soul realm. There, a considerable number of evil gods had gathered, though not as many as before.

Perhaps due to the internal strife during the Dark Age, the demon invasion, and the new pantheon of good gods actively hunting down evil gods.

Most of the evil gods below the upper tier were new participants I hadn’t seen before, and even then, their numbers were only half of what they used to be, with most being lower-tier deities.

Compared to that ragtag group of evil gods that immediately brought to mind the word “rabble,” the tiresome Seven Great Evil Gods almost seemed more welcome and reliable.

Yes, those pitiful figures standing on the high platform.

Marus Area, God of Plague, taking the form of a maggot with a rotting body.

Horus, the Evil God of “Fear,” who had changed his image to resemble an octopus-bearded cephalopod pirate captain.

Magica of “Conspiracy,” appearing as always in the form of a bird-person with an eagle’s head.

Sodomia Gomorio Blutas, the Evil God of Pleasure, appearing as a lascivious dancer with three heads and six arms.

“Misfortune,” the Nameless One [ ], whose form remains non-existent as before.

And finally Panima of “Despair,” with a medieval angel-like appearance made of black feathers and eyeballs.

The situation was somewhat better as they looked down proudly on those beneath them, and in this awkward atmosphere—I appeared in the council chamber in the form of a warrior shrouded in red light.

As the gazes of the evil gods from all directions focused on me, filled with various emotions—fear, awe, contempt, mockery, anger, jealousy, and all manner of other things.

《…Well, this is a face I haven’t seen in a while.》

The moment I deliberately spoke with my divinity heavily infused to intimidate those around me.

As the gazes shifted away, I snorted and took my seat—on one of the extended pillars.

《Now then, let’s begin this long-overdue council of evil gods. If anyone has objections, speak up.》

Most unfortunately, no brainless evil god appeared to make a scene and serve as an example.

※ ※ ※

With me, the de facto leader of the evil gods, directly leading the meeting, the Evil Gods’ Council—where the logic of power is even more applicable—proceeded relatively smoothly.

《Regarding the pantheon, we’ll continue with our current policy of self-preservation.》

《…No objections.》

《I agree as well~♡》

《(I also agree)》

The first agenda item concerning future responses toward the pantheon was concluded with a decision for self-preservation due to the selfish values of the evil gods, but the second item I brought up was the real reason this council had been convened.

《Now, let’s move on to the main topic. Our dear God of Magic, you already know what needs to be said, don’t you?》

《…Of course, naturally.》

As I abruptly passed the baton to Magica, the God of Conspiracy, perhaps now accustomed to this pattern, Magica remained silent for a moment before finally voicing the “prophecy” as I had requested.

《Listen well. {The gates of hell shall open, and evil shall leap forth. The end shall gain strength, and the world shall once again fall into ruin.}》

Though the components alone might seem like nothing more than a few cringe-worthy lines heavily tinged with middle-school syndrome, there was something perceptible in them that could only be felt because we were higher-dimensional beings worshipped as gods.

《…Is it true?》

《It is.》

《Really…?》

《It is.》

《T-those evil creatures… are invading again?》

《It is.》

The evil gods, well aware of the chaotic period when both the material and soul realms were thrown into confusion by the demon invasion, kept asking the same questions without maintaining the dignity and decorum befitting gods…

But at the same time, the fact that they could question me so boldly despite having feared me so much before…

It goes without saying how significant the impact of the demons’ invasion on this world must have been.

《…If it’s demons, cooperation is certainly warranted.》

《(I agree, ‘Despair’.)》

《I’ll shift my activities toward the annihilation of demon worship organizations for the time being. ‘Pleasure,’ do you have any information?》

《…Lus, the Lus region. There’s a high possibility that a demon of ‘Greed’ is hiding there and building up power. And in the eastern archipelago, ‘Lust’ has begun to resurge.》

The influence that the demons of the demon realm had on this world was so significant that even these gods, who had been subtly checking and opposing each other until just now, began sharing information with each other.

Thus, the evil gods concluded to cooperate fully on countermeasures against the demons.

The Evil Gods’ Council seemed to be concluding with each god preparing their own measures, but…

Immediately after leaving the council chamber, I changed my appearance once again for my next schedule.

If until just now I had an appearance that emphasized my aspect as a War God—a knight-lord wearing red armor.

This time, the form I took emphasized my aspect as a Blood God—a blood-soaked berserker.

An impressive figure resembling a Norse Viking who had just committed murder, with blood-soaked steel scraps wrapped around him and blood-stained bushy beard and hair.

Having transformed into this form, I concentrated my mind once more and transcended space and time again, thus arriving in a small room.

In the center of this room, with its clean floor made of packed and hardened clay and walls that seemed built from stacked logs, there was a small table with two chairs, and sitting there was someone who, though I was seeing them directly with my own eyes for the first time, was quite familiar.

A male deity equipped with full plate armor in a silver base with gold accents like a knight, with a particularly impressive gauntlet made entirely of gold on his right hand.

Jeftal of the Golden Hand, the “God of Justice and Light” who could be considered the representative of the pantheon, was waiting for a meeting with me.

Visiting this place as a representative of the pantheon to meet with an evil god to prevent the invasion of demons, he rose from his chair the moment I appeared as the representative of the evil gods—

《Ancient deity, are you the representative of the evil gods?》

《I am.》

《Good. I’m glad it’s you, in many ways.》

《Oh my. Coincidentally, I feel the same way.》

Speaking as if he had met a respectable elder worthy of social admiration, Jeftal soon smiled amicably and began a meeting with me to discuss the future of this world.

And to cut to the conclusion…

The meeting ended with very favorable results for both myself and Jeftal.