Ch.86Ep.86 Judgment

I thought about it for a long time.

My power was already overflowing, and I had won countless battles against beings who possessed an Order.

At this point, the Order should feel sorry enough to awaken within me.

Yet Radios had not awakened his Order.

The problem was that he lacked something that symbolized himself.

“You must never awaken your Order, no matter what. Hold it in as much as possible. When the time comes, release everything at once.”

This was the advice Poseidon had given to Radios, who couldn’t awaken his Order.

She probably meant that since he hadn’t awakened his Order for so long anyway, he should wait a little longer.

But thanks to Azathoth, Radios had been able to feel a bit of Cronos’s Divine Order.

He felt that if he waited any longer, he might miss the timing to awaken his Order and end up as a nobody.

As a result, despite Azathoth reviving his body, Radios deliberately didn’t return and pondered endlessly.

He was convinced that if he could clearly establish something that symbolized himself, he could awaken his Order.

After much deliberation, the symbol Radios chose was either protection or judgment.

Protection represented his life as Radios Magnum, guardian of Kadinant.

Judgment reflected his time as an inquisitor hunting down false gods.

After careful consideration, he chose judgment.

No matter how he looked at it, the current Radios wasn’t fighting to protect something.

Protection was a secondary goal; his path was to completely annihilate his enemies.

In that sense, he could firmly establish that the concept symbolizing him was judgment, not protection.

Thanks to this, Radios awakened his Order at that moment, and his instantly purified soul immediately knocked on the door of Divine Order.

Radios, who had intended to return to his body right after awakening his Order, remained in Azathoth’s void.

Seeing the hope of awakening his Divine Order, he immediately attempted it.

The result was a great success.

Exceptionally among those of human origin, Radios rose to become a being who had awakened a Divine Order.

The only minor issue was that his physical condition was nearly at its worst since he had just awakened.

Also, even though he had awakened his Divine Order, he couldn’t grasp how to utilize it.

He decided to think about that after getting up and returned to his original body, but wait—

Sensing Veichel’s magical power, Radios headed there without a moment’s hesitation.

Though he didn’t know how to use his Divine Order, he could at least project the basic intimidation that comes with being a Divine Order user.

Radios emanated his Divine Order as if to show Veichel a clear difference.

She could only stare blankly at Radios, speechless.

“The goblin’s medical arts surpass even Asclepius, who was called the god of medicine. Receive healing and move.”

“…”

“If you understand, then leave. If you try anything foolish, I’ll immediately break our alliance and kill you. Remember that.”

Radios left Veichel alone in the tent and went outside as if nothing had happened.

Then he staggered as weakness overwhelmed his body.

“So you weren’t just lying around like Sleeping Beauty?”

“Lady Poseidon…”

“Congratulations on awakening your Divine Order. We should drink to celebrate on a day like this, but looking at your condition, I think you need some rest.”

“I’m… so sorry…”

“No need. You didn’t awaken your Divine Order step by step but all at once, so it’s understandable.”

Just as water in a vessel that suddenly expands would surge before gradually finding calm,

Radios’s vessel had expanded instantly due to his Divine Order awakening, and his magical power hadn’t yet adapted.

This too would resolve with time.

Radios, also aware of his physical condition, nodded and let go of consciousness.

In truth, he had appeared here only because of Veichel, pushing himself too hard.

Normally, even after waking up, he should have rested more before moving.

‘Having forced himself to emanate his Divine Order from the start, he’ll need at least a week of sleep.’

Poseidon moved him back to the bed where he had been lying and went alone to meet Veichel.

She still hadn’t recovered from the Divine Order Radios had shown her, as she showed no reaction even when Poseidon entered.

“Is it that shocking? That he awakened his Divine Order.”

“…Impossible. Clearly, Radios was receiving support from the Blind Idiot God, but the Blind Idiot God is—”

“Not complete, true. But you’ve been with him long enough to know, right? Even I, who haven’t known him long, understand what kind of person he is.”

One who sacrifices himself and burns with passion for others’ happiness.

Poseidon saw in Radios a reflection of the ideals she once held.

“He’s going to do something big soon. You’ll probably think it’s fortunate you came here with your mind made up.”

“The alliance won’t last. To create a world only for humans…”

“Again with the human talk. Don’t disguise your pathetic desires as a noble cause. You’re just a loser who’s dragged in the concept of a noble cause to justify your hatred and revenge against the world.”

“…”

Veichel didn’t respond to Poseidon’s words.

Not because she had heard them before, but because she genuinely began to doubt her own ideology.

After all, what Poseidon had just said was merely a reflection of what Veichel wanted to say.

What she actually wanted to say was:

‘Radios, an apostle of Azathoth, and me, using the power of Chaos. In other words, how could two beings with incompatible Ascended Orders maintain an alliance to the end?’

With this, Veichel could somewhat understand what Poseidon had said.

Little by little, she might be getting consumed by Chaos.

She began to feel that uncertain and vague emotion.

If she really were to be completely devoured by Chaos.

‘What should I do then?’

The more negative her imagination became, the deeper Veichel fell into a dilemma.

If she stopped using Spirit Devouring, she would lose her means of growing stronger quickly.

It was thanks to Spirit Devouring that she had come this far, so abandoning it would mean the end of everything.

She wouldn’t even be confident about defeating Arsia, let alone Radios.

But if she didn’t abandon Spirit Devouring… who knows what Chaos might do.

If the day really came when she was consumed.

Then.

“Feel free to kill me without hesitation. I think I won’t have any lingering attachments to this world once I accomplish that goal.”

“Hmm… I remember you weren’t this kind of woman, but whatever.”

Poseidon sighed as she watched Veichel push herself.

Perhaps she had hit her too hard mentally, as Veichel seemed a bit dejected.

Having nothing more to say to her, Poseidon left the tent.

Even after she left, Veichel continued to seriously contemplate what she truly wanted to do.

**********

Three days had passed since Radios awakened his Divine Order.

Radios, who had been expected to need much sleep, quickly recovered and got up.

Veichel had also completely healed her internal injuries thanks to the goblins’ medical arts and was ready to go kill Millia and Ren.

“Are you going now?”

“Yes.”

Veichel, nodding in response, no longer had the confused expression from a few days ago.

She had resolved to recognize the direction she needed to take and follow through with it.

Radios felt somewhat relieved that Veichel seemed to have finally come to her senses after her change of heart.

“Be careful. No matter how much stronger you’ve become, they might summon Yog-Sothoth or Idra if things go wrong.”

“It feels weird having you worry about me.”

“I’ve always worried, I just haven’t said it until now, idiot.”

“…Really?”

Veichel noticed the playfulness in Radios’s words and curled up one corner of her mouth.

For some reason, she found talking with him like this enjoyable.

“Take this first.”

Whoosh.

Radios tossed a small vial containing a bluish liquid to Veichel.

She caught it and tilted her head questioningly, wondering what it was.

“Life. It’s a physical enhancement drug I made by analyzing the Yog-Sothoth serum you gave me.”

“Can I just take it?”

“Only take it when you’re in danger. It’s still a prototype, so the effect won’t last long, and you’ll experience magical exhaustion when it wears off.”

“Heh, thanks.”

Veichel smiled, appreciating that Radios was thoughtful enough to care about such details, and tucked the Life vial into her clothes.

She didn’t think she’d need to use Life against humans, but she was grateful to have received it.

“I’ll finish this as quickly as possible, so don’t go anywhere else and stay here, okay?”

“I’m not going anywhere, so be careful and don’t die.”

“I won’t die, jerk. Well then… I’m off.”

BOOM!

As Veichel powerfully kicked off the ground, she instantly became a dot and disappeared outside the village.

Radios turned his back, wishing her success.