Ch.96To Gransia Island

# A Pure White Space of Emptiness

In a pristine white space devoid of anyone, a host appeared wearing a black suit with an unbalanced rainbow-colored tie.

Whether he was late this time, or deliberately arrived late to prepare something, I couldn’t tell. Despite his tardiness, he began the proceedings with a relaxed demeanor after finishing his tasks.

“Hello everyone! Wow, it’s already been three years since the Grancia continent was split apart! That means it’s been three years since the videos of Minotauroso, Khan—the God of Madness and Goddess of the Moon’s favorite—changed from exciting to boring!”

The audience of the game, especially the gods, listened attentively to the host’s words.

Among them was the mentioned being, Minotauroso, Khan.

A mere creature who had demonstrated such strength that even the Irregulars considered him powerful.

Many were surprised that their plaything had shown power comparable to a demigod, and those who had seen his past became his fans.

But currently, he was gloriously sealed away.

By Uldur, the god for humans of the Grancia continent.

“Wow, but it’s been a veeeery long time since a demigod appeared among the participants of the Play!”

While the host was humming and praising Khan, an object made its presence known.

“Oh my, if it isn’t the God of Scales! It’s been a while since you visited. Would you mind telling us why you’ve raised your hand?”

The being called the God of Scales—true to his title, actually shaped like a scale—spread his thoughts.

[Khan’s existence, unreasonable. When he awakens from his seal, humanity’s extinction is certain. With the continent split, countless participants died, and Khan used all of that to become an existence beyond standards. The remaining survivors cannot cope.]

“Ohhh, so the God of Scales is saying that Khan is ridiculously strong, and we should give some advantage to the fifteen surviving participants?”

[Affirmative. That would make things balanced and more entertaining.]

BANG!!

“Nonsense!”

At that, a being armed with armor, sword, and shield stood up, slamming the table.

“Khan gained that power through his own strength. And now that he’s too strong, you want to give advantages to make it interesting? What absurd nonsense! Have we forgotten that we are merely spectators!”

“The God of Justice is correct. We don’t need to give advantages, nor do I feel the need to. Originally, when Khan became a demigod, the gap was already so great that the game could have ended. But we agreed not to overturn the game board now because we’re curious about what he’ll look like when released from his seal, don’t you know?”

Despite the words of the God of Justice and the host, the God of Scales calmly continued.

[The advantage I’m suggesting isn’t giving traits or skills. I’m saying we should tell all remaining participants that Khan was the one who split the continent.]

“So, why should we do that? Even if we leave them alone, they’ll fight… eventually… Wait, you don’t mean…?”

The God of Justice realized something. And this realization spread to other gods, forming a consensus.

[I agree. It’s been two years since participants last fought each other. We are here to watch them grow and fight. But recently, the number of participants has decreased too much, and many are moving for their own pleasure or desires rather than fighting.]

“I also agree with the God of Knowledge. The reason we waited despite already having a winner was because we wanted to see how other participants would respond to the powerful being that is Khan.”

Following the words of the God of Knowledge, who took the form of a book, was a woman wearing what appeared to be a dress made from the night sky’s Milky Way.

The Goddess of Night and Rest continued speaking.

“However… some have grown lazy, playing king while caring for humans, and others have only raped and killed humans for pleasure. Three years may be just a moment for us gods, but I don’t want to spend such time on these individuals.”

Her words caused increasing murmurs. Those who agreed with her and the observation faction who believed they should only provide minimal help as they had always done and observe from behind.

“So?”

Amidst the divided opinions, a deep voice resonated throughout the gods’ meeting hall.

“Oh my, if it isn’t the Goddess of the Moon and Madness! It’s been a while since you visited! Thank you so much for coming!”

The Goddess of the Moon and Madness.

The first to announce that Khan had gained fury, and one of the most powerful gods participating in the Play of the Gods.

At her appearance, some looked at her with fear, while others gazed with a mixture of awe.

“I asked, ‘So?’ What you’re saying now is that you want to inform them about Khan to gather them at the center of the continent, and release Khan’s seal early. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Khan’s seal will break in two years. Even though the god Uldur shows his strength on that planet, he only sealed Khan, who had reached demigod status, after receiving sacrifices without descending himself. And since Khan opened a passage connecting heaven and earth, the seal will break within two years.”

“Then, what’s the possibility that participants who survive two years from now can defeat Khan, who is at the level of a demigod?”

At those words, the host smiled ambiguously.

It was abnormal for Khan to reach demigod status in just seven to eight years; ordinary participants might not reach that level even after fifty years.

“It’s decided. Send a notice to the participants to come to the island where Khan is sealed. The grace period is one year. If any participant reaches where Khan is sealed and attacks, the seal will be broken right there.”

“Such tyranny…!!”

GLARE!

One god tried to stop her, but seeing her eyes gleaming with madness, the god simply chose to remain silent.

“Then, Khan’s seal release is set for a one-year countdown. I’ll modify the seal so it breaks immediately if someone touches it.”

With those words, numerous gods disappeared.

Each might have their own thoughts, but it was extremely rare for the Goddess of the Moon and Madness to step forward like this, so the other gods chose silence.

“Hehe, I’m truly looking forward to seeing how this unfolds.”

The host hummed a tune as he left the meeting room, and once he departed, the meeting hall crumpled like trash being crushed and then vanished.

* * * * *

Three years had passed since the continent was split and the day named Judgment Day.

In those three painful years, heroes emerged one after another, establishing new kingdoms and making their presence known.

One of them was Queen Rebecca Leon of the Leon Kingdom on Ephyr Island, formerly the Silpin Kingdom.

With her golden hair fluttering in the midst of civil war as she wielded her spear, she was known as the Golden Lion for her resemblance to a brave lion.

Alongside her were Plenko the Iron Wall, who carried a black shield and sword to assist her, and the Red Bull Knights who followed him.

All had played significant roles in the civil war, and thanks to them watching over Queen Rebecca Leon, the civil war ended more quickly.

“Sigh…”

Queen Rebecca Leon, the one who ended the civil war and became queen of a kingdom, was sighing deeply.

Her sighs were filled with intense fatigue, dark circles surrounded her eyes, and her hair, which had shone brilliantly golden on the battlefield, had become dry and lifeless.

“Japol, what’s on today’s agenda?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This is all of today’s work, and in the afternoon, there’s an inspection of the kingdom’s patrol and shipbuilding. And this.”

Beside her stood a white-haired man moving documents and answering Rebecca’s question.

Japol, the only brain among the battle-crazed warriors, was in charge of the Leon Kingdom’s internal affairs. As he handed her a document…

Crack…

The world stopped.

“Huh?”

Stunned by the sudden situation, she stared blankly.

“Ardvad—!!”

But such a dazed attitude changed in just one second as she took a battle stance.

Her body was wrapped in her favorite spear, which in Earth’s Celtic mythology was equated with the spear Brionac used by the light god Lugh, and a golden chain mail said to have been worn by the fairy king Manannán mac Lir.

It took only one second, and except for the brief moment of blankness, it could be said it happened almost instantly.

She excellently equipped herself with her weapons and searched for the one who had stopped time.

The opponent was probably a participant.

When she was extremely tense at the appearance of a participant for the first time since fighting the wolf-type monster Lycanthrope participant two years ago while trying to end the civil war…

“There you are!!!”

SWOOSH—!!

KWAAAAA—!!!!

The pure white light emitted from the tip of her spear was instantly released from her office and fired at the presumed participant.

But…

“What!?”

Her attack disappeared somewhere and failed.

“Impossible…!! Then—!”

WOOOONG—!!!

Her spear began to emit even more light, turning golden and gathering at the tip of her spear.

“Light’s Judgment!”

WOONG—!

The golden light transformed into a beam and advanced to repel the intruder.

The attack was literally like light, moving at a speed beyond her perception to attack the intruder, but…

“Impossible…”

Once again, the attack disappeared.

When her ultimate move, which was supposed to pierce through everything, vanished without a trace, leaving her with a sense of emptiness…

“Oops, the connection is established. Hmm. Now, remaining participants, hello! I’m your kind friend and idol, the Host!”

The intruder, no, the host, who acted like a clown.

His tone and voice were unforgettable, so she tried to attack him with even more hostility.

“Oops, many of you are attacking. It’s annoying, so for a moment… Stop.”

With that one word, she froze in the position of throwing her spear while burning with hostility.

“Good! Now, anyway, I’ve come to bring you all good news and bad news! Usually, we intervene very little with you all, but this time, it was decided that we must intervene!”

Intervention. Good news and bad news.

“Now, the bad news is that the game is already over, thanks to a participant with unparalleled power! The being who turned the continent into islands three years ago is that very being!”

Turning a continent into islands? How could that be possible?

If such a being existed, it would have to be a giant from mythology or a dragon.

“That being is currently sealed, but the seal will only last for two more years! Once the seal breaks, the islands where you all reside will collapse one by one, making this game meaningless, so we were going to overturn the game board, but…”

Overturning the game board. In other words, that being would be the winner. After all the hardships she had endured to get here, such nonsense…!!

“But there’s also good news! Our benevolent gods have agreed to give you all a chance! That being is located in a mountain range of the former Grancia continent, on the island that the Uldur Order now calls the Holy Kingdom! You all need to go there and work together to kill that being. However, the time until the seal is released is now one year! Of course, if you attack before then, the seal will break immediately!”

So, please cooperate and entertain the gods!

“Kheuk—! Huk…!!”

With those words, the host disappeared, and the invisible force binding her body vanished.

“Queen Leon! What on earth is…!!”

The time stop had also been lifted, and Japol was startled by her battle gear, but she had no time to pay attention to him.

“Japol…”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will go to the mainland with Plenko.”

“Suddenly, what does that…!!”

From Japol’s perspective, it was an utterly perplexing statement, and he protested, but seeing Rebecca’s expression, he nodded.

“Understood. Until Your Majesty returns, I, Japol Akas, will govern the Leon Kingdom stably.”

“Mm. I’m sorry.”

With those words, she departed for the land that was once a continent and now had to be called an island, together with her fellow participant Plenko, and the same was happening on all six islands.

The Sky Island, the flagship The One of the maritime kingdom Palais, the Vikings of the North and the Agni Order of the Agni Kingdom, those who had been living as kings in the Paradise Kingdom.

Even the marine creature that had destroyed an island.

Most of the participants who had been hiding set foot toward Grancia Island.