The cobblestone road winds its way to the horizon. I don’t know when or who built it, but we relied on it as we continue flying.
“That guy was so strong. I couldn’t even scratch him.”
“Huh? Tina is still reflecting on yesterday’s battle?”
“Well…. it’s kind of shocking that we’ve trained so much and even had our evolution, yet we still can’t help our masters.”
“That is indeed true. But we’ve are able to support with our boost skill too, didn’t we?”
“Sigh-. Yeah, but I wanted to be active on the front line.”
Tina and Liberto are whispering behind me. I can only say that they met the wrong opponent, the other party was just too strong. Right now, they may be able to defeat a third-class angel one-on-one, but when it becomes a first-class angel, physical ability alone is not enough for them to be able to fight on an equal footing. Powerful skills and magic are necessary.
What’s more, ordinary weapons won’t do. The enemy is equipped with adamantite, which is a precious material in this world. Steel weapons and armors are no match against an adamntite. In fact, despite the fact that it is made of mithril, the blades of the weapons of the Sword of Glory members were chipped from the collision with Rokiel’s sword. For the time being, I had restored it, but if they want to fight angels in the future, they need to replace their current weapon.
As for the skill boost, I know that it would come in handy.
Suddenly, I began to see what appeared to be a building on the horizon. I can say, it’s a temple. A donut-shaped white building existed in the center of the forest. We could go into the center of the building as it is, but I feel that it would be too rude. I decided to approach it from the front for the time being.
◇◇◇
The exterior of the structure was very similar to the ruins of a temple as seen in Greece. Thick pillars are lined up, and stone statues in the shape of angels and gods can be seen everywhere. However, they were covered with ivy and moss, implying the long years this building has been here.
I found the entrance quickly. This is because there was a part of the building that looked like a gate. The thick and sturdy gate, which is ten meters high, has already been opened, and it feels as if someone is welcoming us. No, it’s like someone is calling us from the other side.
When we step inside the building, I noticed something strange. It’s unusually clean. The walls and floors are mirror-like, as if people had been living here until recently. There was no sign of dust and debris as well. In fact, the entire building itself didn’t seem to have deteriorated at all. I had assumed that it was an uninhabited island, but maybe it was inhabited.
“Shinichi, I can hear the sounds of bell.”
“……It seems so. Let’s go in that direction.”
The beautiful sound of the bell reached my ears as we walked down the corridor. When we reached a certain door, I opened it and goes inside.
“Welcome, Tanaka-sama.”
On the other side, a woman bows to me. It’s like a courtyard with no ceiling. Structurally, this is probably the center of the building. Small flowers bloomed on the ground, and moss covered the ground in some places. In the center of it stands a huge tree.
Before I got dazzled by the scenery, I responded to the woman’s greeting.
“They are my comrades. Can they come with me?”
“Of course. I’m sorry for the late introduction, but you can call me Eugrapia.”
“O-okay. Well then, let’s go to the God Tree right away.”
“It’s right in front of you.”
Eugrapia smiled. She has long silver hair that shines and a gentle face like an adult woman. Only a pure white cloth without a single blemish is wrapped on her white skin, and I can catch a glimpse of her plump breasts from the cleavage and side. No matter how I look at it, she only looks like she is in her mid-twenties to mid-thirties.
Is she the God Tree? She looks like a person….
“Fufufu, pardon me if I caught you by surprise. Come this way, please.”
She chuckled softly, took my hand and led me to the huge tree. It was an experience that is hard to put into words.
The towering tree shone so brightly as if it were made of diamonds, and even its leaves had a glassy luster. The fruits hanging from the branch looks like an apple, but they are about the size of a watermelon and they transmit light like a ruby. To top it off, the whole tree gave off a refreshing scent, like a forest illuminated by the morning glow.
It is sacred and divine, and yet filled with a sense of security that seems to encompass everything. So, this is the God Tree huh. It is a plant that sits on the top as a God. Everyone, including me, was fascinated by its brilliance and the sense of security it brings.
“Ahem, so why did you call me?”
“To discuss the future. You are now at a crossroads that will determine the fate of this world. You will need my information to choose the right path.”
“So you’re going to cooperate with us?”
“Yes, what Gohma is trying to do is a betrayal of this world. That is not my intention. That’s why I’m going to tell you everything that’s happening in heaven right now.”
This is a very much appreciated topic. I don’t even know what angels and gods are. I was just fighting to protect the place where I was living. However, if we can grasp the background, we may be able to put an end to this battle. The information that the God Tree will provide is truly a boat to cross.
“Then, tell me about angels and God first, who are they?”
“The gods are the custodians of this universe, whose role is to prepare the environment of the stars, nurture life, and lead them to advanced intelligent life. They also keep the flow of samsara constant. As for the angels, they are God’s subordinates who take direct action for that purpose.”
“So you mean to say that the gods are inherently on the side of humans?”
“That’s wrong. God judges everything according to his own justice. If humans are deemed as threat to the universe, the angels will rush in and return all souls to the flow of samsara.”
The scale is too big and the sense of reality is thin.
Did we start a war with someone who seems to be in charge of the universe?—Wrong, they were the first to attack. It is the enemy who started it. If that is the case, I wonder if humans have been recognized as vermin, as Eugrapia said.
I don’t understand why she’s willing to betray and join our side though.
“It’s confusing right? A god is about to attack and destroy this world, and I, a kindred spirit, is doing something against his will.”
“Then, why would you help us?”
“It’s simple. This is not the consensus of the gods. It is the result of a self-righteous act by a single God. You seem to think that this is a battle between humans and God, but the truth is, you are only caught up in a battle between the gods.”
“Are you saying we’re being hit by the consequences?”
“Yes and no. The outcome will inevitably affect life in this universe though. If the self-righteous God wins, the universe will surely be doomed.”
I scratched my head and then sat down on a nearby stone. What am I supposed to do? Is she telling me to watch the battle of the gods with my fingers crossed?
It was unclear what the God Tree wants me to do.
“The self-righteous god –the chief God, Gohma, has already wiped out three-quarters of the gods. There will be no one in this universe who can stop him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Are you saying it’s too late? Then why did you call us here for? Did you just want to tell us that this world is over!?”
I couldn’t help but get emotional. To say that the battles that the inhabitants of this world have fought desperately and won will be wasted is just heart-crushing. It was not easy for us to defeat the angels. We are also here now, barely holding on to our lives.
“Calm down. We’re still in a position where we can do something. We still have the means to counter Gohma.”
“……Can we still fight against him? But how?”
Eugrapia sat down on the ground and motioned for us to sit down as well.
This is the main topic.
“There are two things that Gohma fears but desires, and if you obtain them, you may be able to defeat Gohma, even as human.”
“Wait a minute, are you really telling me to defeat Goma!?”
“Yes, unfortunately, the only person in this world who can do that is Tanaka Shinichi. With your power, which can even defeat a first-class angel, I want you to slaughter the self-righteous god.”
“Wait, wait, just wait a minute! You are here though! You’re a god right?”
“I have to protect this planet, I can’t leave.”
Oh come on. Why do I have to do it? I’m just a human being. I’m just a homeless man.
She smiles at my bewildered look.
“One of the things that Gohma fears is the proof of the Creator God.”
“Proof of the Creator God??”
“Even the gods also have a king. That is the Creator God. By having the proof, one can create all things and lead the gods. Gohma, the chief god—think of him as the prime minister—, desires to become a Creator God.”
The Creator God is the King. The chief god is the prime minister. I see, thanks to the fact that she described it in human’s hierarchy, I started to understand. In short, Gohma is desperately looking for some kind of proof to sit on the throne.
And that thing is on this side. Then I can see hope.
“So why doesn’t the Creator God stop Gohma, he is the king, right?”
“The Creator God was the first to be sacrificed. The Heavenly Realm, which had lost their leader, fell into chaos. Gohma took advantage of that chaos to rebel. The heaven at present is in the hands of Gohma.”
Eugrapia lowered her gaze and showed a sad expression.
“I’m sorry, I can’t be depressed. Let’s continue the conversation. The second thing you need is the “Proof of the God of Destruction”. Tanaka-sama, you don’t know the origin of this planet, do you?”
“Yes, I don’t know about it. Well, if you don’t have a special reason not to tell, please tell us about it.”
“Well then—”
Here’s what she narrated:
Once upon a time, there existed in this universe a being who was a counterpart of the Creator God. A god called the God of Destruction. What he does is destroy everything. Even the gods were the target of his destructive power. At some point, the gods began to dismiss him, and they appealed directly to the Creator God and advised him to seal the God of Destruction. That proposal was accepted, and after a long battle, the God of Destruction is sealed on a certain planet. It is said that the creator god placed several layers of seals so that he could not come out. One of them is the Sacred Beast Barrier System. Under the control of the God Tree, they built a barrier that covered the entire planet using the twelve powerful sacred beasts as an energy source. And up to now, the seal is still in place.
“You mean…… this planet is the solitary cell of the God of Destruction?”
“It would be more correct to call it a prison. The subordinates of the God of Destruction who once fought the gods are also sealed on this planet.”
“Then what about humans…… why do humans live here?”
“They were brought to this planet as caretakers. That is, to look after me and the sacred beasts.”
Erna and the others were speechless. I feel the same. There are not many people who are unfazed by the shocking truth of this world. Humans were brought in like slaves and forced to work. It seems that my view of the sacred tree will also change.
“I understand your feelings. The gods, including myself, have been arrogant and foolish. We feared the God of Destruction that we went beyond our roles and interfered too much in this universe.”
There was something that had been bothering me for a long time. Eugrapia places a great deal of emphasis on management and roles. We know that the gods control the universe. But who gave the order? Is it the creator god? Or, is there someone higher?
The God Tree switches her expression and continues talking.
“I’ve reached out to humans in my own way, fixed magic and taught them how to make great treasures. I think it helped a little bit.”
“Fixing magic…. do you mean the current magic that the ancient elves standardized by interfering the law of nature!?”
“Yes. Magic was a difficult force for humans to handle, so we guaranteed a certain amount of power by sacrificing the degree of freedom. It’s a rule that is exclusive to this planet, but the elves were very happy about it.”
Erna, who interrupted the conversation, was flustered by the God Tree’s response. At the end, she knelt down and said, “I thank you on behalf of our ancestors for your help!”
In other words, this is a little different from what we originally thought. I believed that both skills and magic were determined by the laws of this world, but apparently, magic passes through the filter of the God Tree. It now made sense why the magic power of the master-level mage is moving strangely. However, it is surprising that she even taught how to make the great treasure. Most of the ancient dwarven technology may have been brought by her.
Eugrapia straightened her collar and tightened her expression.
“Let’s get back to the point: I said earlier that the proof of the Creator God is on this side. That’s because someone managed to slip through Gohma’s eyes and brought it to this planet.”
“Who is that person?”
“It’s enough, right? Please come out.”
As she spoke, a young man emerged from behind the tree. It’s a nostalgic face. He looks a lot like me and a lot like his mother.
That’s right, the last time I met him was at a church in Mana. I didn’t recognize him at the time, but now I can see it clearly.
“Naoki…… Is that you?”
“Dad. We finally met.”
There was my son, Naoki Tanaka, who had disappeared with his mother.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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