Volume 9 Chapter 41 Day Two (The God’s True Form)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Then, if you learn the whereabouts of Councilor Mafat, you must report it at once.”
”Yes. I am deeply sorry that the church has caused you trouble.”
”No, not at all. At such a hard time, when Resurrection Magic must be used, we are the ones who should apologize.”
”But it seems today’s battle is not so fierce, is it? Unlike yesterday, almost no souls are arriving to be revived.”
”Indeed. The Eastern and Southern Fronts are quiet, the West is silent, and the North—well, the Ghost Army has yet to appear there.”
”Then will the noncombatants escape through the North Gate?”
”No. The danger of a trap is too high, so the gates remain shut.”
When the messenger from the council left after that talk of war, Priest Korn let out a deep sigh. A stabbing headache pulsed in his skull. Forcing himself to stand firm, he went to Mafat’s private chamber. After passing through three hidden doors and releasing the Magic Power Barrier, Korn stood face-to-face with the man in hiding.
”Another searcher has come.”
”I see. You have my thanks, Korn.”
”No… but still…”
Korn faltered. He knew that the man before him was in contact with the Quvarian Empire and was preparing to betray McGaref. And yet… he had his own reason he could not betray Mafat.
”Tell me… does the god truly mean to destroy McGaref?”
”I cannot know that one’s thoughts. But it is not that elf courtesan Rusty whom we should serve… You have seen the true work of God yourself, have you not?”
”Yes. That power was divine, beyond doubt.”
Mafat’s betrayal was not born from greed alone. That was why he even contacted the hated Katarina, to plan the timing of the gate’s opening. And for the same reason, Korn gave him his full protection.
”Are we fated to die together when McGaref falls?”
”That too is only by God’s will. Long ago, when the First Emperor of Quvar conquered McGaref, my own ancestor was granted an audience with God and was given the right to control the churches here for generations. The blood in my veins tells me: never defy that one. Offer everything—life itself—to serve.”
Neither Mafat nor Korn understood. The ‘god’ they had met in the past was like poison, gnawing at the mind. That poison crept through human hearts. Few knew that the First Emperor’s bloodlust, Cartera’s love of slaughter, the rebellion of the Witch of the Four Seas Maribel in Astoria, and Minister Gritch’s assassination of the emperor—all were the work of that former god.
”We are servants of God. Come, let us contact Lady Livia. Only by following her word will we find happiness.”
Then Mafat used the Divine Oracle Skill to call upon Livia, the Witch of the Turning Heavens of the Quvarian Empire. Having pushed all duty and authority onto the current god Rusty, Livia still held her overwhelming power.
Before long, she answered. She touched their minds directly and began to speak. Hearing the battle report, Livia laughed with delight.
’That sounds amusing. I would love to come watch, but not now. If Cartera came at me with full power, even I might be in danger—that monster.’
”I see… and where does God intend to go now?”
’I plan to soften up Takumi Nasu. He is fun, but his presence is a little troublesome. After that, I will try to contact Dora Ghorat.’
”So, he too has been chosen by God. Everything is by divine will.”
’Speaking of which, McGaref has another Divine Oracle user besides you.’
”I am afraid I do not know of this.”
Mafat tilted his head. The Divine Oracle Skill was rare. Korn did not have it. To learn that someone else in McGaref might reach the god wounded Mafat’s pride. He forced a smile to cover it.
’Oh, how interesting. Perhaps I should meddle a little. Well, for now, enjoy the war. Spread fear among the people, bring chaos and slaughter. Ah, why is the killing of insects so entertaining?’
”We are honored to serve as tools for God’s joy.”
’Yes. Normally I can only play by making Rankings, but this is the once-in-a-century cycle. Flavia was already driven to suicide by Maribel, and if the story goes as planned, Sheryl will be used and discarded by the First Emperor.’
Livia laughed with sheer delight. To her, the world was nothing but a toy. Emperor Quvar’s act of opening the Underworld had been unexpected, but her favorite toy had shown results beyond her hopes.
’Well then, I think I will play with the child of my Divine Oracle.’
”As you wish. We await the honor of seeing you again.”
Mafat ended the contact, crushing all emotion in his voice. When Korn left the room, Mafat headed into the bedchamber to amuse himself by tormenting the courtesan noble he had kidnapped.
”It is bitter to hide from Gandolf and Anne, but it cannot be helped. And no one will care if I bring in one or two women like this.”
The other wielder of the Divine Oracle Skill… Yoshizaki Rira… would soon face the fangs of the former god, Livia.
* * *
It was evening.
In a town not far from McGaref, Minister of Military Affairs Roshima wore a bitter face as he received a coded message. This time, the message was simple. The unit he had sent to infiltrate the Seron Region had failed.
”I see. Well, it was a long shot anyway. Send them my thanks… But urge them to stop the main force at any cost.”
”Yes, but please add this attempt to our record of service.”
”Of course. It will be recorded officially. Even if they were only decoys, they cut down Marina Katarina, a member of the McGaref Council’s family.”
From the border, Roshima had sent troops into the Seron Region. Unlike the Internal Affairs Bureau’s soldiers who aimed to stop Asakura Chinatsu and Clarice, the Military Affairs Bureau’s target was Date Haruka. They had gathered at the ruins of Bakdu Fortress, a vital border point.
But they had fallen for the diversion. Scouts had known that the silver-haired girl enjoyed dangerous games. When one of them saw a girl pleasuring herself quickly in a risky spot while relieving herself, he mistook her for Date Haruka.
He did not realize this was Marina’s ploy, including letting the scout watch. When Roshima’s men split their forces, part of them launched a suicidal assault on Marina’s group. They all chased hard after the fleeing enemy, and so they won a false victory.
”Will we make it in time?”
Roshima asked the strategist who had planned the attack. He knew the truth. From Bakdu Fortress, the roads spread in many directions. Rather than chase, they had to march at full speed and set an ambush near McGaref if they wanted any chance.
”Minister Gritch of Internal Affairs—or rather, traitor Gritch’s troops—were also destroyed.”
”His Majesty has perished, and Gritch had arranged the murder… Lady Sheryl is missing, and now there are even reports that Lady Flavia is dead. How could our nation fall so far in just a few days…?”
Roshima pressed his throbbing temples. The prince in the capital was too young to steer the nation. Normally, Roshima would aid Sheryl and face these hardships, but neither of them were in the Imperial Capital.
”And there is more I must report…”
”I already know. The Former Northern Kingdom with the Union to the east, and the Gonan Kingdom to the south…”
”It is worse. We have received direct letters of severed ties from all three major nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent an emergency notice.”
”…We cannot hold on.”
The words slipped from Roshima’s mouth. No way to save the Quvarian Empire came to mind.
”Perhaps we must beg aid from His Majesty the First Emperor, even if it means our lives. As Minister of Military Affairs, I might at least be granted an audience.”
”The battle at McGaref is unclear. Even the scouts cannot guess what His Majesty intends with his movements.”
Roshima looked out the window, toward McGaref. From this town, he could not see the battlefield. Yet though only the second day was ending, he felt as if ten years of war had already crushed his heart.
Notes:
• Priest Korn – Humble cleric of McGaref who stepped in to manage the church’s duties after Councilor Mafat’s disappearance. Loyal to the city and respected despite lacking political cunning, he stabilized resurrection rites during the siege. First appears v9c30. Reminder: Steady priest who filled the void when betrayal left chaos.
• Quvarian Empire – Ruling kingdom. Harsh world, restricted freedom.
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Rusty – Golden-haired elf courtesan of McGaref’s Night Butterfly, famed for beauty and skill-reading. Becomes Takumi’s lover, quits brothel, joins harem under slave bond. First appears v1c36. Reminder: Sultry elf who chose devotion over luxury.
• Cartera – Eternal Witch — The First Emperor’s mistress and a resurrected sorceress of immense power. Cruel and seductive, she takes pleasure in destruction and defilement. Her loyalty to the Emperor is absolute, and she shares his desire to end the world. First appears in v9c3.
• Gritch – Minister of Internal Affairs, shrewd and power-hungry, allied with Roshima and exploited Katarina’s grudge. Manipulated by Livia, he slew the Emperor with poison, dreaming of ruling as regent and claiming Sheryl or his daughter’s marriage into royalty. Betrayed and denounced, he died in agony and his line was erased. First appears v9c2. Reminder: Ambitious minister undone by his own scheming.
• Livia – 8th-ranked imperial witch, heir of Cartera and friend of Lilus (Neige’s sister), whose death drove her to hate Quvar. Austere, sharp, and feared, she opposed the Ghost Army and toppled Emperor by using then betraying Gritch, secretly backing Princess Sheryl. First appears v9c3. Reminder: Brilliant witch who twists loyalties to save the world.
• Dora – Dark Elf from the underworld, sharp and cautious with deep knowledge of magic cycles. Travels with Takumi, Shiori, Haruka, and guides Scaya and Neige, often taking a steady leadership role. Her body can morph into deadly substances like Aqua Regia, capable of melting or piercing mountains. First appears v6c14. Reminder: Dark Elf who blends wisdom with terrifying alchemy
• Sheryl – Second Princess of the Quvarian Empire, a striking beauty with red hair. Initially appears as a diplomatic envoy, but she is a reformer within the empire, seeking to atone for Quvar’s past betrayals, particularly the destruction of the Northern Kingdom. Sheryl is highly intelligent and politically savvy, using her position to gather secrets and undermine the empire’s plans to destroy McGaref. She is also a slave to Takumi, bound by enslavement magic, and tasked with sowing chaos within Quvar. Despite her circumstances, she maintains a sense of duty and hopes to bring about change. First appears in v6c26.
• Anne – Grandmother of the councilor representing the Market in McGaref.
• Rira – A classmate and one of Takumi-kun’s harem members. She has J-cup breasts and short black hair, which she plans to dye blue. Rira enjoys playful and creative expressions of intimacy, including cosplay and affectionate physical affection. Rira is also known for her ‘Intuition’ skill, which has been evolving into something more advanced. She is a key figure in Takumi-kun’s life, offering both emotional and physical support. First appearance in v1c15.
• Roshima – Empire’s War Minister, stern and pragmatic, loyal to Princess Sheryl’s reformists. Opposed the Ghost Army with Livia, wielding great military authority while lamenting the empire’s decline. First appears v9c11. Reminder: Steadfast warlord guarding Sheryl’s path.
• Marina – Ranka’s older sister. The formal owner of Merchant Guild Katarina.
• Bakdu Fortress – A key fortress of the Seron Dukedom; its unexpected fall prompts concern in McGaref.
• Chinatsu – White Wall — Black hair, B-cup. Adventurous, masochistic, Takumi’s first slave & lover. Master of Asakura-ryu Iaijutsu, wields cursed sword Chisame (blood-powered). 12th-ranked fighter, close to Hikari. First appears in v1c1 Prologue.
• Clarice – The ‘Witch of Abundance’ from Lesta Kingdom.
• Haruka – Witch of Destruction — Silver-haired, F-cup. Former class vice-president, now a powerful witch. Wields the Agilaus Staff, capable of devastating ritual magic. Became the world’s strongest after acquiring the ‘Dark Emperor of the Abyss’ as a familiar. Exhibits exhibitionist tendencies, often seeking public intimacy with Takumi. Deeply devoted to him, balancing her role as a leader with her desires. First appears in v1c1 Prologue.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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