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By the Grace of the Gods

Chapter 327: The True Identity of the Magical Beasts 🐉

Published: August 25, 2025

Today, five chapters posted simultaneously.

This is the fifth chapter.

“Hah, hah, hah...”

Unnecessary breaths came in ragged gasps, the nonexistent heart pounding as if about to burst. The old man’s form crumbled away, and just before the blade could sever the neck of the magical beast that had become a black mist in human shape, it stopped.

At the tip of the blade was the sword’s guard, and Ryoma’s hand gripping the hilt was painfully burned and blistered. On the connected arm, bite marks revealed bone beneath torn flesh. Three claw marks ripped from shoulder to ribs adorned his torso. His head was crushed from blunt force. Countless wounds both large and small, as well as extensive bleeding, had turned Ryoma into a corpse.

“Wh-why...”

The magical beast, confused and unable to believe its own neck was still intact, asked.

“That hurt... I thought I was going to die.”

Ryoma, who had become a corpse, moved with a groan-like mutter and drew his sword back. At that moment, the magical beast, realizing that Ryoma’s life was temporarily spared, relaxed. Ryoma’s fatal wounds melted away, returning his body to normal.

“Ah, the pain’s gone. So it really was an illusion... It must be memories of the cause of death and last moments of the person who actually died here.”

“Why?”

“Why, why, you keep asking that... Well, finally we can talk properly.”

“Talk...? Weren’t you ordered by the gods to kill me?”

The magical beast asked again, and Ryoma, cautious, showed confusion on his face. Sensing Ryoma’s true feelings, the magical beast became even more perplexed. A few seconds of silent eye contact passed, and Ryoma, thinking of the possibilities, spoke.

“Ah... There are a lot of things I want to say, but first one thing. Regarding the gods’ request, you probably judged it by reading my memories. But what I was actually asked to do was to ‘do something about your abilities,’ not to kill you.”

“B-but the gods said to eliminate me.”

“That’s if the gods were doing it themselves, right? They said your power was so strong that even with restraint, it could wipe out the entire Tree Sea. That’s why they asked me—to minimize the damage.

I also considered elimination as an option if there was no other way. But I never intended to kill you without discussion. If you release the souls of the dead and never use that power again, I don’t have to take your life.”

“Then why did you come to kill me!? I know you were serious about it!”

Seeing the murderous intent up to that point and Ryoma’s current words, the magical beast—who could read hearts—understood that neither was a lie. This deepened its confusion and it asked in a shout. Ryoma’s answer was surprisingly simple.

“Because I don’t think I can negotiate unless I’m certain I can suppress you and eliminate you anytime. Also, after seeing the illusion, I was simply pissed off.”

Ryoma continued, clarifying his words.

Before entering, it was unclear if the magical beast could understand language. Even if it did, conversations can fail even between humans. Facing a magical beast that even armies can’t beat if it dislikes you, I had to go all out first. If I had the chance to capture it, I planned to contract and negotiate.

Moreover, if this were an important case where the gods think elimination is unavoidable, and the report was “There’s no basis or countermeasures, but the person says they won’t use it anymore, so please forgive them!” the gods would never approve. It would be irresponsible to accept such a request, so I have to confirm I can clean up the mess if things go south.

Otherwise, especially cautious Felnoberia and the newcomer Meltrise wouldn’t be convinced... or so I thought.

“So, you really came to kill me... Then what about exterminating the undead?”

“All undead will be exterminated. If I can get cooperation, I’ll have them released, but... you, you’re a tsukumogami born over many years from the mana emitted by the villagers, right? Classified as a ‘fairy,’ no?”