Published: September 10, 2025
This is Satou. If I can avoid fighting, that’s the best outcome, I think. But I also feel that complete pacifism is not the right approach. When dealing with an opponent who invades more and more the more you yield, a commensurate response is necessary.
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“First, let’s address the concerns. We’ve rescued most of the general citizens and transferees or reincarnators from the Weasel Empire.”
“That’s a relief…”
Sera, who had looked worried, let out a breath of relief.
“As expected of my—”
“Hmm.”
“—our Master,” Arisa slightly altered her praise in response to Mia’s dissatisfied mutter.
Most of the professional soldiers and members of the privileged class who abandoned the cities likely lost their lives, but since no one asked about that, it wasn’t mentioned.
“Many cities, except for the parishes of the Weasel Empire and Dejima Island, were struck by divine punishment from God’s apostles, turning them into salt-covered ruins devoid of inhabitants.”
“No way—”
Except for Tama and Pochi, who didn’t quite understand, everyone else turned pale.
The only one light enough to joke around was Arisa.
“And only the imperial capital of the Weasel Empire resisted the apostles with the palace knights (Templar Knights) and Kagaku units, managing to push them back to some degree.”
Sera whispered softly, “How unfaithful…” criticizing the people of the Weasel Empire for opposing God’s apostles, but since it was a religious matter, I decided to let it slide.
“Furthermore, the Demon King manifested near the imperial capital and intervened in the three-way battle.”
“Why?”
“—Who knows?”
Arisa’s question was reasonable, but I had no clue either.
Since there were other reincarnators present at the Demon King’s manifestation site, the conspiracy theory of forced demon king transformation by the apostles didn’t hold water.
Of course, it’s unlikely the Demon King drank a Demon King Orb like Boy Shin did in the Royal Capital of the Shiga Kingdom.
“Mystery upon mystery, but even God Zaikuon joined the fray in that chaotic three-way battle.”
“Haaah?! Why!”
“The reason for their participation is unknown—”
I tried to calm the angry Arisa while shaking my head.
“Wise people avoid danger.”
If we had interviewed God Zaikuon directly, maybe we’d have learned, but connecting with them oddly might have set a battle flag.
“That’s true. Better not to step on a tiger’s tail,” Arisa nodded, recalling something I said when we headed to the Weasel Empire.
“It’s unthinkable for God Zaikuon to descend and directly deliver divine punishment…”
“Right. An old comrade once said that gods don’t descend because it costs too much.”
Hikaru nodded in agreement with Sera’s mutter.
“Yes, even in the temple’s history, apart from ritual magic to summon gods, there’s only one record 20,000 years ago of a manifestation during the Dog-headed Evil God’s war.”
God Zaikuon was supposedly killed by the dragon deity 30 years ago, but maybe that wasn’t a manifestation on the surface?
Or perhaps it simply isn’t recorded in the temple’s history?
I’m curious, so later I’ll drop by the Forest of Boruenan and ask Ms. Aze.
I heard that story from a female informant in Labyrinth City Selbira, but she said it was told by a Zaikuon priest who got it via divine oracle from another god’s shrine maiden. So even if I ask, she might not know.
“Then there must have been a priest who used ritual magic.”
I pictured the old priest of Zaikuon Temple I saw in the slum district.
I recall he was called Venerable Bodrazog by the reincarnator he was with.
I checked: among the rescued people from the imperial capital, neither he nor his sympathizers were present.
—Divine punishment from God is near! People! Pray to God and beg for mercy!
Old Priest Bodrazog preached with crazed eyes shining fiercely.
Such a zealot would probably perform rituals to summon a god at the cost of his and his followers’ lives.
Well, whatever.