Published: September 10, 2025
This is Satou. I’ve always disliked the fables we had to read in ethics class. I think it’s because of the strict word count limit, but when the guidance is so obvious, I lose interest before the story can enlighten me.
◇
“Human tribe, advance.”
Having received the summoning order from God Tenion via Ms. Sera, I found myself once again visiting the Divine World.
“Human tribe, proceed to the Audience Ring.”
I moved forward to stand before the gods.
“Offer your prayers.”
I intended to offer a prayer of thanks involving Ms. Aze, which I hadn’t managed last time, but I caught sight of God Tenion flashing a green glow.
Somehow, I felt as if I was being gently admonished to “keep it moderate,” so I offered my thanks in moderation.
Everything was mostly the same as last time, except for one major difference.
That was—
“Hey, hey, sorry for calling you without considering your schedule.”
A friendly thought was sent my way from a purple construct about two sizes smaller than the gods.
Its glow was faint, and its structure simple, shaped like a puzzle made of two interlocked triangles.
“Stand back, Demon God.”
God Heralon promptly revealed the identity of the purple construct.
As expected, the purple structure was a demon god.
But its casual tone felt different from the usual image of a demon god.
“Heralon is right! How dare you, the so-called Thief God—”
“Silence, Zaikuon. Do you not understand that it is because of people like you, who disdain others maliciously, that the faith of the mortal realm decreases?”
“Enough, Galleon!”
“Zaikuon and Galleon should both be silent. Karion agrees with this too.”
“I didn’t say that. Urion, no nonsense.”
The gods were noisy. Despite their supernatural appearances, mentally they were very human-like, just like the gods of Greek mythology.
From what Zaikuon said, it seemed ‘Thief God’ was a derogatory term for the demon god.
No, wait, that doesn’t matter.
There were other things to focus on.
Why was a demon god, who was supposed to be sealed away, here? And why was it on friendly terms with the seven gods who should be enemies? These questions kept bubbling up.
“My apologies, my deepest apologies. I will behave, so please, chief lord, lead the way.”
The demon god backed off, concealing its true intentions, and God Heralon, who shone like the sun, stepped forward.
Behind him, a faint blue light drifted toward the purple glow.
It gave off the impression of a puppy seeking affection.
Could it be that God Parion was fond of the demon god?
◇
“The destruction of the ‘Tower’ is forbidden.”
God Heralon’s words were conveyed to me through the elder construct Rarlorilril Heraaf.
“Also, letterpress printing is prohibited.”
“I understand. Clown, stay out of sight.”
When the demon god tried to interject, God Heralon responded with visible displeasure, scattering orange ripples around.
The surrounding nymphs and apostles shrank in fear, but the demon god blinked its light playfully, mocking, “Oh, scary, scary,” and retreated.
“Parion, stay away!”
“You must not approach the demon god. Parion’s pure light would be tainted by the demon god’s miasma.”
“No!”
The yellow light of God Zaikuon and the blue light of God Galleon pulled the reluctant God Parion away from the demon god.
“This is an order from the chief lord. Letterpress printing in the mortal realm is forbidden.”
God Heralon conveyed this via the elder construct.
From the way the elder construct spoke, it seemed that printed materials didn’t exist in the Divine World.
“But I just received permission the other day?”
“How dare you, a lowly human tribe, question the orders of the great gods! Such insolence is beyond measure!”
When I raised an indirect objection to the sudden change in orders, the elder construct, furious at my very actions, became enraged.
Ignoring the torrent of illusory flames flying from it, I observed the gods towering behind.
Most seemed indifferent, but only God Tenion, wearing an expression of pity, and the demon god, who was watching us with amusement, reacted differently.