Chapter: 124

At that time—

The eternal, fully awakened human-god Aimeris would return to the world, guiding it toward a new era.

“This matter—only you can accomplish it.”

Aimeris extended both hands toward them—she was the deity longing to once again embrace the world.

“I can guarantee that once I regain my freedom, I will strike first, eliminating every hidden threat in the world. Under my supervision, the world will see everlasting peace. Just as I did ten thousand years ago, I will bear all burdens. The war you now fear will no longer be an issue in the future. Will you… agree?”

38. Go Back (4K)

Right, right, right, you make a lot of sense~ We help you undo your seal, then you descend into the world, start slaughtering left and right, wipe out all evil, end all wars, and the world will be filled with music, dancing, and prosperity. Then I won’t have to worry about anything, and can spend my days fishing and singing with Xiarette—everything in life would just go so smoothly!

Sounds… pretty tempting, huh?

But…

If matters of the world were that simple, then why—since the ancient times, back when all you gods were still around—have troubles never disappeared?

Sheffy raised both her little hands. Each hand extended one index finger, and the two fingers crossed before her, forming a big ×.

“What you said makes sense—but I refuse!”

“I refuse as well.” Almost at the same time as Sheffy, Xiarette also gave a firm rejection.

Aimeris didn’t seem surprised by this outcome.

In fact, not only was she unsurprised, but judging from the golden space that reflected her emotional fluctuations, her mood was perfectly steady.

“I see… well then, at least… may I know the reason for your refusal?”

Asking for the reason?

Sheffy slowly lowered her crossed fingers.

With both hands on her waist and her small chest puffed out, she gave a little huff and shook her head.

“Don’t you already know we would never help you? Even if I assume everything you said is true, you yourself said, ‘Gods all have selfish desires.’ That Tieer you mentioned… and the Elf God, the Dragon God—don’t they all have their own schemes? And you don’t? Why are you supposedly so noble? If you were really that noble, I’d have an even harder time understanding why they all chose to isolate you back then. And besides, you admitted that the world under divine rule was still in chaos—so something you couldn’t do before, you think you can do now? And in that story you told just now, do you even know how much you deliberately left out? You—!”

“Shut that mouth of yours already! Chattering endlessly—so irritating! If you don’t want to help, then don’t, but you have no right to lecture a god!”

“Oh, you’re getting mad now?!”

Aimeris herself didn’t quite understand what was going on.

She was clearly furious, yet when speaking to this little Demon Clan girl, she actually felt a strange sense of ease, as if they had spoken like this before.

Even across the span of ten thousand years, such a thing had never happened.

The grand golden radiance gradually drew back, until it only encircled Aimeris herself.

This seemed to indicate that she had already abandoned the idea she had just proposed.

Or perhaps, from the very beginning, she had never truly expected to succeed.

“I understand your thoughts. It is only natural for you to think this way. I did indeed conceal some details… but for now, there are certain matters that cannot be revealed to mortals. The only reason I invited you here today was so you would know—this world is indeed full of unknown dangers. On this point alone, I speak the absolute truth.”

“You’re not going to insist on breaking your seal anymore? Didn’t you say you were suffocating after being trapped for tens of thousands of years?”

“I never said that…! You little brat, always adding fuel to the fire. Listen well—everything follows the guidance of the stars. Your refusal to aid me today is fate’s will. But one day will come when you will need to take the initiative to help me break this seal.”

“Heh, then we’ll talk about it when the time comes. For now, I still don’t trust you.”

“No matter. I have never truly been trusted by the people of the world.”

As Aimeris spoke these calm yet faintly lonely words, and as Sheffy turned with Xiarette to leave—

Sheffy suddenly mumbled something under her breath.

“But…”

—What she didn’t know was that this space could not only echo sound, but also amplify words spoken in a low voice.

“No matter what… I’ve already determined that you truly are an ancient god. Whatever you are now, setting that aside, the contributions you made to this world in the ancient era… I should still thank you for them.”

“!”

Hm?

Sheffy slowly furrowed her brows.

She didn’t know why the noisy god behind her had suddenly gone silent, nor why Xiarette was suddenly looking at her with a gratified expression.

Could it be… what I just muttered was heard?!

With a touch of prideful stubbornness in her bones, Sheffy stomped her foot in frustration, about to spin around and unleash a barrage of sharp words at Aimeris—

But at that moment…

The two humans and one god within the golden domain all turned their attention toward the right side of the infinite space.

The keen senses of the strong were like that—no disturbance, however small, could escape their perception.

All the more so when… this was no minor disturbance.

“Sheffy,” Xiarette reminded, “this domain is about to shatter.”

“I know. Looks like it’s time for us to head back.”

Bang!

No sooner had the words left her lips than the golden space flared with a brilliance like a supernova explosion.

Yet it carried no lethality at all—only a blinding flash, after which the golden domain, like autumn maple leaves, broke apart bit by bit into motes of magic light.

As the domain crumbled, the sounds of the forest returned.

Moonlight once more draped the land, and the rustling of the trees came back to their ears.

The first sound to reach them was the Pope’s old, wrathful voice, laced with condemnation.

“Insolent ones…! Do you have any idea who was inside that domain…? How dare you act so recklessly!”

“Hahahahaha! Old man, your eyes are clouded with age—just step down already and go home to rest. Who in the world doesn’t know that I, Demon King Dielzner, have always been reckless? I don’t care who was inside—I only know my daughter was in there!”

From within the scattering golden motes emerged the wildly laughing Demon King Dielzner, and beside him stood the Demon Queen Herilet, holding an ice-crystal scepter, eyes closed with a serene smile.

Even with the golden barrier shattered, the small golden figure of Aimeris, seated in midair, showed not the slightest surprise.

She simply floated there, turning her head to glance at those two annoying Six-Winged Demons, clicking her tongue once and leaving it at that.

Xiarette, however, was clearly struggling to keep her composure.

“She… Sheffy! That’s… that’s your parents!”

“Ah? Yeah, that’s our parents.”

“Our…?! Ugh—why so suddenly? I didn’t even comb my hair! I should have at least washed my face first!”

“Don’t get so worked up. They probably haven’t washed their faces either. Mother washes her face three times a day, but Father might go three days without doing it once.”

“Can you at least give the Demon King some dignity? How pitiful, being spoken of like that by his own daughter. And Sheffy… you’re making that up, aren’t you?”

“……”

“Spreading falsehoods is disgraceful, you know? Especially when it’s about your own father.”

Sheffy gave a sheepish little whistle and looked away—an action that said it all.

So… the Demon King really did wash his face regularly.

As the Hero, Xiarette found herself suddenly face-to-face with the Demon Queen. If not for the weight of that identity, she would have gone over to greet her at once.

But with the Pope also present, she wasn’t sure what kind of reaction would be considered proper.

Unexpectedly…

Herilet turned her head first. When she saw Xiarette, her expression first showed surprise.

Then the surprise melted into a warmth that was hard to describe—kind, gentle, and paired with a knowing smile.

Hm? What was that supposed to mean?

“Sigh… now’s not the time for that talk. Things are getting a bit troublesome here.”

Sheffy had barely finished speaking when Demon King Dielzner turned his head toward her.

With a casual flourish, he raised a fist and pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

The direction he pointed toward—was the arena.

“Sheffy Harl, you shouldn’t be here right now. Don’t forget what your mother and I told you—adult matters are for adults to handle. Kids should just… ah, ow!”

The back of the Demon King’s head had been struck with a heavy punch—delivered by the smiling Demon Queen.

Still smiling warmly, Herilet placed her ice-crystal scepter upright before her, tilted her head, and instructed gently.

“Sheffy, go back. Belith is looking forward to your match. It’s about to start, so don’t delay your own affairs. Leave this side to me and your father.”

“Alright…? Then, stay safe?”

This “stay safe” from Sheffy wasn’t directed at her parents.

—It was aimed at Aimeris and the unfortunate Pope!

Aimeris would be fine—without a physical body, she clearly wasn’t the least bit nervous, still floating there.

But as for the Pope… well, he’d better pray for his own safety.

—The Demon King was not to be trifled with.

Those five words, passed down and well known across all races, were not spoken in jest.

The Pope had not been this angry in many years.

He could tolerate problems within the church. He could endure mistakes in national policy. None of these could shake his composure.

But he would never tolerate anyone insulting the dignity of a god.

Even if it was the Demon King, there had to be a price for recklessly shattering that barrier.

“Your Majesty the Demon King, I have no wish for any dispute with the Demon Domain. But as this is our first meeting, and I know the Demon Domain values strength, why don’t we exchange a little magic as a greeting?”

“Hahahaha! I’ve long heard the Holy Theocracy harbors its little tricks. Lord Gustana, by all means—let me experience them. I promise I won’t count it as your nation’s offense!”

“Then forgive my discourtesy.”

The Pope’s emotional shift was peculiar—his temples had been bulging with rage only moments ago, yet now his tone was calm again.

However, the way he gripped his scepter, murmured incantations, and channeled magic—reeked of killing intent.

The tip of his scepter glimmered with a faint thread of white light.

At first, it was barely noticeable.

But within moments, it swelled into crackling white lightning, lashing together and striking in the Demon King’s direction, erupting with a violent roar.

【White Thunder God’s Judgement】

“It’s Tenth-Tier magic…!” said Xiarette, who was holding Sheffy’s hand as the two lifted off the ground together. She had sensed the disturbance behind them.

Although it was her first time meeting Sheffy’s parents and she hadn’t spoken, Xiarette still felt a trace of worry in her heart.

Uu… being the Hero yet worrying about the Demon King and Queen—wasn’t that a bit wrong?

“Sheffy! Should we go help? The Pope really does have his trump card!”

“No need, no need~ My father and mother are actually quite strong. Don’t believe me? Just watch.”

“Hm?”

Xiarette looked down from above.

To her surprise, that terrifying streak of white lightning was now hanging motionless in the air, as if frozen in place, right before the Demon King—whose crimson armor gleamed as he stood with arms crossed over his chest—without moving an inch.

The Demon King shook his head in disappointment.

It seemed he had actually expected something from the Pope’s attack, but hadn’t thought it would amount to only this much.

“What is that…? Did the magic stop?”

“That’s my father’s domain. Any magic that tries to hit him stops before it reaches him. Pretty fun, right?”

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