Arrogance Shattered, Hecate's Plea
Witches' Island. I'd thought I had to be the one to take down the Evil God. Only now did I realize just how arrogant that notion was.
There are countless adventurers in this world. And plenty who aren't adventurers, too. People who've grown strong walking their own paths—long-lived species spanning centuries, innate geniuses, and monsters beyond even that. The idea that I had to protect this world, that I had to fulfill my duty as a hero... It was a stark, objective realization of how little I knew about this place, how narrow my view had been.
"Defeated in just three days... an Evil God?"
It inspired a sense of awe I'd never felt before—a monster beyond imagination. The mere fact that something like that could move and live was unbelievable; its existence alone choked the breath from your lungs, inducing vertigo like a living natural disaster. Yet that Evil God, Jeboim, had been repelled by pirates prowling the seas.
A Deinous who had reached the Master realm. Known to others as the Pirate King across these vast oceans. Captain of the Invincible Fleet, Hornigold the Golden Beard. With half his Invincible Fleet—fifteen ships and 387 subordinates—he unbelievably repelled the Evil God and claimed the title of Godslayer.
Using the remnants of the fallen Evil God to build a new ship, he declared in the newspaper his intent to seize not just these seas, but the entire world. His brimming confidence let you picture the kind of man he was.
And it wasn't just that Evil God—apparently, others threatened the continent too. No idea what to make of the "Beheading Evil God," but the paper said it had been defeated by the S-rank adventurer party Grayhawk.
A winged bird-man, one of the upper Aran tribe adventurers, Ban Griffin. An existence renowned across the Trust Union as an Overlord. The other Godslayer simply stated, "I merely did what was right."
The party was a staggering lineup: every member except the leader was a Master. It made my head spin.
As Evil Gods began stirring, the world chasing fame and strength erupted in excitement. I'd thought the Evil Gods would destroy the continent, but instead, momentum was building to hunt them down.
How had beings pulled down from godhood fallen this far? Still, some places suffered heavy casualties. The papers were filled with gruesome reports—lucky, even, that survivors testified to get them printed. Total annihilation would mean living on oblivious to the Evil Gods' existence.
The era of the Great Godslaying—what a hyperbolic headline. I quietly folded the paper neatly.
I was arrogant.
The shock left me a bit downcast, but relief outweighed it. This continent is vast. I'd already encountered so much information. Fame-hungry powerhouse adventurers... and even Overlords, who transcended species to rival the divine realm.
An age overflowing with predators who charged in with adrenaline surging at the Evil Gods' rampage, fearless of them. There were probably long-lived species who'd fought the Maou Army and elves, unafraid of an Evil God who'd submitted to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Some might think a broken, submissive being didn't deserve the title of god.
Nothing to rush for after all.
The goddess had warned against impatience for good reason. The world held many strong ones I didn't know. And forgotten powerhouses unknown even to the world. They say reaching Overlord makes you immortal... Honestly, at that level, becoming an undead wouldn't be surprising.
"ᚺᛖᚱᛟ, ᚲᚨᚾ ᚤᛟᚢ ᚷᚱᚨᚾᛏ ᛗᛖ ᛗᚤ ᚱᛖᛩᚢᛖᛋᛏ?"
"A request?"
The next day, she finally opened her eyes and, struggling, made her plea to me. Wondering what she'd ask... She was the only one who could let me leave, so I wasn't in a position to refuse. I just hoped it'd be something I could handle.
"ᚺᛖᚨᛚ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚨᚱᛗ, ᛟᚱ ᚱᛖᛋᛏᛟᚱᛖ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚨᚱᛗ, ᛟᚱ ᛖᛚᛋᛖ ᚨᛋᚴ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚱᛖᛡᛖᚾᚷᛖ."
Treat the arm, retrieve it, or else avenge her. Circe's words meant I'd clash with those who'd taken her arm either way. So... I nodded in agreement.
Hearing my answer, Circe muttered into the air. Light gathered, forming letters that flew toward me. A ring of light spun around my neck, dazzling brightly before absorbing into my body and vanishing.
Oath of the Binding Word has been forged.
Breaking the promise will cost your life.
Whoa, the goddess didn't even take my life as collateral. I rubbed my nape but didn't dwell on it.
Circe nodded toward Riko, who bowed in understanding.
"The youngest witch, Riko. I'll follow you to ensure the promise is kept. Sorry for the deception—truth is, I could've gone myself. For some reason, Lady Circe believes you'll honor it."
Riko sidled up like a sly fox, acting cute: "You're not mad, right?" She hooked her arm through mine. Hyacinth just muttered dumbly, "Women are scary..."
So, could I finally leave this island? As I thought that, light descended over the entire temple.
A cascade of radiance poured down, so blinding I squeezed my eyes shut.
[My child...]
[My child...]
I opened my eyes at the voice. In the darkness floated an orb of light gazing at me. Beside it stood the Goddess of Fate, waving: "It's been a while!"
Yeah, lately I'd been grinding the Magic Palace daily with no tickets, so it had been. A mere instant for her, probably...
The formless glow drifted toward me.
My name is Hecate, Goddess of Magic. Wife of the sea god slain by elves, teacher of the last princess of Verages, Circe.
"Hero Radamu Dice."
No grand intro, just a curt greeting.
Pity we couldn't meet at the All Gods Temple... If you've suffered because of me, let me offer my apologies.
Hecate spoke cautiously in apology. Last princess of Verages... Was that the sea race wiped out by elves? History only mentioned Montagu. As a princess, her status must've been immense.
That child... was especially cherished by my husband. Even on the brink of death at elven hands, he worried for her. I took her as my disciple and taught her lost magics of old.
...So that's the runes and curses. Not just for witches—immortal witches used them until they faded into forgotten magic.
As the last of her race, she learned magic to avenge her people against the elves—but her skill couldn't overcome them. Vowing revenge even if it took her lifetime, she ultimately made a pact with a devil.
Hecate groaned as she explained.
She contracted with the Evil God, Succubus Lord Melkerset. Offering her soul, she mastered immortality's forbidden art—a power even I, a goddess, couldn't interfere with.
"Couldn't you have taught her?"
It was taboo.
No words for that. Even gods had rules not to break.
After gaining immortality, she became an eternal slave, periodically offering essence to the Succubus Lord. From a nation's princess, last survivor of a ruined race, to forever the Evil God's thrall. What a tragic, tumultuous life—beyond the pale.
That child... was lonely. So she gathered persecuted children with magical talent—mostly slaves.
She taught them immortality's magic. And for Circe, they gathered essence. That's how the legend of the Sea Witches endured.
"Is it okay to teach them?"
Without exceptional talent, it's impossible. And that magic has a fatal flaw.
Hecate explained: Though magic, it's akin to a pact—once mastered, you lose means to protect your body. You gain seductive beauty to enchant men, but at the risk of never growing physically stronger.
That cost explained why Sorcerer Master Circe now lay powerless, arms lost. Hecate groaned.
Hero reborn in this age... Please, heed a goddess's plea. Free that child... With the Evil Gods' seals broken, finish what past heroes could not...
...Won't others handle it? But I nodded to Hecate's request.
"Succubus Lord... Even Hero Park Chun-sik, after losing his lover and castrating himself, barely sealed that Evil God. She's not overwhelmingly strong—her very beauty is the weapon."
.....Castration to seal her? And now she wants me to take her down.
Succubus... My skills might work. Question is if they'll stick on a succubi goddess. I pondered silently.
I nodded affirmatively. But with my current power, odds of beating an Evil God... weren't zero. Against a succubus, as a last resort... there was a sliver of hope.
"Yes, I will."
I entrust it to you...
1. [Academy Enrollment]
- Do your best! Constellation Ticket x1.
2. [Defeat Evil God Succubus Lord Melkerset]
Ding~♪ My second quest at last.
.....Difficulty spiked suddenly. Hadn't even started the first, and now off to slay an Evil God? No reward shown, so I tilted my head.
The Goddess of Fate cleared her throat, drawing my gaze to the ticket in her hand.
"Prepaid. Hecate offered karma worth ten Constellation Tickets and ten Rank-Up Tickets."
That's why she was an orb of light... Prepaying quest rewards? Unthinkable.
With trembling hands, I received a whopping twenty tickets.
No choice now! Gacha time(!)?
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Witch Riko.
