The Veiled Goddess's Contract
There stood a goddess whose identity was concealed beneath a translucent robe, and another with an ugly, scratched face who gripped a golden hammer the size of her own body. Her frigid gaze locked onto them. Meanwhile, barbarian goddesses with light cloths and leaves barely covering their semi-nude brown bodies, their skin etched with tattoos, toyed with their divine artifacts while failing to hide their bloodthirsty smiles. The door was surrounded. From within the translucent robe came a chilling voice laced with frost.
“Did the interview go well? Let me take a look at that contract for a moment.”
Whoosh—!
The contract that had been in her hand vanished in an instant and appeared in the veiled goddess’s grasp.
‘I can feel an authority that has nearly reached the pinnacle of a Main God.’
The complexity and depth of the power were so intricate that even the goddesses of the demon race could not grasp its nature. ‘Are these goddesses truly from the God Realm? Where did such Main Gods come from?’
‘It seems they appeared after we sealed ourselves away.’
No matter how one looked at it, the fact that something they had seized through force had been taken from them so effortlessly was infuriating. Anger, long dormant, surged upward.
“How utterly rude!”
“Manners lost all meaning long ago in our lives. We’ve cast aside even dignity to achieve our goals, so please understand. We’ll gladly accept your hatred.”
“I’ll give you death along with that hatred. Take it.”
Crackle-crackle-crackle—! Whoosh—!
She drew upon the authority of the god within her bosom, fusing it to amplify her lightning divine power. She instinctively sensed that this veiled goddess was truly dangerous. If they had been in the same God Realm, she felt she would have been defeated, and the need to eliminate her pressed upon her.
‘It isn’t a matter of divinity or authority—the very existence feels absent, a void that spreads like a viper’s venom, warning of a might that transcends the gap in divine rank.’
‘Such exceptional beings always rise to extremes, either ruling over all or meeting a wretched fate.’
Seeing her in the Spirit Realm, the latter was obvious, yet the feeling was deeply unsettling.
“A Transcendental-rank lightning authority? How nostalgic, and how irritating. It won’t work anyway, so put it away. Besides, in your Spirit God state, any act that harms another is completely restricted. Don’t waste your divine power.”
“Since you took our precious contract without permission, an attack should be allowed, no?”
“This concerns the benefit of all the Main Gods here, not just you personally, so you cannot attack. Above all, these ones will stop you. Isn’t that right?”
At those words, the four silent goddesses stepped forward. They showed no hesitation, as if everything had already been discussed.
“We can’t trust everything, but since contracts and scheming are our weaknesses, we have no choice but to leave it to her.”
“Indeed. She also promised to show us how she passes the interview.”
“She seems better than me, so I’ll follow. One more mistake and it’s over. I’m sick of this place too, but the Spirit Realm where the body disappears is absolutely out of the question.”
“Flame and lightning authorities? Could she be stronger than me? I’ll easily overlook any difference in divine power.”
Hum—! Hum—!
Their revealed divine power was only at the Upper God level, yet most of their authorities exceeded the highest tier of Main Gods.
‘They’re Intermediate Main Gods, but we must not let our guard down.’
‘With our bodies still recovering, this is clearly disadvantageous.’
Yet if they were to be pushed back by mere Upper Gods, they had no right to exist. They concentrated their divine power and authorities, preparing for confrontation, but the goddess in the translucent robe quickly scanned the stolen contract and nodded. Before long, the contract returned to her hand. It was no spatial authority—its nature was so incomprehensible it felt like a trick.
“As expected of a War God and former mercenary god. The contents are flawless. You may sign immediately. There are no traps; if anything, the terms are overly generous. Appointing you as a Lower Main God with no restrictions whatsoever. As long as you don’t harm the God Realm, there could be no better conditions. There isn’t even a basic loyalty clause. It’s simply terrifying.”
“What’s so terrifying about it?”
She asked without lowering her aggressive stance. Though deeply displeased, she couldn’t ignore an evaluation of her own contract. The reply came in a purely businesslike tone, devoid of emotion.
“It’s an area you wouldn’t understand, and it has nothing to do with the contract, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t know. However, your attempt to attack us now will certainly result in a lower evaluation from him and worse terms. Losing the contract so easily shows weak vigilance—blaming others won’t help. And you intend to contract as a War God? Charging into an unwinnable fight driven by emotion is taboo among gods. Moreover, this is only a preliminary contract, not the final one. If I were you, I’d save the ugly nature for later. Acting like this now will only waste the favorable contract you desperately secured and burden you with countless restrictions. Something like, ‘I will not forgive those who cause crime and accidents.’ That fits your personality, doesn’t it?”
Twitch—!
Veins bulged on her forehead of their own accord. Even the act of trying to impress the Chief God—the very subject of the contract—had been laid bare as something shameful. Yet what truly alarmed her was the ruthless Main God who had slaughtered every highest-ranking god who harmed the God Realm through crime, turning them into Spirit Gods and banishing them.
‘If I fight these goddesses before the formal contract, I don’t know what will happen to me.’
Fighting now would bring nothing but harm. She withdrew her divine power. The contract had returned to her hand, its contents reviewed, advice given—ultimately beneficial, yet deeply unpleasant. She shot back a single remark.
“You must hear often that you’re truly unpleasant.”
“No. I’ve heard plenty that I’m ‘the dirtiest and most despicable bitch in the God Realm.’ Of course, only one being who said something similar is still alive.”
She responded naturally, as if the insult were perfectly reasonable, then addressed the other goddesses.
“You, don’t bother hiding that ugly face. Go in as you are. And never say anything unnecessary—answer only with ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ The only thing worth seeing from you is your dexterity, so don’t open your mouth about anything else. Only speak about what’s possible or impossible. And make sure to complete the contract on the spot.”
“Why? Wouldn’t it be better to appear beautiful, since he’s a male god?”
“Looking at those temptation-authority goddesses who came out as virgin goddesses, he has no interest in goddesses at all. Yet you think you can win favor with beauty? You said you were once a male god—do you think everyone is like you? Moreover, thinking that face would work on a highest-ranking Main God… what are you thinking?”
“Ugh—! The story about being a male god is from the distant past! And why do you keep bringing up my face—!”
At the mention of virgin goddesses, she flared up; at the reference to her past as a male god, she exploded in anger. The atmosphere around them turned deadly. From within the translucent robe, the voice continued coldly, as if the outburst were irrelevant.
“Remember this. You must complete the contract on the spot, no matter what. Do not refuse any condition—sign immediately. If you come out with a preliminary contract like those temptation goddesses, you’ll truly be finished.”
Gulp—!
Despite her anger at the words that sealed her fate, she swallowed and spoke.
‘I hate hearing this, but I absolutely cannot ignore it.’
Judging by the level of conversation and knowledge displayed, this was a highest-tier knowledge-type Main God.
‘Someone like me, who only forged divine artifacts in the forge while ignoring everything else, can’t possibly match this level.’
Yet there was one thing she had to ask. Why would failing to contract on the spot spell disaster for her?
“Why must I sign the contract immediately?”
“If you complete the contract and return, I’ll tell you. If I explain now, you’ll obviously rebel. Let me confirm once more. Answer only with ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and complete the contract right away. Otherwise, you’re ‘finished.’ Understood?”
The voice from the translucent robe carried absolute certainty, sounding like an unshakable truth. Yet the fact that such a declaration concerned her own end was absurd. Her expression twisted involuntarily, but in the end, she had no choice but to accept.
‘No matter how I think about it, if the Chief God had not turned away from the final day’s stalemate in the God Realm and intervened, the outcome could have been different.’
The thought would not leave her mind, and it was obvious how outsiders would view her.
‘Surely not permanent detention in the Spirit Realm Waiting Area, where only the minimum vitality needed for survival is left after defeat? And if I fail to adapt here, being sent to the Spirit Realm where even my body is taken away… I regret this so much.’
How many times had she imagined, over and over, the only comfort in her wretched life—creating divine artifacts? She had wanted any chance at all. Yet a Main God who had ignored her own God Realm’s destruction would naturally be rejected by every other God Realm. Just as she was about to give up, she heard that the highest-ranking Main God was personally advertising his God Realm and applied on a whim.
‘The Spirit Realm Waiting Area also threatened that if I don’t pass this time, they’ll take my body and eject me straight into the Spirit Realm, making the tension even worse.’
Thus, she had no choice but to follow this goddess who had approached her amicably, saying that if she listened well, she could pass.
Her actions showed no need for trust, yet if they were on the same side, there was no reason to doubt—her own words made her nod involuntarily. Someone who proceeds even while earning resentment would only deceive allies when it benefits the whole, not themselves.
‘Of course, whether I’m included in that “whole” is questionable, but since there’s no other way, there’s no reason to hesitate.’
Still, she asked one more question, just in case.
“What if I refuse the contract?”
“Don’t come out—prostrate yourself and beg. Say that if given another chance, you can display even greater authority than now, and plead desperately. You must show that peculiar ugly face. Only then might you earn some pity.”
“……”
At the merciless reply, she thought of tearing that filthy mouth apart, yet she tensed and stepped through the meeting room door. Then she heard voices from behind.
“Hey! What about me?”
“You shut your mouth and wait for your judgment. There was a rumor about a Main God who ruined her divine nation by drinking, and I laughed for a while—never thought she’d actually be here! And to have the interview in the same place… how ridiculous.”
“That’s not what we agreed on—! You said if I listened well, you’d help me pass—!”
“I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Why would a Main God who doesn’t even get drunk force herself to drink and destroy her divine nation?”
“That was the first corn liquor my divine nation ever made—! It tasted amazing.―!”
“Ara? What on earth is that? That childish way of speaking? They say poor vocabulary determines knowledge level—did becoming a barbarian goddess make you the same? And you still haven’t come to your senses, saying the liquor tastes good? I’ve been smelling alcohol since earlier—did you drink again? How did you make liquor in the Spirit Realm where all stimulants are banned? Don’t tell me you used your creation ability?”
“Th-that’s… When I opened my divinity, I suddenly craved a drink—! Want me to pour you a glass too?”
“How can you use creation authority inside the Guerrilla Volcano, a creation-god-level vitality absorption authority? That shouldn’t be possible for a Main God.”
“It’s the victory of the will to drink—! Kyahaha—!”
“You’re doing great. If you make liquor in front of that person, you’ll pass.”
“Really—! But I caused trouble while drunk before, so shouldn’t I say I’ll never drink again?”
“Will you really not drink afterward?”
“No—!”
The answer came naturally, as if it were obvious. A Main God who couldn’t even distinguish whether she was the god of liquor. Ruining her divine nation and God Realm seemed like nothing compared to liquor.
‘That’s why she came to the interview reeking of alcohol.’
A wave of self-loathing washed over her at the thought of being on equal footing with such an uncontrollable Main God.
“You ruined your divine nation by drinking, yet you’re drinking again—who would believe you? Above all, a drunkard would never quit drinking. So pray that person ends up needing any Main God right now.”
“Pray to whom? I’m a Main God. To the Creator God? She wouldn’t help. She was raging about killing me right away.”
“Th-this drunkard… is she daring to mock me now? Can’t you sober up immediately?”
“Why waste it?”
Their bickering gave her a headache, even though it had nothing to do with her.
‘Do I really have to work with goddesses like these?’
She hadn’t even been hired yet, yet worry came first.
‘I couldn’t adapt to organizational life in the past either… I really have no confidence with a Main God who has such serious problems.’
The highest-ranking Main God, who was staring at hundreds of resumes floating in the air like a mountain at the end of the office, had apparently heard everything—his divine power’s fluctuations were ominous.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
His divine power spun at terrifying speed, as if it might explode at any moment. Bathed in light, thirteen pairs of radiant wings rippled like sunlight. It was immediately clear he possessed divine power beyond comparison to hers.
Yet, as if deeply dissatisfied, a light sigh accompanied his words.
“Phew—! I should think positively. Thanks to this, my workload has decreased, so that’s fortunate. I am the God of Light, after all—‘mercy’ is my nature. I must be ‘generous’ no matter what.”
Whoosh—!
Space opened, and a fist-sized piece of metal, reddish yet silver, flew toward her. She caught it reflexively and examined it. Her authority over metal automatically analyzed its composition. Her mouth fell open.
‘Adamantium? Of this purity? Moreover, demonic energy? No, demonic power? Mixed with the waves of demon race bodies? So the material density has been dramatically increased?’
The result was an impossible super-metal with more than twice the hardness and strength of the strongest adamantium. The raw material was, horrifically, the body of at least a highest-ranking demon race member just before becoming a demon god. It was a rare treasure forged by mixing them through immense heat. The idea that a Main God would grind demon gods into adamantium was beyond imagination.
“I want a metal superior to this one produced naturally. Is it possible?”
At the expectant question, she tensed. He asked nothing about her, nor showed surprise at her ugly face. He only posed problems based on her authority and divine power. In other words, if she could create something stronger than this metal forged through that horrific process, she would pass—regardless of her past disregard for her God Realm.
‘I cannot miss this chance that may never come again.’
She could feel the goddesses outside the open door staring at her intently. Yet already, separate from that, her consciousness seeped into the essence beyond the metal’s screams of agony and its unyielding material. After so long, she returned to being the god of metal—the Alchemical Main God who burned and sublimated all the world’s rage and hatred into flame.