A Sloppy Beginning
The tense Feminist and Riasna, uncertain what might erupt from the Otherworld War, suddenly heard a low yet thunderous voice explode in their ears. “The cause of all things lies in a sloppy beginning. Restart the authentication battle. And the winner decides everything.”
“!”
“!”
While the two stood stunned by the absurd declaration, the reactions of the Creator God King and Demon Emperor were entirely different. Whenever the god race and demon race met, the endless bickering would finally be resolved. If they held the authentication battle again and produced a clear outcome, all the chaos would vanish. There was no reason to oppose it.
“Reasonable.”
“Simple and perfect.”
Though slightly flustered by this approval that sounded almost like praise from a superior, the Dimensional Mage God turned his gaze toward the Origins, who were barely holding themselves upright. Their minds were clouded by the slow natural recovery from critical injuries and the lingering pressure of the Dimensional Origin’s overwhelming presence, yet they gritted their teeth and voiced their opposition. Given their respective circumstances, this was something that could never be allowed.
“That’s ridiculous—! After converting to the god race and becoming a Main God, how could someone in that state possibly defeat the Main God King?”
“The matter has already ended in victory for the god race. What possible justification is there to start over?”
Their opposition was identical, but their reasons differed. From the demon race’s perspective, a mid-level Main God or lower challenging a Main God King—who stood on equal footing with a Creator God—was nothing short of suicide.
Seeing a direct descendant who had been astonishingly strong even among the preliminary Demon God Kings reduced to that state, even though the connection had been severed, the rage burned so fiercely it felt like flames would erupt from within.
For Civil Rights of the god race, allowing the already concluded authentication battle to be reopened was unacceptable. Among the Creator Gods’ authentication battles, excluding Almighty Hwi, there had never been an opponent this formidable. Their reasons for refusing to yield were irreconcilable. Naturally, the arrows of blame turned toward each other. Yet although they had clashed countless times over this very issue, the moral high ground belonged to the demon race.
“What did you say? After cowardly claiming victory by default through pretty-boy tactics and marriage fraud, you dare speak of triumph? Moreover, you turned a child who had already chosen to convert to the god race into that pitiful state and banished her to the Spirit Realm? Did you not use conspiracy to drag a strong being down to the level of the weak? Is this how the god race shows respect to the strong? Even the demon race no longer stoops to such acts. Yet you want us to compete again in that condition? What scheme are you plotting this time?”
“Ugh—!”
Civil Rights ground his teeth. There were many things he wanted to say, but he could not utter them.
If he recklessly forced the issue now, the chance of being disposed of by the still-present Wind Family’s Dimensional Origin was extremely high. He had to proceed with caution.
When the god race—who always pretended to be virtuous and boasted of their eloquence and moral superiority—found themselves completely on the defensive, the Demon Emperor wore a deeply satisfied smile.
The age when the demon race relied solely on power and were branded as thugs has passed. Justification and power—! And eloquence that elegantly packages domination—! Perfect for a ruling class. All the effort spent refraining from killing them for running their mouths and instead honing them has borne fruit. The Origins always caused a ruckus by speaking freely since they cannot die, but in moments like this, it proves useful. Now, aside from creation power, there is nothing the god race possesses that we lack. That too will soon be resolved. Just a little longer and we shall become the dominant race. If only it weren’t for those damned Substitute Gods. Kahahaha—!
Though the terrifying pressure from the Wind Family Dimensional Origin had not fully dissipated, he could not hide his triumphant grin. All he could do was twitch his face, suppressing the urge to let it spill out.
The Creator God King, seeing the Demon Emperor so full of glee, ground his teeth.
He’s grown unbearably arrogant just because he’s seized an advantage after so long.
It was intolerable even if only the two of them were present, but the highest among the Eternal Beings—the Wind Family’s Origin—was watching. Moreover, he could sense exactly who the person addressing him as “uncle” was from the aura leaking through the slightly opened dimensional gate.
They were supposed to be enjoying a tea gathering. If news of the god race’s disgraceful behavior reaches them, it will cause headaches for a considerable time.
Naturally, his fury turned toward the current representative of the faltering god race.
“Upper-class Creation God Civil Rights! Clearly explain why you reject an advantageous authentication battle. If your opposition lacks both reason and alternative, not even an Origin will be forgiven.”
“Ugh… ugh—!”
With even the Creator God King’s interrogation added, an involuntary groan escaped. His gaze shifted to his successor, now saddled with the stigma of marriage fraudster and whose path to becoming a formal Creator God had been severed.
He has no idea how to handle a situation that grows increasingly ugly and massive.
He glanced at Riasna, who clung to his arm and trembled beside him. The moment he saw her face, memories of the past—when he had grown arrogant after converting her to the god race and committed that fatal mistake—flooded back so vividly that he bit his lip until it bled.
I should have realized when Lady First avoided battle. This was never a task for me alone. I should have lowered my head to the other Origins and begged for their assistance.
Conversion to either the god race or demon race, when attempted alone, nearly always drives one to madness. The body and divine spirit cannot endure the complete shift to the opposite attribute and instead become a god of destruction. Therefore, for a stable conversion, a higher being must oversee the process. Only by completely suppressing the subject’s divine or magical power and converting it gradually could the loss of divinity or divine power be minimized.
Since I had decided to convert her as my successor’s partner, I took charge personally—and that became the root of disaster. I never imagined the magical power and authority of a mere preliminary Demon God King could be so overwhelming. Because of it, the conversion ritual failed completely, and I was forced to take extended secret recuperation.
A stable conversion ritual demanded exquisitely delicate control of divine power. Without an overseer powerful enough to completely dominate the subject, it was impossible. For that reason, two or more higher beings usually presided over the ceremony.
As an upper-class Creation God, I arrogantly believed I could handle a preliminary Demon God King alone. But the power Riasna carried from her time as a preliminary Demon God King was absurdly strong.
Struggling, he was momentarily pushed back by the final desperate surge of her magic power, resulting in the worst possible outcome for a god-race conversion. Since the ritual had been performed personally by a high Origin of the god race, she should have become a highest-ranking Main God after dropping only one stage. Instead, she had become an ordinary Main God.
The incomplete conversion left problems even after becoming a Main God. Too many remnants of the demon race lingered.
The god-race conversion overseen by a high god-race Origin had failed against the power of a preliminary Demon God King. Such shame could not be allowed to leak out, so they attached the excuse that she had harmed an Origin during the conversion ritual and ultimately banished her to the Spirit Realm.
Of course Feminist had opposed it, but clan honor took precedence over personal feelings. There had been no choice but to explain the circumstances and force him to endure it.
Looking back now, it was utterly shameful, but at the time it had seemed the best option.
This is all my fault for being weak. No—my cowardice in evading responsibility and desperately trying to bury the stigma has brought this result. Above all, Feminist’s authentication battle cannot take place here. I will end it myself.
Driven this far, there was no longer any way to avoid it. He would have to step forward personally and settle matters with the Origin of the God-destroying Black Lightning Demon Race.
Before Civil Rights could speak his decision, the Dimensional Mage God cut in.
Judging by his actions and expression, it looks like another brawl between Origins is about to break out.
That would return everything to the beginning. As the mage god who had initiated this matter, he could not tolerate such a stagnant development.
“A child’s fight becomes an adult’s fight. A family’s fight becomes a regional conflict, and eventually a war between nations—I’ve heard.”
“……”
Gazes converged on him, silently asking why he was suddenly spouting such nonsense, but he paid them no mind. Since he had offered the opinion, he bore the responsibility to push it through.
“If the children had competed fairly, there would be no problem. But because the adults could not trust the child’s victory and intervened, this mess has occurred. An endless, profitless, ugly brawl in the mud. Do you believe Feminist has no chance against Riasna? As the clan’s Origin, can you truly not entrust this to him? Is a successor like that even useful?”
“What would an Origin without clan or successor know about evaluating someone else’s heir so recklessly?”
“At the very least, I know one should never appoint a weakling incapable of defeating an equal-level member of the demon race—no matter what additional benefits are involved.”
“Ugh—!”
Civil Rights tried to refute him, but the statement was irrefutable truth.
The weak have no right to become successors.
Moreover, the strange conclusion of the authentication battle had caused even members of the god race to question the successor’s qualifications. Doubts had arisen about whether he was truly suitable as the next Origin of the god race.
Feminist’s very authority—which defines women as the weak and demands their protection and consideration—creates questions about whether he can become the next generation’s god-race Origin. Yet they could not abandon Feminist, who possessed a solid base of female supporters.
There were also reasons they could not reveal to other clans or the Creator God King. Nevertheless, the Dimensional Mage God pressed relentlessly.
“Feminist would indeed be an ideal who receives overwhelming support from women. If it includes even some men, that easily surpasses half the population, doesn’t it? Heh heh—! Expanding his influence would be simple. But can it truly be maintained long-term? An ideal that unilaterally demands sacrifice and consideration from others will inevitably collapse. Only when it benefits both sides can it become the mainstream. How long do you think the men and other clans who suffer one-sided losses will continue to tolerate it? Hasn’t the backlash already begun? Have you forgotten why you had to rename yourself from Lady First to Feminist? In the past, you went far beyond what was acceptable.”
“Ideals arise from necessity. They also disappear by necessity. That is fate. An ideal that does not evolve and change according to its surroundings’ demands is powerless and merely an obstacle. I simply accepted the natural flow.”
The answer was logically sound, yet it lacked force. After all, these were words Feminist himself should have spoken. More than that, the opponent’s confident demeanor was irritating when trying to drive him into a corner.
Thanks to this uprising, the main target of the Main God battle for the Dimensional Mage God is naturally the second-ranked Feminist.
Investigating one’s enemy was basic knowledge for a war god. Moreover, as a mage god, he would have persistently dug for weaknesses.
This bastard knows something. Did he investigate Feminist? Surely he doesn’t know that much?
Feminist seemed to have regained some composure and was about to step forward, but Civil Rights stopped him with a gesture.
This is an extremely dangerous situation. Do not intervene.
But this is my affair.
You are the successor. The clan absolutely protects both Origin and successor. In exchange, you must live for the clan rather than as an individual. Remember your rights and duties as a ruler.
Understood.
This place had now become a stage that would divide victor from loser and determine the very value of their existence. He realized that a single mistake could result in both Origin and successor being disposed of together. Having witnessed multiple times how clans that lost both inevitably declined, he had no choice but to withdraw.
When Feminist helplessly lowered his head after abandoning any further statement, Riasna—who had been watching from the side—flared with anger and stepped forward. She could not stand to see her lover cornered.
“We have no reason to fight. We simply want to live happily because we love each other. Why are you making things so difficult?”
At Riasna’s words, the Dimensional Origin’s smile deepened while the Creator God King and Demon Emperor frowned. The Origin of the God-destroying Black Lightning Demon Race pressed both temples with his right fingers as if suffering a headache. That aspect of hers—failing to read the room and acting purely on emotion—had caused him endless worry in the past.
She hasn’t changed at all. That’s precisely why she could not become the successor.
And from the perspective of the Dimensional Mage God, who stood as her subordinate and took her side, the situation was truly ridiculous. Touching his throbbing head, a question that had lingered throughout this Main God battle slipped out.
“Love, you say? How troublesome.”
Tap—!
The highest of the Eternal Beings—the Wind Family’s Origin—sat together with the leaders of the dominant races, the Creator God King and Demon Emperor. With even the mutually hostile Origins present, this gathering was extraordinarily dangerous and could decide the fates of those very Origins. A single misspoken word could prove fatal not only to himself but to his entire clan, yet she continued speaking according to pure emotion.
Still, she is my subordinate. Even so, speaking of love toward Feminist is laughable. How can I make her grow up? Aah—! If only it weren’t for that damned authority of hers…
It was extremely rude behavior, but the frustration was overwhelming. He took out his pipe, lit it, and exhaled a long stream of smoke to calm himself.
“Whoooooo—”
This gathering was currently being directed in both atmosphere and progression by the Dimensional Mage God, who had proposed restarting the authentication battle. After releasing a long plume of smoke, he spoke lightly.
“More than three thousand people.”
“?”
“?”
The sudden appearance of this strange number left everyone puzzled. But the faces of Civil Rights and Feminist hardened completely. It was a figure that held special meaning for them.
This bastard—he knew after all. That’s why he’s pushing so hard to redo the authentication battle.
How—?
Riasna and Feminist, who sought only pure love, were ultimately destined to fight.