Three Thousand Concubines
The Magic God of Dimensions clicked his tongue as he watched Civil Rights and Feminist turn deathly pale, clearly having realized what he was about to say. Tsk! No matter what justification you spout, if you're the only one profiting while forcing others to make sacrifices, it's fraud. So at least show some restraint. Even I think this has gone way too far. Three thousand concubine candidates? And most of them from other clans? There's a limit to how much power you can siphon off, you rotten bastards.
Feminist had planned to keep it hidden from Riasna for now and persuade her later, as he always did. But once the matter had been handed over to the Magic God of Dimensions, forgiveness was impossible. Some people struggle like hell just to recruit and manage a handful, but this guy has them lining up on their own, purring like tame kittens. It's practically a free meal. Not that I'm jealous. But if this goes wrong, the position of Origin for my Dimensional Clan could be in danger.
The Dimensional Clan's wide-area authority, which raised every god within its territory by one circle, meant that the more deities they gathered, the greater the advantage. If Feminist obtained the Dimensional Authority, there would be no way to handle him. In fact, it was entirely possible that the others might later demand he yield it. Upstarts who climb by stepping on others must be thoroughly crushed the moment an opportunity appears, or you'll be the one under their heel.
Since the Creator Gods had clearly sensed the anxiety radiating from Feminist, there was no reason to hesitate.
“He managed to profit easily once, so why wouldn't he try it several more times? Three thousand is roughly the number of women in positions similar to Feminist's concubines. Once he becomes a Creator God capable of managing them, he'll turn it into reality immediately.”
“Three thousand concubine candidates!”
“What did you say?”
Of course, even powerful Main Gods or Creator Gods typically kept dozens of concubines as standard. However, no Creator God in history had ever possessed a harem exceeding a thousand. No matter how specialized their authority was in that regard, the number was so absurd that even the Creator General and the Demon Emperor found themselves speechless.
“The dozens in the Main Divine Realm are merely the tip of the iceberg. Moreover, they are exceptionally beautiful and powerful women from various clans above the Main God level. An enormous military force of over three thousand female Main God-level deities from other clans has essentially fallen into Feminist's hands. This is the current situation. If he becomes a formal Creator God, who knows how many tens of thousands might be absorbed into the Abnormal Divine Clan. How could the others possibly tolerate this? This is precisely why other clans and the Main Divine Realm oppose his ascension to formal Creator God, and why the Origin of the Abnormal Divine Clan cannot abandon Feminist. No matter his flaws, they cannot give up three thousand female Main Gods and the potential tens of thousands more that may follow. For the sake of the clan, even the Origin would stake his life on securing a successor.”
“!”
Civil Rights ground his teeth. The true reason he had tried to shoulder all the responsibility had finally been exposed.
“But isn't this too much for the other clans? You're stealing their precious female Main Gods. This could easily lead to war. Of course, it seems they tried to be cautious by selecting them in a scattered manner, but rumors cannot be suppressed forever. For a mage god like myself, who possesses wide-area information gathering, uncovering this was simple. Do you truly believe the other administrator gods remain unaware? The Creation Realm's position has become extremely precarious lately, hasn't it? No matter how much they frame it as a personal matter, this has already far exceeded any level of tolerance.”
“……”
Indeed, whenever they attempted anything, the other Origins whose precious female Main Gods had been taken would bare their teeth, find fault, and obstruct them at every turn. In the midst of this unexpected development, as everyone lost their words in silence, Riasna's trembling voice rang out.
“Y-you... You're telling me there are three thousand concubine candidates?”
“……”
Riasna had assumed Feminist would have many concubines, but she had never imagined the number would reach the thousands. Her face showed complete shock. The undeniable truth, revealed in this setting, left Feminist's face utterly pale as he lost all ability to speak.
“And you plan to increase that number even further in the future? To strengthen yourself and your clan?”
“……”
When Feminist offered no response, killing intent gradually began to surface in Riasna's eyes. No matter how much she loved Feminist and tried to view him favorably, there were limits to what she could accept. And his failure to deny it confirmed the truth.
Power unconsciously flowed into her grip on Feminist's right hand. Craaaaaack—!
“!?”
Pain flashed across Feminist's face. There was no way the strength of an intermediate Main God could affect him, a Main God Lord on par with a Creator God, yet it was somehow causing him pain. Worse, a wave of crisis surged from within his body.
In Riasna's wide-open eyes, flames of pure rage blazed upward. Seeing her eyes and hair turn red, Feminist recalled the certification battle that had been a nightmare from his past.
The moment Riasna's pupils and hair burned red around her body, all of my authorities were torn away, leaving me completely defenseless. Then, moving at speeds that far surpassed a Main God's perception, the black lightning struck, piercing and destroying my body. For the first time, I tasted true fear.
Before the certification battle, the Origin had warned him repeatedly.
The God-Destroying Black Lightning Demon Clan possesses both the God-Destroying flames that completely annihilate spiritual body authorities and black lightning specialized in destroying divine bodies. Since your female-specialized authority itself won't work on them, never let your guard down. Only the training you have accumulated will be the key to victory.
Yet despite the Origin's multiple warnings, he had been defeated miserably. Even among the Demon Clan, the strongest reserve Demon King candidate from the God-Destroying Black Lightning Demon Clan—judged purely by destructive power—had been too much for him to handle.
If Riasna hadn't hesitated to deliver the final blow because of my appearance, it would have been the end. And now that terrifying authority is baring its fangs at me once again.
And this time, it was even more fearsome than before. A thought flashed through his mind.
Could it be? Does she still possess the God-Destroying Black Lightning Demon Clan's authority? Then the incomplete divine conversion—!
If the conversion to the divine clan had been perfect, the demonic powers would have vanished. The problem was its incompleteness. Unlike divine power, which emphasized purity, demonic power could fully restore itself with even the smallest spark and sufficient fuel. In other words, any demonic power that hadn't been completely erased would revive by using divine power as its sacrifice.
It was fortunate she was only at the intermediate Main God level. Had she been a Creator Candidate, he would have been forced to fight another desperate battle dominated by those horrific God-Destroying flames and black lightning.
Still, at the Main God level, I can endure it. We must not fight now.
As he desperately thought of ways to calm her, the Magic God of Dimensions threw something toward Riasna and Himejina. The two women lightly caught the objects—the heads of demons that had been sealed within the Main God-Slaying Spear, serving as magical tools.
Thud!Thud!
After confirming they had received the demon heads, the Magic God of Dimensions spoke in an utterly casual tone.
“To ensure the certification battle is fair, I'll lend you these demons' heads as well. Though only their heads remain, their divinity is at the reserve Demon King level, so they can fully display the demonic power and authorities from their prime. The world is decided and monopolized by the victor. Fight. Win. Seize what you desire. The winner is righteous. This is my answer as one who follows the truth that favors only the strong. Now all that remains is for you to win. Will you abandon this opportunity to become the one and only from among tens of thousands?”
“!?”
Those words became the decisive blow. Riasna, who had still been hesitating, completely steeled her resolve to fight.
Power flowed unconsciously into the hand gripping the demon's head, linking divine power and demonic power. Once again, thirteen pairs of demonic power wings bloomed on her back.
Craaaaaaaaack—!Rooooooaaaar—!
From Riasna's eyes, the God-Destroying Black Lightning Demon Clan's authority—which was supposed to have completely vanished after her conversion to the divine clan—surged upward like reviving flames. The flames spread instantly to her hair, setting it ablaze in crimson.
At the sight, Feminist could only gasp in horror.
Huk—! Power and authority greater than in the past? Could it be a Holy Demon God? It doesn't seem so, but this strength is definitely beyond what it was before—!
She hadn't fully reverted to the demon clan, yet the intensity of the authority he felt was truly above the reserve Demon King level. When Himejina, her face filled with emotion at the complete return of Riasna's God-Destroying authority, joined her, discharges resembling black lightning began to spark.
Cracklecracklecrackle—!Rooooaaaar—!
“Keuk—!”
Feminist, finding defense alone no longer sustainable, used his authority to shake off the hand gripping him. And with that, the battle truly began.
Rumble rumble rumble!Booooooom!
The roar and shockwaves from their clashing divine and demonic powers began to intensify. The force was enough to pulverize the Main God Temple, yet none of the beings present were at a level to be flustered by such aftershocks.
Therefore, before they could even question the suddenly commenced certification battle and the current situation, the Magic God of Dimensions' voice rang out—half dejected, half delighted.
“Hahaha! Kihihihihi—! They're destroying it again. Well, it's finished. As expected, it's cleanest when the parties involved settle things themselves. If outsiders butt in for no reason, it only complicates everything.”
He had driven a couple who once dreamed of a happy marriage into a life-or-death struggle, yet he felt not the slightest qualm. The problem had been resolved. In fact, he was even admiring the certification battle unfolding before him.
“By the way, love is truly magnificent—! Due to the incomplete divine conversion, it had remained dormant inside her. No matter how much I stimulated her and poured in vitality, it only consumed it without stirring. Yet now the God-Destroying Black Lightning Demon Clan's authority has finally awakened. Transcending one's limits for love—this is the true royal road of a touching story. Aah—! Seeing it with my own eyes, I'm so moved I feel like I could cry.”
The Creator General, as the leader of the light clan whose creed was prosperity based on mercy and love, seemed about to intervene, but he quietly maintained his silence upon seeing the Dimensional Origin of the Wind Family's reaction. The Origin was laughing as loudly as the Magic God of Dimensions and clearly enjoying himself immensely.
“Kyahahahahahat—! That's right. The way this matter has been handled is so entertaining that I quite like it. Please proceed exactly like this in the Otherworld as well. Our Wind Family will give you our full support. Ah—! First, I'll refill the time for the 99-Second Hero God.”
“Oh—! You will?”
“Of course—! As long as you continue making things this entertaining, I can arrange this much anytime.”
With those words, the 99-Second Hero God time, which had only about twenty seconds remaining, was completely restored to ninety-nine seconds.
Ding-ding-ding-ding—!
Sensing through his senses that the time had been replenished, the Magic God of Dimensions could not contain his joy. As an eternal spiritual being, the 99-Second Hero God—which temporarily focused all possibilities to unleash power on the level of the Ten Centers—possessed unmatched strength but far too brief a duration. It might suffice for a duel, but he could not rely on it for war.
I nearly wasted it by using it recklessly. This is not an authority to be spent lightly in the Main God Temple.
He had been deeply worried about how to accumulate enough positive karma at the Ten Centers level to replenish the time. Even if I created a decent divine realm and revived it, the increase probably wouldn't be significant.
That was why he had not used it even when dealing with the Origins, yet it had been replenished so easily. It felt like discovering a mountain of treasure while simply walking down the road, causing laughter to burst forth.
“Kahahahahahaha—! My thanks! My deepest thanks—! Leave all matters concerning the Otherworld to me! I will completely overhaul it exactly as you desire.”
“Then I shall also greatly extend the time limit. I will upgrade it to the 99-Minute Hero God.”
“Ooh—! There is no greater honor!”
“Kyahahahahahaha—! Think nothing of it—!”
Ninety-nine minutes instead of ninety-nine seconds would grant him enough power to single-handedly destroy an average main universe. The stronger he became, the greater his freedom and authority. If such compensation was offered, there was nothing he would not do. Moreover, since it was the Otherworld—where the laws of karma did not apply, unlike the realm of truth—there was no reason to hold back.
“Just give the word and I will destroy the entire Otherworld.”
“Do not destroy a place like the Otherworld that has neither above nor below. Cleanly sweep it all away instead. They are inferior to a main universe that is not even part of the Absolute Realm, yet they call us the Void Realm. Furthermore, they have the audacity to advise us to pursue an equal paradise for the weak rather than a hell where only the strong prosper. How laughable.”
“For a God of Combat, hell holds more value than paradise. I will make it shine brilliantly. Kyahahahahaha—!”
“Kahahahahahaha—!”
As the Magic God of Dimensions conversed with the Dimensional Origin—who spoke terrifying words from the Otherworld's perspective—their laughter gradually began to sound identical. Seeing how they were becoming alike in the worst possible way, judging by their influence on their surroundings, was enough to make one feel sick.
The Creator General looked at Jinmyeol and sent a mental transmission. The situation is growing increasingly serious. I wish he would leave soon. Is there no way to expedite this?
It would be best to send the Magic God of Dimensions to the Otherworld quickly. That seems to be why you came. Heh—! But are these two truly in a loving relationship? Why does it look so bloody?
Papapapapa—!Kwakwakwakwa—!
Jinmyeol grumbled as he blocked the aftershocks from Riasna and Feminist, who were now fully immersed in battle with a do-or-die intensity. Simply taking the hits was dangerous, as they contained authorities fatal to divine bodies.
No matter that Riasna had regained the divinity of a reserve Demon King through the demon heads, Feminist—superior in both divine power and battle experience—was sweating coldly and struggling desperately. Instead of persuasion or conversation, the two were fighting with full strength to defeat each other. The Creator General quietly transmitted his will.
Because the love runs deep, the anger is naturally that much greater. Moreover, emotions belong only to oneself. They cannot be shared with or understood by other beings. Therefore, one who loves must also prepare to hate. In the end, emotions are momentary and destructive. This is why the precept of non-love is included in the Wind Family's laws.