The Goddess-Only Stairway
The war with the Goddess Department had left him no choice. Remaining in the Middle World with such overwhelming divine power would only spark chaos, so he had no option but to ascend to the Divine Realm. The automatic staircase to the Divine Realm, clearly marked Goddess Only, shimmered invitingly before his eyes.
“Do I really have to see that sight again?”
Still, the only place he could rest comfortably in the Divine Realm was his personal temple, so he had no choice but to pass through. Taking the narrow spiral path reserved for male gods would be an affront to his pride.
“I’ll have to hang quite a few more of them this time.”
Determined to suspend every goddess who dared provoke him, the War God stepped onto the staircase. An upper angel who had once been diligent came rushing toward him in a panic.
“I’m terribly sorry, but this area is for women only—”
The angel’s eyes widened as she caught sight of the twelve pairs of radiant wings trailing behind the War God. It was only natural; he displayed them openly, as if advertising his status as a Main God. Most other Main Gods kept their wings folded to conserve divine power.
“Twelve pairs? And the divine authority of the Sun? You’re a Main God, my lord?”
An upper angel being overwhelmed by a Main God’s divine power was inevitable. The War God shook his head as the angel collapsed, strength draining from her legs, then continued up the stairs.
At this point, I expected some goddess to come charging in screaming sexual harassment and lead a mob against me. It’s strangely quiet.
Curious, he glanced around. Goddesses were indeed present, but instead of rushing him in righteous fury, they clustered in groups of two or three, whispering seriously as they watched him.
What now? These women are always full of surprises.
Deciding it didn’t matter as long as they didn’t attack, he descended to the Main God Temple. Sensing his power, the primordial War Gods had already assumed combat stances. Behind them stood fully armed upper gods and even some highest gods. The Chief God of the God Realm himself stood among them, staring blankly at the War God.
Well, it’s understandable. Another Main God suddenly appearing besides the Chief God would warrant an emergency.
The fighting spirit directed at him made his body throb once more.
I’ve obtained the power of a Main God and the Demon King’s artifacts. I won’t lose as easily as before.
Hwoooooong—! Hwoooooong—!
The twelve pairs of wings blazed with golden light as they unfurled.
They’re clearly resisting the Chief God’s authority.
The War God’s solar divine power was steadily blocking the domain of Reality Manipulation that permeated the entire Divine Realm.
I’ll endure the shortfall in divine power with maximum output. My authority domain is equal to his, so at this level I can even use magic.
The Chief God was a swordsman, but the War God was also a master of the Root School of black magic, excelling in close combat.
As long as I can use magic freely, I won’t lose easily. Besides, I’ve fought the High Elf Queens to the death countless times. Swordsmen are the opponents I know best.
Confidence surged through him, igniting his fighting spirit.
“Karma Contract with the Chief God of the God Realm.”
Absolute binding agreement under Karma Law
Violation results in soul-crushing penalty or regression
A golden contract radiating light floated into the air, drawing every gaze. The Chief God stared at the War God in disbelief. Of course, the War God’s appearance had changed drastically from his days as a black mage. His black-and-gold hair had turned fully golden, and his body had reached the perfection of a Main God, transforming him into an unparalleled beauty. It was natural they hadn’t recognized him immediately. But the sudden appearance of a Karma Contract with the Chief God made them realize the truth.
“I’m invoking the exception clause for a duel with a Main God.”
“You’re not married, are you? My sister-in-law is quite lovely. What do you think?”
“……”
There it was again—the Chief God’s specialty of spouting beautifully deranged nonsense. The atmosphere suddenly turned strangely cordial.
“If you prefer someone younger, I can introduce my niece.”
But the War God was no longer the same man who would fall for such tricks. He raised his fighting spirit once more and released additional divine power. The Chief God, however, had no intention of being drawn in so easily.
“Everyone! Let us celebrate the ascension of the God of War and Elves to the rank of Main God. This is a joyous occasion for the entire Divine Realm. Let us welcome him with applause!”
Ooooooh!
Clap clap clap!
Clap clap clap!
Even the primordial gods who had been hostile toward the War God began clapping. He stared in disbelief.
What? They actually seem genuinely happy.
The goddesses of the Goddess Department had also emerged, staring intently at his twelve pairs of wings.
They look like predators eyeing prey, but there’s no killing intent. No hostility at all.
The War God felt completely deflated.
“Haaah—”
He sighed, releasing his magic power and recalling the Karma Contract.
The Chief God is worthy of his position. Even with a new rival appearing, that raccoon of a Chief God is genuinely delighted. There must be something going on that I don’t know about.
His doubts were quickly answered. The primordial War Gods were congratulating the Chief God.
“Congratulations, my lord. You have finally obtained the qualifications to challenge the rank of Creator God.”
“Indeed. I wonder how envious the other Divine Realms will be.”
Qualifications to challenge Creator God? What is this about?
The entire Divine Realm felt like a festival. Though the War God had become a highest-ranked highest god, only months ago he had been a black mage threatening to destroy the Divine Realm. Yet everyone was celebrating, their eyes fixed on his Main God wings. The male gods were joyful, but the goddesses’ gazes grew increasingly heated.
The Chief God explained with a bright smile.
“When a Main God appointed as Chief God gives birth to another Main God on a planet, he earns the right to challenge the throne of Creator God. I’m truly grateful. You don’t seem fully settled into your Main God status yet, but I’m certain you’ll reach it soon.”
The sly raccoon Chief God was sincerely thanking the War God. Only then did the War God’s head begin to ache as understanding dawned.
Ding—!
So that’s why the atmosphere felt so strange. There was a rule like that?
The Chief God continued with a benevolent smile.
“Those who possess the power of a Main God may receive a planet and build their own world, and they may also become the Chief God of their home planet. Of course, I have no doubt you will succeed me. After all, isn’t this your home?”
The War God’s face hardened.
Home and kin? All I remember is them spending their entire lives trying to kill me.
He couldn’t start a fight with the momentum of a newly ascended Main God when everyone was in a festive mood. With his fighting spirit raised so high, he looked like a battle-crazed maniac.
“Haaah.”
The War God released his fighting spirit and folded his wings as much as possible.
Now I understand those strange looks from the goddesses. Regardless of the Divine Throne War, a being who could become the Chief God of a new planet stands before them. If they play their cards right, they could become a queen in a single step, at least by human standards.
No matter how much the Divine Realm prided itself on being a free democracy, those with low divine power were treated like leftovers here as well. Yet now a new Main God who could receive a planet had appeared—and rumors claimed he was a lustful god.
The Chief God is a henpecked husband who can’t move an inch, but a lustful Main God without a partner? If they seduce him well, they could receive his favor and increase their divine power as much as they want. That’s why they’re looking at me like delicious prey.
Moreover, this Divine Realm supposedly prioritized free love. A Main God could help even the highest goddesses raise their divine power and approach the Main God rank themselves.
Even that vicious Granzoa would stop at nothing if it meant increasing her divine power.
To the War God, it seemed their hearts were boiling like lava with desire. The Chief God had somehow sidled up beside him and spoke in a friendly, low voice.
“A woman should be a virtuous wife and wise mother. My sister-in-law is a rare and proper goddess even among the Divine Realm, famous as a beauty in other realms as well.”
He seemed extremely careful that the surrounding gods wouldn’t overhear.
“If you’re willing, I can arrange it immediately.”
“……”
The Chief God kept glancing nervously at one of the goddesses.
The Goddess of Earth and Agriculture? He’s being forced into this.
The Chief God’s consort still wore her benevolent expression, but her gaze had sharpened, as if she were scolding him with sheer willpower. For the Chief God’s consort, the matter of deciding the partner of a newly appeared Main God was not something she could yield. No matter how submissive she was, she was still the Chief God’s consort. She couldn’t afford to back down, nor could she be pushed aside. One wrong move and she might lose her voice among the goddesses entirely.
The gazes of the highest-ranking goddesses from the Goddess Department were also unsettling, and they were slowly approaching. A new Main God’s consort was far more attractive than the Divine Throne War. Furthermore, since the War God was rumored to be lustful, they could even obtain the essence of a Main God as a bonus.
The War God lightly pushed away the Chief God, who was now trying to throw an arm around his shoulder, and spoke.
“Let us begin the war with the Substitute Gods, O greatest of Main Gods.”
“!?”
The Chief God froze for a moment at the War God’s words, then responded in kind.
“God of War—no, now that you have become the Main God of War, you will tell me the outcome as well, won’t you?”
“An overwhelming victory.”
A genuine smile, free of pretense, spread across the Chief God’s face.
“Kuh! Kuhahahaha—!”
It was the roar of a beast that had endured for far too long, now baring its fangs in extreme anticipation. The War God smiled in return.
All gods below the rank of upper god had gathered in the grand cathedral of the Main God Temple. Thousands of goddesses and male gods from every corner stared at the central round table—at the new Main God of War and Elves, whose twelve pairs of blazing solar wings proved his qualification as a Main God.
“He was clearly a highest god. How? And it’s the authority of the Sun, no less.”
“To reach Main God in only a few hundred years is truly remarkable. At this rate, even Creator God isn’t just a dream.”
“Will he receive a new Main God planet? Or will he succeed the Chief God and aim for Creator God?”
“Since this Main God planet requires the Divine Throne War, the probability of receiving a new planet is higher.”
“Aaah! So he’ll become the master of a new Divine Realm? How wonderful would that be? To be the lord of one’s own planet…”
The goddesses’ eyes grew dreamy. Though they were immortal spiritual beings, they had limits to their growth and could never escape the rules set by the Chief God.
The Chief God here is unusually lenient. Other Divine Realms are perfect absolute monarchies.
The privileges and power that the Chief God and his consort enjoy through divine power support are far too alluring.
Of course, this Divine Realm was splendid and beautiful, but the Main Gods of other realms lived in unimaginable luxury. Some had entire satellites as their Main God temples.
“With that level of divine power, subjugating a planet or competing with the Demon Realm would be no problem. If he can kill two mid-rank Demon Kings in an instant, he could certainly handle the certification war against the Substitute Gods.”
“He could monopolize believers. At that rate, reaching Creator God would be quick, and his consort would soon ascend to Main God as well.”
“Aaah! Just thinking about it makes me so envious.”
The goddesses’ eyes turned to the Goddess of Earth and Agriculture, who had risen from mid-rank highest god to the highest rank in a single leap after marrying the Chief God.
If only her personality weren’t so vicious, she would possess the most powerful divine power closest to the Chief God.
I never knew the Chief God of the Divine Realm was that strong at first.
I thought he was just a lucky swordsman who received a border planet as a Main God planet for his loyalty to the Creator God.
Every goddess remembered how frustrated they had been watching the Goddess of Earth and Agriculture ascend to the highest rank after her wedding to the Chief God.
Even after an eternity has passed since then, I still can’t close the gap in divine power.
Moreover, there’s not even a sliver of an opening to seduce the Chief God.
The Chief God was ascetic, so they had given up on seduction. But now a new Main God had appeared—and he was a lustful god famous throughout the Three Realms. Everyone knew he had already granted Granzoa, the former God of All Elves, the essence that allowed her to become a highest god as his subordinate god.
I saw Granzoa, who had fallen to lower god due to negative karma, recover to near-highest god level.
The War God’s divine power seems depleted, but he is also the God of Dimensions. His rank has actually risen.
Among his divine powers, he even displays the highest-ranking solar authority capable of slaying gods.
The thought that receiving essence from the War God would grant them in an instant the divine power and authority they would otherwise spend an eternity accumulating made the goddesses’ bodies burn with heat. If they were lucky, they might even become the consort of the Chief God of the Divine Realm, wielding absolute power.