The Temptation of Forty Billion
In the midst of a vicious verbal clash among the goddesses that seemed poised to erupt into open combat at any moment, the Dimensional and War God pondered how best to respond. I really miss my warm, quiet Survival Magic Tower. Why is it that this Divine Realm never stays silent for even a single moment? No matter how he tried to sort out the situation around him, everything only grew more tangled, drawing out yet another sigh. Whenever I sleep to recover and open my eyes, it's always this kind of chaos.
Before, he had been forced to intervene while the Main God of the Divine Realm recovered after being pushed back by the Demon God. Now, eight elegantly dressed goddesses—each nearly his equal—sat glaring at one another. The rest area has such a luxurious and pleasant atmosphere.
The massive transparent gem panel on the ceiling scattered the sunlight from the heavens in dazzling patterns, while vitality surged like ocean waves from the silver adamantium walls. Naturally, the seats themselves were crafted from polished adamantium frames wrapped in lustrous black leather.
All the goddesses reclined at comfortable angles on sofas arranged around the circular table. Yet something seemed off about the way they kept shifting their hips, fidgeting in their seats. Their faces gradually flushed crimson, and their breathing grew increasingly ragged.
They must be heavily affected by the activation of vitality.
In truth, the sudden massive influx of vitality had thrown the goddesses into a state of arousal, and they were now exchanging thoughts in a frantic, half-dazed rush.
An adamantium sofa? I've never experienced such luxury. But the vitality is far too strong.
This can't be intentional, can it? It's rising directly from the area in contact with the sofa.
It doesn't seem deliberate. He's absorbing it quite calmly.
This is troublesome. I'm blocking the influx as much as possible, but my body feels strange.
Lift yourself slightly like I did!
This is going to cause a real problem.
When one goddess demonstrated how she hovered just above the sofa in a seated posture while raising a barrier, the others hurriedly lifted their bodies a fraction into the air to block the vitality. Only after they had finally caught their breath did the calm voice of the Dimensional and War God reach them.
“You’re saying you’ll compensate with double the divine power each time an upper goddess is elevated to the highest rank? There’s no need for that. Providing work conveniences like the God of Knowledge does is more than enough.”
“The God of Knowledge rose from the upper-lower to middle rank, but the highest tier of divine power operates on an entirely different scale. This is a compromise we created. Above all, it is a custom passed down through generations in the Divine Realm. Allowing it to collapse would be unwise.”
The voice belonged to Hera, who had somehow shifted into the crisp, administrative tone of a strict manager. Strangely, the roles seemed reversed—the one who should receive compensation was refusing it, while the one obligated to provide it insisted on giving more.
The person who performed the labor says they don’t need payment, yet the one who must pay wants to give even more. What a bizarre situation.
The Dimensional and War God paused briefly at the oddity before continuing.
“To be honest, for one who has already reached Main God level, the divine power of lower gods contains too many impurities and requires refinement. Even then, it does not increase the absolute quantity the way it does when lower gods receive from a Main God. In the end, the extra effort I must expend to preserve the purity of my own power makes the entire process largely meaningless. Offering it for free to each of you was simply a gesture of goodwill.”
“It is for the sake of a continuous contract.”
The word “continuous” clearly implied a long-term agreement, so the Dimensional and War God drew a firm line.
“I must decline any long-term contract. While I respect the power and authority you goddesses have accumulated, handling matters without compensation is a disgrace to the Root School. The determination of contractual compensation must come from one’s own will—it cannot be imposed by another. Above all, you have nothing to offer me on a continuous basis.”
“......”
The Dimensional and War God’s cold declaration instantly froze the atmosphere.
What I heard from Hera and what I’m hearing directly are quite different.
The Dimensional and War God truly has no interest in anything beyond the duties specified in the karma contract.
If the reason is justified, he would leave the Divine Realm without hesitation.
The Dimensional and War God gazed at the eight goddesses and continued in the same detached tone.
“What I desire is merely some convenience when performing my duties as the God of War and the Elves. In exchange, I promised one divine power transfer per person. The God of Knowledge accepted those terms—yet you goddesses demand even greater compensation? I find that rather unpleasant. If you wish for an additional contract, present a proposal that I would find appealing. If not, please leave. I must accumulate more power to prepare for the coming war.”
The exceedingly chilly dismissal brought a flush of shame to the goddesses’ faces, though it fell within their expectations.
As expected, but it is quite cold.
The arrogance of the strong can be considered a virtue.
For a Main God of that caliber, this level is appropriate.
Hera’s emotionless voice returned, though her tone had suddenly become gentle and deferential—almost seductive.
“To fight the Substitute Gods, don’t you lack a great deal of divine power? The Main God of the Divine Realm’s combat strength appears to be below expectations, which has created difficulties. Otherwise, there would be no reason to halt the replenishment of divine power and magic power, then head directly to the Boundary to fight. Nor would you begin training the moment you returned.”
“!?”
The sudden, incisive observation shifted the atmosphere once more.
“You must be desperate for reinforcement of both divine power and authority.”
“...Correct.”
It was the very issue that troubled the Dimensional and War God most.
If neither the Main God of the Divine Realm nor I grow stronger, we will have to change our strategy entirely. In the most extreme case, we would need to destroy other planets that still possess life force, enduring the resulting decrease in karma. Of course, I would make that damn Main God of the Divine Realm—who has done nothing but slack off for ages—handle it.
Since the Main God of the Divine Realm had already obtained Creator God qualification, he would suffer somewhat from the karmic backlash, but far less than the protagonist would.
If he orders me to do it or opposes the plan, the Divine Realm is finished.
He had not yet pushed the idea because the Main God of the Divine Realm seemed likely to resist fiercely. But the moment Hera claimed there was a way to increase his divine power, he lightly snapped his fingers.
Snap—! Snap—!
Countless dishes, fruits, and beverages materialized on the circular table. The goddesses glanced at the unexpected spread, only to be left dumbfounded by the words that followed.
“So you’re saying there exists an additional method of enhancement beyond training, increasing followers, divine power transfer from higher gods, and the Divine Realm’s blessings. In that case, I shall treat you as special clients. Please provide a detailed explanation of this special divine power enhancement method.”
His sudden shift to an extremely courteous tone—as if dealing with a VIP customer—left the goddesses wearing slightly dazed expressions. Yet the Dimensional and War God remained utterly composed.
Power is essential when living alone. A slight difference in strength can decide life, death, or even annihilation. If becoming even a little stronger is possible, I am willing to pay any price.
In his past as a Main God-level mercenary god, every mission assigned to him had taken place on a brutal battlefield. After completing one life-threatening task, he would receive a pittance and immediately be handed the next, living in a state of endless frenzy.
Those damn brain gods! They worked me without so much as a vacation. The employers were just as vicious. After finishing a mission, what harm would it have done to let me rest a little in my own divine realm? Why expel me immediately?
He understood that the employers summoned mercenary gods to solve problems they could not handle themselves and acted discreetly to prevent rumors. Still, the constant surveillance that kept him chained to the battlefield had left him with no freedom.
I understood their reasons, but those who monitored me to ensure I never left the battlefield truly made movement impossible.
Having survived long as a mercenary god where even the slightest weakness could cost his life, power was incomparably precious. When Hera mentioned a special method capable of producing a rapid surge in divine power, his attitude could not help but change completely.
As expected of a divine realm with such long history—there really are secret techniques. Yet Hera’s face is turning bright red as she makes the proposal, and the expressions of the surrounding goddesses are equally strange.
A moment later, Hera continued.
“This information is known only to us goddesses. If you speak of it or convey it to any other male gods, you will be buried in the Main Divine Realm. They will annihilate you without fail.”
The sudden threat, combined with the ominous looks on Hera and the other goddesses’ faces, made them appear ready to kill him on the spot.
I suddenly feel like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web.
The Dimensional and War God’s instincts screamed at him to withdraw immediately. Yet the promise of a rapid increase in divine power and authority was not something he could ignore.
If they are revealing it like this, it cannot be an ordinary method.
If the Dimensional and War God’s realm rose even higher, it could become the hidden card needed to overcome an otherwise hopeless gap in power.
“Youth gods or child gods whose growth is not yet complete cannot be used. It would cause vitality depletion. However, since you recover using infinite divine power, it should be possible for you.”
“Could you wait a moment?”
As the Dimensional and War God reconsidered, he realized this was no ordinary method.
It feels like the worst kind of trap—one from which there is no escape once heard.
No matter how desperate his thirst for power, the eight goddesses who had transformed the Divine Realm into a women-only domain were the worst possible contractors.
If they act as they please and combine their strength, even I would be finished.
They were the worst possible clients, yet if the compensation was divine power enhancement, his answer had already tilted toward acceptance. Still, there was one thing he needed to clarify first.
“I would like to know the price I must pay before anything else.”
“......”
A brief silence fell. The goddesses drank from the beverages before them without a word.
Their expressions are terribly cold and resolute.
After a long pause, Hera spoke again.
“Please elevate Granzoa to Main God.”
“Eh—!”
The shocking condition drew an involuntary groan from his lips.
Given the current situation in which the Main God of the Divine Realm was trying to hand over the Divine Realm to another so he could ascend to Creator God, it was not impossible. The problem was the protagonist’s current state of karma corruption.
Returning to my original Main God level is relatively easy. However, promoting someone to Main God requires an enormous amount of vitality and divine power.
Reaching the Main God realm demanded not only talent but heavenly luck as well, so whether it was even feasible remained doubtful.
“Please immediately replenish Granzoa’s depleted divine power and protect her perfectly until she fully recovers.”
“Ugh—!”
For an ordinary Main God—unlike the Dimensional and War God who possessed infinite moon and sun—naturally recovering consumed divine power would take an immense amount of time. Yet the demands were not finished.
“Please upgrade all current upper goddesses to the highest rank.”
“Cough—!”
The number of upper goddesses exceeded one hundred. Moreover, the gap in divine power between upper and highest rank was vast.
No matter how quickly I recover with infinite divine power and vitality, this will not be over easily.
A simple mental calculation nearly drew a scream from the Dimensional and War God’s throat.
“And...”
It seemed there were still more conditions.
What kind of method could possibly justify demanding such an enormous price so boldly?
At this point, he was genuinely curious. But the next demand surpassed even his limits.
“Please make each of us the Main God of our own independent Divine Realm.”
“......”
No matter how optimistically he viewed it, the goddesses clearly regarded him as a Creator God.
This is not a request a mere Main God should receive.
Even one of these conditions would require desperate effort, yet he was already struggling to handle the Substitute Gods. This was not information he should be hearing right now.
This feels like something I truly should not hear. I must refuse. If it goes badly, I should run.
He naturally tried to refuse at once, but the final condition left his mouth frozen.
“Afterward, please never abandon or turn away from Granzoa and us, and actively support us.”
The Dimensional and War God felt his mind go blank at the utterly transcendent demands.
Is this a proposal made with a sound mind? Do they truly believe I will accept these conditions?
A continuous long-term contract was an enormous shackle and carried great risk.
I have never seen anyone who offers a long-term contract refrain from stabbing their partner in the back.
Yet the tone sounded like a woman begging a man not to abandon her.
“I will change the final condition to a re-contract if necessary. I absolutely do not engage in long-term contracts. Instead, I will handle your matters as top priority at a low cost.”
His curiosity had grown too large to ignore, so he offered the best compromise he could.
What kind of divine power enhancement method makes them think I would accept such unreasonable demands? It feels like an antlion pit, but I suppose I should at least listen.
At the Dimensional and War God’s compromise, the goddesses exchanged glances and communicated at length. Finally, all of them nodded.
Pushing Hera aside, the black-haired goddess in the corner asked with an incredulous expression.
“Conditions other than a long-term contract are possible?”
“They are possible. However, they must be done my way and will require tremendous effort and time. If you accurately inform me of the realm and divine power I can obtain through this divine power enhancement, I will accept. The method itself seems difficult to disclose, so I will not ask for it now.”
The Dimensional and War God looked directly at the goddesses and asked.
“Now then! If I fulfill this request, to what degree of divine power and realm will I ascend?”
“......”
“......”
“......”
The goddesses remained silent while the Dimensional and War God reviewed the contract terms in his mind.
I must elevate Granzoa to Main God, promote one hundred upper goddesses to the highest rank, and afterward turn nine goddesses into the Main Gods of their own planetary Divine Realms? Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
No matter how he considered it, the task seemed nearly impossible. After exchanging intentions for a long while, Hera finally answered.
“For the additional contract, you must accept it unless there is a fatal disqualifying factor, and the compensation shall be decided by us.”
“Huh—!”
The Dimensional and War God wore an expression of utter disbelief at the absurd demand, but the next words left him completely frozen.
“As compensation, we will guarantee an increase of at least four billion in innate divine power.”
“......”
His mind filled with that colossal number. Four billion! Four billion! Four billion! For him, whose current innate divine power stood at two billion, an additional four billion was a request worth risking his life multiple times to fulfill.