Chapter 355: Libra (11)
Chapter 355: Libra (11)
If Ugly Prosperity has placed most of his divine power and followers upon the scales… then shouldn't I place something of equal value upon them as well?
“Help me, Maman!”
It’s just that I need the help of Cyclic Life in the process.
…I’m serious, okay?
Anyway, as if my voice had been heard, a massive tree trunk suddenly slammed into the ground from the sky with a heavy thud!
It was Ratatoskr, the path leading directly into the interior of the World Tree.
“Get on, quick!”
“We’re really getting on?! Is this really okay, Master?!”
“Our attacks won't leave a single scratch on that thing anyway! And even if the barrier is wavering, the fortress walls are still intact! Yggdrasil isn't going to collapse this very second, so it’s fine!”
“Is… is that so?”
Starting with a tilting of Carla’s head, I shoved the rest of the party into Ratatoskr and climbed in last, closing the door behind me. Ratatoskr departed immediately.
As I took a moment to catch my breath, I could see Ugly Prosperity’s arms through the distance, relentlessly battering the barrier.
Is he not firing those pink beams anymore? Perhaps firing off divine power so recklessly while not yet fully born is a burden even for him.
A god’s source of power is the faith of their followers. Even if it’s a belief obtained through half-brainwashing, even an Evil God cannot escape this fundamental premise.
Therefore, while Ugly Prosperity—who consumed most of his followers to protect the Birthing Chamber—might possess massive divine power right now, he will become significantly weaker for a while once it’s all spent.
Of course, no matter how weak he gets, dealing with a god who has descended in their true form is extremely difficult. He likely calculated that he could just crush Alfheim this time and use the captured elves as seedbeds to increase his followers again.
In other words, his attitude is that he only needs to succeed in breaking the seal and completing his full descent.
Well… there was nothing that could be done about the fact that his mere existence naturally scattered the Authority of Lust into the surroundings.
He didn't seem to mind devouring the elves who, entranced by his power, walked out of the fortress gates of their own accord.
Even at this moment, a giant hand snatched up a staggering elf and shoved them into a crack in the Birthing Chamber. Before long, a new face was added to the surface of the chamber.
The strong, who had some resistance, tried to stop it somehow, but deserters continued to appear.
And there was no way the cultists would let this golden opportunity pass.
Though their forces were few now, those remaining were high priests or those of equivalent rank—an elite force charging forward.
Chaos spread in an instant. Ultimately, a large number of deserters emerged, and using them as sacrifices, the speed at which Ugly Prosperity’s seal was being undone would only increase.
As I sighed at the sight of the tide turning completely just because he managed to pull out a single arm…
Iona crept up and sank her fangs into my neck.
Crunch.
The now-familiar sensation of bloodsucking pulled my consciousness from the outside back into the interior of Ratatoskr. In that state, Iona spoke, her lips smacking.
“So, so? You have a plan, right?”
“…You’re quite the handful. Well, to get straight to the point, I do have a method in mind. There’s just one problem.”
“A problem?”
“I need some time. And I need other people to buy that time for me.”
“Aha? Aha? So you want us to put our lives on the line? What kind of method is it… you’ll tell me later anyway, right?”
“Yes. I have to explain it in front of Cyclic Life and Chancellor Milone in a bit, so I’ll explain it all at once then.”
I nodded once and softly closed my eyes, surrendering to the lethargy and pleasure of being fed upon.
It didn't take long for Ratatoskr to arrive inside the World Tree.
*
“Have you thought of a way to escape?”
“Pardon?”
As soon as we stepped off Ratatoskr, we headed to Milone’s office. She spoke abruptly, her eyes never leaving the projection of the battlefield floating in the air.
“I am grateful enough that you have done this much. I have no intention of holding you here by force… but Nidhogg will be difficult to use any longer. It is a facility that requires more power than expected, so I cannot easily offer it to you now.”
“Excuse me?”
“However, I can at least give you a map. If you can somehow make it out of the Great Forest, you will be able to use teleportation magic, so it is too early to give up.”
Saying so, Milone flicked her finger, using telekinesis magic to pull a large sheet of paper from a drawer and hand it over.
Looking closely, it was an artifact that not only detailed the entire Great Forest quite accurately but also allowed one to pinpoint their current location.
“Wa-wait a minute. We didn't come here to run away. We came to defeat Ugly Prosperity.”
“…What?! Is that true?!”
A high-pitched tone, unlike Milone’s usual flat voice. It was completely sudden and out of nowhere, but the shout came from Nariel as she crawled out from under Milone’s desk!
“Your Majesty? Why are you there…?”
“Do not misunderstand, Duke Lindelheit.”
Only then did Milone take her eyes off the screen, continuing with a serious expression.
“My desk was designed to serve as a shelter in case of emergencies. It is layered with all sorts of protection and concealment magic, making it the safest place for Her Majesty….”
“Actually, this is better. I wish to see Cyclic Life immediately. Your Majesty, would you open the way?”
“Eh?”
Milone let out a dumbfounded sound and blinked blankly. Her expression seemed to ask if I was being serious.
In place of the Chancellor, Queen Nariel nodded with a voice that was unusually firm.
“Of course I can! Let’s go right now!”
…But seriously, nothing actually happened under that desk, right?
I was dying of curiosity, but given the atmosphere, I couldn't bring myself to ask.
*
Though they were holding out reasonably well, Ugly Prosperity was currently battering the barrier.
This meant there was no leisure to observe minor formalities.
We headed straight for the World Tree Upper Layer, and Nariel contacted Cyclic Life in the meantime.
Thanks to that, we were able to arrive at Cyclic Life’s sanctuary in less than five minutes… and my eyes met a pair of light-green pupils looking this way with concern.
“I need your help.”
“I see. Since things have come to this, you at least must survive, Yandel….”
“No. Not that. I’m asking you to help me defeat Ugly Prosperity.”
“…It’s impossible.”
At those words, the eyes that had been full of resolve were now tinged with pity, and her voice became cautious as if trying to persuade me.
“Yandel. I know well that you have worked hard and achieved great results. But this time, the situation is different.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't know at all. There is a massive gap between the divine statuses involved. It’s not simply a matter of lacking power; the very grade of existence is different. That is why one must be at least a Sword Master or an Archmage to even leave a wound on a divine body.”
“I know that as well.”
“…Then why do you speak of defeating him? Are you waiting for the Empire to send a Sword Master? Or do you plan to bring an Archmage who is barely breathing in the basement of the Academy? Either way, it will be difficult. Even if they were to arrive, Ugly Prosperity would be freed from his seal in the meantime.”
“You’re right.”
“Just in case, I should tell you that a Sword Master or an Archmage can only wound him; it doesn't mean they can win. Just as a child can hit an adult, but it is extremely difficult for them to win a fight.”
“Don't worry. I plan to defeat him before he is fully born. Me, and no one else.”
“…….”
At this point, Cyclic Life lost her words and furrowed her brows.
She probably couldn't understand why I was acting like this. Honestly, I think it’s a bit insane too. But what choice do I have when there’s no other way?
If Ugly Prosperity must be defeated, it has to be now, while he is at his weakest.
If more time passes, we, who are still underprepared, will have no way to oppose him.
I took a light breath to steady my resolve. Then, I continued speaking to Cyclic Life.
“I don't know if you saw earlier, but even I can leave a small scratch on Ugly Prosperity.”
“…I saw. But it was a needle prick at best. Do you still not realize that is nowhere near enough?”
“You’re right. But if there weren't just one or two of those needles, but thousands or tens of thousands, the story would change.”
Realistically, it’s impossible. Using Punishment once requires everything I have, and after casting it, I have to let my body recover for a while.
But in this world, realistically impossible things often happen. Because this is a world where Aura, magic, and gods actually exist.
It’s not that things like miracles happen; it’s that actual miracles exist.
“The Time Distortion Passage installed on the way up here. What is its maximum acceleration ratio?”
“Don't tell me…?”
“If preparation is lacking, then I just need to take the time to prepare more.”
“That’s nonsense! Time distortion is strictly a trap to stop intruders. You cannot gain enlightenment or grow within it! No, it’s impossible to even accumulate mana! Because it is far more difficult for distorted time to interfere with true time!”
“But it should be possible to at least convert life force into mana.”
“…What?”
“And you, Cyclic Life, are the one who has recovered the most divine power among the Good Gods.”
“…….”
Did she finally realize what I was trying to do? Cyclic Life’s frustrated complexion turned pale.
“So… you’re saying that if I supply you with life force, you’ll convert it all into mana? For years on end, until you’ve filled the required amount?”
“Exactly.”
“There’s no way you can endure it… How can a human… You’re a mage, so you know, don't you? How much pain is involved in the process of converting life force into mana. And if it’s the amount of mana needed to deal a fatal blow to Ugly Prosperity with that magic from before… it won't end in just a few years.”
“I’ve never lacked mana, so I haven't experienced it myself, but everyone says it hurts a lot.”
“Then…!”
“But what else can I do? This is the only way.”
I’ll say it again: Ugly Prosperity staked everything he had to tilt the scales, without a thought for the consequences.
To return the already-tilted needle to its proper place, shouldn't I also place something equivalent upon them?
“Please help me. ……Mother.”
That was all there was to it.