Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Illecia's Gambit
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"No matter how ugly a human might be, once they've received Lord Nimuell's blessing and become a god,
they can't be casually erased. That's the law of the heavens.
But... when it comes to punishment, it's different."
This is bad.
I can't move my body.
Even if hypnosis hadn't failed against Jermina and I could control my body, there wouldn't be much I could do.
This is unavoidable death.
"I'll... do anything under you, Lady Jermina.
So please..."
I bowed my head low.
At this point, the only thing I had left to offer was my life.
The red light gathered in Jermina's hand. Nothing alive could survive touching that aurora-like glow, condensed from the sun's rays.
And this prideful Goddess of Destruction, now having justification to kill me, wouldn't stop for anything.
Unless she changed her mind, there was no way for Sia and me to survive.
"Interesting."
The red light in Jermina's hand faded away.
Somehow, my life was extended, if only a little.
"Why did you protect that girl? I'll give you a moment—speak."
I staggered to my feet.
My whole body throbbed. I'd never vomited blood like that before.
Even back when I was human, I didn't think I'd ever been this battered.
Well, anyway...
I had to somehow sway Jermina's heart, but no words came to mind.
"The me watching this memory" was coming up with a few word combinations to buy time,
but at this point, I stubbornly chose to clash head-on, without any pretense.
"Sia... is a maid I cherish."
Deep down, there was no calculation that being honest might make Jermina lenient.
I'd never been good at lying to myself.
In this desperate moment where I might die any second, my true feelings spilling out wasn't strange at all.
"Is that so. Got it.
I'll kill that woman alongside you."
A death sentence.
The aurora gathered in Jermina's hand.
She'd only wanted to hear my answer in the first place—never intended to spare me.
If I'd been a bit more cunning, would Sia have survived?
As I hurled that question at myself and resigned to everything—
"Who's your maid?!"
Sia snapped harshly and shoved me.
Lacking strength, I crumpled to the ground like a folding chair.
Sia grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it in my face, yelling coldly.
"Die alone, you trash!
You got used to me playing along and thought I was your possession?"
"Si, Sia..."
"I was just pretending to follow you because I feared your powers.
I wondered what great god you were. Compared to the one here, you're just worthless trash!"
"......"
"Ahahaha!!"
Jermina burst into laughter.
Hearing that laugh, I knew.
Just how hurt my expression was right now.
My usual shamelessness crumbled. I could only gaze at Sia like an abandoned puppy.
"Hahaha. Ahahaha! Ahahahaha!!"
Jermina clutched her stomach, laughing.
Even though the aurora had faded, I couldn't feel joy.
Just moments ago, I'd wanted to live so badly—now I just wanted to vanish.
"It's been a millennium since I laughed like this.
A god who toys with human hearts, making a face like that..."
"......"
"You, girl. Clever one. Show me your face."
"Yes."
Sia approached Jermina.
"You're too good a maid for that man. Smart and beautiful. Fitting for a goddess's dignity—I'll take you under my wing."
"Thank you."
Sia glanced back at me from Jermina's side.
I was too scared of learning Illecia's true feelings to lift my head.
"What's your name?"
"Illecia."
"Illecia. No issue if I kill this one now, right?"
"Yes. It doesn't matter to me."
"......"
I'm dying alone, huh.
Maybe that's how it should be.
Better than both of us dying.
But no matter how long I waited, the aurora didn't pour down on me.
"Obvious lies, but well done."
"......"
"This man has an ugly character, but in his final moment, he threw himself to protect you.
That action alone was noble.
A graceless human who casually betrays that kindness has no place under me.
Understand? When I called you clever, that's what I meant. You knew how to make me spare him.
You showed this man the highest loyalty you could."
I raised my head.
This time, Sia avoided my eyes.
"But do you know, Illecia?
The destruction permitted to me is the destruction of soul and flesh.
You've just killed something even I can't kill."
"......"
"Look at this man's face.
You've proven that even gods are beings who despair when losing something precious."
The trembling in my body wouldn't stop.
Every word from Jermina felt like ripping open a fresh, bleeding wound.
Her mockery stabbed into the heart of my powerlessness.
"Now, run. Never show yourself before me again.
Live like a worm, and I might even permit your continued existence."
Jermina boasted, cradling Illecia in her arms.
Illecia bowed her head and shouted.
"Go!"
I staggered up and turned my back.
"Ahaha! That's the posture of a worm. Hurry and run, or you might get hit?"
Jermina fired the aurora.
Red flashes swept the area like a barrage of rain.
Corpses touched by the aurora ballooned like inflated balls and burst, splattering blood.
I ran, staggering like a rag doll being dragged.
Even knowing she had no intention of hitting me, just toying with me.
I fled desperately but didn't get far before pitching forward face-first.
Jermina sneered at my sight.
And when the sneering stopped,
the two were already gone somewhere.
"......"
I rolled onto my back and took a deep breath toward the sky.
Illecia had saved me.
I recalled what she'd said to me, the one who'd someday become my maid.
That she wanted to repay the favor I'd done her.
It was so absurd I laughed.
"You repaid the favor too much..."
Sia had known.
That Jermina was a goddess who wouldn't forgive no matter how much mercy you begged for.
Not that she'd known Jermina beforehand.
In that brief moment, Illecia had inferred her personality from Jermina's actions and words.
And stepped up with on-the-spot improvisation.
To change Jermina's mind, set on killing me,
she had to humiliate me in a way that exceeded her expectations.
On the other hand, this plan wouldn't have worked if I'd known Illecia's scheme.
Precisely because I hadn't anticipated it.
Because I was genuinely hurt, Jermina laughed uproariously.
What an irritating goddess.
I wish her personality matched her beauty.
But...
Wasn't this for the best?
Jermina was a 2nd-class goddess. The goddess among goddesses permitted the authority of destruction.
Better to be under her than beside a 9th-class god who only knew sex with women.
With luck, she might even be granted divinity and become a goddess.
Eternal youth, a safe home, a comfortable life awaited her.
...If she wanted, she could enjoy debauchery with dozens of male concubines.
Illecia had saved my life.
...If she thrives, I have no more wishes...
...
...
...
Like hell!
What is this, some dusty romance?!
She left me furious enough to bolt awake from sleep!
Bless and pray for a crazy woman who ditched me?
Until she atones for her insolence as a mere maid with her pussy, no forgiveness.
Especially that bitch Jermina.
I came up with a hundred creative ways to punish Jermina's pussy.
Won't forgive until I carry them all out.
Wound recovery complete!!
I jumped up and stretched.
As expected of a god's body. A short rest and it healed right up.
If I were human, even slight exposure to that aurora would've killed me, but I got lucky.
If Jermina was the type to go all-out even on humans, I'd be dying from fatal wounds by now.
I'd lived like a coward until now.
Enduring Jermina's and her minions' vicious harassment from the gods.
Part of it was because I was weak, but also because I was aware of my craven life.
Opposing the gods would cause trouble,
and that trouble would end in enslavement by the hostile goddesses or my death.
The process was too annoying and tedious, with too high a chance of my death, so I'd focused on hugging pretty commoner girls.
But Jermina crossed the line.
As long as Jermina existed, I couldn't maintain the life I wanted.
Not only that—she stole my most cherished woman.
I'm angry.
This rage feels like it'll spread through my body and burn me up if I don't vent it.
From now on, I'm attacking.
Of course, no plan.
I'd always wondered. What does a goddess's pussy feel like? Jermina shattered my last restraint.
No stopping now.
I used dimensional magic to open a gate through space.
First destination: Hevel, the Goddess of Disease with the "Authority of Corruption."
A 4th-class goddess, culprit behind ruining my home's crops.
Famous for her thick friendship with Jermina, so whether she acted on her own or on orders, no surprise.
The moment I space-leaped, Hevel's laughter rang out.
I landed in the inner courtyard of Hevel's residence and looked around.
Nice place.
A white building gleaming as if bathed in bright sunlight.
Opulent and pristine, like several villas stitched together.
Not a speck of dust on the floor.
I smirked.
Hilarious. A goddess who spreads disease keeps her own home spotless.
"Anyway, that guy's always been creepy.
I don't get why Lord Nimuell elevated such a man to godhood.
Authority of Hypnosis? Ugh, gives me the creeps...!"
"Hahaha. Don't be like that.
Lord Nimuell must have had her reasons."
Seems our goddess is busy chatting.
I stepped into the sunlit courtyard.
At this moment, I was considering that Hevel might have prepared anti-hypnosis measures like Jermina.
I know.
If I truly valued the life Illecia saved, I should approach cautiously.
Gather info over decades or centuries, then hypnotize in a sure situation.
I know. I know, but...
Who cares. Fuck it.
"How dare you come here...!! Invading my residence? A mere 9th-class god?!"
Clap.
I clapped, casting hypnosis.
"Who are you?! What did you do to my wife?"
Her conversation partner seemed to be her husband.
"Holy Knights! Intruder! Kill the intruder!"
Holy Knights swarmed at the husband's call.
Using space leap like me, they surrounded me in an instant.
"Hmm."
Calling it surrounded might be a stretch.
Only four, huh.
Plenty for a 4th-class goddess, but underwhelming.
"Reveal yourself! Who are you?!"
"9th-class god Decal. So low-rank I have no epithet.
For now, call me the 'God of Hypnosis.'"
"Hy, Hypnosis God...?"
Hevel's husband paled, realizing the nature of the magic that neutralized his wife.
Faster than the Holy Knights could move, I clapped.
Clap.
"Holy Knights.
From now on, I am your god."
"Yes!" "Yes!" "Yes!"
"All of you, commit suicide!"
The Holy Knights slit their own throats with their swords and died at my solemn command.
I looked at Hevel, lost in a trance.
Goddess of Disease, Hevel.
Why do all goddesses possess supreme beauty?
I'd pondered that alone before.
Shamelessly, I'd lusted to sleep with every goddess.
Hevel was one of those goddesses I'd desired.
Slender waist, ample breasts. Curved hips, long lithe legs.
I calmly stroked Hevel's green hair cascading over her shoulders, admiring.
The goddesses are all so stunning.
Her husband, surprisingly ordinary. Some male god? I think 7th-class.
"Hevel's husband. Your name?"
"Akop."
"Akop. You 'cannot stand from sitting.'"
"Cannot stand..."
"You 'cannot do anything but watch the scene before you.'"
"...Understood."
Next, Hevel's turn.
No holding back, you insolent bitch.
"Hevel. 'Answer my questions truthfully.'"
"......"
"'You cannot harm me.'"
"...Cannot... harm."
"'You are a born toilet pussy. Taking my cock in your pussy is only natural.'"
"Toilet... pussy..."
Clap.
I clapped, awakening their minds.