“Even if he suffers losses in the short term, he will ultimately turn them into gains?”
Baal nodded at Frondier’s words.
“And Satan does not make mistakes when it comes to important decisions. He wouldn’t even dream of starting an all-out war with the Gods.”
Frondier let out a scoff.
“So, you’re saying you devised the plan and left all the important decisions to Satan.”
Moreover, that Satan was Baal’s enemy.
There was no way Baal would get along with Satan if he returned to the demon realm. The resentment towards Satan, who abandoned him and fled to Agoris, must have been building up over the years he spent in Agoris.
Baal shook his head and said,
“That’s why I didn’t want to do it. This operation, of all things.”
“You want to return to the demon realm that badly? Is it an issue important enough to wage war against the Gods? It seems like you’re living quite comfortably here.”
The first place Frondier visited when he set foot in Agoris was the nation of devils.
It was as large as Falind and had a civilization to match. Well, it must have had that many devils to be that big.
“You can continue living here. It doesn’t seem like Falind will touch you.”
While working as an instructor at Atlas, Frondier got a rough idea of the average combat power of humans.
From the general level of Atlas students to the Paladins, who were considered the best in the country. Paladin Antero was a pathetic warrior, but the devil possessing him, Bune, was certainly strong. It was safe to assume that he was the real Paladin.
However, even Paladins alone were no match for devils. In other words, from the devils’ perspective, Agoris was a livable place with no particularly threatening humans.
“We built our nation out of necessity. It wasn’t something we originally wanted to do.”
“Is building a nation a problem?”
“It is. It makes us an easy target for the Gods.”
Frondier understood his words.
In the Falind continent, devils lived mixed among humans.
Therefore, the Gods could not easily touch the devils.
Humans and devils were indistinguishable. If the Gods were to target devils in the meantime, it would damage their faith.
Above all, the devils hiding in Falind were too few in number and power to be worth the effort. Perhaps Ria Lis was an exception.
But Agoris was different.
It was a situation where devils had built a nation and were living together.
If the Gods were to punish the devils, humans would cheer with open arms.
“So, in our position, we had to leave this land eventually. Before the Gods’ hands reached here.”
“…If you’re going to fight the Gods anyway, it’s better to have at least one option, right?”
Even if that option meant entrusting the decision to his archenemy, Satan.
After a moment of thought, Frondier spoke with a still-confused expression.
“That’s what I’m most curious about, Baal.”
“What is it?”
“If a war were to break out with the Gods, how do they plan to fight it?”
It wasn’t easy for devils to manifest in this world, but it wasn’t as difficult as it was for the Gods.
Devils had the option of making contracts with humans, and since a significant number of devils remained in Agoris through that process, there would be many ways.
And it seemed that some could even possess human bodies.
‘But the Gods are different. The descent of a God was not easy, both for humans and for the God themselves.’
If it were easy, Frondier would have been dead a long time ago. At least before he attained this much power, the Gods could have killed him dozens of times over.
This was the reason why Frondier had specifically asked Elodie.
Weaving was a clear blasphemy against the Gods. Elodie had asserted that there were no exceptions to that.
In other words, the Gods not killing Frondier was not a ‘choice.’ It was because they couldn’t.
Yet, Baal feared a war with the Gods.
How could the Gods reach Agoris and punish the devils?
“…You don’t know?”
But Baal’s reaction was surprising.
As if it was strange that Frondier didn’t know.
At his surprise, Frondier was also surprised.
“Why didn’t they tell you? I’m sure that person by your side…”
“Who are you talking about?”
Before answering, Baal brought his hand to his mouth. His eyes darted back and forth, as if retracing his thoughts from the beginning.
Frondier’s brow furrowed at the sight.
“Who on earth didn’t tell me? Someone by my side who could tell me that…”
[How they wage war, you ask?]
Suddenly, a voice rang out beside Frondier.
Elodie was still sitting where she was, and…
That Elodie, with her chin resting on her hand, looked at Frondier.
[This is how it is, child.]
She spoke to Frondier.
[Hello there, nice to meet you.]
Elodie.
Elodie de Iniés Lishae.
The Child of Heaven loved by five Gods.
[My name is Vishnu.]
Frondier did not respond to the introduction.
He simply processed the information that had suddenly been thrust upon him.
[One of the Gods who loves Elodie the least.]
“…You’re possessing her.”
[Correct. Well, as expected of Elodie, the time I can possess her is not long. I think it will end soon.]
“…Then, by war, you mean using humans with divine power to…”
[Using divine power on devils to activate Pandemonium. It’s the simplest form of war.]
At that, Frondier’s hand moved.
His hand, shaped like a gun, reached out to Elodie.
Vishnu chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
[Hahaha. I have no intention of starting a war or anything. I’m not confident in winning against you either. The power of your soul is formidable. I’m just here as an information provider.]
“…Then why didn’t you say anything before?”
Vishnu shrugged nonchalantly, using Elodie’s body to do so, making Frondier’s murderous intent surge uncontrollably.
[It’s not like I was the only one keeping quiet. Elodie has five Gods inside her.]
“…You call that an excuse…”
[And it’s not that I didn’t say anything, it’s just that I didn’t think my turn would come.”
“Turn?”
Vishnu grinned, which meant Elodie’s eyes curved into a smile.
[Athena, that is.]
“…What?”
[You have Medusa by your side, don’t you? Carla, is it? Her God, Athena. I thought she would tell you.]
Frondier froze at those words. His hand slowly lowered.
—Charon knows more than Baal realizes.
—Someone who knew about Menosorpo from the beginning gave Charon the information…
[But seeing as she hasn’t said anything…]
Athena.
The Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, who cursed and punished Medusa.
[I wonder where Carla is now.]
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Athenaaa
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