‘There's nothing for a God to lose. What if that thought was wrong?’
Just as Aster thought that,
Boooom─!
Aster heard a sound he had never heard before.
It was both familiar and completely alien at the same time.
It came from far away, high in the air, where Aster had to raise his head to see.
“……That is.”
A muscular man, much larger than Aster.
Gray hair and beard.
Carrying a spear and shield on his back, he was moving through the air.
Aster had never seen this man before.
But he knew.
“……Renzo?”
He muttered the name.
Apollo looked up to see Renzo’s figure.
His thoughts raced.
“Ares!!”
Apollo shouted as he scrambled to his feet. Aster’s sword was at his neck.
“!”
Aster was startled and pulled his sword back. This had been Apollo’s gamble. If Aster had been even a moment slower, Ludovic might have died. But as expected, Aster’s reflexes were faster.
Thud!
Apollo quickly retreated towards Renzo.
Aster could have chased after him, but,
‘……What did he just do, that bastard?’
He was momentarily rooted to the spot, anger welling up inside him at Apollo’s absurd actions.
“He used the life of the human he possessed as a bargaining chip?”
Aster’s expression hardened.
He remembered what Frondier had said.
─Demons and humans are no different.
“It seems Gods are the same, Frondier.”
As Aster swallowed his anger,
[Ares! You made it! The two of us together can definitely subdue Aster!]
Renzo’s God, Ares.
One of the Twelve Olympians, and the God of War.
In terms of divinity, he was similar to Apollo, but far closer to a warrior. There was no way Ares wouldn't have loved the ideal vessel that was Renzo.
With their combined might, they would surely be able to defeat Aster.
[Look! Aster is right there! Quickly,]
Crack─!!
Kwang!!
Apollo was sent flying diagonally, crashing into a rock.
He didn’t move.
“!”
Aster was shocked and looked over. Don't tell him Ludovic was dead?
Ares, who had just punched Apollo in the face, lightly brushed off his fist.
“Who are you to order me around? You think you're my equal?”
With just those words, Aster understood.
It wasn’t Ares.
It was Renzo.
Looking closely, he noticed that Renzo wasn't simply floating in the air, but his body was repeatedly moving up and down. It was as if he was bouncing on an invisible trampoline.
So that was the strange sound from earlier.
“……Damn it.”
But Aster’s expression only worsened.
He would have preferred it if it was actually Ares.
Who would have thought that a God not possessing a human could be this much trouble?
“Hey.”
Renzo looked at Aster.
His presence here was no coincidence.
He had come here specifically for Aster.
“Are you Aster Evans?”
“…….”
Aster and Renzo had never met before. Renzo didn’t even know what Aster looked like. Even if he had seen him in a Wizardview or something, he would have forgotten by now.
Therefore, there was a chance Aster could deceive Renzo with a lie, but.
“Yes. I am Aster Evans.”
Naturally, that was never going to happen.
“Oh. Found you quickly.”
Renzo, after receiving the answer, stopped bouncing in the air and landed on the ground.
Boom!
A violent crash that contrasted sharply with Aster’s silent landing.
He had absolute confidence that he wouldn’t be injured by a fall from such a height.
Thump, thump, Renzo walked towards Aster without a hint of fear.
His gait looked careless, but a skilled warrior’s steps rarely showed openings, or something like that.
No, his steps were simply careless.
But he knew exactly what would happen if someone tried to exploit that carelessness.
Renzo savored his own recklessness as he approached Aster.
He stopped right in front of Aster, much closer than the reach of Aster’s sword. Close enough for Renzo’s fist to connect with Aster’s face.
As the tension peaked, Renzo uttered something unbelievable.
“I’m here to help.”
“……What?”
“I overheard that guy next to me blabbering on about the situation.”
Blabbering next to him?
Aster frowned and tried to understand, then froze.
Don’t tell him… Ares was right next to him?
Ares wasn't refusing to possess Renzo… he was unable to?
“Something about a God possessing a human body and charging into a horde of devils? I can't just let that slide.”
“……You don't like the idea of a God possessing a human?”
Was Renzo’s pride not allowing this situation?
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
As if that was even a possibility.
“This is a big, interesting event! Gods, devils, and humans! Three completely different factions, tangled up like spaghetti! How could I just sit back and watch?!”
“……You find even war entertaining?”
“Well, yeah.”
Renzo admitted without hesitation.
But he added one more thing.
“Though, this doesn’t look like a war to me.”
“……What?”
“Anyway, let’s go. You’re planning to cross the continent after you figure out what’s going on with the Zodiacs, right?”
He was right.
If he could find a way to neutralize the Gods possessing the Zodiacs, Aster would also head to the Western Continent.
Renzo would be a reliable ally. He had heard from Frondier that Renzo had played a major role in the war against Manggot.
However, Aster Evans couldn’t just let it slide.
“……Renzo.”
“What is it? Tell me on the way.”
With that, Renzo started walking ahead.
“……Once we reach the Western Continent, what are you planning to do?”
“Hey, hey, Aster.”
Renzo stopped walking and looked back at Aster.
“I’m offering to help you, you know? This Renzo, that is.”
“…….”
“Think carefully before you speak. You wouldn’t want to say the wrong thing and ruin the fun, would you?”
Renzo’s warning. And a moment of silence.
Aster hesitated, uncharacteristically so.
But, in the end, Aster was still Aster.
“……What are you planning to do on the Western Continent?”
Aster had to ask.
“Are you planning to attack Frondier?”
“……Sigh.”
Renzo lowered his head.
He shook his head.
He raised his head.
He turned his head,
until it was right in front of Aster’s face.
Kwaaang!!!
Read ahead by supporting me on Ko-fi. Tiers starting at 10$ per month and you can access upto 40 advance chapters! Choose your tier by clicking the 'Support me' button! Join our discord server for latest release updates and novel discussions. Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel. Bonus chapters on reaching milestones. Happy reading!