As Aster and Ludovic approached Agoris, the number of people around them gradually increased.
'...They're almost all Zodiac. Or rather, Gods possessing Zodiac.'
Not only Zodiac, but many famous strongmen from the Empire were also on the move. It was a moment that made them realize the true power of the Gods.
However, not everyone was there.
Constel's headmaster, Osprey, Monty, and Ludwig Urfa were nowhere to be seen. Did they overcome the possession? Or did they leave much earlier? Or were they causing trouble in the Empire?
Aster whispered, "Is this okay? What if they find out we're not possessed?"
"Everyone's in a hurry right now, so they won't have time to pay attention to their surroundings. Besides, it's absurd to think that something other than a God is mixed in."
"But look, I'm not flying, I'm being carried on your back."
"Look around. Many have already spotted you, but they don't care. You're holding Ares' spear and shield. Most of them probably think you're Ares. There are plenty of reasons why you can't fly. You might have used up all your mana in the previous battle, or you're injured."
"That's vague."
"Just keep your mouth shut and it'll be fine. You look like you're bad at lying anyway."
Aster couldn't argue with that. As Ludovic said, he decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Look over there."
Ludovic was looking at the front of the now-swollen crowd.
"It's Zeus."
"...How can you tell?"
Aster wondered how he could identify Zeus among so many people, but it was easy.
He was already holding Astrape.
He might be possessed, so it wasn't Zeus's face, but that weapon alone was proof enough.
"...It really is shaped like lightning."
"Of course it is."
Of course. Everyone said so. Zeus's Astrape took the form of lightning. No, Astrape was lightning itself. Zeus wielded lightning, and hurled it like a projectile.
Looking at the sharp, jagged lines that repeatedly intersected, Aster commented, "It's not a good shape for a weapon."
"You're thinking about that now?"
"And I don't know that person. Even though they have Zeus's divine power."
"Well, I'm not sure if they have Zeus's divine power. It's highly likely they're just a vessel."
Come to think of it, Aster had never heard of anyone receiving Zeus's divine power.
Ludovic continued, "That's what Gods do, apparently. They don't give their divine power to humans. I don't know why, though."
And finally...
[Halt.]
Everyone heading for Agoris witnessed him.
Poseidon.
As befitting the God of the Sea, Poseidon, with his majestic size, booming voice, and a physique that seemed like five houses stacked on top of each other, stood before them, holding a long trident.
"Poseidon!"
Naturally, Zeus, at the forefront, was the first to see Poseidon and his face lit up.
"We finally meet! It's been a long time!"
"Indeed, Zeus."
Since Poseidon had been bound to the sea, it had been impossible for them to meet face-to-face.
They could have met through possession using the excuse of demons annihilating Gods, but if it weren't for this incident, their meeting would have been much later. So much later that even the word 'time' seemed too trivial.
Naturally, Zeus was glad to see Poseidon after such a long time.
Of course, Poseidon felt the same, but he deliberately hardened his expression.
"It is good to see you as well. It has been a long time."
"Indeed. But unfortunately, Poseidon, we do not have time for pleasantries. We are on our way to punish the demons."
Poseidon nodded at his words. It was exactly as Frondier had said.
Therefore...
"Zeus, there is something we must do before I let you pass."
"Something we must do?"
"There is a possibility that someone among you is not a God."
At that, Zeus frowned.
"...Are you suspecting that there is a demon among us?"
"Yes. I cannot let everyone pass without confirming. I am, after all, the gatekeeper of this place."
At Poseidon's words, the Gods looked at each other.
If they were in their true forms, they would know, but right now, they were possessing humans. If a demon was hiding among them, it wouldn't be easy to tell them apart.
Meanwhile, Aster was cowering, observing the situation.
'...This seems bad.'
He thought they could just arrive at Agoris safely, but suddenly Poseidon was saying scary things.
Find the one who isn't a God, he says. That's me!
"Poseidon, how are we supposed to do that? I don't know about all the Olympian Gods, but no one remembers all the Eclexis of the lesser Gods. We can't tell the demon apart here. Even if they're hiding, it would be more effective to wait until we reach the capital and capture them all at once."
"Don't worry, Zeus. I will let you pass."
Poseidon looked towards Zeus's right hand.
"Those who possess a weapon that proves their identity will be allowed to pass."
Zeus's Astrape. No one but Zeus could wield it.
However, displeasure spread across Zeus's face.
"Poseidon, not many Gods possess a weapon that represents them. What about the rest?"
"I will have to examine them one by one."
"We don't have time for that..."
"Zeus, you alone are enough."
Poseidon and Zeus locked eyes for a moment.
Zeus wasn't pleased, but he eventually nodded.
He might be different in his true form, but right now, he was possessing a human. In this place, Poseidon was overwhelmingly the most powerful.
And Poseidon was right.
Zeus, he alone was enough.
"And Ares."
Poseidon pointed a finger in one direction. The problem was, his finger was so large that it was hard to tell who he was pointing at.
"Ares, you may pass as well. Go."
"..."
"Ares?"
Aster, who had been standing there blankly, heard Ludovic whisper, "He's talking to you, you idiot."
"Oh."
Only then did Aster straighten up from his cowering posture and raise his head.
Poseidon tilted his head as he looked at Aster.
"Are you hurt somewhere? You can't even fly and you're being carried."
"...Ah, I was injured in the battle that broke out in the Empire earlier, and I used up all my mana."
Aster repeated the vague excuse Ludovic had told him.
And he messed it up.
"..."
Zeus glanced at them briefly, then, seemingly in a hurry, flew towards the capital.
Meanwhile, Poseidon said, "Hmm, anyway, you may pass too. That spear and shield... They're as clear a sign as any calling card."
Poseidon thought he had presented a reasonable first hurdle. A God's weapon could not be easily handled by anyone else. It seemed like a sound judgment to him, unaware of the situation outside.
Aster pointed at Ludovic and said, "Ah, then, well, I can't fly, so can I go with this friend...?"
"This idiot," Ludovic muttered under his breath at Aster's words.
A look of doubt crossed Poseidon's face.
"...? Why would you even ask such an obvious question?"
"Ah, you're right. Then we'll be on our way."
With that, Ludovic silently flew off.
Everyone watched them go in silence.
Something was strange, strange... The Gods felt a sense of dissonance as they watched Ludovic and Aster.
"...Ares?"
One of them finally realized the source of the dissonance.
"You're saying that face and body belong to Renzo?"
"Hmm?"
"Huh."
The Gods all turned to look at Aster's face "...Was that what Renzo looked like?"
"Ares seems to care a lot about his appearance."
Renzo usually kept to himself, so the Gods weren't familiar with his looks.
But they had heard stories about Ares, and Aster didn't quite match the descriptions.
"...Ares."
"...Y-yes?"
Aster's response to Poseidon's call was still slow.
"Before you go, do me a favor."
Poseidon's gaze towards Aster was now laced with suspicion.
"Show me your Eclexis."
Aster's mouth snapped shut.
He almost blurted out, "Your what now?" He really did.
"If you possess the power befitting one of the twelve Olympian Gods, that will be enough."
Poseidon believed he was offering a generous alternative.
Aster, however, could only blink in response.
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!
No update sir?
ReplyDelete