kscans

Chapter 65 - Little One and the Kodoku Curse

"Can we do it?"

"Of course we can."

The young god’s heart thrilled at the world he had created. A world finally completed after countless trials and repeated failures. A world created with the advice and support of many gods, it was named Heizleep, and it became a beautiful planet cloaked in rich greenery.

"Humans have been born. How cute."

The gods of various worlds nodded magnanimously at the excited boy and considered who would serve as a guide. A person who would impart knowledge to the people of a new world and become the cornerstone for building a civilization. It was a tradition among the gods to send such a guide to a new world. That is why on Earth, one can see what are known as ooparts, fragments of a hyper-dimensional civilization that built an ancient civilization. They are the traces of guides sent from other worlds in the past.

"Heizleep has no principle of magic. Let’s send a guide from Earth."

With the look of a kindly old man, the gods of Earth sent a guide to the young god’s world. As a result, a civilization similar to Earth’s was built in the young god’s world.

Arcadia was the world that inherited Heizleep’s life. Naturally, a guide was also sent from Heizleep, and a logic similar to Earth’s took root in its land.

This was the source of the unease Chihiro had felt before. The truth behind the many similarities between Arcadia and Earth.

The super, ancient civilization of Heizleep, which had inherited Earth's civilization. Even after its fall, its roots remained deeply embedded in Arcadia.

But Little One, knowing nothing of such things, continued to go her own way today as always.

"The last words of an ancient civilization?"

Romel’s eyes widened at Marquis Lombard’s words.

"Indeed. The ducal houses related to the royal family may not know of this, but it has been passed down orally in the houses of the four great Marquises. To create a vessel for the noble one who is to be born."

What he described was a rather dubious tale. It was the kind of genealogical anecdote common in long, established families. A vague and grand legend, nothing more than one of many.

"He created the world and left word that he would be resurrected again. We have waited and waited, and finally, we have seen a sign of His return."

"And so you performed that sinister ritual to create a vessel?"

Marquis Lombard nodded emphatically at Romel’s words.

It was a ridiculous story. The will of the world, continuing unbroken from a civilization that had already perished. At least, that is what they believed they were acting upon.

"The world was created by the gods. I have even met the manifested gods Chaos and Abyss. Who is this noble one you speak of?"

Romel, having heard the story from Little One, had deceived the church by claiming he had learned the names of the gods from the Golden King long ago. At this, Marquis Lombard twisted his lips in a vexed manner and spat out his words.

"That's it. The gods stole the world from the noble one. Even though it wasn't theirs. Such gods are no gods at all. If I were to name them, I’d call them evil gods."

After deciphering the ancient documents that had been left behind, Marquis Lombard had arrived at that conclusion. Convinced that the bedtime stories he had heard since childhood were true, he gathered allies and proceeded with his plans in secret, hidden from the royal family.

Similar tales had been left in each of the Marquis houses, so gaining their understanding was easy.

"I have heard of it. I have indeed. However, I thought it was a story about the gods," Camero muttered with a sullen look.

He, too, was the heir of one of the four great Marquis houses.

Marquis Lombard gave a short, scornful laugh.

"Someone must have orchestrated it that way. To bury him in darkness. But I am different. I noticed. I noticed the footprints of the noble one that were on the verge of being erased from the annals of history. That’s why."

"You thought you were special?"

An icy chill filled the room. Even Marquis Lombard was taken aback by this cold. When he raised his eyes, he saw Romel with a faint smile on his face. But the flames lit deep within his eye sockets were cold, and they held a gleam like a sharp razor.

"Marquis. Do you know what it means to be special? How cruel a thing that is?"

Romel had experienced it in the past. The short, turbulent life of a special child. It had reached its conclusion with her effective death. Despite all her contributions to the gods and her devotion to the people, the future she met was death.

Even if she was later reborn and found happiness, he could never forget. She had, without a doubt, died.

Unaware of this, the man before him exuded a sense of peculiar superiority, and Romel could not forgive him.

Don’t you dare speak of being special to the gods!!

"Very well. Your Excellency. You will be charged with many crimes. First, illegal entry. There is no record of you ever having visited Flowers."

Marquis Lombard’s face stiffened in surprise.

"And the illegal use of magic. The last time was within Frontier, so it was overlooked, but this time it was in a neighboring country. What’s more, you entered illegally. If they protest, this will become a major incident."

Romel had every intention of making sure they protested. Sensing this from the triumphant smile in his eyes, Marquis Lombard became intensely flustered.

"You, a noble of Frontier, would try to frame me?! You would curry favor with Flowers?!"

This was a diplomatic issue. Moreover, it was an incident that would undoubtedly cause harm to Flowers. If the brave and courageous King of Flowers were to learn the details, he would certainly not remain silent.

"If you are a noble of Frontier, you should know its state religion. No, the world’s state religion. The one and only Twin Gods."

"But I told you, they are thieves and..."

"Silence!!"

As Marquis Lombard tried to argue further, Romel slammed both hands on the table. The blow, unconsciously charged with magic, made the table groan with a creak, and two of its legs shattered with a loud clatter. Marquis Lombard stared at the tilted table with eyes full of fear.

Romel gave it a glance with a fixed stare, then called out to the two men behind him.

"Take Marquis Lombard into custody. Put him in a cell for common soldiers."

"Wha, I am a noble of Frontier, and a Marquis!"

He must have understood the meaning of Romel’s words. A cell for common soldiers meant a cell for commoners. Even for criminals, there was a difference in treatment between commoners and nobles. A crime that would mean imprisonment for a commoner could be settled with a fine for a noble. Since this money would go to the victim as compensation, it might be a welcome outcome for them. Amidst this, Marquis Lombard, now treated as a commoner, glared at Romel with eyes of fury.

"You would hide behind your rank. To mock Frontier while clinging to its prestige is utterly absurd. Frontier is a country founded by the Golden King. The one who sent the Golden King was the Creator God. To us, the Creator God is the only god. You, who deny him as an evil god, are no noble of Frontier!!"

Before Romel, who was yelling with his eyes wide, Marquis Lombard’s eyes glinted with amusement.

"Chaos and Abyss, was it? The meanings of those words, you know, are 'chaos' and 'abyss' in the ancient tongue. Fitting names for evil gods who entrap and stir up the people, are they not!"

As Marquis Lombard spat this out, Captain of the Royal Guard Camero dragged him away. The director of the covert unit, who was about to follow, glanced back at Romel. Prince Romel stood there, utterly dumbfounded.

And why wouldn't he be? To learn that the names of the Creator God held such meanings, whether true or not.

Not knowing that there was a person who had given them those names, the director let out a soft sigh and followed after Camero.

What in the world have you done, Chihiroooo?!

No one knew of the scream echoing in his heart.

It is but a footnote that Romel stormed the Count’s residence a short while later.

And so, the fraying threads of the gods became visible here and there, along with a suspicious scheme peeking out from the abyss.

Dumping the majority of the piling problems, one after another, on Romel.

Little One is doing just fine today♪