Chapter 416
Great Sorcerer, Nurture (6)
As the name of God's Era suggested, it wouldn't be a surprise if gods really appeared. The Middle Earth was connected with different realms, including the Divine Realm, and the gods that weren't that strong at that time took this chance and actively participated to increase their influences. But descending to the chaotic Middle Earth with real bodies drained them greatly. Hence, most of the time, their disciples that received their blessings descended on their behalf. Yeah, just like that angel who appeared with golden wings and brown hair.
[Great Mother Earth? What a grandiose yet useless name. You're mistaken if you think I got scared with this. I'll gather your kind and sweep you away...!]
[Futile resistance. Know the difference in strength...huh?]
The disciple of the Great Mother Earth, who spoke fancy words and drew out a reaper's scythe, suddenly directed her attention to Evan, who was confronting Diokas. Diokas was bluntly on alert against someone behind her back.
"Uh...hello?"
Evan, who was being stared at by Fayna, pulled his hood even lower. There was nothing good that would come from having himself known to the gods, including the Great Mother Earth.
[Demon...?]
However, Fayna's attention was not on Evan but on Maybell, who was riding his back.
[Argh, there was another one at the back!]
"Huh? You don't need to mind me, so relax. Chill."
[I won't let down my guard with a demon behind me!]
[An opening!]
The battlefield was as chaotic as the current situation on Middle Earth. A diamond on a dunghill was still a diamond, Fayna realized Maybell posed a greater threat than Diokas, and she gave an opening to Diokas when she put up her guard against her. Diokas aimed to eliminate the stronger foes while taking advantage of this chaos. He fired his hardest horn at Fayna's back!
"Good, give me those horns faster."
And Evan used his Annihilation to retrieve it after crushing it.
[Argggggggggh!]
A despicable scream was heard, and surely it came from Diokas. Diokas was rolling on the floor in front of Fayna, who forgot that she showed her back to him. He looked a bit pitiful as he was crying out loud with blue demon blood dripping from his mouth.
[Huh...?]
She let out a foolish sound. As she was alerted against Maybell, she also saw Evan stretching his arm towards Diokas. Still, she couldn't comprehend what happened afterward. The horn that was filled with high-quality mana was just broken by a childish hand gesture? And what was that reaction speed which she couldn't possibly keep up with? She finally looked at Evan. The person whom she thought to be a victim of the demon's brainwash, or a doll in human form, suddenly became the person whom she had to be most alert against.
[Who is that man...?]
"He is my Master. So, I'm not your enemy!"
Using this as a chance, Maybell insisted on her being harmless. She didn't intend to lose against gods or their disciples in terms of strength, but the Great Mother Earth wasn't someone she wanted to make enemies with.
[A demon is truly following that human...? Wait, is that even a human...?]
"Can't you even know that when you are the disciple of a god?"
Of course, she knew, and that was the problem. The reason why was that he was just a weak human, but he crushed a strong demon as if it were nothing!
[This is a bit different from what the Great Mother Earth has told me...]
Fayna made a sorrowed expression. Great Mother Earth precisely told her that a group of humans were in great danger, so by making an appearance in the most dramatic timing, she would be able to gain their beliefs at their best...this didn't even look like a great danger! A human that crushed a demon with his bare hands, and a demon that claimed to follow that human...because of them, Diokas looked very normal!
[Ah, anyways!]
Fayna concluded after contemplating it.
[Demons are demons. I can't let them go with just their words on following a human. But if they are strictly bound by a contract, punishing them with their race goes against the teachings of the Great Mother Earth.]
Putting aside the fact whether she could punish Maybell or not!
[The reason why I, Fayna, descended is to spread the teachings of the Great Mother Earth to the humans, so, in the meantime, I will show my gratitude to you!]
"Whoa, Master. We did it. An angel finally joined in our party!"
"Hey, tell me exactly when that angel joined."
"Yu a finshing meh sheeh (You're pinching my cheeks)...!"
Evan punished Maybell for saying nonsense and created a wall with Annihilation with the other hand so that Diokas couldn't escape.
"Fayna, is it? I'll defeat Diokas, so may I ask if you can handle the other demons?"
[Huh? I came to defeat him...no, alright, I can do that.]
It would seem impossible for Diokas to kill Evan with how things look right now. It wasn't a good thing to claim that Diokas was her target when she came down to protect the people. Fayna nodded at Evan's request and swung the scythe to behead Diokas's subordinates. A great fight would have happened if she was facing Diokas, but confronting the petty enemies was just as simple as harvesting rice during autumn.
'Good, that would make up for her appearance.'
Evan sounded like he couldn't spare any since he is fighting with Diokas, but that definitely wasn't true. It was easy to pressure Diokas with just two fingers and crush the rest of the demons with his middle finger. But considering the reason for Fayna's descent, it was better to make an opportunity for her to shine.
There are some gods that aimed to gather more strength and wreck the Middle Earth, which didn't make them any different from demons regarding the essence of their powers (and that was the main cause of war in Yo-Ma Great War Zero). Still, there were also those who aim to take care of humanity, like the Great Mother Earth. Although their subordinates were waiting for a chance to shine in the most dramatic time and most needed time, that's because the influence of the Great Mother Earth was still low. She formed the largest religious order and gave her blessings to many humans in Yo-Ma Great War 3, where her influence was at its peak.
'If I'm to cross paths with her from now on, it's better to establish a good relationship with her.'
But it wasn't the same relationship that Maybell mentioned. Some things were not bound to happen.
"Aaaah, the result is just obvious—too plain. This is why women want to shackle their men even if it means pregnancy."
"That's what you want. And don't read my mind without my permission. And don't imply something weird."
Evan punished Maybell once more for her rubbish words and approached Diokas, who was still wriggling on the ground.
"Can you still move? Then, can you give me more of your horns?"
[Krgh...you son of a bitch...!]
"Hello, it's me. The person whom you want to kill the most."
[Krrrrrrgh...!]
Diokas stood up after receiving encouragement from Evan. Despite blue blood dripping from his body, he looked like the protagonist of a comic when he endured the pain to stand up.
[I will kill you...!]
"Come on! A great Ten Knight can't just drop dead in the first chapter! Crush me with your strongest spell!"
[Grrrrrrrrrrrrgh!]
Diokas exceeded his limit through Evan's taunts! This was an unbelievable moment. In an instant, the blue blood oozing out from all over his body was combined with his mana, which resulted in a blue mist, and it was absorbed back into his body. Giant blue horns protruded out from all over his body! It was a strong strike that might punch holes in the entire area if it wasn't stopped!
"Giga Drill Maximum!"
Evan stretched out his hand while admiring the sight. It wasn't his usual red horn that surprised Evan. It stopped Annihilation from taking effect, but after applying more power, Evan could crush it. Worrying about its possible disintegration if he took too much time, Evan crushed it by its root and collected several dozens of them. While the impressed Evan pulled out the horns and looked at Diokas, he was already turning to dust after sacrificing his body and soul.
"Coming up with an original technique that didn't even exist in the game in his final moments, he sure was a cool guy..."
"I even like your side of showing cruelty to the enemies, Master."
Evan dealt appropriately to Maybell, who was cheering and clinging to him while collecting all the horns. And he thought that with this number of horns, he could create a unique weapon golem.
[What's that...it's scary...]
After defeating all of Diokas' minions, Fayna waited for the moment to give the final blow to Diokas. Still, she realized that she might have been in danger if Evan didn't block Diokas' attack, so she sat down a little distance away with a tearful expression. The harsh journey of the disciple of Great Mother Earth had just begun.
* * *
After a shocking statement made by Default, Arisha overreacted to it. Still, after crying a river and flinging herself in anger towards the kingdom, she was able to calm down in the end. And it cost Louise a giant slap mark on her cheek. Still, she appreciated how Arisha calmed down with just a slap and continued speaking.
"Did you know that master's presence kept all the countries' ambitions in check, Ms. Arisha?"
"Well, to some extent. I knew that with Evan's existence, other countries refrained from invading the Silk Line."
"No. Master's presence had been greatly affecting this world, more than you think, Ms. Arisha."
To only speak of Evan's strength, he was the strongest person in the world. It was just that he only exercised his power in dungeons or unknown places where humans didn't exist. And that was why Louise calmly nodded and explained to Arisha, who tilted her head since she couldn't understand what Louise meant.
"Master's existence, it's hilarious to point this out, stood out to those who wanted to take over the Silk Line. It's because Master ended the schemes before the dark forces were planning to seize the Silk Line."
"...Are you referring to the occult?"
"That's right. I wasn't in Sherden at that time."
How was it that the schemes of other countries were involved in it? Arisha didn't know how to react when she heard that Evan leveraged the religion. She was at a loss for words and looked dumbfounded.
"And Master took out all roots, including the social gatherings and black magicians who were involved in it. In that process, the other countries that were drooling over the Silk Line came to their realizations, as well. As long as Master exists, they can never run amok on this continent."
"Yes, that would be so."
'Because Evan is the protagonist in this world. And I am his first wife.' Arisha gained her confidence with such joy and pride. Although she was infuriated by the fact that the woman in front of her conceived his first child, but since she slapped her, she could leave the rest to Belois.
"But as Master unexpectedly hid his presence...this will be a good opportunity for them. So, they started with their actual plan. The social gathering is just one portion of the huge scheme."
"You've been saying 'them' since before; then, do you know their identities?"
"Of course. There's the Union of Anti-dungeon cities that are against the three countries which developed through the dungeons."
"How despicable."
"Yes, so there's nothing for Ms. Arisha to be concerned about. I'll have them completely wiped out in time for when Master returns."
"Aaaaaas expected..."
Arisha spoke while staring at Louise. Louise realized that Arisha's hostility towards hers didn't subside, but she smiled bitterly since she understood her emotions. Her action of deceiving Master and not taking contraception deserved to be punished. However...
"Uhm...Ms. Arisha? I'm really sorry to tell you this, but..."
"Huh? What? Do you want another slap from me?"
"Ummm...I'm not the only one."
"...!?"