Chapter 135 – Moment of Choice

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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When Rombel vigorously swung his axe, Elbridge was appalled.

“Rombel, what are you doing right now…!”

Sonya and Marcus did not say much to Rombel. They merely took a half-standing posture with the intention of fleeing if necessary.

The ones who were even more flustered than Elbridge’s party were the elves.

The elves who had fled upon seeing Starwave, slunk back when the situation seemed to quiet down.

The elves also shouted at Rombel.

“What are you doing right now!”

Even though they did not know what the sacred tree existed for, the elves had lived believing they must protect it. It was a concept engraved in the elves’ minds by Jean and Bella over thousands of years.

The moment the elves’ anger was about to pour out, Rombel bellowed.

“Do you not know that the Goddess of Thorns permitted this!”

The elves hesitated.

Since the oracle from a moment ago was a public oracle, the elves had heard it loud and clear.

“Even so…”

A young elf bravely tried to raise an objection.

However, Rombel blocked his objection with a snort.

“Hmph! Even so? That sounds like something only someone rebelling against the Goddess of Thorns would say. Go ahead, speak up.”

“…”

To raise an objection here would be to resist the will of the Goddess, which was an impious act.

The problem was that letting the sacred tree be cut down also felt impious.

No matter how they acted, it was a difficult situation.

The elves looked up at the sky, hoping the Goddess of Thorns would make a decision.

– …

However, the Goddess of Thorns could not easily deliver an oracle.

It was not that she hesitated because she sincerely wanted Rombel to cut down the sacred tree. The problem was the social status of the Goddess of Thorns.

Believers want the god they serve to be an omnipotent and perfect being. This was especially true when the relationship was forged in the form of pure faith, not a transaction.

Therefore, the Goddess of Thorns could not flip her words like the back of her hand as she had just spoken them.

For changing the decision from just a moment ago so easily would be an action that damaged the authority of the Goddess of Thorns.

While the Goddess of Thorns was conflicted in this dilemma, Rombel shouted vigorously.

“See. The Goddess of Thorns isn’t saying anything either. Right?”

Rombel said so and swung his axe once more. Thud.

When the axe blade dug nearly halfway into the base of the tree, an appalled elf cried out.

“At least explain the reason why you are trying to cut down the sacred tree!”

“Do you know that Jean and Bella are the Goddess’s parents?”

A truth that almost all elves did not know burst out.

The Goddess of Thorns cried out in panic.

– Wait…!

However, the impious dwarf did not stop.

“Jean and Bella achieved great deeds and seized the opportunity to ascend to heaven. However, Jean and Bella begged the Chief God to let their daughter ascend instead.”

“…!”

A briefly summarized secret history of three thousand years ago.

The elves could not even answer and only gasped.

“That is the reason why Jean and Bella could not ascend, and why the Goddess of Thorns did. And this sacred tree is a kind of wedge. If the wedge is pulled out, everything will flow naturally. Those who cannot remain in heaven will return to earth, and those who should ascend to heaven will do so.”

Rombel’s voice sounded as if it was filled with conviction.

However, that was only Rombel’s hypothesis.

Even so, Rombel did not hesitate.

Elbridge asked Rombel with his eyes and the shape of his mouth.

‘Rombel. What if it doesn’t go according to your plan?’

‘I’ll just have to say I’m sorry.’

‘…’

Like Marcus and Sonya, Elbridge also took a half-standing posture to prepare for any contingency.

The aforementioned young elf roared.

“In the end, aren’t you saying you’re going to drag the Goddess of Thorns down from heaven!”

Then Rombel answered as if asking what the problem was.

“Instead, two people can ascend.”

There was one rule to nonsense, which was that absolute nonsense was harder to refute than vaguely incorrect nonsense. Rombel’s statement right now was exactly that.

The young elf mumbled.

“No, does the number matter…”

“Of course it matters. What is clearer than numbers? The number of elf gods is increasing by one!”

Rombel showed exaggerated gestures as if he had realized something, and then browbeat the young elf.

“Don’t tell me you dislike Jean and Bella ascending? Did you want the two Sentinels to die like this? You wicked fellow…”

Rombel began to drive the young elf into a corner as if he had caught his weakness.

While the elves were flustered by the unexpected situation, Elbridge secretly offered a prayer.

“O Goddess of the Rusty Shield. Is Rombel correct?”

However, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield was not in a situation where she could answer calmly.

– Elbridge. Please calm Rombel down for just a moment. I must first get a promise for the secretary seat and come back…!

However, it was already too late.

With a creaking crash, the pure-white sacred tree fell.

Everyone present, including Elbridge, felt a sense of ‘something’ invisible being released. Should it be called suppressed divinity, or distorted divine status?

That ‘something’ escaped the sacred tree and seeped into the unconscious Jean and Bella.

Jean and Bella’s wounds healed rapidly.

Their bones found their proper places, and new flesh grew. The speed was much faster than the rate at which the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss healed wounds. Even the clothes of the two, which had been reduced to rags, regained their shape.

Only then did Jean and Bella regain consciousness and murmur.

“What on earth is this…”

Subsequently, two brilliantly shining staircases descended from the high sky and reached the front of Jean and Bella.

Rombel shouted, completely excited.

“See, was I not right?”

Elbridge looked at Rombel.

Intense curiosity and a desire to explore were shining in Rombel’s eyes.

Only now did Elbridge understand the reason why Rombel had committed such an act.

Rombel’s dream was ascension.

Rombel merely wanted to watch and observe the process of becoming a god firsthand to obtain as much information as possible.

Even if the prediction was wrong and things went awry, the ones who would be ruined were the Goddess of Thorns and the elves, not Rombel.

It was an opportunity that gave him no reason to hesitate as long as he could look away from his conscience, and Rombel’s conscience was at best barely hanging onto the average level.

“Mmm…”

Jean and Bella still hesitated, unable to climb the stairs.

If they did not ascend to heaven, could the Goddess of Thorns remain in heaven? Because such a thought held them back.

However, after a moment, a cluster of light gathered on the fallen sacred tree, and a silver-haired female elf appeared in the cluster of light.

The elf who had been the Goddess of Thorns, Rita.

The fact that the Goddess of Thorns had already descended to the earth meant that there was no significant relationship between whether the two Sentinels ascended and the fate of the Goddess of Thorns.

Rather, they were in a situation where they had to ascend even to look after their daughter.

After showing a complex smile to Rita, Jean and Bella stepped onto the long staircase leading to heaven. The two Sentinels walked slowly without rushing, holding tightly onto the handrails at the edges of the staircase.

A slow and calm step. However, the speed of ascending to heaven was quite fast.

This was because once Jean and Bella stepped onto the staircase, it moved on its own to guide them to heaven.

Elbridge murmured.

“A moving staircase…”

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield delivered an oracle.

– That is called an escalator, Elbridge.

“It is an unfamiliar name.”

– It is a cultural asset introduced by the Chief God after observing an adjacent dimension. It has restrictions that one must hold onto the handrail tightly and must not run.

Finally, Jean and Bella reached heaven and disappeared beyond the clouds.

And silence.

Elbridge’s party and the elves held their breath and stared at the sky.

What was happening in heaven right now?

The Goddess of the Rusty Shield was slightly smug and delivered a public oracle on purpose so that everyone here could hear.

– Elbridge. Your Goddess holds four voting rights, so I will return after completing the vote.

Indeed.

As they had heard when explaining the reason why Niseras could not become a heavenly god in the past, once chosen by the Chief God, the next turn was the vote of the existing gods.

The elves held their breath and waited for the results of the vote.

While everyone was tense, Rombel whispered in a voice full of conviction.

“If it passes, there will be an overwhelming majority of votes in favor.”

“Why?”

“Think from a god’s perspective. When it is uncertain, opposing votes will come out, but when it seems it will pass without any trouble, casting a vote in favor is the right answer. It would be a bit awkward to cast an opposing vote for no reason when we have to face each other and live together in the future.”

After a moment, a grave voice echoed from heaven.

– First agenda. Out of three hundred present, two hundred ninety-three in favor. With seven abstentions, I declare that the ascension of the elf Bella has been approved.

Rombel’s prediction was exactly correct.

Elbridge’s party and the elves of the Forest of Thorns shuddered.

Because it was the first time for all of them to witness the moment of ascension.

– Second agenda. Out of three hundred present, two hundred ninety-three in favor. With seven abstentions, I declare that the ascension of the elf Jean has been approved.

A low cheer broke out.

Although the Goddess of Thorns had descended from heaven, because the two elves had ascended, the position of the elves’ racial deity could avoid being vacant.

The aforementioned grave voice echoed again.

– Considering that the situation is unusual and the voting was completed quickly, the results have been immediately transmitted to the site. The ascension of the two gods will be propagated to each order at midnight today. That is all.

However, the elves were flustered even while rejoicing at the ascension of the two Sentinels.

Until now, the elves did not need to worry about deciding who to worship. This was because the Goddess of Thorns was the only elf in heaven.

Just as the dwarves had done in the past, all but a tiny minority of elves followed the Goddess of Thorns.

But now, the elves’ options had increased to two. Jean and Bella.

Who should they serve?

The elves’ gazes turned toward the place where the sacred tree had been.

An elf with beautiful looks and shining silver hair. The elf who was once the Goddess of Thorns. Rita was there.

Though she had descended from heaven, Rita was an elf who had been a heavenly deity just a moment ago.

Just as scent remains where flowers have withered, Rita was still, to some extent, the guide of the elves.

No one knew what divine names Jean and Bella would receive. However, one fact was certain.

The god Rita chose between the two would be regarded as the racial deity, and that god would inherit the position Rita had built as the Goddess of Thorns.

The elves remained silent, demanding a decision from Rita with their eyes.

“…”

However, Rita could not easily open her mouth.

Who on earth could make a decision in this situation?

While a short silence flowed, a familiar voice echoed from the air.

– Rita. The time of decision has come.

It was a public oracle from the Sentinel, Bella.

However, Bella’s voice was small and faint. It was because she did not have a single believer yet.

The divine authority a god can enjoy is determined by the number of believers.

A god with many believers can comfortably use a large amount of divine authority.

However, a god without believers is not completely unable to use divine authority. Even a god without believers could utilize a minuscule amount of divine authority. It could be called a mercy bestowed by the Chief God.

As was known through past oracles, the gods used to express the divine authority used in that manner as a ‘speed limit.’

Even though it was a public oracle of just a single sentence, Bella’s divine authority was completely exhausted.

The only saving grace was that Jean could deliver one more sentence of the oracle on Bella’s behalf.

Jean forced a harsh choice upon Rita.

– Who do you like better, Mom or Dad?