Chapter 144 – The God Who Loved Humans

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Elbridge rose from his seat and spoke.

“Mr. Murbach, please come a bit slowly.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to go immediately?”

To put it coldly, while Murbach himself might be an exception, the probability of the mercenaries under his command being of help in a battle against the Central Mage Tower Lord was low.

And Elbridge did not want the mercenaries to throw away their lives in vain.

“It is best to subdue him secretly with a small number of people.”

Elbridge spoke euphemistically, and Murbach read the implication without difficulty.

“…I understand.”

Elbridge, Rombel, and Marcus immediately ran toward the temple.

Beep— Beep— Beep—

Sonya’s calls ring out in succession.

Since the sound felt like piercing his ears, Marcus muttered with a slight frown.

“It seems Sonya is in quite a hurry…”

Through the endlessly continuing call sounds, one could clearly guess how tense Sonya was.

Unlike her usual cheerful and bold appearance, a weak part, a fear, existed inside Sonya as well. Just like everyone else.

Finally, the three arrived at the Temple of Circulation and Flow.

Sonya was standing in the center of the temple, and opposite her was a middle-aged man with snow-white hair. Although only his back was visible, they knew well who he was.

‘The Central Mage Tower Lord.’

Even with her father’s enemy right in front of her eyes, Sonya did not reveal any hostility.

Rather, she wore a look of joy or awe, as if facing someone she admired.

‘…Her expression control is amazing.’

Sonya’s purpose was only one. Finishing her revenge by killing the Central Mage Tower Lord.

For that purpose, Sonya was smiling in front of her father’s enemy.

Elbridge, Rombel, and Marcus. The three silenced their footsteps as if by agreement.

Rombel stretched his short arm to the side, stopping Elbridge and Marcus. Next, Rombel winked at Elbridge and Marcus, then pointed at his axe and the Central Mage Tower Lord.

Elbridge and Marcus could understand Rombel’s intention with just that simple gesture.

‘Instead of approaching further, I will throw the axe at the Central Mage Tower Lord from here to kill him.’

Marcus looked at Elbridge. Meaning he would delegate the judgment to Elbridge.

After a brief deliberation, Elbridge nodded his head.

‘Kill him.’

There was no need to obtain a confession from the Central Mage Tower Lord.

Every circumstance discovered so far was saying it. That the Central Mage Tower Lord was the one releasing the demon’s seals.

Moreover, setting up a fake temple in the Royal Capital Leodel to lure the Central Mage Tower Lord was a plan built on the premise that the Central Mage Tower Lord would visit the Royal Capital Leodel to release the demon’s seal.

The appearance of the Central Mage Tower Lord at this place was also strong evidence that the Central Mage Tower Lord was the culprit.

The possibility of it being a matter arising from a misunderstanding?

It was not completely non-existent. However, it was an astronomically low probability.

And in Elbridge’s experience, all those who hesitated in action while obsessing over an extremely low probability died.

In a situation where they did not even know the extent of the Central Mage Tower Lord’s capability.

If they could wrap up the situation with a surprise attack, that was the best.

Once Elbridge’s permission fell, Rombel hid in an empty alley so that people’s gazes would not reach him.

Next, holding the giant double-edged axe with both hands, he began to spin around using one leg as an axis.

And the moment the rotation speed reached its maximum.

Tap—

Rombel released both hands.

The giant axe spun at a terrifying speed and flew toward the Central Mage Tower Lord.

Sonya saw the giant axe flying toward herself and the Central Mage Tower Lord. However, Sonya did not get flustered in the slightest and continued to converse with the Central Mage Tower Lord while maintaining her expression up to now.

Was she sure Rombel’s axe would miss her? Or did she think it did not matter if she died together as long as the Central Mage Tower Lord could be killed?

It was unknown. However, whichever of the two it was, it was certain that Sonya was no ordinary person.

Just before the double-edged axe that flew in like that sliced the Central Mage Tower Lord’s body into two pieces, something translucent revealed itself in the air and deflected the axe.

Clang—

And the ‘translucent something’ disappeared in an instant as if nothing had happened.

Elbridge knew well what it was.

‘A magic defensive barrier.’

However, the Central Mage Tower Lord’s barrier was different from any ordinary mage’s barrier.

A general barrier could not block Rombel’s axe. However, the Central Mage Tower Lord stably received Rombel’s axe.

‘Indeed, is he a mage who once ascended to heaven?’

The people on the street were terrified only then.

“What is it, what flew just now?”

“It was an axe! Someone threw an axe!”

While the commotion spread in all directions, the Central Mage Tower Lord calmly turned around.

Elbridge, Rombel, Marcus, and the Central Mage Tower Lord’s gazes intersected.

The Central Mage Tower Lord looked at the double-edged axe fallen on the floor, then burst into a hearty laugh.

“No wonder I felt vibrations of mana in succession around you, Sonya. Were you sending a signal?”

Instead of answering, Sonya bit her lower lip and glared at the Central Mage Tower Lord.

Unrefined anger flared in Sonya’s eyes.

The Central Mage Tower Lord folded his arms and smiled.

“Predicting that I would come to the Royal Capital Leodel, and building my temple to lure me… I have no choice but to admit it. It is a brilliant trap.”

Elbridge drew his sword. The surrounding people screamed and scattered in all directions.

However, Elbridge paid no heed and approached the Central Mage Tower Lord.

“If your head had flown off, it would have been a more interesting and perfect conclusion.”

“I am sorry for not doing as you wished. The fact that you prepared a trap… means you must have found out quite a lot about me, right?”

“Yes.”

Elbridge repeatedly made judgments as he approached the Central Mage Tower Lord.

How should he breach the barrier that Rombel’s axe failed to pierce?

The force Elbridge could put into the sword did not reach the force Rombel could put into the axe.

This was because Rombel’s axe was far heavier than Elbridge’s sword, and the physical strength of Rombel, who was a dwarf, was much stronger than Elbridge’s physical strength.

In other words, it was difficult to pierce the Central Mage Tower Lord’s barrier with a sword.

‘If only I had perfectly mastered the Bella-style combat art.’

However, he could not give up.

He had to continue the fight somehow and pray that the Central Mage Tower Lord would reveal a weakness. Since there would be limits to the Central Mage Tower Lord’s capability as well.

“Goddess.”

– I am watching, Elbridge.

Hearing the Goddess’s voice, it felt as though strength was surging.

Elbridge closely watched the Central Mage Tower Lord’s staff. Because magic would be deployed when the staff moved.

However, instead of attacking Elbridge, the Central Mage Tower Lord stepped slightly to the side.

“We met after a long time, is there a need to fight? Let us talk slowly.”

“Are you avoiding?”

“If it were a dangerous situation, I would have already avoided the place. You cannot threaten me with your skill.”

“Bravado.”

“Is it bravado?”

When the Central Mage Tower Lord struck the ground with his staff, the barrier surrounding him revealed its translucent form.

The same barrier that had blocked Rombel’s axe was surrounding the Central Mage Tower Lord’s vicinity in as many as five layers.

A lengthy explanation was not necessary.

‘…It cannot be pierced.’

However, Elbridge still held his sword and asked.

“Central Mage Tower Lord. Were all the stories you told before lies?”

“Of course, truth and falsehood were moderately mixed. Believing that I would tell only the truth when meeting for the first time… is that not too naive an idea?”

“Even having no friends?”

“Partially true. Since I did not feel the need to approach the existing gods.”

The Central Mage Tower Lord took a step closer to Elbridge and met his eyes.

“When I met you last time, I told you to go to the Lake of Eternity. What did you see in the South?”

He had seen many things.

The conflicts of the Southern orders. The scenery seen at the Lake of Eternity. The land boars and the stampede. And—

The Central Mage Tower Lord spoke.

“What is a demon. You must have come to know that. Isn’t that right?”

Elbridge recalled the moment the God of Flowing Water descended from heaven. Had the Central Mage Tower Lord’s arrangement reached even that far?

Elbridge grit his teeth, and the Central Mage Tower Lord accepted that reaction as an affirmative.

Thump.

The Central Mage Tower Lord struck the floor with his staff again.

At that, something invisible unfolded and enveloped Elbridge’s group and the Central Mage Tower Lord.

At a glance, there seemed to be no change at all.

However, Elbridge could tell what had happened just now. The Goddess’s gaze, the Goddess’s presence that was felt just a moment ago, was no longer felt. The Central Mage Tower Lord blocked the heavenly gaze.

“Elbridge. The paladin who sealed the archdemon. What do you think the archdemon is?”

Just recently, Rita, who had been the Goddess of the Briar, threw a similar question.

Rita had said. That his intentions could be guessed through the Central Mage Tower Lord’s moves. That if one wished to understand the Central Mage Tower Lord’s intentions, they would have to know what the archdemon was.

This question now must be connected to the Central Mage Tower Lord’s purpose.

Rombel replied.

“I heard it is not the strongest demon.”

“Correct.”

The Central Mage Tower Lord nodded, then continued the story.

“Demons are of two classes. A god dissatisfied with the power restricted by seats. And a god who took pity on those of the earth. Which side do you think the archdemon is?”

Elbridge did not answer.

However, that answer could be guessed. Since, if it were the former, the Central Mage Tower Lord would not have brought up the story.

“Long ago. A far-off ancient time when not to mention myself, the majority of the current gods had not even ascended. A brutal period when gods regarded humans on the earth as playthings.”

The Central Mage Tower Lord pointed beneath his feet as he spoke.

“And now. Today, when the assembly system has been introduced and gods must walk on eggshells around humans. Do you think the transition between the two eras occurred naturally?”

“…It would not have. For transition naturally requires an opportunity.”

“Yes. Pitying the beings of the earth who lived harsh lives, there was a deity who wished to change the rules of this world.”

Elbridge felt as if his heart were tightening.

The Central Mage Tower Lord must have blocked heaven’s attention to tell this story.

“That deity used all the power permitted to him to turn both the earth and heaven into a mess. So that the Chief God would acknowledge the imperfection of this world and limit the deities’ power. So that the people of the earth could live a slightly more human life in the future.”

“You package a mess quite plausibly.”

“Transition and progress begin the moment imperfection is recognized. To break the existing rules and improve them, someone must show the problems inherent in the existing rules.”

While the Central Mage Tower Lord was talking, Rombel stealthily picked up his axe and approached behind the Central Mage Tower Lord.

And Rombel swung the axe with all his might.

Clang!

However, the Central Mage Tower Lord’s barrier was still firm.

Next, when the Central Mage Tower Lord gestured, Rombel was blown away by a sudden impact. An appearance as if kicked by a giant.

Crash—

Rombel rolled a few times on the floor, then clutched his waist and let out a groaning sound.

“Ugh…”

The Central Mage Tower Lord calmly continued the story as if nothing had happened.

“That deity committed everything even while knowing that punishment would follow. He persuaded the Chief God through actions.”

Elbridge glared at the Central Mage Tower Lord.

However, his head was in confusion. Because he could easily guess whom the Central Mage Tower Lord was talking about.

The Central Mage Tower Lord murmured quietly.

“The first deity who opposed the Chief God for humans. Thus, the first deity who was punished by the Chief God. The deity who first changed the rules of the world set by the Chief God. The deity who pitied humans more than any other deity. The deity who introduced the assembly system, allowing humans to enjoy a human life.”

The Central Mage Tower Lord said, taking a step back.

“Deities and humans call him the archdemon.”

Elbridge asked, letting out a deep sigh.

“So, do you mean you serve the Archdemon?”

The Central Mage Tower Lord replied, shaking his head.

“No. Just like him, I only want to make the world a slightly better place.”