A Demon God is an Innate Demon Dao that first touched the principles of the world.
The great principles, harboring only mystery without being interpreted, hold their breath like a monster in a closet, and the moment they are observed through the Innate Demon Dao, they take form and reveal themselves to the world. Each time that happens, the world matures a little more.
Earth Arts, Druidism, Alchemy. And, though of a different kind, even Blood Arts. Regardless of the Demon God's life, death, or will, other humans can also use them. After long training and study, if one understands and accepts the Demon God even a speck, they earn the qualification to wield a part of that massive Innate Demon Dao.
Distributing power to those who believe.
Because of that, the name "God" was attached to it.
"A god is something that a majority of humans believe in, share, and create! Because it grants actual power, it inevitably reaches the realm of faith. Conditions? None. If you just believe and follow, the Demon God showers you with power like a nouveau riche!"
Humans sought objects of faith for peace of mind and safety without any compensation. But what if it actually granted them power? Setting faith aside, even when calculating the pros and cons, believing is the profitable choice.
Since the Demon God is also a god, it wouldn't give power to a lowly fellow who approaches without effort or faith, though.
"Druidism also combined with existing totemism or animism to be reborn as a new faith, Earth Arts started from the idol of the Earth Mother Goddess from the very beginning and made them even stronger. Alchemy spread entirely as an academic discipline. The principles discovered by the Demon God grant power to all humans. By the mere coincidence of being born as the same race as the Demon God, the lowly vermin called humans gained the power to judge the world!"
The Red Tower Lord shouted passionately.
"However, even a human cannot have more than two faiths. The beginning of a Demon God is the Innate Demon Dao, and the will to resemble such a Demon God is also close to the Innate Demon Dao. Just as there cannot be two Innate Demon Daos, faith cannot be split into two branches. That is, of course, only in the case of ordinary humans!"
The Red Tower Lord, who shouted cheerfully, thumped my back hard. It didn't hurt much, but, um, for someone as passive and reluctant to step forward like me, it was a somewhat burdensome touch.
"The King of Humans can wield all the power humans possess! Demon Gods are no exception! In other words, the King of Humans can simultaneously employ the powers of different Demon Gods!"
Matching the Red Tower Lord's introduction, I wore a relaxed smile. Though my inner thoughts were not relaxed at all.
The fact that I utilize multiple Demon Gods was something only Shay knew, and even Shay didn't place much meaning on it. Because Shay only vaguely remembered that such a thing existed and didn't think deeply about it.
It's useless to deny it, right? Since I've already used Demon Gods frequently, and the occasions to use them will continue to increase in the future. I should change my strategy a bit now.
The goal of the Demon God Temple is the World Law—weaving Demon Gods together to create a grand rule that blankets the world. Lord Johanes understood my value.
"What would you understand from a verbal explanation? I'll show you directly."
It is foolish to preciously guard one's hand when the cards have already been exposed. The right move is to hide a few undetected cards up one's sleeve and reveal the rest.
I took out a card. Spade 10. I placed the idol engraved with the Earth Mother Goddess's Demon God onto the stone table. When I lightly pressed it with my finger, the card crushed the granite table.
Someone exclaimed.
"Earth Arts!"
And from the Spade 9 placed next to it, grass roots grew and dug into the rock. I placed Spade 8 next to the stem growing all sorts of fruits and rubbed it slightly, and the iron card multiplied into dozens.
"Druidism and even Alchemy? Then the rest..."
"This is it. What I can use right now."
And I removed my hand. I had shown enough tricks. There is more, but I can't easily show that.
"As the Red Tower Lord said, the King of Humans can use the power of humans. Demon Gods are no exception. Earth Arts, Druidism, and Alchemy are very widely known powers of humans, and I too can use them. However..."
I spoke, mixing a little falsehood into the truth.
"Honestly, even if I handle them skillfully, these powers aren't that rare, are they?"
Indeed, it is true.
Even if Druidism is precious, it is similar to old manuscripts. It has historical and academic value, but Druidism itself isn't tremendously useful or amazing.
ZHFFaHg0NTVMUERqTnhDNTdpRkczUytVZGNlQVFZcTEwcFM4TVBGRzNVVjljUEhCSXpKaFVsL0xJWmJ3cmhLcQ
Earth Arts are the same. They are highly evaluated because they are the divine power of an old religion called the Earth Mother Goddess Church, but who would say they do something great by playing with dirt these days? Look at Jiseon, who holds the status of a saint in the Earth Mother Goddess Church. Unlike a saint, she participates in all sorts of civil engineering works.
Alchemy? There are many alchemists who fall for its usefulness and precision, and the universal substance, Alchemical Coins, is also widely spread. Alchemical Coins are a currency containing the essence of alchemy itself. Even ordinary people can achieve alchemy-like material transformations by using Alchemical Coins.
For the power of a Demon God, it is not that rare.
"I am the King of Humans. I can only use the powers that are widely spread among humans, nothing more."
My sister would be the same.
I am the King of Humans, but I am also an individual, so I can use the Demon Gods I personally obtained. Because that is personal.
Public is public, and private is private. It is my credo not to disclose assets I have personally hoarded. That way, I can use them as I please.
"I cannot use Demon Gods that have not been revealed to the world, or Demon Gods that the Demon Lord has hidden away. Because they are not revealed to everyone."
"...It is certainly surprising, but doesn't that make it rather useless?"
"It's still much better than you, who can only complain and say, 'Hmm, that's a bit...' in front of others."
Oops, I sneered without realizing. Because I was annoyed.
Lord Johanes furrowed his brow.
"What?"
"I think the exact same way! Johan, you may have grown old and stiff in speech, but your mind shouldn't stiffen!"
The Red Tower Lord, who casually spat out abusive language, picked up one of my Spade cards lying on the table. Flare. The card was engulfed in flames and began to burn on its own.
"This card is Alchemical Steel. Huey transmuted the granite into Alchemical Steel without any incantation or magic circle. The purity is low, so he can't do high-cost alchemy, but. He showed that he could do it anyway. Do you know what this means?"
"...Is there another meaning? Doesn't it just mean he is a generic existence who can only do what everyone else can do?"
Lord Johanes displayed the insight worthy of a mage of the 10th floor of the Crystal Tower. At his accurate guess, I was inwardly stung, but I feigned anger and furrowed my brow.
Then, Rankalt, who had been anxiously watching my expression, stepped forward and got angry on my behalf.
"A mere right-hander fails to see Huey's true worth! Apologize right now!"
Thank you. Only you. So you're useful for something too.
"Johan isn't entirely wrong. In the current situation. However, we must pay attention to that possibility."
"If you mean possibility..."
'It must mean his ability is needed for what will happen in the future. Not yet revealed, but soon to be revealed... or interpreting the Demon God that the Demon God Temple will forcibly unearth!'
Huh? That's a pretty sharp point for someone who was just stupidly asking back. As expected of the insight of a 10th-floor Lord.
But why has he been picking fights over everything until now...? Hmm.
The billowing doubts were held only by me. These arrogant mages seemed to have forgotten what doubt was, perhaps because too many things had gone their way in the world.
Even if the Demon God Temple is a secret society, it ultimately targets the mages of the Floating Castle, and anyone can join if they show the will and ability. The Red Tower Lord also accepts it haphazardly, even accepting outsiders like Rankalt and Shay as members.
However, for something so loose, its influence is too great. Because the members of the Demon God Temple are powerful, radical, and possessed magic and knowledge that could enchant other mages.
"We still don't know what form the Demon God takes. We only know it's related to space, and the Demon Lord is monopolizing its true identity! But if the Demon God that the Demon Lord has been hiding tightly inside the Tower of Babel is revealed, Huey will comprehend that Demon God!"
'Now Hwaran and the Demon God Temple will target Babel! Even if they have to use force! I need to inform them of this fact quickly!'
Anyone would think of planting a spy in the Demon God Temple, yeah.
Lord Johanes's heartbeat quickened, and his palms became sweaty. But even so, Lord Johanes feigned an expressionless face unbecoming of a mage.
"There is such a perspective too. I understand, Red Tower Lord. If it is a Demon God that affects all humans, it also means the King of Humans is greatly affected by the Demon God. Then we can receive the help of the King of Humans to grasp the Demon God more accurately."
"Maybe it's because Johan has aged, but even if he's slow to learn, he summarizes well. That's right."
Even in the midst of it, the Red Tower Lord's frankness reached the realm of rudeness. He could have bristled, but Lord Johanes, who had no time for that now, hastily stood up from his seat.
"...It seems so. It looks like my mind couldn't escape the years either. I was called out urgently and I'm tired, so I'll be leaving first. I need to finish my preparations in advance, too."
"Hmm."
Lord Johanes hastily headed to one of the fireplaces. As if it hadn't been used for a long time, Lord Johanes chanted a spell of flames in front of the fireplace that didn't even have a spark, let alone ashes.
Then, flames of a bizarre color flickered, and another space reflected beyond the fireplace. It was blurry and hard to see clearly, but a transparent and blue light could be seen. Beyond that was probably Lord Johanes's personal laboratory on the 10th floor of the Crystal Tower.
Rene's Attic.
Rene's subspace with multiple entrances. Lord Johanes exited the Demon God Temple's secret meeting place, which could be entered simply by crossing a single fireplace.