“What? Those have appeared again?”
The divine realm was in an uproar.
It was already a mess because of Igeon, and the unexpected name made them even more horrified.
It wasn’t for any other reason.
“The Evil Gods.”
“You mean those traitors who killed the Ancient God and sold his power to the Creators?”
In the divine realm, there existed unforgivable criminals.
Those were precisely the .
They were the rebels who decisively eliminated the Ancient God, the king of gods.
What’s more, they were the ones who tore apart the Ancient God’s power and peddled it to the Creators.
Of course, aside from and other powers, the Great Gods and the gods had combined their strength and retrieved all that power by now, but still.
Regardless, the gods had classified them as calamities and sealed them away.
And yet, those bastards have reappeared?
“Those bastards are enemies of the gods who intend to sell the divine realm to the Creators. They’re dangerous!”
“They will target the gods. We must summon the Battle Gods and the Divine Army and prepare for war!”
But it was right then.
“No. Leaving them be is better, actually.”
“!”
The gods instead raised the corners of their mouths.
It was because of none other than the thorn in their side, Igeon.
“Indeed. Aren’t the Evil Gods beings obsessed with Creators?”
It had already been confirmed that Igeon had created a bizarre object using Hermes’ divinity.
And that power was unmistakably the power of that God of Craftsmanship.
“Then, is the reason those appeared also because of that survivor?”
“Heh heh... that Serpent God bastard. He’ll die soon.”
Where the appeared, there was the death of Creators.
What’s more, weren’t they those vicious bastards who even roamed near the tomb of Asran, the last Creator?
In other words, this was nothing short of a boon for the divine realm.
“If the Serpent God is a Creator on top of everything, that’s already a problem.”
The Creators were annihilated in the past, but they were direct-line gods of the Ancient Gods.
They were the retainers of the Ancient Gods, who could be called the divine realm itself, and their rank was high.
It wasn’t for nothing that there was an era when they were one of the Nine Great Factions.
The problem was.
“If he is a god of that caliber, it would be proper to keep him alive, but the problem is that this Serpent God is the master of the Twelve Palaces of the Zodiac.”
“……!”
The Twelve Palaces of the Zodiac.
Though only one of many factions among the gods, it was a massive faction that climbed to become one of the Nine Great Factions with barely a dozen members.
And they, having established themselves on the Earth plane, had refused the position of a subordinate after the death of the Ancient God and created their own faction.
Refusing to become the retainer gods of other Great God–class beings.
Of course, if it were only that, it wouldn’t matter, but...
“Now, wasn’t the territory of the Twelve Palaces of the Zodiac taken by the Ennead and Valhalla, saying they would manage it?”
“!”
In the days of the Nine Great Factions.
One of the divine realm’s nine territories had been theirs, but after their annihilation, the other eight factions divided it up.
It was because the land they possessed was exceedingly wealthy and had many useful things.
“But if we acknowledge that Serpent God, don’t we have to return that land?”
“The owner of that land was Ophiuchus, the leader of the Twelve Palaces of the Zodiac.”
However, the Great God of Valhalla, who received the glances, let out a hollow laugh.
[Owner? That land is already under our management and is ours. Didn’t the previous Serpent Bearers even agree to the transfer in the first place?]
“Yes, well, though it’s because you, the Great God of Valhalla, forced them to agree with power.”
The last one to manage that land had been Asran, the master of Ophiuchus at the time.
But after he died, Valhalla and the Ennead took over the management rights to that land. Then the new Ophiuchus constellation—the twin serpents—protested.
Those were Yeonu and Junu.
But their opinions were squashed, and they even seized the retainer gods that Ophiuchus had.
[Well, the retainer gods Ophiuchus had were strong and all were famous gods.]
So much so that even the Great Gods coveted them.
Anyway, that’s how it was, and now a new Ophiuchus constellation god appears?
[Do you think we’d return that land and those retainer gods to a mere fledgling?]
So that was why they had gone along with Hades’ request to deal with the Serpent God.
Because if the Serpent God strutted about and accumulated achievements in the divine realm, he might grow and rise to the seat of a Great God.
And because he might try to take back their land and retainer gods.
“Well, originally they are the divine realm’s enemies, so we should help the Serpent God, but...”
“Hmph. Think about what the Serpent God has done to the divine realm. Instead, wouldn’t it be fine to use the Evil Gods to kill the Serpent God?”
“But if the Serpent God’s corpse falls into the hands of the Evil Gods, that’s a problem too. Especially with rumors going around that they’ve created a Monarch from a Creator’s corpse.”
“Monarch?! No, that’s absurd—!”
“Why is it absurd? There’s a rumor that was created from Asran.”
“……!!”
They swallowed hard.
Even Asran was no pushover. Then what about Igeon, who defeated that ?
Considering that, Igeon was a rookie fully capable of becoming a Great God.
He was already a guy who had thrown the divine realm into this mess, and if such a guy were born as a Monarch, they couldn’t begin to imagine what kind of monster he’d become.
“In conclusion, isn’t it simply a matter of making sure the corpse doesn’t fall into the hands of the Monarchs?”
“That’s right. We use the to kill the Serpent God, then snatch his corpse.”
“We must never allow that faction to rise again.”
It was when the gods had thus reached an agreement on how to handle Igeon.
The gods began to stir strangely.
“But it seems that not a single god of the Ennead is visible at such an important meeting.”
“Have you been able to contact the Ennead? Communication was cut off for some reason.”
“I don’t know. Well, what’s there to worry about that impregnable fortress...?”
But right then.
“This is serious! They say the Ennead has been utterly shattered!”
“!!!”
The gods jumped up in a fluster.
“Utterly shattered? Don’t tell me the started it, and even Monarchs invaded?”
“No! They say it was reduced to ashes by a single slime...!”
What??
The expressions on the gods’ faces were a sight to behold.
A slime??
But that wasn’t the end.
“And they say that slime is stealing the divine realm’s treasures. It seems to be sending them to Ophiuchus.”
What on earth?!
* * *
Around the time when the divine realm—which managed the Earth and all sorts of colonies—was in an uproar,
irrespective of that, the Ophiuchus affiliates were now in a state of great mental breakdown.
It wasn’t for any other reason.
‘So. Was it a before or an after?’
They seemed to think that, never mind the divine realm, that wasn’t the important thing right now.
‘Was it an after?’
The Cheon siblings’ and Heiji’s eyes were twitching.
Hugo also wore a seriously troubled expression. That was understandable, given Igeon’s expression.
‘He’s too cool to be an after...’
At the very least, if something more had happened, there should have been an atmosphere of excitement or embarrassment, but there was none.
But soon, Hugo thought, ‘Ah.’
‘Ah. Could it be because I told him that?’
When Hugo had taught Igeon various things, there was one last thing he had urged.
—Ah, right. Geon. Expression, expression is important.
—...Expression?
—I figured you might worry so I’m telling you in advance: being cool is the key. You have to be cool. Casually drinking coffee by the window and tossing out a ‘Good morning.’
—It seems like something weird is mixed in, and Ji-u, who put up with all that, is like an angel, but got it.
Hugo recalled what he had said, and his pupils quaked.
‘Is it because of that? Is he practicing his expression? Is that it?’
Eventually, at that point, the Cheon siblings dragged Igeon’s retainer god.
The method was simple.
“Hey. You’re hiding in Uncle’s shadow. Get over here quickly.”
When Cheon Seongjae, who managed Igeon’s retainer gods, called, Igeon’s shadow attached itself to Cheon Seongjae’s shadow as if moving.
Seeing that, Cheon Seongjae asked.
“How did it go! Before or after? You were in Uncle’s shadow, so you must have seen everything!”
[Cough. Cough!]
[Cough-hee-um!]
[How dare you inquire about the master’s private life. Cough!]
The male retainer gods only coughed emptily, and the female retainer god, Iaso, let out a squeal.
[I! I want to be embraced!]
At those words, the Cheon siblings’ faces were a sight to behold.
C-Could it be. An after?
Then the male retainer gods scolded.
[Hey. You shouldn’t lie. The master sent you away in the middle, so you didn’t see.]
[Aish, still, the mood was good, so of course it’s an after!!]
Eventually, at that point, as if he might never know in this lifetime otherwise, Hugo approached Igeon with a crumpled face.
And.
“Geon!”
“What.”
“Seriously. Can I see a nephew?”
“……?”
Igeon looked at Hugo, who was seriously grabbing his shoulders, with utter disgust.
But soon, as if realizing what he was asking, he frowned.
“Is that what you’re curious about?”
Hugo and the Cheon siblings nodded their heads vigorously.
“So that’s why you were all making a fuss behind my back. Could it be that’s what you were curious about?”
Then this time, even the retainer gods came out of the shadow and nodded their heads vigorously.
“So. How did it go? Huh? Can I see my nephew?”
Igeon scoffed.
“Of course...”
“Of course?”
“I’m not telling.”
“?!”
Igeon turned away coolly, as if they weren’t worth dealing with.
“Geon?!”
“Do you think I’ll let you use us for your drinking snack?”
At that, the hopeful Ophiuchus household despaired.
But at that moment, for some reason, Hugo raised his head sharply.
‘Us?’
Hugo’s face brightened as he recalled that word.
‘That Igeon said “us”?’
Igeon wasn’t one to use the word “us” often.
It was a word he’d barely say once in a lifetime, even to himself.
But with Heilli?
‘There was definitely... progress!’
That wasn’t all.
Igeon turned back to Hugo, as if he had forgotten something.
“Ah. And.”
“And?”
Igeon whispered into Hugo’s ear.
“I need a more detailed explanation.”
“!!!”
Hugo clenched his fist and inwardly cheered.
‘Victory!!’
So you did try to do it!!!
And then, perhaps having gone to call the Scorpio constellation god.
Heilli appeared.
Heilli, who looked cool with her black hair fluttering, reddened when she saw Igeon.
“Th-Those clothes, suit you, very, well. I thought they wouldn’t fit.”
At her shy demeanor and the atmosphere, Hugo raised a cheer.
‘Bravo!!! Victory!’
Never mind before or after, there was progress!
Hugo rejoiced that he could finally look forward to a nephew who’d look up to his uncle, and that he could get revenge.
And then.
As Igeon entered the room Heilli guided him to, a rough arm flew at Heilli.
Thud!
It was Heiji.
And though the arm flew as if to grab Heilli by the collar, Heilli lightly caught it.
Heiji smiled brightly and grabbed Heilli’s arm with his other hand, speaking.
“Let’s have a little talk.”
“Talk?”
“So. What happened? Did something happen between you two?”
“!”
At those words, Heilli looked at Heiji intently.
And then, what was she thinking.
“He was very manly.”
When she whispered that quietly, Heiji grabbed the back of his neck.
You were an obstacle 20 years ago, and you’re still an obstacle now?
But Heiji slightly glared at Heilli.
‘Saying that, do you think I’ll give up?’
He looked at her as if asking if she thought he’d give up, but right then.
Yeonu, who had been watching Heilli and Heiji, flinched in shock and looked toward the room Igeon had entered.
Bang!!
It was because a fierce explosion sound came from inside.
“Geon?”
“Uncle!!!”
Startled by the ominous power of the Serpent God, everyone threw open the door.
* * *
It was then.
Igeon, who had entered the constellation’s room, was extremely pissed off.
“What did you just say?”
Before his eyes was the monstrous constellation god Heilli had summoned as an avatar.
And that was the Scorpio constellation god.
He was so fearsome that there were rumors one would faint just from encountering him.
But the monstrous constellation god, as if not hearing, spoke to Igeon again.
[I said kill your friend, no, the Monarch, who is beside you.]
As soon as the words fell, the Serpent God’s power surged ominously.
“It was surprising enough that you were a goddess, but out of nowhere, what? Kill who? You’re really asking to die.”
That’s how it was.
Igeon had met with the Scorpio constellation god to ask about how to deal with the Creators and those god bastards.
But the other party had brought up unexpected words.
[ is a swindler and a murderous monster who approached you to exploit the Creators. Though reborn as a human, it’s merely clinging to you with a human face. This appearance is proof. If you don’t want to die, kill it right now in this sanctuary.]
“……!”
Igeon recalled the Red Monarch he had met.
She was Heilli’s mother, and probably a 1st generation Monarch like and .
And she had said:
—For your sake and your daughter’s, the Monarch by your side... it’s better to keep him alive. Protect him.
In other words, Heilli’s constellation god’s and Heilli’s mother’s opinions were contradictory.
(Continued in the next episode.)