After a brief silence passed—
[...The information isn’t wrong, is it?]
The Father of Maggots still could not quite shake off its suspicion.
The Divine blood lowered its head.
[There is no chance the information is wrong on this matter.]
[Then you’re saying it’s really true that the vegetation and those Divine blood that went to kill the Star Eater abruptly changed sides and are now protecting him?]
[...That’s right?]
At that answer, the Father of Maggots found itself unconsciously working its mouth.
[Could the Star Eater’s ability be something like hypnosis or brainwashing...?]
[I don’t know for certain, but I don’t think that’s it.]
It nodded as well.
That guess had come from trying to think of why the burned vegetation had attached itself to the Star Eater, but even it knew.
How absurd that thought had just been.
No matter how far beyond expectations the Star Eater was, he was still human in the end.
A being the Divine blood merely used as a tool.
And yet Divine blood, beings several dimensions higher, being hypnotized or brainwashed by a human like that?
It made no sense.
[...What in the world is this?]
The Father of Maggots sank into confusion, but only for a moment.
[I-I would like to say something. In truth, I don’t think you need to worry that much.]
The Divine blood spoke carefully, watching its reaction.
[Why?]
[As you know, there are many Divine blood who wish to receive the guidance of the great one. Even if the burned vegetation and those Divine blood protect the Star Eater...]
[They won’t be able to protect him?]
[Yes. As I said, there are many who wish to receive the Rotten Mouth’s guidance. And besides—]
[Besides?]
[That one has moved.]
[That one...?]
[I mean the Darkness-Eating Sword.]
At the faint amusement in the Divine blood’s voice, the Father of Maggots let out an impressed sound.
The Darkness-Eating Sword.
It was one of the strongest among the Divine blood that had fallen,
to the point that even the Father of Maggots and the burned vegetation, who were of similar might, would rather avoid fighting it if possible.
Because the Darkness-Eating Sword was a first-stage Divine blood with one foot already in the second stage.
Which was why—
[If the Darkness-Eating Sword has moved, then there’s nothing to worry about.]
[Exactly.]
The Father of Maggots, whose face had been twisted with irritation until just a moment ago, moved smoothly through the air as if satisfied.
[Then all I need to do is wait at ease. While diligently gathering the tools I need to rise to the next stage.]
It smiled viciously, clearly pleased.
Inside the inner reaches of the mental world where the Milky Way shone in full—
“We can create a god?”
“Yes!”
For a moment, Alon blanked out at the sight of Kalannon answering so confidently, but he quickly came back to himself.
“I appreciate you telling me the conclusion first, but that sounds like a bit too much.”
“Ah, was my explanation lacking?”
“Very much so.”
At that, Kalannon let out an “Mmm—” and continued.
“Still, I thought you already understood some of it?”
“Based on what...?”
“Well, because your divine power changed?”
“...Did yours change too?”
At Alon’s question, Kalannon made a somewhat complicated expression.
“In my case, strictly speaking, it would be more accurate to say I just followed along...”
“With me?”
“Of course? To begin with, when it comes to things like this, I’m in a position where I have to be affected together with you whether I like it or not.”
That was true.
“I’d like you to explain from the beginning first, if possible.”
“Starting from the part about your divine power changing?”
“Yes.”
“Mmm—okay. That was what I was going to say first anyway.”
Kalannon took a moment to gather her thoughts, then began explaining things one by one.
And after some time had passed—
“That’s everything I found out.”
After hearing all of Kalannon’s explanation, Alon summarized it.
“So, after the Divine blood fell to the surface, my divine power changed.”
“Mmm—it’d be more accurate to say it evolved rather than changed.”
“Evolved...”
There were three pieces of information Kalannon had told him.
First, that after the Divine blood fell to the surface, Alon’s divine power had changed.
Second, that the changed divine power was, in the literal sense, closer to evolution than corruption.
And lastly—
“I understood most of it... but the last part is a little hard to understand.”
—the location of the divine power, which had abruptly vanished after the Divine blood fell.
“Ah. You mean the location of your divine power—your faith?”
“Yes. What do you mean when you say my divine power is still in my body? No matter how I check, I can’t see any divine power.”
Kalannon had said that Alon’s divine power was still within his body.
But when Alon checked for himself, there was no longer any divine power left in his body.
The only thing still there was the divine power he had gained before when he had captured Divine blood.
Alon was baffled.
Kalannon added casually,
“Of course you can’t see it. To begin with, your body itself is what contains the divine power.”
“...My body?”
“Yes. So naturally, even if you observe your inner self, you won’t see it. All of your divine power has permeated your body itself.”
“Then why have I become completely unable to use divine power?”
“Mmm—the part does take practice, but you’ll probably be able to use it again soon enough.”
Because I’m here. Kalannon gave a little proud cough.
At that, Alon gave a slight nod, then soon recalled the first thing she had said.
“So then, what was that earlier about being able to create a god?”
“Ah, I’ll explain that too.”
Kalannon cleared her throat.
“As you know, there’s usually only one way to become a god.”
“By gaining faith?”
“That’s right. By gaining the faith of other humans, we can become gods. On the other hand, without the faith of countless people, you can’t become a god. In other words, to become a god, you need a great many people and their belief.”
Alon nodded, but still felt puzzled.
Because it was all so obvious.
“Isn’t that only natural?”
“It is. ‘One becomes a god through the belief of countless people’—that’s a truth everyone knows. But this evolved divine power has made it possible to remove one part of that.”
“One part?”
“Yes. Specifically—”
Kalannon raised a finger with a meaningful smile.
“—the words ‘countless people.’”
She whispered it quietly.
Words that, for the current Alon, could only make his eyes go wide.
“...You mean.”
“It’s probably exactly what you understood. Normally, becoming a god requires the faith of countless people, but if you believe in them—”
“They can become a god?”
“That’s right.”
“...Does that even make sense?”
Doubt filled Alon’s face, and Kalannon answered,
“Ordinarily, of course not.”
“Then how?”
“I told you, didn’t I? Your divine power evolved.”
“...Because of that?”
Kalannon nodded, then spread out her hand wide.
Wooooong—!
And what formed above her hand along with that was—
divine power shaped like a planet.
“As you know, divine power normally exists in this form, taking on different sizes and shapes depending on people’s faith. And divine power created this way can be used only by the person it belongs to. But—”
Using her right hand, Kalannon plucked off a part of the planet-like mass of faith.
And then a small sphere was formed.
“this isn’t ordinary divine power.”
“...You can separate it at will?”
“That’s right. And you can also pass it on at will. In other words—”
“You can arbitrarily create gods?”
“That’s right.”
“Then those who gain divinity that way—will they all be able to use the same abilities I do?”
“No?”
“Then?”
“You know this already, don’t you? That the power gained through faith is shaped by belief.”
“Put simply, what I’m dividing up is a ‘seed,’ then.”
At Alon’s metaphor, Kalannon smiled.
And then—
“That’s right. What kind of flower blooms from it will be different every time. And the legion that blooms that way—”
Proudly,
“—will become a legion of gods that follows only us.”
She dropped an important truth.
To kill the Star Eater, the Darkness-Eating Sword crossed into the Allied Kingdoms by way of the coast.
And the moment it left the shoreline, as though it had been expected, it came face-to-face with the burned vegetation waiting before it.
[The burned vegetation.]
A voice like something scraping across the abyss.
And together with it, the dozens, hundreds of skulls hanging from the fluttering cloak of the Darkness-Eating Sword each let out grotesque noises of their own.
[...Darkness-Eating Sword.]
The burned vegetation spoke its name in a low voice.
But the Darkness-Eating Sword, as if none of that mattered in the slightest, thought for a moment, then nodded.
[I see. So the Piercing Eye informed you.]
It had guessed why the burned vegetation was here.
Soon, as though there was no need for any further conversation, it placed a hand against the body hidden behind the abyss.
Riiiip—!
At the same time, a sickening sound rang out.
Before long, a grotesque sword emerged from its stomach.
A dreadful blade, with skulls embedded all across its edge.
Without a word, the Darkness-Eating Sword drew it.
[I heard you are protecting a mere creature.]
[...That one is not a mere creature. If you heard the story too, you would want to join Star Root as well.]
[Star Root? So you made some pathetic little gathering? I see—so that’s why the Divine blood that crossed over until now couldn’t even kill one little creature?]
Ridiculous.
At that short mutter, the burned vegetation asked as if trying to persuade it,
[Do you have no intention of hearing the story?]
[I only have two things to say to you.]
However—
[Stop protecting that creature and get out of my way—]
KWA-A-A-ANG—!!
[—or die in front of me.]
Without a moment of hesitation, the Darkness-Eating Sword slashed its blade to one side and temporarily split the sea in two.
[...Then there’s no helping it.]
As if it had no choice, the vegetation took its stance.
And with that, two Divine blood emerged from behind it.
[...So those are the ones I heard were acting together with you.]
Even in that situation, the Darkness-Eating Sword remained calm.
The addition of only two Divine blood was not enough to shake its momentum.
[Hmph. So your reinforcements are only two. Meaningless.]
And so, the moment the Darkness-Eating Sword let out an open sneer—
Thud—!
Two more Divine blood stepped out from the brush.
The enemy had become five in an instant.
And yet even then, it did not lose its nerve.
Because among the Divine blood that had currently fallen, it was unquestionably one of the three strongest.
[...Five is still—]
And just as the Darkness-Eating Sword opened its mouth—
Thud— thud—!
Two more Divine blood stepped out again.
The enemy had become seven in an instant.
This time, it blanked out for a moment, but the Darkness-Eating Sword quickly tensed its whole body, preparing to fight—
Thud—!
—and failed to.
[???]
Because before it could even finish preparing, two more Divine blood came walking out yet again.
Now there were nine Divine blood.
And then, as if they had all made a promise beforehand, another two jumped out once more.
Realizing that the situation had now become one against eleven, the Darkness-Eating Sword—
[...Ahem.]
[The Star Eater suddenly—]
[Is that one your friend?]
[...I’m suddenly feeling interested in that one. Could I speak with them?]
—naturally slid its sword back into the abyss as it made the suggestion.
It was the wise conduct of one who understood that no one wins against a mob beating....

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