Chapter 295: Treason If We Fail, Revolution If We Succeed (9)

Using the power of the Terra Ring, Keter instantly located Green Wind, the future Named Monster. He couldn’t help but be impressed by the monster.

“You blocked my arrow?”

Keter fired an arrow as soon as he found Green Wind. It wasn’t a full-power shot, but it was an arrow fired under the assumption that the opponent was a Grandmaster. Yet Green Wind had blocked it with nothing more than a flimsy-looking barrier of wind.

Startled, the goblin lifted a staff decorated with a strange carving of stone high into the air, but Keter ignored that and instead examined the wind barrier.

“Even if arrows are affected by the wind, the airflow here isn’t strong enough to stop my arrows. Must be the realm of Authority.”

It was clear that the wind barrier could stop projectiles. It was surprising that a mere goblin was able to use that kind of Authority.

He was given the title of Green Wind only ten years from now. But he already knows how to use divine power to this extent.

That was when wind began gathering around Green Wind, and in an instant, a tornado descended from the sky to wrap around him.

“Oh? You can do something like this, too?”

In the dry winter sky, a violent wind suddenly erupted. The wind was so strong that the surrounding trees and shrubs were being sucked into the vortex.

“As expected, worthy of the future Goblin King.”

Green Wind was more than just a Named Monster; eventually, he would grow powerful enough to be called a Goblin King. Goblins were not social creatures, so the concept of a king amongst goblins was almost laughable.

However, that arrogance brought about calamity. No one could have possibly predicted that goblins across the entire continent would unite and declare war on humanity. Or that there wouldn't be just one Goblin King, but nine, all possessing power on the level of—or beyond—a Prime?

Twang!

Keter, just to test things, shot an arrow into Green Wind’s tornado. This time, he used Tusk at its full power to increase its penetration to the limit. He also layered multiple coats of aura onto the arrow so the wind wouldn’t blow it off course. However...

“It doesn’t work at all.”

The Tusk was swept away helplessly, vanishing into the sky.

“He’s practically a nightmare for archers.”

Not just archers, but mages who relied on long-range attacks would also be helpless. Though it didn’t seem like swordsmen would have an easy time either.

“G... Gererek!”

Green Wind made a strange sound and pointed his staff at Keter. A tornado slammed down toward him.

Whoosh!!!

A tornado the size of a house came crashing down, but Keter dodged effortlessly and fired an arrow, not at Green Wind but at the ground.

“Kekeke...”

Green Wind thought Keter had lost his sanity out of despair. What good was firing an arrow at the dirt?

Crack!

But then Green Wind’s head exploded, pierced from below by an arrow bursting out of the ground. Keter’s arrow had tunnelled underground and then surfaced right under him.

“Can’t believe this worked.”

And this was Keter’s first time trying it. While arrows could pierce several meters into the ground, he had never made them resurface mid-flight. The arrowhead had to turn to change directions, but that was impossible when the arrow was buried in the dirt. He had done similar things underwater, but never in the dirt. This was entirely thanks to the Terra Ring.

“It even lets me alter the properties of the ground. As expected of a divine artifact—excellent performance.”

The Terra Ring softened the soil, allowing the arrow to burrow through with ease, and carved out space underground so it could curve back upward. Even without the ring, Keter would have found a way to kill Green Wind eventually, but after going through hell to obtain it, there was no reason not to put it to use.

Whoooosh...

With Green Wind dead, the storm dissipated. The goblins watching nearby scattered in terror.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Keter didn’t let them escape. He flicked eight arrows from between his fingers. About five hundred goblins were running, and he had thrown eight arrows. It looked like there wasn’t nearly enough, but there was.

Limitless Archery, Seventh Form: Drone.

The eight arrows slithered like living serpents, piercing the foreheads of the fleeing goblins in less than a second.

“I think I can finally use Drone in real combat.”

Drone, which required Ein to function perfectly, was now smoother and faster than ever.

Leaving the massacre to Drone, Keter went to inspect Green Wind’s corpse. He removed the mask, revealing a goblin that looked no different from others, aside from a slightly darker green skin tone.

“It’s just a goblin.”

That was the end of his assessment. After all, Keter’s goal wasn’t simply to kill Green Wind. Even if he eliminated the Goblin King, a future threat to humanity, no one would praise him.

“Hehehe...”

Keter eagerly examined the staff Green Wind had held and grabbed the carved ornament at the end. Immediately, a scolding voice echoed inside his mind.

—You insolent wretch! How dare you lay your filthy hands upon me, Alakyr, the God of Wind! Kneel and swear your fealty this instant, and I may forgive your transgression!

Hearing the self-proclaimed God of Wind yelling, Keter shook his head.

“Why do they all say the same thing? Every bastard I meet tells me I’m rude and that I should serve them... They don’t have anything of value, yet they are so full of pride.”

—What?! So you do wish to taste the wrath of the storm!

Rumble rumble rumble!

The carving shook violently, wind swirling around Keter. Keter calmly invoked the Terra Ring’s power and applied pressure.

—Huh? What is this power? Are you perhaps a descendant of the giants?

The wind faded, and ’s voice suddenly grew humble, but not enough for Keter’s liking.

Crack...

Keter grabbed the wings of the statue and put pressure on them.

“I killed every single one of the goblins that worshiped you. If even this statue that embodies you were to disappear... I wonder what would happen? It certainly piques my intellectual curiosity.”

—...

“Humans and gods both would rather die than swallow their pride.”

Crack!!

Keter broke the statue’s right wing. Then, he heard an urgent voice.

—Please calm down, descendant of the giant... It couldn’t be helped that I failed to recognize you. You look perfectly human on the surface, after all.

Crack!!

Keter broke the left wing as well.

—Stop! That’s enough! I, the God of Wind, is admitting fault!

Keter lightly tapped the carving’s head.

—I’m sorry, sir.

Only then did Keter smile in satisfaction.

* * *

“So, to sum it up, Samael plotted to eliminate you and the other gods. Is that right?”

—Yes... sir.

Keter stroked his chin as he listened to Alakyr’s explanation of how the once-great God of Wind had ended up so weakened.

“Hmm. Object permanence, huh.”

Gods like Alakyr could not continue to exist as gods without beings who revered them. In ancient times, everyone worshipped nature, due to fear of the overwhelming power of natural disasters, and of death itself. Because of this, gods like Alakyr never lacked followers, and through the offerings those followers faithfully presented, they were able to maintain their divine status.

However, the popularization of magic that began in the Samael Empire, along with the Divinity Eradication Operation, brought about a decisive change. Natural disasters could now be defended against or mitigated through magic, and phenomena once believed to be acts of the gods were revealed to be nothing more than natural occurrences. Scholars spread this understanding far and wide.

“The wind has absolutely nothing to do with gods! It’s all due to air pressure. This fan is a perfect example!”

At first, it had no effect. Those who worshiped the gods flew into a rage, claiming such words were blasphemy. But nothing could withstand persistence and time. When mages protected people from disasters without invoking gods, and children learned the principles of wind from their teachers, how could belief in gods persist? In the end, minor gods, including Alakyr, were completely forgotten from people’s memories.

—Then a goblin caught in a storm came to fear the wind and created a statue. And I, who had long been dormant, awakened by inhabiting that statue.

“Huh. That really boosted your self-esteem, huh. Should I try becoming a godslayer myself?”

—...That is what happened... sir.

If he were to be erased once again, Alakyr had no way of knowing when he might be revived, so he did not hesitate to use honorifics to show his respect. Of course, had his counterpart been an ordinary human, he would never have done so, even if it meant being erased.

A descendant of the giants, and the bearer of one of the Five Element Relics... This one may soon become a god himself. There’s no shame in bowing now.

It was only natural that Alakyr mistook Keter for a descendant of the giants rather than a human. The Five Element Relics were divine tools meant exclusively for the giants.

—But how did you know I was here, sir?

Alakyr had concealed his presence as much as possible, at least until the goblin who wielded him had gained sufficient divine power.

Keter answered without hesitation, “Because I’m the owner of the Five Element Relics.”

That was the second reason Keter had obtained the Terra Ring. If someone asked where he got information no one else could know, this was the answer he intended to give.

—I see! Then for what reason have you sought me out, sir?

“To give you an opportunity.”

—An opportunity?

“An opportunity to be worshiped by humans.”

—You would make humans worship me? If so, I could not ask for more... though surely you desire something in return?

“Rather than desire, I’m demanding a fair exchange. I’ll make the Sefira family worship you. In return, you will become Sefira’s guardian god.”

Keter implanted his memories of Sefira into Alakyr. Upon realizing it was a massive noble family with tens of thousands of people, Alakyr’s voice grew noticeably brighter.

—Protecting one’s followers is a god’s duty. Still... is that truly enough for you, sir?

No matter how he looked at it, the arrangement benefited Alakyr alone. Being worshipped by humans was far preferable to being revered by goblins. It was a thought born of ignorance toward the crisis that would soon befall the Sefira family, but Keter spoke as if he were doing Alakyr a favor.

“Even you think so, right? No matter how weakened you are now, you’re still a god. Giving favor without compensation would be an insult to you instead.”

—Yes, well... Then, is there something you require, sir?

“Do you even have something you can give me?”

—...Not much at the moment. When divinity weakens, memories and Authorities from the past fade as well.

“Still, you can at least give me a blessing, can’t you?”

—A descendant of the giants and bearer of one of the Five Element Relics needs my blessing?

Alakyr was already considering Keter a pseudo-god, so the idea that Keter needed his blessing was hard to grasp. But Keter, who believed that anything usable was better than nothing, pressed on.

“Aren’t you underestimating yourself? You’re the god who blocked my arrow and raised the wind. How could that not help?”

—H... haha... indeed. Though I was undone by a foolish goblin, before that no attack could touch me. Very well. Then I shall grant you the greatest blessing I can bestow.

The statue of Alakyr trembled. Then, a gentle vortex descended from the sky and settled softly over Keter’s head.

—From this moment on, the wind shall blow only from behind you, Lord Keter.

That meant he could run faster, and even his arrows would ride the wind. At a glance, one might wonder if this was all that a god’s blessing could offer, but Keter immediately judged it to be an enormous advantage.

No more headwinds from now on. Ha, how nice is this?

Keter was pleased, as he hadn’t expected such a generous blessing. But then, Alakyr’s presence suddenly vanished, perhaps having exhausted his power.

“Good work. Rest for a bit.”

It still wasn’t time to return to Sefira. Keter had more to do. Just as he was about to move, the empty air before him split apart, opening to either side, and a man stepped through.

“I was wondering who the newly emerged master of the Terra Ring would be... but it’s you again, Keter.”

It was a man Keter had never seen before, yet he immediately recognized the man.

Ivan, the grand mage of the Syndicate who was obsessively searching for regressors, had appeared before Keter.

* * *

Ivan suspected that Keter was a regressor. Although he had let it slide before after being persuaded by Keter, the resolve in Ivan’s eyes as he looked at him now made it clear that he would no longer accept any excuses.

“You are unquestionably a regressor. Otherwise, how could you know the method for undertaking the Trial of the Terra Ring, something known only to a tiny handful even within the Syndicate? And passing the trial itself must be the result of attempting it hundreds, even thousands of times through regression.”

Keter silently met Ivan’s gaze. Seeing that, Ivan stepped closer without hesitation and continued.

“Even the statue in your hand radiates divinity. A figurine imbued with divine power... It’s so precious, yet you take it as casually as if digging up potatoes in your own yard. If that doesn’t make you a regressor, then what does?”

“Ivan. I’ve been thinking,” Keter said.

“Have you come up with an excuse?”

“Back then, you accepted what I said, didn’t you? We even agreed to be friends. I thought we’d been cooperating ever since... were you deceiving me?”

“The one who deceived someone here wasn’t me—it was you.”

“Want me to tell you something interesting? Sometimes, when two people are talking, it feels like the conversation just doesn’t connect. Do you know why?”

Keter slipped the figurine of Alakyr into his pocket and ran a hand through his hair.

“It’s because one side thinks the other is weak. They don’t want an equal conversation with someone they see as inferior. The solution is simple: teach them who the weaker one really is.”

The reason Keter had avoided fighting the Syndicate before was fear. He hadn’t been fully prepared, and the thought of clashing with an organization packed with Transcendentals, along with the certainty that Sefira would be dragged into it, had made him use the Special Task Force to arrange negotiations instead.

So was he confronting the Syndicate now because he could win? No.

Even if I can’t win, I won’t bow. That was who I was in the first place.

Keter didn’t remember when he started to choose his battles based on odds. He felt contempt for his past self.

“Someone who can’t communicate... just needs to be beaten into understanding.”

In Keter’s hands appeared an excellent means of “conversation”: Maximum Output Milky Way.