When we came to our senses, we were back in the cave.

Everyone still had dazed expressions.

This time, we had uncovered quite a lot of secrets.

We had even gained a clue on how to convert fame into power.

And yet, despite that, no one’s expression looked good.

Serein hesitated before speaking.

“Um, well. Isn’t it a bit much to take it so seriously?”

“What do you mean?”

“He said that to use all of one’s fame as power, you would need to be prepared to give something up… but does it really have to be something serious?”

“……”

“For example, Adwin doesn’t have to give up his father. He could just give up that embarrassing way of speaking. That would kill two birds with one stone.”

Xenia shook her head.

“Impelium said it has to be the thing you ‘most’ desire.”

“Ugh.”

“In Serein’s case, it would mean offering up all her wealth.”

“I’m not particularly interested in money, though. Riches only cloud the heart.”

“I wonder if the laws of the world can really be tricked like that. For now, I’m not convinced.”

Everyone let out a deep sigh, as if on cue.

But.

[But?]

‘Well. My instincts are saying otherwise.’

[What do you mean? Are you saying Impelium lied?]

‘No. But there might be something he didn’t tell us.’

[And what makes you say that?]

‘Impelium himself.’

He, too, must have given something up.

It would have been the thing he desired most, the thing so precious he would guard it even at the cost of his soul.

Yet despite having given that up, the expression on Impelium’s face just moments ago carried a deep satisfaction.

As if he was content with his current life.

[Couldn’t it just be because he has a big heart?]

‘That could be it. Either way, let’s move on for now. It’s not certain yet.’

Just then.

The gloomy mood shifted.

The change was forced.

“Huh? E-everyone, look over there.”

Adwin pointed toward the cave entrance.

It was filled with golden light.

A dazzling brilliance, so bright it was impossible to stare at directly.

We rushed outside in a hurry.

And were struck with shock.

“The world has been dyed.”

“I feel like I have seen this before.”

“No way? Come on, it can’t be.”

“An oracle…” Discover more novels at novelꞁire.net

Serein’s mutter hit the mark.

Yes. This was an oracle.

And soon, a voice rang out from the heavens.

—Hear me, my children.

Why does Mide Mohan still walk this world?

Why do you believe the Demon King’s servant to be a hero?

The more you believe Mide to be the hero, the stronger the Demon King Idria becomes.

At this point, Mide himself is nothing less than a threat to humanity’s very existence.

I can no longer stand by.

Those who still harbor doubt in your hearts.

From this moment, I shall bestow ‘heaven’s punishment’ upon you.

Only on the day when all my children cease to believe in Mide shall the punishment be withdrawn.

This is a fate you have brought upon yourselves.

And at the same time, it is for your sake.

Flee from Mide’s deceitful tongue at once.

And with that, it ended.

The voice faded, and the torn sky slowly returned to its former state.

For a while, none of us could speak.

After a long silence, Serein summed up everyone’s feelings in a single word.

“…Wow.”

We returned home first to sort things out.

First of all, we needed to determine who had issued this oracle.

Impelium had warned us that Velosian would probably use some underhanded trick.

That underhanded trick was undoubtedly this oracle.

Which meant…

‘Show me the secret between Idria and Velosian, anything related to this oracle.’

[Wait.]

A screen appeared.

<No related secrets available. Cannot access.>

I see.

So it wasn’t Idria’s doing.

By process of elimination, then…

“It was Adin. This oracle came from Adin.”

“Did you confirm that with the Eye of Omniscience?”

“Yeah.”

“But why would he give such an oracle?”

Neril answered as though it was obvious.

“To cut down Mide’s fame, of course.”

“I know that. What I mean is, why would Adin, who is obsessed with faith, issue an oracle like that?”

Xenia made a very sharp point.

She looked at me as she continued.

“If your guess last time was right, then to Adin, faith is the same as a hero’s fame, isn’t it?”

“Mm.”

“There have already been two oracles. One from Idria, and one from Adin.”

“Right. This makes three.”

“Three oracles in one era… An event as big as an oracle happening this often won’t do Adin’s reputation any favours.”

She had a point.

This went beyond mere passive cooperation.

Adin had already been greatly weakened when Agril was stolen away.

And now, to knowingly weaken himself again and send out such a faulty oracle?

It made no sense.

Then Neril added her opinion.

“Exactly. And look at the content. A supposed celestial god is threatening humanity.”

“……”

“Saying he will bring divine punishment if people don’t listen? That’s no different from pruning the world according to his own whims. What kind of god does that?”

“……”

“This is self-destructive. No sane god would issue such an oracle…”

“He is insane though.”

“Ah. Right, that’s true.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Just then.

Tap.

A screen appeared.

A red screen.

‘Is Idria watching us?’

[Yeah. She agreed to a truce, though. Could she be breaking it?]

‘No.’

[Huh?]

‘If Idria doesn’t know the truth behind this oracle, then she must be panicking right now. This is a signal.’

[A signal?]

‘A sign that if I want to talk, I should call her.’

I took a deep breath.

Then shouted loudly.

“Idria! Come out!”

“…! Mide?”

Even as Neril was asking,

Crackle.

The space split apart.

And from within, an arm reached through.

Idria spoke in a low voice.

“As expected. You figured it out, Mide Mohan.”

“……”

“Would you mind lending me a communication orb? My skin is already stinging from Bion’s presence.”

“Don’t spout nonsense. Get to the point. You have got something to say, don’t you?”

She spoke calmly.

“I was curious whether you had any hand in that oracle just now. Of course, it was unfavourable to you, but… you’re a hard one to read, Mide. I wondered what scheme you were plotting this time.”

“Heh. Even if it really had been my doing, I wouldn’t tell you our plans.”

“So it wasn’t you, then. In that case, let’s end this. I feel like I’m dying just by being here.”

And indeed, her skin was already starting to crack open.

That poor arm always seemed to suffer.

I had already cut it off twice, and every time we met, it bled black.

But then.

“Wait.”

Neril cut in, boldly.

“Are you speaking to me, mage?”

“Yes. It’s unfair if only you get information and leave. Answer our questions too.”

“You must be mad. Do you even realize who you’re talking to right now?”

“We are in a truce. A little conversation should be fair game.”

I was surprised by Neril’s boldness, but at the same time, I was impressed.

There was no doubt this oracle was the work of the Celestial God.

But no matter how much it was for Kaeld’s sake, the Celestial God wouldn’t willingly take such a self-destructive action.

Which means…

Neril asked,

“Did you perhaps lose Kaeld to Velosian?”

My party members all drew in a sharp breath at once.

Idria chuckled and said to me,

“You have quite a wise companion, Mide.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Since it’s a secret that would have been exposed sooner or later thanks to Bion’s abilities, I will say it plainly. Velosian took Kaeld.”

“……!”

“Rather than say it was taken, I would like to rephrase it as me handing him over. In any case, it’s true Kaeld is no longer with us.”

Is this an opportunity or a disaster?

I noticed that Idria didn’t sound the least bit regretful.

For someone who had poured her heart and soul into raising Kaeld to have handed him over to Velosian, she was far too calm.

I asked,

“Don’t you regret it?”

“Well. For now, Velosian is helping me. This recent oracle also worked in my favour. Whatever he does with Kaeld, I doubt it will harm me.”

“But it’s out of your control now.”

“As long as the result is good, does the path really matter?”

“Do you really think that? Can’t believe you are being influenced by Kaeld.”

“That’s rather insulting, Mide. Anyway, our truce still stands. I won’t interfere in this matter.”

Ssshhk.

The space began to contract.

Idria added one last remark before vanishing.

“I will be watching to see how you overcome this crisis. I won’t be cheering you on, though.”

The space closed completely.

Lisel rolled her eyes, then said,

“This makes it clear. The oracle from Adin was Velosian’s doing.”

“Mhm.”

“You said Velosian was far stronger than Adin, right? Then did he threaten Adin with brute force?”

“Not sure. But if you compare Adin in his complete strength as a celestial god to Velosian outside his special room, Adin would win hands down.”

Velosian outside the chamber was strong, but not on the same level as Adin in his full divinity.

Having fought both, I could say that with confidence.

Then Offense spoke up.

“There’s no law saying it had to be brute force.”

“Huh?”

“He might have used another method. Maybe he caught hold of a weakness.”

In that instant, lightning struck my mind.

Cold sweat ran down my back, every hair on my body standing on end.

“That’s it.”

“Right. …Wait, what is?”

“Velosian found Adin’s weakness.”

“Uh, I was just guessing.”

“What could possibly be considered Adin’s weakness? What does he fear the most?”

Serein grumbled and answered,

“What else? He fears not being a god.”

“That’s it.”

“Right. …Wait, what’s it again? That’s the second time.”

“Velosian dragged Adin down from godhood. That’s the only way he could have threatened him.”

“No matter how amazing Velosian is, how could he drag a god from his throne?”

Serein, who had asked that, quickly found the answer herself.

Her face turned deathly pale.

And soon, the same expression spread to every member of the party.

I silently praised their sharp minds as I spoke.

“Velosian was the one who made Adin a god in the first place.”

We decided to set that theory aside for now.

Adin’s origin wasn’t the pressing issue.

“What kind of divine punishment will it be?”

At my words, everyone folded their arms.

And they sank deep into thought.

But there were too many possibilities to even guess.

In the end, I spoke again.

“Let’s head to the starting point.”

“What? Wait, hold on.”

“Don’t worry. Right now, Adin is weaker than usual. He has already gone beyond passive cooperation. Just like when he kidnapped Agril.”

“……”

“And I’m even stronger now than I was back then.”

“Because you gave up retirement?”

I flinched.

Neril asked worriedly,

“You really gave it up?”

“Mm. Let’s talk about that later.”

“……”

“Anyway, we will beat him down before he delivers divine punishment. Then, if possible, we will force him to deliver a new oracle and erase the last one. That’s the plan.”

Just then, Xenia cautiously interjected.

“What if Velosian is there too?”

The mood instantly dampened.

Xenia shook her head as if regretting her words.

“Ah, either way, it does seem like that’s the only method. I will summon Agril right away.”

“Thanks. If Mime helps…”

“It won’t even take two hours.”

Good. That should be fast enough to arrive before divine punishment begins.

We left the house.

And just as Xenia was about to summon Agril.

Plop.

Something wet landed on the bridge of my nose.

“……”

I touched it.

“Rain?”

As Neril muttered…

Shhhhaa! Krr-rrash!

In the blink of an eye, a torrential downpour poured down.

What the…?

The sky had been perfectly clear, without a single cloud.

Then Lisel spoke in a shocked voice.

“The water spirits…”

“Spirits?”

“There are too many water spirits!”

What?

Just as I was about to ask in detail.

Ssshhk.

Mime appeared.

Like before, he shrank his form and perched on Lisel’s shoulder.

Urgently, he whispered in her ear.

“What? Is that really true?!”

“Yes. And shouting it out defeats the purpose of me whispering…”

“Explain in detail. So all of us can hear.”

“Haa…”

After a brief pause, Mime said,

“Adin has covered the skies of the entire continent with water spirits.”

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