Alastor's voice carried an innate majesty, resonating like rolling thunder. Thankfully, none of the nearby pedestrians could hear him; otherwise, many would have collapsed right there on the street due to insufficient strength of will. Yet, although they couldn't hear his words, they still sensed the shifting atmosphere. Passersby instinctively felt a brief palpitation, as if an invisible hand had momentarily squeezed their hearts.
If even these oblivious pedestrians felt it this strongly, how was Hirai Yukari—who could actually hear the voice clearly—holding up?
She remained completely unaffected.
Alastor's divine aura, his crimson flames of retribution, could not pierce Yukari's body. They couldn't cross that barrier of wind, let alone ignite or burn away anything at all.
For that wind was the frigid breeze of the desert night, the quiet footsteps of Death approaching.
It was the protection of the God of the Underworld.
"Are you questioning me, God of Retribution? Are you enraged on behalf of humanity and the mortal world?"
As Nitocris's voice sounded, the air that had seemed frozen began to flow once more. The scorching wind brought forth by Alastor's overflowing divine power cooled rapidly.
Then, Nitocris slowly uttered words that baffled all three listeners.
"You truly are too compassionate to be called a god."
What did she mean by this? How could compassion be unfitting for a god?
Not just the black-haired girl and Alastor—even Hirai Yukari was filled with bewilderment.
"You seem to assume it natural that gods of the human world should protect humanity and their realm. Crimson Pillar bearing the name 'God of Retribution,' you arrogantly presume to constrain and define gods by human logic—how arrogant indeed."
While the three were momentarily stunned into silence, Nitocris's voice rang out once again, far more solemn and majestic than before.
"You three gods of the Crimson Realm, though possessing divine titles and Authorities governing your world's laws, differ greatly in personality from the gods I once knew. You treat the denizens of your world with surprising kindness."
"The God of Retribution maintains balance in your world. The God of Creation makes promises and satisfies the desires of all Crimson Denizens. The God of Guidance may appear detached, yet subtly directs his followers to guide their kind. Though you three might have conflicts and disagreements, undeniably you are compassionate gods. You each guard your people in your own ways."
The more Nitocris spoke, the deeper Alastor's unease grew.
"Do the gods of your human realm not do the same?"
"That is precisely why I said you are overly compassionate, God of Retribution. To actually ask why we gods refused to manifest for thousands of years, why we stood aside while the Crimson Denizens ravaged the human world—why do you assume it natural for the gods to protect humanity and their realm? Why do you automatically assume the appearance of gods would be beneficial to humanity?"
"!!!"
"You misunderstand one thing, Alastor, God of Retribution of the Crimson Realm. The gods are the epitome of selfishness. To humans and their world, gods are disasters that tread the earth. The destruction of the human realm, the extinction of humanity, mean nothing to gods—indeed, some gods actively instigate such calamities merely for their own amusement. Hence, humanity long ago parted ways with the gods. The Age of Gods ended, and ever since, the era of humanity began—the birth of human civilization."
Nitocris's words fell like successive bombs, shattering the minds of the listeners.
The gods she spoke of were too terrifying—weren't they practically evil gods?
Even Hirai Yukari was speechless. Nitocris had previously told her that the gods departed due to the decline of the Age of Gods, as the world could no longer contain such immense existences. But Yukari never imagined such secrets existed—could humanity itself have caused the decline of the Age of Gods?
Alastor now openly directed intense hostility, even killing intent, toward Nitocris. The air grew oppressively heavy, as if the very sky above them might melt and collapse at any moment.
Clearly, Alastor saw Nitocris as one of those "evil gods" she described.
"So, you too are a selfish god? Do you also seek to destroy humanity?"
Despite being a Crimson God, Alastor had always fought for the human world. Every Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter contracted to him fought relentlessly against Crimson Denizens. Mathilde, his previous Flame-Haired Hunter, was known as the strongest Flame Haze in medieval Europe—her crimson flames were nightmares to countless Denizens of that era. Even "Thousand Changes" Sydonay would show caution and solemnity at the sight of that blazing red flame.
Whether to fulfill his divine duty, uphold the balance of worlds, or honor the fallen Mathilde, Alastor had ample reason to defend humanity—even if it meant confronting a god of the human world whose existence rivaled his own.
However, Alastor was the only one who reacted with hostility after hearing Nitocris's words.
Hirai Yukari trusted Nitocris deeply. She and her parents were alive because of Nitocris. When Nitocris borrowed her body, Yukari had witnessed firsthand how she eliminated Crimson Denizens, reviving those turned into Torches. After spending so much time together, Nitocris had long become, in Yukari's heart, a dependable, gentle, albeit slightly tsundere older sister.
Likewise, the girl contracted to Alastor didn't feel Nitocris was such a selfish, malicious god—though she herself couldn't explain why. This groundless trust greatly irritated her.
"As I said before, I stand on the side of humanity and their world."
Though she had said many words easily misunderstood, and faced Alastor's hostility and anger directly, Nitocris's voice remained as serene as a quiet night sky, as if nothing could ever disturb her inner peace. "Gods are embodiments of world laws, extensions of the world's consciousness. Unlike humans who grow and change, gods remain unchanging. Born perfect, they neither strive nor evolve. From their birth until their end, gods follow only their own rules."
"There are gods who find meaning and pleasure in destruction, gods who are cold and mechanical, indifferent to humanity's joys and sorrows—and naturally, gods who love the human world and humanity itself. Although even a god's affection can sometimes cause calamities for mortals. Such is the nature of capricious gods."
"So you're trying to say that you are one of these gods who loves humanity and their world?"
Alastor spoke again, the sharp hostility from earlier slightly restrained. Rather than blazing anger, his tone now reflected deeper contemplation—considering how truthful Nitocris's words were, and how much trust he should place in this unfamiliar god of humanity.
Complete trust was impossible. After all, they had only met once—no, this was their second meeting at most. How much trust could arise from only two brief encounters? More importantly, Alastor couldn't believe, didn't dare to believe, that the human world had once birthed so many gods!
Even from just these brief words, Alastor understood clearly: the "gods" Nitocris spoke of must have existed in staggering numbers. Even in the Crimson Realm, only three gods had emerged after such a long time. He couldn't fathom how a world could contain enough energy and complexity to give rise to so many gods.
Perhaps most were weaker than the Crimson Gods, yet the mere scale was frightening! At the very least, the unknown god standing before him was already comparable in existence to himself.
If anyone else had spoken these words, he would have dismissed them as absurdities not worth listening to. But these words came from a god equal to himself in rank—an unprecedented god of the human realm.
"You say humanity has long parted ways with the gods—then after that parting, where did you gods go? After leaving humanity behind, where else could you possibly go? And if you parted from humanity, why have you returned now?"
He was clarifying doubts, and at the same time testing for truth and falsehood. Logically, gods shouldn't bother lying—at least the three Crimson Gods Alastor knew wouldn't—but caution was necessary. If Nitocris said gods were whimsical, perhaps the common sense of Crimson Gods didn't apply to the gods of humanity. Perhaps some gods spoke only lies.
"After we gods parted from humanity, we left the human world behind, ascending to higher dimensions, losing the ability to directly interfere in reality."
"Yet now you're here, possessing a human body just as I am. You indeed can influence this world with your own power and Authority."
"Because—I heard the call."
"The call?"
Alastor fell briefly into shock. Yet, before he could recover, Nitocris hurled another devastating revelation.
"I heard wails; I heard pleas for help. They accused the invaders of their barbaric atrocities. Surely you cannot hear these voices? Those helpless, despairing cries."
"The one who summoned me, the one who called for my aid—it was the human world itself."
Nitocris's voice became ethereal, as if drifting from the farthest reaches of the heavens, from beyond the seas of stars. Her will was an extension of the world's consciousness itself; as its representative, she would deliver the final divine judgment upon sinners.
"I came for salvation. I came to judge. Those lost in desire, blind to their own nature, lacking reverence, committing unforgivable acts, willingly depraved, lawless, and ignorant—all shall suffer divine punishment by my hand."
"I am the incarnation of Anubis, god of the Underworld. I am the Avenger bearing neither grace nor grudge. In the name of proud Nitocris, I convey the world's decree. By my scales shall I grant judgment and eternal rest upon plunderers, invaders, and evildoers alike, delivering them all unto my Underworld."
Words possessed power.
Mortals required intricate rituals, various mediums, and complex communication to enact even the simplest of magecraft. But when gods spoke, phenomena unfolded naturally. This was why gods rarely lied: the world responded to their every word.
Hirai Yukari and the black-haired girl felt nothing special, but Alastor sensed it clearly.
The instant Nitocris finished speaking, it was as if a pebble had dropped into a still lake. Ripples spread outward from the point of impact, expanding ever further into the distance.
These "ripples" were a phenomenon triggered by Nitocris's words. The human realm itself began changing… At that very moment, Alastor clearly felt Nitocris become the center of the human world itself. The entire world now seemed to revolve around her will.
Realizing this, Alastor fell into prolonged astonishment.
At this point, regardless of how much truth or falsehood had been in the words of this god of humanity, regardless of whether those countless gods of the human world truly existed, Alastor had no more doubts about one thing—the god's allegiance. This god who proclaimed herself the god of the Underworld was undeniably on humanity's side.
She had received the full recognition of the human world itself—and not merely ordinary recognition; it was as if the human realm unconditionally cooperated with her.
No evil god intent on bringing ruin to humanity could possibly have earned such treatment—even considering the threat posed by Crimson Denizens.
"The world is about to change…"
That was the only certainty Alastor could confirm.
He didn't yet fully understand what Nitocris's existence would mean, nor could he foresee the future. Though called the God of Retribution, the god-slayer capable of destroying even other gods, precognition wasn't among his abilities—that was the specialty of the God of Guidance.
He could only carry his unease and take things one step at a time…
...
Hirai Yukari had finally returned home. She could've returned much earlier if she hadn't run into Alastor and his contractor halfway home and foolishly exposed herself, wasting a considerable amount of time as a result.
Thankfully, Yukari had told her mother beforehand that she might visit the shopping street with classmates after school today, so her mother wasn't suspicious or worried about her delay.
However, Yukari was now worried about something else entirely…
"Oh my? Are you… a friend of Yukari's? Hello there, what a cute girl! May I ask your name?"
Standing to the side, Yukari felt her heartbeat quicken as she watched her own mother, smiling warmly, and the frosty-faced black-haired girl—who looked about Yukari's age—staring awkwardly at each other.
Of course, Yukari's racing heart had nothing to do with excitement or romantic feelings—it was purely from anxiety.
The black-haired girl remained silent for what felt like forever, her lovely features seemingly frozen solid. The atmosphere around them grew heavier by the second. Despite it being summer, the occasional breeze felt oddly chilly—though perhaps that was merely Yukari's imagination.
But her rapidly accelerating heartbeat was definitely real.
Thankfully, Yukari's mother was a patient person, gently watching the girl without rushing her.
After a long, tense moment, the girl seemed to lose their silent staring contest. Turning her head reluctantly to the side in a childishly stubborn manner, she muttered unwillingly:
"…Shana."
---
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