-585- Don't lump me in

In any world, the entity called "God" is something people aspire to.

Because, in the eyes and minds of people, God is an all-powerful being.

When the term "God" appears, people are destined to go crazy for it.

The existence of God is the ultimate pursuit for people. Once attained, it signifies reaching the pinnacle, touching the realm of omnipotence and invincibility.

Hence, whether in a positive or negative sense, pursuing God becomes a goal.

Even Rozen couldn't deny he had aspirations towards God.

After all, the word "God" is often associated with "miracles."

In the knowledge Rozen inherited, there are secret rites to descend and summon gods, both being of the highest level. If he continues to excel in this way, sooner or later, he will establish a connection with God, won't he?

It should be said that even if it's not this way, Rozen has unquestionably already established a connection with God.

Kinu.

Gyokuto.

Representing the sun and the moon, the two deities have now been successfully summoned by him.

In this way, Rozen can clearly understand that the ultimate goal of the Soma family is also a god.

If you think about it carefully, you can see it, right?

For example, why did Dairenji Shidou and Mutobe Chihiro choose to join the Spirit Control Division?

Not because the Spirit Control Division is a hotbed for the Twin Horn Syndicate, nor is it because it is far from the Onmyou Agency's supervision. It's because it ultimately researches the spirits, gods, and heroic spirits.

Since the research subject is gods, then the goal is to descend gods. Isn't that a matter of course?

Not to mention, Dairenji Shidou and Mutobe Chihiro successively triggered spiritual disasters and terrifying attacks, causing chaos in Tokyo's spiritual veins. Clearly, these were the consequences of attempting to descend a god.

In other words, Dairenji Shidou and Mutobe Chihiro didn't trigger the spiritual disasters and launch the terror attacks in their capacity as Yakou's worshippers of the Twin Horn Syndicate.

The so-called spiritual disasters and terror attacks were merely consequences of what they intended to do.

What these two individuals truly wanted to do was to descend a god. Unfortunately, they failed, resulting in the spiritual disasters running rampant, becoming terror attacks.

Just like Rozen, in the ritual of summoning Kinu and Gyokuto, if a failure is declared, the spiritual storm at that time will twist into a dreadful spiritual disaster, endangering the whole of Tokyo, even the entire country.

Dairenji Shidou and Mutobe Chihiro are examples of this. They had attempted the ritual to descend a god at different times, only to end in failure, resulting in the rampage of a spiritual disaster, turning into a terrifying attack.

Both of them work for the Soma family, so Rozen's guess about the Soma family's objective being the descent of a god isn't surprising at all.

For this purpose, they would pursue Yakou, utilize the Twin Horn Syndicate, and even make use of the Onmyou Agency.

As for the reason behind the Soma family's pursuit of descending a god:

"Perhaps it's related to your bloodline?"

Rozen gazed at Soma Takiko and spoke in this calm manner.

This is equally unsurprising.

It was mentioned earlier that generally, gods are divided into two types: the natural gods based on the eight million gods of Takamagahara, and the ascended deity formed by people's worship of historical heroes and great figures.

If Rozen's guess is correct, the Soma family should belong to the latter, a legitimate bloodline, which is why they are so persistent in descending a god, attempting to summon their ancestors into this world.

"If it isn't this way, it can't explain the existence of Yase-Doji."

Rozen said in this manner.

After all, why is Yase-Doji specifically chosen to serve and guard a noble bloodline?

Combining their objective of descending a god with the information that they are inheritors of a noble bloodline, it's not hard to deduce that they are descendants of a certain heroic spirit who became a god.

"You're referred to as a princess, that should be one of the reasons."

Rozen glanced at Soma Takiko, making a thought-provoking remark.

"Of course, considering the objective of descending a god, there should be another reason for you being called a princess."

Don't think that Rozen smoothly completing the miracle of descending a god means it was easy.

In reality, without complete knowledge from the "Divine Spirit Summoning" aspect, relying solely on the inherited magical knowledge from Yakou, Rozen wouldn't have been able to successfully complete it.

Descending a god requires many conditions, or else gods wouldn't be so difficult to manifest in the modern world.

Even in Chaldea, not to mention gods, even heroic spirits can't manifest autonomously. They can only successfully descend into the modern world by using human rituals and contracts.

Perhaps this is the price one pays for possessing a powerful force beyond the world's permissible limits?

Look at Kinu and Gyokuto, gods themselves, incredibly powerful. But without Rozen, they couldn't even manifest, demonstrating the concept of balance.

Naturally, the ancestral god pursued by the Soma family is the same. Without sufficient conditions, it's impossible to manifest in the modern world.

For example,

"It requires an individual with extremely high talent, excellent affinity, and the ability to be possessed by them to manifest themselves."

Rozen exposed Soma Takiko's identity without hesitation.

"You are the chosen shrine maiden, aren't you?"

Since ancient times, people have had the habit of regarding shrine maidens as princesses.

Because they are maidens who serve the gods, extremely noble, and sometimes even referred to as shrine maiden princesses.

Soma Takiko is referred to as a princess, and the second reason is right here.

"As a direct descendant inheriting the bloodline of the ancestral god and possessing an exceptionally high aptitude for being a shrine maiden, you couldn't be a more perfect vessel for the descent of a god. That's why you're called a princess. That's why you have Yase-Doji as a guardian. That's why you all spare no effort to achieve your goals. That's why you recklessly cause disasters in Tokyo, creating havoc."

Rozen spoke with a sense of irony, as if performing a solo act, smiling mockingly in front of the three present.

"Truly astonishing."

A simple sentence, yet it showcased Rozen's disgust and enmity.

"A-Akikan?"

Soma Takiko seemed unaware that she had merely introduced herself, and yet so many hidden truths were revealed. She was taken aback by Rozen's sudden attitude, unable to react in time.

Kumomaru remained completely silent, eyes fixed on Rozen, displaying an ambiguous look, clearly surprised that Rozen had unraveled the truth with just a few words.

"Quite impressive, indeed," Yashamaru said, the smile on his face undiminished, praising Rozen in a seemingly humble manner.

However,

"I believe you should be able to understand our ideals."

Yashamaru spoke with a smile.

"After all, the Soma family has been pursuing this wish for over a thousand years. You not only completed it effortlessly but also successfully descended two deities in one go. If it were you, you should comprehend whether this is worth our efforts, right?"

Yashamaru created this resonance seemingly on his own.

Because Rozen is also pursuing the power of gods and even achieved the miracle of descending a god, he can understand them and grasp their thoughts.

This is simply

"Disgusting."

Rozen spoke indifferently.

"If I were to recklessly use others for my own purposes, ignoring their wishes, even treating them as experiments and sacrifices, I would rather die."

"Don't lump me in with the likes of you."

"Idiot."

Rozen's words froze Yashamaru's smile, left Kumomaru in stunned silence, and had Soma Takiko wide-eyed, seemingly unable to believe what she had just heard.

The reception room's once icy atmosphere had now become undeniably heavy and irreparable.