Chapter 42

The tension in the air was palpable. Six lesser gods had surrounded me as I sat at the table. Their presence was overwhelming, their eyes sharp and probing. Among them, I recognized one of the figures—my liege's father. Yet, I maintained my composure, feigning ignorance and carefully concealing any sign of recognition.

Their gazes were unrelenting, piercing through me as if they could see the truth beneath my mortal guise. It was clear they knew I wasn't an ordinary human.

One of them snapped their fingers, and a sudden gust of wind enveloped us. A shimmering barrier formed around the table, isolating us from prying eyes and ears.

"Oh ho! Look at what we have here!" a young woman said, her tone teasing.

"Enough," the man who had cast the barrier interrupted her, his voice calm but commanding. Clearing his throat, he addressed me directly. "Let's get to the point. Who… or what… are you?"

I smiled faintly, leaning back in my chair. "I am the same as all of you," I replied.

His eyes narrowed. "Yes, we've already figured that much. What I want to know is how you exist."

The question left me momentarily confused. "How do I exist? The same way you do—with faith in my goddess."

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, one of them spoke again, their voice laced with curiosity and suspicion. "Who are you exactly? Your aura… it's strange. Your initial form doesn't even seem human."

I chuckled softly, the sound reverberating through the barrier. "You're not wrong. I wasn't human before I became a god. I was a demon."

The moment the word left my lips, the group stiffened, their postures shifting defensively. But before they could act, the negotiator raised a hand, stopping them.

"A demon? Why would a true god turn a demon into a lesser god?"

"It's simple," I said with a calm smile. "I obeyed my liege's orders. She is magnanimous, truly whole-hearted. She forgave me for my misdeeds and granted me the chance to live a proper life."

As I spoke, memories of my past flickered in my mind—my time as a servant of the Demon Lord, my betrayal, and the moment my goddess extended her hand to me.

The negotiator's eyes narrowed. "A true god… Forgiving a demon…" He trailed off, lost in thought, before meeting my gaze again. "Where are you from?"

My smile faded, replaced by irritation. "Do none of you know manners? I've been answering your questions up until now. Shouldn't you answer some of mine in return?"

The group exchanged glances once more, their expressions heavy with unspoken words. Finally, the negotiator spoke.

"The true gods… are dead."

His words struck me like a blade. Though I kept my expression neutral, a ripple of shock coursed through me.

"They died… after defeating the Demon Lord?" I asked hesitantly.

The man shook his head, a hint of sorrow creeping into his voice. "No. They managed only to seal him. In the end, all the true gods perished, and only we remained—lesser gods, following their final orders to watch over this world."

The weight of their grief was palpable. The others averted their gazes, their faces shadowed with sadness.

I shouldn't dwell on this topic any longer, I thought to myself, sensing the pain my questions had resurfaced.

The negotiator cleared his throat again, regaining his composure. "Who are you, and where exactly are you from?"

I straightened my posture, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. "I am not from this world," I said, my voice steady. "I am the apostle of the Goddess of Death."

The atmosphere shifted immediately. Their eyes widened in shock, and whispers filled the air.

"In my world," I continued, "the gods managed to kill the Demon Lord. But my goddess… she fell in the process. After her death, she, along with many of us, arrived in this world."

Suddenly, one of the lesser gods—a girl with a fiery temper—gripped my shoulder, her voice trembling. "You're saying… a true god is still alive?"

"Yes," I said simply, standing up to meet her gaze. "But I don't believe our beliefs align."

"What do you mean by that?" the negotiator asked, his tone sharp.

I sighed, turning to face them all. "You likely want her to take the seat as the sole goddess of this world, don't you? To rule over it as its divine protector."

The negotiator nodded, his expression expectant.

"But she doesn't want that," I said firmly. "She only wants to experience the life she was denied. The life of an ordinary being."

The fiery girl scoffed. "What kind of pathetic wish is that for a god?"

I chuckled softly, though there was no humor in the sound. "I thought the same at first. Until I understood her pain.

"She trained for eons, alone in the darkness, to become strong enough to face the Demon Lord. And when she was on the cusp of victory—when the fruits of her labor were finally within reach—she lost everything. Her world. Her people. Her family. Everything she cherished… gone in an instant."

The room fell silent. Even gods, it seemed, couldn't remain unmoved by such a story.

"That is why," I continued, my voice steady but heavy with meaning, "we don't want to burden her with any further responsibilities. I hope you can understand that."

I turned to leave, but the negotiator called out to me one last time. "Wait. What will you do now?"

I paused, glancing over my shoulder. "Whatever my goddess wishes. And right now, she wishes to live. That is all."

Without another word, I stepped out of the barrier, leaving the lesser gods to grapple with the weight of my revelation.