Chapter 527 (1) - The Academys Weapon Replicator |
“If only we could discard it.”
The one who broke the long silence.
“That’s what I want.”
It was Zodiac Ludwig.
Ludwig Urfa’s face was still haggard. He hadn’t touched alcohol today, but his body was screaming from the relentless drinking he’d subjected it to over the past few days.
He looked at the Emperor with bloodshot eyes.
“But it’s an incredibly difficult thing to do. They won’t leave us.”
“...You mean even if the Zodiacs wanted to abandon their Divine Power, it wouldn’t be so simple?”
“Those who possess Divine Power, they perceive it as their own talent. Can those gifted in cooking or mathematics simply discard their talents? They may stop cooking or practicing mathematics, but they can’t just erase their inherent abilities.”
And there was a strange dissonance in Ludwig’s words.
“But Aster Evans abandoned his Divine Power, didn’t he?”
Philly tilted her head, prompting Ludwig to lower his gaze as if in contemplation. The other Zodiacs also seemed to be lost in their thoughts at the question.
“If I may speak freely, as a student of Constel,”
Osprey spoke up.
“Aster didn’t abandon his Divine Power. It was the God who wished to abandon him.”
“He didn’t abandon it, he was abandoned?”
“We don’t know the exact details, but Aster claimed that Baldur ‘left’ him. He never once said that he abandoned Baldur.”
A God abandoning Aster of its own volition.
If that were true, then others would have to experience the same to lose their Divine Power.
“There’s another person who lost their Divine Power.”
Osprey continued.
“Edwin von Verhertio. He lost his Divine Power as well.”
“...Ah, Hephaestus.”
Ludwig muttered, as if recalling a distant memory. The Golem incident was contained within Constel, but the news of Edwin losing his Divine Power spread quite widely. At the time, many saw it as a sign of the fallen Verhertio family’s complete demise.
“After losing his Divine Power, Edwin actually grew even stronger. He displayed exceptional talent in crafting and security, becoming an indispensable asset not just to Verhertio, but to the entire field of Magic Engineering.”
The current Edwin was showcasing abilities surpassing even those from the time he revived his family in the game. Of course, he struggled immediately after losing his Divine Power, but that period didn't last long.
Osprey continued.
“Aster and Edwin share a commonality.”
“...They both lost their Divine Power and became stronger because of it.”
Monty, who had been listening intently, responded, and Osprey nodded.
“And one more thing.”
“One more thing?”
When Monty asked back, it was Ludwig who answered.
“...They don’t believe in Gods.”
“!”
The atmosphere grew heavier. Ludwig’s simple words pressed down on the hearts of everyone present.
Philly paused for a moment, then spoke as if the thought had just occurred to her.
“To abandon Divine Power, one must first abandon their faith in Gods. No God would bestow power upon a human who doesn't believe in them. It makes sense.”
Philly’s voice was calm, which made it all the more chilling.
To not believe in Gods. A simple task for those on Frondier’s side, but a significant hurdle for the others. From a certain perspective, it could be considered an even bigger problem than losing Divine Power itself.
In the end, no Zodiac stepped forward to declare their intention to relinquish their Divine Power during the meeting.
They still needed time.
* * *
“My apologies, Azier.”
After the meeting, it was Osprey who approached Azier.
“About what?”
“I know it was necessary for the flow of the meeting, but I didn’t expect you to say such a thing. It must have been difficult.”
Azier had said it.
That Frondier was a devil.
It was meant to prevent unnecessary digressions, but Osprey couldn’t fathom what Azier truly felt when he uttered those words.
“It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
Azier shook his head.
“If I were Frondier, I would have done the same.”
“You trust your brother.”
“It’s not about trust.”
A small smile graced Azier’s lips.
“It’s simply what I have to do.”
Osprey was more taken aback by Azier’s smile than the words themselves. The expressions of the Roach family always surprised him, but this particular smile from Azier was in a league of its own.
It was a warm smile. Osprey felt it instantly.
“So, what are your thoughts on the Divine Power?”
“I don’t possess it, so I can’t say for sure. There’s not much I can offer.”
Azier didn’t have Divine Power. In fact, neither did Osprey.
It was difficult for them to truly grasp the implications of the Zodiacs “abandoning their Divine Power.” Their understanding was merely superficial.
“But as Zodiac Ludwig said, if it’s perceived as a form of ‘talent,’ then even if it were possible to discard, it wouldn’t be easy.”
“Indeed. Even if they consider it an uncontrollable power, they achieved their current positions because of it. They won’t simply accept being told to abandon it.”
And they never even considered the possibility of it being uncontrollable in the first place.
The Zodiacs were afraid. Afraid of losing their positions, afraid of their worth being reduced to nothing more than their Divine Power.
“Azier, hypothetically speaking,”
Osprey lowered his voice slightly.
“What if the Zodiacs refuse?”
“Refuse to relinquish their Divine Power?”
“Yes. It’s a very real possibility. They might even split into factions due to conflicting opinions.”
A brief pause followed as Azier pondered the question.
“Whatever the Zodiacs choose, I won’t do anything.”
“You won’t do anything?”
“The choice is theirs to make.”
The Zodiacs had remained loyal to the Empire, playing a crucial role in the war.
Even if it was due to the influence of their Divine Power, there was no denying that they had put their lives on the line.
“But if their decision endangers the Empire and its citizens, then I will step in to stop it.”
“As a pro.”
“Yes. As a pro.”
Unlike Frondier, Azier had no intention of taking the initiative. He would simply fulfill his role. He was a pro, and he had a job to do. There was no need to overstep his boundaries.
Osprey chuckled at his words.
“In that case, if I were to send you a request to prevent the Zodiacs from splitting up, you’d accept it?”
“...That seems a bit beyond the scope of what a pro can handle…”
Azier hesitated, furrowing his brow slightly, but then,
“Very well.”
He gave a clear answer.