"What caused the war, and under what conditions will it end?"
Think, still caught in the 'breast-stepping' situation at just the right intensity, froze mid-action.
She had assumed that even if Arthur wasn't an Old Deus but merely human, he would belong to some powerful and mysterious force and naturally know this information. So when he asked the question, Think hesitated for a few seconds, then her eyes flickered as if she were already forming her own conclusions.
Looking at Arthur's wild expression and the sudden chill in the air for no reason, she realized that if her plan succeeded, her own end might be miserable. Perhaps being forced to repeat the same—or even more extreme—behavior every day would be nothing short of torture.
Without reason or necessity, an unhappy Arthur suddenly increased his strength, eliciting a "wow" from Think, before she finally calmed down.
"The cause of the war—" Think glanced briefly at Jibril and Schwi.
This was no secret among the top brass of the factions.
As a special individual of the Flügel species, Jibril, the most exceptional among them, would know the truth.
And the Ex-Machinas shared all knowledge and information—Schwi included. Lying here would be pointless; the truth would be detected immediately.
"Except for a few powerless, chaotic, or special-situation races, the fifteen races all support their respective creators, vying for ultimate victory in the war. The prize for victory is something called the Star Cup—or perhaps the throne of the One God."
[Star Cup]?
The One God?
Arthur and Riku exchanged frowns—simultaneously.
At that moment:
[Task Trigger]
[The Power of the Stars]
Request: Whether by fate or chance, you appear to have an inextricable bond with the 'Big Cup.' Now that you've been transported to this world, you must seize the Star Cup and claim absolute power over the planet.
Reward: Equipment/Talent – God-Slayer (modified according to host's characteristics)
Arthur's expression froze.
The system's mission made it clear: winning the Star Cup would grant instantaneous control over the entire planet.
And most importantly… "usurpation"?
In other words, if the name isn't correct, the words cannot flow.
Unnoticed by Arthur, Think continued to explain.
"The Star Grail is a conceptual weapon jointly created by the Old Deus. It possesses absolute authority to alter the laws of the world. Whoever wields the Star Grail holds the planet in their hands. However, it remains merely a concept; otherwise, there wouldn't be a war. It has not yet been forged, because a crucial step is missing."
"Just for something like that, you drag everyone into a war and destroy the world?" Riku covered his chest, speaking coldly.
Remaining calm was rare indeed. Humanity's very survival to this point was already a miracle, reflecting the struggles and tragedies endured by our ancestors. Yet these self-proclaimed Old Deus ignored all that, willing to shatter the planet for the sake of power.
Any living being has the right to be angry at the Old Deus.
"Gu, I understand you. Starting a war for the Star Grail is inherently boring—but for the Old Deus, it is not. As I said, the Star Grail grants absolute authority. It cannot resurrect the dead, but it can transform a planet's environment instantly," Think explained helplessly.
In other words, for the Old Gods who could create, wiping out life on a planet was trivial. Even if the environment became uninhabitable, possessing the Star Grail allowed them to instantly restore the most ideal ecology. Nothing was ever lost, nothing mattered.
This is not treating life as life.
After all, creation is within their power, so their indifference is understandable.
"I seem to understand why you could kill the elves without hesitation," Arthur sighed.
He took life seriously.
If those Old Gods dared such reckless actions in Britain, Arthur could only imagine his own wrath—and the regret they would face.
"Eh! Master?" Think was momentarily startled, then her expression shifted. "Then next time… can you continue to reward me? Today… once isn't enough!"
Arthur remained silent, slowly withdrawing his foot, though Think clung tightly.
To be honest, if Arthur didn't want to continue, he would have stomped this perverted elf to death immediately.
"Huh? You killed your creator just for that?! You're a forest bastard, completely ungrateful! No matter what your purpose, the Creator gave life to creatures! And you, an elf, make me sick!" Jibril shouted.
"Oh, I almost forgot, there's a little Flügel captive here~."
Think's expression immediately changed. In a comical pose as if being stepped on by Arthur, she mocked the young Flügel girl. "That's right, you frivolous Flügel, whose minds are filled with slaughter and nonsense! You ignore your creator's purpose, sell yourselves, and wag your tails while handing the money to your master. I'm talking about you Flügel, right?"
"What?! Stop joking, Artosh-sama is different! He is far more powerful than that forest god! Humph!" Jibril blushed.
Artosh, the God of War, creator of the Flügel.
Yet Jibril had only described Artosh's strength, not his character.
Not wanting to waste time, Arthur winked at Merlin, who chuckled and silenced the little girl with a quick magic trick.
"Okay, leave her alone and continue explaining."
"No problem, Master." Think paused. "The key to manifesting the Star Grail is the strongest energy. Only the strongest will be recognized, and the Star Grail will be completed. All Old Deus believe themselves to be the strongest, but there are multiple contenders. Defeat the others, and the Star Grail will naturally manifest."
"What kind of logic is this?" Arthur's mouth twitched. "Isn't the strongest a fact or concept? If you're already the strongest, why do you need to prove it?"
-End Chapter-
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