This Isn't an E*otic Game?-Chapter 118: Ascension

“Saint, are you using protection when you're with my daughters?”

At the Empress's blunt question, I nearly performed the miracle of spewing the tea I was drinking through my nose.

Seeing me choking because the tea had gone down the wrong pipe, the Empress smiled sweetly.

“You are called Eleos of Grace. I’m looking forward to seeing when that grace will descend upon my daughters as well.”

Even though it was said like a joke, it carried a subtle weight.

I straightened my posture and looked the Emperor and Empress directly in the eyes.

“I apologize. It’s my responsibility to have married them properly, but... things somehow turned out this way...”

“I understand. Things have gotten complicated. With the Evil God and Hell openly targeting the human realm, it’s understandable that you don’t have the leisure to hold a wedding ceremony. But even afterward, once the situation is resolved, I hope you will love both my daughters equally.”

Why was it—

Those words sounded like—

You dirty bastard, you have tons of girlfriends and still didn’t even hold a wedding.

I understand because the situation’s messy, but if you add one more woman, I’ll seriously be pissed. Take care of my daughters properly, damn it.

...That's how it sounded. Like a threat.

“Of course, Your Majesty the Empress. Please don’t worry too much.”

I bowed my head repeatedly as I said that, while His Majesty the Emperor smiled gently and lightly caressed the Empress’s hand.

It looked like a gesture meaning, That’s enough for now, isn’t it?

“We are doing everything we can to find the two fallen divine beings. The Hero Order has mobilized all their priests and is scouring the entire Empire.”

I nodded at the Emperor’s words.

“I’m aware.”

“The Imperial Army and the public authorities in each region have also been fully mobilized for the search. If they are within the Empire’s borders, it shouldn’t be impossible to find them. The reason we called you today is to discuss what happens after that. Once we locate the two divine beings... What do you intend to do next?”

It was a question bound to come.

I thought it over for a moment before arriving at a single conclusion.

“Once you locate them, notify me immediately. I will go alone and bring them back.”

“Alone?”

“Saint, wouldn’t that be too dangerous? If we think about what you went through last time...”

Their concerned words naturally triggered memories of those horrific moments.

Burned by Satan’s demonic sword, crushed under the weight of the hideous, dreadful memories summoned by Belphegor and Leviathan—

Honestly, those were things I never wanted to experience again.

But precisely because of that, it would be better if I moved alone.

“Our opponents are divine beings. And they’re not just anyone — they’re the Demon Lord of Pride, who’s gone mad with rage after losing four demon lords, and the Evil God, who will undoubtedly come fully prepared. If anyone other than me moves with them, there's a high chance they’ll be corrupted.”

The countless 'collectibles' that the Demon Lord of Sloth had.

They were fallen beings — former heroes, saints, and holy maidens selected by the Pantheon three hundred years ago.

As Belia had said, I had an unusually strong resistance against corruption and temptation.

In the battles ahead, with Lucifer and the Evil God likely intervening personally, I couldn’t risk having others by my side.

“It will be safest if I go alone and retrieve them.”

In the end, it wasn’t much different from what I had been doing all along.

Pinpoint the divine being’s location, go alone, retrieve them, and return.

However, it wouldn't be exactly the same as before.

“What, then, should the Empire do? Please tell us. How can we support you?”

Now, after all, I was officially someone carrying the Empire’s full support on my back.

“Select elite battle priests and holy knights from each sect of the Pantheon. Also select elite units from the Imperial Army who can be deployed immediately. And keep them on standby, ready to move the moment they’re called.”

Having gone through the ordeal of rescuing Kanya and Belia, I had learned one thing clearly.

Fighting in the Spirit Realm—even if Lucifer and the Evil God joined forces—would not guarantee a one-hundred-percent victory.

The Pantheon had recovered three divine beings in a short time, while Lucifer had lost four demon lords.

Moreover, the Evil God had to suppress the ten divine beings imprisoned within him while fighting.

For those reasons, facing Asmodeus, who had devoured Mammon and was still growing by absorbing Lilia’s immense faith in real time, was bound to be overwhelming for them.

And the Pantheon, having recovered ten divine beings, wouldn’t just sit quietly, either.

Thus, from Lucifer’s and the Evil God’s point of view, fighting in the human realm offered them a better chance of victory.

The Pantheon was hindered from interfering in the human world because of Lucifer’s obstruction, and Asmodeus would be heavily restricted using her power in the human realm since she couldn’t risk hurting me.

So in the end?

“The Evil God and Lucifer are very likely to challenge me in the human realm. Which means... their followers will come to interfere. I won’t be able to handle them all by myself. The Empire’s elite forces must deal with them.”

“In simple terms, Saint, you will handle the Evil God and Lucifer, while the Empire handles their followers who act in the human realm. Is that correct?”

“Exactly. We must never stray from our assigned roles.”

It would be impossible for me to handle all of the followers blessed by the Evil God and Lucifer alone.

It had been the same with Kanya.

The Evil God and Lucifer would surely pull every trick they could to keep me from using Asmodeus’s powers properly.

In that state, trying to beat hundreds or even thousands of their followers was flat-out impossible.

Thus, the Empire would have to handle them.

At the same time, the Empire’s elites must not directly engage Lucifer and the Evil God.

Corruption, brainwashing, mental domination—

The fight would collapse before it even began.

“We can keep the Pantheon’s elite and the Imperial Army’s elite forces stationed near the capital. That part isn’t difficult. The problem is how to summon them at the right moment.”

At those words, I slowly focused my mind into my hand.

Not long after, with a metallic clink, pure white chains materialized in my grasp.

I showed them to the Emperor and Empress.

“If I open a portal with the Goddess of Life’s authority, it should work. This power could command even three demon lords—not exactly minor beings. I should be able to do it too.”

The Emperor and Empress exchanged a look and nodded as if they found the explanation reasonable.

“If you link the portal the way you did during the Battle of the Talahaime Rocky Mountains, you could summon troops instantly to any location. It’s not a bad strategy.”

I nodded and made the chains vanish.

“Of course, I’ll need practice. I’ll also need plenty of advice from the mages of the Magic Tower and the priests of the Pantheon. But it’s not an impossible strategy.”

At my words, both of them nodded.

“Don’t worry about gathering troops. We’ll assemble only the very best of the Empire’s finest and keep them on standby.”

That was His Majesty’s voice.

“The knights from the noble houses famed for their swordsmanship will also be standing by. With His Majesty’s command and my personal connections, it’s more than possible. Plus, the cause is one no one can refuse.”

That was Her Majesty’s voice.

Hearing the two of them speak, I felt a heavy stone lifting from my heart.

The days of carrying the burden alone without being able to tell anyone were over.

Now, the entire Empire was moving for my sake.

“I’ll take my leave now. I need to practice handling the powers granted to me.”

“Hurry, then. If you need anything, come to the Imperial Palace at any time. The Empire will provide whatever it can.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. A great weight has been lifted from my mind.”

As I bowed deeply, showing respect to the rulers of the Empire—

A polite knock came from the door of the reception room.

“Your Majesty, this is the Chamberlain.”

“Enter. What is it?”

The door opened carefully, and the Chamberlain stepped inside, smiling brightly as he looked at us.

“A report just came in from the Pantheon. The preparations for the Ascension Ritual have been completed.”

The Goddess of War, Belia.

The time had finally come for the woman who had endured three hundred years of suffering to once again take her seat on the throne of the heavens.

****

Not all twenty-four sects within the Pantheon were famous.

The Sun Sect.

The White Sect.

The Grace Sect.

The Prophecy Sect, and others.

While there were well-known sects like these, there were also minor sects so small that most people hardly even knew they existed.

And the War Sect was one of those minor sects.

A congregation composed entirely of women — a sisterhood.

A sect that trained in swordsmanship, martial arts, strategy, and tactics within their convent, rarely showing themselves except when hunting heretics or monsters.

Naturally, the War Sect had never been considered part of the mainstream.

But at this moment, they were the protagonists.

“[Lauur, my faithful follower. Follow and uphold my teachings. A great battle is coming soon, and I will need you.]”

As Kanya's divine words flowed from her lips, the High Priestess and Mother Superior of the War Sect — clad in crimson armor — knelt and kissed Kanya's instep.

“We will obey your will! Please, guide your servants from above!”

Because the War Sect was a minor sect, they didn’t have a temple building in the capital.

Thus, they had temporarily borrowed the Magic Tower Temple from the Grace Sect and erected the Ascension Altar there.

Naturally, the scene outside the Magic Tower Temple was beyond chaotic — a sea of humanity that the word "crowd" couldn’t even begin to describe.

Most had gathered in hopes of seeing the incarnated divine being with their own eyes.

The War Sect's armored and armed sisters were trying to control the masses, but it was far beyond their capacity, and the capital’s city guard soldiers had been mobilized as well.

“Goddess!! Please, speak to us!!”

“What should we do?!”

“Guide us! Tell us what we must do!!”

As always, whenever humans encountered a god,

They asked.

What should I do now?

How should I live?

The most important questions a human could ask.

Belia, receiving the flood of questions, remained silent and slowly—

Walked into the Magic Tower Temple.

Countless sisters of the War Sect followed her in formation.

The third floor of the Magic Tower Temple had been specially prepared for today — the walls were all enchanted with transparency magic so that the outside crowd could witness everything.

It was to allow everyone gathered outside to see the Goddess's Ascension directly with their own eyes.

Under the gaze of all, Belia stood at the center of the altar on the third floor.

“[...Begin. I wish to return.]”

At her words, the sisters began to slowly summon their divine power.

An enormous quantity of elixir was still pouring ceaselessly from beneath the Magic Tower Temple, fueling the magical circle installed under the altar.

The sisters' divine power was amplified dozens of times over, protecting both Kanya and the divine being within her — Belia.

And slowly—

The divine being residing inside Kanya’s body began to separate.

A crimson light, blazing like blood aflame.

Belia, radiating her signature divine power, gradually drifted away from Kanya’s body, and at a certain point—

Completely detached, breaking free into the open air.

Freed from the confines of human flesh, the divine being unleashed an indescribably overwhelming presence, revealing her true form to the human realm.

[My chosen one. My pitiful, beloved Kanya.]

A Goddess, immense enough to rival the entire Magic Tower Temple, slowly reached out toward Kanya, standing alone at the center of the altar.

A vivid, unmistakable crest — the mark of the Goddess of War — was etched onto the back of Kanya’s hand.

[I leave my stigmata upon you. Never forget that I will always be with you.]

At her words, Kanya quietly nodded.

“Return to where you belong, Goddess. I’ll be fine.”

It was the moment she parted from the friend who had been with her her entire life.

Wearing a complicated smile, Kanya let her go.

As the farewell ended, the sky split open and dazzling rays of light rained down upon the ground.

The vast presence of the Goddess slowly began to fade away.

“Goddess!! What must we do!!”

“Tell us what we must do! Tell us where we should go!!”

Finally, in response to the cries of the throng gathered in the square, the Goddess answered.

[Si vis pacem, para bellum.]

That was Belia's final message.

And with that, the enormous divine being completely concealed her presence from the world.