WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 650: There Is a Traitor Among Us

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A Demon God is an innate arcane that first touched upon the laws of the world.

A great law, unexplained and steeped only in mystery, lay still like a monster in a closet. The moment it was observed as an innate arcane, it took shape and revealed itself to the world. Each time that happened, the world grew a little more mature.

Earth arts, druidism, alchemy, and even bloodcraft, though it was different in kind. Regardless of a Demon God's life, death, or will, other humans could use them too. If, after long training and study, someone understood and accepted even a speck of a Demon God, they earned the right to wield part of that vast innate arcane.

Sharing power with those who believed.

That was why it was called a god.

"A god is something many humans believe in, share, and create! Since it grants tangible power, it naturally enters the realm of faith. Conditions? There aren't any. As long as you believe and follow, a Demon God hands out power like a nouveau riche!"

Humans sought objects of faith for peace of mind and well-being without receiving anything in return. If they were given actual power instead? Even setting faith aside and calculating gains and losses, believing was the better deal.

A Demon God was still a god, so it would not give power to some vulgar person who approached without effort or faith.

"Druidism merged with existing totemism and animism to become a new faith, while earth arts began with statues of the Earth Mother and made its followers stronger from the start. Alchemy spread as an academic discipline. The laws discovered by Demon Gods grant power to countless humans. Simply because they were born into the same species as a Demon God, lowly creatures called humans gained the power that had defined the world!"

The Red Tower Master shouted passionately.

"Still, even humans can't hold more than one belief. A Demon God begins as an innate arcane, and the will to resemble such a Demon God also approaches the realm of innate arcane. Just as one person can't have two innate arcanes, faith doesn't split in two either. That is, for ordinary humans!"

After declaring that boldly, the Red Tower Master slapped my back a few times. It did not hurt much, but, well, for someone as passive and reluctant to stand out as me, it was a somewhat burdensome touch.

"The King of Humanity can handle every power humanity possesses! Demon Gods are no exception! In other words, the King of Humanity can wield the powers of different Demon Gods at the same time!"

I put on a relaxed smile to match the Red Tower Master's introduction. I was not relaxed at all inside.

Shei was the only one who knew I used multiple Demon Gods, and even she had not attached much meaning to it. She only vaguely remembered that I had something like that. She had not thought deeply about it.

There was no use denying it, was there? I had already used Demon Gods often, and I would only need to use them more in the future. It was time to alter my strategy a little.

The Temple of the Demon God's goal was the World Rule, a vast rule that would weave together Demon Gods and cover the world. Lord Johannes understood my value.

"What's the point of explaining it? I'll show you."

Once your cards had been exposed, it was foolish to clutch them protectively to your chest. Better to hide a few unrevealed cards up your sleeve and lay the rest out.

I took out a card. Spade 10. I placed the idol engraved with the Earth Mother's Demon God on the stone table. When I pressed it lightly with a finger, the card weighed down the granite tabletop.

Someone exclaimed.

"Earth arts!"

Roots sprouted from Spade 9 laid beside it and burrowed into the rock. Next to a stalk bearing all kinds of fruit, I set down Spade 8 and rubbed it lightly. The iron card multiplied into dozens.

"Druidism and alchemy too? Then the rest..."

"That's all I can use right now."

Then I withdrew my hand. I had shown enough. There was more, but I could not reveal that so easily.

"As the Red Tower Master said, the King of Humanity can use humanity's powers. Demon Gods are no exception. Earth arts, druidism, and alchemy are all widely known human powers, and I can use them as well. But..."

I added a small lie to the truth.

"Honestly, even if I handle them skillfully, these powers aren't all that rare, are they?"

That was true enough.

Druidism might be rare, but it was like an old manuscript. It had historical and academic value, but druidism itself was not especially useful or impressive.

Earth arts were the same. It was highly regarded because it was the divine power of an old religion called the Church of the Earth Mother, but what could anyone do these days by playing with dirt? Look at Jiseon, who held a position in the Church of the Earth Mother comparable to a Holy Maiden. Unlike a Holy Maiden, she participated in every sort of civil engineering project.

Alchemy? Many alchemists had become absorbed in its usefulness and precision, and alchemical currency, an all-purpose substance, was widespread as well. Alchemical currency was wealth containing the essence of alchemy itself. Even ordinary people could use it to create material changes similar to alchemy.

For the power of a Demon God, none of it was particularly rare.

"I am the King of Humanity. I can only use powers that are widespread among humanity."

That might be true for Big Sister.

I was the King of Humanity, but I was still an individual, so I could use the Demon Gods I had personally obtained. That was personal property, though.

Public matters were public, and private matters were private. It was my principle not to disclose assets I had privately tucked away. That way, I could use them as I pleased.

"I can't use Demon Gods that have not been revealed to the world, or Demon Gods Lord Demon King has hidden. They have not been revealed to everyone."

"...It is certainly surprising. But doesn't that make it rather useless?"

"It's still far better than you, standing there and doing nothing but complaining, 'Hmm, that's a bit...'"

Oops. I had insulted them without thinking. They irritated me, that was all.

Lord Johannes frowned.

"What did you say?"

"I think the same! Johan, getting old might make your speech stiff, but you mustn't let your brain get stiff too!"

The Red Tower Master casually spat out that verbal abuse, then picked up one of my Spade cards spread across the table. Whoosh. The card was engulfed in flames and began burning on its own.

"This card is alchemical steel. Hughes transmuted granite into alchemical steel without chanting or a magic circle. Its purity is low, so he can't perform high-cost alchemy, but he still did it. Do you know what that means?"

"...Does it have any other meaning? Does it not simply mean that he is a versatile being, capable only of what everyone else can do?"

Lord Johannes demonstrated the insight expected of a mage on the Crystal Tower's tenth floor. Their accurate guess made me flinch inwardly, and I furrowed my brow as if I were angry.

Then Lankart, who had been anxiously watching my expression, stepped forward in outrage on my behalf.

"How dare a right-hander fail to recognize Hui's true worth! Apologize at once!"

Thank you. You're the only one I have. You do have your uses after all.

"Johan is not entirely wrong. In the current situation, anyway. But we need to focus on the possibility."

"If you mean possibility..."

‘That must mean his ability will be needed for what is to come. To interpret Demon Gods that have not yet been revealed, but soon will be... or that the Temple of the Demon God will forcibly expose!’

Oh? That was an awfully sharp observation for someone who had done nothing but stupidly ask questions. The insight expected of a tenth-floor Lord, after all.

Then why had they objected to every single thing until now? Hmm.

The suspicions billowing within me belonged to me alone. These arrogant mages seemed to have forgotten how to be suspicious because too many things in the world had gone their way.

The Temple of the Demon God was a secret society, but it still targeted mages from the floating castle. Anyone could join if they showed will and ability, and the Red Tower Master was casual enough to accept outsiders like Lankart and Shei as members.

Yet for something so loose, its influence was far too great. The Temple of the Demon God's members were powerful and unconventional, with magic and knowledge that could captivate other mages.

"We still don't know what form the Demon God takes. We only know it is related to space, while Lord Demon King monopolizes its true nature! But if the Demon God Lord Demon King has kept tightly hidden within the Tower of Babel is revealed, Hughes will comprehend it!"

‘Now Hwaran and the Temple of the Demon God will target Babel! Even if they have to use force! I need to report this quickly!’

Anyone would think of planting a spy in the Temple of the Demon God, of course.

Lord Johannes's heartbeat quickened, and sweat dampened their clenched hand. Despite that, they maintained an expressionless face that did not suit a mage.

"That is one way to see it. I understand, Red Tower Master. If Demon Gods influence all humanity, then the King of Humanity must also be greatly affected by Demon Gods. In that case, with the King of Humanity's help, we can understand Demon Gods more accurately."

"Johan may be slow to learn because they are old, but they are good at summarizing. That's right."

Even then, the Red Tower Master's honesty reached the level of rudeness. Lord Johannes might have bristled, but they had no time for that now and hurriedly rose from their seat.

"...That seems to be the case. Perhaps my mind has not escaped the passage of time either. I was called out in a hurry and am tired, so I will leave first. I must finish my preparations in advance as well."

"Hmm."

Lord Johannes hurried toward one of the fireplaces. Before a fireplace that seemed unused for a long time, without even a spark or speck of ash, they chanted a flame spell.

Strangely colored flames flickered, revealing another space beyond the fireplace. It was too hazy to see clearly, but I could make out a transparent blue light. On the other side was likely Lord Johannes's private laboratory on the Crystal Tower's tenth floor.

Rene's attic.

Lord Johannes left the Temple of the Demon God's secret meeting place, Rene's extradimensional space with multiple entrances, by passing through a single fireplace.

Footnotes:

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