Chương 28: Chapter 27: Starting a New Kingdom

After the grueling battle, I observed as the rest of Equilibrium were taking care of the aftermath as they dealt with the humans and demons. Having an organization at a time like this was quite convenient. After just a day, the war was over, and after losing so many powerful leaders on both sides, the humans and demons left over could only surrender under the power of the rooks. I then spent the next few days recovering, as did the other four girls who helped me fight a goddess.

After we recovered, we held a meeting on our next course of action. I began the meeting by saying, "You all did amazing. Now that the war between humans and demons can never happen again as we are here, we have to resolve the leadership issue. We need to split some of our forces to administer both sides so that conflicts won't happen and the humans and demons can coexist." Lucy then asked, "Does that mean you want some of us to go to the demonic continent to take rulership and some to stay here to do the same?"

I replied, "Yes, that was what I was thinking. You can alternate leadership if you like, but I am quite bad at administering a kingdom myself, as I already had trouble with Equilibrium. Now that we have achieved the main goal, the organization can now be changed into a kingdom instead." Sophia replied, "Since we will be a kingdom now, will it be any different from before?" I answered, "Other than us changing what we are, not by much.

Though there is one thing: we can't exactly name our country Equilibrium now, can we?" Claire asked, "What's wrong with it?" I replied, "It just doesn't feel right. So do you all have any particular suggestions?" Himari replied, "How about the name Equality? Since we are trying to make humans and demons coexist." I had mixed feelings about the name, so I asked, "Does anyone else have a suggestion?" What I received was silence. It seemed nobody else could think of anything. With no other options, I could only agree.

I then announced, "Then from now on, our kingdom will be called Equality. It will be the combined kingdom of the humans and demons." I then moved on to a different topic: "Now for the rulers, since the land is so divided. Lucy, if you have no objections, you will rule the Demonic Continent. Sophia, you will rule over the human territory." Lucy and Sophia, seemingly unable to get out of their responsibilities, could only reply, "I will live up to your expectations."

With that, we discussed some other things before moving on to the final important topic. I then said in a worried tone, "Now that we have angered a goddess, we should prepare for her counterattack. I do not know how she will deal with us, but we need to be prepared. I will be going into training again to try to get stronger so the same helpless situation can't happen again. You all should do the same." The other girls agreed, and we dismissed the meeting.

As the Equilibrium organization was no longer needed, the members under the rooks have now transitioned to administrative work to help the rooks manage the kingdom. In this way, the rooks won't be overwhelmed by running an entire kingdom. Of course, they themselves have time to train too, as even though our organization has changed, we still have the same hierarchy to move up. So, if they ever need more help, they can just promote someone.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. With that settled, I left the management to the girls and went off to find Selen to continue learning swordsmanship. I also had some questions I needed to ask her regarding Trisha. As I went back to the temple of swordsmanship, some of the girls went to the Demonic Continent for restructuring.

When I arrived at the temple, I went to the statue, wondering if Selen was at the same place as when I first met her. My guess was correct, as on the platform there was a stone statue of Selen again. I then came in front of the statue and said, "I am back for more training. I also have a few questions I would like answered." The statue then started turning into flesh just like the first time, and before long, the statue turned into Selen again. Selen then asked, "What do you have to ask of me?"

I then asked my question: "What are the ways a god can descend, and are there limitations on descending?" Selen then asked, confused, "Why are you asking me this? Did something happen while you were gone?" I then explained, "I saw the goddess of justice, Trisha, descend into one of her followers. I, along with a few others, managed to hold her off long enough until she disappeared, leaving her host behind." Selen then asked astonished, "You faced a descended goddess and survived?" I replied, "We barely survived.

By the end of the battle, we were completely exhausted and unable to continue." Selen then answered, "You did something quite unexpected. Facing a goddess with your limited strength, even though she was suppressed by descending, makes it something worth bragging about." I then asked again, "So are there limitations, since I saw her not at her full power and for a limited time?"

Selen then explained, "The only way for a god to descend is to either possess one of her followers who consent for her to possess their body or lose their status as a god and become a fallen god like me. As for the first option, it is quite rare, as the host will instantly die after the possession ends." I was then curious about something else: "Then why was she suppressed, and why did she suddenly lose her ability to stay here longer?" Selen noted, "The reason is that divine power is rejected from the world.

If they use divine power, the world will attack back, so they have to limit their power to just below the level of a god. Though even though they limit their power, the world will quickly find out they are a god and eject them." Having explained all the questions that I was previously curious about, I was somewhat relieved. This means she can't come down personally to attack me. I then curiously asked, "Now that the goddess Trisha has a grudge against me, is it likely she will descend again?"

Selen clarified, "Now that she descended, she won't be able to do it again for a while. The world remembers her presence, and it will make sure to target her for a while, making it so she will be ejected the moment she tries. Instead, she is still allowed to communicate with her followers." I asked another question: "Are her followers strong? I remember you lost your godhood due to her." Selen warned, "Her followers are very strong compared to people in this world.

Her followers are not limited to humans, as she has followers everywhere. Most of her true followers gain her blessings and become her apostles, gaining significant strength." I pressed further, "Then how do these apostles compare to me?" Selen then thought about it and elaborated, "The weakest of her apostles are currently weaker than you. If we are talking about the average or above, they are still stronger than you currently are. As for how much, I can't say for sure."

I realized once again how weak I currently was. I was constantly on the defensive when facing a suppressed goddess and now am weaker than her apostles. I needed to get strong fast. I then wanted to know, "If I continue training with you, can I be a match for them?" Selen expressed confidently, "I am a former god, of course I can teach you to be above them, as you are my only student.

As Trisha is a higher-level god, she splits her blessings among several apostles, so you should be able to increase your strength to be able to match them." I then felt relieved, as I wasn't sure what I could do to be able to face these apostles who seemed so powerful. I quickly wanted to start training again so as not to be so passive as when I fought the goddess Trisha. I then requested, "Can we begin my training again? I am ready to get stronger." Selen replied, "I won't let you off as easily as last time.

Now that you are my student, I can't exactly let you die so easily. We shall train until you become stronger than an apostle of a god. So, prepare yourself mentally before we begin." I then firmly stated, "I am already ready. After tasting what real power was, I was already ready to suffer to start reaching that level of power. I can take whatever you throw my way and will meet your expectations." Selen, listening to my confidence, decided not to stop me from starting immediately.

She then took me to an open space to start my training again. After arriving, Selen said, "We shall restart your training, do not back down until I say you can." With that, my long period of suffering started as I trained with Selen.