#1255 Back to the Topic at Hand 

“Since Zeus is gone, we no longer need the sealed space, do we? Shall we dismantle it?” 
“But is not Athena sealed within as well? That prison yet remaineth necessary to hold her fast.” 
“But it seems Athena too hath been swallowed by the Outer God.” 
“Huh? Is that so?” 
“Aye, I saw only her hindquarters sticketh out from the Outer God’s skin.” 
“Well then, let it be.” 

While the gods debate, the mortals who were here from the start can only stand frozen in shock. 

Well, yeah. If you suddenly get front-row seats to a divine war, what else can you do but gawk? 

“What... what just happened?!” 
“To think we’d see the gods themselves clash before our very eyes...” 
“This must be written down... passed to our children, and their children after them...” 

Originally, these feudal lords gathered here just for a good old-fashioned land dispute over a new railway line. Never in their lives did they expect to get dragged into a holy war. 
Who wouldn’t be dumbstruck after witnessing a clash of the heavens? 

... 
Right. 
The whole point of today was deciding the new route!!! 

The new line of the otherworldly railroad! 

Except so many outrageous things happened back-to-back that everyone completely forgot about the original agenda! 

Let me sort this out in order. 

Everyone was tense and prickly, ready to bare their fangs at each other—that was all Zeus’s fault, wasn’t it? 

His aura, some kind of mental corruption(?), twisted people’s hearts, made them forget reason and despise one another without even realizing it. 

If it had gone on, war could have actually broken out. 
After all that hard work to secure peace, too. 

The more I think about it, the more of a bastard he was.  
He should’ve stayed sealed forever. 

“Now hath he reaped a fate most bitter, a just reward for his own deeds...” 
“Even gods who act with selfish whim shall find retribution awaits. A lesson we ourselves must take to heart.” 

So murmur Hades and Poseidon, sounding as if they’re repenting. 

The gods can reflect on their own mistakes. We humans need to get back to our own business. 

“Gentlemen, it seems an uninvited troublemaker meddled in our talks today. Thanks to the gods, that meddler has been removed.” 

Now we can finally start fresh with a clear conscience. 
That’s right. Start with a proper discussion. 

Let’s hear everyone’s opinions... 

“True, if the line doesn’t pass through our lands, we’ll lose some profit...” 
“But the kingdom as a whole will grow more prosperous either way. That benefits us all.” 
“Exactly! We can’t just think of what we alone gain!” 
“Then what if we create a compensation policy for the regions excluded? That way, any sense of unfairness is kept to a minimum!” 
“Yes! Even if a neighboring domain gets the station, there’s still profit to be made!” 
“Helping each other is what matters most!” 

Yes! Yes, that’s what I wanted to hear!!! 

Without Zeus’ interference, humans can work together in peace!  
This proves it! 

Humanity isn’t foolish after all! 
Viva humanity! 
Khorosho humanity! 
Unbelievable humanity!!! 

“O mortal children, thou art truly wise and noble beings.” 
“As thy watchers, we could not be prouder!” 

The gods look satisfied as they watch. 
By chance, peace is reaffirmed here today before divine witnesses. 
A historic moment. 

“All thanks to Lord Saint here!” 

Eh?  
Me? 

“Your gallant figure as you cornered the Evil God! Truly moving!!!” 
“To see with our own eyes the fabled power of Lord Saint who rules the world is a blessing beyond words!” 
“Even the dragons obey him, they said, and indeed it was no lie!” 
“With such a man guarding the world, we may rest secure!” 
“We shall write this day into history, that our descendants may know it!” 

Wait, why is everyone’s favorability toward me skyrocketing?! 

I mean sure, I admit I acted a bit childish today. Honestly, it was a total brute-force gorilla play, shoving my way through without elegance. 

Maybe I was also influenced a little by Zeus’ mental corruption. 
Normally, I’m all about peaceful resolutions. This isn’t the kind of behavior I’d want kids to see. 

Good thing I didn’t bring them along. 

I should at least try to salvage my image and sound a bit more philosophical here. 

“Everyone... nothing comes from conflict. Peace... that alone is the masterpiece.” 

And no, that wasn’t a pun between ‘peace’ and ‘piece.’ 

Still, what a cringe line.  
If I heard someone spout this in real life, I’d never trust them. 

“Let’s protect this peace together. We endured trials to achieve it. Now we must pass it on to the next generation.” 

And to do that, let’s build this new line between the Royal Capital and the Demon Capital. 
Sticking true to our original intent, let’s move forward. 

Yeah! 

“YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” 

The same roar as before, but this time, I pray it comes not from bloodlust, but from reason and hope. 

“Yeah! Lord Saint is right!” 
“We endured tyranny and war, and at last found peace. Shall we squander it so easily?!” 
“No, we must make this peace unshakable!” 

One after another, the feudal lords speak up, their voices uniting. 

And at last, they begin a constructive discussion. 

*** 

About an hour passes... 

And everything is decided. 
The new line won’t be perfectly straight—geography makes that impossible—but it’ll still link the Royal Capital and the Demon Capital by the shortest route feasible. 

For the feudal lords left out, they’ve negotiated with their competitors and arranged compensations: 

– Priority access to the goods brought in by the rail. 
– Joint ventures in new industries. 
– Public works funded from the increased profits. 

Hopefully that’ll ease their sense of unfairness... 

At any rate, the new line can now break ground.  
A step forward toward a better world. 

“Verily! Most splendid!” 
“Mankind doth carve the path of progress with their own hands! Truly wondrous!” 

The gods are still here? 
Shouldn’t they have gone home by now? Their business is done, isn’t it? 

“Nay, nay, we must remain until the end is seen.” 
“Forsooth, this concerneth the land’s guardian deity.” 

? 
What do they mean? 
This is just farmland by the Farm Kingdom's station, isn’t it? 

So... who’s going to guard it? 

“None as yet. That decision lieth still ahead.” 
“Aye, that we must settle anon.” 

Is that so?  
Well, having a guardian deity here would certainly be useful, but... 

“Therefore! We hastened hither in this hour of peril!” 
“Say, Saint! Didst thou not find our aid against the Evil God most worthy? From among us, thou may choose thy land’s guardian! Let thine own lips decree it!” 

...Huh? 

“I was first to arrive! Shouldst thou choose me, I shall guard thy land day and night, flying to thy aid within the hour of trouble!” 
“Nay, what of my own deeds? Did I not smite Zeus most mightily? Surely that show of strength did earn thy favor!” 
“Fie, fie! Was it not mine own strike that didst wound him deepest?! By rights, I should be named...!” 

And now the gods are squabbling like children. 
Just when the humans finally settled things peacefully, here comes another mess... 

So that’s why the gods have been quiet lately? Because they were fighting over the right to be the Farm Kingdom's guardian deity?! 

Mankind made its decision cleanly. But the gods... the gods are still embarrassing.