#1072 God of Karma

T-Time hath been stopped?!

How can Cronus wield such an ability?!

Is he not a filthy, uncouth god of agriculture?! ‘Tis absurd that he can employ a technique counted among the mightiest in battle!

“Didst thou think I idled whilst imprisoned in Tartarus? There exists a god who governeth time bearing the same name, and through that connection, I have mastered his powers.”

“Divine essences oft divide and unite swiftly, verily.”

Cease thy calm explanations, Hades!

Hrghhhh!

Yet, with the divine might of the Supreme God Zeus, should I not be able to shatter even time itself with ease?!

Nay, ‘tis futile. Since Cronus, who acteth upon me, is a supreme god greater than I, he can compel the stoppage of time through sheer force!

“How dost thou feel, Zeus? To have time halted at the very instant thou didst attempt to flee, rendering thy body motionless? ‘Tis akin to a man who can hold his breath but ten seconds, and at the precise moment he emergest, his ankle is seized, and he is dragged back underwater. How doth that feel?”

“Yet I feel no pity for the gent whatsoever.”

“Truly, truly.”

Grrraaah?!

Move! Move, my body!!!

Can it be that aught should not bend to the will of the Great God Zeusssssss?!

“Father, Father, this fellow hath yet to truly repent, doth he not?”

“Let us press him further. Considering all he hath done thus far, ‘tis far from sufficient!”

Grrraaah! Hades and Poseidonnnn!

Why dost thou behave like lackeys?!

Hast thou no pride as gods of the three realms?!

“Dost thou say such a thing?”

“Thou lackest not only pride but even propriety.”

Knavesssssss!

Wait, Cronus... nay, Father!

Though much hath transpired, thou and I art father and son.

Dost thou not find it sorrowful that kin of shared blood should quarrel so?

Moreover, thou wouldst not do something so cruel as to smite me unilaterally, wouldst thou?

A father to his beloved son!

Such an act would leave a lingering ill feeling, would it not?

“...Indeed, for a parent to smite a child is abuse. ‘Tis an act deserving of censure. It would leave a bitter aftertaste and surely pain the heart.”

Verily, verily!

Henceforth, I too shall respect thee as mine own father, so let us be amicable!

Since I could not do so in my youth, I desire now to rely much upon thee, Father.

“Albeit unwillingly, I, Hades, and the others art thy kin. Being of the same blood, we might temper thy judgment, and such must not be. Thus, we have, on this occasion, summoned a god entirely unrelated to thee.”

What?

An unrelated god?

“To condemn thee. This god hath naught to do with thee. No blood ties. He doth not even belong in this realm. That he may judge thee impartially, with neither surplus nor lack.”

And then there appears...

What is this?

A male god in attire wholly unlike that of this world?

“Lord Sugawara no Michizane. A god from another world. Through certain circumstances, he hath become a close friend of late.”

“By growing close to Lord Cronus, I have, as a matter of course, become familiar with the divine affairs of this world.”

The unfamiliar male god spake with a composed visage.

That serene demeanor vexes me. Well, truth be told, the mere existence of men mostly irks me.

“In this world where none have mastered scholarship and do but as they desire, thus it is in chaos. The root of this evil... I have long wished to address the chief god Zeus.”

“We beseech thee, Lord Michizane! Teach this fool what it is to live justly and with wisdom!!!”

Oh?

The binding of the time stop is lifted!

I can move freely!!!

Given such, I cannot tarry here another moment! The Supreme God Zeus is not so dull-witted as to stand idle knowing he is at a disadvantage!

Farewell, old man!

If fate permits, let us meet again somewhere!

“Thou shalt not escape, fool!”

Aaagh!

A barrier?! I am imprisoned?!

I cannot flee!

“It is a barrier woven jointly by the god of the underworld, the sea god, and Father Cronus. Even Zeus cannot so easily breach it.”

“However, shouldst thou manage to handle Lord Sugawara no Michizane yonder, we shall not mind lifting the barrier. So, what wilt thou do? Even with all this prepared, wilt thou still tuck tail and flee, O King of the Gods?”

Using provocative speech against me?!

Very well, I need only thrash that strange male god, is that not so?

Whichever god he may be, ‘tis clear he is a feeble one. Did he think he could vanquish me, Zeus, King of Olympus and Supreme God?!

I shall show him the disparity in our ranks!

...

...By the by, what position doth he hold in his own realm?

“I am classified among the celestial and terrestrial deities as a Goryou-shin. One who was once human but ascended to godhood by virtue of deeds in life.”

Whaaaat?!

A former human?!

Such is the lowest among gods, pupupu!

Perhaps Cronus hath grown senile during his imprisonment in Tartarus, to send such a lowly god against me?

“Zeus doth utterly scorn gods who wert once human. Yet in our world, there art deities of such lineage.”

“Like Hercules, perhaps. He might even surpass Zeus in renown, so why dost thou scorn that entire line?”

Silence, Hades and Poseidon!

Ye who send such a feeble god against me—have ye forgotten the might of the Supreme God Zeus during our brief estrangement?!

Then I shall forthwith remind thee with a demonstration!

Receive now mine own ultimate Chief Deity’s Thunder Punch!!!

“Scholarship Punch!!!”

Gwah-bwah?!

“Scholarship Kick!!!”

Ungh-guh?!

“Scholarship Iron Claw!!!”

Gu-gi-gi-gi-gi-gi-gi!!!

Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch?!

“Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship! Scholarship!!!”

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

“How dost thou fare? This is the power of scholarship.”

I think that is certainly not so!

Though I, Zeus, am but poorly learned as an Olympian god, I know that this is not the power of scholarship!

But what manner of thing is this?!

How is it that I, Chief Deity Zeus, am being overwhelmed by such a lowly god, once human?!

I am the chief deity!

The strongest and greatest among all the gods of this world!

The one who stands atop all!!!

And yet, why am I being overpowered by such a lowly god from some unknown, outlandish realm?!

“Indeed, there art many gods of higher rank than I. Among the myriad of gods, I would be considered lowly. Yet, in our land, there is a saying... something called ‘Protagonist Attribute.’“

‘Protagonist Attribute’?!

“When the righteous battle the wicked, they art accompanied by strength beyond their might, and seize victories thought impossible. I, Sugawara no Michizane, am the foremost in this. Defamed by political foes, falsely accused, I departed the mortal world in defeat, but returned as a vengeful spirit, and dealt justice upon those who wronged me! Truly, a miracle!!!”

Doth this mean that this god still possesseth that miraculous power even now?

Therefore, he can effortlessly overpower even me, a chief deity?

“O Celestial God Zeus. Thy actions art most unseemly and stray from the path. The divinity of promoting good and punishing evil that dwells within me imbues this body with infinite power. Before that power, the rank of gods matters not. The scoundrels to be chastised art oft those who wield power beyond their measure!!!”

This is dire.

I perceive at once that this is dire.

This god is unlike any attribute of deity I know.

Could such a chaotic god exist beyond this world, in some other realm?!

Is that world faring alright?!

Nay, perhaps ‘tis because they harbor such a nonsensical god that the world itself is chaotic and absurd?!

“Then, since the occasion arises, I shall show thee the pinnacle of promoting good and punishing evil by Sugawara no Michizane. I, who cursed and slew all my political foes in Heian-kyo. I shall reveal unto thee my terrifying form as a vengeful spirit.”

Hmm?

Sugawara no Michizane—when did the design of the belt girding his waist become so strangely modern, clashing with his overall ensemble?

A sound came from the belt.

—Final Form Michizane!!!

With that utterance, Michizane’s form swiftly transforms into a terrifying demon god.

His entire skin gleams black like iron, his hair ablaze, and from every part of his body lightning bursts forth, emitting an ominous radiance.

“...The Great Majesty of Tenjin. Know firsthand the terrifying visage of the Great Spirit that shook the capital.”

==========

title was a little tricky to translate this time. literally it goes like, "the god who governs "serves you right,"" so feel free to take it as you will