#860 The Three Realm Deities Descend

The magic Sensei used was the ever-familiar summoning magic.

It’s a spell to call forth spirits and mythical beasts to aid oneself, but when Sensei uses it, it’s on a whole different level.

He could even summon beings far more exalted than spirits or mythical beasts.

And what might that be?

Yes, gods.

Sensei could summon gods if he so desired.

Something that high-ranking undead like the Professor and the Sage couldn’t even dream of doing.

He often mischievously summoned gods, sometimes causing quite a stir, though...

Who emerged from the distorted dimensions this time, in front of a large human audience, of all places...?

Hades, the god of the underworld.

Poseidon, the god of the sea.

Apollo, the god of the sun.

A total of three of them. 

Each of them is a top-tier deity of the earth, the sea, and the heavens. 

Well, one of them isn’t exactly at the top-top, but yeah.

“All creatures upon this terrestrial sphere art my progeny... even if they art but lances hurled by Zeus in his quest for dominion.”

“That lousy deity perpetually engages in trifles unworthy of note. As the sovereign of the seas, even I find it arduous to endure his follies.”

“As a celestial god, it is indeed a cause for dismay... akin to the ignominy of depleting one’s life force in a video game.”

Hades stood as a mighty guardian of the land, Poseidon as a profound ruler of the deep seas, and the young god Apollo shone brilliantly as the sun deity, each embodying the grandeur befitting a god.

The convergence of these three realm deities. Could anyone imagine the shock of those witnessing it? 

Perhaps even more shocking than being physically struck.

Some knelt in prayer, while others, overwhelmed by emotion, fainted on the spot.

To the people of this world, gods are entities of such immense significance.

It makes sense in a world not yet fully modernized.

“But why have three gods assembled here?”

Just being summoned caused such an uproar; one would prefer not to have such impromptu divine visits, right?

“Saint, thy deeds warrant our solemn testimony. Thus, we have descended from our divine abode to the realm of mortals.”

“Wha-”

"Thou hast long been under our watchful care; thus, what hindrance could there be in us taking some burden off thee? Let us, the gods, lead the way in acknowledging thy sanctity."

The three gods, standing together, speak in unison:

“In the name of the god of the earth, I recognize this soul as a saint.”

“In the name of the god of the sea, I recognize this soul as a saint.”

“And I, in the name of the god of the heavens, recognize this soul as a saint.”

The gods’ words didn’t just stop there. Something glittering and shining descended, swirling around me before vanishing as if it took residence within me.

Is this a belated yet undeniable proof that I’m a saint?

“Well, thou hast accomplished various great deeds without our acknowledgment, and for that alone, thy sainthood is a matter confirmed.”

“Our appointment... ah, think of it as akin to a governmental award given to a film director who already boasts achievements worth billions in box office revenue.”

“Rather, it is as if the powers that art fawning over the grand master themselves.”

Can we please refrain from those borderline dicey comments?

Like so, the conversation with the three gods was in full swing when...

“Hold on! ...Wait, I beseech you!”

An unanticipated interruption.

The voice, fearless in the face of divinity, belongs to none other than a cleric, a servant of the gods.

“This appointment should rightfully belong to me! I am Pope Quincedo!”

“Who art thou?”

“Like I just said! I am the representative of the great god Zeus, the overseer of all worldly faiths! The most sacred among mortals, Pope Quincedo! Surely the gods must know of me?”

“Do thee fare well despite the arrow lodged in thy brow?”

“That’s besides the point!!!”

The Pope’s audacity to speak up to the gods was something, though perhaps not in a commendable way.

“Why must I, a deity of the demons, acknowledge the likes of thee?”

“How many times must I repeat myself?! I, as the Pope, have been recognized as the representative of the human church by Zeus himself...!”

“Exactly my point.”

Hades sharply pointed out.

“I stand as the guardian deity of demons. By what right should I yield recognition to a follower of Zeus?”

“And Poseidon shares this sentiment.”

Exactly. 

That’s the whole point.

In this world, the three major races - humans, demons, and merfolk - are each protected by different gods. 

Zeus is the god in charge of humans.

So, for Hades, the demon god, and Poseidon, the merfolk god, recognizing a human pope was completely illogical.

“Rather, it is thou who have derided us, gods of a different current, hast thou not? We art aware.”

“Proclaiming, ‘The gods of sea and earth are no true gods! They are but brutes masquerading as divine!’ Correct? Wast thou not aware that the happenings of the lower realms travel easily to the ears of the divine domain?”

Hades and Poseidon, dripping with sarcasm, leave the Pope sweating bullets.

“No, that’s...!”

“It is a display of astounding audacity to seek to wield power granted by those whom one doth routinely revile. Indeed, thou art akin to the kin of that wretched Zeus.”

“O-Oh yeah! Lord Zeus! Where is Lord Zeus?!”

The Pope frantically scans the surroundings.

“With Hades and Poseidon here, it’s only natural that Zeus, their equal, should be here! Our human guardian! The supreme god! Save me!!!”

“Father’s not here,” replies the young god Apollo. “Thus, I stand in as a proxy. For, my father recently committed a grave blunder, one that nearly brought about the world’s demise, and for this, he has been sealed away.”

“Sealed?!”

“To atone, he shall not emerge for thousands of years. However, Hephaestus, the architect of his prison, driven by a grudge of many years, has altered it on his own accord. I surmise it shall be nigh impossible for him to return for hundreds of millions of years.”

The Pope’s most revered god is, in fact, no longer in this world.

And given Zeus’ accumulated grievances, a weakened state, and a sentence of billions of years, by the time he might be free, this civilization would likely have ended, and even a new one risen and fallen.

“So, during thine lifetime, thou cannot count on Father’s blessing. Perhaps consider a change of faith?”

“No... No...! All my prayers have been in vain? I-Is that why the Human Kingdom lost the war...?!”

“That point is irrelevant.”

The loss in the war was purely due to the Human Kingdom’s own faults, not the gods’.

“I-Is that okay?! If you’re a celestial god, shouldn’t you be striving to free your father, Zeus?!”

“And wherefore must I do that, pray tell?”

A merciless refusal from the prince of the celestial gods.

“As thou art well aware, our father’s temperament is rather... vexing, and thus he is widely loathed. Even I, who was somewhat favored, find him difficult to bear. Imagine then the spite of Hephaestus and belligerent Ares, whom he has long neglected. In truth, to endeavor to free him would be to incur the wrath of such deities. Nor do I harbor enough fondness for our father to warrant such an arduous undertaking.”

“Ah, Apollo, thy understanding is commendable indeed!”

“Even we, his own kin, can scarce endure his presence! The gent is insufferable, always placing himself above all! When our own sisters felt compelled to vow chastity, fearing for their virtue, it was utterly appalling!”

The gods bond over a shared rant.

Beside them, a devout believer collapses in shock.

“No... Then where does that leave my faith... my authority...?!”

“Was there ever any to begin with?”

Apollo delivers the final blow.

“We three deities have descended for this cause. To chastise once and for all those mortals like thee, who dare exploit the gods for their ends.” 

“Exploit...?! Not at all! I am the Pope, the foremost servant of the gods!”

The irony of a faithful servant facing the very gods he serves.

In a way, it’s a frightening experiment unfolding right before our eyes.

“Can thou truly claim there has never been such a case? Thou art ever proclaiming, art thou not? ‘The gods are always watching’...”

“That’s not true at all! All I wanted to say was...!!!”

Gods see through all lies.

They witness the worldly man who used divine authority for his own gain finally facing his comeuppance.

“Our descent this time, whilst partly to repay the pious saint we oft rely upon, is also to demonstrate to mankind that divine retribution from the gods truly exists.” 

“Are you saying that...I am to be punished?”

“What else might it be?”

“How can that be?! I am the Pope, serving the celestial gods! I have prayed to you more than anyone, spreading your faith, listening for your voice!”

“Bold words for someone who has never heard the voice of a god.”

The place falls silent at Apollo’s words.

“We, the celestial gods, have never once spoken unto thee. Dost thou not find it strange to claim thou hast heard our words? Might the voices thou hast heard be but the words of another?”

“No, th-that’s not possible! We, the clergy, are definitely hearing the words of the gods...!!!”

“Oh?”

Apollo, the sun god, casts a cold gaze unworthy of his title at the believer.

His icy demeanor confirms his place among the celestial gods.

“Do thou deny my words? A follower of the gods, questioning the words of me, a celestial deity? If thou doubt the words of the gods, thou no longer deserve the title of a follower.”

To affirm is to betray the gods. To deny is to disbelieve.

A man who exploited faith for personal gain now finds himself trapped with no way out.

What fate awaits the Pope now?