#576 A Conversation with the God of War

“I am one of the celestial deities, however...”

Continuing from our previous chapter, the god of war, Velesares, says, “Tis strange for me to help elves, who originally belong to the demon race. But at the same time, I am the god who governs losing battles. I hast’ to help those who has’t hath lost everything after the war.”

So he rescued the elves’ ancestors.

Thousands of years have passed since he made the pact and officially became their guardian deity.

He has sanctified the forests where they live and given them various wisdom and abilities.

These divine powers have helped to repel foreign enemies and have protected the elves behind the scenes.

“The gods intervened in the mortal world’s conflicts in the olden days when their actions were less regulated. If we did the same thing now, it wouldst be very troublesome due to compliance issues.”

“The divine realm sure has its own troubles too, huh...”

“As such, I want to apologize for not giving thee proper protection for the past few hundred years. Mine own clotpole and selfish father hast been taking advantage of the loopholes in the law...! But thee overcame all those difficulties and built up thine prosperity well, elves! I take most wondrous pride in being thine guardian deity!”

The elves kneel in unison at the grand announcement of the god of war, Velesares.

“It is our greatest honor to meet the ancient guardian deity in person!”

“Your Mightiness! We did not summon you today just for the sake of it. We have a humble request to ask of you.”

The god of war raises his eyebrows at their unusual appeal.

“A request, thee say?”

“Yes.”

“I wouldst love to grant tthy wish if possible, but I do not want to cause trouble for mortals, especially if thee art trying to invade another race. The mortal world is more stable and peaceful than ever before.”

What a considerate god.

He understands what it’s like to be in the field, so he’s more sensitive to such matters, probably.

“Please rest assured, Your Mightiness. We do not wish for another war. Rather, we want to help bring peace to the world and put people’s minds at rest,” says Aileron.

The way she says it so auspiciously makes it sound dubious.

“We would like to spread the word about a product. If we could get Your Mightiness’ approval, it would make everything easier.”

“What is this ‘product’ thee speak of?”

“This one, Your Mightiness,” says Aileron, offering the tea jar full of tea leaves.

“What art these dry leaves?”

“These are tea leaves for brewing tea, Your Mightiness. Lord Saint introduced it to us.”

Hey, hey, hey, don’t mention my name.

I don’t want another god to take notice of me anymore.

“Drinking a cup of tea will stabilize your spirit and fill you with energy. It can calm a raging heart, rouse lost energy, and help one to accomplish any task that needs to be done. All while tasting good!”

“Huh? Thee want to win mine own praise for such a thing?”

The god of war became grumpy in an instant.

“Thee underestimate me. Thee want me, the god of war and foreseer of all atrocities, tyranny, and slaughter, to be the patron of a mere drink? I preside over bloody battles and all desolation, child,” he says pompously.

As expected of the god of war. Acting friendly with him is a bad idea.

“Would you like to try it at least, Your Mightiness?”

“Hm?”

Aileron begins to make tea on the spot, stirring the matcha with a whisk like in an authentic tea ceremony.

“Please.”

“V-Very well. But, no matter what tthee do, as the god of war, I do not fancy tranquil things, lest I be turned into a laughing stock by the other gods...”

Despite all that grumbling, Velesares drinks the tea offered to him.

He’s so kind for a god.

And then...

“Mm...”

He looks content.

“What is this...warmth and calmness that seems into mine own whole body the moment it goes down mine own throat? It tastes astringent yet mellow...Tis completely different from alcohol.”

“Alcohol strongly intoxicates the drinker, sometimes to the point of physical pain. But this tea is the opposite. It cares for the drinker and tastes very different from other teas.”

“Mm, this is valorous!”

Velesares starts to tear up again.

Is he that impressed by the taste of tea? 

“I did not know there was a tender beverage in this world...! Valorous! Mine own palate is satisfied! If everyone gets to taste this tea, surely kindness and compassion will spread...!”

“In that case, we’d like to ask for Your Mightiness’ humble blessing!”  

“Very well.”

Well, that was a quick change of heart. 

Who knew the god of war could be moved by affection this easily?

He’s really just a nice guy trying to act tough!

“Ah...”

Ssssssssip.

“Not only does it taste good, but this fresh, vibrant color gives mine own eyes a sense of calmness. No other color can do this. Red is too intense, blue too cold, and yellow glares mine own eyes. Green is the only color that can be this calming yet vivid.”

“He talks like he knows his stuff!”

Won’t he be more like, “Death to all! Hah-ha!!!” since he’s the god of war and everything?

“Therefore, to promote tea, we would like to inscribe the emblem of the god of war, Velesares, on the teacups.”

“Do as thee wish. Bandits will not dare to pilfer if it has my approval in fear of divine punishment coming their way!” he says heartily, sipping some more tea.

“That’s not all, Your Mightiness. If the tea bears your emblem, it will prove that it is related to us elves,” whispers the Elf Monarch. “We elves are the only ones who worship you. It is not so with Hades or Athena, who have other races worshipping them.”

“Indeed...!”

“This is the perfect way to protect against imitations.”

These elves’ business mindset is worth commending...

They’re already thinking two steps ahead!

“Guru Aileron has an extraordinary determination to take all possible measures to market her tea. She didn’t go this far with the plates and bowls she makes...”

“Imagine the places she’ll go...”

Aileron has constantly been evolving at a scary pace as of late.

Who knows how much bigger her world can get?

And the god of war is just as frightening to me.

As someone who governs wars, I found Velesares intimidating at first, but now, I’m gradually beginning to understand that he’s just a good-natured old man.

“Ah...Tea is good...”

The tea has been making him tame since a while ago.

His terrifying aura has vanished!

“Um...! I, too, have a request to make to Your Mightiness!”

“And thee art?”

“My name is Mieral, a woodworker here on the farm, Your Mightiness!”

That’s Mieral, all right.

She once made statues of Hades and Poseidon after they visited our farm. She has a history of making a fortune from her sculptures, which were a natural result of her hard work.

“I have carved multitudes of statues of gods and goddesses, but never one of Your Mightiness, my race’s guardian deity!” 

“It is perfectly all right.”

“I would like to use this opportunity as a reference to sculpt a statue of Your Mightiness to the best of my abilities and skills I have cultivated!”

“Very well.”

See? He’s literally a yes-man now!

“But if thee art to make a statue of me, thee must carve it in a stern and fearsome manner! I do not want the god of war to look gentle! Make it so hair-raising and horrifying that even the devil will have his tail between his legs!”

“A statue of an evil god?”

But I know that Mieral will follow her inspiration and carve a statue of the great, glorious, and merciful god of war, Velesares.

And I bet it’d look like the Buddha of Healing.

Even if she comes up with something completely different from Velesares’ ideals, he’ll probably just shrug it off.

That’s just the kind of god he is!

Among all the gods who have ever come to our farm, he’s the one with the most personality!

Actually, isn’t this what gods are supposed to be like, in the first place?

“Young man.”

“Yes, Your Mightiness!”

All of a sudden, he directs his attention at me.

“I have heard a lot about thee. Thee art the saint blessed by my brother Hephaestus, art thee not? My mother and brother seem to have given thee trouble in the past, and I apologize for that.”

“They really have, Your Mightiness.”

Remembering what I had suffered from Hera and Hermes, I couldn’t help but express my true feelings.

“Mm, I shall give those folk a warning when I return to the celestial realm, so prithee forgive those folk. It pains me that on top of mine own mother causing so much trouble, I am asking thee a favor.”

“What is it, Your Mightiness?”

“As the god of war, I am concerned about the aftermath of the interracial wars that were waged just a few years ago. Will thee help to save those who has’t been at the mercy of the seemingly perpetual war between humans and demons?”