Rogue Villain-Chapter 404: Uninteresting

Ackster rose with his accompaniment behind him until he was just a step higher than the intruders. A glance told him their identities.

They were the gods and angels of the Celestial Realm. Ackster recognized the Ichor in their bodies.

If Ackster extrapolated the meaning in the Observer’s words, it seemed like the gods of Millmeria weren’t anything special. They were fake gods that came from Millmeria. That meant their power system was also related to Millmeria. As such, since they used Ichor, they should be related to the Celestial Realm, not from another part of the universe.

<Speak. Why did you disturb me?>

Ackster spoke, annoyance in his voice and eyes.

It looked like several armies had come, but there was no clear leader to unite them. Ackster looked between the different gods, each leading their own troops. None of them intimidated him. He understood why the Observer called them fake gods.

Eventually, one of them stepped forward. It was a god with deep blue, swirling armor. He also had a fishtail instead of legs—a merman.

<I am the God of Oceans, Hayut. We are here to bring you out of the mortal world, and I am here to recruit you.>

Ackster glanced at the other gods, eventually settling his gaze on two gods who stood close to each other off to the side. They were the only ones without an army backing them.

<Is it the same for all of you?>

<We’re just here to watch the show. We didn’t attack the barrier. That was all them.>

The twin god and goddess of the moons answered first. The others seemed to take their time. Based on their grave expressions, Ackster could guess why.

Ackster sighed lightly.

<You said you were here to bring me out of the mortal world. Why?>

Since none of the others answered, Ackster turned to the god who seemed willing to answer him. Since it was the God of the Oceans, they could be considered to have some affinity, thanks to Ackster’s closeness to water. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Hayut cleared his throat.

<Gods don’t belong here.>

<Why not?>

Hayut hesitated.

"I can answer that."

Surprisingly, in this meeting of gods, Karandiel spoke up.

Ackster looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"They’re scared they’ll lose their followers. This Cycle hasn’t been the greatest for religions, but each god belonging to the main pantheon still has an influential church. If you, Brian, a god, were to reside in the mortal world, it would be all too easy for them to lose their followers and their faith to you."

Ackster nodded.

<I see. Good thing I don’t have an interest in starting a religion or gathering faith.>

Ackster had a feeling the power of faith was another source of power that he could use to strengthen his Ichor. But he wasn’t interested in something like that when he had world power and cosmic power.

However, the gods from the Celestial Realm didn’t leave.

<So, you have no intentions of leaving?>

A god in dark yellow robes of thick cloth stepped forward and looked at Ackster with a stern gaze. The god, who looked like a bulky, middle-aged man didn’t speak with a friendly tone.

<Nope—>

<I knew it! You’re Karandiel, aren’t you?>

Before Ackster could tell the gods to fuck off and stop wasting his time, another god interrupted. Ackster didn’t need an introduction to know that it was the God of Light, Yillister, from his flashy appearance and glowing hair. It was Karandiel’s former master, whom she served before her fall.

Ackster narrowed his eyes slightly. He wasn’t sure about how Angels worked and if Karandiel was still under his dominion, even after being cast down from the Celestial Realm.

<Well, have you repented for your sins? Or are you going to continue your spiel about how gods should serve humanity, not the other way around?>

Karandiel glared at Yillister. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed how insufferable his face was when she served him.

Karandiel turned away and ignored Yillister. She stood beside Ackster and stared straight ahead.

<Hey, I’m talking to you, bitch!>

Ackster looked at Yillister with raised eyebrows.

He wasn’t in a state to fight all out. But Yillister’s aggression wasn’t alone. Before Yillister could try and grab Karandiel’s attention by floating up to her and grabbing her, Ackster waved his hand and closed the barrier behind the invaders.

<...What are you doing?>

Hayut glanced behind them before turning around and looking at Ackster with apprehension.

Ackster smiled invitingly, though his eyes were still cold.

<Oh, come now, you can’t tell me you weren’t prepared for this? You caused a ruckus to wake me up, only to force me out of my home. Did you think I would forgive you?>

Since the gods of the Celestial Realm didn’t seem to have any interesting intentions behind their intrusion other than jealousy, worry, and ignorance, Ackster saw no reason to entertain them any further.

He wanted to go back to sleep, so it was time to deal with the uninvited guests.

<Hmph. You might have become a god somehow, but you shouldn’t forget, brat, that we were born gods. The power we wield is beyond your imagination.>

The god clad in an earthen yellow color, which Ackster assumed was Naraka, the God of Earth, conjured a spear of stone and pointed it at Ackster. It was the god of the saintess in The Hero’s party.

Erismille had seemed like a gentle person. It was a disappointment to see that her god was such a fool.

<Is that so? Why did you attack the world barrier instead of opening it?>

Naraka stiffened.

<We were just on the wrong side of it.>

Yilister glared at Ackster, identifying him as the source of the humiliation he garnered from Karandiel’s lack of reaction.

He wasn’t wrong. Without Ackster, Karandiel would have ended up differently and might even have given him the reaction he wanted. But Ackster was living proof that gods, true gods, could act with benevolence. If it had something to do with them, they shouldn’t just stand by the sidelines and look like a fool.

"Tes Subject! Is it my time to shine?!"

During some point in the conversation when the atmosphere grew heated, Mastrax had flown up. And now, he hopped next to Ackster, ready to beat the shit out of the demons who had delivered themselves on a silver platter.

They weren’t demons. But Ackster was pretty sure Mastrax didn’t care about that. The crazy dragon was just excited to put to use what he hadn’t gotten an opportunity to against The Hero, the Voice, or the Observer.

Ackster nodded.

<Sure. Go ahead, Mastrax. Give these intruders the demon treatment.>

"Yes!"