Nikan reached out and picked up the Pantheon.
All the bizarre forms depicted within it were 'gods,' and their terrifying and fear-inducing shapes were far different from anything he knew.
"Is there a chance of success?"
"If we use an avatar as a sacrifice, it will be the fastest and most certain."
So, the idea was to use Navia as a sacrifice to create a new god.
"The reason Prince Ares' plan failed is simple. He summoned the god in too crude a manner. That's why the full power didn't awaken. But we already have information about a perfect failure."
"A perfect failure?"
"Lark. The monster created by the previous Eseled family head, born with the powers of an external god implanted in him."
Nikan unwittingly opened his mouth, his jaw slackening.
Those gathered here seemed to understand such a reaction, smoothly smiling.
"Lark became an overwhelmingly powerful avatar through the most perfect method, yet for some unknown reason, he was a failure. He seemed to lack divinity when I saw him yesterday..."
Even an avatar should exude a certain dignity from using godly powers, like Navia when she used the power of White moon.
But Lark strangely lacked any such aura.
As an avatar, he couldn't escape their detection network, so it was accurate to say he failed in becoming one.
They explained how they created the monster Lark and the improvements to ensure no failure.
And that's where the idea of a sacrifice came in.
"Princess Navia will be the perfect sacrifice."
Nikan tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers.
'Make Navia a sacrifice to create a new god...'
If he couldn't control her, it was only right to destroy her. He felt no guilt about using her as a sacrifice.
Nikan was gradually persuaded by their story.
"Who will become the god?"
"This is the most crucial part, but it turns out Lady Vivian, your daughter, possesses remarkable qualities."
"Vivian?"
Nikan felt slightly troubled.
His daughter was essentially useless, without any special abilities as a human.
She was still his child, but she had been locked in her room since the day before.
"I wonder if my daughter will accept it..."
"I will."
Vivian burst in, having overheard the conversation.
"I'll do it. I can."
Her swollen eyes showed she had cried all night. The malicious and vicious energy on her face was enough to startle anyone.
No, it was murderous intent.
She was seething with deep and intense resentment and hatred towards someone.
"When will this happen? It needs to be certain."
At Vivian's sharp words, the scholars quickly bowed their heads.
"Of course. Two days is enough to prepare. Preparing for civil war is urgent and will cost a fortune, but..."
Their gaze turned to Nikan.
A civil war level of funding? That wasn't a problem.
"This is Agnes."
The house of Agnes was renowned for its wealth, even if they were overshadowed by the rising Eseled in the industrial market.
"Good to hear. We'll prepare at the Agnes Ducal House. Lady Eseled won't be able to use her powers once she enters here and will quickly be sacrificed."
Nikan smiled contentedly.
My castle shall stand eternal, even if the heavens fall.
"Let it be so."
After discussing a few more details, Count Nate and the scholars left the Ducal House, promising to meet again.
Laughter broke out from the carriage carrying Count Nate and the bespectacled scholar.
"Ha! The Duke of Agnes is quite naive to think we're going through all this trouble just to make Lady Vivian a god."
"Well, it's just a mix of truth and lies."
"If local gods intervene in our mere sacrifice, we'll be done for."
Their true plan was something else.
"Our plan coincides with what he wants, to some extent. If we connect Pantheon with the human world, the current troubles will be nothing..."
The scholar laughed wickedly.
Count Nate, sitting opposite, also chuckled.
"I left Eseled early for this reason. What's the use of turning a mere human into a godlike being? You'll see the result. That Lark is just trash."
"You're absolutely right."
"Still, the daughter he produced might be useful. When I saw that girl yesterday, I could complete the theory of connecting Pantheon to the human realm. Ha ha ha!"
Then...
"Hmm, indeed. I was curious about what kind of future my daughter would bring about, but is this it?"
Lark, having dispelled his invisibility magic, sat in the carriage nonchalantly like one of the group.
The two men inside screamed.
"Aaah!"
It was a carriage layered with all sorts of high-level magic to prevent external intrusion, yet how did he sneak in?! As they hurriedly gathered their magic, Lark struck each of their heads.
Thud!
They passed out instantly.
Lark, with his legs casually crossed, muttered to himself.
"Connecting Pantheon to the human world? Quite an original act of foolishness."
He seemed indifferent, as if he had just overheard the dinner menu of a neighbor, despite the tremendous event that was foreseen.
Lark had to soon send Niratoinira, who was attached to Ares's body, back to the divine realm and utterly destroy it.
It would take at least three days.
"Just need to sort a few things out and then I can go. But I'm worried about my daughter..."
Lark, suddenly serious, took out a pocket watch to check the time.
It was just past noon.
"Did my daughter eat lunch? I'm worried because she's picky."
'I hope she eats well even when I'm not around.'
Pantheon or whatever, Navia's pickiness was a more serious issue.
"What if she cries when I tell her I'll be back soon?"
'My daughter likes me too much, it's a problem... How can she get married then? Seriously.'
The thought of his daughter crying pained his heart, but a smile crept up his lips.
He snapped his fingers to see Navia, who would be crying, "Daddy, don't go, boo hoo!"
Snap!
The two men who had been knocked out and were leaning against the window woke up.
They wore confused expressions. Why was I asleep? they wondered.
Their memory of being startled by Lark was erased.
But strangely, their heads felt numb...
'Must have hit my head on the window while dozing off.'
They dismissed it nonchalantly.
Lark hummed a tune as he went to find his daughter.
"I'm sorry, but the lady says she's in a meeting with the princess right now and will send a message later."
And he was turned away at the door.
"…Huh."
I've been back for a day, isn't this too much?
"My daughter is a workaholic. I never taught her to be like this, how can this be?"
Lark turned around with a puzzled expression and then spotted Creed standing a few steps away.
"Here to see Navia?"
Creed nodded.
"Yes. But it seems it's not the right time now."
He had just witnessed Lark being turned away and didn't want to bother Navia, so he was about to leave.
"Then."
Just as he nodded and turned, Lark came up beside him and put an arm around his shoulder.
"…Why are you doing this?"
"Let's spend some quality time between master and disciple, it's been a while."
Creed's eyes narrowed.
"You're just bored and want to mess with me. I'm busy."
"Oh. I'm your godfather. Your master and father-in-law. So show some filial piety."
"Filial piety…"
Creed was at a loss for words.
Lark was enough of a headache as a father-in-law, but now he claimed to be a master, godfather, and everything else.
And now filial piety.
"Let's do well, huh?"
"Ah…"
'Isn't he just a gangster?'
Creed sighed deeply.
Then Lark chided him.
"Such a little guy sighing."
Lark, leaning heavily on Creed as if drunk, walked swaggeringly.
With no dignity or decorum, like a local thug, the courtiers glanced at them with slight shock.
Creed decided it was best to take this unpredictable father to a less crowded place for Navia's dignity.
"So, where are you going?"
Lark, pushing through the crowd busy preparing for the emperor's funeral, said,
"Prison."
That meant he was going to see Ares.
From that moment, Creed became oddly quiet.
Lark, knowing why, chuckled and glanced at Creed's expressionless profile.
"Were you hurt in your pride yesterday?"
Creed was about to deny it, but stopped himself. It was pointless to lie in front of this man.
"Yes. A lot."
Lark laughed at his childlike honesty.
"Such a cute guy. Only big in size."
'Weren't you calling me little before?'
Creed glanced at Lark's grinning face with a bit of dissatisfaction, then exhaled and turned his gaze forward.
The way to the prison was noticeably deserted. It was probably because it wasn't a place where many people came and went.
When everything was pretty much quiet, Lark suddenly spoke.
"Will you be my incarnation?"
"......Huh?"
Incarnation?
......The incarnation that I know?
Creed stopped dead in his tracks, his brows furrowing as he wondered what this was all about.
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