After all.
As someone who was privy to a little bit of the inside information...
Considering the cautious attitude of her own Patron Deity, Lord Ganesha, toward the God beside her—an attitude that could practically be described as facing a formidable enemy—Shakti simply dared not imagine.
In the current Orario, which God would be weary of living and dare to stick their neck out to provoke this one? They must think they are living too comfortably in the Lower World.
"..."
Thinking of this, Shakti silently glanced at Tsubaki, who was still drinking and mouthing off over there. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, but in the end, she chose to swallow her words.
After all, some matters are safer left to rot in one's stomach until exact permission is granted.
However, Tsubaki's words did attract the girls' attention.
...
"Um..."
Kikakujou Mary, who had been behaving quite obediently, put down the fork in her hand at this moment, a trace of puzzlement appearing on her face as she asked, "May I ask... shouldn't gods be the kind of beings that are noble, benevolent, and guide mortals forward?"
"Isn't everyone a Familia of a Kami-sama?"
"Aren't gods and gods compatriots?"
"Why would the Familia of other gods want to come and suppress us?"
"Does Orario really have suppression and schemes like local ruffians and hooligans?"
These words voiced the heartfelt thoughts of most of the girls present.
Gods. They were supreme. Just like Haimer-sama; although he occasionally had some bad taste, that was the privilege of the strong. Since they all came to the Lower World to enjoy life, why would there still be this kind of hostility between them, like gangsters fighting over turf?
This sounded simply full of human malice.
"Pfft—cough, cough!"
Hearing this question, Tsubaki almost choked to death on a mouthful of wine. She hurriedly thumped her chest twice, looking at Kikakujou Mary with a bizarre expression.
"Noble? Benevolent?"
"Compatriots?"
"Ha!"
"That is probably the funniest joke I have heard this year."
Saying that, Tsubaki wiped a wine stain from the corner of her mouth, putting away her previous slouchy demeanor.
"Although I don't know which third-rate knight novel you got that setting from, you have to get one thing straight."
"Aside from possessing eternal life and that Divine Power which is sealed and cannot be used, gods are basically the same as us."
"Just look at this one. Take a look."
Tsubaki pointed her finger unceremoniously, gesturing toward the one sitting across the table.
"..."
In an instant, everyone's gaze followed Tsubaki's finger.
They saw Hestia currently eating a very chewy roast pig trotter, her cheeks puffed up high, a sesame seed stuck to the corner of her mouth.
"As you can see, Hestia-sama is also a proper God. But do you think Hestia-sama has any connection to the tall and great gods in your minds?"
Tsubaki finished speaking.
Gulp.
Immediately after, accompanying Hestia forcefully swallowing the meat in her mouth...
"Burp—!"
A loud and prolonged belch seemed exceptionally clear in this suddenly quiet corner.
Seeming to realize the atmosphere had suddenly become off, Hestia looked at the weird gazes cast her way, blinked, and immediately furrowed her good-looking brows.
"Hm? What are you all looking at me for?"
"..."
Seeing this, the girls fell silent.
"See that?" Tsubaki spread her hands with a helpless expression. "This is the norm."
"The gods in the Lower World are just like people. There are indeed benevolent gods with noble character, but there are also greedy, jealous, vain, and competitive gods."
"There are noble gods, and there are shoddy gods. And precisely because they live too long and are too bored, these traits are magnified countless times."
"Especially for gods, the entire Lower World is nothing but a gigantic playground."
"Since it is a game, then naturally there are winners and losers, competition, and methods."
"Therefore, in the Lower World, some gods will truly do anything. All kinds of dramas have been staged countless times in Orario's history."
"What's more, just to vent their spleen, for so-called face, because they took a fancy to an interesting soul, or simply because they were jealous that another Familia got a good seedling... they will instruct the children under them to cause trouble."
Gods possessing eternal life have stood in the clouds overlooking all living beings for hundreds of millions of years. It is hard for them to maintain so-called empathy for mortals who are born in the morning and die in the evening.
Just like when humans crouch on the ground as children watching ants move house. If the mood is good, throw some breadcrumbs; that is a gift. If the mood is bad, piss on them; that is a natural disaster.
As for whether the ants feel pain or despair? Humans can hardly perceive it.
Therefore, this kind of arrogance stemming from their higher order of existence, the gods of the Heavens naturally possess as well. Even if many gods pretend to be like humans, that base color of viewing all things as disposable is ultimately hard to erase.
"..."
Once these words came out, the air at the dining table solidified somewhat.
The girls looked at each other, evidently shocked by this other side of the world. So it turned out that under this Labyrinth City, which seemed prosperous and full of adventure and glory, such a murky undercurrent was actually surging.
"So."
Tsubaki sighed, pulling everyone's attention back.
"This is the reason I didn't let you casually find those freelance supporters during the day."
"Among those freelance supporters, who knows if there are spies from some Familia mixed in. If you really brought them in... stabbing you in the back at a critical moment, or deliberately attracting a large group of monsters and then taking advantage of the chaos to steal your weapons..."
"When that happens, you won't even have a place to cry."
"Then..."
At this time, Inaba Tsukuyo, who hadn't spoken, turned her head slightly, her blind eyes turning accurately in Shakti's direction.
"What about Shakti-sama?"
"Isn't the Ganesha Familia, where Shakti-sama belongs, known as the City's Military Police? Since there is such an existence maintaining order, why is this kind of thing still allowed to happen?"
Hearing this question, Shakti's hand holding the wine glass couldn't help but tighten slightly.
"Military Police?"
Tsubaki glanced at the silent Shakti, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
"Yes, they are Military Police. Responsible for maintaining public security, arresting criminals, and maintaining the superficial order of this city."
"But in the final analysis, the Ganesha Familia is also a Familia. The Ganesha Familia also takes the Guild's money and works for the Guild to maintain order."
"As long as there is no blatant murder and arson on the streets, as long as the Guild's rules are not broken, even the Ganesha Familia is powerless regarding those dealings in the dark corners."
"After all, there are unwritten rules between gods."
"Of course."
"A long time ago... it's not that there weren't fools who would truly uphold absolute justice even if they risked their lives."
"At that time, there was indeed such a group of people. They didn't care about anyone's expression, nor did they care which God stood behind the other party. As long as they saw injustice, they would draw their swords."
"That was a group of truly admirable fellows."
Speaking of this, Tsubaki paused.
Several white figures flashed through her mind.
—That is, the Goddess of Justice's [Astrea Familia].
That Familia which once upheld absolute justice with their bodies in Orario, regardless of black or white, never tolerating evil. The Familia that once made countless Dark Factions tremble with fear at the news.
"But... it is a pity."
"They are no longer here."
"In this man-eating world, things that are too pure are often the first to shatter."
Tsubaki's voice carried a touch of regret.
"..."
Shakti lowered her head.
This was also an eternal pain in her heart. It was also a scar that could not heal in the hearts of the entire Justice camp of Orario.
Astrea Familia.
The Familia of the Goddess of Justice.
That dazzling existence that once fought side by side with the [Ganesha Familia] to maintain Orario's order.
Nowadays, even their corpses cannot be found.
____
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