I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

118 – 9# Goddess of Destruction (2)

He had made up his mind firmly.

He would defeat the Goddess of Destruction, Gaia. Even if there was only a slight possibility, the current Gaia had already decided to end the world.

As evidence, the Goddess of Destruction was about to descend. Bolts of lightning were falling from the sky. If it weren’t for the gods’ protection, countless lives would have been lost by now.

Although the gods had stopped it, it was an unforgivable sin. But Isaac understood her feelings as well. That’s why he would end it with his own hands.

However, the problem wasn’t just that. All the demons born in this world were coming to this place to protect their mother, Gaia.

“Retreat! Retreat!!”

“We need to buy time to defeat the Goddess of Destruction!”

“The situation isn’t looking good.”

Thanks to Isaac’s plan, which he had known from the original story, they were able to gather everyone here without any casualties. However, the problem was that they didn’t have much time left.

The allied forces were exhausted from fighting the numerous enemies emerging from the pillars. And in this situation, they had to face the demons spread across the entire continent again?

The supplies they had brought were barely enough, and if they made a mistake, they could suffer a devastating defeat. However, he didn’t have time to worry about that.

“Master, let’s go.”

“Asterios.”

“Master, don’t you have something to do?”

“……!!!”

Asterios’ one word moved Isaac. Although he had decided not to worry about the original story, it was having the biggest impact on him.

“I’ll take care of this place, Asterios.”

“Alright.”

“Take care, Master! Come back safely!”

“Of course.”

With the cheers and support of the people and his comrades, Isaac and Zik charged forward. In front of them was the portal prepared by Zeus. Finally, the last battle was coming!

“Master, let’s go together.”

Zik smiled slightly and held out his hand to Isaac. Honestly, he still didn’t feel at ease. It seemed like he was sending his lover to a dangerous place….

But more than that.

He trusted Zik’s abilities.

Isaac took Zik’s outstretched hand. At the same time, they jumped into the portal. After passing through the portal, they arrived at a desolate land with a destroyed temple.

“Where is this?”

“This must be the temple where Gaia was worshipped.”

“You know the answer, don’t you?”

“Gaia.”

She didn’t hide, nor did she flee. She simply stood on her ruined temple, gazing down at Isaac and Zik with a cold expression. Zik was furious.

“Are you not going to come down? I’ll pluck out your eyes… Ugh!!”

“Eliminate the obstacles.”

“Zik!!”

Isaac, who had been focusing on Gaia, failed to react in time. He tried to help Zik, but Zik refused his assistance.

“Master! Take care of her! I’ll handle this kid!”

“…Alright!”

In this situation, this was the best course of action. Gaia would take care of me, and Zik would handle the Sword Saint Zikfried. If we faced both of them, even Isaac could be in danger.

“Can we just leave her like that? She’s going to die.”

“Don’t underestimate Zik.”

If Zik had known that Zikfried wouldn’t be able to handle it, or if he had been unable to cut ties with his father, then Isaac would have helped him somehow.

Even if it meant facing both the hero and the god at the same time.

But that wasn’t the case. Zik had made up his mind. And besides, Isaac had seen Zik’s growth up until now. So, despite his reluctance, he had to believe in him.

“If it’s the Zik I know, he’ll definitely win.”

“That’s just a coincidence. The Zik I know doesn’t back down either.”

“Let’s not engage in useless banter.”

Of course, believing in him didn’t mean he wasn’t worried. Isaac, who no longer felt the need to talk, charged straight at Gaia. After all, it was a do-or-die situation.

Quaaang!!

However, a massive boulder that burst out of the ground blocked Isaac’s fist. Naturally, Isaac’s fist smashed the boulder, but Gaia’s figure had already disappeared.

“Isn’t it too hasty?”

“Do we need to talk more in a situation like this?”

“That’s unfortunate. I liked you.”

“Then why did you decide to destroy the world?”

Isaac firmly cut off Gaia’s soft and seductive words. Yes, Gaia had already gone too far. And he didn’t think about going back either.

“If that’s your choice.”

“……”

“Will you pay the price?”

Gaia’s quiet voice turned into a fierce storm.

* * *

He had thought about his father before.

At first, he thought he had just returned. Because his mother had said so. But after meeting Zikfried, he began to realize something was off.

Why didn’t his father say a single word about his mother? Could a family be so heartless? However, he finally understood everything.

And at the same time, he pitied her. She had become the puppet of that foolish goddess. But everyone had their own circumstances. Zik kicked Zikfried’s stomach with his foot.

“Don’t get too close, okay? I already have someone I care about.”

“A hero doesn’t need family.”

“Then why did you have a family?”

“I needed a vessel to bear the goddess’s child. And at the same time, it was a test.”

“A test?”

What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this? Zik, who had lost his temper, glared at Zikfried. Zikfried, who realized he needed to explain, opened his mouth.

“I thought that if I had a child with the goddess who would create a new world and inherit my bloodline, they would definitely understand right and wrong and come to their senses.”

“Keep talking.”

“For instance, not being swayed by the emotions of one’s own flesh and blood. Not being bound by petty feelings.”

“For the sake of the greater good?”

“Exactly.”

Zigfried nodded calmly. It was all for the sake of the greater good, to endure humiliation and feign obedience to Odin. To realize Gaia’s ideals.

“Just a moment, if Odin’s plan were to succeed. Wouldn’t it be more troublesome for you?”

Odin’s plan, the Einherjar’s advance, was undoubtedly perceived as a threat even by Zig. Yet, that man was going to carry out the plan without any qualms.

“Everything is already prepared. The Einherjar, like a toy, can be neutralized with just a flick of His finger.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to do so, rather than invading?”

“That’s right. Originally, there was no reason for the arrogant gods to intervene, but there were more obstacles than expected.”

The more they talked, the more Zig felt like he was conversing with an emotionless machine. Even the golem in the City of Radiance seemed more human than this man.

“Okay, I get it.”

“In that sense, I have a proposal for you.”

“What? A proposal?”

Was he proposing something to me in this situation? Zig’s incredulity was palpable as he gazed at Zigfried, who nodded affirmatively and extended his hand.

“Join Him now.”

“What’s the reason for this proposal?”

“Because you are His flesh and blood.”

“……I see.”

Zig let out a sigh and sheathed his sword. Then, he slowly approached Zigfried, closing in until he could grasp his hand.

“Take a bite.”

The sword, which had been securely sheathed, flashed out like a spark. However, Zigfried easily parried the attack with his sword, as if he had anticipated it.

Damn, I tried to do it like a master.

But it seemed I was still lacking.

Feeling his own inadequacy, Zig grasped his sword again. Zigfried gazed at him with a mixture of pity and disappointment, as if asking why he was throwing away his blessings.

“You’re foolish, you had the only chance to survive.”

“Is that so? I think you’re the one holding onto a rotten lifeline.”

“Are you insulting Him?”

“Of course.”

But until the very end, the fact that he was His flesh and blood meant something. Zig had tried to think well of him, believing there must be some reason, some circumstance.

However, it wasn’t so. In the end, that man was a being who would abandon the world for Gaia, the goddess. Then, I should be the one to put an end to it with my own hands.

“Being born as His daughter was a miserable fate.”

From a young age, I wanted to gain Father’s approval. I even hid my gender and worked hard to meet his expectations. I believed that if I did so, Father would eventually acknowledge me.

But that was a one-sided, unrequited wish. In that sense, my childhood self, who had worked hard for Father’s attention, was miserable.

However, the saying “misery loves company” wasn’t a lie, was it? In my early childhood, I was able to meet my true fate, together with my younger sibling, just before we were about to be killed by a goblin.

“But now, becoming the Master’s woman is…….”

It was undoubtedly a rare blessing.