I Was a Small Fish When I Reincarnated, but It Seems That I Can Become a Dragon, so I Will Do My Best - Chapter 485
10-71. Conference
*
I woke up suddenly.
I can tell that I’m in a somewhat familiar space.
But for some reason, I can’t remember why.
I look around, but there seems to be nothing here.
A pitch-black space.
In the distance, there is a long table and several chairs.
The chairs are slightly larger than normal, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
And I realized something.
It seems like I’m the only one here.
There’s no sense of unease, so I decide to walk toward the table and chairs.
However, I have a strange uncanny feeling.
A place where something important could be decided… What could be the agenda?
Hmm, why did the word “agenda” come to mind?
I should know nothing about this place.
…But for some reason, I do know.
“…The Gods conference…”
I mutter to myself.
Yes, this place is where various things were discussed when creating that world.
I remember the things that didn’t progress easily.
The direction was decided in dozens of meetings, and the roles of each god were determined in even more meetings.
I think there were some gods who were holding things back, but I wasn’t one of them.
I simply faithfully carried out what was decided.
That alone earned me praise and recognition.
I touch the chair that used to be mine.
The backrest is engraved with “Amariaz,” and I enjoy the familiar touch.
Ping…
A strange sound resonates.
And Amariaz freezes in place.
In the corner of my field of vision, a slightly larger presence has appeared.
I slowly turn to look there, and there, in the seat of the chief god…
He is there.
Wearing a large white robe with gold embroidery.
His face is not visible, only a black void behind the hood.
I remember wearing such clothes in the past.
Wrinkled hands protrude from the hem, indicating an elderly person.
He wears two gold rings on his fingers.
“Warzen…”
Chief God Warzen.
The god I once served.
The one who betrayed me.
A feeling of anger surges within me.
On impulse, I create an air-pressure sword and prepare it, pointing the tip toward him.
I tried using my abilities and realized that my power seems to have been restored. But it disappeared in an instant when Warzen’s finger tapped the table.
“…”
[It’s been a while, Amariaz.]
“What brings you here…”
[Well, we have things to discuss. Kuwaren, Lokmalog, and Tokorozebna…?]
“They’re dead.”
[…So, was it only Amariaz who was sent here?]
***
Warzen urged Amariaz to sit, but Amariaz had no intention of listening to the words of the entity that had once betrayed him. He felt like cutting off Warzen’s head with his skills right now.
It was because of this creature that Kuwaren, Lokmalog, and Tokorozebna ended up confined in the same space. Unable to use their powers, unable to make their voices heard, trapped in that space where they could only observe the world they had created. They all complained about how boring it was.
As the days passed, their resentment towards Warzen grew, and they began to despise the other gods as well. After all, they were the ones who had agreed to this plan. There was no way they could forgive them.
But why had only Amariaz been called here now? He should have ceased to exist. He should have been forgotten by everyone. Yet, Warzen remembered his name.
That ability temporarily transferred all decision-making power to one person. Even if they were gods, they couldn’t resist it.
[Exactly, that’s it.]
“…”
He had read his mind. It might be easy for a god, but it was different when it came to gods. They couldn’t hear each other’s thoughts without permission. But in a situation like this, everyone had given their permission.
He didn’t know why he had become like that, but since he knew that he was being read, there was no need to hide anything. Not that he had any intention of doing so.
“What do you want?”
[First, let me explain why you’re here. It was the work of Kuwaren, right? Using the power of some gods, he brought you here to hear what I have to say…]
“So, you want me to hear you out…”
[Right now, that power is only delaying my reach. Soon, you’ll forget everything.]
“And if that happens, I’ll disappear?”
[That’s right.]
Amariaz sighed, thinking about what they would leave behind before they died. This would only amplify their resentment. Talking to Kuwaren lightly before the end was enough for him. It was futile, but he could still assert that what they had tried to do was not wrong.
If possible, he wanted to fight Warzen. He had that much power.
[Let’s go back to the topic. The ability you created… No, the ability you accidentally created. Ouryuu’s Judgement. It was something that should never have existed.]
“So you feared the abilities I created and sealed them away!”
[No, it’s not that. That power was something that should never have been used. You, sir, have become a sinner.]
“…Hah?”
Words that he couldn’t comprehend escaped from Warzen’s mouth.
Shouldn’t have been used? A sinner?
He had been asked to create the ability, and he did. Why did he have to become a sinner for it?
“What do you mean…”
[The power you used is a part of my power. You used it at your discretion. …You understand that you shouldn’t have used my power without permission, right?]
“That’s…true, but…”
He was well aware of the danger involved. But he never thought that borrowing power would be so easy. If he had known that, his thoughts would have been completely different. He had been imprisoned without being presented with any charges.
[…Well, it was something plotted by those who envied your power. They imprisoned you without following the proper procedures. Of course, those individuals were punished, but…]
“I…I…”
[Amariaz, your imprisonment period was originally five hundred years. But due to your interference with the world you created, it has been extended by another five hundred years. In that space…even I cannot intervene. If you had accepted your guilt and confessed, you would have quietly waited for five hundred years. You would have accepted your punishment.]
“That’s given…! For what reason do you think I’ve done all of this, to this extent!”
[For my sake, is what you want to say… I, who was closest to you, know that best.]
That was true. Warzen had created various worlds and ruled over them. At times, he had sent gods to solve troublesome worlds. Amariaz, who had been watching closely, knew that the consequences were disastrous. This was a mistake of epic proportions. With this, even if everything were to be completely erased from existence, there would be no room for complaints.
[Yes, you have indeed committed a grave sin.]
“Fine… I will quietly disappear…”
[No, I won’t allow that.]
“Huh?”
Warzen pointed at Amariaz, and a tingling sensation passed through his body.
“What is this…?”
[The world you destroyed, you will fix it. However, the record of this will never reach us gods. It will be forgotten. You will descend into that world and continue to observe it.]
“I’ve killed so many… I’m a heinous criminal, you know?”
[When you see your true nature, you’ll understand. You are not a god, just Amariaz.]
“…?”
This decree meant exile, and there would be no returning to being a god. However, he had the right to continue living in that world. His comrades were already dead, and they would never return. He would have to start from scratch, but that was okay.
Amariaz sighed once. It seemed that he could not challenge a god like Warzen, who seemed to foresee everything.
Amariaz bowed his head.
“I will humbly accept.”
[Very well. Farewell, Amariaz. The days you spent with us… were enjoyable.]
“Me too. Hmm, it’s strange using honorifics…”
[No problem. It suits you. And this is the last time.]
“I see… Hahaha, even I have become quite someone to talk back to a chief god.”
[Very true. It’s refreshing to hear such words.]
“Don’t find enjoyment in strange places…”
[I can’t refute that.]
Warzen lightly tapped the table.
[It’s about time. Be strong, Amariaz.]
“So I will become a mortal?”
[That’s the plan. You’ll start from scratch, but it shouldn’t be a problem, right?]
“I’ll give it a try. I’ll have to clean up my own mess…”
[That’s the spirit.]
His body was involuntarily moving further away. The place where Warzen was became distant, gradually disappearing from view. Only the pitch-black space covered his field of vision. Before he knew it, his consciousness had faded away.