Chapter 170

“Yes . I am Scala . Goddess of Destruction . ”

“De-destruction!?”

The word ‘Destruction’ had quite the impact . Miki was surprised and Tenjouin gulped .

“I’m surprised you’re so open about that . ”

“It would be stupid to hide when people already know of the existence of gods . Besides, you’re the one who asked . ”

Tenjouin had assumed she would hide it, and so he was a little surprised .

“Now that you know, hurry up and give it to me . ”

She was already irritated over having to come here .

Scala pointed at the sword angrily .

Now that he knew who she was and her demands, Tenjouin felt that she probably would leave quietly if he gave her the sword . And yet he did not .

He looked at Scala . He could not help but wonder about something, now that there was a god in front of him .

It seemed like a waste to have it end so simply .

“…Could I ask you something first?”

“Huh? What?”

Tenjouin was still sitting on the ground as he looked up at Scala .

“Would you fight me?”

―――――――――――――――――

He knew how it would end even before it began .

“Hah…ha…”

“What? Over already?”

But he hadn’t expected to be toyed with so much .

His hands and knees were on the ground as he tried to catch his breath . Tenjouin was overwhelmed by the difference in power .

Miki was the same . She stood in a corner and looked shocked .

“Hold yourself together . I haven’t even taken a single step . ”

Scala said tauntingly as she folded her arms .

It was true . She had not taken a step since the beginning of the fight .

It wasn’t something they had decided on . She had just decided that there was no need for it .

He had used the sword from Korola, but it barely even mattered when the difference in power was so wide .

As evidence, Scala did not have a single scratch . She wasn’t even sweating .

So this was the power of a god…

As for gods, Tenjouin had only ever seen Korola and Metron up until now . And so it was a moment where he was reminded of just how great they were .

“I heard that you were from the same world as Yato and had high expectations . But no, someone like that is clearly rare . ”

Scala said in a disappointed voice . Tenjouin twitched at the mention of the name Yato .

“You know Yato…Kamiya?”

“Yes . We even had a fight to the death once . ”

It was a little confusing what she meant by that, but it had nothing to do with Tenjouin .

“So-so, who won?”

Tenjouin asked hesitantly . Scala muttered something and tried to remember .

“Well, someone got in the way and we never finished it . But had we continued, well, even I am not sure . ”

She thought about it for a while and then said, ‘No, I would probably have won in the end . But Tenjouin didn’t hear her .

They fought and it was an even match?

If that was true, it meant Kamiya was as strong as a god, or even stronger…

This fact was the most shocking for Tenjouin .

He had thought that defeat was something that couldn’t be helped against a god, but the person who was his goal was in the same spot as the gods .

He had seen Kamiya’s level once, but had it been this high…?

“…Goddess of Destruction . ”

“Hmm?”

“You may have the sword back . Thank you for fighting me . ”

He said in a weak voice . Tenjouin then put the sword down in front of him .

“I shouldn’t be so surprised, seeing as you’re a god and all . I was completely defeated . ”

Tenjouin closed his eyes and took in a deep breath as if he were surrendering .

This wasn’t just an enemy he could not beat .

He wasn’t even fit as a diversion for her . Had Kamiya thought the same about him?

“I will try to become stronger . ”

He stood up and returned to his calm self .

This was what it felt like to give up…

They were going to defeat a demon lord, not a god or Yato .

Thankfully, there were no demon lords that were stronger than a god .

He could do it just as he was .

At this point, he had to admit it .

He would not be able to surpass Yato .

“…Well, if you’re really going to give it back . ”

Scala seemed a little surprised at his sudden lack of spirit, but she picked up the sword anyway .

“Uh, how did you get so strong, Goddess of Destruction?”

Tenjouin suddenly asked as she picked up the sword .

He simply wanted to know how she had reached this point .

‘Ah, yes…’ Scala seemed to hesitate as she searched for an answer .

“I just kept fighting . ”

That was her answer after much thought .

“What? That’s it?”

“What else could there be?”

Tenjouin had been sure that there was more to it . But Scala’s expression suggested it was the most obvious thing in the world .

He was confused at first, but then it dawned on him .

They were fundamentally different from him .

Like training with the sword or practicing with magic .

They were satisfied as long as they could train in a warm location . But these gods had different values .

They didn’t see danger as danger . They would do anything to get stronger .

That’s why they were so different .

“Yes, I could never do that . ”

Tenjouin said with a weak laugh .

He might have had a chance when he was first summoned .

But now the gap was too wide to fill .

After all, even Yato was still growing stronger by the day .

The gap between us will never be filled now .

At least, in his current situation, there was nothing that would help elevate him .

It was as if the fiery spirit had started to die within him . His feelings were sinking . Scala just stared at him .

“You . You want to get stronger?”

She said suddenly .

“I do . ”

He had worked so hard .

“Then you should become stronger . ”

It was not that simple .

“I mean to . ”

He could still defeat a demon lord .

He hadn’t given up becoming stronger . But he knew there were limits .

In the first place, it was only his own pride that led him to want to defeat Kamiya . There was no actual need for it .

He knew about this difference already .

It was not something he should feel bad about .

He told himself this . And then something came to him .

Why had he wanted to defeat Yato so bad?