They have returned to Phoenix Mountain after a couple of years, and Cermin was still feeling uncomfortable and anxious.

First, he did not expect his people to have that reaction towards him. Sure, he knew it was more realistic to expect them to not be motivated immediately if he’d be realistic…

But it usually worked in the past worlds he’s been in. He was so used to doing those speeches and having the NPC mob cheer for him.

And he was being really sincere about helping too. It felt hopeless to have no one want to listen to you and see your side of things, just harming you instead.

Was this how his gege felt when he was outcast for the wrong crime accusations?

Being an outcast to society was something he was unfamiliar with. He was never the recepient of hatred and discrimination before.

But this world really kept on turning things on its head. He doesn’t know anymore what to expect.

The second worry revolved around his friends.

Zeriav was now stuck on an amulet he wore around his neck with Lovushka. He didn’t know how to free them and believed that breaking the amulet might kill them both.

So he needed to be careful with it, and make sure it does not get damaged until someone wins the fight and escapes from it.

He could only hope it was Zeriav.

Ronin meanwhile would be going to a Banquet with him where the gods there were against the Dark Lord occupying his body. If they learned the truth….

Would the gods kill him?

(They’re supposed to be the good gods, right? They can’t possibly hurt someone innocent. They need to help free him from the Lord of Darkness.)

But just like the people at the town square, he wasn’t so sure if the ‘good’ guys would not be harmful anymore.

Ronin heard these thoughts as they hiked up the forest trail of the mountain, and patted his shoulder.

“Perhaps we should wear disguises before we arrive, Your Highness.” Ronin offered. “Maybe we’ll find some nobles invited there and take their place.”

“Would they just agree for us to do that?” Cermin asked. “We don’t have much money to bribe them for it.”

Ronin smiled bitterly. Always thinking that money could solve everything and be the peaceful option.

He shrugged. “I’ll take care of it.”

Cermin became unsure now. “Will you… Will you be using black magic for it then?”

Ronin tried not to look annoyed, and instead forced a queasy smile.

“Your Highness, I used ‘black magic’ to save you from Lovushka back then. I used it again to save you. Even us wearing disguises is my ‘black magic’.”

He assured him while patting his shoulder. “There’s really nothing wrong with using black magic as long as you use it for good.”

Cermin looked down, feeling ashamed and that he had insulted Ronin a bit.

“I see….. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I understand the anxiety because it was something from the Lord of Darkness.” Ronin said, acting fidgety himself. “I also don’t feel fully comfortable about it.”

“You don’t?” Cermin looked up again at him.

“I will never get used to being this powerful. I just want to be a normal person.” Ronin said, sighing. “I don’t want a Daemon God possessing me.”

It was Cermin’s turn to comfort him, which he was happy to do. Because he was the type of person that feels satisfaction and a sense of purpose by being of service to others.

It makes him feel ‘needed’ and ‘worthy’.

“I promise that it will be over soon.” He said. “We’ll pretend to be nobles and then reveal ourselves at the right moment, potentially to a god we could trust.”

“Then, we can have them save you. You won’t be possessed by the Lord of Darkness anymore, and we’ll defeat him. Bring everything back to normal.”

Ronin smiled at this. Not because he was comforted, but because of his naivete. He’s so innocent that it’s funny.

“I believe you, Your Highness.” Ronin said. “I believe we’re at the right spot.”

He stood in front of a large rock he had seen before while trekking this mountain. It had many runes carved on it, most relating to the gods of the Celestus Realm.

He took out the amulet that was supposed to be the ‘key’. “Now how do we use this to summon a portal…..”

He looked at the rock again, and noticed something else below it.

There were multiple tiny rock statues, so tiny that they’re a little hard to notice due to the plants and overgrowth. All of them had tiny holes in the middle.

These statues were simply, but they clearly resembled the 12 Highest Order Gods. Ronin went over to kneel and observe them closer…

And saw one that resembled what Musae was supposed to look like in the books. It was dirtier than the rest and not taken care of for many years, it seemed.

Right beside it was a shinier Calliope. And everyone else’s tiny statues seemed to have been given more care than his.

“It seemed that people favored by the gods were invited in by putting a key or ‘heart’ in the holes of this statue.” Ronin said out loud to Cermin.

He put the amber with a tiny heart inside…

And soon the large rock vanished and turned into a rift in the fabric of this plane instead.

“I was right. Shall we go in?” Ronin asked, presenting the portal to him.

Cermin was hesitant, but he eventually went in beside Ronin, and the portal closed on both of them.

The Palace of the Gods, which was at the ‘upper heavens’ as people say, was still part of the Clestus Realm. But it was even more beautiful and bright than it was.

It felt like the place was always sparkling, their vision swimming a bit like when you watch things in high heat. Everything was alive and moving, full of powerful energy.

And yet despite how fantastical it looked, unlike anything Cermin had seen before….

It felt familiar.

Ronin knew why it was familiar for the both of them, but didn’t say a word. He saw two people pass them by, two Noble brothers with neon yellow hair and pale white skin…

With a symbol of Pallas on the two balls of energy they were holding. Possibly their power source.

“Good day, gentlemen.” Ronin went up to him.

One of them blinked. “Good day. What is a Commoner doing here—”

“Sleep.”

And they instantly fell on his arms for him to pick up and toss behind bushes!

Cermin blinked. “That’s…. All it took was for you to say ‘sleep’…..”

“Black magic is really powerful, Your Highness.” Ronin sighed, as he plucked strands of hair from both of them. “Now, take this and you transform as the younger brother Riniel.”

“I will be the older one, Leno.” He said, as he used Fool’s Eye to transform into the sleeping gentleman.

“You also learned their names from black magic….. That’s really scary.” Cermin said, but let Ronin use his scary powers to disguise him too.

“We’re using it for good. These two gentlemen would be helping us to save Magecia as a whole, and all they need is to sleep and let us borrow their faces.”

He went to put an arm around his shoulder. “Let’s go. The Banquet awaits.”

Despite the bad status of the world below…..

The Palace of the Gods remained in perfect condition. Everyone also partied and made merry like there was absolutely nothing terrible going on.

And the one that made sure that sense of peace was maintained was no other than the God of Peace himself.

“Please, gentlemen. Heroes and minor gods. Enjoy yourselves in this Banquet, we would be announcing the latest ranking of the gods soon!”

It was so fake and nauseatingly posh. Much like Belladonna’s birthday party, but much bigger and in a more ridiculous scale.

There were performers to keep the guests entertained and forget all their worries. Giant beasts who were familiar performed tricks and tried to outdo each other for their master’s sake.

Cermin was almost stepped on by a large Ruby Elephant. People just laughed at this and clinked their glasses together, chatting about nonsense.

“How… How can they all be so calm like this?” Cermin frowned.

“The gods didn’t want to accept that things were going wrong. They’re being negligent and in denial.” Ronin sneered.

All the Higher Order Gods were much like Pallas, but Ronin could feel that they were still heavily scarred.

Both physically and mentally. Even when he could not hear their thoughts, their actions shows it all.

The nervousness for every mortal they saw. Hell, even the nervousness around each other.

The Lord of Darkness could be anywhere and strike any time. Just like how he took them completely by surprise when he ate the Core.

But it seemed that there was only one god that did not want to be in denial.

On the balcony, someone stepped forward and yelled:

“YOU BUNCH OF POMPOUS PRETENTIOUS COWARDS! WE SHOULD BE PREPARING FOR WAR, NOT CAVORTING LIKE THIS!”