Chapter 5

◆The Divine Artisan Heibos

"Is it you, the Divine Artisan Heibos!!"

A roar echoed through the room.

In the radiant Elyos, this was the only dark place, and it was where I lived.

This dim place was fitting for me, the exception among the beautiful gods of Elyos.

Other gods rarely approached this dim place.

But today was different.

I was welcoming a rare visitor.

"What brings you here, Goddess Reina of Wisdom and Victory? For you to come here yourself, rather than sending a messenger, is unusual."

There stood Reina, her face contorted with anger.

Reina, one of the Three Graces, was beautiful even when angry.

It had been a long time since I last saw Reina.

Whenever she needed something from me, she usually sent a messenger.

The last time a messenger came, it was to ask me to create an artifact to assist in the summoning of a hero from another world.

When I created that artifact, I learned everything about the summoning ritual.

Later, Modus, who had been exiled from Elyos, sent a messenger to me. At that time, I told him everything about the hero and the summoning ritual.

"It's not just what, Reina!"

Reina shouted in anger.

"Is it you, Heibos? You told Modus about the hero!"

Reina interrogated me.

Modus was the only friend Heibos had since the time he was in Elyos. There was no reason to withhold information from him.

"Yes, I told him, Reina. He asked."

When I created the artifact to assist in the summoning ritual, I learned everything about it.

Modus, who was in a dire situation due to the hero, sent a messenger to me. At that time, I told him everything about the hero and the summoning ritual.

"Modus has defied the gods' decision. He is an enemy of Elyos!"

I was not part of that decision. It was always made without my knowledge.

Admittedly, it was my fault for not leaving this darkness.

Modus was eventually exiled from Elyos.

The reason was that Modus had been causing trouble for the fairies and angels under the goddesses.

However, to my knowledge, Modus did not engage in direct harassment or mischief. At most, he would spy from a distance.

If that is considered mischief, then there is nothing I can do.

Moreover, Modus had started a war with Reina.

The cause of the war was that Modus had created a replica of Reina.

It was understandable that Reina was angry at having a replica of herself created without her consent.

Therefore, in this matter, Modus was clearly in the wrong.

However, I could not bring myself to blame Modus. Like me, Modus was ugly, and he could not obtain a beautiful woman any other way. I understood Modus's feelings.

I also understood why Modus refused to hand over the replica, even if it meant being called the Demon King.

I had even helped Modus create the replica.

I could not call Modus evil.

Therefore, even if Elyos considered Modus an enemy, I could not see him as an enemy.

"Modus did defy the gods' decision. But there was no decision that I should not contact him..."

There was no decision that restricted my actions. I could act as I pleased without complaint.

The other gods could not decide what to do about Modus, who had defied the decision.

Modus was strong, and only Audis could defeat him. If they wanted to defeat Modus, only Audis could act. However, as the king of the gods, Audis could not act lightly, so nothing was done.

Moreover, Modus was not attacking Elyos. Ignoring him posed no problem.

Therefore, the other gods did not help Reina.

That was why Reina summoned the hero.

"Your argument is fallacious."

Reina responded coldly to my words.

"Then what will you do, Reina? Will you kill this Heibos?"

Reina fell silent.

Reina was stronger in combat. If she wanted to, she could easily kill me.

"I can't kill you... Your skills as an artisan are necessary for Elyos..."

Reina said regretfully.

"But if you continue to help Modus, I will have to consider my options. This is a warning, Heibos."

Reina turned to leave.

"Wait, Reina. May I ask you one question?"

I called out to Reina as she was about to leave.

"What is it, Heibos?"

"The heroes possess great power. What do you plan to do with them after they defeat Modus?"

I had not met the heroes directly, but I heard they possessed power comparable to the gods.

Leaving them unchecked would be dangerous.

Would they be welcomed as gods of Elyos?

However, that would require the consent of the other gods, which would not be easy.

"Shouldn't those who came from another world be returned to their own world?"

I tilted my head.

The summoning ritual could bring them to this world and send them away, but it was difficult to return them to their original world.

They might end up in a different world, or even drift between worlds forever.

That would not be a return, at least not in my view.

"They came from outside this world, so they will be sent out of this world once everything is over."

Finally, I understood what Reina meant.

Reina thought in terms of inside and outside. Anywhere outside was the same.

It was like saying a fish caught in the sea would be released into a tank, but actually releasing it on land.

"If there's nothing else to discuss, I'll be going, Heibos."

Reina left.

"Hmph, heroes are disposable tools. Modus is ugly, but he's not as evil as you."

I muttered, looking at the door Reina had left through.

I knew that Reina was deeply involved in the plot to exile Modus. That goddess was beautiful but had a poor character.

I walked to my workbench and read the letter on it.

It was a letter of thanks from Modus.

It expressed gratitude for the summoning ritual I had taught him, which allowed him to repel the hero.

"What a conscientious fellow."

I couldn't help but smile.

I had made many things for various people, but only Modus had sent a letter of thanks.

I wished the heroes would also be grateful. What would have happened if they had defeated Modus?

The gods of Elyos decided to seal the summoning ritual forever after witnessing the power of the heroes.

As a result, Reina could no longer use the summoning ritual.

Moreover, the ritual was not easy to perform. Various materials were needed. While it was possible in Elyos, it was impossible to gather the materials in Nargol.

Therefore, it was safe to assume that no one from another world would come to this world in the future.

Dark Knight Dihart.

That was the name of the one Modus had summoned.

Dihart's existence made it difficult to defeat Modus.

The power of the hero would be needed to counter Dihart.

Reina could not afford to treat the hero poorly.

"Well, what will happen next?"