Chapter 40

While Act was on vacation, at that time.

Irankus, the former guild master who had expelled him, was wandering aimlessly through the streets.

"It's over... everything, everything..."

He stumbled along, without any particular destination, and walked through the town.

"I've lost everything... everything... everything..."

As a guild master, he had status, honor, and a castle. Now, with nothing left, all that remained was an overwhelming sense of regret.

"Oh... what a foolish thing I've done... If only I hadn't expelled Act, this wouldn't have happened..."

The grown man walked through the streets, tears streaming down his face. He eventually arrived at his own home.

"I'm back..."

Irankus was married and had a wife and children. However, despite his return, his wife did not come to greet him.

"Hey, I'm back! Where are you? Hey!"

But no matter where he searched in the house, there was no sign of his wife.

"Where did that slowpoke go...? Huh?"

Then, Irankus noticed something. There was a note on the table.

His heart skipped a beat.

"No way... she wouldn't betray me..."

Trembling, he picked up the note on the table.

【I'm going back to my parents' house.】

【Because my work isn't going well, you come home drunk every time and hit me and the children... I can't take it anymore. I'm taking the children and going back to my parents' house. Goodbye.】

Irankus collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"H... hahaha... hahahahahaha!"

Irankus could only laugh.

"It's over, it's all over! Everything, everything is over...!"

Everything he had cherished had slipped through his fingers. He no longer had the energy to reclaim it.

"Ugh... snif... waaaaah!"

Deep sorrow overwhelmed him. What had all his hard work and efforts been for?

Act Age.

Just by expelling him, he had fallen so far.

It was all his own doing. He had been wrong for not recognizing Act's actions.

"It's over, it's all over..."

Just then, a voice spoke up.

"It's not over yet. Isn't it too early to give up?"

"Who's there!?"

Swoosh... a man in a black cloak appeared in the room, which should have been empty.

He wore a mask like a clown's over the upper half of his face. With a sly smile, he bowed respectfully.

"Good evening. I am Dostoevsky, a humble 'Evil God.'"

"An Evil God... Dostoevsky...?"

An Evil God.

In mythology, the term referred to the evil deities that were said to have once existed in this world.

"Stop joking. Evil Gods are just fairy tales, right?"

"Yes, that's true. So, you can think of me as a jester pretending to be an Evil God."

Dostoevsky chuckled. ...There was something familiar about his voice.

"You... have I met you somewhere before?"

"Oh, are you trying to flirt with me? Unfortunately, I'm a man, so I'm not interested."

Irankus tried hard to remember, but he couldn't place the man claiming to be an Evil God.

"So, why did you break into my house? I'll have you arrested for trespassing!"

"That would be premature. I've come to offer you a good plan."

"A good... plan? What is it?"

Dostoevsky twisted his lips and said,

"Act Age. The one who brought you to this point. I've come to offer you a plan for revenge against him."

Dostoevsky snapped his fingers. Several people appeared behind him.

"Kill... Act... Kill Act Age!"

"What are these people...?"

"They all have a grudge against Act."

Dostoevsky pointed to each of them in turn.

"He is Ilay, the leader of the party that expelled a boy named Ilay. He is Zalchim, a noble who expelled his fiancée. He is Balkan, a hero who expelled a healer. And Dranix, the Elven prince who expelled the Half-Elves."

They were of different ages and races, but they had one thing in common.

They had all expelled someone.

"They are all in the same situation as you... they are your comrades."

"Comrades...?"

"Yes. People who have expelled someone and suffered a harsh backlash... in other words, the 'Expellers.'"

Expellers.

Indeed, since he had expelled Act Age, he might be in the same boat as them.

"I've gathered these Expellers to form a meeting. You could say I'm the guild master of the 'Expellers' Guild.'"

"An Expellers' Guild? Nonsense, such a guild isn't registered with the association."

"Yes, it's an unofficial organization."

The situation was getting more and more suspicious. Irankus looked at the Expellers Dostoevsky had brought.

Their eyes were clouded with hatred, but a fierce flame of anger burned in their depths.

A chill ran down his spine.

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Are you sure? Don't you want the power to take revenge on Act Age?"

Dostoevsky nodded, and Zalchim stepped forward.

"Ugh... gaaaaah!"

Thud! Zalchim's body swelled up, transforming into a massive, muscular giant. He clenched his fist and punched the wall.

With a tremendous crash, the wall of Irankus's house was destroyed. The shockwave even destroyed the ceiling, leaving nothing behind.

"Amazing power... wait! You destroyed my house! ...What the...?"

Irankus was stunned. The house, which had been destroyed, was back to normal in the next instant.

"Wh-What? How did the destroyed house...?"

"That's the talent I've given him."

"Given... talent?"

"Yes, I can grant the talents others desire."

The power to unlock potential.

It reminded him of someone.

"Y-You... are you Act Age?"

"Of course not. He and I are completely different. He merely recognizes and draws out the potential that a person already has. But... I am different."

Dostoevsky placed his hand on his chest.

"I can provide the most suitable talent to fulfill your desires, to the Expellers."

Indeed, it was different from Act Age. He merely unlocked the hidden potential that was already there.

On the other hand, this Evil God granted the desired abilities to the person who wanted them.

"Don't you want the power to take revenge on him?"

Seeing that immense power, it would be a lie to say he didn't want it.

Act Age.

Since losing him, everything in his life had gone wrong.

"If you join my guild, you will gain power. With that, you can regain the glory you once had. And you can show them. Act Age. Those who abandoned you."

It was a devil's whisper. Now, he had nothing left in his hands.

But in his heart, a desire to show those who had given up on him swelled.

"I want it... I want the power to take revenge on those who belittled me!"

"Shall I take that as your agreement to join my guild?"

"Yes! I'll join your guild! If it means I can take revenge on Act!"

Dostoevsky approached with a grin.

"Then, let's seal the deal."

He poked Irankus's forehead with his finger. At that moment,

"Ugh... gaaaaah!"

Irankus suddenly began to suffer.

"You... what are you... doing...!"

Something was crawling around in his head. His memories, his consciousness, were being changed into something else.

In exchange, an overwhelming surge of power flooded his body.

"Indeed, I forgot to mention. I can grant talents to others. But..."

He grinned evilly.

"Those talents are not necessarily what the Expellers desire."

"You... you tricked me!"

"Did I ever say I would give you the talents you desire?"

Irankus transformed into a monstrous creature. It was a hideous form, as if the hatred he harbored for Act had been materialized.

"My guild is an organization created to fulfill my desires. I will use you weaklings as pawns to do my bidding and commit evil deeds."

"Act... Age!"

Dostoevsky turned to the transformed Irankus and the others, including Zalchim.

"Come, let's go, Expellers."

【To the readers】

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