Chapter 31

There is an island floating in the sea. It is Hachijo Island, located in Tokyo, and it is an island built 50 years ago near the archipelago.

The term "built" is accurate. Until then, it was just a reef, but it was transformed into an island through land reclamation. It is an artificial island, but over time, it has been covered with forests and has become a rich natural environment.

However, since it is an artificial island constructed with a plan, the port is well-built, and the buildings extending from the port are neatly arranged, indicating that it was constructed based on a well-thought-out plan from the beginning.

The buildings are arranged in a grid pattern, resembling the ancient capital of Kyoto. To preserve the landscape, the houses and buildings are designed as if they are mirror images of each other.

It is a mysterious landscape. Building identical structures as mirror images is considered too eccentric. Normally, buildings are constructed freely.

To preserve the landscape, there are rules such as not building structures taller than a certain height and paying attention to color, but no one would follow an instruction to build identical buildings.

However, on this island, such instructions were followed. Everyone built identical buildings obediently.

The island was designed to create a world of mirror images.

This is because the artificial island belongs to 'Yggdrasil.' The devout followers of 'Yggdrasil' live there to venerate their founder.

The religious group 'Yggdrasil.' Despite being established only 60 years ago, it has acquired an entire artificial island, solely because a holy woman exists as the founder.

With vast wealth, the power to permit construction, and the magic to make such plans possible, the artificial island was built.

The town extends to the center of the island, where a massive building stands. Like the palace of the ancient capital of Kyoto, where the ruler resided, there is a wooden palace.

The building, seemingly defying gravity, is supported by slender pillars, with complex single-story structures layered upon each other, appearing to float like a hanging garden. The intricate pathways crisscrossing the building make it look like a great labyrinth. Built with magical architecture, it has a strength far beyond its physical capabilities.

The palace where the founder of 'Yggdrasil' resides, known as the 'Yggdrasil Palace.'

A magnificent and ornate palace. Among the followers, the devout ones live there to take care of the founder. They all have calm expressions and live without idle chatter.

A peaceful and tranquil place. In the innermost part of the 'Yggdrasil Palace,' where the founder resides, a plump elderly man sits on a polished wooden floor. He is dressed in a fine suit, with a noble's badge proudly pinned to his collar. His face, worn from power struggles, is grotesque with wrinkles.

In the innermost room, a curtain is set up, and a faint shadow can be seen through it. A solemn female voice is heard from behind the curtain.

"O leaves of Yggdrasil's life, heal this man's body with the fragment of eternal life."

'Life Leaf'

As the man's body faintly glows, his face changes. The wrinkles and spots on his face gradually disappear.

When the light subsides, the man touches his body, rotates his shoulders, twists his waist, and grins.

"Oh, Founder! My body feels much better! The numbness from fatigue is gone, and my aching back is healed. The indigestion I always felt is gone, and I feel much lighter!"

His grin, more than his gratitude, expresses the superiority of a man who feels entitled.

"That is good to hear. Senator, I pray for your continued success as a politician. And the donation for healing your condition this time..."

"Hahaha! Leave it to me. I'll ask my acquaintances to ensure that the prosecution of 'Yggdrasil' does not continue."

"That is excellent. Thank you."

"Leave it to me! When I get home, I'll have a thick steak and a discussion. After all, I can eat as much as I want now!"

Declaring that he will immediately put his newly healed body to the test, the senator pats his protruding belly.

"Be careful. Your body has just been healed. You might end up damaging it again."

"I understand, Founder. I'll come to you again if that happens."

The senator laughs heartily and nods, but it is easy to predict that he will not keep his promise. The founder knows it is futile to say more.

With a bow, the senator stands up and leaves the room, looking spirited. He will probably drink, indulge in women, and have a lavish meal as soon as he gets home. His slack face remains twisted in a grotesque grin.

Five followers appear from the opposite corridor and pass by the senator. One of them glances at the senator and snickers.

The senator, accompanied by his waiting secretary, will probably head to the waiting helicopter.

The five followers enter the inner room and sit in front of the curtain. Some sit in a proper seiza position, while others sit cross-legged. Some do not appear to be showing respect to the founder. The commonality is that they all wear white robes with hoods pulled deep over their faces, hiding their expressions.

"Founder, you look well."

Among the five, one with a straight back and proper seiza position bows and greets the founder. His attitude clearly shows respect.

"Founder, the senator's secretary handed a trunk to the reception."

"It must contain 10 billion yen, given its size."

"That's a good profit for just one spell."

"Is the share equal?"

The others, with varying attitudes, speak in a more equal tone, some with twisted grins, clearly wanting money.

They do not appear to be devout followers who aim to save people. Each seems to be thinking only of themselves.

"Ho, my five apostles, it is good to see you all in good health."

However, the founder, hidden behind the curtain, does not seem to mind.

"The reward this time is 1.2 billion yen. 600 million for me, and the rest will be divided equally among the six of you."

"Where's the equality in that? Are you the leader of a comic band?"

The founder laughs mockingly at the man who spits in disgust.

"It takes a lot of money to sustain the cult. It was part of the original agreement."

"We have subordinates to support too, you know."

The founder chuckles.

"I have tens of thousands of followers, while you have dozens. I think I deserve more."

"It was part of the original agreement. I don't mind."

"...Damn. You're right. We have to keep the agreement."

The conversation finally ends, and the room becomes slightly quiet. If a devout follower saw this, they would likely be outraged by the disrespectful attitude toward the founder.

But for them, it is a common occurrence.

"You're just the highest-ranking officials hired with money. You can't show this to devout followers."

"Powerful mages wouldn't join your cult just because it's convenient."

"We have our own income and power. We don't need to join a shady religion."

"Because of that, I will give you even more money and power."

The founder laughs and continues. Indeed, these highest-ranking officials were hired by the founder. They lack loyalty and are not devout followers. There was no reason for powerful mages, who possess both wealth and power, to join a new religion like 'Yggdrasil.'

These five are failures. They have the power of magic but do not know how to earn money, are not intelligent, are easily manipulated by those in power, or are criminals. Each has their own issues.

The founder hired these five as the highest-ranking officials, providing them with large sums of money and connections to those in power.

"So, the reason we gathered this time is that Frungnir has obtained the 'Earth Forehead Crown.'"

At the founder's words, a large man puffs out his chest, and the others look impressed. Frungnir, the man called, smiles and speaks.

"Yes, that's right. I traded it for that cheap pseudo-elixir. ...I was going to kill them all and take it if they refused, but the Yuki family had some skilled mages, so I thought it would be a good fight. It turned out to be a boring result."

He pulls out the rusty forehead crown from his pocket and tosses it on the floor. A servant of the founder hurriedly picks it up and respectfully hands it to the founder.

"That's fine. You are careless. You might have killed recklessly and failed to obtain the item."

"Underestimating a magic item user can be dangerous."

"Shut up. Is it the real thing? It seems too easy. I feel like we might have been tricked."

The founder nods and sends mana into the forehead crown. The rusty forehead crown glows, and the rust seems to melt away. The room is illuminated, emitting a mystical power. However, the light gradually subsides, and the forehead crown returns to its rusty state.

"Hmm... It seems we need more mana. It has been neglected for a long time, so it needs regular mana infusion."

The founder spits in disgust and hands the Earth Forehead Crown to the servant. The servant nods, takes the forehead crown, and hands it to Frungnir.

"What? What do you mean?"

"It's like a clogged water pipe. You need to flush it repeatedly to clean it out."

"Thanks for the clear explanation. So, you want me to keep infusing mana?"

"It is definitely the real thing, but there is a sense of discomfort in the mana flow. There is no other explanation."

The founder's shadow shrugs, and Frungnir makes a displeased face.

"Troublesome! Can someone else do it?"

"I intend to use this divine artifact to revive the demon god. It has great power, but if you don't like it, I can give it to someone else."

"Damn... I have no choice. There will be more rough work to do, so I'll infuse mana when I have time."

Frungnir spits in disgust but puts the forehead crown back in his pocket. The divine artifact can only be fully activated by infusing it with his own mana. Frungnir reluctantly accepts it.

Satisfied with this, the founder continues.

"According to the scriptures, there are four remaining divine artifacts. Each of you must strive to gather all of them."

"Hah. For the revival of the demon god, we will all do our best."

The officials bow deeply and nod.

"The revival of the demon god... It will serve as a deterrent to other countries."

"How much can we sell the complete set of divine artifacts for?"

"Powerful divine artifacts will be analyzed."

"First, give us the reward for obtaining the divine artifact."

"If we reconstruct the world, a happy world awaits..."

They all unite their hearts and swear to the founder to revive the demon god, which will destroy the world.

Their motivations are not aligned, but they have decided to act to revive the demon god.

In the novel, most of these discussions are not described. To depict a visually appealing scene, these five are portrayed as devout fanatics.