The three of them got into the carriage and headed towards the Ilstein Federation.
"Still, why do countries have to fight just because they're different...?"
It was Megumi who muttered this.
"It's like they've been brainwashed or something."
Yuuya agreed with her.
"We're almost at the city of the Ilstein Federation."
Seiya interjected.
"Hey, once we get into the city, let's go to the church and pray. For a safe journey."
Megumi's suggestion was met with nods from the other two.
At the entrance to the city, they showed their guild cards and entered. After securing a room and leaving the carriage, they headed to the church. At the entrance, they gave an offering to the sister and approached the altar. The three of them knelt in a row and assumed a praying posture.
"Gods, please watch over us."
The moment they prayed, their vision was enveloped in a white space.
Confused, the three of them looked around. It was a world of nothing but white.
"I'm sorry for calling you here so suddenly."
Turning towards the source of the voice, they saw a large table and seven people sitting around it.
"You don't need to be so tense. Please, take a seat."
The old man sitting in the middle spoke. The three of them sat down as they were invited.
"Let's start with introductions. I am Xenom. The Creator God Xenom, does that ring a bell? The others here are the other six gods, though one is missing..."
Xenom began his explanation with an apologetic look. Hearing the word "god," the three of them were surprised.
"Surely... I never thought I'd actually meet a god... I'm Yuuya Hirazawa."
"I'm Seiya Shiina. The one next to me is my wife, Megumi Shiina."
"I'm Megumi Shiina."
"Indeed. I've been watching you. Summoned heroes, I have a request, which is why I called you here."
Xenom began to speak.
"In fact, the chaos in this world is the doing of one god. His name is the God of Games, Aaron. This world has very few games, so he gave prophecies to people to encourage games, which led to war. We stripped him of his godly status when we realized, but falling to the mortal world made things even worse. We can't do anything once he's down there, so we need your help."
The Creator God placed his hands on the table and bowed his head. The other gods, who were sitting in a row, also bowed their heads.
"Can we... Can we really defeat Aaron..."
Yuuya asked, his face tense.
"Do we really have to do this...? I'd rather spend my time researching with my wife."
Seiya followed up.
"None of the people in this world can resist Aaron's brainwashing. Only you can. However, at your current level, it's impossible. You need to become stronger. We will provide all the support we can."
"One of us, Bella, will grant you our blessings to the fullest extent, which will greatly accelerate your growth. We will also provide you with weapons and armor. Please, stop Aaron..."
Bella, one of the gods, spoke with a sad expression.
"Also, you might not be able to defeat Aaron. So, as a precaution, we've prepared a sealing stone. When he weakens, press this stone against him and recite the spell to seal him."
Grim, the God of Skills, produced a stone about the size of his palm and handed it to them.
"I will give you weapons and armor."
Sarnos, the God of War, produced a katana-like sword, a sword, and armor from the air.
"Megumi is a sage, so I will give her these."
Reno, the God of Magic, produced a staff and a robe.
"These weapons and armor are divine artifacts. Be careful, as they are very powerful."
"We have also prepared a place for training. Time flows differently there. A year of training there will only be a minute in this world. Train there."
Xenom waved his hand, and a door appeared out of nowhere.
"Everyone, I'm sorry, but I'm counting on you..."
With that, the three of them passed through the door and entered the training ground. They spent an unknown amount of time there, thanks to Xenom's promise to stop their physical growth. They spent their days slaying monsters relentlessly.
They fought so many monsters that they lost count, driven by the uncertainty of whether they could defeat Aaron, who was on par with a god.
Finally, the three of them emerged from that world. They found themselves back in the church where they had been praying, in the past, when they had first arrived in Ilstein.
"Is this...?"
The three of them looked at each other and nodded. The time they spent training in the divine world was only as long as their prayer in the church. Silently, they left the church and gathered in the room of the inn they had reserved.
"Was that a dream...?"
"I don't think it was. Look."
In response to Megumi's question, Yuuya took out the katana-like sword given by the gods from his item box.
"Sure enough, I have a full set of armor and a sword in my item box too."
"We have to do this, don't we..."
And so, the three of them set out to defeat Aaron.
โโโ
After a year of travel, gathering information, and locating Aaron, they found themselves facing a boy who looked about fifteen years old. Around him lay the fallen bodies of those who had praised Aaron.
"Now it's just you. Are you ready?"
Seiya and Yuuya pointed their swords at Aaron, while Megumi readied her staff behind them.
"Hmph. Don't get cocky just because you defeated those weaklings. I'm still a god. You're no match for me."
When the distance between them closed to ten meters, Yuuya and Seiya charged at him with incredible speed, thanks to Megumi's enhancement magic. Aaron stood with two swords in his hands.
He blocked their sword techniques with his two swords.
"Is that all..."
Aaron muttered, and with a single swing, he sent Seiya and Yuuya flying.
"Seriously...?"
Yuuya muttered as he landed.
"After all that training to raise our levels, there's still this much of a gap..."
"Complaining won't help!"
Megumi's voice cut through the air.
"Inferno Hell!"
Megumi cast a spell at Aaron. A vortex of flames engulfed him.
When the flames dissipated, Aaron stood there, unchanged.
"Nothing at all..."
The three of them were filled with a sense of despair.
At that moment, the sound of horse hooves came from behind.
"Everyone, I'm here to help!"
Turning around, they saw the Holy Maiden Merine leading a group of adventurers on horseback. The adventurers were familiar faces, companions who had shared quests with the three of them during their journey.
"Hey! Long time no see!! I'm here to help!!"
Seeing their companions, the three of them felt their despair lift, and they smiled.