Chapter 115: One of the Four Great Essences of Humanity—Fragrant Truth

"No, it's not necessarily that the gods of each country have a grudge—could it be an internal purge among the gods of each country? Because 'purge' also has the meaning of 'cleaning out.'"

Professor Beishan raised a different view.

"My heavens, Professor Beishan, you don't mean to say this isn't the gods of each country having a grudge, but rather the gods wanting to purge their own kind—purge the traitors!"

But before Professor Beishan could nod, Professor Zhongtian suddenly spoke up from the side.

"Actually, I think you all shouldn't be considering these things. Master Abe mentioned the return of the gods, but also mentioned that the fighting on the Initial Battlefield has eased, which means the gods are all on the Initial Battlefield.

You all still remember what Master Konghai mentioned about 'those over there,' right?

He also mentioned that he had to go to the Initial Battlefield for Master Saicho, so 'those over there' can't be referring to the gods of each country, can they?"

At Professor Zhongtian's words, the group could no longer stay calm.

Previously they had been guessing what the "supernaturals," yokai, and gods were dealing with as "those over there," focusing only on Japan's domestic myths and yokai, forgetting about foreign countries. Now, with this reminder, they all trembled.

For Japan's supernaturals, supernaturals, and yokai to stand together on the same side against them, "those over there" must be powerful.

They couldn't be found within Japan.

But that doesn't mean they don't exist abroad.

Foreign countries also have their own extraordinary myths and monsters—Egypt, Norse, Greek, and so on—these myths and legends are rich and varied, and equally powerful.

Director Takahashi and the others' teeth were chattering, unable to stop their thoughts from running wild.

A battlefield where the gods of every country participated, with Japan's gods among them.

A true grand war of all the gods across the heavens!!

What reason could have triggered a great war among the gods of every country?

Which country's gods does "those over there" refer to?

Could it be that "those over there" refers to more than one country—possibly many?

And why would "those over there" wage a great war against Japan's gods?

No!

That's not right.

This is a great war among the gods that has spread across every country in the world; all the gods of every country are involved. The gods should all be taking sides, forming two camps, or even three or four camps, warring against each other.

Japan's gods shouldn't be fighting alone—they must have allies; otherwise, how could they withstand the camps of gods from every country?

If that's the case.

Which gods are siding with Japan's gods, which gods are "those over there," and is there a third camp?

"My head hurts."

Professor Beishan pounded his head, continuing to dig deeper—the problems were too many.

"I can't figure out the reason for the gods' great war." Professor Zhongtian was frustrated with himself, vexed at why his brain hadn't grown a few more.

Suddenly.

"Um..." The attendant from the Tsuchimikado family, who had been standing aside and hadn't dared to join the conversation, weakly raised a hand and said softly: "Is it possible that 'purge' means both settling scores and cleaning out—that the gods of each country have grudges and also have traitors?"

Having listened to Director Takahashi and the others' discussion the whole time, the attendant also understood roughly, and was equally bursting with curiosity, unable to resist voicing his own view.

Everyone: "..."

The next moment.

They stared fixedly at the attendant, making his scalp crawl.

"I think your view is great, but could you wait until we've finished thinking before saying it? My brain is about to overheat." Professor Beishan was on the verge of tears.

Just thinking about gods settling scores and gods betraying was already making their brains overheat and explode, and now you've come up with something even more complicated—who could handle that?

That's what they said.

But human curiosity couldn't be held back; it was impossible to resist thinking about it.

They didn't blame the attendant; instead, they were very curious about his view, feeling he'd hit the nail on the head. But if things were really as the attendant said, the truth was too terrifying.

"Actually, researchers of the gods from various countries have discussed more than once whether the gods of different countries are connected."

As he spoke, Professor Zhongtian recalled something.

"I once attended an academic discussion on yokai and gods from various countries. At the time, researchers of the gods from different countries raised similar discussions—for example, whether Allah and God are the same person; for example, the god Anubis has a jackal head, is a death god of hell, and in Chinese mythology Ox-Head and Horse-Face are also related to the underworld—both have animal heads and human bodies, and are connected to the underworld and hell. Quite a coincidence.

There are many similar discussions; almost every time a theological research conference is held, someone will bring it up."

The more you think about it, the more terrifying it gets.

Hearing this, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. They felt their coats and down jackets weren't warm at all, sensing a chilling wind pouring into their clothes, sweeping through every pore of their bodies.

"My Amaterasu-Omikami, stop thinking about it. I feel if we keep going, this life of ours won't be enough to throw in."

Tsuchimikado Kenji trembled.

According to the attendant, the gods of each country have grudges to settle, and there are also similar connections between the gods of different countries. Isn't it very possible that these gods with similar connections are moles sent by the gods—in other words, god traitors?

Would the gods just stand by and watch as they dug up such conspiracies and secrets among the gods?

Silencing them!

"Let's just make tea instead." Director Takahashi suggested, and it was unanimously agreed upon.

Then the group walked back into the main courtyard, along the bluestone path.

As they walked...

"Um, does 'purge' have any other meanings besides settling scores and cleaning out?" Foreign Minister Ouchi Masaki spoke up.

"Let me think..."

"Seems like there aren't any other meanings besides those two."

Stop discussing? Hold back? Doesn't exist. Modern people are like that—only afraid when death is at the door; one moment shivering in fear, the next moment dancing on their own grave.

One of the four great essences of humanity, 'fragrant truth,' was on full display at this moment. There was no other reason—it was simply too fragrant, too curious about the truth.

After a round of discussion.

In the end, they couldn't discuss anything conclusive—Abe Ontake Maro had said too little.

"Let's focus on the Statue of Liberty instead. Tian Wu sent a video of the Statue of Liberty collapsing from America."

Director Takahashi took out his phone and opened the video file in the text message—"Statue of Liberty Got Fucked. avi"

……

Tokyo, Japan, Arakawa Ward, an apartment.

Ding! Host has completed an independent mini-script, score 89.

Ding! Host, please edit the script video, upload it as a video, and the system will give a score based on how popular the uploaded video becomes. At that time, the system will combine the script completion and upload popularity to give a comprehensive score, rewarding corresponding script points.

"Mini-scripts do not have character redemption."

Hearing the familiar yet incomplete system notification tone, Kamikawa Mitsu's brow rose slightly.

In the past, when a script task was completed, the system would give a character redemption notification tone; completing an independent mini-script did not.

"I now sort of understand why it's called an independent mini-script rather than an independent script—that 'mini' character is used to its essence," Kamikawa Mitsu quipped.

Since the mini-script didn't offer character redemption, Kamikawa Mitsu didn't pay it much mind.

The script currently offered many characters he still hadn't redeemed. Even if the mini-script offered characters, he wouldn't have spare script points to redeem them, so not offering them was actually better—at the very least, he wouldn't have to agonize over the choice, wavering over which character to redeem, wasting script points.

Conversely, without mini-script characters, he could focus on using mini-scripts to earn script points and redeem script characters, no longer having to worry about needing to save script points for the next script and being reluctant to spend them.

After all, each script costs a lot of points, and the script points he can actually use aren't many.

"Let's make the video and upload it."

Kamikawa Mitsu looked toward America, scheming to himself.

He wondered how Aikawa would react seeing the drool video—excited or disappointed, or perhaps both.

……