Even for those unfamiliar with Norse mythology, it was a name everyone had heard at least once – the name of the supreme god.
If Zeus existed in Greek mythology, then Odin held the same position in Norse mythology.
However, unlike Zeus, Odin represented wisdom in myths. Or rather, should I say he had a greedy desire for knowledge and wisdom? It was the same in the myths of the previous world as it was here.
“You managed to notice me.”
Odin spoke. It felt quite awkward since he was speaking through Sale’s mouth.
“I didn't know at first. I wasn't even aware of a god's interference.”
Initially, I couldn't sense the presence of a god. The series of events weren't impossible for humans to orchestrate. Perhaps that was Odin's intention, which is why it took so long.
However, I finally felt the possibility of divine intervention after hearing Hagley's story recently.
And a knight who could enter Morion must be a person from the Imperial Palace, holding a considerable position.
Adding the condition of being well-informed about me, it narrowed down to either Robert or Pascal.
But from my perspective, it didn't matter which one it was.
The important point was that both were knights of the Imperial Palace.
‘If I believe Philly is entirely on my side, then a knight of that rank contacted Hagley without her knowledge.’
Spreading rumors with a shill could be done by simply employing people.
However, approaching Hagley was a different matter. Hagley said the man he met introduced himself as a ‘reporter,’ so he must have done the same at Morion.
To infiltrate Obsidian as a ‘reporter,’ one needed a very clear certificate.
Philly was unaware of this fact, so the only person I could focus on was Emperor Bartello.
“I thought the emperor was trying to eliminate me.”
“Yes. I thought you would still think that way.”
“But then, I remembered what a clever friend once said.”
──He wouldn't want to get caught.
─Maybe the opponent is also pressed for time?
The shill, whose existence I wouldn't have noticed if they had taken enough time.
But because the enemy was rushing, Frondier caught the possibility.
And the condition of limited time didn't apply to Bartello at all. As the Emperor of the Empire, he had even less reason to rush.
‘Well, ultimately, it was based on the trust that Bartello wouldn't do such a thing to me.’
This haste didn't make sense if it was Bartello, but no one else could have done this.
The only thing I knew that could resolve it was divine power.
“You weren't Sale's god from the beginning, were you?”
“You even know that?”
Sale was originally a character without divine power. If she had it, she would have shown it by now. At least once in the game I played.
The people of the Empire believed that divine power was ‘innate.’ Gods chose the people they would love in advance.
Receiving divine power later was extremely rare, and even then, one had to achieve certain feats.
Hephaestus, who was transferred from Edwin, the target of his divine power, possessed a golem and controlled it.
Because it was a temporary measure to kill me, the golem wasn't imbued with divine power and couldn't speak a word until I made eye contact, but it was a fact that he controlled the golem.
Odin must have done something similar.
‘Possessing Sale and controlling her body, and manipulating the knights.’
He probably threatened Bartello, who was lying next to him, as well. The reason he appeared to be sleeping now was probably due to magic.
However, that time probably wouldn't last forever. Even for Odin, possessing someone else's body wouldn't be possible indefinitely.
That's why Odin acted quickly. To eliminate me from the Empire. He believed that even if I noticed the shill, he would be faster.
“Interesting. You are indeed something special, Frondier. I have seen many wise humans. But you are a little different. You seem to read the future, and your knowledge seems vast, but……. Neither of those accurately describes you.”
Sale’s eyes turned towards me and then tilted.
“You see something that even I cannot see, and you know something I do not know, Frondier.”
“……It's just that your intelligence is lacking, Odin.”
“Yes, that is quite true. That is why I, in my ignorance, am curious about one more thing.”
Odin was clearly possessing Sale's body and speaking, so his voice was also Sale's, but his tone was old.
“Among the many gods, how did you know it was me?”
He understood that I had anticipated divine intervention, but I had correctly identified the god as ‘Odin.’
“I wasn't certain. I half-guessed. I thought there would be very few gods who could possess a human who wasn't even the target of their divine power for this long.”
If anyone could do it easily, I would have been possessed by a god and killed long ago. Even Thanatos, the god of death, had to use a pre-installed trigger to kill me.
“And Sale is a descendant of Vala.”
If Philly was a descendant of Vala, then so was her daughter, Sale. She, a descendant of Vala, would have been the easiest target for Odin to possess.
If Odin could have possessed me, things would have been the easiest. But he couldn't. Perhaps the reason Hephaestus possessed the golem was because it belonged to Edwin.
I had no connection with Odin, so he couldn't possess me.
Therefore, Odin chose Sale. He had no choice but to choose Sale. The other descendants of Vala, Philly, Elysia, and Aten, would have immediately noticed if he possessed any of them.
“I see. The choice that was most rational for me became guessable precisely because of that.”
Odin nodded calmly, as if he had received a lesson from me.
──The reason why Odin was so relaxed and having a leisurely conversation with me.
The reason was obvious.
“So, how do you feel, hero?”
“How does it feel to have everything you built crumble?”