Overlord of biblical proportions: Return of the Biblical God (21)

Setting aside the last of the satisfied — or at least, that's what Momonga presumed, and hoped, the girl's state to be — Vampire Brides, Momonga rose from the bed. Taking care not to disturb the girls sprawled around him, before casting his gaze over all the girls present.

After his inhuman body had returned, replacing his Wish-granted human one, Momonga had performed, quite mechanically, in fact, all his ‘actions’ with the girls, having forgotten the problems of a physical and human body. Such as refractory periods and the need for rest after each ‘release’. Afterward, having waded through the huge mass of girls, he returned to reality, pushing aside tangential thoughts about how, in a human body, he needed to find a balance between pleasure and the inability to repeat it too frequently, and focused on the current situation. 

The situation being larger than the dozens of girls with whom he had just had sex with. Something that would be much to the envy of Peroroncino and his past self. That is, the situation with the angels, the Church, and being the Biblical God.

So, could Momonga's trip to Kuoh City and his first full encounter with an Angel who was apparently very familiar with the Biblical God be called a success? It depended, of course, on how exactly one defined the word ‘success’… But from Momonga's point of view at least, it leaned more to a ‘yes’ rather than a ‘no’. 

After all, he had, at least for the time being, who knows what lies in the immediate future, had not started any war involving the Angels and the Church on either side. Which was already quite an achievement under the circumstances. Especially since he had thought that his disguise as the Biblical God was shoddy at best.

However, that was where Momonga's accomplishments ended — at least from his own perspective.

His trick of assuming the form of the Biblical God had been convincing, but it remained just that, a one-time trick that Momonga shouldn't repeat in the future; given that it required him to expend irreplaceable resources, experience, and uses of [Wish Upon a Star]. 

Another use of such an ability, or even several uses, had to be avoided by all means available to him. Just imagining that future, where he had to use it again, had given him psychic damage.

Momonga had also only managed to convince a single Angel, Gabriel, of his divine nature, and of his assumed identity as the Biblical God. He didn't even want to contemplate how problematic it would be if he had to pull off the same feat with a multitude of Angels; and how he would then have to reconcile that information with various details about Nazarick and his own plans.

And through all this, Shalltear had now seen Gabriel, and Gabriel had seen Shalltear, and Momonga himself had not intervened in the events that unfolded. Under the current circumstances, wondering how his ‘daughter’ would react to the news that her ‘Daddy’ had found her a new ‘stepmother’ was already secondary to the problems that would follow as soon as Gabriel opened her mouth about what she had seen in general to the other Angels.

If Momonga were still in the guise of the Biblical God, he was quite sure he wouldn't be able to think so much and so calmly on this topic, especially considering that he was now lying in a pile of female bodies like the protagonist of the lewdest hentai he could imagine. Even ‘sage time’ would not help him think at all.

But now, back in his lich body, nothing stopped him from clearly think, allowing him to separate pleasant physical sensations from unpleasant mental ones.

The unpleasant mental ones, in this particular case, converged on the fact that Momonga, once again in a completely ordinary fashion for him, had no idea what to do about the current situation.

How could he convince people that he was the Biblical God? 

No matter how much Momonga pondered, the only answer that came to his mind every time was ‘no way’.

That is, Momonga imagines that even the genuine article, that is, the Biblical God, probably had faced the same problems in the past. It's difficult to convince followers you are the ‘real’ God when the number of ‘real gods’ exceeds one, when said gods wouldn’t be happy to see you, and especially when you were officially dead not too long ago. 

Resurrecting the dead was, of course, a divine miracle that added a few points to Momonga's overall ‘divinity’ score, but that usually applied to resurrecting another person, not the supposedly invincible and immortal god himself. A god wasn’t supposed to die, after all.

Therefore, gradually descending from lofty heights to a realistic assessment, Momonga came to a single conclusion; how exactly could he convince the highest-ranking members of the Church that he was the Biblical God?

The simplest, most logical, and reflexively immediate answer was to do something that only the Biblical God could do. The problem was that Momonga didn't know what exactly the Biblical God had done in the past or what his unique signature that no other god could imitate; that is, aside from just assuming the form of the Biblical God again, and Momonga had already considered all the problems associated with that.

Gabriel believed him, of course, so he could rely on her support if he faced a group of other angels, but a single angel, even a high-ranking one, was completely insufficient to convince them of Momonga's nature.

So, Momonga could… try to convince only the highest-ranking angels and entrust them with convincing all the followers!

The question was, how to convince the highest-ranking Angels that he was the Biblical God?

If he just appeared before humans, he could probably use something like [Super-Tier Magic] to convince at least some of them of his ability to create ‘miracles’. But the high-ranking angels had not only seen the miracles done by the Biblical God in the past, but they also knew better than anyone what the Biblical God was actually like. And even if he used the excuse he had come up with, that ‘he had seen the future and was now preparing for a great battle’, it still wouldn't be the best justification.

There are holes in it for once, and when he would be questioned on it? Panic would be the least of the emotion that he would be feeling then.

This meant he needed to come up with some grand act that also, paradoxically, only a few could see. Also, one that didn't require much expenditure on his part. Something that would serve as absolute proof of his divine nature, and ‘inform’ the ones that he’s trying to convince as to why he had shown up now. Or, at least, was convoluted enough that no one could definitively point out the deception on his part…

Where could he possibly find something so comprehensive yet hidden, that he could do without any cost on his part, and that would absolutely point to his divine nature?

Ainz had no idea whatsoever…

***

“YOU WANT TO DO WHAT WITH THE [Heavenly System]?!?” Michael, who usually appeared before the people of the Church as an unshakable rock of confidence, whose ability to restrain his emotions could only be challenged by the eternally shining smile of forgiveness and mercy on his face, was currently observing Gabriel with a gaze that likened him more to a gaping fish.

“This is the only way to forever rid all followers of their doubts — once and for all!” Gabriel, however, reacted to Michael’s unspoken doubts about her mental state with a dignity far more befitting one of the Great Seraphs. “For even you, my brother, do not believe me!”

To these words, Michael found nothing he could reply with.

After Gabriel had returned from her expedition to Kuoh, Michael had been overjoyed. The news of His appearance in a small Japanese city, especially one in devil territory — well, former Devil territory, had shaken the hearts and minds of many Seraphs. Of course, the thought that it could all be a trap laid by the Devils was never far from their thoughts, and so Michael couldn’t help but be glad to hear that Gabriel had returned to the Heavens after going to Kuoh.

However, the fact that she returned in her current state and with her current story was a problem in itself.

Gabriel had practically dragged Michael out of his daily work and had bombarded him with information that God, their Father, had indeed returned. And before he could even swallow that information, Gabriel further bombarded him with the fact that God had chosen to hide in the human world for now. In fact, the choice not to immediately return to the Heavens, was a mark of the greatest sin for the Angels.

And that Father, being Father, He had already foreseen this even before the Angels had first dared to doubt Him, which was precisely why Gabriel now required access to the [Heaven System]. The backbone of the Heavens, which she planned to hand over to Father, and that this alone would be sufficient to prove the reality of His return to His errant children.

Michael wasn’t objecting to Gabriel’s logic; indeed, the [Heaven System] was probably Father’s greatest miracle that no god, mage, or Dragon had been able to replicate, no matter how hard they tried. Further, even the principle of how the [Heaven System] worked was unknown to anyone; Azazel or Ajuka or Odin, the smartest people in the Supernatural worlds, all of them could only understand the system's workings at a superficial level. 

Even Michael himself knows not much more; Michael understood perfectly well that the effectiveness of his use of the [Heaven System] or his level of understanding was negligible. 

Indeed, if someone could truly understand and control the [Heaven System], then even the most die-hard skeptics would have no choice but to acknowledge Father’s return.

The problem was that even the existence of the [Heaven System] was known only to the highest echelons, be they human or Angel, and access to it was limited to only a select few. And only the Great Seraphs could even interact with it, albeit very poorly. But anyone else who tried to take on such a burden would be instantly incinerated by it, either that, or it would destroy the mechanism, which was already unstable after the loss of its creator.

In other words, in the worst-case scenario, by taking on such a burden, the one whom Gabriel thought to be the Father returned could simply destroy the entire, already fragile mechanism, plunging all of the Church's still-preserved miracles, the Angels, the [Sacred Gears], and everything else into the abyss.

Yes, that was the worst case scenario, and there are other, more mundane possibilities. But Michael, by virtue of his duty, was always forced to consider the worst possible outcome in his planning.

At the same time, Michael did not doubt his dear sister. 

As one of their Father’s first creations, she would never make the mistake of identifying a random passerby as Father, or one who had no connection to Father whatsoever.

And so, under the current circumstances, Michael was so stunned — because he saw no way out of acceding to his sister’s demand.

Reject Gabriel's words? Michael knew his sister — she would follow his lead to an extent, but everything had its limit, even her mercy.

Accept Gabriel’s words and hand over control of [Heaven System] to an unknown? Such an action had so many possible negative outcomes that Michael wouldn’t even begin to list them all at once. Even his incredible endurance had its limits.

Often, many situations, especially in the human world, could be resolved by creating a condition like, ‘You are now responsible for the consequences of your actions, with your life’. But the risks of a negative outcome with the [Heaven System] were so catastrophic and widespread that Michael couldn't trust the consequence of death as a deterrent. He did not wish harm upon Gabriel, but what good would it be if the world found itself on the brink of the greatest magical catastrophe of the modern times?

But by simply refusing Gabriel, he would, at best, turn the most influential and powerful woman in the Heavens against him. The last thing Michael needed was another civil war; one was already bad enough.

“I understand your intent, Gabriel,” Gabriel sensed the refusal hurtling toward her at full speed and had already opened her mouth to interrupt Michael, but he beat her to it. “You yourself said that Father had lost His previous form, did you not? Who can guarantee that, having lost that, He will be able to easily command His past creation once more?”

This objection sounded logical enough to confuse Gabriel for a second, granting Michael sufficient space to continue with his argument. “Perhaps, if He can demonstrate something similar to His past capabilities… We can trust in His power again and hand Him control over the [Heaven System], which He should possess by right, should we not?”

Gabriel, met not with agreement or a definitive refusal, but with a logical counter-argument, pondered for a moment, allowing Michael to exhale triumphantly.

“Perhaps, if He still possesses at least a part of His past powers, we could convince the others and give Him control over the system.” 

Michael smiled a moment later and shook his head slightly, confident that he had won the argument.

Indeed, the only way the unknown could gain control of the [Heaven System] was by proving that they were not an unknown at all, but instead was their Father. And the only way that they could prove it without a doubt; was by taking control over the [Heaven System].

It was a Catch-22. And one that is logical to ask, too, so Gabriel wouldn’t get angry at him. 

After all, even the legendary miracles that God had done in the past were within the grasp of other deities and mages. Even the greatest of them, be it great ‘holy power’ or resurrection, is capable of being done by other gods if under different conditions. Thus, the unknown would be unable to prove his Divinity.

Not for forever of course, just enough… enough time for Michael to be sure.

It was blasphemy, to be sure, if God, if Father really has returned then what Michael is doing, keeping the situation stuck in limbo, where he neither rejected His divine nature nor entrusted him with the keys to the [Heaven System]. Michael would indeed face judgment… But if it was to fulfill his duty, he would risk his very life.

At least not until he was personally and completely convinced of the nature of the unknown who claimed to be Father, returned to this world after so many years.

“No, that’s perhaps not true…” Michael suddenly stopped his train of thought. “There is one more act that only the Biblical God could perform.”

There were countless beings of magical and divine nature in the world, but only the Biblical God had ever created true Angels. Not just beings possessing a holy nature or a divine origin, but Angels themselves. And if the unknown, in theory, could create a true Angel, then even Michael himself would have no choice but to acknowledge Him as the True God and give him control of the [Heaven System]…

However, if the unknown could indeed create an Angel, Michael was truly ready to recognize him as the returned Lord, beyond any doubt.

For no one, in any other way, could create an angel by their will, except for Him.

This, Michael knew with absolute certainty.

***

“How wondrous is the mind of Lord Momonga — how can He, with something so imperceptible, so small, yet with His every movement embodying His unimaginable plan in all its splendor?” 

The voice that reached Miki’s ears was unfamiliar, but a quick turn toward the speaking figure made Miki instantly perform a curtsy. An unpracticed gesture, yet for that reason, appearing even more sincere. 

“Good morning, Lord Demiurge!”

“Good morning,” Despite the fact that the demon's back was straighter than the straightest iron beam, and he himself stood still in his suit, always ironed to an absolute shine and with perfect creases, his entire being exuded such effortless elegance, that Miki could only call Demiurge graceful. 

“That is enough. Your mastery of the proper genuflection is imperfect and will require another twenty thousand repetitions before the next evaluation; but you are making progress on your path. As is to be expected of a human directly marked by Lord Momonga.”

A normal person, upon learning that their training would require another twenty thousand repetitions of a rather complex pose, would surely be horrified. However, Miki had long ceased to be a normal person; she was one who had been marked by the grace of Lord Momonga, after all. 

Therefore, she accepted the information from Lord Demiurge with a benevolent smile, after all, this information did mean that she was progressing on her path of service to Lord Momonga and pointed her further toward self-improvement. Thus, it was far more precious than gold, and was received by Miki with the most benign smile she could muster. 

A moment later, however, rising from her curtsy and grasping what Lord Demiurge had been talking about, Miki instantly wished to ask what exactly he and Lord Momonga had been contemplating. Before cutting off her own thoughts on the matter.

Wasn't her question about being initiated into the cosmic mysteries of Lord Momonga not blasphemous in itself?

Demiurge, of course, caught the unspoken question regardless.

“There is no need to ask. Of course, I will enlighten you, for you are involved in the magnificent plan of Lord Momonga, Miki Hyoudou.” 

Demiurge's voice spread like sweet molasses in Miki’s ears, making her wonder if the demon could read minds just as Lord Pandora’s Actor, that is, Issei, had once claimed he could. 

“No, I, as I have been created by my Creator, cannot read minds. However, despite being marked by Lord Momonga, you unfortunately remain human, and so it is no trouble for me to read your thoughts through your expressions alone and anticipate both your questions and the answer it requires. However, your sad existence as a human, as I can predict based on Lord Momonga's plan, is indeed a stage that is now behind you.”

Miki was unsure what Lord Demiurge meant by that last sentence, but it was not her place to question, only to listen.

A moment later, Miki, realizing she was about to be told important information, remembered her role as a model mother and hostess of the house, smiling at Lord Demiurge, she gestured towards the sofa. 

“Perhaps some tea first, Lord Demiurge?”

“Hmm, I feel a certain pinch of rebellion, and therefore I will not refuse to sample the low-quality swill that humans call 'tea' in this world,” Demiurge smiled, nodding patronizingly, and Miki instantly rushed to the tea shelves, not reacting at all to Lord Demiurge's assessment of the quality of products in the human world. 

One cannot offend the sea by calling it wet, after all. It is simply the truth, just as it is true that for a sublime inhabitant of the Promised Land of Nazarick, any product from the human world, even the best and most expensive, would indeed be swill.

Therefore, Miki neither apologized for the poor quality of her preparations, nor did she feel insulted. Serving the Supreme Beings meant impeccably fulfilling her assigned duties and adhering to her role and purpose with absolute dedication. Thus, Miki herself had to flawlessly devote herself to this role, to prepare tea the best she could. 

She placed a saucer in front of Lord Demiurge, setting a second for herself, before presenting the cup of tea to Lord Demiurge with a bow.

He, in turn, accepted the cup of tea with the grace of a true aesthete, inseparable from his image, before taking a silent sip. It seemed to Miki that his lips twitched in an almost amused smirk the moment the liquid touched his tongue, before he set the cup of tea aside.

“Indeed, the word 'trash' doesn't fully describe my impression of this product's taste. However, the words that might attempt to approach an evaluation of this 'tea', if I were to choose to sin against the truth and call this product such, are by no means approved by my Creator. And so, I prefer to refrain from mentioning them.” Lord Demiurge took another sip before looking at Miki again, setting the cup aside for good and looking at her. 

“A worthy demonstration of the quality of life and existence of those for whom Lord Momonga’s Son once sacrificed his own life. Only His grace serves as the chain that restrains my most destructive impulses toward humanity, which so contemptuously squanders His gift on an existence in filth and ignorance.”

Miki, having silently listened to Lord Demiurge's reprimand, just as silently continued to wait for him to continue talking about how Lord Demiurge had managed to unravel a part of Lord Momonga's unfathomable plan. It was not an insult directed at her, after all, just a general overview of the state of humankind.

Seeing that Miki had not reacted to his words, as expected of a Servant of Nazarick, he finally spoke of a piece of the truth that he had discovered.

“From the very moment Pandora’s Actor brought me the news that Lord Momonga had expressed an interest in you, the question of your existence and what would be your purpose blossomed in me. And I must confess, it gave me no peace, another addition among the countless questions that forever swarm in my mind at any given time. Such is the will of Lord Ulbert Alain Odle, my Creator, who created me a genius.” 

Clasping his hands in a prayerful gesture, Lord Demiurge became an example for Miki, who also clasped her hands upon hearing one of the names of the Supreme Beings, before Lord Demiurge unclasped them and continued speaking again. 

“My mind endlessly sought all possible reasons for your existence. For a brief time, I settled on the option that Lord Momonga’s grace was nothing more than respect for His Son’s will, a virtuous act pursuing only goals of altruism toward the unworthy…”

After these words, Demiurge's smile became sardonic and bitter, in mockery of himself and his intellect, so insignificant compared to that of the Supreme Beings. 

“Indeed, how can Lord Momonga’s grand plan include a coincidence if it is not part of a countless number of prepared stratagems? Am I ashamed for daring to doubt that Lord Momonga's every move pursues a number of goals that I am incapable of even comprehending? My laxity is a product of abominable blindness and foolishness, and I shall punish myself according to all the rules, by submitting to Lord Momonga a report on my sinful lack of thought and faith.” 

Nodding along with Lord Demiurge, Miki found what he spoke of makes sense. She didn’t react when Demiurge clenched his fist, as if to show his determination. Perhaps, staying in close contact with Lord Pandora’s Actor would affect even Lord Demiurge.

“However! My redemption lies in preventing such things and in faithful service. And so, I have come to you at this moment, Miki, to set myself upon the path of atoning for my sin. Lord Momonga once mentioned that he wanted to conduct an experiment on changing the race of a suitable subject. He mentioned this to you as well, did he not?” 

Waiting for Miki's nod in response, Demiurge nodded with satisfaction, as if noting something in an internal diary. 

“My blindness and stupidity did not allow me to see this fact in the past, however, in a small way, I am grateful even to the fools in Heaven for helping me see my miscalculation.”

Understanding perfectly well that Lord Demiurge had merely made a brief pause in his narrative and was not inviting Miki for her own commentary, Miki silently took a sip of tea. By her own standards, drawn from her memory of numerous days spent enjoying this tea, it was no better or worse than the usual fare for her. She then wondered what kind of product would be worthy of the sublime inhabitants of Nazarick, before pushing the thought aside. 

No matter how much a blind man desires it, he can never truly imagine the shades of colors described to them.

“Numerous facts, be it the silent connivance in the destruction of an eternal enemy or criminal negligence regarding the growing influence of other factions, deeds each deserving of censure on their own. It had culminated in the creation of schisms among the inhabitants of the Heavens. The Angels, once created by Lord Momonga, were unable to recognize the truth of his appearance in this reality.” 

The words spoken by Lord Demiurge caused not a single muscle on his face to twitch, yet Miki, without the instinct inherent to the inhabitants of Nazarick, could tell from a single breath that Lord Demiurge was in a state of true, incredible fury. Despite the fact that there’s no chance of cadence as he spoke, it was almost as if he was uttering the most vile of curses, as if he was forced to utter these words; let alone for the fact that it had occurred. Miki, in turn, passionately wished to support Lord Demiurge in this emotion. 

However, realizing how long she herself had failed to notice Lord Momonga’s greatness, and that if not for the intervention of Lord Pandora’s Actor, she likely would have never noticed it at all. A heavy, viscous veil descended upon her soul, stifling this impulse and leaving her to silently await Lord Demiurge’s next thought.

“As expected, my first thought was the annihilation of the unworthy; however, I must confess, my intellect is but a shadow cast by the radiance of Lord Momonga’s mind, and so I could not bring myself to take this step. Should I bring to submission those who embraced the advent of Lord Momonga, or annihilate every last one of them for the sin of their family?” 

Ponderously, Lord Demiurge took another sip from his teacup. 

“In such a decision, when it concerns the personal creations of Lord Momonga, there is no room for error. I was forced to hesitantly consider my move step by step… All to understand that the keys to this lock were given to me by Lord Momonga himself before I even knew of the lock's existence. Truly His brilliance… It was maddening.”

Clasping his hands in a prayerful gesture again, Lord Demiurge silently shook his head, like an artist who, unable to express his admiration for the masterpiece of a great creator, is forced to simply marvel at its magnificence in silence.

“The experiment with race changing — I had foolishly considered it just one of his experiments, but the thought that Lord Momonga, in his infinite mercy toward his errant creations, has guided me back to the true path!” Lord Demiurge smiled again, looking at Miki. 

“For according to the thoughts of the inhabitants of the Heavens, only the Biblical God is capable of creating Angels… And what could be an easier proof of this fact's possibility than the appearance of a new angel, the elevation of a human to that status!?”

Ah, it was just now that Miki could finally understand why Lord Demiurge had visited her personally.

“Miki Hyoudou, I can now congratulate you on the fact that your shell of human flesh shall now be cast aside and forgotten, for by the grace of Lord Momonga, in his infinite genius, he anticipated not only your reward, but also how this gift would serve the grand plan.” 

A moment later, Lord Demiurge’s hand unexpectedly changed, and upon it appeared a sparkling small object, a small box that, even by its appearance, was crafted from materials that would make any master craftsman choke on tears and saliva simultaneously at a single glance. Both from the delight in seeing something so perfect, and in shock at the existence of something perfect.

“Accept your destiny, and be henceforth ascended as the youngest of His Angels!”