Chapter 235: Sereriputa’s Punishment and Ryouma’s Calling (1/2)

“Huh?” [Ryouma]

When I visited the church and offered a prayer in the chapel, I felt myself being summoned into the divine realm as usual, but when I opened my eyes, all the nine gods I was acquainted with were there.

Usually, there would only be two or three of them around, but now there’s so many of them. I wonder if something happened.

“You came.” [Willieris]

“Willieris and Grimp-sama? You’re here too? Thank you so much for saving me recently.” [Ryouma]

“It was the right thing to do.” [Grimp]

“We couldn’t just turn a blind eye to what Sereriputa was doing, after all. We even made sure to gather together and mete out a suitable punishment for him.” [Willieris]

“Ah, so that’s why everyone’s here and Sereriputa is the only one looking like that.” [Ryouma]

I wasn’t sure whether to point it out or not, so I’ve been ignoring him, but currently, Sereriputa is lying face down on the pure-white floor of the divine realm.

“Ryouma-kun~, save me~” [Sereriputa]

He’s conscious enough to ask me for help, but his body isn’t moving.

Just what kind of punishment did they give him?

Willieris explained with a fed-up voice.

“He’s just exaggerating, you don’t have to pay him any attention.” [Willieris]

“Really!?” [Ryouma]

The God of Magic, Fernoberia, was the one to enlighten me.

“Sereriputa’s punishment is to have a ‘portion of his divine power sealed’. We left him enough power to allow him to fulfill his part in managing the world, but most of it has been sealed away. The sealing itself can’t hurt him, so the reason he looks like a worm right now is purely because he’s weak… You were inside a giant water sphere when you met this guy, right?” [Fernoberia]

“Yes.” [Ryouma]

“Before being sealed, he spent most of his time inside that. He rules over water, so it only makes sense that that’s the place most comfortable for him. It’s also the place where he can exhibit his power the most. It’s a barrier of sort. It’s strong even for gods like us, but on the other hand, he can’t use his real power without it.” [Fernoberia]

“Ah.” [Ryouma]

So basically, he’s the sort that’s unbeatable under a condition.

“Yes, something like that. However, there are some of us who believe that he’s getting off too lightly with just having his powers sealed; therefore, we’ve decided to have him undergo the ‘elite solider training’ of various countries in the lower world while in a weakened state and under the watch of the Goddess of War, Kirillel. The pain and suffering he goes through during training shall also be his punishment. In other words, the pain he’s feeling now is nothing more than simple muscle pain. Moreover, our bodies are different from humans, so no matter how much he trains, it won’t benefit him.” [Fernoberia]

Going through elite-level training without any benefits? That’s harsh.

If that’s how I’m seeing it, it must be even worse for someone like Sereriputa who looks so weak.

“To give you an idea of how fragile he is, Sereriputa is so weak that after just 3 minutes of walking outside of his barrier he’ll start complaining.” [Fernoberia]

“Aren’t you too weak?” [Ryouma]

I inadvertently ended up calling out to the god lying face down on the ground.

Apparently, he was conscious enough to reply.

“That’s because there’s no need to walk inside the water! And I can go wherever I want just by manipulating the flows. My body is just pointlessly heavy on land because I can’t float… What kind of dumbass would make something as stupid as gravity anyway?” [Sereriputa]

“As you can see, Ryouma-kun, he’s well enough to complain, so you don’t have to mind him. Also, the one who created this world’s gravity was me. So, mind you, I heard your complaints loud and clear, Sereriputa.” [Gayn]

Sereriputa kind of replied to me, but it was more of him grumbling rather than actually answering my question. Because of that the other gods, especially Gayn, glared at him.

What do you think the god in question did?

“Uwaah~ Save me, Ryouma-kun~” [Sereriputa]

He started messing around and even crawled to my feet.

“Come on, you know I can’t butt in in a matter involving the rule of the gods.” [Ryouma]

“That’s true, but~ How about giving your opinion as the victim?” [Sereriputa]

“In that case, I don’t really mind, but…” [Ryouma]

“Ryouma-kun, I know this thing is technically a god, but you really don’t have to be so concerned about him.” [Willieris]

“Perhaps, and I’m not really that concerned about him, but while I certainly felt like I was in danger at the time, I wasn’t really angry. Rather than hate, what I felt then was ‘disgust’ or ‘confusion’. And I don’t think he was planning on killing me anyway. When I think back to it, if he really wanted to kill me, I wouldn’t have been able to resist. In the end, I came out fine, and he’s already been punished enough, so I won’t demand any more than that.” [Ryouma]

“…You’re serious.” [Willieris]

“Well, I do have less respect for him than others.” [Ryouma]

In the first place, with Sereriputa’s personality, I’m sure he had no malice whatsoever.

He might have poked his nose where it didn’t belong, but he didn’t mean ill. There are plenty of busybodies back in my world too, not to mention, I myself am guilty of being one many times. If I bothered over every single one of those instances, there wouldn’t be an end to it.

“Fu fu fu~ As expected of the man I believe in! Truly worthy of my trust!” [Sereriputa]

“Tch!　It’s because of that! That damned triumphant face of yours that it’s so hard to believe you’ve really reflected over your actions!” [Willieris]