The Age of the Gods

The origin is nothing more than the whims of the gods.

"Throughout my relationship with Rena, I gradually... fell in love with her."

When the Fox God spoke these words, his fox face was serious and earnest.

Shuya and the others exchanged glances, remaining silent.

"But Rena ultimately had her own life to live. She went to university on the Main Island and came back already married."

The Fox God gritted her teeth. "Damn those stinking males! What's so good about them? Are they prettier than me? Are they as easy to masturbate as me? What's wrong with me except that I'm not human!"

It's the part of you that's not human that's bad.

Everyone silently complained in their hearts, but tacitly remained silent.

Shuya impatiently urged, "What's next?"

"Then, after some time, Rena became pregnant."

The Fox God lowered her eyes. "She came to the Shrine to pray that her child would be born healthy and grow up happily. But I... I discovered that Rena's child is shrouded in an aura of..."

"Death energy."

Shuya was startled and speechless. "This, this..."

Unexpectedly, the root of the problem lies with the Quintuplets!!!

The Aoyama Sisters understood completely upon hearing this.

Tsuruko Aoyama was shocked. "You... you can't? This... this is... such a heinous crime! Do you know what you've committed?!"

Motoko Aoyama's hand trembled slightly, and she looked at the Fox God as if she were a madwoman.

Yukino was also stunned. Her eyes widened in shock as she murmured, "Strange Arts concerning life and death have been absolutely Strange Arts for thousands of years. Those who violate them, whether gods, humans, demons, or monsters, will all be punished with—a grave sin!"

Shuya felt his brain trembling. "You... you're absolutely insane!"

That was all he could say.

Among Strange Arts, there are Forbidden Art of Life and Death, such as the so-called "resurrection of the dead."

During tribal times, shamans studied and practiced this kind of witchcraft.

But the wizard quickly realized that this kind of witchcraft was too dangerous.

The emergence of Strange Arts came too late; the mainstream public opinion still accepted the concept that "the dead cannot be brought back to life."

This concept is deeply ingrained in the aggregate of Power of Will, forming an absolute rule.

Wizards who attempted to resurrect humans using their Power of Will invariably suffered a backlash.

Weaker wizards might even die on the spot.

Even a powerful wizard would be severely injured, if not killed.

Even worse, it can cause a massive explosion of Power of Will, razing many tribes to the ground.

Therefore, this kind of Strange Arts that manipulates life and death was listed as a forbidden art by all practitioners of Strange Arts, and a terrifying Curse was placed upon it.

However, throughout human history, there have been quite a few people who have attempted to bring the dead back to life.

The only lesson humanity learns from history is that humanity learns nothing from history.

Few of these people will succeed.

Then... if someone wants to resurrect the dead, someone else will try to stop them.

Generation after generation has cast Curse against the Forbidden Art of Life and Death.

The Curse is now hundreds of times more powerful than it was originally.

If you think about it that way, it's not surprising that a Fox God would turn out like this... Bullshit!

Shuya exclaimed in horror, "You used Forbidden Art of Life and Death and death, and you're still alive?!"

He couldn't understand it; how could the Fox God, so weak, survive? It was too miraculous.

The Fox God said pitifully, "I didn't really use Forbidden Art of Life and Death; I just transferred a little of Rena's life force to her children so they could be born successfully. I didn't expect it would still violate a taboo..."

Shuya angry he laughed, "Do you think this is haggling at the market?! And you're only transferring a little bit... Damn idiot, you still have the nerve to complain?"

He forced himself to calm down. "And then?"

"Then the forbidden technique succeeded, and Rena and I were Curse. But since it was the Strange Arts I used, I was mainly punished, but Rena was also affected..."

The Fox God said dejectedly, "You should know the specifics of the punishment by now, so I'll just tell you something you don't."

"Rena and I meet once a year, and I suffer intense torment when I think about the terrible crimes I've committed."

"But this meeting doesn't necessarily mean I have to come to the Small Island and meet you in person. There was one time, and the only time, Rena didn't come back."

"That was when you were two years old. That year, Rena's husband passed away, and she sold her old house and moved into this apartment, which is how she met your family. Since your parents were often away, she would sometimes help take care of you."

"That year, Rena was busy with various things, so she didn't return to the Small Island. But on the day of Bon Festival, I was Curse and taken away to possess Rena's body, fulfilling the condition for seeing her. That day happened to be the day Rena helped take care of you..."

"So I fell under the Charm Art?"

Shuya narrowed his eyes.

He remembered everything...

That night, he was suddenly awakened by a headache; it was his innate, powerful Power of Will warning him.

At that moment, he saw Rena lying in the room in pain, with ears and a tail growing out.

That was the Fox God possessing him.

Then, he met the eyes of Rena, who was possessed by the Fox God.

He could still clearly remember Rena's beast-like eyes at that time.

The Fox God's Charm Art is something like instinct.

At that time, the Fox God was out of control. Sensing Shuya's powerful Power of Will, and unable to distinguish whether it was friend or foe, it instinctively used Charm Art on Shuya.

As the Fox God regained consciousness, he realized what he had done and wanted to immediately undo the Strange Arts.

But as soon as He awakens, the Curse will activate, dragging Him back to His original state.

Rena and the Fox God lose their memories again, awaiting the next reincarnation.

Shuya thus fell victim to Charm Art by sheer coincidence.

And because the Fox God used Rena's body to perform Strange Arts, he fell hopelessly in love with Rena.

Upon learning this damn truth, Shuya's expression changed drastically, and a powerful aura erupted from his body.

"I really didn't mean to, I'm so sorry, so sorry!"

The Fox God was about to cry.

Shuya said coldly, "Even if you're wrong, why are you apologizing like this? What are the consequences of this Charm Art?"

"Yes..." the Fox God said weakly, "I am Curse, and I will die after my punishment is complete. If I die, you, who are under my Charm Art, will also commit suicide..."

Shuya frowned.

His first question wasn't about himself, but rather, "You said you'd die, what about Rena?"

The Fox God fell silent for a moment, his eyes filled with sorrow:

"Rena, she will die too..."

"..."

Everyone fell silent.

Shuya, exasperated, pinched the Fox God's head. "What about the Quintuplets?"

They'll be fine.

The Fox God, "Rena and I will die as the price for using the Forbidden Art of Life and Death; her daughter was born because of it."

That's good news... right?

Shuya stared intently at Him: "Is there a way to save them?"

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the outcome of this conversation.

The Fox God looked at Shuya with a wry smile and uttered a single word, "Yes."

Then, He uttered incredibly cruel words.

"Quintuplets die, then Rena be born."

"Rena dies, then Quintuplets will be born."

The Fox God looked directly at Shuya: "Inoue Shuya, what do you want to choose?"

Shuya's thoughts froze.

Section 196, 180 Age of Gods

Shuya gradually released the Fox God.

He looked down at the unconscious Rena.

No matter how hard he tried, he never imagined that such an ultimate choice would fall on his shoulders.

If your mother and your wife fell into the sea, who would you save?

Your mother and wife have swapped souls; you need to sleep with one of them to save them. Who will you sleep with?

When this kind of stupid question actually happened, Shuya felt like he was suffocating.

But Shuya thought again... Who did he think he was? What right did he have to make decisions for Rena and the Quintuplets?

This is not something he should decide.

Shuya opened his mouth, but after a long while, he was able to speak:

How can I remove the Charm Art from me?

"It's already been dispelled. As long as I tell you the truth, you won't be bewitched anymore, and your power has increased since much of your strength was already dissipated..."

The Fox God nodded obsequiously.

Shuya thought about it for a while and realized that the reason he had become stronger this year was because he had become more powerful.

He then asked, "How can we save Rena?"

The Fox God hesitated for a moment. "If we kill the Quintuplets and perform a blood sacrifice, we can eliminate the karma, and Rena won't die after the punishment ends."

Shuya sneered, "That's simple and crude enough."

He looked at the Fox God: "You mean I can survive without doing anything, Quintuplets?"

"That's right."

"How much time is left for the punishment you're talking about?"

"About ten years in total..."

"Isn't there only one year left?"

Shuya sighed.

"Kid, you'd better get to the point, time is running out."

Shizuka Hiratsuka interrupted.

"Good."

Shuya nodded and said to the Fox God, "Now that you're finally lucid, is there anything you'd like to do?"

"I..."

Looking at the unconscious Rena, the Fox God said with reluctance, "This whole thing was my fault, so I should pay the price. I've decided to proceed with the Age of Gods and transfer the remaining time to Rena."

"Are you going to commit suicide?"