No Need to Worship Gods Anymore-Worship Me Instead

The questioning voices overlapped and echoed, as though someone were calling out in an enormous, distant hall—yet he was clearly seated right at the table.

Jules did not answer. Like a child, he looked around in amazement, wandering about and inspecting everything, occasionally reaching out to touch something.

"Tsk, tsk. I never thought the famed Secret Keeper Council would look like this. As expected, those close to the gods care more about the Three-Pointed Gate. All that remains in this world is an empty shell."

As he spoke, he raised his head to look at the seven hooded [Secret Keepers]. The dim room made it impossible to see what lay beneath their hoods, but the cameras in Jules's eye sockets could clearly make out that there were no human faces there at all.

"Oh, right. I nearly forgot. You don't even have shells."

"What exactly do you want?" The lead [Secret Keeper] cocked its head. "You should know that within this room, it is not difficult for us to wield our authority."

"True, true. You're [Secret Keepers], after all. Not just me—even a [Named One] might not be able to do much to you. But..."

He suddenly tilted his head, as if listening to something.

"The ritual is complete."

"What ritual...?!"

The [Secret Keeper] stopped halfway through its sentence.

The other [Secret Keepers] abruptly turned their heads as well. There was even a hint of human-like shock within their empty hoods.

"What ritual? Naturally, the ritual of ascension. You can feel the instant the Three-Pointed Gate opened a sliver, can't you? My dear niece truly lived up to expectations—the ritual was completed without a hitch, and through it... I have ascended."

He smiled and casually picked up the Cardinal Scepter beside him.

After Michel pushed open the door, he froze