Chapter 34: Azurel's view of the other worlder

High above the world, past the drifting clouds and the lazy rays of morning light, The God lounged on His golden throne again . His legs casually crossed, chin resting on His palm, the picture of a deity enjoying an extended coffee break without the coffee.

Then, without warning, the air beside Him rippled.

There was a door appeared in front of him.

The same blue door on the same spot Lylia had walked through not long ago.

It swung open with quiet inevitability. Then, a person stepped out, another god. It was Azurel , The God of Magic, in his robes immaculate, expression eternally unimpressed, and posture that somehow managed to criticize the air for existing.

God blinked once as he spoke.

“Oh? It's you, Azurel? This is so sudden. What brings you here? You never really visit unless needed, I called you, or you need something.” He smiled like a parent greeting a kid who only comes home when trouble is brewing.

Azurel didn’t return the smile as he replied,

“I am here regarding the new otherworlder you let in,” he said with his tone flat, and elegant, “An anomaly so remarkable, even I found the need to comment.”

God raised a brow. “Hoh? You? Being interested in an otherworlder? That’s new. You never really cared about them until now after all. Well then, tell me, what did she had that piqued your interest?"

Azurel waved a hand delicately, as if shooing away the idea itself.

“Do not misunderstand. I am not interested. I simply… do not like this one.” His voice sharpened, velvet wrapped around a blade. “I am surprised You even allowed a soul like 'that' to live here. Souls like that should've been ceased to exist. It is far from pure, far from kind, and far from what I would categorize as ‘average.’ A sinner, and deeply so.”

God snorted softly. “Now, now. She’s not that bad.”

Azurel paused, then conceded with a slow exhale through his nose.

“At the very least, I can see that the soul has exerted great effort. It has healed… decently. Enough to be passable for polite society. But my opinion remains unchanged.” His eyes narrowed. “I do not like the new otherworlder.”

God opened his mouth, but Azurel cut him off with a sudden, suspicious glare.

“So tell me,” he said, voice smooth but icy, “what exactly are You planning this time?”

God jerked back, offended. “Woah, hey there, Azurel, don’t ask me that like I’m always plotting something.”

“Oh, please,” Azurel drawled. “You always are. So at least give me some idea. I would like to avoid being blindsided and suddenly overworked again.”

God scratched his cheek, chuckling. “…Well, you got me good there. I thought you don't hold a grudge anymore? Well, holding grudges suits you more.”

Then, completely unrelated to the conversation, He said, “Say, I learned recently some other where that nine layers is the ‘ideal’ design for a hell. Should I add more layers to Ours? We only have seven, the same old and overused yet effective seven deadly sins. What do you think?"

Azurel closed his eyes briefly, as if asking himself why he continues to exist near this deity.

“That domain is outside my jurisdiction. Ask someone else.” Then, reluctantly, he added, “But if You want my honest opinion, then yes. I approve. The more categories of punishment for sinners, the better.”

God brightened. "That's good. I’ve really been thinking about it.”

“Yes, I can tell,” Azurel said dryly. “However, back to the topic at hand.”

His gaze sharpened again.

“I can also see you gave the otherworlder forbidden knowledge. If she never came to my place, I would have never found out. What were You thinking? We agreed such things should never fall into mortal hands, yet You handed them to an otherworlder of all people?”

God paused, then shrugged lightly.

“I just thought Lylia could handle it. She seemed responsible enough.”

Azurel stared at Him.

Then stared harder.

“…What are You really planning? Is this about expanding Your hell? Does this somehow tie into how You forced seven nations to become Your ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ and turn into trials?”

God placed a hand on His chest, almost offended. “What? They were sinners anyway.”

Azurel didn’t miss a beat.

“And whose influence caused them to sin? I wonder.”

God coughed into His hand and looked away. "I only did it to speed up this world’s development. Look, I'm younger compared to the older worlds. And you know our world doesn’t have much history yet, right? But we’re not lagging behind, are we? In fact, we’re better than several worlds that came before mine.”

Azurel sighed. A long, elegant, judgmental sigh.

“It is Your world, so You may do as You please. That does not mean I agree all the time. Though, it's not that I can do anything about it.” He flicked his fingers. “Either way, the girl has at least one redeeming trait. She takes magic seriously. That is the only reason I tolerate her existence at all. But do not mistake me.” His tone sharpened. “I doubt I will ever approve her as an Archmage. Being strong in magic is not enough. One of our rules is that an Archmage must align with what is good. Unless I see improvement, I will decline her.”

God grinned. “Then I’ll approve her myself.”

Azurel didn’t blink. “You may, but my approval is still required.”

God laughed. “Touché.” He learned a lot of things from Lylia. From her herself and her memories. 

The god of magic dusted off invisible specks from his sleeve.

“It appears You have no true intention of explaining Yourself. As usual. Then, that is all.”

He turned toward the door.

Before stepping through, he added, calmly, flatly, decisively, “I still do not like the otherworlder.”

The door shut behind him and vanished.

God remained still, watching the empty space where Azurel had been.

He didn’t defend Lylia this time. He didn’t argue.

He just let out a quiet breath through his nose…

…and said nothing at all.