In the library of the White Tower... Ah, the White Tower is a mage tower standing in other planes, one of the three famous [Academy Towers]. Ira and Vera were freshmen who enrolled at the same time.

So, besides being colleagues, Ira and Vera were also classmates for a while, though they didn't really know each other... although they didn't have much interaction during their school years.

During his school years, Ira also earned a notorious reputation (a fearsome one), and the title of "Cruel Blood Witch" followed him for a long time until it was replaced by the title of "Chief Consul," but that's another story.

In short, the books in the Tower of Pure White record that in the distant Age of Gods, when the gods were still active, people's prayers would be answered by the gods, until one day the gods suddenly fell silent, and this has continued to this day.

However, this claim has significant problems. Whether the "Age of Gods" truly existed is an unproven question. Is the so-called "writing of the Age of Gods" merely a hieroglyphic script devised by intelligent beings, rather than a teaching from the gods?

After all, if the gods were once active, why would they suddenly become lonely at some point?

Of course, there are arguments that the Age of Gods did exist and that the sudden silence was because the gods were dead. However, since the magic that praised the gods was still working normally, no one studied this topic much.

The first reaction to the translation of "Ira" as "the gods are dead" is disbelief.

"What? I think that's unrealistic. What... could possibly kill a god?"

Ira also thought it was unlikely.

So, Ira simply reached into the water and carefully took out the cracked stone slab, placing it on the ground as a gesture, saying, "You can repair it. If I have the chance, I'll ask Cassiopeia."

"Heh~ So you're looking for a chance to see your old flame, huh..."

Vera may not have a clear answer, but she did indeed press her hands deftly onto the stone slab, chanting a restoration spell... Of course, while the cracks could be repaired, she couldn't fix the blurred writing caused by soaking.

But it probably doesn't matter.

"Cassiopeia...who is that?"

As Satan asked this question, the other leaders also looked at Ira.

"The Queen of the Silvermoon Tree Court is my friend... Don't listen to Vera's nonsense." Ira said with some helplessness, then coughed lightly to change the subject, saying, "Let me see what's in the other two boxes."

As he said this, Ira quickly opened the lid... Although he and Cassiopeia were indeed completely innocent, for some reason, he really didn't want to tell Satan Ye about them.

Then, what was revealed to everyone were two boxes of water... One of the boxes contained water in some tattered rags, which had been reduced to silk scraps.

It has no value whatsoever.

The other box contained some broken eggshells, which, judging from their size and volume, appeared to be some very small reptile that had hatched inside the box and then swam out.

It's probably a snake or something similar. There weren't many eggshells, so they were probably eaten by the snake after it hatched... Many reptiles have the habit of laying their own eggs as their first meal after hatching.

"An egg?"

"A snake?"

The leaders were puzzled. They looked at the eggshell with confusion, completely unable to understand why a snake egg needed to be stored in a gold box. Was it something particularly valuable?

Is it some kind of exceptionally strong snake larva? Does Ira know what it is?

The leaders, who had begun to feel that Ira knew something about everything, looked in Ira's direction, but he was staring into the box, seemingly lost in thought.

"Mr. Ira?"

The headless horseman leader called Ira's name softly, and Ira came to his senses. He took one last look at the box and said, "It seems to contain only eggshells."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"???"

Amid everyone's confusion, Ira frowned, carefully grasping the little imp's hand and using it as a stick to poke at the broken eggshells, saying, "The moment I opened the box, I saw a patch of pitch-black scales."

"..."

"???"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Then, Shirina placed her hand on Ira's shoulder, but quickly removed it, nodding and saying, "There are no signs of being affected by illusions."

Ira shook her head helplessly at their words and attitude, looking at the tattered eggshells in the box, and said, "The Archon's resistance to illusion magic is passable... Hmm, maybe I'm seeing things?"

"Hmm..."

Satan Ye pondered for a moment, and after confirming again and again that the contents of the box were indeed only some fragments of eggshells, she said, "However, I believe Mr. Ira more. Perhaps there were scales just now, but they have simply disappeared."

Humans (and monsters too) rarely doubt what they see with their own eyes, but Satan Ye's ability to believe Ira at a time like this makes him a truly formidable demon lord.

Although this trust comes at no cost.

Ira didn't think he had misread it. He frowned as he recalled the snake scales that were as captivating as the deep black night, but still sighed and said, "Maybe so. There must be a reason why it was stored so preciously."

"Oh? So, there's only one stone slab in the three boxes?" Vera shrugged helplessly, looking like she'd missed something, and complained, "And the 'Gods are dead' thing feels like a secret best left unknown."

Believe it or not, this kind of intelligence doesn't seem like a good thing.

Vera casually shrugged, complaining, "I knew I shouldn't have come. There's nothing of value to see here. I went to teach the little lesser demons; they're incredibly stupid!"

But the other leaders weren't so carefree; they were all focused on the stone slab that had been restored to its original state... If the statement "The Gods are dead" is a true record...

So what exactly is the "god" that responds to mortals' magic and enables it to be realized, as people perceive it?

Such questions may only be answered by deciphering the contents of the stone tablet.

Thinking this, Ira stared at the three empty boxes, then said, "Let's put this matter aside for now, everyone keep this a secret... We'll consider the translation later."

"The box was remelted and commissioned to be minted into gold coins by Grand Duke Novak, who was about to engage in trade."

Ira said this, and the other leaders nodded in agreement.

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"..."

"..."

[Hiss hiss~]