Chapter 12

-God Pretend-

Translated by Darkapta
Edited by Darkapta

 

 

-God Pretend-

 

The Playground of the Gods

Ruin Illusion

 

 

“My Master, Titan, has expressed his discontent, he got tired of the battle-type games.”

 

“…… Hue?” (Captain of the Apostle group)

 

“Then let me say it to you yet again.”

“The game will be ‘God Pretend’!”

 

 [TL note: God Pretend: 神ごっこ]

 

 

…… What’s that?

Silence prevailed in the entire plaza.

 

Fei and Reche were in exact same state of mind as experienced by the other apostles.

None could figure out what the game means.

 

God Pretend?

I’ve never heard of a game like that before.

 

“Then please enjoy it to your fullest.”

 

“Wha!? Wai.. wait a bit. Speaking of Titans, it should have been a game battle on fighting, Power…” (Captain of the Apostle group)

 

“It seems my master desires to play a different type of game.”

 

“…… !?” (Captain of the Apostle group)

 

The captain turned pale while holding the encyclopedia in her hand.

 

The Gods are unpredictable, erratic and whimsical.

 

Even the statistics of 100 years old Mystic Court tend to get easily overturned with their single decision,

 

But…

To think that the God Titan will become whimsical at this very moment…. it was really uncalled for.

 

“Then, are there any other questions?”

 

“Then let me ask”. (Fei)

“Is that game, in short, similar to Tag (with a Devil)?” (Fei)

[TL note: Oni Gokko; 鬼ごっこ]

 

As he said so, he pointed towards the scenery where they are at to the terminal spirit – Meep.

 

The cityscape of the Miracle City, Ruin. The streets were devoid of any form of garbage and the buildings were lined up like the original place were all according to the rules of the game.

 

…… I can vaguely see now how it works now.

 

…… So, we’re supposed to use these buildings in the cityscape as obstacles in order to run away from the devil… in this case from the God, just like in the normal game of tag.

 

It all made sense now…

 

Even the reason for ‘Why’ this Upper spiritual realm resembles a human city.

 

“From what I can grasp, this area is approximately a few hundred square meters. Within the confines of this area, we, the human side would just have to run away from the God, Titan. That’s why instead of Tag (with a Devil), it is Tag (With a God)”. [TL note: Demon Tag, Oni Gokko = 鬼ごっこ; While God Tag, Kami Gokko = 神ごっこ].

 

“Exactly, it’s just as you pointed out.”

 

Terminal spirit – Meep pointed towards the far horizon.

 

It was as if the curtains of blue light was creating a border around the cityscape holding them together.

 

“This time, game is being limited to this area. You are not allowed to go outside that boundary light. The field is made to have four corners, so, please run from Master Titan within the area these four corners.”

 

“Okay… Now I understood that completely.” (Fei)

 

However, the real mystery is perhaps somewhere after this part.

 

You see,

Till one really try to solve it, know about it, you might not be able to grasp the hidden layers in this rules.

 

“If this is by the arrangement as per the original Tag (Demon), will we lose only when everyone is caught, correct?””

 

“――――”

 

*Smile…

[TL note: the terminal spirit smiled]

 

 

The gaze of every Apostle concentrated towards the terminal spirit, as, the terminal spirit – Meep laughed.

 

“Hmm, isn’t there also another rule for defeat ne~?”

 

“EHHH!”

 

The human response to the spirit’s reply were divided into two patterns.

 

The Apostles with their eyes rounded, opened wide.

 

And another were like Fei and Reche, who closed their mouths at the same time and went into a deep expression in their thoughts.

 

“Hmm… Understood… I see…” (Reche?)

 

Reche’s mouth turns into a fearless smile as she folds her arms.

“There are other conditions which would lead to defeat even if all members aren’t annihilated. Doesn’t that mean that there is way to lose even if you do not get caught right.” (Reche?)

 

“Fei, were you able grasp anything else?” (Reche)

 

Fei shook his head in denial to the question Reche asked.

 

“No, nothing yet.” (Fei)

 

So, this Tag (with a God), rather, God Pretend requires one to runs away such as to not get caught from that giant god Titan. In short, it has the same rules as that of its demon version which is commonly known to everyone.

 

…… However, the defeat conditions were something unsettling.

 

…… In addition to the Demon Tag, the case where “One can get defeated even if they were able to stay uncaught”… is possible? How can that be EVEN BE allowed?

 

Even if you manage to be uncaught, throughout the game, you can lose.

But…,

 

when you take a look from the opposite angle, doesn’t it mean…

 

“Our victory conditions doesn’t seem to be that simple too, heh?” (Fei)

 

I looked up at the terminal spirit – Meep drifting on the air.

 

“Run away to win. But that’s not enough for victory, is it?” (Fei)

 

“Yes. I will repeat again, in this “God Pretend” one can be victorious if they manage to run throughout and not get caught. But even if you manage to not get caught, you can lose.”

 

Un… the terminal spirit – Meep nodded in agreement.

 

“Also, Titan sama is very kind, thus he was telling me to provide you all with three hundred seconds before starting the game. Everyone can run far away in the mean… oya?”

 

A thunderous rumbling shook the place.

 

The sound of huge footsteps intensified as it approached them.

 

“Arere…? I was still in the middle of explaining things though.”

 

What the terminal spirit – Meep turned and looked at… was…

 

Something which was seeing from the gaps of the twenty storied skyscrapers. Having its whole body covered… rather made up of lava colored rock; looking at them with its head exposed.

[TL: Tsundere heh]

 

Titan, The Giant God.

It was the first time for Fei to witness ‘that’, real thing, in person.

 

“Arara, it seems Titan-sama was unable to wait any longer… And so with that, the prior start time will be defaulted! Good Luck Everyone! Do your best to outrun Titan-sama!.”

 

“WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!”

 

The screams of Reche with all other Apostles reverberated the scene.

 

 

And just after…

The Titan’s massive arm shattered the steel skyscraper into pieces.

 

 

The sign was given—

 

 

The Play Of Gods,

 

VS Giant Titan.

 

Game Type “God Pretend”.

 

【Victory Conditions】 ?????

 

[Defeat condition 1] That everyone is caught by God Titan.

 

【Defeat Condition 2】????? (You can get defeated, even if you manage to escape.)

 

 

THE GAME STARTS.

 

 

 

 

[TL Note: There are three terms used in describing this game,

Tag (with a Devil) {鬼ごっこ} – The normal game of Tag we know about. What the Apostles compared it to (including Reche).
Tag (with a God) {神ごっこ} – In place of a Demon, God; The only difference, all else the same, What the Apostles thought it to be. (including Reche).
God Pretend – The actual Game that is being talked, played with this Titan.

I chose the name God Pretend; since it sounds cooler x3

So that’s that]