Chapter 245: Talking with Bellina 5

The Ten Gods and Goddesses were said to have been "created" during the Era of the New Civilization's Development, a time when Fortress City rose as a center of power.

It was rumored that the rulers of that time created these figures to instill moral values and offer hope to society.

However, Haruto couldn't shake the doubt that continued to nag at his mind. Was that story true?

Were they merely human-made symbols, or perhaps, the Ten figures were truly Gods and Goddesses that existed beyond human understanding?

The doubt lingered like a shadow that refused to leave, clouding Haruto's thoughts with unanswered questions.

"As for your question..." Bellina finally spoke, her voice serious, but there was an unmistakable nervousness she couldn’t hide.

"...Hm?" Haruto looked at Bellina attentively, waiting patiently for what she was about to say.

"I... I can't say this," Bellina spoke with a stiff expression, her face slightly flushed with clear tension.

"Huh?" Haruto flinched, confusion evident on his face. He stared at Bellina, as if trying to confirm if he had heard her correctly.

"Ugh... They... There’s something that prevents anyone from revealing the truth about those Ten figures," Bellina finally explained, her voice breaking as she spoke. Bellina’s face grew more anxious, like someone under invisible pressure.

"...!" Haruto widened his eyes in shock. Bellina's words were enough to send his mind spinning. If someone couldn’t even speak the truth about them, didn’t that mean they truly existed?

However, the question weighing on Haruto's mind remained unanswered. Were they really Gods and Goddesses? Or were they just extraordinarily powerful beings on par with the Gods and Goddesses in legend? Haruto didn’t know, but one thing became clear: their existence was real.

And the fact that they could create some sort of curse—or perhaps a mystical prohibition—that prevented anyone from revealing the truth about them proved their power. Not just any being could do something like that.

Why were they worshiped as Gods and Goddesses? Was it their will, or just a misunderstanding passed down by human civilization? Even more bizarre, if the truth about them couldn’t be revealed, how did belief in them spread?

For Haruto, this fact alone was enough to prove that the Ten figures were not only strong but immensely powerful—enough to silence anyone who knew their secrets.

But there was still one question that haunted Haruto. What was their true purpose? Did they truly want to be worshipped, or was there something much larger behind the scenes? Haruto’s mind wandered, trying to compare them to stories from other worlds that he knew.

"Maybe their power is on par with the aliens from the Naruto world... You know, the Otsutsuki Clan?" Haruto mused silently, imagining extraordinary beings beyond the understanding of ordinary humans.

Knowing that there were figures as powerful as, or even stronger than, the Otsutsuki Clan made Haruto pause for a long while.

Haruto's mind was filled with new possibilities, and for the first time, he felt that this world was far broader and more mysterious than he had ever imagined.

Now, having learned part of the truth about this world, Haruto couldn’t hide his shock. Even though he had understood that this world was filled with powerful beings, he never imagined that their power could rival, or even surpass, what was considered divine.

Ironically, Haruto’s initial purpose for coming to Bellina’s dorm room was simple: he had just wanted to ask about the possibility of an attack on the City Academy.