You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Maybe I'll become a hero among the forest elves because of this—in just a few minutes, Jinna's mindset became quite positive again.

"Well, in most worlds, goblins, or rather dwarves, are a race with a deep connection to minerals, and it seems that the goblins in this world are no exception."

Iori looked around at the ruins. "Rick, are you looking for something here?"

"I don't have a specific goal. I just want to see how other races live. In the past, I never had the time to stop and observe these things. I would just collect a few things and leave immediately."

We humans have struggled to accumulate substantial technological and knowledge reserves. While other races may possess brilliant civilizations, they offer little reference value to us. As a race that also lives underground and is adept at utilizing tools… we'd like to take a closer look.

Unlike most races that rely on innate talent, the Goblin race creates items and records knowledge in books. While most items require an elf to activate, there are occasional exceptions.

"No matter what it is, even knowledge that is useless to them might help us survive better."

"In the past, encountering goblin ruins like these would have been an incredible stroke of luck for us."

"Now that you possess a physical body that has materialized from your soul, have your thoughts remained unchanged?"

"...This body is really convenient."

Rick said with a mixture of gratitude and surprise, "Not only can I ignore spirit remains, but all my senses are also more acute. My strength, elven adaptability, stamina and reaction speed... I feel that with a little training, I can use extremely complex magic like other races."

"Oh?"

"For example, these items planted by the goblins. Before, we could only watch them, because we didn't have the ability to control spirits, so even if we picked them up, they were useless. But now, I can just move my hand—"

As he spoke, the small box Rick was holding opened automatically, projecting a scaled-down topographical map of the entire continent.

"This feels amazing!"

"You adapted very quickly."

Iori greatly admired it.

“But even so, I still have no intention of retaliating against other races.”

Rick paused, calming down: "At least for now, even if humanity gains power, it should invest it in how to improve their future lives, rather than wasting time and energy on revenge."

"A very mature idea."

Iori nodded.

He didn't offer any opinion, leaving it entirely to Rick and the others to decide.

"Is there anything you don't understand about the basic magic I gave you?"

"It's all here."

Rick pointed to his head and laughed, "Thank you, Iori-san... Don't worry, this content is simple and easy to understand, much easier to learn than the books of the alien race."

"Books...Do you speak their language?"

Iori was somewhat surprised.

Language is something that can only be learned through communication, but people in this world shouldn't have that opportunity.

Rick grinned: "I only know about five or six kinds, since some races don't communicate using written language at all. But for races like goblins and forest elves, which have a tradition of written records, I specifically studied them."

They often leave maps and troop movement information in abandoned camps. If we can't understand the writing on them, we might get caught in the crossfire at any time and be wiped out without even realizing it.

"Was it entirely self-taught?"

Iori's expression turned serious, and she gained a deeper understanding of the resilience of humanity in this world.

They did not merely hide; they recorded the cultures, languages, and even customs of other races through oral tradition, writing, and all available means, and these records have endured to this day.

Relying on this intelligence, they chose the best escape routes and hiding places, which enabled them to survive in this terrible world that was like hell.

"Is there anything you'd like me to explain in more detail?"

"That's a lot... but I can't calm down right now."

"Yes, this knowledge must have had a great impact on you."

"I can never be grateful enough to Iori-san... But I always feel that Iori-san takes extra care of me. Is there a reason for that?"

"Perhaps, maybe we were destined to meet in our past lives, which is why I find the two of you particularly pleasing to the eye."

Iori smirked: "It's the kind of thing that makes you want to say, 'You two should mate already!'"

"what?"

"what?"

"Okay, Shubi will try her best!"

"No need, it's okay not to put in the effort for that kind of thing. Mr. Aizen must be joking with us!"

“It’s alright, Rick. Although this machine doesn’t have the corresponding function pre-installed, I can load the simulated breeding module.”

"Don't take it so seriously!"

...Iori looked at them, and the expression on her face softened a little.

Indeed, "power" is a good thing. With enough power, one can easily change past regrets and save a couple's lives from tragedy by simply stretching out one's little finger, just like now.

—I must say, this is truly delightful!

As the three were wandering around a place that resembled a communal forging factory, the machine-type girl suddenly looked up.

"This underground... has revealed a space."

Hugh looked at Rick: "There are traps installed underground, is it an anti-theft system?"

"it's here?"

Rick looked around, but there was neither a door nor a keyhole.

"Well, it's something like a mechanism."

Iori bent down, reached her hand into the gap in the steel floor, and then gently pulled—

Crackling sound~

"Without a purely mechanical power source and an energy system rich in spirits, those races that routinely use their senses to find enemies and treasures would not discover the hidden problems here."

A moment later, the entire ground shook for a moment, and the heavy iron block was twisted and folded, revealing the deep and dark space below.

"As expected of Iori-san, you are truly knowledgeable~"

Rick sincerely admired, "Are all people from other worlds this wise?"

"Although not everyone is like me."

Iori smiled slightly and stopped Rick before he could enter the underground space.

"Since this place has been hidden by the goblins, there must be some kind of protective measures in place. Moreover, the space inside is the most important place. The anti-theft system doesn't seem to be completely ineffective. We must encounter some danger down there."

That little machine-type girl should be fine, but you're a different story. Don't think you're invincible just because you're 'immortal.' You still need to be careful. So, before you go in, scout out what dangers might be there.”

"Hmm...undeniable."

Rick immediately looked regretful. "I didn't even raise my guard. Have I become arrogant too?"

"If I had that secret technique to turn my whole body into an elven corridor, I would definitely be even more arrogant than you," Jinna said with a faint iridescent light in her eyes, scrutinizing Rick before letting out a soft sigh.

In terms of talent alone, Rick might be stronger than her, a forest elf... That's too discouraging.

"Shubi...Shubi will protect Rick."

The girl stood next to Rick, looking like a close brother and sister, but in reality, it was the petite sister protecting her brother.

"Shubi, I am very touched by your kindness, but being protected like this by a child who looks only ten years old in front of others... really makes me feel very complicated."

"Ok?"

Hugh tilted her head, seemingly unable to understand Rick's thoughts. "But... even though Rick has become stronger, Hugh is stronger. Hugh is stronger than anyone else in the village."

"Yes, Shubi is amazing~"

Rick affectionately patted her little head.

"You can still say these things now, but who knows what will happen in the future. Because Iori-san—no, Aizen-sama—has said that more and more people will be practicing the Third Magic, and we'll also be studying magic and creating tools. Maybe one day we'll surpass Shubi!"

"Hmm...Shubi doesn't quite believe that performing a life form modification would require so many resources, especially if every villager had to come..."

"You don't need to worry about that, little sister."

"Does Lord Aizen want to save all of humanity?"

"of course."

Iori smiled slightly: "I call this the 'Human Instrumentality Project,' or perhaps the 'Final Mission of the Einzbern Storyline.'"

"What Einz... Does such a race even exist?"

"Don't worry about them, they're just a bunch of bad players who love to play and are unlucky whales."

Chapter 543 But then again...

"Although Einzbern's cause ultimately failed, I still believe that their aspirations were a beautiful thing."

—Sera said.

Back in the human settlement, Rick summoned everyone and publicly demonstrated his Third Law Body.

He spent a long time in the goblin city, marveling at the prosperity of the alien civilization, amazed by the huge structures forged from metal, and also enraged by the goblin race's creation of "Marrow Explosion (God-killing weapon)".

He probably envisioned leading humanity to create a secluded paradise, like the sea creatures, moon-singing creatures, and fairy creatures, living peacefully until the end of the great war.

With the blessing of [Heaven's Feel], there is no need to consume food, worry about birth, aging, sickness and death, or fear of the black ash covering the sky. It is entirely feasible to find a secluded place to hide humanity!

(As for whether humanity will stagnate after the soul is materialized—such concerns are too extravagant for humanity today.)

After all, No Game No Life is pretty much the same timeline as The Steel Empire in the Type-Moon universe. If you ask the people in that world if they want their souls to be materialized... well, that goes without saying!

However, after seeing the information about "Marrow Explosion", he changed his mind. He had underestimated the malice of the alien race towards this world. Slaughtering cities and destroying countries was no longer enough for them. These guys were even creating super weapons that could destroy the continent and even the entire world!

Under his persistent questioning, Jinna revealed that the Forest Spirits were researching "Void Zero Blessing," a technique on par with Bone Explosion, which further solidified Rick's belief.

There's no way to avoid it!

"Don't be afraid, everyone. The reason I've become like this isn't because of the magic of the forest elves or any other race, but because of this Mr. Aizen... no, His Majesty Aizen!"

Rick turned around and knelt down before Iori in front of everyone, his expression solemn and devout.

"He is a deity born from our prayers, who will bring hope to mankind, and who will be the object of our faith and service in the future!"

"So that's how it is," the villagers thought, surprisingly without much surprise.

To be honest, Shubi's arrival was already suspicious. It wasn't that no one noticed the strangeness of the machine girl, but Shubi integrated well into the group. The villagers cherished every beautiful moment in this precarious world and didn't deliberately expose anything.

Iori and Kinna are even more so. Both of them have very special temperaments. It's one thing that Iori can't hide her arrogant forest spirit nature, but even when she tries to suppress her aura, she still exudes a captivating presence, like a campfire on a winter night that draws people seeking warmth.

Now he makes no attempt to conceal his divine nature as a "hero" and "king," appearing as if he were seated on a golden throne even in the underground cave.

As the villagers looked at Iori, they couldn't help but feel an urge to worship her. No one doubted Rick's words, and they naturally knelt down. Some were even moved to tears.

Jinna was the same; as if her mind had been taken away, she bowed to Iori in a daze. When she came to her senses, she was surprised—she seemed to have seen her father god Kainas.

But the two of them have completely different temperaments... Even a god from another race shouldn't have such a strong attraction to me!

Rick stood up, faced the crowd, and said, "As your leader, I have been the first to receive His Majesty's blessing. This ceremony will keep us free from disease and hunger, and will also allow us to master the mysteries of magic. From now on, this world will have sixteen races!"

"Rick...should we join the war too?"

Klonie looked up. As Rick's sister and the second-in-command of the village, she felt it was her responsibility to find out the direction for the future.

"Not to join the war, but to end it!"

Rick shook his head, his eyes resolute: "This world can't hold on any longer. The goblin and forest elf superweapons will destroy everything sooner or later. Even if they don't do it, someone else will."

They might be giants, dragon spirits, or winged beings… They wouldn't care what happens to the world; they'd only care about fighting and killing. If we continue to silently endure, only utter annihilation awaits us!

"But... how can we end this war that has lasted since ancient times?"

Kloni glanced at Iori, then quickly lowered her head again.

There's no need to worry about it.

Iori smiled and said, "The so-called great war was caused by the gods vying for the throne of the 'One God' and seizing its symbol, the Star Cup."

Most races were created by gods who used them as tools and vehicles to realize their own dreams. Because of the conflict between gods, every race is in a state of war and there is no possibility of peaceful coexistence.

Conversely, once a victor is determined among the gods, the great war will naturally end.

"...A divine species? It's hard to imagine...Aren't gods eternal beings?"