Chapter: 191
“Did you say Baal’s spiritual essence is still around?”
“Yes. It’s probably in the Underworld. Since this is the first time a god has died, they don’t really know what to do with it, so they’re holding off on handling it.”
The death of a god. It’s truly a first in this world, so it’s no wonder they’re at a loss about how to manage it.
Erebus? That’s not death; that’s more like running away. Anyway.
“Well then, I suppose the first step is to talk to Baal.”
“Yes. Um, well, you can do that. I think it might also be good to talk to the other kids as well.”
We can do that later. For now… I need to talk to Baal, figure out a way to revive him, or at least knock some sense into his splits to restore his divine essence. I can’t just let this slide.
It’s surprising that the splits are acting on their own. If simply letting them handle things is causing issues… I can’t just sit back and watch.
Most importantly, Baal is the one to whom I entrusted the crown of the King of the Gods. Undermining that authority is the same as going against my will.
I spoke looking at Shamash, whose expression had somehow stiffened.
“You said the split Baal’s are in Olympus, Ennead, Aesir, and Lokapala, right?”
“Yes, yes. There are several other divisions, but those four are the main ones.”
“And what names are they using? I can’t imagine they’d just go by Baal’s splits.”
After a moment of thought, Shamash replied.
“The split in Olympus goes by Zeus. In Ennead, it’s Amun. In Aesir, they call him Odin. And in Lokapala, he’s known as Indra.”
They’re all names of gods who were called the King of the Gods.
Well, regardless of their names, it doesn’t matter to me. I have no intention of leaving those who go against my decisions unpunished.
“But, Mommy… are you planning to punish those guys?”
“Um? Yes, I’m thinking of smashing them to bits so not a single bone remains.”
“Ah, uh… um… Could you possibly leave them be?”
“Um? Why?”
Why is Shamash saying this? To suggest I leave those who have broken my rules alone?
“We were all thinking about how to talk to Baal’s spirit… and it seems he wants things to stay as they are for now.”
“Stay the same? Stay the same?”
“Yes. It’s Baal himself.”
Is he seriously saying that right now?
To just let go the ones who tarnished my authority?
“Uh, Mom! Please don’t get angry! Just hear me out! Okay?!”
“I’m not angry.”
“No, you’re clearly angry! I can see it in your eyes! The world shouldn’t end! We can’t just destroy the world I went to such lengths to create! Just like last time with the Dragon’s End, once you get mad, things don’t just end! The world could very well face destruction!”
Destruction. Hmm. Destruction is not okay. Just because I’m a bit angry doesn’t mean I can go smashing everything like a child.
Even this world, like a model garden, is something I’ve cared for deeply. I can’t just obliterate it out of a moment’s annoyance.
Though I am simmering a bit inside.
“We’ve also tried to convince Baal, but he didn’t want to return. He said managing all the gods alone was too tough for him. He said it was an overwhelming burden.”
“An overwhelming burden…”
Have I placed an excessively large and heavy burden on Baal?
Still, he’s a god of the heavens; I thought he had enough power as the King of the Gods. To think he couldn’t last even 300 years.
Was my judgment too hasty?
“And while Baal’s splits have shown some rebellion, they’ve been ruling as kings of their respective factions and managing things pretty well since there are many of them. Although they’re not as capable as Baal, they’re sharing the responsibilities, so it’s been manageable. If I were to smack them down in this situation… I think it would cause great chaos.”
I stared at Shamash as he continued making excuses and quietly spoke.
“Is that really the only reason?”
“Uh? Ah, um… Well, that’s part of it, but those guys also treat us with respect when they’re around us…”
So, they’re not on bad terms with him.
“They refer to us as gods of primal light, radiant light, and the sun god, and they treat us really well.”
So, are you saying you want me to not smash the ones who are treating you well?
Sigh… It’s a plea from a child of sorts, but I can’t just let them off the hook either. Sigh…
For now, maybe the first step is to talk to Baal’s spirit.
“Then how about you talk to Baal first? If you speak to him directly, he might change his mind. Right?”
“That’s true.”
There’s a saying in the other world, isn’t there? A peace treaty means to not push your luck.
Even the highest position, the King of the Gods, has no meaning if he doesn’t want to do it.
“You said Baal’s soul is in the Underworld?”
“Yes. It should be with the splits you created. The situation regarding the trial of a god’s soul is a bit ambiguous.”
In that case… the first step is to head to the Underworld.
If Baal has truly given up his title as the King of the Gods… Hmm.
What should I do? What choice should I make?
Humans created the concept of gods to understand things they did not know, but over time, as human wisdom grows, their dependency on the gods diminishes.
Eventually, humans must break free from the gods and become thinking beings on their own.
Then perhaps… it might be beneficial for humans to reduce the unnecessary gods.
Of course, that’s not an immediate task.
“Mom? What are you thinking so deeply about?”
“Um. Nothing. I’m just wondering if having too many gods in this world is a problem. If there are so many gods that Baal can’t manage them, then wouldn’t it be better to thin them out for the sake of the world?”
“Th-That thought gives me the chills. Are you really suggesting thinning out gods like picking weeds…?”
Shamash shivers slightly at my words. Seeing him like that makes me chuckle softly.
“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t do anything to you all.”
No matter how many I reduce, I would never do anything to the children I nurtured.
Ah, that’s right. Rather than reducing the gods, it might be better to demote their status.
If mountain gods or river gods were diluted to spirits of mountains or rivers… that could actually work.
And while I’m at it, I could demote any I’m not fond of to be treated like monsters.
Most monsters right now are just beasts in form. This world could use a wider variety of monsters.
For that, well… I need to figure out a way to deal with Baal’s splits.
“Somehow, you seem a bit different, Mom.”
“Um? Do you think so?”
“Yes. Before you fell asleep, let’s say you had a very nurturing vibe? Even if problems arose, you seemed to let them slide if possible… but now it’s like, um… you’re making decisions based more on emotion.”
Making decisions based on emotion, hmm… Have I done that?
I don’t feel like I’ve changed that much… Hmm. Wait a second…
“Could it be because of the splits being severed?”
“Yes?”
“Before I got to sleep, I severed the split that worked as the Goddess of Life and also the one that handled the trial in the Underworld. Perhaps dividing my divine essence has had some effect on me.”
It might seem a stretch to think that merely splitting my essence could influence me, but if Shamash thinks so, it holds weight.
Moreover, I already had confirmed that divine essence can affect personality through the role of the Goddess of Life. It’s entirely possible that separating that essence could lead to some change in my personality.
Divine essence may hold only a grain of sand’s worth of power compared to my true power, yet it has a considerable influence… How troublesome.
“Then, I’ll head to the Underworld.”
“Yes! Safe travels!”
Since I told Asterios I’d be back in seven days, I need to wrap up everything I can before then.
First, I’ll talk to Baal, then catch up with the other kids, and also deal with Baal’s splits… Hmm.
Oh right. I should leave a warning.
A warning they can’t ignore for the Baal splits.
“Then, Shamash. Make sure to let Baal’s splits know.”
“Yes?”
“That I’ll be visiting them soon.”
I’ll meet them directly and assess the situation, and then make my judgment.
Whether to pulverize them or just give them a suitable punishment before forgiving them. I can decide that after meeting them.
“Shamash, don’t get too swayed just because they treat you well. The god of law and justice can’t act biased, you know.”
“Yes, I understand that.”
I gave Shamash a skeptical look, shaking my head before heading for the Underworld.
First, I need to meet Baal’s spirit. After that, I can take my time deciding.
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