Chapter: 296
Encia was hoping for the truth.
I simply wanted to know who I was.
So then… what should I say to Encia?
The answer was clear.
“She is the goddess of life.”
It had been decided.
“Really…?”
“Yeah. Really.”
I have never lied to Encia. I haven’t until now, and I won’t in the future.
How could I lie to this child who listens to my voice, considers my voice as family, and follows me like an older sister? I do have a conscience, you know.
Lying to this child would be the same as betraying her trust.
So…
“I am the goddess of life, the creator dragon, the mother of the earth, and at the same time, the deity who created the underworld, paradise, and the pantheon.”
“What…?”
“What else is there? Hmm… Ah, the elves call me the God of the Hunt, and the dwarves refer to me as the Silver Wisdom. Oh, and I’m also the mother of all the ancient gods… I’m the one who started this world.”
“……?”
Encia was in chaos!
She tilted her head blankly, as if she couldn’t fully grasp what I was saying.
Well, it makes sense. I simply asked if I was the goddess of life, and now I’m saying this and that, and all of it involves me. It’s only natural to be confused.
But what can I do? It’s all me!
Looking at it from this perspective, I really… have operated under many different names.
If any story comes up, it would be easy for me to jump in and say, “That’s me!” I’ve really worked hard.
“Tia…? Are you joking…?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
Encia shook her head slightly. Because I have never lied to her. Ever.
“Then, really…?”
“Yep. I am the one playing the role of the goddess of life and other things.”
“Other things…?”
But, I can’t abbreviate it any further. I must have done so much!
“Anyway, it is true that you were the goddess of life, right?”
“Yep. I am the goddess of life. Worship me!”
“Even if you say that, Tia… it doesn’t feel particularly divine or anything.”
“Well, Sia, you can only hear my voice. It would be different if you could see my true form.”
Sparkle!
A beautiful silver dragon! Who wouldn’t worship that?!
Well, I doubt I’ll show that side of myself anytime soon. Honestly, I can hardly remember the last time I revealed that form.
For some reason, there’s a lot of negative public sentiment towards dragons, so casually showing myself is a bit touchy. What’s up with that?
From what I know, dragons have never caused trouble for humans. Wyverns or creatures like that may have attacked humans, but surely it’s not because they can’t tell dragons and wyverns apart!
Well, I suppose I can gradually solve this perception problem. If necessary, I could even instruct the dragons to be kind to humans.
Anyway…
“Alright. Have your doubts been cleared up?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Tia.”
“Not at all. Considering everything you’ve done for me, telling you this is trivial. But just in case, can you keep it a secret from the others?”
“Why? Is there a reason to keep it secret?”
“Well, it’s a little embarrassing. I’ve done all kinds of stuff to try and make this world run smoothly on my own…”
Encia tilted her head at my words.
“Why would that be embarrassing? Isn’t that the result of Tia’s hard work for this world?”
“Well, you might think so… But please keep it a secret. If this got out, it would confuse quite a few people.”
Cue dramatic music!
Like lizardmen, or lizardmen, and even more lizardmen!
Other races might be somewhat confused too, but the Creator Dragon is the deity primarily worshiped by the lizardmen, so it probably wouldn’t be as confusing for them.
“Hmm… I don’t quite understand your thoughts, Tia, but okay. If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”
“Great. Thank you.”
That way, I could smile at Encia.
Well, it’s likely a smile that Encia can’t see since she can only hear my voice.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“What will happen next?”
Having observed the changing appearance of Procyon, Encia returned home and spoke in a low voice.
My disciple Cecil was out, so she was definitely asking me this question.
“Well, how we accept change will ultimately depend on others.”
The book Encia published aimed to radically change the perception of existing magicians who instinctively used magic. It was akin to presenting new options to those with no choices.
By demonstrating that, aside from the instinctive magic they used, there was potential for learning other magic through practice, the world would change in many ways.
The traditional wizards, who were born with the privilege of using magic, would vanish due to these changes.
And as those who admired such wizards discovered they could become wizards through practice, they would strive to attain that goal themselves.
“Come to think of it, my book didn’t just flow into Procyon; it even reached the Roman Empire! Just how did it seep that far?”
“The fascination with magic runs deep.”
It might not just be the Roman Empire. It likely has spread to other races too.
The speed at which this new knowledge travels will be astonishing. Moving a few books isn’t that taxing either.
Unless, of course, there are absolutely no trade routes.
Knowledge about magic is something all races desperately seek. This dissemination of knowledge will become an unstoppable wind of change.
Perhaps… among other races, there may be those who start learning magic.
“Oh! Right! Tia! There’s someone who wants to meet you. Can I call them?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Remember I mentioned someone I met in Sirius?”
“Aah…”
The guy who has outlived human lifespan? Arthur?
But how on earth is he still alive? Just how?! What on earth is going on? I genuinely don’t get it.
I thought we wrapped up nicely when we parted with a bittersweet feeling, yet here he is, obsessively clinging to me!
If he’s become an emperor, he should be able to cut ties! Forget about me and live happily!
“That guy… is a little… um, what should I say… I’m slightly hesitant about him…”
“Why? When I spoke with him, he didn’t seem like a bad person.”
“Well, I guess he’s not a bad guy.”
He’s certainly a good guy. A model knight; I wouldn’t find it odd to call him that.
If it weren’t for his great-grandfather being the first knight to be dubbed the King of Knights, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to be called that either.
Though, he is an emperor, not a king!
“Then why are you reluctant to meet him?”
“When I parted ways with him back then… the body I was using had reached the end of its lifespan, you see… it felt like saying goodbye.”
“Goodbye? Ah, I see.”
Encia nodded as if she finally grasped my point.
“When he was young, I took him under my wing, provided him with a safe place to live, and taught him many things, so our relationship wasn’t bad… but when we finally parted, I felt a bit sad that the body I was using had run its course. And now, if I say, “Voila! I can talk to you now because I’m alive and well!” what would that make me?”
Drama intensifies!
After all that separation! To reveal that my main self is alive and kicking?! The atmosphere would shatter into pieces!
Hearing me, Encia wore an exceedingly pitiful expression.
“Tia… seems to be lost in a strange corner.”
“What?!”
“No, perhaps because you are such an incredible deity who created all life… Could it be that you don’t understand human emotions? Doesn’t the goddess of life get human feelings?”
“Oh no! I understand human feelings!”
I was originally human! Although ages have passed, making it all slightly hazy, the fact I was once human remains vividly clear!
There are also issues where I tend to be overly kind to humans due to this recognition! Regardless!
“But the way you’re talking now… it’s glaringly evident you don’t really get the human heart.”
Ugh…!
“Let’s meet him and talk, okay? I think he’ll be satisfied with that.”
“Satisfied…?”
A person who has transcended a human’s lifespan and is still pursuing my trail must have an interesting concept of satisfaction.
I mean, maybe he could transcend humanity, ascend to godhood, and join the pantheon…? But no, that’s probably pushing it…
“So, just talk to him once. Okay?”
“Ugh…”
“If needed, I’ll use my wish card! I owe that person something! Okay?”
“Fine. Whatever about the wish card. Since you’re asking so much, I’ll just meet him once.”
Of course, since I’m currently connected to Encia, he probably won’t hear my voice. But that’s where Encia will need to play the mediator.
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