Chapter: 156
“Alright, let’s double-check this one more time.”
Baal grumbled, “This is already the eighth time! The coronation isn’t that long; why do you keep wanting to check again?”
I lightly tapped Baal on the head and replied, “This coronation ceremony is way more important than you think! That’s why we need to be extra thorough.”
“Can’t we just finish it with Gaia crowning me?”
I pressed down on Baal’s head again, since he was rambling nonsense.
This is a crucial moment where you’re being recognized in front of countless gods—we can’t just wrap it up like that!
“Remember, this is the moment when all the gods will acknowledge you.”
Gods are born from the collected thoughts, admiration, and faith of many humans. Well, except for me and my kids.
It’s pretty obvious how strong the sense of self is for gods supported by all those thoughts.
Arrogant gods who act as if everything but themselves is beneath them—do you think they’d quietly sit back and watch someone else rise above them?
Not a chance.
That’s why the importance of this coronation is skyrocketing.
To dominate all the other gods and reign as the king of the gods, you’ve got to leave an overwhelming mark of power on all of them.
So,
“Don’t show any reaction, even if other gods kneel before you as you take the throne.”
Because I’ll ensure they kneel until they have no other option.
“I’ve heard that a million times already! When all the others kneel, Gaia will come and put the crown on my head, and the other six will take turns acknowledging my authority, right?”
“Exactly. The order is…”
“Shamash and Ifrit, Sylphid and Thetis, then Yggdrasil and Sagarmatha. I’ve had it drilled into my ears!”
“And I’ll be last, declaring that you are now the king of the gods, and then I’ll rule the world as the king with some suitable words afterward.”
“Got it! I prepared that part ahead of time, so trust me.”
Oh, Baal is so confident. But somehow… I feel a bit uneasy.
Well, I can handle most situations, so it should be fine.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
A massive temple stood at the center of the pantheon—the temple of Baal, the God of the Sky.
In front of it, a gigantic square was filled with countless gods.
Gods born from nature like mountains, rivers, lakes, and deserts.
Gods born from natural events like snow, rain, storms, and wildfires.
And… well, it’s mostly just these kinds of gods. I thought maybe there would be gods not from nature by now, but it seems like that’s not happening yet.
Oh well, the human longing for such gods seems a bit premature.
Regardless, all these gods looked a bit confused, like they didn’t really understand why they were summoned here.
I had used the Godtalk to call them, but I didn’t expect everyone to gather like this. Even the earth-bound gods showed up.
Well, this is actually a good thing. The gods gathered from all over the world will witness this coronation ceremony.
What they see and hear will spread throughout the world, solidifying faith in Baal even further.
Shall we kick things off?
“As the god who governs all life in this world, I declare this to the world! Through the faith of countless beings, numerous gods have begun to be born.”
With my words, the gods in the square started murmuring, reacting as if they were hearing their own birth stories for the first time.
Of course, this must be totally new information for them.
Gods weren’t born before humans—rather, they were born because of humans. They won’t easily accept that.
Ah, but I’m the exception. All life was practically my doing.
“Despite the many gods filling the world, concerns arose about the chaos it would bring. So, the Goddess of Life suggests…”
I spoke softly.
“…let’s establish a King of the Gods.”
The murmuring in the square got louder at my declaration.
“A King of the Gods?”
“Who decided that on their own?”
“I’m against this!”
“We don’t need a king!”
Hmm, about the response I expected. I mean, it’s not like these egotistical gods would stay silent, right?
So,
“Everyone, quiet down.”
My soft voice carried an unusual strength as it spread through the square.
Simultaneously, the chatter stopped.
“Remember, this is a proclamation, an announcement, and a warning. In exchange for tolerating the existence of gods who could cause chaos, I intend to control you through the King of the Gods.”
I took a breath and continued.
“If you don’t accept this, be prepared for the consequences.”
So far, the gods haven’t caused any chaos, but if left unchecked, the world would surely descend into turmoil.
It’s like releasing a bunch of unruly kids without any supervision—they’d treat the world as their playground.
And guess who would have to clean up the mess? Yep, me.
I don’t want that. Definitely don’t.
So,
“Rather than annihilating your existence as gods, you’ll recognize the authority of the King of the Gods and follow him to the letter. That will be the best way for you to continue existing.”
It’s a coercive method, but what else can I do? I need to prevent their reckless behavior.
Looking over the now quiet square, I announced the start of the ceremony.
“Let’s begin the coronation. God of the Sky, Baal, step forward.”
Baal, who’d been waiting for his turn, slowly walked up and ascended the divine throne.
Baal, looking like a wee boy, stood on the massive throne—immediately after he did,
all the gods in the square knelt down in unison.
Hmm, I think I’ve got a rough idea of the pressure I need to exert. Each god is different, but they seem to match the strength of the dragons.
Well, depending on how much faith they gather, they can become even stronger, but for now, I’ll consider them equivalent to dragons.
As for the sturdier gods like the mountain deities, they can probably endure a bit more pressure. Hmm.
Anyway, once Baal settled on the throne, my kids lined up one by one to recite their brief congratulatory speeches.
First up, Shamash.
“Shamash, the god of light, justice, and law. I acknowledge the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and King of the Gods, and I offer my congratulations. May you always do the right thing.”
Then came Ifrit.
“Ifrit, the god of flames and heat, the eternal fire. I acknowledge the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and King of the Gods, and I offer my congratulations. May you never ignore the fire in your heart.”
Now it’s Sylphid’s turn.
“Sylphid, the god of wind and freedom. I acknowledge the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and King of the Gods, and I offer my congratulations. May you always value freedom and remain free.”
Next is Thetis.
“Thetis, the god of sea and water, the great flow. I acknowledge the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and King of the Gods, and I offer my congratulations. May you always be pure, without any twisted thoughts.”
Then comes Yggdrasil.
“Yggdrasil, the god of forests, trees, and tranquility, the world tree. I acknowledge the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and King of the Gods, and I congratulate you. May the entire world strive for peace.”
Lastly, Sagarmatha.
“Sagarmatha, the god of rocks and mountains, the highest peak. I acknowledge the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and King of the Gods, and I offer my congratulations. May you never change.”
Cool, my kids are done with their congratulations; now it’s my turn.
“As the Goddess of Life and the one who has been there since the beginning, I acknowledge the authority of Baal, God of the Sky and King of the Gods, and I offer my congratulations. May you protect all life.”
With that, I pulled out the lightning crown I’d prepared earlier.
This treasure, capable of wielding the immense power of lightning, unveiled the authority of the King of the Gods. The other gods watched in silence, holding their breath.
Hmm, now that I think about it, is there already a god of lightning? I feel like the giant god had some lightning aspects.
Well, it’s not like that race is very numerous, so it’s not that big of a deal. They aren’t even showing up in this crowded square.
“God of the Sky, Baal. Do you swear as the King of the Gods to guide all the gods in the right direction?”
Baal solemnly answered, “I swear.”
“I hope you’ll never break that oath, and I shall bestow upon you the divine status of the God of Lightning.”
I slowly placed the crown of lightning, crackling with energy, on Baal’s head.
Baal, adorned with the lightning crown, slowly rose from the divine throne.
While all the other gods were bowing their heads, only Baal stood proudly.
Oh, of course, my children and I are exceptions. The kids silently gazed at Baal.
“I, Baal, the God of the Sky, declare here as the King of the Gods.”
Baal spoke with a strong voice.
“Everything in this world shall belong to me! Anyone who dares to disturb this world will face my wrath!”
Uh… What did he just say?
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