Chapter 149

Language is one of the greatest weapons for any intelligent being.

Through smooth communication with other individuals, intelligent beings were able to gain much more.

Language was indeed extremely important for beings with intelligence.

However, many were still unaware that it could also become a weakness.

“Puahaha! What is this? It actually works!”

I observed countless debates occurring among the elves while Baal stood by my side.

“Just by whispering slightly into their ears, they really believe it!”

“In a situation where no one is around and a faint voice is heard, people tend to believe it’s their own thoughts.”

What I taught Baal was simply how to spread rumors—whispering very faintly near someone’s ear.

The reactions varied depending on the person’s mental fortitude.

A mentally strong individual might dismiss it as a hallucination at first, but if it continues, their resolve would begin to waver.

For someone with average mental strength, their heart would immediately be shaken and eventually falter.

As for those with weak minds, they’d mistake the whispered voice for their own thoughts, leading to eventual mental confusion.

Just by letting them hear a faint voice, such outcomes were possible.

“Hmph, this is quite chaotic, isn’t it?”

“Of course. People have differing opinions. When numerous views collide, this kind of result is inevitable.”

Of course, this applies not only to elves but also to the gods.

“If you become the king of the gods, you’ll face even greater challenges than this. Balancing and handling them will be your responsibility.”

Most gods are enormous egos after all.

It’ll be far harder than ruling over humans.

“Hmm… Can’t we just crush them with force?”

“If you rely on power to rule, when someone stronger than you tries to take the throne, everything will collapse. While it may seem like a quick way to dominate through brute logic, there will surely be significant resistance.”

And once suppressed by force, sooner or later, they’ll spring back like a compressed spring.

Unless you can suppress them forever, that is.

“Hmm… I don’t really understand.”

“You don’t need to fully grasp it right now.”

After all, you’re not the king of the gods yet. Half of the other children’s tests remain.

“To be honest, I feel like I haven’t done much in this test.”

“That’s true, but it was too difficult for you to solve anyway.”

Yggdrasil went too far. Honestly, something Baal alone couldn’t handle.

“Anyway, if we keep whispering stories like this, we can guide them to eat fruit, right?”

“Yeah. Doing so might slightly adjust the elves’ carnivorous diet.”

Though it won’t entirely change their meat-focused eating habits, starting with fruit is progress.

“If we had more time, I could’ve manipulated public opinion enough to make them eat plant leaves… A month is too short though.”

“Plant leaves?”

“Exactly. According to Yggdrasil, plant leaves aren’t much different from human hair in feeling. They grow continuously and naturally fall out over time.”

Let’s not ask if plants without leaves suffer from baldness.

Baldness itself might bring immense sadness to them.

“Anyway, by manipulating public opinion like this and gradually creating an atmosphere where eating fruit is acceptable, we should pass Yggdrasil’s test smoothly.”

“Yeah, but wasn’t Gaia helping me too much?”

Baal said this with a slightly worried expression.

Indeed, I did help a lot, but could Baal have handled such a tough test alone?

If I hide the fact that I helped, it should be fine, right?

—————-

“Mom. Even if the problem is hard, you shouldn’t solve everything for me.”

In front of Sylphid’s cold gaze, I broke out in cold sweat.

Hmm. Hmm. As expected, I helped too much.

Even during Shamash’s and Yggdrasil’s tests, I knew it was wrong but couldn’t help myself.

Shamash was right. These tests were intentionally made difficult, almost impossible without my assistance.

I knew it was cheating, but I couldn’t stop helping.

And now, my cheating has been exposed.

“To be honest, I thought Mom would help a little, but this is excessive. It’s practically like you solved the entire test.”

“But listen! The problem Yggdrasil gave was impossibly hard, leaving no room for success!”

“That’s why it’s valuable as a test. If you help solve it all, what value does the test hold?”

Sylphid’s scolding words. Being reprimanded by my child. Hmm… But indeed, I messed up and can’t argue.

“Although Yggdrasil seems satisfied…”

Yggdrasil was observing the elves nearby, clearly pleased as some of them started nibbling on fruits.

“Don’t try to change the subject! By the light, justice, and law, I shall punish this unfair behavior!”

“Oh come on. Don’t bully your mother! You’ll regret it when I’m gone!”

“Crying won’t work! Especially since you’re immortal!”

“Tch.”

Well, I did cheat, so it’s fair.

“As punishment! You’re forbidden to talk to that boy during the next set of tests!”

“Ahh, so that’s why you had Baal wait in the next room.”

“Yes! And you must stay with us throughout the tests! Make lots of delicious food while you’re at it! And…”

“Alright alright. I’ll do whatever you ask, don’t worry.”

Seems they’ve been quite upset about my neglect.

I’ll pray Baal handles the remaining tests well while I focus on taking care of these kids for a while.

“Anyway. Yggdrasil, consider your test passed?”

“Yes! Seeing these children taste fruit fills me with gratitude!”

Yggdrasil genuinely looked delighted, her worries finally lifted—a sight truly pleasant to behold.

“To be honest, I wanted to fail you because Mom helped too much, but seeing Yggdrasil this happy… There’s nothing I can do.”

“Hmm. Then whose turn is it for the next test?”

At my question, Sylphid pointed to herself with her thumb.

“The next test is mine! This one won’t be easy!”

With her chest puffed out proudly, she declared.

Hmm. Is she testing Baal or just making a hard test for the sake of it?

“I’ll go get Baal then. We need to tell him what the test is!”

Sylphid left to fetch Baal from the next room.

Hmm. I’m a bit worried about what kind of test she’ll give. But now I can’t help Baal, so I can only hope he manages on his own.

“Alright! Here we are! Let’s announce the next test!!”

With a hint of anxiety buried deep within, I watched Sylphid bring Baal back.

The radiant blonde-haired beauty led the sky-blue-haired boy by hand—quite a fitting pair, honestly.

Unfortunately, neither seemed particularly moved by the moment.

“My test is!!!”

Sylphid pulled out a magic scroll from her embrace and dramatically unfurled it with a swish!

The contents written on the scroll read:

“Bring something that exists in the absence of light, having form yet cannot be grasped!”

Eh?

“Something existing in the absence of light, having form yet cannot be grasped…?”

“That’s…”

“No way…”

Our expressions darkened as Sylphid’s test unfolded before our eyes.

This is clearly asking to retrieve Him—the One who manages the dark spirits.

How could she use this as a test? Even we, after searching for a long time, could only find small fragments of Him inside monster mana stones.

And now she’s setting this as a test? Really? Seriously?

It’s basically saying she doesn’t want Baal to become the king of the gods.