Chapter 151

So, Baal had passed Shamash’s test.

The test Shamash gave was Erebus, but since the question was vague, you know. With errors in the problem and multiple possible answers, joint correct answers are usually accepted too.

Thus, Shamash herself couldn’t help but acknowledge the test as passed.

Let’s see… Now that Shamash’s test is over… All that’s left are Tethys and Sagarmatha, right?

I wonder what the remaining two tests will be like. I’m getting a little anxious.

I suppressed the rising anxiety and absentmindedly stroked Nyx’s head who was sitting on my knees.

The timid young goddess. Nyx still clung to me, uneasy around the other gods, only glancing around cautiously.

“Uh… Excuse me…”

“What is it?”

“A-ah, never mind…”

Nyx’s voice shrank like a mouse hiding in its hole.

I silently kept stroking her head.

Such a shy and small smiley girl. Hmm… Quite cute.

“So, is it my turn next?”

Tethys stood up saying this, and I muttered under my breath looking at her.

“About time for the fifth one… Starting to get a bit tiresome.”

The other kids also nodded in agreement upon hearing my muttering.

If I’d known it’d go like this, I should’ve rushed through things faster.

Besides, with harming life prohibited and all, there really wasn’t any danger involved so far.

Still don’t know what the remaining tests are… But judging from the situation so far, it doesn’t seem like there’ll be any danger of harming other lives.

Surely they won’t give something ridiculous like “break into the dwarves’ underground village and steal treasure”, right? …Hmm… Probably not…

While Sagarmatha does tend to look down on dwarves a bit, surely she wouldn’t give a test involving attacking those who worship her as a deity, would she?

“My test will be over quickly, so don’t worry. We’ll just take a trip to the deep sea together, that’s all.”

“The deep sea?”

“Yes, the deepest part of the ocean. Of course, with me along, it won’t be too dangerous.”

Hmm… Really?

Given how crushing the pressure must be in the deepest depths, will it be alright?

“Just have a little faith. I’m going along to make sure we return safely.”

Hmph… If Tethys says so… It’ll probably be fine…

Still, I can’t shake off this lingering unease. Maybe I should go along too…

That thought was abruptly cut off by Tethys.

“Mom’s accompanying is strictly forbidden. You understand, right? I’ll have the other kids keep an eye on you.”

“Ugh… Very well then. Just make sure to come back safe, understood?”

“Of course.”

Will it really be alright…? Ugh… Worry piles up.

And so, I could only watch Baal and Tethys descend into the ocean while absentmindedly stroking Nyx’s head resting on my knees.

—

Tethys descended into the deep sea together with Baal.

As the faint light gradually disappeared, replaced by enveloping darkness,

in the abyss where strange fish evolved differently from the common ones seen near the surface swam by,

Tethys looked up at Baal and spoke.

“The throne of King of Gods… Honestly, the most fitting person for that position would be Mom… Mother of Life… But we can’t burden Her with even more responsibilities when She already has so much to deal with. Though it irks me to see another god taking that position…”

Tethys’ expression was different from before.

A completely cold face devoid of any warmth.

“Therefore, I shall permit you to become the King of Gods. For Mother’s sake.”

“Mother…?”

“Hmm? Surprised to see me acting so differently from when I’m in front of Mother?”

Baal weakly nodded in the darkness, struggling against the immense weight of water pressing down on him, making even simple movements difficult.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ve always wanted to act like a child in front of Mother. Attitudes change depending on who you’re dealing with, after all.”

“You’re like a completely different person…”

At Baal’s words, Tethys gave a small laugh.

“And… The reason I brought you here is because I wanted to talk without Mother overhearing.”

“About what…?”

“Gaia.”

The small word Tethys uttered.

“That name you mentioned… Is it referring to Mother?”

“…”

“It’s not necessary to stiffen up like that. I just wanted to confirm. Not like I intend to get angry or anything.”

Baal slowly nodded only now.

“Indeed. As expected. Honestly, why do so many people fall for Her? It’s troublesome, you know.”

“F-fall for…?”

Tethys let out a small sigh, a faint current escaping her lips and drifting away somewhere.

“Well, we’re not exactly in a position to criticize others.”

“We…? What do you mean by that?”

“Ah, because of our old mistakes, we have no choice but to endure it. Anyway, while having affection for Mother isn’t something that can be helped, it’s better to abandon thoughts of monopolizing Her.”

“Explain it to me properly, instead of just saying that. Don’t leave me hanging.”

Tethys gave a small smile looking at Baal.

“Because Mother is All Too Huge. There exists no being capable of monopolizing Her.”

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

Tethys quietly waved her hand, and following her fingertips, currents began swirling.

The currents formed a small sphere which continued to rotate on Tethys’ palm, gradually drawing in magical power from the surroundings.

“Do you know what magical power is?”

“Isn’t it the Power of the Gods permeating everything in this world?”

“Right. The force permeating everything in this world.”

The sphere rotating on Tethys’ palm only absorbed surrounding magical power, never releasing it.

Like a prison solely collecting magical power.

“Where does this magical power come from and where does it go…? I once questioned this about magical power.”

The sphere endlessly absorbing magical power started emitting light from the dense concentration of power within.

“I myself was born from the flow, thus I was able to trace the flow itself. Though it took numerous trials and errors and failures before I finally succeeded.”

The silver-lit sphere on Tethys’ palm suddenly shattered with a small popping sound, scattering into silvery stardust that vanished.

“The blood maintaining this world, called magical power, where does it originate? Where is its source?”

With that, Tethys sank further down, reaching the very bottom of the ocean.

The abyss filled only with darkness. Nothing existed there except for the oppressive pressure – an incomprehensible heat beneath the sea.

There, Tethys silently touched the ground beneath her feet.

“The source of magical power starts from the deepest place in this world, closest to the world’s heart.”

“The world’s… heart?”

“Correct. The enormous heart hidden deep within the earth beneath thick crusts. The gigantic and scorching heart ceaselessly beats without rest, sustaining the world.”

As Tethys gently swept some dirt aside with her hand, fine sands stirred upward.

Together with the sand, silver particles interwoven between them also rose, briefly illuminating the surroundings before disappearing again.

“That just now… Was it magical power…?”

“Yes. Magical power.”

The sand settled back down, and the fleeting light that illuminated the abyss vanished completely.

“A place where even lightly sweeping the ground reveals compressed magical power in such density. This is one of the sources of magical power.”

“This place…? Wait, one of…?”

“Right. Locations oozing high-density magical power like this… I found about eight places underwater. All were close to the world’s heart and rich in magical power concentration.”

Baal slowly placed his hand on the ground. Through the fine sands, he began to feel something beyond.

Something pulsating with intense heat, creating massive flows of power.

He could sense the activity of a star’s heart.

“So, why are you telling me this?”

“Hmm. I thought giving you this much information would be enough for you to catch on.”

Tethys gathered the floor’s magical power with a small gesture.

“The highly concentrated silver magical power here is… almost identical to the magical power possessed by Mother.”

“To Gaia’s magical power…?”

“More precisely, magical power originating from the world’s heart circulates around the world and eventually flows towards Mother.”

Tethys smiled faintly as she spoke.

“Mother could be considered the final destination of all magical power. Though She Herself seemed unaware of this fact. Perhaps due to possessing too much magical power, She fails to notice the influx.”

“…”

“Mother is… Someone far too grand to be monopolized by any individual. So abandon any thoughts of owning Her, and focus solely on fulfilling your duties as King of Gods according to Her will.”

Tethys stated coldly.

“For unless She Herself desires otherwise, Mother cannot belong to anyone.”