Chapter 191

“Did you say that the spirit of Baal still remains?”

“Yes. It’ll be in the Underworld. Since this is the first time a god has ever died, they don’t know how to handle it and have put it on hold.”

Death of a god, huh. Naturally, in this world where such an event has never occurred before, they must be at a loss on how to proceed.

“Erebus? That’s not death; it’s escape. Anyway.”

“Hmm… Then, our first priority should be talking with Baal.”

“Yes. Um… Well, you can do that. But I think it might also be good to talk with the other children too.”

“That can wait. First… Talking with Baal, reviving Baal, or destroying the heads of Baal’s fragments to restore his divinity—somehow we need to address this.”

It was unexpected that the fragments acted on their own. If leaving them to manage things themselves caused problems… We can’t just leave it as it is.

Above all, Baal is the one I crowned as the King of Gods. To tarnish his authority is the same as defying my will.

While looking at Shamash whose expression had stiffened for some reason, I spoke.

“The places where Baal’s divided fragments are said to be… Olympus, Ennead, Aesir, and Lokapala, right?”

“Yes, yes! Though they’ve split further, the biggest ones are those four.”

“What names are they using? They don’t seem like mere fragments of Baal anymore.”

At my question, Shamash paused for a moment before replying.

“The fragment in Olympus calls itself Zeus. In Ennead, it’s Amun. In Aesir, Odin. And in Lokapala, Indra.”

Each of them bears the name of gods once called kings of deities.

Well, whatever the names may be, they’re irrelevant to me. I have no intention of letting those who defy what I’ve set go unpunished.

“But mother… Are you planning to punish those guys?”

“Hmm? Yes. I intend to shatter them so thoroughly that not even bone dust will remain.”

“Ah, um… Can’t you just leave them alone if possible?”

“Hmm? Why?”

Why is Shamash saying this? Telling me to let those who broke my rules go unpunished?

“Through discussions with Baal’s spirit, we came to understand that maintaining the current situation is preferable.”

“Maintaining the status quo? Maintaining…the status quo?”

“Yes. That’s what Baal himself wishes.”

Are you seriously suggesting this?

To ignore the stains on my authority?

“Hey, Mother! Please don’t get angry! Listen to me instead! Okay?!”

“I’m not angry, but…”

“No, it’s obvious even to me that you’re angry! We can’t let the world end! The world we worked so hard to create cannot fall into ruin!! Remember the dragon apocalypse? When Mother gets angry, nothing ends well! The world could collapse without much surprise!”

Destruction. Hmm. Destruction isn’t acceptable. Losing control and smashing everything just because I’m upset would make me no better than a child, wouldn’t it?

Even in this world, which feels like a miniature garden carefully tended by me, I can’t destroy everything just because I got a little mad.

Though deep inside, I am seething…

“We tried to persuade Baal, but he doesn’t wish to return. He says managing all the gods alone was too difficult, that it was an excessive burden for him.”

“An excessive burden…?”

Could it be that I placed too heavy a load on Baal?

Even though I thought he had sufficient power as the sky god and king of gods to endure 300 years…

Was my judgment too hasty?

“And while Baal’s fragments have shown slight rebellion against him, they are doing surprisingly well ruling their respective factions as kings. Although individually less capable than Baal, collectively they manage the divine forces more smoothly. If we were to destroy those fragments now, it would cause great chaos.”

I stared intently at Shamash, who was rambling on with excuses, then quietly asked:

“Is that really all there is to it?”

“Yes? Ah, um… Initially, yes. But they’ve been treating us respectfully…”

In other words, their relationship with you isn’t bad.

“They’ve given us seats of original light, calling themselves radiant gods or sun gods, and they treat us very well.”

So, you’re asking me not to destroy those who treat you nicely, huh?

Sigh… Even though it’s a request from a child-like figure, I can’t just leave those guys alone either. Sigh…

First, I should probably talk with Baal’s soul.

“So, how about talking with Baal first? If Mother speaks directly, maybe Baal will change his mind. Right?”

“That’s reasonable.”

Isn’t there a proverb somewhere in that world? Something like ‘even peace can be refused’? No matter how high the position of King of Gods, if one doesn’t want it, it loses its meaning.

Humans created the concept of gods to understand what they couldn’t comprehend. As human wisdom grows over time, their reliance on gods diminishes. Eventually, humans must become beings who think for themselves without depending on gods.

Then, perhaps reducing unnecessary gods would help humanity?

Of course, not immediately.

“Mother, what are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Hmm. Just wondering… Isn’t the problem that there are too many gods in this world? If there are so many that even Baal can’t handle them, perhaps reducing their numbers would benefit the world?”

“That sounds a bit chilling. You’re talking about reducing gods like pulling weeds…”

Shamash, slightly trembling. Watching him, I smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry. Would I harm any of you?”

Even if I reduce the numbers, I wouldn’t harm the children I’ve raised.

Ah, that’s right. Perhaps lowering the status of gods rather than outright reducing them would be better.

If we strip the divinity from mountain gods or river gods and turn them into mere spirits of mountains or rivers… Hmm. This might be better.

And while we’re at it, making some troublesome ones into monsters could work too.

Most monsters now are merely beast-shaped. This world needs more diverse forms of monsters.

For that purpose, we’ll need to deal with these Baal fragments somehow.

“Somehow, Mother seems to have changed a bit.”

“Hmm? Do you think so?”

“Yes. Before resting, how should I put it… You felt very benevolent, as if you’d overlook most issues. Now, it seems like you’re judging emotionally.”

Judging emotionally, huh. Hmm… Did I?

I don’t feel like I’ve changed much… Hmm. Hmm. Perhaps…

“Could it be because of separating the fragments?”

“Yes?”

“Before resting, I separated the fragment for life goddess duties and the one for underworld trials from my divinity. Separating my divinity like that might have affected me.”

Although it might seem surprising that simply creating fragments could affect me so much… Since Shamash thinks so, it’s probably reliable.

We already confirmed through the divinity of the Goddess of Life that divinity can alter one’s personality. Removing that divinity likely changed my personality again…

Divinity, compared to my true power, is like a single grain of sand, yet its influence is considerable. Truly troublesome.

“Then, let’s head to the Underworld first.”

“Yes! Good luck!”

I told Asterios I’d return in seven days, so I need to finish as much as possible before then.

Talk with Baal, meet the others, and the Baal fragments… Hmm.

Ah, that’s right. Let’s leave a warning first.

“Shamash, tell the Baal fragments this.”

“Yes?”

“Soon, I will come to you personally.”

I’ll meet them directly, evaluate them, and make a judgment.

Whether to crush them or give appropriate punishment and forgive them—I’ll decide after meeting them.

“And Shamash, don’t take sides too much just because they treat you well. It wouldn’t do for the God of Justice and Law to act biasedly, would it?”

“Yes, I know that!”

I sent a slightly distrustful gaze toward Shamash, shook my head, and headed to the Underworld.

First, I’ll meet Baal’s soul. Making judgments afterward won’t be too late.