Encia was hoping for the truth.
Who am I? She just wanted to know.
Then… what should I tell Encia?
The answer is…
“The Goddess of Life.”
It was already decided.
“Really…?”
“Yeah, really.”
I’ve never lied to Encia. I haven’t up until now, and I won’t in the future.
How could I lie to this child who has followed my voice, treating it like family, like an older sister? I do have a conscience, you know.
Lying to this child would be the same as betraying her trust.
Thus…
“I’m the Goddess of Life, the Creator Dragon God, the Mother of the Earth, and simultaneously the god who created the Underworld, Paradise, and the Divine Hall.”
“Huh…?”
“And there’s more… Hmm… Oh, the elves called me the Hunting God, and the dwarves called me the Silver Wisdom. Also, I’m the mother of the Ancient Gods excluding myself, and also one of the beings who started this world.”
“…??”
Encia was utterly confused!
She looked at me blankly, tilting her head, clearly not understanding what I was saying.
Well, it’s understandable. She just asked if I was the Goddess of Life, and here I am claiming to be everything under the sun. Of course she’s confused.
But what can I do? It’s all true.
Looking at it this way, I really have been active under so many names.
If anything comes up, I could just shout “That’s me!” and run out. I’ve really been working hard!
“Tia…? Are you joking…?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
Encia shook her head slightly. No, I’ve never lied to her.
“If that’s the case, then it’s true…?”
“That’s right. I’m the Goddess of Life and various other roles.”
“Various other roles…?”
But how else can I put it? There’s just too much.
“Anyway, being the Goddess of Life is correct, right?”
“Yes, the Goddess of Life indeed. Bow down in worship!”
“But even if Tia says that… I don’t really feel any divinity.”
“Well, Sia, you only hear my voice, after all. If you saw my true form, it’d be different.”
A beautiful silver dragon. You’d have no choice but to kneel in reverence!!
Though, I doubt I’ll show that form anytime soon. Honestly, it’s been so long since I last revealed it that it’s getting hazy.
For some reason, there’s a lot of hostility towards dragons. It’s a bit tricky to reveal myself like this. Why is that, anyway?
As far as I know, dragons have never caused trouble for humans. Wyverns have attacked humans before, but surely people can tell the difference between dragons and wyverns, right?
Well, these perception issues will sort themselves out eventually. If necessary, I could instruct the dragons to be kinder to humans.
Anyway.
“So, did that answer your question?”
“Yeah, thank you, Tia.”
“Not at all. Considering all you’ve done, telling you this is such a minor thing. Though, if you don’t mind, could you keep this a secret from others?”
“Why? Is there a reason to keep it secret?”
“Well, it’s a bit embarrassing, isn’t it? I tried doing all sorts of things to make this world function properly…”
At my words, Encia tilted her head and said:
“Why is that embarrassing? Isn’t this the result of Tia’s efforts for the sake of this world?”
“Still, let’s keep it a secret. If this fact gets around, there will be quite a few people who will be confused.”
Like lizardmen or… lizardmen and so on.
Other races might be confused too, but the Creator Dragon God is mainly worshipped by lizardmen, so they probably wouldn’t be too shocked.
“Hmm… I don’t fully understand Tia’s thinking, but alright. If that’s what Tia wishes, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.”
And with that, I smiled at Encia.
Though, it’s a smile she can’t see since she can only hear my voice.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“What will happen from now on?”
After observing the changing face of Procyon once, Encia returned home and spoke softly.
With Cecil, her disciple, temporarily out, this question was clearly directed at me.
“Hmm, how the changes will be accepted is something that others will decide.”
Encia’s published book has overturned the instinctive use of magic among traditional mages. It has offered new choices to those who had none before.
By showcasing the possibility of learning magic through training rather than relying solely on instinct, the world will change drastically.
The old mage class, who were born using magic and considered themselves a privileged elite, will fade away.
And those who admired such mages will discover that they too can become mages through effort.
“Come to think of it, my book not only reached Procyon but also the Romania Empire. How did it spread so far?”
“The longing for magic runs deep.”
It won’t stop at the Romania Empire. It has likely reached other races as well.
The speed of spreading this new knowledge will be incredibly fast. Moving a few books isn’t that difficult.
Unless trade routes are completely nonexistent.
All races yearn for knowledge about magical power. This new wave of knowledge will be unstoppable winds of change.
Perhaps… even among other races, there will be those who learn magic.
“Ah! That’s right! Tia, someone who wants to meet you. Can I call them?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. The person you met in Sirius.”
“Ahh…”
That guy who somehow still lives beyond human lifespan? Arthur?
No, how is he still alive? Seriously, I have no idea how.
Even though we parted ways with a slight sense of tragedy for effect during our last goodbye, why does he keep clinging to me?
Now that he’s even become the emperor! He should just cut ties and live happily forgetting about me!
“That guy… is a bit… well, how should I say… slightly intimidating…”
“Why? From what I heard, he doesn’t seem like a bad person?”
“He’s not a bad guy.”
He’s a good person, a model knight. If his great-grandfather hadn’t been known as the Knight King, he himself could have been called that without issue.
Though, he’s an emperor now, not a king!
“If he’s not bad, then why are you hesitant to meet him?”
“When we parted ways… the body I was using back then ran out of its lifespan, so it felt like a widow’s departure. Now if I say, ‘Surprise! I have a main body and I’m still alive!’… what does that make me?”
“Widowhood? Ah, I see.”
Upon hearing this, Encia nodded as if understanding what I was trying to say.
“When I adopted him as a child, provided him with a safe place, and taught him many things, our relationship wasn’t bad. But when we parted ways last time, the body I was using ran out of its lifespan, leaving a regretful feeling. If I now say, ‘Oh surprise! I have a main body and I’m still here!’… that would ruin the atmosphere!”
If I had gone through all that trouble to part ways dramatically! And then say, “Actually, I’m still alive because I have a main body!” That would destroy the mood entirely!
Listening to my explanation, Encia gave me a look as if I were hopeless.
“Tia… you’re spaced out in strange places.”
“Huh?! ”
“Maybe because you’re an incredible god who gave birth to all life… you don’t understand human hearts? Does the Goddess of Life not understand human emotions?”
“Tch! How dare you say I don’t understand human hearts!”
I was originally human! Sure, a lot of time has passed, making it a bit hazy now, but I definitely remember being human!
Maybe that’s why I’m overly friendly towards humans! Anyway!
“But listening to you now… it’s obvious you don’t understand human hearts.”
“Grrrgh…!”
“Just talk to him. He’ll be satisfied with that. Trust me.”
“Satisfied…?”
To live beyond human lifespan chasing after my traces… and now he claims he’ll be satisfied.
Or maybe he surpassed humanity, ascended to godhood, and even entered the Divine Hall? Even so, that seems impossible…
“So, just talk to him once. Please?”
“Ugh… fine. What’s the wish ticket got to do with anything? Since you’re asking so nicely, I’ll meet him once.”
Of course, since Encia is attached to me, the possibility of him hearing my voice is nil. In that regard, Encia will have to relay my words.
