Chapter 63

“But finding a soul won’t be an easy task. Identifying a soul with no memories at all would be as difficult as finding a single grain of sand in countless grains. Still, shall we give it a try?”

At my words, the priest nodded.

“To meet my family again, I am willing to do anything.”

“Did you just say you’d do anything?”

Saying such things lightly isn’t good. This kid doesn’t understand the weight of his own words at all.

“Finding your family’s souls within the lifespan of a human will not be an easy feat. So here’s a proposal for you.”

There can never be enough talented people.

“Would you like to work in the Underworld?”

“Huh? In the Underworld?”

“Yes. It was almost completed, but due to a lack of manpower, we haven’t started operations yet.”

Of course, this kid is far from being capable of fully managing the Underworld.

Though he uses divine power, he’s still just a human, after all.

But if there are any deficiencies, we can fill them.

If strength is lacking, I can add more, can’t I?

With a bit of assistance, even if he can’t reach Yama’s level, he should be able to manage at least one layer.

“Also, working in the Underworld will allow you to encounter all passing souls, which could help in finding your wife and children’s souls.”

It would be more effective than thoroughly searching through the souls that make up the body of the Cloud Whale.

Of course, it won’t be an easy task since countless souls pass through the Underworld.

“How about the Underworld… Can someone like me really handle it?”

“There’s nothing that can’t be done.”

The important thing isn’t how much power you have.

It’s about how well you work. That’s what matters.

“To be honest, unless you search for your family’s souls while working in the Underworld, it’ll be nearly impossible to find them. There aren’t many other options.”

Going to the Cloud Whale and checking each soul forming its body for your wife and child’s souls would be unreasonable.

Even though the Cloud Whale listens to me now, I doubt it would agree to something like that.

Most importantly, the short lifespan of humans is the biggest issue.

“So, to go to the Underworld, do I need to die?”

“Not yet. Operations haven’t started yet. Continue living for now.”

“But… A life without my wife and children is too painful for me…”

The priest spoke with a depressed voice.

Hmm. He’s lost his purpose in life.

“Then, would you like to leave records about the afterlife—the Underworld?”

“What? Records about the Underworld?”

“Yes. Releasing some information about the Underworld.”

At my words, the priest asked curiously.

“What meaning does that hold?”

“It holds great significance.”

I looked at the spirits in my hand and continued.

“Firstly, it’s important that we can release information about the Underworld to humans.”

“If humans come to know and believe in the existence of the Underworld… their perceptions can change reality, right? Even if there are parts that don’t function perfectly according to my design, the belief of humans can help normalize it.”

Since many humans’ perceptions can alter reality, this has been proven through Yama and the Cloud Whale.

And it will be the same for the Underworld.

Belief can change reality.

“And secondly, by releasing information about the Underworld, we can instill the concept of posthumous judgment in the minds of humans.”

“Posthumous judgment…”

“Depending on the sins committed, they receive judgment in the Underworld. If this perception remains, we can plant a minimal sense of guilt in humans, can’t we?”

It can serve as a deterrent against committing sins.

And if the fact that sinners spend terrible times in hell becomes known… the frequency of sins will decrease.

That way, we can establish a minimum level of conscience.

“So, during your remaining lifespan, leave various writings. After you die, I’ll bring you to the Underworld to work.”

“I understand. With this insignificant body, I will dedicate my life to the Mother of Life and put in effort.”

“Good. I entrust you with this task. And regarding your wife and child’s spirits…”

“Hmm?”

I looked at the two spirits in my hand. Hmm… I can’t keep holding onto these forever, so I need to store them somewhere.

Something that can contain a soul… Hmm… Let’s test out a few things.

The simplest method is storing them in gems.

I created two emeralds the size of a finger joint.

One round emerald, the other square. The round one contains the priest’s wife, and the square one his son.

Thus, the spirits settle into the gemstones.

Hmm, since it’s not the complete soul but only half, there’s quite a lot of spare capacity. Well, as long as the gemstones don’t break, they’ll stay safe.

I transferred the two emeralds to the priest.

“The round emerald contains your wife, and the square one your son. Keep them safe. If the gemstones break, you’ll have to search for them again.”

If found immediately after breaking, it won’t take long, but otherwise, you’ll have to dig up the ground, which is quite troublesome.

“Thank you… Thank you so much!”

“Then, spend the rest of your life writing books. I’ll teach you in detail what to write.”

Among the humans, this priest is called wise, so many will acknowledge his writings.

This way, I can leave behind many books through one ghostwriter.

—

Afterward, while continuing his duties as a priest, he also wrote whenever he had time.

“Mother of Life… I’m running out of clay tablets. I can’t write so much content.”

We faced a big problem in leaving behind books.

In this era, the recording media were clay tablets and parchment, but parchment was usually an expensive item and not something commonly used.

If we wrote on such items… it would probably become a symbol of wealth that only the rich could possess.

In the East, they sometimes made bamboo slips by weaving bamboo, but there’s no bamboo here in the West. Quite troubling.

Grrr. No choice.

Here comes the papyrus! Of course, with primitive beings, you have to bring out the papyrus!

I approached the Lizardman Archmage.

“Can you hear my voice?”

“Oh, the Great Creator Dragon God speaks to me! Your glorious name will illuminate the world!”

No, no need for those fancy phrases.

“Lizardman territory includes wetlands. I want you to look for a certain plant. Can you do that?”

“Why does the Creator Dragon God seek a mere plant?”

“I need it as material to create something beneficial for everyone. It’s a reed-like plant standing between 1 to 2 meters tall, with leaves spreading out at the top. Look for it.”

“I understand. I’ll send out the Lizardmen to search.”

Great. Since it grows in wetlands, the Lizardmen should find it quickly.

Perhaps it could even become a major source of income for the Lizardmen.

The best part is discovering it on your own, but the Lizardmen don’t seem to need paper, so I have to guide them to find it.

Honestly speaking, if I don’t guide them, the Lizardmen might not even feel the need for paper.

With their overwhelming strength, they can easily carry large stone tablets and carve letters into solid rocks with just their claws, giving the impression that they don’t need something like paper.

Anyway, if the papyrus grows in the wetlands, it should be within their territory.

If it’s not, I’ll just create some seeds and spread them.

“I’ve instructed to find a substitute for clay tablets to write on.”

“What kind of object is it?”

“It’s something like parchment made from plants. Thin, light, and perfect for writing.”

If papyrus is discovered and made, the intellectual level of this world could greatly increase.

Instead of limited recording media like clay tablets or parchment, a popular recording medium like papyrus will be born.

Perhaps the overall intellectual level could rise significantly.

Oh, thinking about it, what about the Elves?

From their perspective, papyrus would seem like peeling the skin off their family – technically, it’s the soft inner part of the stem, but roughly described. – to make something akin to parchment.

Well, Elves can’t help it. They instinctively avoid even fruits meant to be eaten to spread seeds.

Let them just stick to parchment.