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EP.182

A normal countryside rat beast girl ended up reaching the Rat God after a series of adventures.

It might be more than just a turnaround in life; it feels like a complete upheaval. But hey, life is full of surprises, right?

Just like an orphan on the streets who can’t remember their parents and somehow becomes a hero, leaving a mark in history.

Anyway, while Maybel, having become the Rat God, found herself with fewer immediate tasks than expected.

The responsibilities of being the Rat God mostly revolved around her kin… the rat beastmen. Considering their number, it wasn’t exactly a mountain of work.

So, broadening her understanding of rat beastmen to include animals like squirrels seemed reasonable. They’re kind of like distant relatives, after all.

Well, just because she took on responsibility doesn’t mean she has to oversee every single rat beastman’s life. Just acting as a protective fence to ensure they aren’t oppressed by other races should be enough.

Furthermore, she could also play the role of a unifying force for the rat beastmen, preventing any shady business.

Hmm… looking at it this way, she actually has quite a bit on her plate.

So, for now…

“Our rat beastmen’s future is unclear! Our small size and weak bodies have made us subjects of contempt not just from other races but even from the beastmen we once considered kin!”

Ella shouted at the rat beastmen, who were bowing their heads in submission.

Though Maybel had attained divinity, she was still at her core just a rural girl who hadn’t yet matured. Therefore, needing help from the outside world was an unavoidable reality.

In that situation, Ella, who had gathered substantial experience as an adventurer while being a rat beastman, was a great asset that could help cover Maybel’s shortcomings.

Moreover, she was an absolute and unwavering ally who would stand by Maybel no matter what happened.

Although Ella was a bit hesitant at first about Maybel becoming a god, Maybel’s determination was exceptionally clear. After a bit of discussion, she ultimately raised her hands in surrender and began working for Maybel.

Thus, these two rat beastman girls… ahem Well, they became gods, so it’s not a scam! Definitely not a scam!!

The process through which these two rat beastman girls took command of their little village went as follows:

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First up, subduing the leadership. The first step was striking their head to eliminate all other movements.

If they couldn’t knock them out in one go, someone could poison Armen, so they had to catch them all at once.

Of course, a barrier had been placed around Armen and the water supply, so they were somewhat safe, but you never know.

They might harm Armen’s people in a way I hadn’t prepared for.

Anyway, with my help, the two rat beastmen swiftly took down their leaders.

The older rat beastmen had their bodyguards, but thanks to some enhancement magic on Ella and Maybel, they were easily defeated.

After subduing the leadership, Ella and Maybel used my magic to gather all the rat beastmen in the village square.

Confused, the rat beastmen who assembled in the square gasped at the battered state of their leaders and were taken aback again by Ella’s appearance.

Ella, who successfully made a name for herself as an adventurer, had suddenly vanished about a year ago, only to return looking like a wreck.

Well, of course, her sorry appearance was because she hadn’t properly changed out of her tattered clothes.

But hey, she had received treatment and was in perfectly fine health!

Anyway, addressing the rat beastmen in the square, Ella raised her voice to spread the truth of the ritual that was largely unknown to most of the rat beastmen, plunging them into shock.

That their leaders attempted to annihilate an entire village for their future was shocking enough for anyone with normal sensibilities.

However, not everyone believed her words outright. After disappearing for a while and suddenly showing up to smash the leadership and shouting these claims, it was hard for them to take it at face value.

Some rat beastmen shouted that if it was true, wouldn’t they have to do what was necessary to survive? But even those thoughts were silenced by Ella’s chants.

The ritual planned by the leadership was not to create a god for the rat beastmen.

That ritual was a tribute for a voice heard from beneath the earth. It was a sacrifice for something curled up in deep darkness that sought to be reborn as a god.

That voice would consume all the offerings and devour every rat beastman present.

Of course, the rat beastmen didn’t fully trust those words. They brushed it off as nonsense and tried to rescue the shattered leadership.

But the atmosphere crumbled thanks to me.

After shrouding Maybel in blinding light, I whispered a faint voice into the ears of the other rat beastmen.

“Bow down. The young rat beast before you is to become the god for you all.

Do not offer sacrificial items for a false god, but raise prayers for the true god.

No sacrifices or costs are required. What is needed for the new god is simply your prayers.

Bow down. Bow down and pray. Then accept your god.”

That whisper shook the minds of every rat beastman in the square, causing them to kneel instinctively.

Afterward, Ella made some preparations, announcing that she would properly conduct the right ritual again, and dismissed the crowd temporarily.

Then she sent the trembling leadership, who had been confined, into the prison, unifying the rat beastmen’s faith through a proper ritual to instill divinity into Maybel.

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“But, is it really alright for someone like her to become a god?”

Maybel let out a weak voice with a slightly anxious expression. But does it really matter?

“You seem to think gods are something magnificent.”

“Well, of course! They are gods!”

I chuckled softly at Maybel before replying.

“Gods aren’t as amazing as you think. They are just beings capable of doing more than others.”

However, the strength they possess depends on the faith gathered, and the tasks they can undertake increase as well. But that’s just a petty tale.

“R-Really?”

“Yep. Really.”

Though from my perspective, I also had to consider that I place the gods below myself. But that’s how it appears to me.

They may puff themselves up as great beings, but honestly, they seem weaker than dragons from my viewpoint.

Though, the number of believers might change that.

“If becoming a god feels unsettling… I might lend a hand.”

“A hand?”

“Yeah. Like… maybe stick Sirius as your superior?”

Since Sirius was originally the tribal god of the beastmen, having him look after the newly-formed god, Maybel, should work out just fine.

“W-What?! Sir Sirius?!”

“Yeah. Once you become a god… you’ll be the god of the rat beastmen. The divine status won’t be very high. However, it’d be better to have a god watching over you. In that light, Sirius would be perfect.”

Maybel’s expression turned blank at my words.

“W-What exactly… is the Dragon Priestess doing… or is she a dragon? She’s creating new gods and now pawning me off onto Sir Sirius.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her confusion.

“Well, she did embark on adventures with the hero and Sirius… the first beastman, so they are probably close friends.”

“No, no matter how you put it, he’s still a god! A god.”

“It’s only after the adventures that he became a true god.”

Honestly, if he hadn’t settled in Arcadia, he would’ve remained a beastman.

He ought to be grateful to me for that.

“Let’s see… we might as well gather some Zodiac gods. Twelve gods based on each animal.

Instead of Sirius, who can’t look after the beastmen, have excellent individuals among the beastmen raised to divine status, and let them guard their respective group. That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

And while we’re at it, perhaps designate twelve positions according to the Zodiac… you know, dividing the day into 24 hours, assigning one month of the year to each zodiac symbol… letting them guard the divine hall while splitting the responsibilities by direction. They could deal with various matters related to twelve.

Once Maybel adapts as a proper Rat God, we could travel around the world to gather worthy beings who would fit as gods.

Yeah, that should work out nicely. It’d be great to roam with such a purpose.

“But it’s different now! My daughter Maybel has become a living god with divine grace for us! Our future will no longer be uncertain!”

As Ella’s voice rang out in the square, the cheers from the rat beastmen filled the area around them.

 

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